“It Was A Repeat Of Tampa”
February 12th, 2025
Powerful edge rush equalizes star QBs.
Joe’s Super Bowl beer was still cold Sunday night when Joe typed that what the Eagles did to the Chiefs was a carbon copy of how the Bucs beat the Chiefs to win the Super Bowl four years ago.
The Bucs that night used a ferocious pass rush, with Bucs sacks king Shaq Barrett and Jason Pierre Paul chasing Pat Mahomes around like a couple of beagles after a rabbit in the backyard.
And occasionally the Bucs caught that rabbit, as the Bucs pounded the Chiefs for their second Super Bowl title.
Speaking on “Up and Adams” Tuesday morning hosted by Kay Adams, NBC analyst and PFF Tribe owner Cris Collinsworth read Joe’s mind. He said the Eagles used the blueprint the Bucs devised — and so many other Super Bowl champs used — to smother an otherwise unstoppable offense.
How? Edge rush!
“It was a repeat of Tampa,” Collinsworth said of the Bucs beating the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. “I mean, it just was. So the formula is now known, right?
“And anybody that can do it, it’s the same way the Giants feed Tom Brady back in the Super Bowl with a four-man rush that could get legitimate quick pressure and play seven people in coverage.
“I think it’s the only way you can beat a great quarterback, because if you have to blitz to try to go get them all of a sudden, what do you got? You really can’t do that.”
It wasn’t just the Eagles and Giants that used a pass rush to beat a great quarterback to win a Super Bowl. Behind Simeon Rice and Warren Sapp, the Bucs beat the snot out of 2002 NFL MVP Raiders QB Rich Gannon to destroy the Raiders as the Bucs won their first Super Bowl.
Today, the Bucs have the defensive line capable of repeating what they did in 2020, Joe believes, and what the Eagles did on Sunday night.
Except, the Bucs don’t have an edge rusher. There should be no higher priority for the Bucs than to get an edge rusher in free agency next month. To not do so would be criminal.
The Bucs are so close to making a Super Bowl run. The window is open if they only had an edge rusher.
"I think it's the only way to beat a great quarterback…" 😳@CollinsworthPFF pic.twitter.com/v7VnKCgd2f
— Kay Adams (@heykayadams) February 11, 2025
February 12th, 2025 at 4:10 am
Exactly. And yet we thought that we would be contenders with Diaby, JTS, Nelson and Braswell. How about that.
That planning and the results of it fall on Licht and Bowles.
You would expect that we have learnt some things from our SB win (lets not kid ourselves Brady was the deciding factor) against an elite QB. Does not look like it though.
We need edge rush. If you dont have that you re not going to win anything.
Yes we know how precious are draft picks for Licht but did they offer something in the form of JTS or Logan Hall. Probably not.
So go get somebody proven.
Go Bucs
February 12th, 2025 at 5:09 am
Joe…… put 50 cents in the “edge rush” jar
February 12th, 2025 at 6:23 am
Jason put too much faith in the draft and overestimated the skill set of guys who would never develop on the defense. The Bucs have wasted too much time on JTS, Hall, and now possibly Braswell. Hopefully the way The Eagles won will cause the Bucs to get a proven FA edge rusher or two.
February 12th, 2025 at 6:34 am
Joe … ‘There should be no higher priority for the Bucs than to get an edge rusher in free agency next month. To not do so would be criminal.’
So are you now laying down the gauntlet Joe for Jason Licht? If he doesn’t get a highly capable Edge is JL guilty of malfeasance?
Although the Eagles use a 4-3 scheme, they list 3 OLBs on their 2024 roster (I assume that they’re used like DEs in a 4-3):
o Sweat: 16 games – 8 sacks – 16 pressures – 622 snaps
o Smith: 16 games – 6.5 sacks – 15 pressure – 546 snaps
o Hunt: 16 games – 1.5 sacks – 5 pressures – 241 snaps
They also show 2 DEs on their 2024 roster:
o Graham: 11 games – 3.5 sacks – 11 pressures – 311 snaps
o Huff: 12 games – 2.5 sacks – 8 pressures – 285 snaps
So it looks to me like the Eagles used 5 Edge rushers this past year who totalled 22 sacks & 55 pressures in 2005 def snaps. Oh and the 5 of them blitzed a grand total of 30 times.
