If You Don’t Get Sacks, You Won’t Win In The NFL
October 28th, 2024
Pressures = cattle droppings.
The very next sentence Joe types will get people upset and Joe is just going to let it rip because Joe has had his fill of this nonsense (there’s a run-on sentence for you).
Quarterback pressures are BULLSH!T!
That’s right. And the Bucs’ pass defense, from its edge rushers if not its tackles, is predicated on BULLSH!T!
And you wonder why good quarterbacks have sliced and diced this Bucs defense up like a Thanksgiving turkey.
The people who think pressures are important have their heads fully up the PFF tribe’s rear ends. Pressure is an excuse for a guy who got close but didn’t get the job done.
Pressures are the NFL’s version of a participation trophy.
“Hey Johnny, how did you do in the Little League game last night?”
“Great dad! We lost by one and I struck out for the final out with a guy on third. But my bat pressured the ball.”
“Son, how did you strike out if you pressured the ball with the bat?”
“I only missed the ball by six inches dad. You would have been so proud!”
“Great! That’s my boy! Let’s go to Dairy Queen!”
Simply put, good quarterbacks are not fazed by pressure. You’ve heard the term about quarterbacks “hanging in there,” right? Or “taking a hit,” right?
That’s why pressures are nonsense. Or, yes, BULLSH!T!
Pressures don’t put a guy on his ass. Pressures don’t end plays. Pressures don’t kill drives. Pressures, best Joe can tell, are only good in contract negotiations for player agents.
Take this Shawn Syed of the stat outfit Sumer Sports, run by former Dixie Chicks shot-caller Thomas Dimitroff. Joe just wanted to punch a wall after reading the following.
@SyedSchemes: Kirk Cousins was 6/8 for 94 yards and 2 TDs when under pressure, per NFL Pro.
That. That’s what pressures do for you. Not a friggin’ thing against good quarterbacks.
“Ooohhh, he got close!” — but didn’t get the damn job done! The NFL isn’t playing with hand grenades where close counts. Close, in football, is #FAIL.
Ryan Miller came close to making a key catch — which turned into a pick.
Baker Mayfield came close to completing a Hail Mary to win the game.
Antoine Winfield came close to forcing a critical turnover.
Close = not good enough. Or, yes, failure.
Yet the current version of Todd Bowles’ pass defense is based (best as Joe can tell) on pressures.
Pressures = BULLSH!T!
And the Bucs’ pass defense? Yeah, it’s BULLSH!T!
Kirk Cousins was 6/8 for 94 yards and 2 TDs when under pressure, per NFL Pro.
He also produced a 94th percentile EPA/dropback (0.52) pic.twitter.com/AuBxPeYWPZ
— Shawn Syed (@SyedSchemes) October 27, 2024
October 28th, 2024 at 11:15 am
Well Joe you nailed it. The defensive line is not playing wel or just not playing maybe is the better way to put it. They can’t get to the qb without the blitz and even with the blitz they can’t get there. The result you see open field with the qb hitting the receivers with no one around. Sorry, the defense seems unmotivated and is being outplayed. Thinking maybe, they are not capable of more.
At any rate, yes the defense ‘s problems are glaring up front, middle and back.
Right now it is really hard to watch this defense. I had to turn it off yesterday. The game was obviously over at half time. The defense looked like it was playing without 11 players, just giving up chunk play after play. The offense is something ,hats off to those guys.
Appers this season is over with this defense .I know I can’t watch a defense like this.
October 28th, 2024 at 11:21 am
Come right out and say it, Joe. Bowles blows as a DC and will keep the Bucs from reaching their potential as long as he occupies that roll.
October 28th, 2024 at 11:22 am
Agreed, pressures are not the same as sacks and the Dline is weak and slow. When I watch the play of the defense it is like the decade of despair’s defense. Only one guy was up front battling and that was McCoy. This year there is only one guy up front and that is Vea. Everyone else is a backup at best. No amount of coaching is going to help these players on defense. Most have very little talent.
