Bucs Good At Getting Pressure, Horrid At Sacks
September 18th, 2024
Good and awful stats.
So, for you glass-is-half-full types, the Bucs are among the league’s best at getting pressures.
For those who like to live in reality, the Bucs are dead-freaking-last in the league in sacks.
The Bucs, if you believe the PFF tribe, are the third-best team in the NFL getting pressures. The PFF tribe has the Bucs with 23.
That’s the good news. Now the bad news: Joe is a step away from slamming his head through the drywall just thinking about it.
Per the stats outfit FTNData.com, which supplies Caesars Sportsbook and the Action Network with stats, only YaYa Diaby has at least seven pressures (he’s right at seven). But the Bucs are dead last in the NFL in sacks with two. They are tied with such other vaunted football programs with two sacks such as the Commandos and the Stinking Panthers.
Fun company, eh?
One reason Joe is about to have a seizure over this number is that not getting sacks was a prized hallmark of the Lost Decade.
The last time the Bucs were last in the NFL in sacks was 2017. The Bucs finished 5-11 that season.
Sorry to ruin your Wednesday.
Time to Pressure Leaderboard
(Weeks 1-2 | min 7 pressures)The 'Myles Garrett' Chart
Data: @FTNData pic.twitter.com/GLbUCmGJMc
— Doug Analytics (@Doug_Analytics) September 18, 2024
September 18th, 2024 at 12:40 am
I’d like to see some sacks too but pressure has helped us win our 1st 2
September 18th, 2024 at 12:41 am
2-0
Only allowed 16 points to the Lions on 55 Goff passes. The pressures definitely played a role, including Izzy’s pick. His passer rating was dismal thanks to the pressures. With pressure, sacks will come.
September 18th, 2024 at 12:46 am
Well, it’s been demonstrated that we don’t need them to beat good teams. Just got to get the QB off his spot. It certainly didn’t amount to a W for Detroit. Is it sustainable? Eh maybe not, but doesn’t matter at this juncture.
September 18th, 2024 at 1:07 am
Hmmm. 3 of the top 5 are 2 and 0.
Sacks aren’t overrated obviously, but pressures are.
September 18th, 2024 at 1:46 am
We all know the importance of sacks because it’s very obvious when watching a game. The impact of pressure is not as clearly apparent, but the analytics prove pressure is more important overall. The Ravens led the league last year in sacks averaging 3.5 per game, which means only 3-4 plays per game were impacted by sacks. Meanwhile, the Bucs are currently averaging 11.5 pressures per game, meaning on average 11-12 passes are being impacted, which are more likely to lead to incompletions or interceptions. A sack is obviously the better outcome, but consistent pressure is a better measure of overall defensive success. The sacks will come for the Bucs, but the pressure is very encouraging and our record reflects that. GO BUCS
September 18th, 2024 at 2:21 am
A pressure/hit interception = sack fumble. Tomaetoe tomauto. Like the difference between a rushing TD and a passing TD. Just win baby. Go BUCS.
September 18th, 2024 at 2:23 am
i want to see “big sir” or “mr. dennis” come flying thru the line for a hard hitting sack on bo nix this sunday…
big sir is a fast moving, hard hitting pleasant surprise
September 18th, 2024 at 2:39 am
We’ve also missied Kancey. His presence helps tremendously. Vea will be out for a while too. I don’t see sacks coming for a while. Maybe against Denver, but we probably need an established guy at this point. Unless someone steps up immediately next to Yaya.
September 18th, 2024 at 3:09 am
It’s going to be tough going if the Bucs can’t sack Carr or Cousins. As the Bucs get further in the season and start playing top level teams, if they are not getting sacks they are going to get killed. Mahomes will eat the secondary up. JTS and Hall were never the answer.
September 18th, 2024 at 3:43 am
Bucs will still wind up with at least 45 sacks this year….
September 18th, 2024 at 4:51 am
Yikes, please don’t hit the drywall or even think about seizures! It’s going to be okay. New team and many more sacks to come. Plus, if the players are all healthy they are going to bring the pressure on even more. Goff and Daniels both were frazzled. It’s only going to get better. Go Bucs!