Bucs in comparison used a total of 7 OLBs (Diaby, JTS, Nelson, Braswell, Shaq, Watts, Ramirez) as our Edge rushers this past year. As a group, they had a TOTAL of 12 sacks & 77 pressures in 2278 def snaps. Oh and the 7 of them blitzed a grand total of 202 times.
Two very much different attack schemes. Eagles’ edge rushers got more sacks (22 vs 12), but fewer pressures (55 vs 77) in roughly the same number of defensive snaps. Bucs OLBs blitzed almost 7 times as much (202 vs 30) AND defended a lot more passes (defended 32 targets vs only 12 targets for the Eagles’ edge guys). Important to note however that Eagles normally use 3 ILBs in coverage as opposed to the Bucs only using 2 ILBs.
So the question becomes … ‘Should the Bucs sign a quality veteran Edge rusher to (hopefully) increase our Edge SACKS, OR should the Bucs adjust our defensive scheme? I vote for adjusting the scheme. We’re blitzing too much and dropping OLBs into coverage too much. I’d love to see us draft a monster DT to rotate with Vea such that we’d always get interior pressure to help the Edge guys (someone like Suh?). Would also like to see us using 3 ILBs (or maybe 2 ILBs with someone like Tykee Smith or Izien flexing as the 3rd ILB to improve middle pass coverage). And by all means … fix the Secondary ASAP.
February 12th, 2025 at 6:39 am
It’s too early to put a table on Braswell. The JTS experiment should be over, maybe keep Hall as the light sorta came on for him somewhat in 24. I’d rather buy a established edge rusher with bigtime NFL experience. If we stay with the way Jason loves draft picks then at least draft a hardness SEC player . The Eagles picked a pretty good Defense from GEORGIA & the BUCS moved in the right direction tion last draft .
February 12th, 2025 at 6:50 am
“Defense Rules” makes alot of sense, 3 ILBs and flex Smith or Izien , I think we need to have both players on the field if posible as they have alot of the intangibles coaches look for. Also getting a top quality D-Lineman to rotate with Vea is important too, he’s the top type Nese tackle but gets beat up . Then go get a top tier Edge and rush not cover with him
February 12th, 2025 at 7:28 am
Have to give it to Collinsworth on this. “The Eagles and 2020 Bucs have shown us the formula.” We are right there with talent now too. We need an edge-rusher, a punter, … The Bucs can make it all happen this season.
Defense Rules – Good analysis comparatively on edge-rushers and our defensive scheme adjusting.
February 12th, 2025 at 8:12 am
I wouldn’t agree at all that we have the DL for it. Vea only plays about half the game. Buster Kancey disappears for long stretches, like 4 games in a row stretches. I think he may be ready to start being consistent but we won’t know until September or more likely October. But who else on our DL is there? Hall? No, we really need about 4-5 guys before the defense becomes what it was and that includes MLB and CB and S. Or, the longshot, that the guys we have simply start to play better.
February 12th, 2025 at 8:13 am
@DR
Great analysis, obviously something has to change.. Glad to see you back posting, you bring a great perspective to the subject being discussed.
February 12th, 2025 at 8:19 am
Philly completely shut down the Chiefs run game and turned them one dimensional and the D Line had a feast. Bucs got Chiefs to one dimension but they still had success running the ball.
Bucs Super Bowl D had Maholmes pressured but he got loose and ran around the backfield for an eternity , the Bucs secondary had receivers locked down, and that made the difference. Bucs also had the benefit of playing against a KC make shift offensive line too.
Barrett was the only Edge Guy with a sack and the team had a total of 3, and those came from the middle.
Philly D Line performed perfectly not letting Maholmes escape out the edge and meeting in the middle.
If you are of the mindset that a win is a win that is fine but to say it was a carbon copy is a stretch. Bucs Super Bowl D played well but Philly put on a Clinic.
