“We Missed 14 Tackles”
December 14th, 2020
Repeat performance
Against the Rams a few weeks ago, the Buccaneers missed 14 tackles and Bucco Bruce Arians lamented the sloppiness after that game.
Today at his news conference, Arians said “we missed 14 tackles” against the Vikings in yesterday’s win. It was really the only major negative he expressed from his defense.
Arians praised Todd Bowles for mixing up his looks well and he emphasized that limiting Vikings stud receivers Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson was to priority and the Bucs got it done. They combined for 78 yards on seven receptions.
So what’s going to fix the Bucs’ tackling?
Arians said he expected rustiness in tackling off a bye week. Sounds like a nice excuse following Todd Bowles telling media last week that last week’s focus was on fundamentals.
Next Sunday against the Falcons, in a game where the Bucs may be playing to lock up their first playoff berth since the 2007 season, there will be no excuses for sloppy tackling.
December 14th, 2020 at 2:05 pm
I don’t get why I keep hearing we are going to walk right over Atlanta. Julio Jones still plays for them last I checked. He could put up 3 TD’s and 200 yards on us.
December 14th, 2020 at 2:09 pm
“no excuses for sloppy tackling.”
Amen. I think it’s even more though in the final three games especially against the Falcons. We need to wrap up and make sure guys are on the ground for sure but whenever we have a shot we need to lay the heavy lumber.
This team has some good hitters. Let’s hope they are their most violent selves for the next three games. We want to make the Falcons physically dread that second game with us.
In addition to all the playcalling ideas and personnel thoughts…I’d like to add a request for some genuine SMASHMOUTH football. We have a defense that has enough swag to pull it off.
Did you see the hit at the sideline between C Davis and D Cook? That was a VIOLENT collision where neither player let up a bit. After the play Dalvin even slapped hands with Carlton for gutting it out on a major collision.
Our guys do not hit like softies. They may get beat deep…they may get sloppy on their tackles…but when they’re playing they big cojones and are not afraid.
December 14th, 2020 at 2:28 pm
That´s been my main concern for the last 2 months……. Sometimes some players need to calm down, they are over excited!!!! Devin White and carlton Davis….need to chill guys……If you go max speed to the action you can be fooled and that´s what´s happening
December 14th, 2020 at 2:39 pm
Rusty off a bye week?
Does BA listen to the crap he says?
December 14th, 2020 at 2:52 pm
The litany of excuses over the season has been stunning. BA has an answer for everything. What’s his excuse for the countless excuses he’s been feeding us?
December 14th, 2020 at 3:05 pm
The next 3 games should be used as a tune-up for the playoffs. Speed to the ball and wrap the player up. Guys like Cook aren’t going to the ground because you bump into him. Wrap him up with your arms and don’t let go. If you can’t get him to the ground, help will be there momentarily. I know someone who’s never played the game in an organized setting shouldn’t be instructing a pro player how to tackle, but it really is all about fundamentals.
December 14th, 2020 at 3:13 pm
stpetebucsfan Says:
December 14th, 2020 at 2:09 pm
“no excuses for sloppy tackling.”
Amen.
___________________________________
Amen. Amen. Amen.
What a crock of an excuse from the head coach. But that’s what I expect from Bullchit Bruce at this point.
Can’t wait to hear what his excuse is next week. Maybe back to “being too tired”?
December 14th, 2020 at 3:17 pm
BA
A little too much drinky drinky, I suspect. 🍸 🍸
December 14th, 2020 at 3:17 pm
Todd. Please wwork on tackling with this team but also coach up Devin White in coverage. dude is way too fast and skilled to look this crappy in coverage. 4th and 5 or 6, Cousins targeted Devin each time and it worked. LVD is strong in coverage. Hopefully Devin comes around but right now he’s kind of a liability in coverage.
December 14th, 2020 at 3:18 pm
Robert: Julio jones was out last week and they are considering putting him down for the rest of the year. Also we have Matty Ice on our side, he is consistently playing poorly all year, lost the game last night due to another interception.
