Cheers To The Run Defense
September 28th, 2014
A sweet open field tackle by Alterraun Verner was one reason the Bucs held Le’Veon Bell to a scant 63 yards. Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.
Entering today’s game against the Steelers, much focus spotlighted the atrocious pass defense of the Bucs. More on that later. However, today, the Bucs’ rush defense came up huge.
The Steelers had two solid running backs in Le’Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount. Bell was averaging 5.3 yards a carry while Blount was 7.8. It wasn’t like these two guys were running against cottage cheese. Last week, the two both had 100-yard rushing games against one of the better defenses(?) in the NFL, the Stinking Panthers’.
Well, this time, the Bucs put up one of their better run defense efforts in years. Behind Lavonte David’s 12 tackles, the rush defense held the Steelers to 85 yards. Bell himself was held to 3.3 yards a carry, 63 yards on 19 carries.
This was one of the many reasons the Steelers only scored one touchdown in the second half, and set up the best Bucs’ comeback in years.
September 28th, 2014 at 6:56 pm
Couldn’t agree more. Bell was one of my biggest worries going into this game. To put it in perspective he was the 4th biggest rusher in the NFL before this game
September 28th, 2014 at 6:58 pm
They played pretty good. Helps when our offense stays on the field to give them a breather too
September 28th, 2014 at 6:58 pm
Great game! Big time win. 99% of the public gave them zero chance of winning with many predicting a blowout.
GO BUCS!
September 28th, 2014 at 6:59 pm
Now if the can play the run and cover the TE I’ll be happy
September 28th, 2014 at 7:04 pm
Robert7 Says:
September 28th, 2014 at 6:59 pm
Now if the can play the run and cover the TE I’ll be happy
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What? We’re supposed to COVER the TE? Does Mark Barron know this?
September 28th, 2014 at 7:07 pm
^^^lol did he play today? And major looked better than the hawk
September 28th, 2014 at 7:11 pm
Every time they said Bell’s full name I thought they were saying LABIA Bell.
September 28th, 2014 at 7:11 pm
My game ball goes to Todd Haley for not being able to pick up that last first down. Guess he forgot the TE is open all day!
I’ll take it!!
September 28th, 2014 at 7:15 pm
Buc1987 is VERY VERY happy today!
September 28th, 2014 at 7:16 pm
Hell yea amongst others!!
September 28th, 2014 at 7:19 pm
GMC is the best 3 tech in the NFL
September 28th, 2014 at 7:21 pm
The entire team responded to the Atlanta beatdown. This just might be the spark. Bring on the Saints.
September 28th, 2014 at 7:22 pm
And just think, that running back that averages 7.8 yards a carry was traded away for a 7th round pick. So glad Dominick is gone.
September 28th, 2014 at 8:18 pm
Steelers aint all that. How they won at Carolina is baffling. Yeah they have the runners, a couple of good receivers and big Ben, not a whole lot more, and a sub par defense. They probably won’t win another division game this year. Cleveland, Baltimore and Cincinnati are better. The Bucs will be hard pressed to beat those teams also.
September 28th, 2014 at 9:29 pm
The defense did a good job of keeping one of the best RBs in the league bottled up. The pass defense still needs work. The safeties are late almost every time when they’re playing cover 2.
September 28th, 2014 at 9:49 pm
Joe you still haven’t said a word about Michael Johnson. Give credit where credit is due and acknowledge that your wrong. The guy injured himself within the first couple snaps against Carolina
September 28th, 2014 at 9:51 pm
Nvm you did
September 29th, 2014 at 5:59 am
Nice win for the Bucs. Much needed! They did a decent job against the run today but Wow! Is their pass defense horrible!!!!!! Only saw one or two passes contested all day. Our corners repeatedly give the receivers a 10 yard cushion. So much space they can’t possibly stop the completion. Overall the team stayed in there and competed to the end. Great job Bucs!