Defense Didn’t Have Its Best Day, But Still…
October 18th, 2022
Unfair to call out defense?
When things go south, anybody if not everybody gets lit up. Guilt by association.
That’s what is happening to the Bucs defense in this video. Joe likes former NFL offensive lineman Brian Baldinger a lot. He puts out good stuff on his Twitter feed.
Yesterday, Baldinger decided to do a breakdown of the Bucs defense and man, Joe has never seen Baldinger unload on a defense like he did here. He took them apart. Baldinger featured plays where he said there was a massive breakdown in discipline and communication.
Baldinger warned if the Bucs don’t fix their defense by today, they are sure to collapse.
Joe cannot argue with anything Baldinger said. There’s video evidence. However, Joe notices the Steelers only scored 20 points. How could the Bucs defense be this bad if they only gave up 20 points?
Did the Bucs get burned on third downs too often? Sure, but still, what was the result? It was 20 points.
Remember when Warren Sapp used to say just give him 17 points and the Bucs will win? And that was with Trent Dilfer at quarterback! The Bucs held the Steelers to 20 points and the Bucs have Tom Brady, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Joe figures with those weapons, 20 points should be scored by the Bucs offense by halftime.
Baldinger picked out a few plays and magnified them. Hell, Joe remembers Tristan Wirfs making a bad play yesterday. Is he all of a sudden Garrett Gilkey? C’mon.
Let’s not take our eye off the ball. The reason the Bucs stunk was horrific play-calling by Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich (and an 89-yard kickoff return). The defense, though not perfect, played well enough for the Bucs to win.
.@Buccaneers broke down more in this game defensively than any team or in any game played this season. If this isn’t cleaned up by tomorrow this is going to be the most disappointing of sessons. WHY? WHY is this happening to a veteran D? #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/KIQxI6D0gL
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) October 17, 2022
October 18th, 2022 at 12:16 am
Hey according to our illustrious coach, Todd Bowels, it isn’t what the team is doing wrong, it’s what the other team is doing right.
October 18th, 2022 at 12:22 am
We couldn’t get a stop in 3rd and 16 which would have given the O good field position to get a FG. Anyway, I think it was best that they didn’t. This team needs to look in the mirror. Had we squeak a W nothing would have happen.
October 18th, 2022 at 12:24 am
I don’t know what it is now, but before Pittsburgh Bucs had number three in sacks per game. Team sport. Constant three-and-out does not give much rest for the D.
October 18th, 2022 at 12:24 am
No, Defense had its share of stupidity displayed on the field. Forget about giving up bunch of third and long situations… that fourth quarter debacle involving too many idiots on the field penalty call was epic which resulted painfully in their final TD. Ugh!
October 18th, 2022 at 12:25 am
The play where David tried to get timeout drove me nuts and led to a TD. Bowles should have called one himself
October 18th, 2022 at 12:29 am
Nope it is not unfair to call out the defense because Devin White with his immaturity and stupidity created a RTP penalty when the Bucs were going to get off the field. It’s embarrassing. He cost us 7 points with his stupidity, not to mention his horrific missed assignment on the TD to Najee Harris.
October 18th, 2022 at 12:41 am
Devin White gave away 7 points just pissed it away. I used to like this player–liked his heart and motor now I will never not think how fuc*ing stupid this kid is–useless and all he does is get us penalties and gives away touchdowns.
October 18th, 2022 at 12:42 am
All of those 3rd and longs the Bucs defense gave up really did determine the outcome of the game, especially the ones late.
October 18th, 2022 at 12:44 am
Bucing depressing!
October 18th, 2022 at 1:09 am
This is an ABSOLUTE Shart Show! It begins and ends with One Man…. TODD BOWLES! He is responsible for the COMPLETE AND UTTER DISASTER this team has become. It is NO LONGER in doubt. These jobs were handed to friends with a WINK! Does ANYBODY really believe that Todd Bowles is Man Enough to do the right things for this team? This guy IS NOT MAN ENOUGH to fix this disaster that HE HIMSELF has allowed to COMPLETELY IMPLODE! He isn’t going to threaten Leftnut with an “or else” much less fo a damn thing about it. He’s not going to tell Tom Brady how he IS GETTING away with murder by not showing up to ANYTHING. He’s NOT man enough to ask Bruce Arians for help.