December 14th, 2020 at 3:21 pm
Wow. Easy does it killer Bucs fans. I know you have a right to be so critical considering this franchise has been crap for the better part of 40+ years. Get a grip. BA doesn’t owe anybody any explanations after a 2 score win. By the way, there aren’t excuses for wins. Come on. The Head Coach points out something he would like to see improvement in and you ant to skewer him…After a huge win. I give up. We haven’t been in the playoff s since 2007. I get being temperamental during the game. That happens to the best of us but we won. Maybe you weren’t paying attention. We freaking won and our chances to go the playoffs is very good.
December 14th, 2020 at 3:48 pm
I agree. So nice to be at 8 wins with 3 games to go. 1 more win and we are virtually in the playoffs!! I would love to see the offense go after 40 points every game. I think we are more than capable. I know everyone loves to see Rojo get his 20 touches, but with this lineup, I’d love to see what Todd Monken’s offense would look like. I remember that shootout with the Saints at the beginning of the season that we pulled out. We should be able to do that against any team with this Pro Bowl Caliber line up on offense.
December 14th, 2020 at 3:58 pm
@thisisouryear
It always bugged me that the highlight of the Winston era was Fitzpatrick’s 2-0 start. I wondered if that was what Koetter & Monken’s offense was supposed to look like.
December 14th, 2020 at 4:04 pm
Cmurda
Our DC said he recognized the problem, and that it was being worked on during the bye… so how we rusty on it?
December 14th, 2020 at 4:11 pm
Arians said he expected rustiness in tackling off a bye week.
………………..
When I played football and had to go a week without hitting anyone I was a Tackling Machine when I got my next chance.
I call Total BS to “rustiness” as an excuse or reason.
December 14th, 2020 at 4:45 pm
Cmurda
Amen.
December 14th, 2020 at 5:17 pm
Cmurda,
I agree with you…after all these years missing the playoffs and being bottom feeders in our division, you would think some of these cry babies would be happy that we have a winning record and we are getting national exposure…Some people use so unhappy with their lives they have to rain on everyone’s parade.
December 14th, 2020 at 5:26 pm
Yep the tackling is a major problem. I am just glad to problem is not like it was when we had Grimes on film running away from tackles. Our boys come up strong for the hit they hust gettimg shook too eadily. Sad part of this is that young players in the backend is the biggest part of the problem. The best way to fix that is with reps. It takes time. Sucks to wait as a fan.
But I do like the intensity and fire these guys have. Im loving pur chances to see a big step forward for this defense playing with a SB invitation waiting for the taking.
GO BUCS!!!!
December 14th, 2020 at 7:30 pm
Ten more than kicks missed by Bailey.
December 14th, 2020 at 9:35 pm
It isn’t just a box. It is the entire NFL. Tackling has been going downhill for a couple decades, mainly because linebackers and DBs look to hit someone instead of wrapping their damn arms around them and actually making a tackle.
Why it has been tolerated by coaches, I just do not understand.
Part of it is the emphasis to try to strip the ball, but if you remember the Buccaneers Super Bowl run, that defense preached the first man wraps up, everyone else goes for the ball
December 14th, 2020 at 10:35 pm
Watching the game it sure looked like more than 14 missed tackles
December 15th, 2020 at 8:23 am
Although I was frustrated by the yards Cook got, limiting Thielen and Justin Jefferson to 78 yards, especially with the running Cook did was very impressive. As they say, the other guys get paid too.
December 15th, 2020 at 12:57 pm
It was more than 14 hell I counted 4 on 1 play alone
December 15th, 2020 at 2:05 pm
This defense has been so sloppy. Bowels blitz all day has become an embarrassment. For some reason they haven’t noticed how big a push Vita had up front in those situations. Bucs need to play closer because even if they got six sacks on Cousins, that has not been happening in other games and will not succeed against playoff caliber teams with good offensive lines. What a joke they switched Shaq to the other side after he got 19.5 sacks last year. They blitz every down and it turns into the other DBs playing Smitty deep where second string and practice squad receivers are making easy receptions and RB are wide open for a long run on the drop down. They need to draw up ways to get get Devin White more blitzes. He is not good in coverage.
December 15th, 2020 at 2:12 pm
Buy a prime vet CB or S in FA. I think Winfield Jr would be awesome in the nickel position compared to SMB who has not had a great year. That guy is such a hawk and lays the perfect hit every time.