Bill Sheridan is not the problem with this defense

[michael89156]

Firing Sheridan won't change anything for Buccaneers



By Sander Philipse on Dec 11, 8:13




Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE



The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are nearly out of the playoff hunt, and that means the fans smell blood. Time to fire someone! Or is it?




Bill Sheridan was perhaps the least popular hire on the entire coaching staff this offseason. The veteran coach had one year's experience as a defensive coordinator for the New York Giants, leading them to their worst season as a defense in half a decade and unsurprisingly getting sacked after the season. Many Bucs fans would like to see the same thing happen to him once the season ends, or even now.
 
Certainly, this defense has been problematic. More specifically, the pass defense has been awful. The Bucs have given up more yards through the air than any other team in the NFL, while allowing the most net yards per attempt in the NFL. This has been compensated slightly by 17 interceptions, ranked fourth in the NFL, but the awful secondary has cost the Bucs multiple games.
 
The secondary has been one problem, but the other issue the Bucs have is their blitzing -- or rather, their lack of effective blitzing at opportune times. The Bucs have arguably lost three close games due to their blitzes being exploited late in games: against the Washington Redskins, the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles, opposing quarterbacks led their teams to last-minute touchdown drives to win the game by hitting open holes against ineffective blitzes.
 
These blitzes have been so ineffective that the Bucs have managed just 24 sacks this season, while they've often looked better rushing four than they have blitzing. This has left fans screaming for Sheridan's head: how could he not see how horrible the gameplan is? How could he keep blitzing on final drives, and how often do the Bucs have to get burned for them to stop this suicidal
 
Here's your answer: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will not stop blitzing until Greg Schiano is gone.

Bill Sheridan doesn't run this defense. He's just the defensive coordinator, but the defensive philosophy, the focus on blitzes and the design of the defense -- that's all on Greg Schiano. Sheridan noted as much in his introductory press conference when he was hired, saying "It's going to be Greg Schiano's defense because he's our head coach, and I'm coordinating for him. [..] It's Greg's defense for sure."
 
This is what we can see from his time in New York, too. Then, he was criticized for not blitzing enough, especially so against the New Orleans Saints. Sheridan called far fewer blitzes than his predecessor. In fact, he was seen as a "passive zone based defensive coordinator". Does any of that sound like the kind of defense the Bucs are running now.
 
Here's what will change if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fire Bill Sheridan: nothing. They'll continue to blitz. They will continue to give up passing yards. The blitzes will continue to not get there consistently. The secondary will continue to lack the talent to play in the NFL. This is Greg Schiano's defense, and he needs to shoulder the blame. Replacing Sheridan would be nothing more than letting someone take the fall, and I don't think Schiano is the kind of head coach to do that.
 
That's not to say that this defense doesn't need to get better. There are many, many issues this defense needs to fix. First and foremost, they must improve their talent at the cornerback position. They must improve their blitz schemes, which are too easily blocked, and they need to get more pressure out of their front four -- something we've seen more frequently in recent weeks. But the solution to those problems does not need to involve firing Sheridan




http://www.bucsnation.com/2012/12/11/3756656/fire-bill-sheridan-buccaneers-blitzing

[lyronmewis]

I don't see anything wrong with the scheme in terms of aggressiveness. With guys like David, Foster, and Barron, you'd be wasting them by not blitzing. Even Biggers looks like he could be a good blitzer, but he's also the best cover corner, so he doesn't get his chances.

When the defense is healthy next year, and they've stocked up on more talent and experience, then with some adjustments, I think they can be a middle of the road team in terms of pass rush and pass defense.

It's more about execution and  setting things up, and calling the right plays at the right time, and for the right formations.

If Sheridan is calling the plays, then he's not doing them at the right time. Teams that get big sacks at big moments do so by setting things up the whole game, and taking advantage of it when it counts.

In the Washington and New York game, he just blitzed non-stop when it wasn't working. In the latest game, the pass rush was working in the beginning, but then the Eagles adjusted and they just kept doing the same thing.

It's on more than one coach, but Sheridan doesn't exactly have the best track record, and it doesn't seem like he can call plays either. I would just find someone else who can watch film and identify weaknesses in the offense, and when to take advantage of it.

[JavaRay]

Sheridan is absolutely not the problem.

[Benchwarmer#1]

Being that schiano wants to blitz so much, I bet he leaves control of the DBs more often to Sheridan in an attempt to break down workloads.