Face it…. there is no real man running this team and we… are…. SCREWED!
And Licht….. WHAT’S THAT BIG POWDER PUFF GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? NOTHING! He’s NOT MAN ENOUGH TO DO THE RIGHT THING EITHER…
I certainly hope I’m wrong BUT WE ALL ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER!
Welcome back Mike Smith style and the NEW Mike Smith of the Offense… None other than LeftNut. This Sucks Out Loud!
October 18th, 2022 at 1:24 am
One more thing. I WOULDN’T feel very comfortable if I was Jason Licht. This has happened under HIS WATCH as far as the Glazers are concerned. If POWDER PUFF doesn’t STEP IN RIGHT NOW then I just have a funny feeling HE WILL BE ON THE SHORT BUS OUT THE DOOR, LIGHTNING QUICK if he doesn’t get in the middle of this and FIX IT!
Can you even begin to imagine how much MONEY the Glazres stand to lose? CAN YOU EVEN IMAGINE!? That’s this years revenue ALONE…
I wonder what the valuation of this team will be if the Glazers don’t get this fixed!
BOY, I’d be SWEATING BULLETS IF I WERE YOU JASON LICHT!
GOOD LUCK WITH THAT….
October 18th, 2022 at 1:32 am
First two were definitely blown by white. The rest honestly look like exploiting the weakness in a zone. If we have such an elite defense, why do we play a zone and blitz 5 and still can’t get to the QB. It all starts in the trenches. If the line can’t get pressure on the QB and he has 8 seconds to throw and can just break contain anytime he wants, a zone will never work. What do you think Lamar is going to do to us next Thursday? Bucs need so much I honestly don’t know if there is an answer. We need a Dline that can get to the QB without blitzing every play, we need linebackers that can actually do their job and not blow assignments, we need a Guard and Center that can give Brady time to actually look at the field and not have someone on top of him every play, we need a oline that can get a little push on run plays, we need a disciplined special teams, we need a returner on punts and kicks that can get a few decent returns. It’s great Darden has decent stats, but dude consistently has the opportunity to pop a 20 or 30 yards return but makes the wrong decision nearly every time. Finally we need an offensive coordinator who has a brain and can see things aren’t working and make a change. Leftwich shouldn’t be given a chance but since the bucs have zero balls and won’t fire him, this should be his last chance. Either make it work with the greatest qb of all time and a top 5 receiving core or sit on the bench and let BA take over.
October 18th, 2022 at 1:43 am
So many idiotic Bucs fans I know in personal life or the internet willing to forgive the defense, because they played alright despite some mistakes. Nope, the defense played horrible on critical occasions. They have the talent to pitch a shutout. But pissed away points because of missed assignments and mental errors. Devin White personifies our defense. A hyped up athlete and a hyped up defense that falls hard on their face.
October 18th, 2022 at 1:51 am
Twenty points is a lot. Anything more than a TD is enough, especially when your offense isn’t clicking. And that 20 points came against who? An injured team with some scrubs, a rookie QB and a 2nd string QB. It could have been even more than 20.
The narrative from just a few weeks ago, that the defense would carry the team, no matter what the offense did or didn’t do, looks like a stretch, even if the injured return to action. Factors considered dependable such as Vea are turning out to be liabilities. But biggest issue of all remains Bowles.
October 18th, 2022 at 1:58 am
“ However, Joe notices the Steelers only scored 20 points. How could the Bucs defense be this bad if they only gave up 20 points?”
C’mon Joe… we are talking about the Steelers, that before this game we’re averaging around 15 points per game!!! From all the teams we played so far, the only one that has a prolific offense scored 41 points on us!!
The sad reality is that this defense is overrated, it’s numbers heavily influenced by the (lack of) quality of its opponents offense.
October 18th, 2022 at 3:11 am
In what could have been, former Bucs linebacker Kwon Alenxander is having a career renaissance with the Jets. Bringing leadership, hits, and plays.
