Key 1. Rope In Romo
On the opening drive, the Bucs put pressure on the Cowboys for the first two downs resulting in an Aqib Talib interception on third down.
Although the D-Line kept pressure on Romo throughout the first quarter, they didn’t get a ton of help from the secondary and a Bucs’ turnover resulted in a Dallas touchdown. In the second quarter, the Bucs pass rush let up again, and Romo had a ton of time to find open receivers. Luckily for Tampa Bay, Romo had several errant throws.
The D-Line continued to play very well against the run, allowing 39 yards on 23 attempts and a touchdown, and overall they put solid pressure on Romo throughout much of the game.
Gerald McCoy and Michael Bennett were both credited with two sacks, four tackles, and a forced fumble a piece, and the dynamic duo that was silent last week, made plenty of noise against the Cowboys. Roy Miller finished the game with three tackles, while Adrian Clayborn recorded one before going out in the beginning of the fourth quarter.
Grade A: Clayborn aside, that was the best effort of the D-Line thus far and at times felt like the entire game depended on Bennett, McCoy, and Miller. The trio came through and the Bucs were able to keep it a lot closer than they should have.
The D-Line continued to play very well against the run, allowing 39 yards on 23 attempts and a touchdown, and overall they put solid pressure on Romo throughout much of the game.
Gerald McCoy and Michael Bennett were both credited with two sacks, four tackles, and a forced fumble a piece, and the dynamic duo that was silent last week, made plenty of noise against the Cowboys. Roy Miller finished the game with three tackles, while Adrian Clayborn recorded one before going out in the beginning of the fourth quarter.
Grade A: Clayborn aside, that was the best effort of the D-Line thus far and at times felt like the entire game depended on Bennett, McCoy, and Miller. The trio came through and the Bucs were able to keep it a lot closer than they should have.
Key 2. Build a Fort Around Freeman
Having rookie tight end, Danny Noble, who barely sees the field go up against the sack master DeMarcus Ware panned out as well as you would think it would – Ware picked up a sack on Freeman. Ware had pressure on Freeman for what seemed like every play throughout the game, and for the first time this season, the Bucs pass protection was shaky at best.
Freeman had little to no time to throw the ball, and when he did, he seemed rushed and his timing was off. Way off. Freeman ended the game 10-for-28 for 110 yards, one touchdown, and a pick.
Grade D: The only thing keeping this grade from not being an “F” is that they only allowed two sacks to Ware despite Freeman being under pressure all day.
Key 3. Running Game Has To Find Its Legs
Freeman had little to no time to throw the ball, and when he did, he seemed rushed and his timing was off. Way off. Freeman ended the game 10-for-28 for 110 yards, one touchdown, and a pick.
Grade D: The only thing keeping this grade from not being an “F” is that they only allowed two sacks to Ware despite Freeman being under pressure all day.
Key 3. Running Game Has To Find Its Legs
Doug Martin was sent up the middle on just about every first down and it just didn’t work, again. It appears as if the entire Bucs’ ground game playbook consists of runs up the middle. The run game is never going to get anywhere if they keep running the same plays over and over with the same results – nothing.
Martin ran for 53 yards on 16 carries, while LeGarrette Blount, D.J. Ware, and Freeman combined for 22 yards on six attempts.
Martin ran for 53 yards on 16 carries, while LeGarrette Blount, D.J. Ware, and Freeman combined for 22 yards on six attempts.
Grade D-: There are so many things wrong with the Bucs’ running game right now. Why not an “F”? Because the running backs are being as productive as they can be given the circumstances. In addition to the rushing yards, Martin and Ware had a combined three catches for 32 yards.
Key 4. Secondary Needle Needs To Stay At Hot
Talib got the pick on the third play of the game, giving the Bucs’ offense great field position and Romo his first INT against the Bucs which lead to the second first quarter touchdown of the Bucs’ season.
Although the Bucs didn’t allow another 500+ yards in the air, they weren’t stellar against the pass either. The secondary still allows catches over the middle, but due to the pass rush being more effective this week, it did allow the secondary to be in position to cover better. They allowed the fewest passing yards in three games with 283, and only one receiver broke 100 yards – Miles Austin.
Grade B: Allowing 283 yards isn’t great, but it is much improved over the Giants game. They are still susceptible to big plays – Austin ripped a 49-yarder – but the overall coverage was much better.
Key 5. Speed Needs To Pay Off On Special Teams
Although the Bucs didn’t allow another 500+ yards in the air, they weren’t stellar against the pass either. The secondary still allows catches over the middle, but due to the pass rush being more effective this week, it did allow the secondary to be in position to cover better. They allowed the fewest passing yards in three games with 283, and only one receiver broke 100 yards – Miles Austin.
Grade B: Allowing 283 yards isn’t great, but it is much improved over the Giants game. They are still susceptible to big plays – Austin ripped a 49-yarder – but the overall coverage was much better.
Key 5. Speed Needs To Pay Off On Special Teams
Jordan Shipley was re-signed to the Bucs earlier in the week and muffed one punt and lost the ball, fair caught another, and in the other two returns had a long of nine.
Arrelious Benn downed all but one kickoff, returning it 15 yards.
The Bucs brought in several speedy receivers to handle return duties. At this point, going back to the rookie running back Michael Smith, who returned kicks throughout the preseason, has to be a consideration. Between the lack of return and running games, it can’t hurt and might actually spark something.
Grade F: Due to the lost fumble and both returners not doing anything to help the offense get better field position, there isn’t any other grade to give.
Arrelious Benn downed all but one kickoff, returning it 15 yards.
The Bucs brought in several speedy receivers to handle return duties. At this point, going back to the rookie running back Michael Smith, who returned kicks throughout the preseason, has to be a consideration. Between the lack of return and running games, it can’t hurt and might actually spark something.
Grade F: Due to the lost fumble and both returners not doing anything to help the offense get better field position, there isn’t any other grade to give.
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