It Starts In The Trenches
November 21st, 2022
Strong pass blocking from line.
Joe knows a lot of folks like to point to the offensive and defensive lines and say if you win a game there, you are always in the game.
Just take a look at last week when the Bucs bullied the Seahawks in Germany. Both the offensive and defensive lines manhandled Seattle. It was a beautiful thing.
Well, Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com has NextGen Stats data that helps demonstrate how the offensive line helped spark a rebirth of the offense.
NFL Next Gen Stats offers a clue as why [Tom] Brady was able to have so much success against the Seahawks, even on obvious passing downs: He had time to throw. Brady was hit just one time in the game and, according to NGS, had an average Time to Throw (TTT) of 2.78 seconds. That was by far the longest time that Brady has taken to get rid of the ball on average in a game this season. He had time to let plays develop and get the ball downfield, as he completed passes of 20-plus yards to four different players – Julio Jones, Mike Evans, Cade Otton and Chris Godwin. Brady even had more than four seconds to throw on 6.9% of his passes, the Bucs’ highest percentage of the year. The previous high was 4.5%.
Now can the Bucs keep this up Sunday in Cleveland? The Browns still have Myles Garrett and they still have Jadeveon Clowney. So those guys can get to the quarterback.
The Browns’ defensive tackles are soft.
Joe sure hopes the Bucs attack the Browns like they did the Seahawks: Come out and punch them in the mouth on the first play and never let up.
November 21st, 2022 at 5:09 am
Aahh yes, ‘It starts in the trenches’. Music to my ears. Yet IMO the Browns should be FAVORED in this game, even though the Browns are now 3-7 after yesterday’s loss to the Bills (stats for that game haven’t been posted yet).
For one, we’re playing on their turf. Two of the 3 games that they’ve won have been at home, and 2 of those wins were against teams who we’ve lost to. For another, of the 6 teams who they’ve lost to (prior to the Bills loss), only 1 (the Falcons) have a losing record … and they matched up well against the Browns because they’re a running team. Matter of fact, teams they’ve lost to have a combined 33-23 record (40-26 after their loss to the Bills). IOW they’ve played a very tough schedule, and they’ve played all but 2 teams pretty tough (Dolphins & Patriots whomped them).
Browns’ offense (ranked #10) is doing reasonably well (24.1 PPG average), EXCEPT for 1 area: giveaways. They’ve turned the ball over 11 times in their 6 losses to only 2 times in their 3 wins. Their passing attack, led by QB Jacoby Brissett, is nothing to brag about, but it complements an excellent rushing attack (ranked #5 averaging 159 YPG). Nick Chubb in particular is having a stellar year (5.7 YPC average with 904 yards in 9 games).
It’s the Browns’ defense that’s REALLY nothing to brag about (ranked #31). They haven’t been able to effectively stop the run in their losses, allowing an average of 164 YPG on the ground. That, combined with giveaways by the offense, has eaten them up. Still, they’re a very dangerous team & we’d better be at our best. Like Joe says … ‘Come out and punch them in the mouth on the first play and never let up’. Yea verily.
November 21st, 2022 at 5:12 am
Making Brady comfortable in the pocket, with extra time gives the offense
the chunk plays necessary to move the ball downfield more consistently. Getting the ball to White also had a positive effect. His vision and shiftiness also gave a much needed boost to Brady and the offense. If he continues to grow into his role, he should be given more opportunities in the passing game.
November 21st, 2022 at 5:39 am
Browns have lost 6 of 7 but 3 weeks ago they hammered the Bengals on the ground and dominated time of possession…
Any given Sunday.
November 21st, 2022 at 6:29 am
yes i want to see us switch gears and be a pound the rock team…
and sprinkle in tom and the gang as fit…
50 / 50 attack…
imagine any of these run heavy teams like the falcons having a tom brady and a band of receivers like we have to mix in at will…
the run game leads us to the promised land this year more than most years…
if we can start to throw up a buck fifty on the ground weekly, with tommy b tossing 30 passes, and with this defense…
i don’t think the niners, eagles, vikes, cowboys, etc can fugg with us…
just imagine having brady as a little bit more of a sprinkle in type piece on your team…
omg he’d be the most reliable sprinkle in piece in the history of the league
November 21st, 2022 at 6:50 am
Here’s a tip. Throw the ball to Evans. Early, middle and late. This is his showtime. He’s due for a monster game.
November 21st, 2022 at 7:23 am
BTW Joe, Ndamukong Suh had a very nice first game with the Eagles. For those who didn’t know, here’s what he’s getting paid this season …
‘Ndamukong Suh signed a 1 year, $2,000,000 contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, including a $250,000 signing bonus, $250,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $2,000,000. In 2022, Suh will earn a base salary of $750,000, a signing bonus of $250,000, a roster bonus of $250,000 and a incentive bonus of $750,000, while carrying a cap hit of $2,000,000.’
Yup, $2.0 mil. But oh ya, the Bucs are paying him an additional $6.8 mil this year for LAST year. So … IF the Eagles end up beating out the Bucs in the playoffs … ASSUMING that we make the playoffs of course … then they could thank the Bucs for not re-signing Suh. Forrest Gump’s mom was right … ‘Stupid is as stupid does’.
November 21st, 2022 at 7:35 am
Brissett can play (he is a tough competitor), Chubb can play, and they have a good offensive scheme that can get non-heralded TEs open in the play action game. Bucs need to play physical on both sides of the ball but most importantly handle second down. Gap discipline and assignment football (always important) will probably be even more important in this game. We can do it. Go Bucs!
