Blaming NFL Trends For Rotten Defense
November 2nd, 2024
Strange excuse for poor play.
This play was Joe’s highlight of the woeful Bucs defense.
Stud tight end Mark Andrews of the Baltimore Crows caught a touchdown pass over the middle against the Bucs on Monday Night Football two weeks ago.
Andrews was absolutely wide open. He was in his own area code. Joe wondered then, and wonders still, how in the hell can any defense let Andrews be that wide open.
That was a bigger bust than Josh Freeman.
OK, it happens. Problem: This happens to Tampa Bay all the time since the Bucs suffocated the mighty Lions in Week 2.
To hear Bucs inside linebackers coach/pass game coordinator Larry Foote try to wave off how the Bucs are getting gouged over the middle because other defenses do really rubbed Joe the wrong way.
“Well, you’re starting to see that throughout the league,” Foote said yesterday. “It’s a trend. San Francisco, what those guys are doing – Detroit Lions. It’s a challenge.
“We have to try to stop what they’re trying to do, especially in my room with linebackers and we just have to do a better job defending that.”
Joe’s not trying to kill Foote here, but what is that? Other teams are getting torn up over the middle so it’s OK if the Bucs are too? Really?
Foote played for excellent coaches. Bill Cowher, Dick LeBeau, Mike Tomlin, Jim Schwartz, Bruce Arians. Joe cannot imagine any of those guys waving off bad play time after time on a trend.
Does Foote tell his players that? “Oh, it’s OK men. It’s happening across the league. At least you are trying!”
The fact the Bucs are getting gouged over the middle and an assistant coach apparently isn’t sweating it tells Joe this defense either cannot adjust or the coaching staff is unwilling to adjust.
Or, could it be the Bucs just have a rotten secondary? That’s difficult for Joe to believe with an All-Pro safety (Antoine Winfield) and a potential rising star at corner, Zyon McCollum.
November 2nd, 2024 at 1:08 pm
Translation: I have no answer
November 2nd, 2024 at 1:11 pm
I think you misunderstood the quote. It seemed like Foote was saying San Fran and Detroit put stress on LBs and the middle of the field with in-breaking routes.
I didn’t hear it as waving-off of concerns as much as stating how difficult it is to defend offenses that are built on those principles.
November 2nd, 2024 at 1:20 pm
Just coach BS. Stop it or go get a job driving a bus. At least bus driving is honest work. Can’t believe grown ups are dumb enough to say such dumb things.
November 2nd, 2024 at 1:20 pm
The trend is to the .500 mark. Right now we are trending in the less than category.
November 2nd, 2024 at 1:30 pm
That sounds like a Todd Bowles answer.
November 2nd, 2024 at 1:38 pm
Yea – well the “trend” in this case is that Britt does not have NFL speed and will continue to get picked on mercilessly unless/until Foote and Bowles find a more athletic replacement for him – at least on passing downs…..
November 2nd, 2024 at 1:45 pm
An edge rush would take some pressure off the middle. Oh wait!!!
November 2nd, 2024 at 1:51 pm
Why didn’t they get a back up for Dennis in the offseason?
November 2nd, 2024 at 1:53 pm
The defense has got some serious holes in it. I’m almost tempted to bring Devin White back. How much worse could he be?
November 2nd, 2024 at 2:05 pm
I think its time to give Foote the boot
November 2nd, 2024 at 2:26 pm
As long as Toilet Bowles is here, Foote won’t be fired.
November 2nd, 2024 at 2:54 pm
In terms of the secondary:
Winfield + McCollum = good
Smith + Dean = decent
Whitehead + everyone else = trash
As for the outside and inside linebackers- they’re all trash except Lavonte.
Good thing we didn’t prioritize signing a proven edge rusher or inside linebacker this offseason. Probably couldn’t find one with good coverage skills…
November 2nd, 2024 at 3:14 pm
The entire defensive staff seems to have the same slow, dopey, Laissez-faire attitude as Bowles. They’re all alike and there doesn’t seem to be single, fresh, innovative idea among the entire bunch.
