Defense Hung Tough Today
July 30th, 2022
Says, “No, no, no” to Tom Brady.
The Bucs offense, even with Tom Brady returning after a Vet Day off, was not its usual razor-sharp self. Brady wasn’t bad but he wasn’t otherworldly like he often is.
Blaine Gabbert was just blah — and Kyle Trask had his moments both fantastic and awful.
Perhaps that was because the defense was sharp today. Brady had trouble with defensive backs playing tight to the line. Brady had two passes tipped at the line of scrimmage, one by Mike Edwards and one by Logan Ryan. Joe isn’t sure if that was on Brady or that Ryan, who knows Brady well and is as cerebral of a defensive back as there is, found something that Brady telegraphed.
Heck, even big-money, free agent Russell Gage, who has been smooth as silk in the first three practices, had a couple of less-than-stellar plays.
And old geezer Lavonte David, who is looking rather spry this summer, had a pick of Brady over the middle in red zone work.
Offense was off or defense was on? Joe tends to lean toward the defense was on this morning.
July 30th, 2022 at 12:06 pm
Hopefully it’s the D being on. The Bucs must have a 2020 playoff caliber defense this season, and double cover Cooper Kupp.
July 30th, 2022 at 12:09 pm
I love to hear reports like this. In no way should the offense be dominating the defense continually in practice. I’m sure Brady will watch film and clean up those deflected passes. It’s really just a matter of timing because Brady is tall and shouldn’t have trouble seeing over the LOS. I’m also sure Trask will clean up his mistakes. People overact to picks thrown by QBs in practice. Mahomes threw a 95 yd pick 6. Rodgers threw a pick 6 in the EZ, and Allen has been shaky. Those are very good signs for their D. It does seem like a fair share of passes attended for Johnson wind up being picked off. The first Saints game instantly comes to mind. I’m more concerned about how this line will show up
July 30th, 2022 at 12:10 pm
Early in training camp the D always has the advantage
July 30th, 2022 at 12:20 pm
Our D should be stronger…….Hall, Hicks, Ryan, Neal added……Whitehead, JPP, Suh gone……
! more year’s experience……Davis, SMB, Dean, Whitehead, Edwards, JTS……
July 30th, 2022 at 12:41 pm
Particularly good to hear that ‘Brady had trouble with defensive backs playing tight to the line.’
Question Joe: What positions were Edwards & Ryan playing when they each tipped the ball at the LOS? I’m guessing they were each Nickel CB when that happened.
July 30th, 2022 at 1:06 pm
Don’t know. Was watching the ball.
Sadly, no DVR capabilities at practice. 🙁
July 30th, 2022 at 1:10 pm
You have to remember this is underwear football. So the offense almost always dominates. The defense cannot hit, cannot tackle, cannot play physical ball until the pads come on.
July 30th, 2022 at 1:18 pm
We know Brady was with the first team. What teams were Gabbert and Trask playing with?
July 30th, 2022 at 1:34 pm
@Defense rules. I read that it was a safety blitz. It’s underwear practice, so I’m assuming the offense are running basic protections and probably had no answer for it. It’s not that first time I’ve read that they got through on a blitz.
July 30th, 2022 at 2:28 pm
Thanks Joe. I keep thinking that both Edwards and Ryan are gonna get a lot of time at Nickel (switching off at Safety based on the defensive playcall). Could see both of them getting some decent blitzing opportunities this year.
Bucsfan13 … All of our Safeties together last season got a total of 87 blitzes it looks like (about 5 per game). All of our CBs together only got 48 blitzes and over half of those (28) were by Cockrell. Our ILBs far surpassed all of those, with White getting 133 all by himself (more than our entire Secondary). I’m now wondering if Todd Bowles is experimenting with blitzing the Secondary more.
July 30th, 2022 at 5:38 pm
This is actually good news. It would be good to see Bowles produce a threatening defense that is actually smarter and better. One that is capable of carrying the team through the whole season. That may be more necessary than ever, given the hellacious competition that is lined up.
July 31st, 2022 at 8:19 am
Bucboy. Gabbert probably went with the starters and second team. Trask more likely went with the scout team practice squad. Clyde Christensen already said he has no chance of winning the backup job. It’s a shame Trask being evaluated while playing with the practice squad and scout team. It ain’t no real competition between Trask and Gabbert. Until both play the starters we will never know if Trask is good or bad . But I do know Joe doesn’t want Trask as the starter next year so I don’t know if he’s telling us play by play with Trask. Mr. Buc Nation said Trask has been out playing Gabbert so far in training camp even in mini camp . He gives more of a break down play by play than Joe do . But Joe has more responsibility than him so I understand.