November 21st, 2022 at 8:10 am
I don’t know if you all realize it but we’re 4-0 when Hicks plays.
November 21st, 2022 at 8:11 am
Defense Rules Says:
November 21st, 2022 at 7:23 am
BTW Joe, Ndamukong Suh had a very nice first game with the Eagles. For those who didn’t know, here’s what he’s getting paid this season …
‘Ndamukong Suh signed a 1 year, $2,000,000 contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, including a $250,000 signing bonus, $250,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $2,000,000. In 2022, Suh will earn a base salary of $750,000, a signing bonus of $250,000, a roster bonus of $250,000 and a incentive bonus of $750,000, while carrying a cap hit of $2,000,000.’
Yup, $2.0 mil. But oh ya, the Bucs are paying him an additional $6.8 mil this year for LAST year. So … IF the Eagles end up beating out the Bucs in the playoffs … ASSUMING that we make the playoffs of course … then they could thank the Bucs for not re-signing Suh. Forrest Gump’s mom was right … ‘Stupid is as stupid does’.
Concise enough, no need to elaborate, so I will just repost DR”s post.
Do not really know why Joe you took a shot at me months ago, by highlighting part of my post about the Run Defense and with Suh that never happened the entire time he was with the Bucs, and you said “just could not see it” What I was saying and what many of us were saying about Suh” You changed your tune about Suh it seems. But whatever, why you kept towing the “Well the no other GM signed Suh” comment, it just never made any sense.
Meanwhile back at the ranch, hopefully the Bucs can keep up playing well.
GO BUCS!!!!!
November 21st, 2022 at 8:19 am
Joe did not want to krap in his kornflakes and his relationship with the Bucs is his livelihood . Anyone with a brain could see that signing Suh back after Hicks went down was a NO BRAINER .
November 21st, 2022 at 8:45 am
And on the other side of the ball, our D needs to win the battle in the trenches. I know some don’t like this but yesterday Suh played for the eagles. One tackle two assists and a half sack. And the man’s been on the couch since last season ended. Thanks Licht
November 21st, 2022 at 8:54 am
Yeah team should have signed Suh no doubt at the very least as a rotational player. The question remains did Suh want to sign to be Hicks’ backup after 3 years ad a starter ? I think that once we signed Hicks Suh was looking for another team.
November 21st, 2022 at 8:55 am
Who knows maybe they did try to sign him and he wasn’t interested.
November 21st, 2022 at 8:55 am
The seven man protection with shotgun snap seems to make Brady more comfortable. He has been very anxious to get rid of the ball all season, and if he can have just one more second to let a receiver get open, or down the field to develop the play, we seem to get better results. He isnt washed, but he seems to be supremely aware of the rush, and it does appear to bother him. Not sure why the running game cant consistently roll, but I have not been disappointed with the pass protection.
November 21st, 2022 at 8:57 am
The browns have a good offense that when they get cranking can be very good. Our offense will need to eat up the clock like they did in Munich and score touchdowns and not settle for field goals. The defense can’t give up any cheap plays and we will be alright.
November 21st, 2022 at 8:59 am
Suh is all about the $$-had the Bucs ponied up the cash-Suh would have signed.
November 21st, 2022 at 9:01 am
Had Bucs signed Suh right after Hicks injury-he would have been a starter.
November 21st, 2022 at 9:08 am
I doubt Suh wanted to join the Bowelswich train wreck once he saw the Steelers and Panthers dumpster fires.
If we can keep Hicks healthy it might be ok.
Give me the OL winning the trench warfare and we should be ok. Oh, wait, I forgot who the offensive uncoordinator is.
November 21st, 2022 at 9:21 am
Was delighted to see the O Line perform well against The SeaHawks. Will be a tough challenge this week though with Garrett and Clowney.
November 21st, 2022 at 9:48 am
We also need a player to return kicks and punts who doesn’t make a beeline to the sidelines because he’s afraid of his own shadow. I’d like to see Ke’Shawn Vaughn get another shot at it. He’s not afraid to run right at the defenders. Darden is horrible and doesn’t belong on the return team.
November 21st, 2022 at 9:52 am
Since a few people talked about Suh I’m gonna jump in with JPP. Anyone else see he got an interception yesterday ?
Go Bucs and former Bucs!
November 21st, 2022 at 9:55 am
Forget Suh… he’s gone…
November 21st, 2022 at 10:21 am
Trenches, trenches, trenches…
Hicks on defense, Leverett on offense seems to have changed the dynamic positively.
November 21st, 2022 at 10:31 am
Nick Leverett seems to be >>> Goedonkey.
Based on statistical evidence (rush yards and you and TB time to throw) as well as wins.
November 21st, 2022 at 11:32 am
*ypc not “you” idjut Siri
November 21st, 2022 at 11:44 am
Why did Brady have more time than usual? Because the Bucs actually ran some playaction passes for once. If you’re just going to run up the middle on every first down, here’s an idea, if you’re going to then pass, come out under center and playaction pass — instead, Leftwich is so stupid, when he wants to pass on first down he’ll come out in shotgun.
November 21st, 2022 at 12:01 pm
Donovan Smith is always hit or miss. You shouldn’t put his picture up or reference Cleveland DT as soft. If a DT gets the outside technique going on him he gets cut through like warm butter. Trade or cut next year.
November 21st, 2022 at 1:25 pm
Yep. JPP finished that game and Suh was a beast. Even Whitehead played so I missed him. Licht is great with the draft, but not sure he is so good at keeping great players. Thank goodness we still have some great ones, though.