Missed Tackles A Major Bucs Issue
October 7th, 2024
Missed tackles are a thing now.
Wrap up.
It’s that simple. Wrap up and tackle! That the most basic fundamental a defensive player can have, not forcing a turnover. Those are more luck than skill or scheme.
Tackle. Bring a guy to the ground. End the play.
Apparently, in two of the three last games, the Bucs have been lousy Lovie Smith-like in tackling. That’s what Jenna Laine of ESPN thinks when she reads a YAC stat.
The Bucs surrendered 121 yards after first contact, which is one of the strongest indicators of missed tackles. It was their fifth-most yards after first contact allowed in a game since 2020. It should be noted that they surrendered 122 against the Broncos in Week 3.
This was a hallmark of lousy Lovie Smith’s defenses. He didn’t care about a damn thing unless it was a takeaway. Meanwhile, opposing running backs and receivers are dragging dudes down the field while Bucs defenders were wildly swinging at the football trying to jar it loose. All the while moving the chains.
The initial goal of a takeaway is to get the ball and prevent the opposition from scoring, yes? Well, the easiest way to do that is to force a punt. You do that by tackling, preferably before a ball carrier gets past the chains.
Joe doesn’t want to hear whining about “Oh, teams don’t practice enough.” If that’s the case, how do the Steelers, Crows, Lions and Chargers, to name a few teams, tackle so well? Are they holding illegal secret practices?
October 7th, 2024 at 12:10 am
The deep middle defensive backfield was exposed with no Winfield and a hurt Whitehead. KJ Britt was used in pass coverage short, over the middle. A dropped int by Zion McCollum. And poor tackling by McCollum and Jamel Dean. Even the PI by Lavonte. Then Bucky puts the ball on the ground, and the 4th and 15 first down were back breakers. And what’s with Liam Cohen going into the Prevent Offense in the second half? Plenty of blame to go around.
October 7th, 2024 at 1:08 am
I don’t think we needed her to point it out.
Proper tackling would have kept that game from reaching overtime…which is why I’m not concerned. We’ll stomp them next time by a wider margin…and that will give us the tie-breaker.
Fans are freaking out…I personally really enjoyed the close game. Sure, I would have enjoyed winning more, but it was the kind of game that held our interest.
But…no more close games please. Let’s dominate.
October 7th, 2024 at 1:54 am
“Meanwhile, opposing running backs and receivers are dragging dudes down the field while Bucs defenders were wildly swinging at the football trying to jar it loose. All the while moving the chains.”
The “peanut” punch is all the rage these days and our guys think they look cool doing it. They look like fools though. Especially when they are the one who allowed the guy ten or twenty yards downfield in the first place! Hit somebody and wrap up!
Part of the problem as well is guys are afraid of getting flagged if they touch the wrong body part. Thanks Roger! Thanks McKay!
With AWJ out the only sure tackler we have is LVD and even he missed one Sunday.
Go Bucs!
October 7th, 2024 at 3:34 am
Lovie Smith lousy defenses had lousy players. This defense has good players, with lousy coaching!
October 7th, 2024 at 5:38 am
LakelandBuc … Kinda agree that Lovie’s defenses had lousy players (for the most part). His DC (Leslie Frazier) produced some bad defenses here (#25 & #26), but some excellent defenses in his next gig at Buffalo (#2, #16, #1, #2 in the 2019-2022 span).
As far as the defense having ‘good players’ goes, I think the verdict’s still out on that one. We’ve got POTENTIAL (at most positions), but a lot of inexperience at too many positions. And we lack quality depth. After Whitehead went out in the Falcons game, we had 2 undrafted Safeties on the field, neither of whom are starters. And yes, we also had Britt protecting the middle.
I can only imagine the compromises that Bucs’ coaches were making trying to protect deep AND the middle of the field simultaneously with that level of talent/experience on the field. That is the same defensive staff that produced some pretty decent results in the 2020-2023 period. We need to get some guys healthy plus add a couple quality starters (MLB & Edge), but I seriously doubt either of those will happen.
October 7th, 2024 at 5:50 am
When your offense can’t sustain drives, when your defense can’t get off the field players wear down. A tired defense will start missing tackles.
October 7th, 2024 at 6:22 am
The nfl is moving toward ever increasing games in a season. The rules limiting training camp days and mandating the number and type of practices are all adding to the quality of the of competition. It seems like one or both teams in most games are not able to put their starters or even backups on the field. This is an alarming trend, IMO. I for one have no desire to see the league to regress to the point where “replacement players” are the norm.
October 7th, 2024 at 6:40 am
Playing both sides of the fence, there is no way any defense should be giving up the plays they were Thursday. However, where they were given up is exactly where out best players were missing.
If everything goes back to what we expect as normal once we are full strength I can say it’s just one of those things where it finally caught up to us. Guess we will know in about a week.
October 7th, 2024 at 7:10 am
Poor coaching shows up every where in this game
October 7th, 2024 at 7:18 am
On the good news side, Logan Hall has had 2 good games in a row. Against the Eagles he had 1 sack & 2 Pressures. Against the Falcons, he had 2 sacks & 5 Pressures. That’s progress.
October 7th, 2024 at 7:22 am
Wow, in the second half, we had 10 designed run plays (11 if you count the one with the holding penalty) for 19 yards
October 7th, 2024 at 12:41 pm
Yes, DR, it’s extremely encouraging to see Hall’s progress. Let’s hope/pray he continues to improve and make plays. Vea, Kalfman, and a productive Hall? Yes please.
October 7th, 2024 at 10:15 pm
I don’t know about edge, but I’m sure there’s a MLB on a practice squad or unused backup better than Britt. Certainly one that is faster. This is not a big stretch. Come off some draft capital Jason. We have the cap space. Britt will not get faster. He’s like a DEI hire. Special teams at best.
October 8th, 2024 at 3:53 am
Once a few of the injured players all will go well. And with Carr injury tonight, odds are better next game is a win.
2-NO wins, 2-CAR wins, 1-Atlanta revenge, even SF, Dallas, SD, and KC have kinks in their armor this year and are beatable, the only powerhouse on the schedule with long odds to win is BAL.
Bucs should go at least 8-4, if not 9-3 over the remaining games and win the division once again with at least 11 if not 12 wins.
Go Bucs!