So apparently, scoring more points than your opponents amounts to wins. I disagree because Chad Spann. Unfortunately however, yes, we've seen a horrible downward spiral in our team's ability to stop our opponents from scoring. Bend but don't break. Bend but don't break. Bend but don't break. Bend and break. Bend and break. Bend over. Wow, almost 27 points per game this year, that's awesome. I remember a certain murderer of quarterbacks mentioning that if we give up more than 17 points per game, you can blame the game on the defense. Well, if that rule applied this year, its our defense's fault. When you have high point differentials like this, you have to look at important areas like red zone percentage. There are considerations to consider that might be somewhat beyond the defenses control like TOP and Turnovers by the Offense.
Stopping the run isn't a secondary's game so much, that's usually about the front 7. When Tampa drafted important cogs like Gerald McCoy, Lavonte David and Kwon Alexander, they expected this defense to be able to stop the run and truthfully, the Buccaneers have done a great job of stopping the run in recent years. 2009-2011 saw a bit of a rough point in stopping the run. When other team's can establish the run, your team's pass rush has to stay honest, that's just basic Xs and Os. At 118 yards per game given up, it's the highest total we've seen since 2011 which was a very ugly 156 yards a game. With young Buccaneers like Noah Spence and William Gholston coming into their own, the Buccaneers seem to have the edge in stopping the run, but with an aging 3-technique, I'm not so sure Tampa shouldn't consider a tackle high in the draft or as a high priority free agent signing. But hey though, what am I saying now that we all aren't already saying?
His time was done they said. He was washed up they said. 2008 was the last year the Buccaneers had Legendary Defensive Coordinator Monte Kiffin. It was also the last year the Buccaneers averaged allowing under 200 yards per game through the air. Okay, let's be fair about it though, Monte wasn't the only one kicked to the curb. Chuckie and DB both made their exits following that 2008 season, it was time to rebuild with some "DB Love". The Raheem Morris era swept Tampa by storm and boy did we ever take our pants off and put our faces on people. This brings us to this year, Mike Smith's first season as a defensive coordinator for the Buccaneers. Our pass defense statistically speaking is worse now than in years before, in fact our Buccaneers are on pace for the 2nd worst pass defense since the turn of the millennium, only to be passed by 2012's tank job. This brings me to my next point ...
That or can someone start one of Red Board's Infamous Shower rumors with the best defensive coordinator available? Or maybe Mike figures it out.
They say stats are for losers. They say we are what our record says we are. I think the stats can help us understand why we are what our record says we are. What are your thoughts or contributions about our defense since the turn of the millennium?
-3SK
