Dee-FENSE! (Boom… Boom)
September 20th, 2020
Return of the defense.
As much as Joe craves a fun, entertaining, gunslinging offense (it’s why Joe is fond of Big XII football and Lincoln Riley in particular — beware of Spencer Rattler!), the hallmark of the Bucs franchise (aside from losing) has been defense.
It was defense that carried the Bucs to the brink of the Super Bowl in 1979. It was bone-rattling defense led by Scot Brantley that had teams’ attention when they came to the Old Sombrero in the dark days of the franchise. And of course it was one of the greatest defenses in NFL history that was the signature of the Super Bowl champs in 2002.
(Ironically, the only time the Bucs didn’t have any defense to speak of was during the Lost Decade — a shameful stain on the Tampa Bay area).
Might we be returning to the glory days of the Bucs being feared for their defense? Gary Gramling of SI.com thinks so.
Lost in all the hand-wringing over Tom Brady soiling himself in his Bucs debut followed by his coach pointing out that Tom Brady had soiled himself in his Bucs debut is the fact that the Bucs defense might be really good.
Tampa’s front seven is going to be stout against the run, and there was plenty of optimism that Shaq Barrett and the pass rush’s 2019 performance was for real. The question mark was a secondary full of recent Day 2 picks that had flashed last season but had yet to really pull it together.
In New Orleans last week, until a Taysom Hill gadget play for 38 yards sealed the game the Bucs had allowed 3.7 yards per play. Carlton Davis locked down Michael Thomas: 5 targets, 3 catches (tied for lowest career output), 17 yards (second-lowest career output).
If the quarterback stops being a liability, the Bucs might have a championship-caliber defense on their hands.
Well, to have a championship-level defense you have to get to a championship. And you cannot do that if you don’t score points. As sluggish as the offense was last week, Bucco Bruce Arians and his biggest and brightest staff must figure out a way to score points.
Look, lost in the loss last week was that Drew Brees had a poor day — and the Bucs couldn’t take advantage of it. If you were told that the Bucs would hold Brees to 160 yards passing, you’d have expected a Bucs win to be in the bag.
Get it fixed, Bruce.
September 20th, 2020 at 10:30 am
Bridgewater will have a career day. 4th stringers masquerading as starters always feast on the bucs.
September 20th, 2020 at 10:33 am
I can’t see losing today if we don’t beat ourselves. I’m totally confident in BA to get them in line today going forward.
Go Bucs
September 20th, 2020 at 10:37 am
@matters your not a fan. Go away. You haven’t watched this defense obviously. Good day to you
September 20th, 2020 at 10:43 am
Maybe the defense will finally be a consistent strength game after game. I believe this team has the talent from top to bottom. If they Eliminate the presnap penalties. Be smart and stay disciplined, they can play. Lets get a win today. Can BA maybe be the better head coach this game please?
September 20th, 2020 at 10:46 am
Great defenses typically score points on their own. The 2002 Bucs were scoring a defensive touchdown somewhere around once per game on average.
And great defenses don’t put their hands out like OH I ALMOST HAD IT when they don’t make an interception. They actually catch it, or if not they don’t reward themselves with an almost gesture.
September 20th, 2020 at 10:49 am
Onlymylifematters”
What a wonderfully selfish moniker. Kudos to you for leading the selfish brigade.
EFF “He ain’t heavy he’s my brother” eh?
Against that backdrop this post is not aimed at you but others who might have a balanced mind.
Why do we need to berate other players without any substance.
Teddy Bridgewater has won with two different teams! Another QB we know hasn’t won yet. Bridgewater went 6-6 as a rookie with the Vikes then improved to 11-5 his second year. His third year he had a horrid knee injury which derailed his career. Last year he went 5-0 filling in for Brees. Yeah the Saints have a GREAT team but that’s not his fault…he did what was expected of him.
Heading into this year he was a career 22-12 a career 65% winning %.
Compare him to his peers. He’s far from a 4th stringer!!!
September 20th, 2020 at 10:53 am
If this Licht, Arians and Brady marriage doesn’t work out. I would love to see Lincoln Riley as the Bucs next head coach.
September 20th, 2020 at 10:56 am
Expect the Panthers to bring the screen game with them today. Gotta stop those screens D.
September 20th, 2020 at 11:13 am
If Bucs protect the ball, they win period. The Bucs are the better team both sides of the Ball than the Panthers. P-r-o-t-e-c-t the ball, Simple and down go the Teddy Panthers. All the talk about A-Z from last weeks game and If the Bucs do not play keystone cops on a few plays, they win last week.
September 20th, 2020 at 11:23 am
saint pete,
I believe they have came a long way with pharmaceutical treatments for oversensitive male disorder. Call your dr today. I believe they will even administer the drugs while you hide under the bed in fear. I am not selfish, I am honest. Honesty matters. Feelings do not.
The bucs history against mid tier quarterbacks and backups during the mentally weak LVD and McCoy era prove there is no such thing as an easy day for the bucs at home.
On a positive note, I am 100% positive you can expect some dumb arse calls from this horrendous coaching staff.
September 20th, 2020 at 11:32 am
LOL! I love these “drive by” trolls.
It was lost in that game that we played pretty good defense against HOF Drew Brees. Had we played a “cleaner” game penalty-wise, even with Brady’s bad day, that game is so much closer.
Prior to Bowles, watching a Bucs defense was painful. There was no aggression, soft coverage, and QBs could order lunch while our “pass-rush” tried to make its way to the QB. Who was DC back then?! (Looking at you Realist(o)!)
Suddenly, watching defense has become fun again. We have a pass-rush, our DBs are aggressive, and there’s actual hitting again in Tampa Bay!
Join with me Buc fans:
TAMPA……….
September 20th, 2020 at 12:16 pm
Take out the long played to Jared cook and the muffed kick and we still win that game even with Brady’s turnovers
September 20th, 2020 at 12:45 pm
I’m with ya Bucfanman! I’m normally an old AFL kind of guy…which made me excited about BA. I like offense.
But as D.R. loves to point out defense wins championships. While I watched a GREAT defense here get too little for their efforts…ONE SB did not really reflect the talent of our D. But our O was just miserable.
I’m excited about this D!!!
September 20th, 2020 at 12:47 pm
Only…
Not gonna take the bait!
“Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.”
― Mark Twain