The Value Of DTs
September 20th, 2016
Are DTs overvalued?
Caution: You may want to step away from sharp objects and remove any potential projectiles before reading the following.
Yes, the Bucs got slapped around by the Cardinals Sunday. Badly. It’s something Bucs fans have become accustomed to in recent years.
How much so? Thomas Bassinger of the Tampa Bay Times ran the numbers and Joe can envision Bucs fans Frisbeeing their bowls of corn flakes across the room or slamming coffee mugs on countertops in rage after reading the following data.
@tometrics – Since 2011, the #Bucs have allowed their opponent to score 40+ points in a game 11 times, most in the NFL. #Colts are second at 10.
This is enough for Joe to go back to bed it is so depressing.
A are couple of things at play here. What has been the common denominator since 2011? The Bucs have had pretty much zero edge rush and Gerald McCoy has been the anchor of the defense.
Now Joe can see Bucs fans screaming, “We can give up 40 points without GMC!” That’s true. But this is not an anti-GMC screed. Joe is not succumbing to the anti-GMC rabble. This is a look at a bigger picture.
GMC is a stud defensive tackle. In recent years, Joe is beginning to wonder just how valuable defensive tackles are in general playing in a 43 defense. Look, GMC is one of the best in the NFL. But he’s not a difference-maker, as (again) evidenced by Sunday.
It’s GMC’s position Joe is referring to here, not GMC. If a stud defensive tackle was/is a difference-maker, the Bucs would not consistently get torched like Sunday.
In today’s NFL, it sure appears that defensive tackles in a 43 defense are not difference-makers.
The guy drafted just ahead of GMC, Ndamukong Suh, is one of the most talented defensive tackles in the game. He plays for the Dolphins and they stink out loud.
Aaron Donald is a beast of a defensive tackle, maybe the best in the NFL. The Rams are a joke.
See a pattern here?
In a league known as a passing league, where sub-packages defending the pass are used 60 and sometimes 70 percent of the time, just how valuable is a defensive tackle in a 43 front unless he is an otherworldly pass rusher?
Joe is starting to conclude that a valuable high-end edge rusher is more important than a stud defensive tackle. First, teams don’t run that much any more and notice the fullback is nearly extinct. An edge rusher has more chances to impact a play or a game, and often has higher pressure numbers than a defensive tackle.
Let’s take a look at another stud defensive tackle Geno Atkins of Cincinnati. Is he the difference-maker of the team? Joe might suggest Pacman Jones or A.J. Green are more valuable to the Bengals.
In six of the last seven years, the Bengals have made the playoffs but only twice in those same years has Atkins had more than 7.5 sacks in a season.
Last year, who was more valuable to the Broncos, which will run four-man fronts on passing downs, Malik Jackson, Von Miller or Sylvester Williams?
Who was more valuable for Seattle, Cliff Avril, Michael Bennett — who the Bucs let go for no good reason — or Tony McDaniel? When the Giants were winning Super Bowls, who was more valuable, Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul or Chris Canty and/or Jay Alford?
Notice the pattern?
A stud defensive tackle is a nice thing to have, maybe a luxury. But if a team does not have a consistent edge rush, the defense is going to get picked apart.
As good as GMC is, unless the Bucs find and/or develop a legitimate edge rush, it doesn’t matter. He’s not a one-man gang and one can argue no 43 defensive tackle is in 2016.
It also suggests investing in a reliable edge rusher might be a smarter financial move than loading up on a tackle.
September 20th, 2016 at 7:20 am
11 players make up a defense. A weak link can loose you a game. But one man will not win you games. 11 players…..Go Bucs!!!
September 20th, 2016 at 7:21 am
lose ^
September 20th, 2016 at 7:24 am
GREAT point Joe. I wonder why they don’t move GMC around at all? is it that he can’t, or he skill set won’t let him? It can’t hurt. All I know is, after watching Philly last night( I know they played the Browns and Bears so far) Schwartz has them flying around. I hope Coach m Smith can get this D turned around quickly.
September 20th, 2016 at 7:44 am
You can’t blame GMC for giving up a pick 6 or other points generated from the 5 turnovers the Bucs offense committed. You take away those turnovers and the D would have given up half those points.
September 20th, 2016 at 8:04 am
Must win game vs the rams
We lose, we go 1-4 in a heartbeat with the ship going down
Very disheartened with koetters playcalling. When ari def coordinator took away plan a, kotter couldnt go to plan b
They took away our screen game and koetter didnt know what to do
Game 1, the number 2 corner got toasted all damn game and kotter kept on going against the best nfl corner
Did everyone see mnf and how recievers fivht for balls.