[BucNY]

If Sheridan was not the guy Schiano wanted, fire him and get the guy you want. If Sheridan was the guy Schiano wanted then keep him. Playcalling is not the problem with this defense.

Fans **CENSORED**ed about blitzing to much and leaving our CB on an island because they were getting burned. We started with a 3 man rush and fans **CENSORED**ed about that because we were getting burned. If you don't have the horses to win the race, it doesn't matter what race you run.

[BucNY]

Sheridan is absolutely not the problem.

So you agree we need more talent?

[NotDeadYet]

      Just maybe it's poor execution by the players. Example: Turns out Lavonte David went the wrong way to cover what he thought was a screen on Foles' TD run; the guy practically strolled 10 yards for that TD!! There were plenty of others...

[tripblood]

Sheridan is a more competent coordinator than Sullivan. ..

Next season I would like to see an improvement in rushing the passer, but many of the the squads deficiencies come from the putrid corners. Some SEC teams have better players at that position than we do.

[Bootz2004]

Sheridan is as much the DC of this team as Bill Muir was the OC under Gruden. We could hire Rex Ryan, Wade Phillips Mike Nolan as our DC, , guarantee you we wouldn't start running a 3-4 defense. Schiano is a true control freak and this defense is his baby.

[tripblood]

Sheridan is as much the DC of this team as Bill Muir was the OC under Gruden. We could hire Rex Ryan, Wade Phillips Mike Nolan as our DC, , guarantee you we wouldn't start running a 3-4 defense. Schiano is a true control freak and this defense is his baby.

Agree

[TBayXXXVII]

So basically, the article is saying that Schiano is the problem and not Sheridan.

[Bucsfan x]

We just need CBs that are decent at coverage.  If the CBs could get just a couple steps closer then the blitzes would be more effective.

[TBayXXXVII]

We just need CBs that are decent at coverage.  If the CBs could get just a couple steps closer then the blitzes would be more effective.

So it's Dominik's fault then?

[chace1986]

If Sheridan was not the guy Schiano wanted, fire him and get the guy you want. If Sheridan was the guy Schiano wanted then keep him. Playcalling is not the problem with this defense.

Fans **CENSORED**ed about blitzing to much and leaving our CB on an island because they were getting burned. We started with a 3 man rush and fans **CENSORED**ed about that because we were getting burned. If you don't have the horses to win the race, it doesn't matter what race you run.

I think criticism is more about the design of the blitzes rather than the fact that we are blitzing. We run some of the dumbest blitzes I've ever seen. We blitz safeties constantly, which is fine, but don't blitz them when they aren't even in the box. The are multiple passing downs per game that Sheridan will dial up a blitz from Ronde/Barron/Black and they are 10 yards from the LOS when the ball is snapped, then. That player has virtually no chance of causing pressure, let alone, getting to the QB. They also are predictable and show their hand way to early. I believe that a lot of the problem with the blitzes is probably a personnel issue and with a stronger DL and maybe a blitzing LB picked up, things will be better next year in attempts at blitzing the QB.

Also, I think people get ticked off when the defense drops 8 or 9 into coverage OR sends 6-7 rushers on 3rd and long situations. There is a middle ground that can be met between those two extremes.

[TBayXXXVII]

If Sheridan was not the guy Schiano wanted, fire him and get the guy you want. If Sheridan was the guy Schiano wanted then keep him. Playcalling is not the problem with this defense.

Fans **CENSORED**ed about blitzing to much and leaving our CB on an island because they were getting burned. We started with a 3 man rush and fans **CENSORED**ed about that because we were getting burned. If you don't have the horses to win the race, it doesn't matter what race you run.

I think criticism is more about the design of the blitzes rather than the fact that we are blitzing. We run some of the dumbest blitzes I've ever seen. We blitz safeties constantly, which is fine, but don't blitz them when they aren't even in the box. The are multiple passing downs per game that Sheridan will dial up a blitz from Ronde/Barron/Black and they are 10 yards from the LOS when the ball is snapped, then. That player has virtually no chance of causing pressure, let alone, getting to the QB. They also are predictable and show their hand way to early. I believe that a lot of the problem with the blitzes is probably a personnel issue and with a stronger DL and maybe a blitzing LB picked up, things will be better next year in attempts at blitzing the QB.

Also, I think people get ticked off when the defense drops 8 or 9 into coverage OR sends 6-7 rushers on 3rd and long situations. There is a middle ground that can be met between those two extremes.

Wait, now it's back to being Schiano's fault?