February 12th, 2025 at 8:27 am
Man Kay is as fine as wine but that Herpe lip scares the bejesus out of me.
February 12th, 2025 at 8:41 am
Don’t want to hear how great Kancey is. He has to get on the field first. Then good against JV lines like the Giants . Unless someone blows an assignment he I’d double teamed and taken out of the game. The backend of this defense is trash and has been. They get burned easy. It does not matter who is in there. It needs serious work. Linebackers? David is the best you have to be counted on. Like someone else stated. Vea plays half the snaps. This defense has holes everywhere.
February 12th, 2025 at 8:45 am
All of you Todd Bowles haters…ummm….can you remind me who came up with the blueprint to shut down the Chiefs?
The Bucs’ defensive woes is about talent, not scheme.
February 12th, 2025 at 9:50 am
Nothing more fun than watching that rabbit run around with no place to hide.
February 12th, 2025 at 10:28 am
D-Rome … ‘The Bucs’ defensive woes is about talent, not scheme.’
Personally I think it’s about BOTH D-Rome, and I’m convinced that Todd Bowles believes that too. Back on Feb 6th, Joe ran a piece about Todd Bowles titled ‘Time for Self-Reflection’. In there, TB was quoted as saying …
“The first thing you do is review everything you’ve done, see what they’re seeing, see what you see, see what you can change. Then you’re always looking for fresh ideas, whether it’s high school, college, pro, pee wee ball. You’re always looking for fresh ideas, whether it’s pressures, whether it’s runs, whether it’s blocking schemes, whether it’s coverages. You’re always looking for fresh ideas going forward.”
2024 was the worst defense that we put on the field since Todd’s 1st year here in 2019. Defense started strong (3-1) while most of the starters were available, but once injuries started piling up, things went downhill rapidly. So yes, talent (or lack there-of) played a huge role, but every team faces similar situations every year.
The scheme should be flexible enough IMO to allow the DC to rotate players in constantly to keep players as ‘fresh’ as possible. I don’t feel that playing ‘backups’ 10-15 yards off is really flexibility; but it is a compromise to be sure. It allows almost any QB to complete passes with relative impunity because we’re leaving huge chunks of the field uncovered due to our incessant blitzing.
I still remember how good Dungy’s/Monte’s Tampa-2 defense was back 25 years ago. Pretty much your basic 4-3-4 and not a bunch of compromises. Guys were very talented to be sure, but not all of them. They just learned how to play as a TEAM so well that many still consider them to be one of the Top-5 defenses of all time. Classic defense doing classic stuff, and doing it better than anyone else.
February 12th, 2025 at 10:59 am
D-Rome… if Bowles was only running the D still, I think a lot less of us would have a problem. Having said that, his defensive schemes are getting too cute. Vea and Diaby and Braswell dropping in coverage way way too much.
A few years ago they might have tricked someone and got us a pick. When is the last time that happened?
February 12th, 2025 at 11:38 am
Nice to see you back, Defense. Your posts are always on point.
February 12th, 2025 at 1:07 pm
Even if he’s not the same player I would still like Shaq on the team to mentor younger guys. His knowledge and experience would be invaluable.
February 12th, 2025 at 1:17 pm
We could start by having edge rushers actually rush the passer instead of playing defensive back.
February 12th, 2025 at 1:35 pm
The only similarity was pressure. The Bucs blitzed way more than Philadelphia. The Eagles brought it all with 4. Same result but different ways of playing
February 12th, 2025 at 2:41 pm
Acquiring a more productive edge rusher is one way to try to increase sacks by the front five. For example, Chase Young just finished a one year deal with the Saints with and will hit free agency unless the Saints resign him. His real money was $13 million for one year with four void years to lower the cap hit.
Young was fairly productive in New Orleans. He didn’t perform like he did in his Pro Bowl rookie year, and probably never will again after the knee injury he suffered in 2021. But, he got 5.5 sacks playing 742 snaps.
In comparison, Diaby got 4.5 sacks playing 785 snaps, Nelson got 4 sacks playing 573 snaps, and JTS got 2 sacks playing 539 sacks.
