Bucs Run Defense: Better Than You Thought
June 11th, 2020
Bucs DC Todd Bowles.
Yes, we all know the Bucs defense was damn good against the run last year.
In fact, the Bucs led the NFL allowing just 73.8 yards a game on the ground and were tied with the best yards-per-carry in the NFC with 3.7 allowed per attempt.
But handicapper, gambler and stat guy Warren Sharp, a renowned numbers guy, said in so many words that numbers with the Bucs’ rush defense last year were misleading.
They were better than the numbers.
Appearing on the Mina Kimes Show, Sharp broke down the NFC South in a statistical analysis. And he included this little nugget about the Bucs.
“They were the No. 1 defense against the run and that was against the No. 4 strength of schedule of run offenses,” Sharp said. “So they were crushing teams. You could not run against them. So teams had to throw. Problem was, their secondary really wasn’t good.”
So, per Sharp, the Bucs faced some of the best run games in the NFL last year and still shut teams down. That’s pretty cool. Joe does know, and has written about it a few times as late as last season, that the Bucs early on in the 2019 season faced a murderer’s row of stud running backs who did little against them.
Now yesterday, Bucs cornerback Carlton Davis basically said he knows the Bucs’ secondary will be better this year. Sharp’s analysis suggests Davis better be right.
With the Bucs returning virtually the entire defense intact, Sharp believes teams learned the hard way you cannot run on the Bucs. So he believes teams will throw early and often and not putz around trying to gain yards on the ground.
“Teams are going to need to throw against that secondary,” Sharp said. “You can be great stopping the run. But teams are not going to run that much in the second half if they are trailing.”
Sharp said he projects the Bucs to have a winning season (though he didn’t offer up a record) and believes the Bucs will go far if the secondary balls out.
“They are going to need to step up that production in the secondary,” Sharp said. “And that will be the difference on whether this team has enough in the tank to get as far as they want to.
“It is going to be how well that secondary can improve over what they did in 2019.”
OK Mr. Davis. Joe’s banking on your word.
June 11th, 2020 at 6:04 am
No doubt that secondary will be tested. Hold on tight boys, we need you to step up!
June 11th, 2020 at 6:18 am
Well, its a passing league, so…
June 11th, 2020 at 6:18 am
If teams decide to mainly attack our defense with the pass, I expect the Bucs to accumulate more sacks.
The reason why we sucked so bad in pass defense in the first part of the year was starting Vernon Hargreaves. Once he left, the Bucs started improving. I think one of our three young CBs has a chance to step up and be a shutdown corner.
June 11th, 2020 at 6:20 am
How much better will the Defense be just from the expected reduction in TOs? Also, how does TB’s career time of possession and time consumed per drive compare to Jameis’? That will affect the Defense, too. But the Defense will likely face as much or more passing if the Bucs start getting the lead earlier.
June 11th, 2020 at 6:42 am
One more year’s experience and add Antoine Winfield….our DBs will perform much better.
They are YOUNGRY!!!
June 11th, 2020 at 7:01 am
Are we there yet Joe ?
June 11th, 2020 at 7:49 am
One more year for older players, and add a rookie……with poor role players, will exposed!!!!!!!!!!!!
They are oldired!!!!!!!!!!
Old and tired!!!!!!!!!!!!
go bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 11th, 2020 at 8:19 am
The Iron Curtain will ball out this year… Lol
Not many know this, but there’s a HUGE sheet of Iron ore underneath Tampa Bay…
And fun fact: Scientists theorize that the sheet of Iron ore is possibly one if the main reasons hurricanes tend to turn away from hitting Tampa/St Pete directly.. (Knock on wood) But supposedly the magnetic field created by the HUGE sheet of Iron ore repels the hurricanes…. Anyway, it’s just a theory, but pretty neat..
June 11th, 2020 at 8:49 am
@ Erik Hesson says, “And fun fact: Scientists theorize that the sheet of Iron ore is possibly one if the main reasons hurricanes tend to turn away from hitting Tampa/St Pete directly.. (Knock on wood) But supposedly the magnetic field created by the HUGE sheet of Iron ore repels the hurricanes…. Anyway, it’s just a theory, but pretty neat..
