Exam For Pass Defense
December 18th, 2014
The last time the Bucs faced the Packers, Bucs CB Myron Lewis found out the hard way that Packers WR Jordy Nelson is among the NFL elite.
In the past month, the secondary of the Bucs has been rather decent. No, really.
In the past four games, the Bucs have given up an average of 215 passing yards a game. Now granted, the Bucs faced questionable quarterbacks in bratty Jay Cutler (who has since been benched) and puking Andy Dalton and backup Derek Anderson.
That changes drastically this week, when Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers comes to town. It isn’t just Rodgers the Bucs have to worry about, it’s also the Packers’ bevy of receivers, lead by Jordy Nelson.
What jumped out when Joe looked at some stats is that of all the great wide receivers the Packers have had over the years, starting with the iconic Don Hutson, Nelson (who was leaky, sleepy Josh Freeman’s top target at Kansas State), Nelson is only the second Packers receiver to record consecutive seasons of at least 1,300 yards receiving. He also is but one of four Packers receivers to have 80-plus receptions in back-to-back seasons.
The Bucs defense has faced some pretty formidable receivers the past few weeks with A.J. Green, Calvin Johnson, Alshon Jeffrey and Kelvin Benjamin. Nelson is yet another stud in the parade route.
What makes Nelson so great? Bucs corner Alterraun Verner said it is simple.
“His connection with Aaron Rodgers,” Verner said. “They just have a real good link. [Nelson] has a way to exploit zones and he gets open vs. man [coverage] because he has speed. His catching ability is very good and he is very good after the catch. He is pretty much the complete package.”
It is bad enough the Bucs will have to worry about Rodgers Sunday in front of a packed house of Packers backers. Then Verner and his mates must worry about Nelson, of all people.
Has the chances of being a long afternoon for the Bucs’ pass defense.
December 18th, 2014 at 3:46 pm
Who is going to rush the passer. Darrelle Revis would be helpless against Rodgers with our anemic pass rush!!
It’s not our back seven who have sucked. It’s our front four!!! Where is the pass rush. Jacques Smith? Hey everybody loves a hidden gem, but not if he’s your main stud. Without GMC WHO is going to rush Rodgers?
Give Rodgers time and this will look like a Maddon Football game,.
December 18th, 2014 at 5:07 pm
Here is where Bowers comes in to add pressure. Nelson will probably have a field day.
December 18th, 2014 at 5:28 pm
Don’t sleep on Lacy. He will beat the pfudr into submission in the 1st qrt with 14:52 to play.
December 18th, 2014 at 5:29 pm
“In the past month, the secondary of the Bucs has been rather decent. No, really.”
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The problem is that we can’t cover a TE to save our lives. Whoever the Packers trot out at TE will light up the fantasy stats along with Rodgers.
December 18th, 2014 at 6:01 pm
“The problem is that we can’t cover a TE to save our lives.”
Nobody can disagree with that Rayjay. What I wonder though is how much of it is due to the athletic ability of the back seven and how much is due to Frazier/Lovie schemes?
Clearly Mark Barron wasn’t the answer and we have improved since dumping him. But TE’s still run free in our secondary. Maybe I’m not paying close enough attention but it seems as if they are simply uncovered and run wide open as if they are never accounted for in Frazier/Lovie’s schemes.
December 18th, 2014 at 6:16 pm
@StPeteBucsFan
Who knows? It may be 6 of one and a half dozen of the other when determining if it is a result of scheme or personnel. The fact is though that TE’s love playing the Bucs.
December 18th, 2014 at 6:20 pm
The issues with covering TE’s could also be a result of not getting pressure on opposing QB’s and as a result them having time to go through all of their reads and finding wide open TE’s who are most often mismatched against a LB when playing our Defense. That is just a theory though.
December 18th, 2014 at 8:07 pm
Joe…to compare the quarterbacks to Rodgers is, would be in the world of medicine to compare Rodgers to a brain surgeon, Brees and Brady to MD’s, and those QB’s we have seen the last few weeks to CNA’s.
There is no similarity in the skill they possess.
December 19th, 2014 at 1:33 am
Mark2001 and manning would be their dad?
December 19th, 2014 at 2:45 pm
Myron lewis photos really? we’re still doing the Myron lewis photos joebucs? this is a boring defense and they keep everything in front of them more often than not, jordy nelson is no burner, he’s just the right speed for jonathan banks. you know who’s gonna have the big day? whoever is in the slot being guarded by leonard johnson