Bucs Run Defense - The Silent Killer

[shall555]

For years, the Tampa defense was one of the best, if not THE best at shutting down mobile QBs. Well, this year it’s been atrocious. Not only can we not stop them, we can’t even contain them! We all know the missed tackles have been a problem all season long, but these hidden stats are the real culprit behind our dismal run D.

Michael Vick ran for 127 yards against the Bucs in Week 3.
Donovan McNabb ran for 76 yards last week.

That’s a combined 203 yards of rushing, given up to mobile QBs that we used to shutdown with regularity.

Take away those 203 yards and our rushing defense improves from 30th to a respectable 13th ranking.

13th against the rush and 13th against the pass would give us a Defensive ranking of 16th, which is middle of the pack, but would’ve given us an excellent platform to springboard back into the top 10, keeping our streak alive.

I think our run D has suffered this year, because the main focus of defending mobile QBs was not on the agenda this offseason. We had this same problem in 2001. The next offseason, Monte heavily stressed defending the mobile QB and the results spoke for themselves. Compounding the problem, our guys no longer have the legs, to handle the mobility of these QBs. They just seem a step too slow. The reaction and awareness is there, but their legs are unwilling.

The Bucs have no choice but to go with a youth movement next year, because the only way to beat speed, is with speed, and that is what the Tampa 2 thrives on. It is not an old man’s defense. Sad to say, but it’s the truth.   

[alldaway]

I believe the two year stretch where the Bucs struggled to contain mobile QB's was when the new coaches came into the fold as well.

[mjs020294]

Hopefully an early first round DE will help containing the mobile QBs a little next year.

[Rusty]

Get rid of Rice and Spires at a minimum and get some youth and energy in there; Wymms, White, Bryant, etc.

[TBBuccaneers24RB]

It seems the Bucs D does good when they want to.

[Itchalot]

We might have to bring back that classic nickname from a couple years ago....



Let us treat your running back like a VIP. 
You can run on through, or walk if you like...

Bucs 2006 RED CARPET DEFENSE

[OpTiOnMaStA]

I don't think we will get rid of Rice. Get him somebody on the other side who can flush the QB out and he will look a lot better. Also, a really good pass rusher at UT would really help him out a lot too.

Rice gets a lot of garbage sacks when the QB is running for his life behind the line. The QB basically gets flushed out of the pocket and to his side since most QBs are right handed. Naturally, they are going to run to the right side and then he is there to make the sack since he almost always rushes outside. Otherwise, he chases a lot of QBs down as well but somebody else usually gets the initial pressure.