Bucs Now A “Mediocre Defense?”
November 17th, 2021
Bucs DC Todd Bowles
Yes, Joe already wrote about how NBC insider Peter King made his weekly appearance with the one and only Chris “Mad Dog” Russo on SiriusXM yesterday to talk Bucs.
That was a direct Bucs discussion, but King also talked indirectly about the Tampa Bay defense.
Russo asked King if Rams fans should start sweating now that the Rams have lost two in a row. King said, yes they should. Why?
King said the Rams flashed a major red flag Monday against the 49ers.
“What would worry me Chris is, when the other team puts up an 11-minute drive on you,” King said. “That is the official notice that the Rams … now are a mediocre defense, at best. And they better turn that around or else they are not going to have any chance of making it to the Super Bowl in L.A.”
Well, if the Rams now have the official notice their defense is mediocre, shouldn’t that also apply to the Bucs’ defense?
Remember WTF — with lesser offensive players than the 49ers — marched on a 19-play (19!!!), 10 1/2-minute drive to basically seal the game Sunday on the Bucs. The drive King referred to by the 49ers was an 18-play, 11-minute drive on the first possession of the game. The WTF drive came when the Bucs only needed one stop to set up their own potential game-winning drive.
In Joe’s eyes, what the WTF did to the Bucs was far more significant than what the 49ers did to the Rams.
So if the Rams officially have a mediocre defense, then Joe guesses that also applies to the Bucs.
Sean Murphy-Bunting and Carlton Davis cannot get healthy quickly enough.
November 17th, 2021 at 11:06 am
mediocre would be an upgrade.
November 17th, 2021 at 11:08 am
Less than mediocre.
Wanna get rich quick?
Buy the Bucs defense for what they are worth, and sell it for what they think it’s worth.
They can’t stop anybody, especially on 3rd down.
Just another example on how you cannot win in the NFL consistently by just outscoring teams.
My concern is now we are seeing a template to beat the Bucs: drop 2 safeties deep, jam WR’s, and force the Bucs to dink and dunk. The problem is the Bucs don’t have any dink-and-dunkers.
November 17th, 2021 at 11:10 am
No argument from me.
November 17th, 2021 at 11:11 am
The Bucs were always a blitz-heavy team, but they are blitzing with even greater frequency, but far less effectiveness. They are ranked #2 in the league at blitz frequency, but below average in terms of QB pressures.
The best guess is that they’re overly reliant on the blitz due to weakness in pass defense. They simply don’t have the personnel to play quality nickel or dime personnel packages, meaning they play more 3-4 than they should. That leaves lots of mismatches for the opposing offense throughout the field: Poor CBs and D Linemen dropping back into coverage (note for Joe: that’s the reason why you see even Vita Vea and other D Linemen dropping back). So either you blitz too much, or you misuse your D Linemen. The answer is simple for the opposing QB: get rid of the ball on lots of short to intermediate level passes. Both lead to lots of fat opportunities for the opposing team.
November 17th, 2021 at 11:13 am
Cobra think that was more of less what teams did to Bucs before the bye. After the bye we made some adjustments finally.
November 17th, 2021 at 11:14 am
I was sitting at the 10 yard line on the Bucs side with the WFT moving towards my side of the field, pure agony as they shoved it down are throats for 19 plays!!!! The worst feeling in the world. Lord help us…..
November 17th, 2021 at 11:28 am
Two unverified reports after that game:
1. Heinicke has formally requested the the Washington football team play at least two games with the Bucs each year.
2. The Bucs have asked the NFL to eliminate their bye week next year.
I wonder …
November 17th, 2021 at 11:53 am
I expect this defense to get better but the scheme has to change.
November 17th, 2021 at 11:55 am
Bucs fans are the BIGGEST GROUP OF BIPOLAR CRYBABIES.
One week we’re the best team ever!!! The next week we’re the worst.
The Bucs are 6-3. 1st in NFCS and one game out of first place in the NFC.
They’ve had two sub-par games against teams that give them problems (did everyone forget the Saints last year and the playoff game vs WFT).
They’ll be fine.
