Bucs Shouldn’t Worry About Atrocious Pass Defense Against Running Backs
December 10th, 2023
Atlanta coach Artie Smith.
Normally, Joe would be outraged by the following stats. Not today.
Per handicapper turned stathead Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis, the Bucs are terrible at stopping running backs catching the ball out of the backfield. Today, this doesn’t concern Joe.
Why? Well, across the field will be Dixie Chicks coach Artie Smith. So you have a chance.
Few if any NFL coaches waste offensive talent quite like Smith. He is dreadful, but what do you expect from a ground-and-pound guy in the year 2023 schooled in the art of football by Mike Vrabel?
Smith has a crazy talented guy tight end like Kyle Pitts and he still can’t figure out how to use him. This guy would be a Pro Bowl tight end with half the teams in the NFL.
Then there is Bijan Robinson, a truly gifted all-around rookie running back who is as lethal running as he is catching the ball. Good ol’ Smitty has made sure the first-round pick, a complete weapon, averages just 16 touches a game. Yes, that includes both runs and catches.
Robinson has caught an average of three passes a game. Then again, Smith doesn’t believe in the forward pass (how could you when you choose to start dismal Desmond Ridder?).
The Bucs allow a 90 percent completion percentage to running backs. Most coaches armed with this knowledge would feed Robinson the ball until the Bucs proved they could stop him.
But most coaches aren’t Smitty.
So Joe is not sweating the Bucs getting beaten by Robinson through the air. That makes too much sense.
vs RB passes, the Bucs defense ranks:
#29 in YPA allowed to RB targets (6.9)
#30 in completion rate allowed (90%)
#31 in EPA/att (+0.21) since wk 5
the Falcons & Bijan Robinson can exploit this weakness & propel ATL to a division lead via @SportsGridpic.twitter.com/0uWyhdFlMI
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) December 9, 2023
December 10th, 2023 at 2:38 am
And now Atlanta will read this article and we will loose. Thanks ALLOT Joe’s. I’m blaming you. Can’t be the coaching. Game of the year. Go BUCS
December 10th, 2023 at 3:23 am
I have a feeling the falcons backs are going to burn 🔥 us. No faith in this coaching staff
December 10th, 2023 at 5:26 am
Smith sounds a lot like Todd Bowles, so it’s a coin toss to see which is the bigger moron.
December 10th, 2023 at 5:31 am
You were at the first Falcons game this year weren’t you Joe?
You should be worried.
Go Bucs
December 10th, 2023 at 6:16 am
Dismal Demond Ridder is 2-0 against Todd Bowles, and the Bucs. If dismal Desmond sweeps the Bucs today, he’ll be a big reason Todd gets his pink slip.
December 10th, 2023 at 7:59 am
Well, everyone can rest assured that Smith will use Pitts and Robinson to full advantage today. Everytime Joe goes off about how inept an opponent’s QB or coach is, they eat us for lunch.
December 10th, 2023 at 8:02 am
Does it help the Bucs that Devin White isn’t playing in this game? I’d say so.
December 10th, 2023 at 9:49 am
Surprising that a fan would say Bucs are better off without Devin White. White is ranked anywhere from 30-40 in most all LB rankings and has caused turnovers and gotten sacks. Considering it is his contract year , one could not imagine White giving anything less than maximum effort as well. Yes it is quite surprising a real fan would say Bucs are better without White.
December 10th, 2023 at 10:15 am
You should be worried.
Oh, Joe is worried about this game. Not worried Artie Smith will you Robinson as a weapon in the pass ing game. Joe spelled it out above.
December 10th, 2023 at 10:16 am
In TB’s brilliant defensive mind. He has his linebackers drop back in a soft zone allowing the opposition’s running backs to settle down underneath uncovered. To TB this is a good idea. To me, getting rid of TB is a good idea.
December 10th, 2023 at 10:32 am
It is the biggest game of both coaches careers, possibly. We will see who is the real genius!
December 10th, 2023 at 11:50 am
BucsFan Says:
December 10th, 2023 at 9:49 am
Surprising that a fan would say Bucs are better off without Devin White. White is ranked anywhere from 30-40 in most all LB rankings and has caused turnovers and gotten sacks. Considering it is his contract year , one could not imagine White giving anything less than maximum effort as well. Yes it is quite surprising a real fan would say Bucs are better without White.
^^^^^^^^
Have you watched the games? Obviously not, if you’re using “maximum effort” and Devin White in the same sentence. White is TERRIBLE, and couldn’t care less about football. Him and Bowles should no longer be employed by the Bucs.