Bad Matchup For Kirk Cousins?
October 3rd, 2024
Here comes the blitz.
The Bucs ought to take advantage of this if the numbers are true.
Two facts seem critical tonight when the Bucs will lock horns with the Dixie Chicks on Amazon for an NFC South throwdown.
Few teams blitz as much as the Bucs.
Few quarterbacks struggle more against the blitz than Kirk Cousins.
That’s what the numbers through four games show and, per Rich Hribar of Sharp Football Analysis, they suggest Cousins could have a tough evening.
* [The Bucs] are still blitzing heavily under Todd Bowles, ranking fourth in blitz rate (35.8%)
* Against the blitz, Cousins is 27th in yards per pass attempt (5.1) with a 3.3% touchdown rate (23rd).
Hribar noted one caveat. The Bucs have been vulnerable to running quarterbacks.
Joe doesn’t think that should be a problem tonight.
October 3rd, 2024 at 5:36 am
Everybody thought bucs gonna annihilate Denver. Guess what happened next? Lets keep our head low and win first
October 3rd, 2024 at 5:53 am
There is no free lunch…. Gotta earn every win.
October 3rd, 2024 at 6:19 am
If the Bucs come out firing like they did against Philly – then no problem getting the W. If they have a Denver kinda game, welp..L. Just stating the obvious.
October 3rd, 2024 at 6:26 am
It’s a division game and you can bet the Falcons will come out with their A$$ on fire. Match the intensity and pull away in the second half. If the Bucs come in with the same mindset of we’re the better team then we may end up 3-2.
October 3rd, 2024 at 6:38 am
I think this will be a lopsided win for the Bucs, but we shall see…
October 3rd, 2024 at 7:31 am
If you think White is good at beating Blitzes with screen then Allgier is one cut above that. Just about 10 yards a pop per reception for his career and if it’s left for a Corner to stop him one on one it won’t be easy.
If Cousins did anything this week it was put in more time with Pitts who he needs a great deal to make things run the way he likes.
Home Field is worth 3 points so @ Bucs + 2.5 they are the favorite regardless of who wants to spin the underdog/disrespect narrative.
October 3rd, 2024 at 7:43 am
Another stat by Cynthia Freuland from her YT channel is the Bucs have the 4th most pressures in under 2.5 seconds. If Kirk is forced into passing situations the Bucs could have another 6 sack game tonight.
October 3rd, 2024 at 8:16 am
Blitz is the only way Bucs get pressure not individual pass rushers on this roster. Stats don’t mean he can’t roast Todd Bowles. It’s prime time Bucs this odd the one you need to dominate
October 3rd, 2024 at 8:48 am
Lol @ the Tyler Allgeier stats for receiver.
He has exactly 3 receptions this year.
Not hard to get 10 yds a pop if you break ONE.
COUSINS gets the ball out quick and he negated NOs pass rush.
He got pressured into a pick but the receiver fell down.
He has historically been good against the blitz, but he doesn’t have chemistry with his receivers yet, so it’s a good time to play them.
I think the most glaring stat is their 3rd down numbers.
They are 10 for 38 on 3rd down. Thats like 26%. The Bucs are around 43% which ranks 11th.
But you know what Raheem Morris says, “Stats are for Losers”.
I wanna troll them if we go off and say evidently stats are for winners, but let’s not get the cart before the horse.
I am nervous about that last hot game.
We looked terrible after playing 85 snaps on defense in Detroit.
October 3rd, 2024 at 8:57 am
JustVisiting … The key thing that the Denver game showed me is that the Bucs are perfectly capable of getting curb-stomped. The Philadelphia game though showed me that we’re just as capable of giving an a$$-whooping as we are of taking one.
The differences? Not home field advantage that’s for sure. I’d personally pick (1) desire, want-to, call it whatever; (2) Baker Mayfield coming out hot, allowing us to get well ahead early; and (3) Vita Vea being back in there commanding attention.
No question in my mind that the entire team was embarrassed (and pissed off) by their loss in Denver, and that drive them. And I’ve never seen Baker hotter than in that 1st half against the Eagles. By the end of the 1st qtr, Bucs were ahead 14-0 and Baker was 14-of-16 for 148 yards & 2 TDs. And in that 1st qtr thre were 4 rushes … 2 rushes by Rachaad for 30 yds, plus 2 by Bucky for 19 yards. No doubt that the Eagles’ defense was on their heels & were shell-shocked.
Duplicating that in Atlanta tonight won’t be easy, but it is doable. Same players for the most part. Bucs squeaked by last year to a split with Atlanta (if not for a last minute TD in the 2nd game we would’ve lost both and most likely the NFC South championship). And they’ve purportedly improved this off-season. Tonight will be a good test of whether or not we’ve improved more.
October 3rd, 2024 at 9:30 am
Statement Game…. either the Bucs are contenders or pretenders, in my mind. Hopefully the Bucs play like they are sending a message to the entire league.
October 3rd, 2024 at 9:53 am
@Bucschamp. Not everyone did think the Buccaneers would “annihilate.” I posted here that it was a difficult emotional spot for us and Denver with the points was a good wager. This is a big game for Atlanta and for their coach who was fired by the Glazers and disgraced by a team that quit on him. Not a bettable game but certainly a game between two rising teams.
October 3rd, 2024 at 10:13 am
Kirk Cousins admittedly like playing call of duty at 50 for me, them kids steal my lunch money and leave looking lost, most days it’s middle of the pack average but some games unstoppable. Lets hope that unstoppable game doesn’t come against Bowles but I don’t think their offensive system is for him
October 3rd, 2024 at 10:31 am
Rah said stats are for Losers
And l totally agree with him
The game is won/lost on the football field
October 3rd, 2024 at 10:37 am
The Falcons beat the Bucs cos they outplayed/outcoached them. None of this Bucs beating themselves crap. Over and done with that one. Bucs are the better team, so go out there and prove it!
October 3rd, 2024 at 10:52 am
*when they
October 3rd, 2024 at 10:59 am
Let’s hope Todd doesn’t outsmart himself and say, “they’re expecting the blitz so we’ll play coverage”. And suddenly we’re watching the ubersoft zone bust coverage schemes with Mooney and London running 15 yards wide open.
Same defensive game plan as the Eagles would be just fine. Don’t overthink it.
October 3rd, 2024 at 11:39 am
@Buddha
“Denver with the points was a good wager.”
EXACTLY! So since my dad was a bookie I’ve never been a big gambler. But I do enjoy making an occasional wager, more to give me little extra to cheer watching the Bucs.
My father used to chide me and joke I was a “chalk” player, somebody who always went for the favorite. Certainly true in horse racing. Now days though I gamble for rooting purposes. Basically I only wager on the Bucs and I cut my normal wager in half for the Denver game. I just felt like you Buddha, that game said trap to me. Still I had to back the Bucs some.
Still if a Buc fans bet the props correctly and the Bucs their Hard Rock account is larger today.
So Buddha (btw always enjoy your posts) what say ye about tonight’s game?
Trap or go all in?
October 3rd, 2024 at 12:13 pm
Not a full on Joe Jinx ™️…but why take any chances? Bucs need to rattle Kissin’ Cousins early & often.
October 3rd, 2024 at 3:02 pm
Absolutely. I used to tell my friend that when he was in Minnesota. I said he is a very good quarterback, but with a little pressure he’s not very good and he will turn the ball over.
Get after him!
October 3rd, 2024 at 8:03 pm
If we had are injured players back I would say no problem. But ,and a big but is are injuries to main players are going to make it tough !!