Devin White and the Bucs linebackers need to step it up . Too many blown coverages and miscommunication. Bonehead plays.
October 18th, 2022 at 5:12 am
Not having Mike Edwards and Logan Ryan hurt us bad on the back end
Neal was out of position several times – Winfield and Devon yelling at him all day
But in the end we got dominated at the LOS when it mattered most
October 18th, 2022 at 5:39 am
I could agree from the tape that all but the attempted time out were Devon white brown assignments. That 3rd and 16 sure looks like he was supposed to get some depth which would have taken away that throw, but 45 stepped to the line of scrimmage at the snap. It’s third and 16 is he looking for a draw? I don’t know if he is freelancing or just doesn’t understand that his assignment it’s important to the defense working.
October 18th, 2022 at 5:41 am
5 win team at best lets trade devin white for ammo to move up and get our future quarterback season is over as this team doesn’t have what it takes as they are not invested in winning hope they fire byron leftwich too
October 18th, 2022 at 6:29 am
If I’m not mistaken we let, Tribusky complete (3) HUGE 3rd and 15+ yd plays… Unacceptable!
This wasn’t against Rodgers or Mahomes, it was Tribusky who lost his job to a rookie, give me a break.
October 18th, 2022 at 6:33 am
Somebody needs to get through to White that his job as middle linebacker also
pass defense. Agree with Count piscatelli comment above. White should have held his position, read the play and then reacted. Did he think they were going to have a running play on 3rd and 16?
October 18th, 2022 at 7:06 am
Yes our D is celebrating still about making stops on 1st and 2nd down then giving up third down due to lack of concentration and too much patting on the back. The football mindset has left the building on defense. “Yes, we can’t get off the field on 3D down, but did you see my amazing tackle on second down”. That is the current mindset.
October 18th, 2022 at 7:09 am
This is all on Todd Bowles…….it’s his defense….and has been his defense for some time now….
He should have called the TO…..
We really do miss Logan Ryan…..I think he is the key to good communication.
Our offense getting 3 instead of 7 and not converting a 2 point play are the causes of 2 of our losses…..not our defense.
I think we will straiten our both the offense & defenses and get on track soon.
October 18th, 2022 at 7:13 am
You heard Baldy mention horrible body language and you heard him mention frustration-both signs of a defense with no direction or heart and soul. Deciding not to keep Suh and Jpp has gutted this D of effective veteran leadership and talent on the Dline and it shows. Why are you only rushing 4 on 3rd and 16 on the most important play of the game?????????????
Jason Licht is guilty of malpractice as a GM for not signing HOF’er Ndamakong Suh-PERIOD.
October 18th, 2022 at 7:22 am
How could the Bucs defense be this bad if they only gave up 20 points?
Because the Steelers offense had been averaging 15.5 points per game before Bucs’game , had thrown 6 interceptions against previous opponents and the end of this game looked very similar to the end of Rams’ playoff game- confusion everywhere.
October 18th, 2022 at 7:27 am
The Defense has played good for the most part but it is not an elite or a top 3 defense as many media and fans say and think.
I would say that for the first 2 games htat they had the energy the effort and the performance.
After that although they have not play bad by any means they are good but they allow many plays and yards to the opponents and have enough breakdowns.
I cant say because some are in fantasy land as Bowles said or because they are bored as someone said.
They dont have the killer instict to shut down the opponents and be at a great level. They missing that.
You just cant allow so many 3 and 10+ conversions, its embarassing and lazy. Unacceptable. Especially to a struggling offense and Trubisky, who when he plays the Bucs for some reason he is an elite QB and all other times he s unwatchable. Come on now
The Defense has played better than the offense no doubt but if you are a top defense and you want to call yourself that 18 points are enough to beat these Steelers.
i m not saying that 18 points are acceptable against PIT but if you are a top defense you should win
October 18th, 2022 at 7:28 am
Trade SMB
October 18th, 2022 at 7:59 am
Devin White is the defensive version of Jameis.
October 18th, 2022 at 8:17 am
It has to be demoralizing for a defense to do their job and see the offense go out and either punt or get 3.
