The Defense Will Save The Offense
September 3rd, 2022
Lavonte David
Sometimes it takes a person watching from the outside to have the smartest take.
That’s exactly what Joe thought of while reading an NFC South breakdown by Gary Gramling of SI.com.
Gramling is of the mind it’s the Bucs’ division to lose. And while the offense entering the season has issues (offensive line injuries, wide receiver injuries, no foot-rubbing Rob Gronkowski — for now), it will be the defense that comes up strong early and allow the offense time to find its way.
Best Case: The defense carries the team early as the offense finds its footing with two new receivers (Russell Gage and Julio Jones), and Brady has all the parts working by the time the playoffs arrive. The quarterback makes his 11th Super Bowl start.
Joe likes this, but hold up: Are we really to believe the offense will be disjointed for three months or more? Joe expects the offense would find its peak in six weeks or less.
Now folks could point to Tom Brady and the 2020 Bucs. The offense really didn’t click until after the bye in late November. The difference between then and now is Brady knows the offense like the back of his hand. Back then he was learning on the job.
Joe does believe the Bucs defense could be the best in the NFL. Yeah, Joe is that bullish.
September 3rd, 2022 at 2:05 pm
The defense will determine the outcome of the first four games. I suspect this defense could be very special if healthy.
And it may take a few games for the offense to get untracked with a bunch of new players needing seasoning.
September 3rd, 2022 at 2:10 pm
Bring back Suh and JPP
September 3rd, 2022 at 2:13 pm
I didn’t take it that way Joe. I understood it more as Gramling saying it’ll be buisness as usual when the playoffs arrive, not that it’ll take UNTIL the playoffs for them to jell.
September 3rd, 2022 at 2:16 pm
We are entering that point in time that we have all heard of. YOU KNOW that 3rd season were your QB and WR are as jelled as jelled can get.
I suspect the O will take time to reach its peak. HOWEVER, TB and ME will light it up early this season.
That said, don’t be surprised to see us become a run first early and often team. Which only benefits the D.
We won’t lose a single game this year that we control TOP.
ME will have 5-600 yards and 4-5 TDs in the first 4 games but the story will be how the Bucs have become a run happy team.
The D will be fresh for the late season sprint and the O will be as scary as it looks on paper.
Regarding that O Line. It looks better on paper than it did in 2020. Just saying!!!
September 3rd, 2022 at 2:27 pm
I agree. I think we are going to have a great D this year. Injuries could always throw a monkey wrench into the works – like losing all your starting DBs to injury…
Fingers crossed we stay healthier this season.
September 3rd, 2022 at 2:27 pm
Been saying this for months….Where’s the weakness in our defense?
Is it up front……Hell no!!!
Is it the Linebackers…..certainly not!!!
The secondary? Not on your life!!!
The Bucs defense will carry the day!!!
September 3rd, 2022 at 2:37 pm
The Defense will be on the field too long .because of very few extended offensive drives . The opponents will pile on the points in the third and Fourth quarter
All this could be avoided if The Bucs were to sign two seasoned interior offensive linemen.
September 3rd, 2022 at 2:42 pm
The quality of the defense is going to depend on the progression of Nelson and JTS, and the health of LVD and Hicks.
September 3rd, 2022 at 2:43 pm
ME13 will catch 15 TD’s
September 3rd, 2022 at 2:53 pm
Being “Bullish” on this defense will be decided by the two BUC BULLIES that will man our front Dline! More pressure will greatly improve the entire defensive scheme on passing downs! …my hope is that Vita V has been working with Hicks to get that cardio up!
September 3rd, 2022 at 2:54 pm
The only thing above average about this Team- Is Brady.
Exactly who on this defense is a great player?
Shaq Barret.
Who else?
Meybe Winfield. Meybe.
Who will help rush the QB? They are hoping JTS.
Shaq will be double teamed every play.
No pass. End of story for the defense. No pass rush- the defense will not be above average.
Inside heat on Brady? Forget anout it.
We should trade a high draft pick for a quality guard. I don’t care if its a first rounder. Who cares. Once Brady leaves- this will be a .500 team.
Sell out everything for this year! EVERYTHING!
Its surprisingly stupid, Trusting Brady to two linemen, who have never started an NFL game. Not one.
And another guard who has never started a game for this team.
Just stupid
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:05 pm
I see nothing here from Joe with which to disagree.
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:06 pm
Timmy! Don’t be so down. The team is loaded. Not perfect but very very good. We will start 4-0.