Must be the reason why our kicker’s suck. The gravitational magnetic field must pulls the football slightly left or right.
June 11th, 2020 at 9:08 am
Do You think we will sign Devonta Freeman. Do you think we could get him signed for less
June 11th, 2020 at 9:21 am
LOL. Funny. You guys who claim to be “Real Fans” My family there from day 1.
Don’t you see it? The greatest Defense of all time? Yes I said it! The best and most dominating smothering defense you have ever saw is what you will witness.
Get ready, pop your corn, order up them wings, grill them steaks. That defense will be used as a study template and all on that line will be HOF when it is all said and done. GO BUCS!!!!
June 11th, 2020 at 10:02 am
Hi Bucsforever98. If the NFL will allow teams to have at least one additional player per position because of the virus then absolutely.
He would be wise to forget his high price tag and get on the ball if he wants to participate. Go BUCS!!!
June 11th, 2020 at 11:29 am
They didn’t run because they knew they could pass on them.
June 11th, 2020 at 11:32 am
I agree with Cainishire 100%.
June 11th, 2020 at 1:31 pm
We already knew this: Christian Mc and Alvin Kamara twice, Todd Gurley, Leonard Fournette, Saquan Barkley – we already knew we shut down some of the Best backs in football
June 11th, 2020 at 1:38 pm
Cainishere
Love your post and the challenge it presents. The common reaction..oh noes can’t happen we’re the Bucs! Some think we’ll be better but I tend to be more like you and over the top.
The obvious wild card is injuries and health…if D White or Shack or JPP get the Covid all bets are off. But if all the players stay reasonably healthy I feel exactly like you do…this could be a special defense.
June 11th, 2020 at 2:40 pm
Vita Vea will be in the ROH before McCoy goes to the playoffs. Lol
June 11th, 2020 at 3:28 pm
<—— Toots a long toot on the pitch pipe . . .
"You can always be number one. You can always be a winner. Even if you’ve played the game for years and you play like a beginner.
You can always be number one. Let the Buccaneers show you how. Don’t hide your face when you miss a point. Get up and take a bow."
Thanks for the kind words folks I love my Buccaneers!! GO BUCS!!!!
June 11th, 2020 at 4:38 pm
They now know they’re starting Dean and SMB more than six games. Know one knows about Weinfield Jr yet but he was raised in the NFL with his good safety pops. Hopefully watching film of Todd Bowels scheme and expectations all day.
June 11th, 2020 at 5:15 pm
Iron ore, the shape of the sunshine skyway, ancient Indian blessings or Government controlling hurricanes through Haarp are all a bunch of crap. The steering currents, the shape of our bay and a lot of luck has helped us avoid a direct hit in Tampa/St. Pete since 1921. Prepare and be ready because this hurricane season is predicted to be 40% more active. Stay safe.
June 11th, 2020 at 6:53 pm
Pass rush is another variable. JPP and Shaq will help the DBs.
June 11th, 2020 at 8:46 pm
Remember how we all knew when Brooks and Sapp came to join the Bucs?
We knew we were something special with Barber Lynch AND SIMEON OMG.
This team has more firepower than that team did on both sides of the ball.
Proof that this team is beyond anything yet witnessed before.
Hey I got this old record here some place . . . . here it is let me play it for you
Wow listen to those Crackles and Pops. listen now … listen close
Hey, Hey, Hey, We’re the Buccaneers. . .
Ho, Ho, Ho, We’re the Buccaneers. . .
Offense!!
Defense!!
Now, we’re here to say. . .
Make the SAINTS walk the plank. . .
Throw ’em in Tampa Bay!
NICE!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
June 12th, 2020 at 12:43 am
I think the secondary will step it up. They improved throughout the year and were actually damn good the second half of the season. They are young and are now healthy with a new stud safety (allegedly).