Just the same outdated, ‘we have to play it better and coach it better’ crap every week.
November 2nd, 2024 at 3:23 pm
We have Rolex needs on a dollar tree budget. This team isn’t trading for anyone. Draft capital is extremely important to a team rebuilding and that is exactly what the Bucs are doing. Don’t be too shocked when they pull this one out, but still no deals to bring anyone in.
November 2nd, 2024 at 3:29 pm
Let’s face it a big part of the defensive mess is a secondary that doesn’t cover or tackle well. When you see receivers downfield with no one within five yards around them, what other conclusion can you come to?
November 2nd, 2024 at 3:33 pm
Still thinkin – if you’re dropping linebackers back in coverage, that’s saying you don’t have good shut-down corners. And that’s the weak spot. A linebacker cannot drop back in coverage AND rush the passer at the same time. Not even if your name is Derrick Brooks!
November 2nd, 2024 at 3:44 pm
The five stages, denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance are a part of the framework that makes up our learning to live with loss.
Quick quiz…
Which stage is he in?
Wonder if he or any of the coaching staff has, or ever will figure out the sixth stage…
Drop all your preconceived notions of how the game should be played(in your perfect world) and find a way to compete in the REAL world!
November 2nd, 2024 at 3:46 pm
So much talent, misused, and gone to waste.
November 2nd, 2024 at 3:54 pm
The bucs had a golden opportunity to go deep in the playoffs this year…had…. Toilet Bowles and his minion’s have pissed that away. Who here really expects a fresh approach against the chiefs. I for one don’t…Bowles is completely incapable of making adjustments. Hell he has no concept of time as he has shown repeatedly in his clock management. I donth think the bucs should beat this dead horse any further…time to flush the toilet the stench is getting unbearable
November 2nd, 2024 at 4:21 pm
If you want to know how bad our defense is…..try to remember the last time we batted down a pass.
November 2nd, 2024 at 5:02 pm
Bucben1961 Says:
Who here really expects a fresh approach against the chiefs. I for one don’t…Bowles is completely incapable of making adjustments.
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He’s not completely incapable of making adjustments, but sometimes slow to do so. His defenses do tend to get better over the course of the season.
That said, it’s shocking how historically bad the defense is playing recently. If he doesn’t turn it around I imagine his seat will get pretty warm. 😉
Whatever happens I hope we can retain our OC for many years. Our offense, especially the running game, has gotten dramatically better under him. I don’t really want to see him replace Bowles though as HC. Just because someone is a great coordinator is no guarantee they’ll be a good HC. It’s a different skillset.
November 2nd, 2024 at 5:52 pm
Then why did you not ask a follow up question? Or is this to tell your readers that JoeBucsFan either cannot ask follow up questions or the Joes are unwilling to ask follow up questions?.
November 2nd, 2024 at 6:05 pm
Nice post Joe. Good to hear some sense given all the bs floating around.
November 2nd, 2024 at 7:32 pm
Bowles is running the defense not Foote stupid article.
November 2nd, 2024 at 8:33 pm
Why can every defense get punched out balls but the Bucs?
November 3rd, 2024 at 2:03 am
Foote must be trying out for Village Idiot in some small town. Earth to Lovie Smith II? No one home.
November 3rd, 2024 at 9:40 am
Ok YOU GUYS. Baker should have beaten Mahomes at least once in 2020-2021. Brown’s D sucked. Receivers dropped balls. Baker got a raw deal. He needed everyone to play a good game. HE DID. THEY didn’t.
Third time is the charm. Baker, again, leading an undermanned team into the bowels of KC hate, will WIN. This team is better than the Brown’s teams. Mshomes has a ham on his back and doesn’t play hard or lucky anymore. Can YOU GUYS cover Kelsee ???? WHO WANTS it more ? BAKER, BAKER, Baker !!!! Danny Baker Buc Esq 1st