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:15 pm
Super bullish on the D.
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:23 pm
He dumb A(butts) take a look at the 2020 OLine.
2 “rookies” who never started. An inconstant LT and a penalty prone center.
2020 OL < 2022 OL
2022 OL features an ALL PRO at RT and a Pro Bowler at RT. in addition to a TB approved RG and TWO JL approved players at C and LG.
Not to mention, the 2022 group has MUCH MORE potential as a road grading run first group.
Honestly, I am less concerned about this group as I am about the 2020 squad
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:31 pm
I think the OL will be just fine.
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:33 pm
As long as Akiem Hicks and Vita Vea are playing in the middle of the bucs defense will dominate this season. Seriously Hicks was a monster against the colts. Out of eight plays he impacted five of them. If either goes down for an extended period of time they can compensate but they wont be as good.
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:34 pm
they will*
September 3rd, 2022 at 3:45 pm
Brady will be a God like always..if he fails it’ll be his oline n gm fault
September 3rd, 2022 at 4:31 pm
Very excited to see what the defensive line can do against the Dallas o-line. The Bucs have to exploit weakness at the left tackle and center positions to make that QB go down and go down hard. Look for a lot of holding penalties. Last year, it was a privilege to watch Vita Vea constantly push the center into the backfield into Prescott’s lap.
September 3rd, 2022 at 4:38 pm
Top 10 Defense + Tom Brady led top 10 offense = Look out rest of the NFL…..
The Bucs are loaded with talent on both sides of the ball and we have the best QB who ever played the game lining up behind center for 1 last shot at another Super Bowl win.
How could any Bucs fan ask for more than that coming into a season?
September 3rd, 2022 at 4:43 pm
The only thing that is going to slow down this offense is if the center/guard situation is truly awful, and the Bucs have enough coaches and experience to know if those guys are going to be awful or not, and they would have made changes. The fact they stood still, means they expect them to be, at least, acceptable.
If the situation in the middle is worse than expected, the Bucs have the talent to deal with that. Just go to short passing game, and here’s a hint Leftwich, DON’T RUN UP THE MIDDLE ON EVERY FIRST DOWN. Yeah, turns out, Leftwich, there is NOTHING in the rule book that requires you to run up the middle on first down, you can literally run any play you want on first down, could even punt if you desired to do so. Now I know saying don’t run up the middle on every first down triggers the dopes out there who think you win by running the ball for 1.7 yards per carry and a cloud of dust, but I assure you, you can still run on 2nd down, and by just mixing up the order of plays, you’re less predictable and teams aren’t sending 8 man rush blitzes up the gut because they know what is coming.
September 3rd, 2022 at 4:46 pm
We have too many guys on defense that are injury prone, too inconsistent, or both for me to get overly excited about them just yet. A lot is expected from wet behind the ears players like Joe and Logan as well. The talent is there for sure for a top defense, but like all things Bucs, I gotta see it to believe it. We’ll find out soon enough!
September 3rd, 2022 at 4:50 pm
That is correct! The Bucs defense could become legendary again. If the linebackers get back to form and we are healthy, combined with this offense we could go undefeated this year. What a way for Tom Brady to go out. The greatest champion of all time. Now go get it! LFG!!
September 3rd, 2022 at 4:53 pm
The defense SHOULD ALWAYS control every game, relieving the offense from the need for heroics. (And the offense should also be relentless in the trenches, relieving the offense from needing a heroic passing game to win.)
The problem is, you’re only as good as the last game. In that last game, this defense and Bowles not only failed to save the offense, but gave victory away.
This team needs to be the 2002 Bucs. In a hurry. But with this roster? Not likely.
September 3rd, 2022 at 5:19 pm
Hope Im being overly glum.
But then again, Ive been a Bucs fan since season one.
We have sucked way more than we’ve been Superbowl contenders.
Just want to go all out to seize the Chance.
It may be decades before we get here again
September 3rd, 2022 at 5:21 pm
Great defenses have great pass rushers.
We only have one.
September 3rd, 2022 at 6:08 pm
Yeah, okay… No way in HELL, ‘this team’ becomes a “ run first” team, Mr. Cobra. IF, they do (which they won’t), it’ll be a long looooong season. How many “run-first” teams have actually Won ANYTHING, in the last 20+YEARS? Hmmmmm… Not. Many. I believe, when healthy, that “Lenny” is a Top-10 Back, BUUUUTTT… After HIM (with this O-Line) tho, IDK… Annnnddd, “Two-Words” (okay then, ‘three’) = TOM. FRICKEN. BRADY. Pluuusss, THOSE Receivers, & just the modern times!!!!
