Strong Defensive Starts = Winning Football
September 27th, 2011
Beating up a quarterback from the very beginning and a smothering rush defense is a winning formula in the NFL.
How did the Bucs beat the Dixie Chicks Sunday? Simple: defense.
The Bucs entered the game with the 31st ranked rush defense in the league. They played like the No. 1 ranked.
Consider that Michael Turner only racked up 30 is no less than remarkable.
But following the game, it wasn’t so much the Bucs bragging about stopping Turner — the inference was there — but how the defense didn’t twiddle its collective thumbs for 30 minutes only to realize they were in a regular season game.
No, the defense came out pounding the Dixie Chicks and specifically Matt Ice. Joe is confident the pounding Matty Ice took he will not soon forget.
That is directly because the Bucs took it to the Dixie Chicks from the first play of scrimmage.
“The past two weeks, we came out and started slow,” inside linebacker Mason Foster said. “This time we were ready to go and we were on top of everything, playing hard, fired up for the entire game and I think it showed.”
There was no doubt for Dekoda Watson what the difference in the game was: the quick start by the defense.
“I think we came out pretty strong in the first half and that was the biggest thing,” Watson said. “We came out firing. That is how we should play every week. I feel like the defense was fired up all game and that’s what we need.”
Safety Corey Lynch agreed.
“We were ready to go right from the very beginning,” Lynch said.
Even though he has just three games under his belt, even rookie defensive end Adrian Clayborn knew sleepwalking through the first half of games is playing with fire.
“Coming out [down] 17-0 [like the Bucs did in Minnesota a week ago], that’s not what we want,” Clayborn said. “That will bite us in the butt. We wanted to come out strong and let the defense grow.”
Joe has no clue how an NFL defense can start a game not motivated or ready to rock and roll, especially the season opener. But it’s a good thing Bucs coach Raheem Morris recognized this and has corrected the problem.
Nothing takes the will away from an opponent quicker than getting punched in the mouth on the first snap.
September 27th, 2011 at 8:19 am
Good lord, Mr Painter has no idea what awaits him next Monday night.
September 27th, 2011 at 9:03 am
The best part about hitting Matt Ryan is that you’ve got at least a 50/50 shot of jarring the ball loose when you hit that skinny little overrated douche.
September 27th, 2011 at 9:13 am
We need to do this to Painter. We have a long week and the D and O should be able to rest and plan well.
The TPA2 has always been able to be very sucessful against a young QB.
September 27th, 2011 at 9:18 am
Painter actually scares me. Why? Because this team has a recent history of making backup QBs look like Pro Bowlers. Shaun Hill anyone?
September 27th, 2011 at 9:19 am
Speaking of Dakota Watson I see where he will be demoted back to the bench if Quincy Black is healthy. I know he gets in on rushing downs but didn’t the guy play well enough to earn a starting role? If you want to talk about starting fast, his sack and forced fumble on Ryan was definitely a difference maker and if Free hadn’t choked it into the endzone we start out 7-0 minutes into the gam. And what has Quincy Black done to keep himself in the starting lineup???? Watson is a stud and we need him out there every down. Come on man!!!
September 27th, 2011 at 9:19 am
I meant Watson gets in on pass rushing downs by the way.
September 27th, 2011 at 9:21 am
Chris Redman?
September 27th, 2011 at 9:38 am
Matt Moore Lmfao
September 27th, 2011 at 10:47 am
Ive watched the game three times now. The difference in our defense was two important changes
1) Cody Grimm was positioned inside the box. Like the Tampa two of old, with John Lynch, Cody was placed to be a run stopper! And Man, is he good it. Grimm is the best run stopping safety I’ve seen since – well- John Lynch!!. We are gonna miss him, he greatly improves our run defense. Gino” half hearted” Hayes ought to remove his head, and beat it on rocks, for screwing up Cody’s knee
2) No Quincy Jane Black! I’ve said since January! This guy won’t play the run. If they are dumb enough to let him play again- watch how easy it suddenly becomes to run on our defense! Dakota had more bigger plays last week, than Quincy Jane has had in his career.
Now if they’d just let Haywood keep half assed Hayes on the bench, we’d really be playing some defense
But we are gonna miss Cody- he’s everything our two slacker OLBers should be! At least we have Mason Foster now! That guy is a LINEBACKER.
September 27th, 2011 at 11:09 am
I dont know if its not being fired up Joe .. The ability to play fast will come from gelling together as time goes. I think they lacked confidence as they missed all OTAs and were missing the time they are starting to get together now .. AND IT SHOWS !!
September 27th, 2011 at 11:14 am
Joe, it is not often that you have a typo, but I believe Turner only had 20 yards for the game and all the chicks together only had 30 yards.
I agree with Nick2 and Capt Tim on the LBs.
September 27th, 2011 at 11:50 am
Yeah,Yeah,Yeah Captain,you are right about Black.
September 27th, 2011 at 12:09 pm
Black & Hayes are garbage. I much rather see Watson & Hayward take their places! Foster has done amazing considering this kid had no OTA’s!
September 27th, 2011 at 12:58 pm
M Wesley- thanks, but I was dead wrong about Ruud. I don’t know how, but looks to me like Foster has learned the defense- and is an upgrade over Ruud. Mason is definitely a bigger hitter.he has the splash plays that Ruud never seemed to have. And he looked good in coverage this week!
I hope everyone I argued with reads this post! I was wrong about Ruud!! I think Foster will be an upgrade !! Barrett Whooo???” sorry guys, I didn’t know what the hell I was talking about!