September 18th, 2024 at 4:58 am
Joe, you have been talking about this for months. By the way Haasan is still waiting, still unemployed and available. The price is steep but the rewards could be huge. A few more games at this pace and this will catch up to us mid-season, guaranteed.
September 18th, 2024 at 5:22 am
Once vita and Kalijah are healthy. The d line will eat. Trust the process. Let them all heal properly. It’s to early. And we are 2-0. Let’s not rush them back to devastate the team worse. Were hurt at the right time. Early. The starters who are injured have experience they know what the game entails. Let the Rotation guys find there groove. Once those gu get the playing experience and the starters are back. Scary what this teams potential is. Stay the course Bucs.
September 18th, 2024 at 5:27 am
Drama.
Hard to bring pressure when half the people responsible for it are injured.
I say patience.
September 18th, 2024 at 5:46 am
Love Joe but these “Sorry to ruin your Wednesday” articles are where it becomes trolling vs. reporting
Game 1 – Played a freak of nature. Many teams will have trouble getting him on the ground.
Game 2 – Employed a coverage vs. heavy blitz/pressure scheme.
My Wednesday is fine.
September 18th, 2024 at 6:23 am
Would like to see some correlating data showing results of plays WITHOUT QB pressure, vs plays WITH pressures
September 18th, 2024 at 6:33 am
i want to see “big sir” or “mr. dennis” come flying thru the line for a hard hitting sack on bo nix this sunday…
big sir is a fast moving, hard hitting pleasant surprise
***************************************************************
Sir has stepped up in a big way. He had some eye popping hits out there.
September 18th, 2024 at 6:34 am
Once vita and Kalijah are healthy. The d line will eat. Trust the process. Let them all heal properly
****************************************************************
Yeah let’s hold our breath waiting for that day to come.
September 18th, 2024 at 6:41 am
Two big reasons for this is the first quarterback we played was super elusive, probably one of the slipperyest quarterbacks we’ll see all season. The second game we went against one of the best offensive lines in football. Why did Baker get sacked so many times? Our right tackle was injured and missed the game. We will be playing teams with oline injuries that won’t be able to stop sacks from happening. Was going to be hard in the first two games regardless.
September 18th, 2024 at 6:51 am
I think, based on this season only, it’s too early to know if our pass rush is significantly better or not. With Kancey out, with Vea out & with Winfield out we’re not seeing the best of our D. Plus, Daniel’s is an extremely mobile QB & the Lion have perhaps the best Oline in the NFL. Before you start putting your head through drywall, how about you give the team a few weeks to get the D starters back.
September 18th, 2024 at 7:16 am
We’ve played 2 teams who are good at running the ball, and that IMO makes it difficult for a defense to go balls-to-the-wall pressure. Bowles priority is stop the run. In the Washington game, that meant ‘stop Jayden Daniels & Brian Robinson’. Did a good job of stopping Robinson (12-for-40 rushing), but Daniels proved to be more elusive (16-for-88 rushing) but that’s somewhat understandable.
In the Detroit game, that meant ‘stop David Montgomery & Jamyr Gibbs’ (Goff little threat to run). Did a good job of stopping Montgomery (11-for-35 rushing), but Gibbs proved to be more difficult (13-for-84). Still can’t understand though why Detroit didn’t rush MORE. They only ran on one-third of their plays (32.5%) for some reason; I was expecting they’d run on 50%, maybe more.
September 18th, 2024 at 7:44 am
At least Shane247 is thinking clearly. It’s a two game sample size versus the history of the NFL. If you aren’t one of the top scoring offenses you can’t be one of the worst in sacks and be anything more than average. So far common sense 2 hope 0. Yaya wasn’t as invisible last year as Braswell and like common sense said just because JTS is in a contract year doesn’t mean he will suddenly turn into Myles garret. For he does play tougher now though.
September 18th, 2024 at 8:11 am
DR, good posts as usual. Mebbe the reason Detroit threw more than run was cos the Bucs were so banged up on defense. With AWJ out, that’s a major loss on pass D. However, JTS, SVD, and Yaya played almost as a group pressuring and disrupting Goff’s concentration. Whatever Bowles schemed up, worked. Lions, a healthy SB caliber team, scored only 16 points!