October 18th, 2022 at 8:35 am
No they didn’t the d was just as bad as Byron play calling 3rd and 16 3rd and 12 m trubiskiy need I say more
October 18th, 2022 at 8:45 am
Isn’t this the same article from last week???
Isn’t Bowles supposed to be the Defense Guru????
BUT the problem with this team is OLine or DLine Or Brady taking time off OR MAYBE ITS THE COACH
PLEASE THIS TEAMS PROBLEMS ARE ON ONE PERSON
BOWLES
October 18th, 2022 at 9:05 am
Devin big mouth white is the issue and looked lost in every clip and wasn’t covering anybody. Trying to blitz instead of covering the back giving up a touchdown and meanwhile Bowles is trying to protect the players saying there’s no issue. Is he crazy enough to think the glazers won’t fire him? None of these things happened before except a few games a year
October 18th, 2022 at 9:08 am
can’t stop 3rd & 16….enough said, they may be the worst D in the league
October 18th, 2022 at 9:11 am
Baldy is right. How can you not be in a zone defense and have 8 players on the back end standing 15 yards down field at the first down line. Inexcusable.
On the first 3rd and long I counted 7 players within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage. Stupid, have a 3 man rush and have 8 guys all guarding the first down marker. Don’t do that, rush 3 and have 8 back. Instead you see 4 man rush, then JTS, White and David running sideways with receivers. Claypool parks in the middle. If White would have been already in the middle 10 yards down, that throw isn’t made. Look at frame 49 seconds in, both White and David are to the left and right side of Claypool, by the time they arrive he already made the catch.
On the busted play where David is trying to get the time out, they are doing the same thing, 4 man rush and the linebackers are all 7 yards downfield. The Steelers needed more than 10 yards. Why again isn’t there a 3 man rush, with 8 men back all playing along the first down line?
3rd and 16, last time, again 4 man rush, 4 guys within 7 yards of the line of scrimmage and one on one on the right outside. Again, you don’t have the line of defense covering the first down marker. When the outside receiver runs straight down the field Dean and another player run with the outside receiver and the center of the field is vacated and Pittsburgh wr runs away from the bunch on the left side to the opening in the middle of the field for another first down.
On any 3 of those plays if Bowles had dropped 8 or 9 into a zone at the first down line you would have those guys covering the middle.
This was a complete failure of calling the right defense for the down and distance. Incompetent defensive play calling. I suppose no lesson learned from last years Rams collapse on the Cooper Cupp touchdown.
October 18th, 2022 at 9:12 am
Coaching failure. Bad schemes. This is what Todd Bowles does, folks. He’s garbage.
October 18th, 2022 at 9:15 am
Offense, Defense, Special teams all did thier part to lose this game. Pathetic. If it is happening on all 3 sides of the team, then definitely it is a coaching problem
October 18th, 2022 at 9:35 am
Devin White is not worthless, he is a detriment. Aim a running back at him and they get an extra ten yards every time.
Then he comes up with truly brainless penalties that he should have been cured of in Pee-wee games.
If he hasn’t learned yet, he will never learn.
Put that in a bad scheme and watch it come apart again.
October 18th, 2022 at 10:32 am
Diva White — he needs to be made an example of. Freelancing, irresponsible to push a QB a second after the ball left his hand in the overly protective league, and maybe just tpp dumb to know his assignment. Certainly he can’t communicate assignments. Get Logan Ryan and his club foot out there and give him the defensive headset for chrissakes.
Diva sucks.
October 18th, 2022 at 10:35 am
The offense literally didn’t score a touchdown until the fourth quarter calm down with the defense.
October 18th, 2022 at 12:32 pm
I am beginning to think that the Bucs are out of their positions and routes and attempting things that lead to penalties is BECAUSE they have no faith in the play-calling (like we don’t).
October 18th, 2022 at 2:42 pm
Agree with Obvious; LICHT is a problem, not that he is the only problem–but he is a problem & he’s stubborn.
So , its up to the Glazers if they let him sit in that chair ..
October 20th, 2022 at 6:22 am
Greg Says:
October 18th, 2022 at 7:59 am
Devin White is the defensive version of Jameis……. you nailed it!