Pass Rush OK, But Still Lacking
December 13th, 2019
Bucs DC Todd Bowles.
Pass rush, pass rush, pass rush. You can’t have too much and the Bucs still don’t have enough.
One would think with the NFL’s top pass rusher, Shaq Barrett, the Bucs would be among the NFL’s leaders in sacks, especially with guys like Jason Pierre-Paul, Ndamukong Suh and Vita Vea on the roster.
Nope. The Bucs are middle of the pack, tied for No. 15.
And the vast majority of the sacks have come from guys scheduled to be free agents after the season; they could walk out the front door of One Buc Palace for good next month.
Justin Sayles of The Ringer believes this is why we haven’t seen the Bucs totally turned the corner yet.
Shaquil Barrett has been effective in his first year with the team, but the rest of the defense has struggled to generate pressure. That’s only exacerbated the coverage problems and exposed Arians’s offseason promise that the secondary was “fixed” as an extreme error in judgment.
Well, this Sunday is a corner-turning moment in Joe’s eyes. The Bucs play a team maybe playing to save a coach’s job. On the road, while the Bucs are down their best wide receiver. And their franchise quarterback has a bum thumb (it wasn’t so bum last Sunday though, was it?).
Joe believes that Sayles is using dated data here. The defense, specifically the secondary, has played better. Part of that is because the secondary is so young.
As Joe stated earlier, this is a statement game. You go on the road less than 100 percent against a desperate, wounded and bad team in their crib, it’s fair to say a win means a corner has been turned or is in the process of turning.
A win would give the Bucs five wins in their last six games.
December 13th, 2019 at 11:09 am
Easy win. Bucs really getting some breaks, getting teams at the right time.
December 13th, 2019 at 11:33 am
This defensive line is performing better than I expected. These guys are playing as a unit, very few if any discussions about them not doing their job this year. JPP reignited Shaq. And White explodes at the same time? Coincidence?
Sign them all!
The run stiffing is awesome. Anyone who thinks stopping the run is overrated, tell me how many snaps a game are run plays? And you don’t think stopping them from success is important. Get a clue.
In BA I Trust!
December 13th, 2019 at 11:36 am
Anyone want to bet that Jameis Winston > AKA > (ATM) makes the 30th ranked secondary look good???
December 13th, 2019 at 11:42 am
its not as bad as it looks….
JPP missed a bunch of time….
nassib has missed time….
nelson missed time….
DW missed time…..
bring everyone back….consistency is key…..
GO BUCS!!!!!
December 13th, 2019 at 11:55 am
Makes sense … after this season. We have 0 pass rushers. 0 sacks Lol.
Licht being a mastermind will put together a defense for next year.
December 13th, 2019 at 11:57 am
ou812 Says:
December 13th, 2019 at 11:36 am
Anyone want to bet that Jameis Winston > AKA > (ATM) makes the 30th ranked secondary look good???
I’ll take your bet.
December 13th, 2019 at 12:33 pm
Yeah I’ll take that bet too.
December 13th, 2019 at 1:07 pm
Count me in on the bet
December 13th, 2019 at 1:08 pm
Ou812…you must adore Van Halen.
Bet.
December 13th, 2019 at 1:36 pm
Good article and if we win on Sunday, I am going to be one happy mofo. Party like it’s 1996 baby!
December 13th, 2019 at 1:45 pm
I’m with Sport & 813, bring em’ all back. Then draft Gross-Matos and Raekwon Davis then we’ll have a rotation that has depth and talent throughout our front 7 with a young and improving secondary.
Finish Strong, 9-7 Go Bucs!!!
December 13th, 2019 at 11:07 pm
I say go out and claim Suggs off waivers like soon. He would add some much needed locker room leadership plus I believe he has a few more seasons in his tamk if in the right situation not asking him to do a lot amongst vets that are his peers like JPP and LVD and Suh. I see an opening for him here and that way we can draft guys in latter rounds and do some long term development with the bottom of the draft. Suggs would continue a culture change here and drafting some late round depth would be valuable as well. Keeping Nassib and Barrett as well. Hey let’s go out and get Terrell Suggs for peak sakes
December 13th, 2019 at 11:47 pm
JPP seems to be getting better. I think in obvious pass situations they need to get Nassib in there more.