Just an interesting observation during the Bucs 6-1 run
Bucs beat Giants 30-7. Defense gives up zero points in first half, 7 points in second half. All around good showing
Bucs beat Carolina 26-23. Defense gives up 13 points in first half, 10 points in second half. No change half to half
Bucs beat Raiders 28-13. Defense gives up 10 points in first half, 3 points in second half.
Bucs beat Chargers 40-17. Defense gives up 17 points in first half, none in second half
Bucs lose to Cowboys 26-24. Defense gives up 23 points in first half, just 3 points in second half
Bucs beat Carolina 48-14. Defense gives up 14 points in first half, zero points in second half
Bucs beat Saints 27-19. Defense gives up 16 points in first half, just 3 points in second half
Are the Bucs making good half time adjustments here? if so, how the heck can we execute on these changes sooner? as we saw with Dallas, the hole in the first half was too much to overcome.
Yes, the second half defensive adjustments have been good recently - which is credit to Bowles. But you do have to acknowledge the quality of those opponents, as most of them had pretty bad, losing seasons. Will that trend continue against playoff teams is the questions.
everyone is asking this … no clue why it has to be this way
Yes, the second half defensive adjustments have been good recently - which is credit to Bowles. But you do have to acknowledge the quality of those opponents, as most of them had pretty bad, losing seasons. Will that trend continue against playoff teams is the questions.
Yes that's a good point
Something will have to give as Washington has been a good second half team in their 5 game win streak - albeit again against all non playoff teams sans Eagles with their back-up QB.
I have an idea. 1st half timeouts are usually left in the bag anyway. Take a TO at the end of the first quarter and one at the beginning of the 2nd quarter, sandwiching the quarter break. You would have to run one play before the quarter break because the clock stops. You can have the QB audible the one play, or have it preplanned. That gives the coaches seven or eight minutes to huddle up in a tent or something to make adjustments after the first period instead of waiting until halftime to figure out a way to keep the other team from steamrolling over you. Well, I'm pretty sure the coaches read the Red Board religiously, so they can take this advice and run with it. No problem.
I have an idea. 1st half timeouts are usually left in the bag anyway. Take a TO at the end of the first quarter and one at the beginning of the 2nd quarter, sandwiching the quarter break. You would have to run one play before the quarter break because the clock stops. You can have the QB audible the one play, or have it preplanned. That gives the coaches seven or eight minutes to huddle up in a tent or something to make adjustments after the first period instead of waiting until halftime to figure out a way to keep the other team from steamrolling over you. Well, I'm pretty sure the coaches read the Red Board religiously, so they can take this advice and run with it. No problem.
lol honestly, i was yelling for them to call a time out after you saw the defense couldn't get off the field in the first half
so first drive, they take 6 minutes off the clock for a field goal. They then give up another 5 minute drive field goal and the offense goes 3 and out.
on that next drive, no doubt TO's should have been called as the Saints then went 7 minutes for a touchdown. Instead it wasn't until the 9th play and ball already in the redzone that the Bucs used their first time out
You see your defense getting carved up, sucking wind, and you just leave them out there to die
It’s like what Rodney Harrison said during one of the pregame shows yesterday, “That offense can score on anyone. The defense has done better, but we’ll see what they look like in the playoffs against better offenses.”
It’s like what Rodney Harrison said during one of the pregame shows yesterday, “That offense can score on anyone. The defense has done better, but we’ll see what they look like in the playoffs against better offenses.”
I mean, if we are being honest, we averaged nearly 30 points a game on offense. If we do that, we have a good shot to be anyone. Quite frankly, it's a must if we want to win in the playoffs
if you look at our recent playoff history:
2020 Super Bowl season - Bucs won 31-23 over Washington, 30-20 over New Orleans, 31-26 over Green Bay, and 31-9 over Chiefs. The one constant was that we scored over 30 points each game.
2021 season - Beat Eagles 31-15, and Lost to Rams 30-27.
2022 season - blanked it out of my memory :) We only put up 14 in our loss
2023 season - Beat Eagles 32-9 and lost to Detroit 31-23
in offensive points per game, we ranked 4th. Detroit is #1 at 33 points, we are 4th at 29.5, Washington is 5th, Eagles 7th, Green Bay 8th, and Vikings 9th at 25 points. The Rams are the only team that doesn't have a top 10 offense that is in the NFC playoffs.
So, yeah don't be surprised if teams are putting up 27 points; it is if the offense can continue to do their thing and we outscore them.
we averaged nearly 30 points a game on offense. If we do that, we have a good shot to be anyone. Quite frankly, it's a must if we want to win in the playoffs
two things
1. I was worried about the Commanders in terms of what they should be able to do to our defense with a running QB and a great TE, but in reality we should run them into the ground with our own offense, keep their offense off the field
2. 30 points a game offense is Super winning offense even with an average defense. I think our Super Bowl winning team was just under 30 on offense and about the same PPG than our current defense
These are both reason why I think Coen could potentially stay. The Bucs are not far off. May be wishful thinking . . .
Not sure Bowles would disclose any adjustments he made at half, but he did say there were none to speak of. Mostly just emphasizing tackling etc,
One reason the defense might have done better in the 2nd half?
The offense
I am no dissing the defense but the offense is almost non-existent in the first part of the game.
Full game TOP is 32 minutes Bucs and 27 Saints but at half time, but at halftime it was 19 Saints to 10 Bucs. The Bucs D probably started winning 3rd down but they were alos having to defend much less
The pass rush effort in the first half was non existent. Completely lazy and uninspired play. Vita was on the sidelines taking a break in the very first series of the game. I’d bet anything that someone laid into the entire defensive line in the locker room at half. They came out completely different and it changed everything.
The offense can't do much when the other side is sustaining long drives. Three drives over five minutes each to go up 13-3. Obviously the offense couldn't sustain anything, but the defense needs to get the opponent off the field by some other means besides giving up points, turnover or punt would work. Even a 4th down stop now and then.One reason the defense might have done better in the 2nd half?
The offense
I am no dissing the defense but the offense is almost non-existent in the first part of the game.
Full game TOP is 32 minutes Bucs and 27 Saints but at half time, but at halftime it was 19 Saints to 10 Bucs. The Bucs D probably started winning 3rd down but they were alos having to defend much less
Absolutely agree.One reason the defense might have done better in the 2nd half?
The offense
I am no dissing the defense but the offense is almost non-existent in the first part of the game.
Full game TOP is 32 minutes Bucs and 27 Saints but at half time, but at halftime it was 19 Saints to 10 Bucs. The Bucs D probably started winning 3rd down but they were alos having to defend much less
I’ll bet there’s a tie-in to getting to score first, and a lead, too (after opening coin toss).
We didn’t sustain drives in the first half and the defense was on the field too long - they were gassed.
2nd half we get the ball, Baker jacks up the offense with a scramble for 1st down, we go up. Defense has had half time and with a lead, gets more aggressive. More sustained drives and defense only has spot action and puts pressure on Rattler who begins making some really bad throws.
I think It’s the reason for our defensive improvement in the last 6-1 stretch.
Going to be a little tougher as we face QB’s with more experience against Bowles… and Jayden Daniels isn’t a rookie anymore.
It will be interesting. Hope we win the opening coin toss…and we score quick, we may have a chance to get another playoff win.
@white-tiger - the defense couldn’t get off the field because they couldn’t make a stop. It was the first time the Saints scored on their first three drives since week 2. And the drives took up way too much time. The offense didn’t help, but also they couldn’t get into any sort of rhythm without the ball for long periods of time.