October 28th, 2024 at 11:22 am
Hard for the defensive line to get to the qb when you have them dropping into coverage because the DC gets too cute.
October 28th, 2024 at 11:28 am
BOWELS COACHING JOB SLIPPING AWAY , FIRED AT THE END OF THE YEAR !!!!!!!
October 28th, 2024 at 11:29 am
You need a good pass rush or a good secondary. When you have NEITHER….
October 28th, 2024 at 11:29 am
Vita Vea is a very good NT but not an elite play maker.
Kancey is good and not elite, hopefully continues to develop.
Yaya is over rated but the only chance we have off the edge.
The defense is hot garbage up front.
Thank you Toad Bowels!
October 28th, 2024 at 11:33 am
The D-line stinks because of Bowles he insists for the easiest position to play EDGE/OLB to have a PHD and DT’s a BA education in drop coverage instead of rushing the passer full time. His system is out-dated unless he has all-pro type players in the front seven. Bucs need a sapp mentality type at DC who stopped the run on the way to the QB insteaf of dropping off into coverage so often.
October 28th, 2024 at 11:35 am
The Falcons are doing a good job of winning without sacks
October 28th, 2024 at 11:35 am
A-freaking-MEN!
October 28th, 2024 at 11:38 am
Don’t forget, not only do the Bucs almost get sacks, they almost cover guys and almost tackles guys too!
Hang in there fans, the Defense is almost there
October 28th, 2024 at 11:39 am
Myles Garrett!
October 28th, 2024 at 11:40 am
All of these people constantly crying like a newborn baby, and whining like a spoil brat. They need to look at the facts, if they have the mental capacity.
The Bucs are 4-4, their opponents are 34-20
They have been playing all season with major injuries
Injuries on both sides of the ball, they even lost their punter, and they lost their Long Snapper. They have been playing with backups all season long. And to be at 4-4, anyone with an gram of common sense would say …… that’s dang good, not bad. But not these notorious whiners .
October 28th, 2024 at 11:41 am
I’m fairly certain the falcons didn’t record a sack yesterday and somehow won the game
October 28th, 2024 at 11:45 am
Pressures are fine if the coverage players can cover/are ball hawks. Alas, the Bucs don’t have enough of those players.
October 28th, 2024 at 11:47 am
Joe bringing truth –
October 28th, 2024 at 11:59 am
Infatuation with sacks
You can’t win with 3 turnovers simple
Protecting the ball is the biggest thing for turnover ratio
Simple
October 28th, 2024 at 12:00 pm
All if joe’s nightmares and many fans nightmares have come true. No true edge rusher or pass rush means a long day for the defense on Sunday. The fix for this defense is simple. Get a pass rush. They knew they didn’t have one in the preseason but did nothing to rectify the situation. That is on Licht. So are the pass rushers he has selected in the draft. Where was Kancy yesterday. JTMs and Logan Hall are already failures. Hoping they were going to generate a pass rush borders on GM malfeasance. When will the insanity stop Glazers.
October 28th, 2024 at 12:02 pm
Remember when creaky legged Cousins scrambled to convert a third and long to ice the game?
October 28th, 2024 at 12:05 pm
“Peter Says:
October 28th, 2024 at 11:59 am
Infatuation with sacks
You can’t win with 3 turnovers simple
Protecting the ball is the biggest thing for turnover ratio
Simple”
Turnovers were *not* the reason.
Lack of a functional defense was. Kirk Cousins scrambling for 18 yards. Nuff said.
Points of turnovers (net) – 5
Simple.
October 28th, 2024 at 12:06 pm
For all of you pointing to the Falcons sackless game that type of philosophy only works against the Bucs who were almost sackless. The Seahawks blew them out because they put pressure on the immobile Cousins.
October 28th, 2024 at 12:15 pm
Very true Joe ! That’s what we were missing in the game against Atlanta. Pressures and more sacks. That was the key to the game !!
We can’t forget the turnovers, fumble, two interceptions, failed fake punt. Those were costly and were also a factor in the loss of the game.