September 20th, 2016 at 8:08 am
“See a pattern here?” Sure do … football’s a team sport. Like tdtb2015 so perfectly said “11 players make up a defense. A weak link can lose you a game. But one man will not win you games.”
September 20th, 2016 at 8:23 am
Kobe Faker, maybe the game plans need to have a “next man up” characteristic.
September 20th, 2016 at 8:27 am
Our defense has too many holes and with flawed philosophy
No rush up front with no number 1 corner to handle the top reciever of the opposing team
Patchwork pieces with soso players
September 20th, 2016 at 8:27 am
This has to be the dumbest article I’ve read on JBF in a long time.
The reason we’ve gotten torched is the whole defense has sucked. Inferior talent on the D line coupled with zero depth for years.
Just like in the off season when the Joes weren’t concerned with the DT depth… “Our DEs can slide inside”
Well guess what happens when two of your starting DEs go down??? Injury prone McCoy, McDonald and Spence will be out there all day long with no help.
Very concerned with the depth and talent on this D line with Ayers and J. Smith out.
September 20th, 2016 at 8:40 am
Koetters gameplan to beat arizona was given to us from new england in game 1
Abuse repeatedly the number 2 corner of arizona
Koetter kept on going against peterson
Koetter is half to blame because forrest gump didnt cut our 12 milly anceit jack and instead gave him a mura on the corner of our stadium
Question for everyone
What happens when you sign a often injuryed reciever without a full training camp less than 5 days before regular season starts…
Cecil short and loss of 1 million glaser money in 14 days
Jason gump must go for us to finally win
September 20th, 2016 at 8:43 am
All that money for a position that doesn’t impact the game greatly…
Sucks to be a fan of this team (most of the time)
September 20th, 2016 at 8:43 am
Watch the buff vs arizona game this week
Buff will lose but ari number2 corner will get torched and benched the following week
September 20th, 2016 at 9:07 am
Did you even watch the game? The #2 corner had 2 of the interceptions. Was not the rookie from the previos week. You sir are an idiot.
September 20th, 2016 at 9:44 am
There is no one position on the defense that can make a defense. You could have Von Miller on the edge, but if you have Da’Quon Bowers and Myron Lewis around him, the defense will stink. Teams will just roll their protection. I know many are in denial about the double and triple teams McCoy gets, but if you can handle it go back and watch the game on Sunday. Look what the Cardinals did to McCoy when Ayers wasn’t in the game. Guys like Spence, Golston, and Howard Jones have to do what they are paid to do.
September 20th, 2016 at 9:57 am
attack the #2 corner with a competent reciever
vincent jackson would not be picked up by any other football team if we was cut and played for free
Our 2016 season is fvked because we dont have a competent #2 which everyone knew we needed 9 months ago
our recievers lacks separation and koetter doesnt design rub and pick pass routes. our recievers cant get open by themselves
September 20th, 2016 at 10:02 am
This article just speaks to the poor job of the rockstar!!! The team is basically being rebuilt since NFL GM Licht took over!!! I think it is geting there and heading that way!!! So who is most valuable you ask???? It might want to think of a good GM!!!!!!
September 20th, 2016 at 10:03 am
Again like i said last season …. trade or cut McCoy and get 4 to 5 quality players
September 20th, 2016 at 10:35 am
The Rams offense is a joke… you put the Bucs O with the Rams D you have a damn good team. GMC is not a game changing player… I don’t think anyone can argue that.
September 20th, 2016 at 11:41 am
Kobe Faker, you chose the wrong name. Kobe Hater would be more accurate.
September 20th, 2016 at 12:13 pm
JEEBUS IT’S ONE GAME!!!
This is the 2016 Bucs…not the 2015..not the 2014..not the 2013..how freaking far back do you guys want to go to hang on the new young guys?
September 20th, 2016 at 1:09 pm
Problem is, that would blow up the salary cap.
September 21st, 2016 at 9:27 am
Joe, you were right on point. We have to have a good pass rush and that is more important than a star DT. Koetter flat got out coached last week too and failed to adapt. He is making another mistake this week thinking two perimeter rushers can carry the ground game against the Rams. He should have gotten his 220 pound running back ready for this game to pound between the tackles and open his own hole or finally used his Full Back to open a hole to get his Auburn Back into the second level. Drop the five step drop against the
Rams ferocious outside rush with Donald also disrupting everything inside and not letting Jameis step up. Three step quick throws are mandatory. Hit slants over the middle and quick square outs by Hump behind the rushing DEs. Forget the screens. They will be using techniques the cardinals used to stop our buble screens. Our defense can hold their own against the Rams second string QB and should help with a few interceptions. It is winnable this week.