Leading NFL In QB Pressures Again?
August 4th, 2020
Bucs DL Ndamukong Suh.
Joe has to doff his cap to an unlikely source.
The PFF tribe claimed last year the Bucs had the most quarterback pressures in the NFL. You can see the chart below. If you believe the tribe, the Bucs had 359 pressures.
It is not a shock to learn the guy who led the Bucs was NFL sack king Shaq Barrett with 82 pressures. He was followed by Vita Vea with 56, Jason Pierre-Paul with 44 and Ndamukong Suh added 39.
Just think, three years ago, none of these guys were on the Bucs’ squad but Tampa Bay did have the likes of Sealver Siliga, Robert Ayers and offsides-jumping, Lightning-trolling, belly-shirt-wearing, practice-hating, kicker-heckling, tree-grinding , non-contact-football-loving, chicken-wings-grilling, playing-time-squawking, TV-cooking-star, half-sack Swaggy Baker.
Could the Bucs get the same production this season?
Well, Shaq thinks he should. In a Zoom conference call with the local pen and mic club, Shaq was asked about getting 12 sacks this year.
“I mean, that’s a good start,” Shaq said. “We might be canceling the season if I’m only getting 12, though – it must be half of a season. No, but whatever helps the team out … 12 would be a good number, but I’m always striving to be better than I was last year. Whatever that number would be, I’m just excited that my plays potentially help the team get a couple wins.”
JPP should get many more pressures this season, if he can stay healthy. Remember, JPP broke his neck in May of 2019 and missed all offseason workouts, training camp and preseason, plus the first six regular season games.
Also, factor in other linebackers besides Shaq. Devin White was drafted No. 5, in part, because the Bucs planned to blitz him early and often. Joe will just be polite and type that White has some work to do as a pass rusher (he’s an otherwise vicious inside linebacker against the run). Same with Lavonte David.
So could the Bucs actually improve on the quarterback pressures from last year? It’s easy to see that the Bucs could.
August 4th, 2020 at 8:30 am
All I care about is most wins
August 4th, 2020 at 8:31 am
Pleasantly surprised to see Vea with that many pressures. Maybe this year he gets five or more sacks. I don’t think that is a reach.
What’s scary is the Saints weren’t far behind…Uh oh Mr. Wirfs.
August 4th, 2020 at 8:33 am
No brainer to see Shaq with the most pressure, but was shocked to hear Vita Vea with 56. Hopefully he can convert a few more pressures into sacks this year.
August 4th, 2020 at 9:01 am
Mount Vea isn’t even a “full-time” starter. Nice. The kids goes all out, man.
#applypressure
#pressurebustpipes
Go Bucs
August 4th, 2020 at 10:15 am
Watch Vea on any given play. It’s a joy.
August 4th, 2020 at 10:39 am
Obviously, 12 won’t be good enough for Shaq. Having the line at full strength starting day one will hopefully improve these numbers for all involved.
Perfect Storm!
August 4th, 2020 at 11:17 am
Goes to show how inept the secondary was, if you think about it.
Yes, I think we can improve on those numbers. More importantly, we need to improve on the back end. We saw that when Hargreaves was sent packing. We have to continue to improve here.
August 4th, 2020 at 12:30 pm
Our back end stats should be much better this year. We have the players this year so well developed by BA and his Coaches.
August 4th, 2020 at 1:20 pm
#1 is good but we could have been better.
The Bucs didn’t have JPP for half the season and White missed the first three games.
August 4th, 2020 at 1:31 pm
All that inside pressure feeds the OLB’s.
Shaq and JPP shpould buy the Big Uglies Rolexes…
I cannot recall a more strong, stout, skilled front seven in Bucs history. Can you?
August 4th, 2020 at 2:09 pm
**I cannot recall a more strong, stout, skilled front seven in Bucs history. Can you?**
Not yet time for comparisons, but the 02 squad comes to mind. Although they were backed up by a strong secondary and we all know it’s a team effort.
August 4th, 2020 at 2:11 pm
And don’t forget the early teams that gave us our rep as a defensive team
August 4th, 2020 at 4:37 pm
There are stats and there are stats….I like the QB pressures even more than our ability to stuff runs…we’ll need pressure on today’s QB’s to have a chance.
Are we getting excited yet about the stories within the story of the first game.
Could the QB matchup be any more interesting. Two very successful guys who play similar games. Kinda like watching Mahomes against Lamar Jackson…great at their positions with similar styles.