Need more sacks and pressures by the Defense. Turn it up coach Bowles, I have confidence in your ability to make us winners again!!
Go Bucs !!
October 28th, 2024 at 12:15 pm
Top 5 teams in sacks
CLE
NE
LV
HOU
NYG
bottom 5 teams in sacks
BUF
DEN
ARI
GB
BAL
Sack totals may not be the issue
October 28th, 2024 at 12:22 pm
Ingor my idiotic post. Not looking at data correctly
October 28th, 2024 at 12:23 pm
Joe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ask the fans who they would like as our next HC realistically.
October 28th, 2024 at 12:24 pm
NO OLB HAS PASS RUSHING MOVES NO ONE.
Nutsack Jason licht did all that bragging this offseason but I’m not upset because I’m not surprised by this defense at all. You’re not getting to quarterbacks with 2nd round picks and a 1st round bust. Anthony Nelson is 4th round, Ramirez is 5th round. That’s embarrassing and licht has to own it so does Bowles because he thought this talent was sufficient enough for him to win
October 28th, 2024 at 12:24 pm
Sacks may not be the issue. But it is an Issue for the Bucs. Its a sore point when your Defense cannot get any. We’ve had our chances to get a few good DE’s this year. But we did not pull the strings. Our Defense is Terrible overall. The Chiefs are gonna run romper room all over us come Monday night. Further exposing us.
October 28th, 2024 at 12:27 pm
The issue isn’t the sacks, you can not get any type of pressures or sacks if wrs are wide the heck open doesn’t matter if you got bosas on both ends.
October 28th, 2024 at 12:45 pm
The truth is the whole NFC South sucks defensively and Licht has gotten by winning the division without spending any significant NEW resources to that side of the field, well that train has officially left the station Mr Licht and you had a good run getting out from under cap hell ,while being frugal on the defensive side of the ball!! Todd Bowles is, by no means, the best coach in the league but this is the real reason for the Bucs dysfunction on defense!! Best coaches in the league win with superior talent PERIOD!! In the NFL size and physicality is a skill set!! In the post Suh & JPP Buc era too often people use adjectives to describe current Buc Dlinemen like “Tweener” or “ Undersized” they want you to be optimistic about the player so they say “ look how quick he is”!! At no time could you get away with that in a division like the AFC North. The Falcons could barely move the ball all game against Pittsburgh and the Steelers pretty much keeps a defense like that EVERY year regardless of who their QB is-why and how? Size and talent level on the Dline and Rushers cause it makes all the other levels of your D look better.
If undesized secondary players are constantly having to tackle bigger more physical ball carriers by the 4th quarter guys don’t want to tackle anymore which most people would describe as a SOFT defense!! LOOK IN THE MIRROR Buc D cause that’s what you are currently 👀🫤💯
October 28th, 2024 at 12:45 pm
These are all Jason Lichts’ hand picked guys on defense. Then there are 2 kickers and 1 punter that lasted no more than a couple of seasons where valuable draft capital was wasted.Ring of Honor for Licht?
October 28th, 2024 at 12:52 pm
Bucsfan, yes Licht makes the pick but I’m sure Bowels has heavy say in which Defensive players are drafted. This is probably more true after Bowles became the head coach.
October 28th, 2024 at 12:54 pm
Keep dropping those d lineman in to pass coverage Coach Defensive genius.
Next year, you will be able to hang out with some of the other garbage defensive coordinators who used to be here (Lovie Smith, Mike Smith), because you, like them, will be out of football because nobody is going to want to pay for that crap. Our modern day offensive coordinator made adjustments yesterday, but you?, you kept doing the same old stupid —-. Good luck Todd. 10 games left….
October 28th, 2024 at 12:55 pm
Keep dropping those d lineman in to pass coverage Coach Defensive genius.