November 17th, 2021 at 12:15 pm
And there you have it. @SlyPirate. 😆
November 17th, 2021 at 12:49 pm
Bucs have been mediocre or worse on Defense for years.. outside of a few games.
This is nothing new.
November 17th, 2021 at 1:25 pm
We’ve returned to Lee Flowers and his “Paper Tigers” rant after the Steelers game in 2002.
November 17th, 2021 at 2:10 pm
Wouldn’t be so bad, but the Offense isn’t holding up their end of the bargain and scoring 30 points a game. Last week, the D spent too much time on the field, early, with the enemy deep in our turf thanks to the turnovers. Later the Offense couldn’t stay on field and get first downs (gotta throw passes to people further away than 3 yards).
November 17th, 2021 at 2:59 pm
I believe our defense now is worse than what the Chiefs brought to the Superbowl. I can’t stop laughing at the fools who were talking about 17-0 early in the year. The Washington game was far from an aberration… This is NOT a Jekyll-and-Hyde team. It is a team with serious defensive vulnerabilities and an offense that cannot consistently figure out the defenses they play against.
November 17th, 2021 at 3:38 pm
Mediocre at best!
November 17th, 2021 at 3:42 pm
Bucs need more than a scheme change. How about a DC change. Foote next coach up.
November 17th, 2021 at 3:45 pm
Bowels was a disaster with Jets —nothing changed in Tampa.. He, along with BA and BL think THey won the Superbowl…..
reality is it was TB12, GRONK, AB that got them thru the playoffs…..Bowels, BA & BL were spectators & still are ……
November 17th, 2021 at 3:55 pm
SlyPirate saved me some typing. I remember the KC-Pats blowout where everyone was questioning Brady and Belichick was on to Cincinnati. Brady is lighting it up this year. Fire is lit. TB fans just aren’t used to winning. Losing is good this time of year. Doesn’t feel as good as winning. Ask the players.
November 17th, 2021 at 4:46 pm
CaptivaJim … ‘reality is it was TB12, GRONK, AB that got them thru the playoffs…..Bowels, BA & BL were spectators & still are’.
Wow, pretty strong statement Jim. Has me wondering which playoffs you were watching.
Go back & look at the Saints’ playoff game (Bucs won 30-20 as a refresher). Saints turned the ball over FOUR times. Bucs offense was given the ball at the Saints 3-yd line, 40-yd line and 20-yd line, and once at about midfield. Results: THREE TDs by our offense (63 yds total movement for the 3 TDs in 10 plays). The last INT allowed us to run out the clock. BTW, those were the ONLY TDs scored by our offense in that game … and they all came off of turnovers generated by our defense.
All toll our defense generated NINE TOs in those 4 games, while our offense gave it away 4 times. By ya, TB12, Gronk & AB deserve all the credit. Reality is that our defense played exceptionally well throughout the playoffs. And so did our offense. Hmmm, one might even nickname that COMPLEMENTARY FOOTBALL.
November 17th, 2021 at 5:41 pm
Mediocre… can you share what you are smoking. We definitely don’t see this defense as mediocre more like horrendous ! 🤬🤬🤬
November 17th, 2021 at 5:52 pm
Mediocre is far too kind and our defense has been nothing short of trash the last two games. Getting owned by two never been quarterbacks in back to back games means that you are the worst of the worst. No more excuses about “low energy”. Our defense had more than enough energy to look foolish celebrating after making plays that were they were expected to make.
I know that we have tons of injuries on defense, but lack of effort is inexcusable. That’s on the coaches and players both, so hopefully they can get that right. Celebrating is fine as well and they can fly balloons, do hopscotch, I don’t care, but at least start dominating the team that you are playing before you show your a$$.
If this nonsense keeps up, I can see a whole bunch of changes coming next year.
November 17th, 2021 at 5:52 pm
I am not impressed with Bowles. Even when we won the SB last year. Lets see if he can get this Defense Hummin. They were embarrassed by a 2-6 team on Sunday. So lets see what we really have here. @nd half od the season guys. Time to Rev it up.
November 18th, 2021 at 1:22 pm
Two words.
They suck.