Young’s 5.5 sacks tied for second in sacks on the Saints behind Bryan Breese who had 7.5 playing DT.
Another way to get more sacks is by acquiring one or two more attacking defensive lineman. Jordan Burch looks interesting to me in the third round of the draft.
And, another way to get more sacks is to get better pass coverage. ILB needs Campbell in the first round of the draft, a coverage ILB with the 4.5-ish speed to play man in the 3rd or 4th round of the draft, David resigned, and Dennis as competition for the 3rd or 4th rounder.
Another way is to add to more productive DB’s behind the current starters, and will Whitehead be ready to play?
Diaby went on a seven game sack drought that just happened to begin when the LB and DB injuries started piling up and lasted until the Bucs got to the lower ranked teams late in the season.
But, the real way to improve sacks is from the bottom of this list up.
Tight coverage gives you time to get sacks. When your backup ILB’s and DB’s don’t have the speed and skill sets to play tight man, the defense is stuck in zone coverage and receivers get open quickly. The Bucs need a round 1 ILB, a round 3-4 ILB, and more productive backup DB’s
And, pressure is the best pressure! The Bucs need one or two more attacking defensive linemen.
And, sacks from the outside are icing on the cake.
February 12th, 2025 at 2:55 pm
Ding. Ding. Ding.
The only difference was we took our foot off the gas in the 4th quarter, while the Eagles kept scoring points.
This also reinforces the notion that relying on the blitz to get pressure, as we have for the past few years, is not a winning formula.
GET AN EDGE RUSHER! Simple as that.
February 12th, 2025 at 5:36 pm
D-Rome Says:
February 12th, 2025 at 8:45 am
The Bucs’ defensive woes is about talent, not scheme.
====================================
Succinct and correct. A lot of words have been spent criticizing Todd Bowles. Biggest problem is he does not have the defensive talent ne needs. This means guys with speed who can run and tackle. Pretty sure Licht is going to address all this with the draft. Defense is bound to get better in 2025. There may be legitimate concerns about Bowles skills as a coach tactician. Hopefully, with experience he will improve use of timeouts, etc.
February 12th, 2025 at 8:20 pm
We need:
1. New Corner capable of covering a #1 or #2 preferably without help
2. ILB – capable of running with RB’s and TE’s and spying these mobile QBs
3. OLB- with a 20% or higher pass rush win rate, and capable of setting the edge in run D.
Anything else is just depth and icing on the cake
February 12th, 2025 at 10:52 pm
It will be expensive but worth it, FSU Josh Sweat is an edge rusher and free agent. With Shaq back at full go and another higher round draft pass rusher (just not JTS type). DBs get healthy and make a run. Go Bucs!
February 13th, 2025 at 2:57 am
Braswell did not look athletic at all. He looks square and stiff. Slow and weak.
He’s not fast enough to succeed. He looks like Noah Spence.
He was a wasted pick. We should have drafted an elite LG to play alongside Barton.
We could have had an elite LG or the West Virginia center, and put Barton at LG.
Braswell, like Trask, like Darden was a wasted pick.
Braswell was our number 5 OLB.
We could have drafted an elite LG last year. Jeesh!
February 13th, 2025 at 3:00 am
Or we could have drafted a legit #4 CB in the 2nd round last year.
Instead we have 4 nickles. Thomas, Izien, Tykes Smith and Josh Hayes.
We haven’t learned our lesson. We need 4 CBs who can start.
Injuries happen. 4 corners. Always! Learn the lesson!
February 13th, 2025 at 3:45 am
The Bucs had the talent. You just can’t fumble and give away easy points in the playoffs. A recipe for defeat. Ask the Chiefs and Commanders.
February 13th, 2025 at 7:10 am
It’s more than just a pass rusher, there’s a difference between a great defense and a elite one. Just over the past few years the game has changed, QBs that are just as good as running backs so if the QB is able to scramble around the D backs are left on an island, the front four has to be able to get pressure on the QB and bottle him up to prevent the scramble
February 13th, 2025 at 2:44 pm
Except, if you were paying attention to those Super Bowls, you need TWO top pass rushers, not “A” pass rusher. Then, rushing 4 works.