Next year, you will be able to hang out with some of the other garbage defensive coordinators who used to be here (Lovie Smith, Mike Smith), because you, like them, will be out of football because nobody is going to want to pay for that crap. Our modern day offensive coordinator made adjustments yesterday, but you?, you kept doing the same old stupid —-. Good luck Todd. 9 games left….
October 28th, 2024 at 1:01 pm
At this point in the season, the Buccaneers weaknesses have been exposed. You can’t hide an inadequate linebacker, a cornerback from the practice squad, and average safeties. You can blame the coach, but the fact is there are some serious personnel issues. The Falcons are not that good. Actually, the whole NFL is not that good. Blame it on the salary cap and the drive for parity. Other than Carolina and perhaps Las Vegas every team in the is “thin” and must pray their few stars don’t get injured. Look at San Francisco. They are 4-4, just like the Buccaneers. Why? Because they lost their two best offensive weapons. When you draft near the bottom every year because you’ve been in the playoffs and you have no salary cap money to spend, you can’t build a dynamic roster. Detroit had two lost decades and they have the best roster in the league (and good coaching). We are still a highly competitive team despite the personnel issues. Enjoy the games.
October 28th, 2024 at 1:03 pm
If the font 7 can’t generate pressure fast enough, why doesn’t Todd ever have the secondary try to jam WRs at the line of scrimmage? Get hands on them, disrupt their routes, try to buy at least an extra second for them to get open….but nope, they okay 15 yards off every stinking snap. It’s simple toss and catch for the opposition.
October 28th, 2024 at 1:28 pm
Call Shaq ,,, tell him his team needs him to report
October 28th, 2024 at 1:32 pm
DT CJ Brewer had 2 sacks for us. Yesterday was the first time I ever heard of him.
October 28th, 2024 at 1:53 pm
@Pewter
You nailed it. If anyone watches our guys rush the QB none have a 2nd or 3rd move. All they do is bullrush or try to beat their guy around the edge if those don’t work they’re doomed. Go watch TJ Watt, Myles Garrett, Max Crosby or even Aiden Hutchinson before he got hurt. You’ll find that none of our guys possess any rushing skills. Maybe there spending too much learning how to drop into coverage instead of on pass rush skills.
October 28th, 2024 at 1:53 pm
Call me crazy but I believe Bowles is just being a company guy and knows the Bucs only plan to build through the draft( cause it’s cheaper and part of Licht’s plan and he knows this team has serious issues this season on defense) In return,no matter how much fans belly ache, he will not be fired, even thou, they may agree to let somebody else lead the team next season as HC!! Bowles is one of the lowest paid HCs in this league but at the same time I think he could retire and not have to worry about his finances cause he’s had a long career. Make no mistake about it this is ALL on Jason Licht and his decisions cause unlike Detroit or the Niners the Bucs have recently won a SB so Licht has a longer leash for future goals of this franchise! Bowles won’t publicly argue with Licht and take the heat for the personal short comings to the media even thou a lot of things aren’t his decisions
October 28th, 2024 at 1:58 pm
Guess what, Joe has been right on this topic from the very beginning. No edge rush=no playoffs
October 28th, 2024 at 1:59 pm
I don’t think the Bucs,as an organization, are as desperate to win this season as fans believe they are!! If they can win cool but will not mortgage the farm for it to happen
October 28th, 2024 at 2:02 pm
Ding… ding… ding… ding!
October 28th, 2024 at 2:13 pm
OK # 1 by Far is Bowles can’t manage the clock !! This just simply cannot keep getting overlooked………. The box should’ve had three or four more plays at the end of that game, but due to poor clock management they didn’t
October 28th, 2024 at 2:23 pm
When the color analyst points out how you brainlessly wasted precious seconds off the clock , then yes it is a huge problem. Perhaps one of the media types like Ira could ask coach if the Bucs employ a clock strategist that has direct access to Bowles’ ear at the critical times of the game? And if the answer is no we do not , next question should be why the heck not?
October 28th, 2024 at 2:25 pm
Stormy
What was the final score?