September 18th, 2024 at 8:50 am
The Buçs defense also has:
7 TFL
11 PD
12 QB Hits
That’s not bad for two games
September 18th, 2024 at 9:33 am
Visually I’ve been pretty happy with the pressure given the lack of Kancey and other defenders. Kancey is our best pass rusher/disrupter after YaYa imo.
Vea may be the most important though in general for the overall D.
Week 1 was fluky imo because no one had any tape on the Commanders plans with JD. An average mobility QB would have been sacked like 2-4 times that day.
September 18th, 2024 at 10:10 am
Not too worried yet. As others have already stated, leaving Kancey and potentially Vea out is a huge loss. Still not sure if that injury is still affecting Diaby. Plus, we’re 2-0 and can still improve plenty. If CK and VV come back and we still can’t get sacks then I’ll be worried. Wouldn’t mind giving the Jets a call to see if there asking price for Reddick has dropped.
September 18th, 2024 at 10:15 am
Rewatching the game, in the 4thQ and without Vita, Gaines and Brewer and Gholston were getting excellent push up the middle into Goff’s face. That is an excellent sign. If we can get pressure with 4, the secondary isn’t as susceptible to getting stewed.
The concern is Denver. Do we bounce down to low level of energy and high sloppiness, poor execution? Or do we come out sharp and take care of business?
September 18th, 2024 at 10:43 am
We are missing our best pass rusher, played a highly mobile QB and then a veteran QB with a top 3 OL. Sacks will come.
September 18th, 2024 at 10:54 am
The Lions were playing from behind and Jared Goff (not exactly fleet of foot) dropped back 55 times.
You’ve gotta point with Jayden Daniels. Still, not sure Joe would classify the Commandos as “good” at anything offensively.
September 18th, 2024 at 1:29 pm
Not ruining my Wednesday, we are 2-0 babyeeee! Also we have had our most prolific pass rusher on the bench the last 2 weeks, and VV was injured halfway through the game last week. Calm down Joe, we just have to win and get through these injuries.
September 18th, 2024 at 1:46 pm
orlbucfan … ‘Mebbe the reason Detroit threw more than run was cos the Bucs were so banged up on defense.’
Agree with that 100%, but the Lions miscalculated by only rushing on one-third of their plays. Our replacements in the Secondary & elsewhere rose to the occasion in terms of their passing game. Bucs had 9 PDs on the day; I suspect it’s been MANY games since we’ve gotten that many (nope, not gonna go back & look, but that’s a huge number). Our Secondary played lights out (especially McCollum & Izien). Plus we got quite a bit of ‘pressure’ on Goff (although I thought he had enough time to order & eat a Papa Johns pizza
Still convinced that had the Lions stuck with the run, they could’ve easily worn us down by the 4th quarter. Gibbs (13 runs-for-84 yards … 6.5 YPC) hurt us much more than Montgomery (11 runs-for-35 yards … 3.2 YPC), but even that was deceptive. Gibbs had 3 BIG runs (16, 24, 23 yards … totaling 63 yards). His other 10 runs went for 21 yards (2.1 YPC). And all those BIG runs happened in the 2nd half. Had the Lions ‘softened us up’ more in the 1st half, we would’ve been more susceptible to the run in the 2nd half IMO.
September 18th, 2024 at 1:50 pm
Joe … ‘not sure Joe would classify the Commandos as “good” at anything offensively.’
And yet the Commandos were good enough to score 20 points based on 3 rushing TDs, while the Lions only scored 16 points on 3 TDs. But hey Joe, the Lions did put up 463 total yards to the Commandos 299 total yards, so they must be the better team.
Of course, where would that put us with our 216 total yards of offense against Detroit?
September 18th, 2024 at 1:51 pm
Oops, make that ‘Lions only scored 16 points on 2 TDs’ (really tough to score 16 points on 3 TDs they tell me).
September 18th, 2024 at 4:08 pm
Considering all the injuries, the defense played an outstanding game vs the Lions. Well, at least in the redzone they did.
Still, you can’t ever expect to see a team go 1/7 in the redzone again, so hopefully once they’re healed up we see the defense overall tighten up.