September 3rd, 2022 at 6:30 pm
Bucs defense was the weak link last season . Teams were jumping all over the bucs in the first half of games
September 3rd, 2022 at 6:35 pm
I only find two things valuable about predictions for the season: !. It gives you something to talk about. 2. It lets you know of the level of respect your favorite team has. I could throw darts at a wall blindfolded and be right about as often as most so-called experts.
September 3rd, 2022 at 6:42 pm
Light hasn’t chased after offensive lineman to replace linemen lost to injuries. Jasson’s forte is offense lineman. The media is good at panicking and creating drama.
The Bucs have a quality team and will showcase it in 2022
September 3rd, 2022 at 6:43 pm
Light hasn’t chased after offensive lineman to replace linemen lost to injuries. Jasson’s forte is offense lineman. The media is good at panicking and creating drama.
The Bucs have a quality team and will showcase it in 2022
September 3rd, 2022 at 7:11 pm
Sometimes it takes a person watching from the outside to have the smartest take.
Howard is flattered
September 3rd, 2022 at 7:46 pm
Our offensive line is going to have do a lot of holding unless/until we get better.
That’s better than letting Brady’s back get broken
September 3rd, 2022 at 9:02 pm
With Brady and their receivers the Bucs should score lots of points. Not convinced the defense will be the strength of this team. Lots of new faces does not guarauntee better defensive play. As a group they have not played a real game together for more than a few plays in preseason. The middle of the D line is great when fresh but likely tires quickly. And the defensive backfield starters are mostly the same (who were not overwhelming last season), plus a couple new comers who are yet to prove their worth. Running backs are decent but not speedy game breakers. So I think the burden still falls on Brady and his receivers to outscore our toughest opponents. Dink and dunk mixed with the occasional bomb will still be our primary offense. Don’t see us having a killer running game unless all three new linemen turn out to be more than just OK. The running backs will only be as good as the blocking. Thus spak Wild Bill the aging soothsayer with his cloudy crystal ball.
September 3rd, 2022 at 9:12 pm
As long as they don’t blitz more than 25%.
September 4th, 2022 at 12:54 am
Okay so first off I just want to say our defense is actually pretty nice if healthy and can maintain a healthy roster. Much improved as a whole I think. Offensively we’re not a bad team what so ever. TB12 is still the same TB12. We have a decent group of RBs. We lost Gronk and AB. Chris Godwin still recovering but is expected back any time. Like I mean in all honesty this squad is going places. I think we made the right move ridding ourselves of Tyler Johnson. I was upset about our ST the most , luckily though I have a lot of faith in The k/p and LS. We have experienced gunners and can add that more as the season progresses. RB and OL is the weakest overall position right now imo.
September 4th, 2022 at 12:02 pm
Vea and Hicks are going to wreak havoc. And if Devin White has improved his coverage skills as reported then look F out. JTS is the biggest question mark.
September 4th, 2022 at 1:37 pm
I’ve said it a few times now and will keep beating that drum. Our defense is overlooked n underrated. I hope our defense is suffocating offenses this year
September 4th, 2022 at 9:07 pm
Well, I think Joe oversimplified the most important things things …
“The difference between then and now is Brady knows the offense like the back of his hand. Back then he was learning on the job.”
Yes, that is true, but also remember that there were ZERO practices during that COVD year. The experience with the playbook combined with actually having practices is a huge difference from the Superbowl year. And no, I don’t think the whole 5 practices missed during TB’s 11 day absence matters at all (pretty much none of his starting receivers were available to practice during that time, anyway).
Also, apart from Gronk, who is not nearly the important cog that everyone thinks he was (Cameron Brate had more TDs per target from TB last year than Gronk), the Bucs WR room is better than last year. Hill is better than Brown ever was and Gage adds that much more.
The O-line was supposedly a major concern in the Bucs 2020 Superbowl year and we all saw how that went. It’s no different this year and some people are just panicking because they need something to be negative about.
September 4th, 2022 at 9:20 pm
I will admit that, barring injuries which decimated the defense early last year, the Bucs defense is elite and should be a major factor all season. That said, I don’t think the Bucs offense has skipped a beat and will be at least as good as they were last year, if not better.