We lost by 5 it’s simple
You reinforced my point thanks
October 28th, 2024 at 3:15 pm
We DO need sacks! We also need corners that can cover, ILBs that have speed, safeties that give 100% (looking at you Whitehead), and a simpler scheme
I’ve been willing to cut Todd slack in hopes his complex scheme (similar to Spags and Flores?) would “gel” but it’s not improving.
Skrew it…. Let the rushers rush, simplify everything. Get help, whatever it takes.
Our offense has been scoring points consistently. What a waste
October 28th, 2024 at 3:35 pm
Peter Says:
October 28th, 2024 at 11:59 am
Infatuation with sacks
You can’t win with 3 turnovers simple
Protecting the ball is the biggest thing for turnover ratio
Simple
=====================================
Written with such authority. How did the Bucs beat NO soundly with 3 INT turnovers?
October 28th, 2024 at 4:23 pm
JTS and Logan Hall were HUGE draft misses
October 28th, 2024 at 4:46 pm
Joe,
You are missing the boat here.
The Bucs spotted the Falcons 7 points when White ran through contact with only one hand on the ball and fumbled. (I like White, but, fundamentals, dude!)
Still, the Bucs went on to possess the ball for 16 of the first 19 minutes while overcoming a seven point deficit and establishing a seven point lead – with no sacks! I refer you to the Tampa Bay Times article, “Bucs had a great game plan. So, why did they abandon it?”
Persistently, Bowles and Licht have been trying to build a team that can dominate the time of possession battle and score points; a team with heart and character that doesn’t quit.
After losing Evans and Godwin, with Dean out, many past Bucs teams left you feeling like they would have gone onto the field and just rolled over when the whistle was blown for the opening kickoff. On this team that Bowles and Licht have built, you have Winfield showing all the heart in the world running down Pitts to swipe away the ball at the goal line.
Yes, it is a work in progress. The first interception, Evans and Godwin probably come down with the 50-50 ball on the flea-flicker, or at least prevent the interception. But, on first down, moving the ball with authority, a “new guy” on the receiving end, throw that ball away! The second interception, pressure was coming, but there was time to put air under that ball for a probable score. A wide open rookie stuck to a route when green in front of you always means go where the green is – an easy six bouncing on the grass.
This is a really good football team that is fun to watch and is oh so close to being a great football team. Would more sacks help? Of course. But, the Bucs defense forced enough punts and field goals to let this offense when the game if it lives up to its potential.
Harping on sacks is just too one dimensional.
October 28th, 2024 at 4:59 pm
Toopanca, man I like your post. Usually I get to this frame of mind by Tuesday or Wednesday, but your common sense prevails early on Monday good for you!
October 28th, 2024 at 5:03 pm
toopanca,
You are way to cerebral and, of course, correct in your analysis. You will find it hard to fit in with the collection of analysts here whose most cerebral comments are ; “so and so sucks.” Usually they are referring to Todd Bowles or Baker Mayfield.
October 28th, 2024 at 8:27 pm
“Peter Says:
October 28th, 2024 at 2:25 pm
Stormy
What was the final score?
We lost by 5 it’s simple
You reinforced my point thanks”
So what you’re saying is that the offense has to play turnover free football to win? That’s absurd.
Maybe the problem actually is that Bowles’ garbage defense isn’t generating any.
October 28th, 2024 at 9:41 pm
Joes – you are right on about this and all other exposé’s calling out the fraudulent dinosaur who thinks he’s a genius defensive guy. One of many examples. This guy could have the Fearsome Foursome, the Purple People Eaters, the Steel Curtain – he’d have them all dropping into coverage and rushing the pizza delivery guy. He’s done. Toast. It’s over.
More articles like this. Please.
October 28th, 2024 at 11:28 pm
Watching well coached defense is all you need to contrast their coaches and schemes versus the bend over, break often, stay deep and forget how to tackle.
Now let’s bloviate. Todd is so great.
October 29th, 2024 at 11:08 am
Nobody says pressures are better than sacks. The guy you made up in your head is the only one who believes that.