When I heard the news, I immediately turned to my wife and said this could be bad, the Bucs have always had problems defending unknown backup QBs. Trevor Siemian (WTF beat by an ape throwing the ball), Mitch Trubisky (threw for 6 tds), Brock Purdy (turned out to be the real deal). Okay you old TB Bucs fans, who are some of the others?
The polar opposite of rookie, but I remember 41 year-old Vinny Testicleverde being signed off of the couch and whipping the Bucs ass.
Bucs under Bowles
2019
Week 3- Bucs give up 32 points to then rookie Daniel Jones in his first start
Week 5 - Bucs give up 31 points to Teddy Bridgewater led Saints
Week 6 - Bucs give up 37 points to Kyle Allen led Panthers
2020
nothing too outlandish here. Saints and Rams owned us in 2020. Other 2 losses were to Chiefs and for some odd reason the Chicago Bears but hard to blame defense here. Obviously this year we won the Superbowl so got last laugh on Saints
2021
Trevor Siemian led Saints and Tyler Heinicke led Commanders dominate us in back to back weeks. Only other losses were against our kryptonite Rams and Saints (9-0!) Rams got the last laugh on us in the playoffs. Oh that blitz call...the agony!
2022
i blanked this year from my memory. back to back losses to Mitch Trubisky and PJ Walker but more so on the abysmal offense. Jacoby Brisset beats us in overtime but again the abysmal offense. God, this year....devastating to watch. Glad to see Jets going through it now.
2023
nothing too outlandish here. Allowing Stroud to drive 80-90 yards with 40 seconds left to beat us with a TD was quite ridiculous. Disappointed in the Detroit game where defense collapse in the 4th quarter. The losses these years were more so lack of offense scoring 11, 6, 13, 18, 14, 20, and 13 points in regular season losses sans the Houston game.
2024
i mean allowing Bo Nix to do that to us is quite ridiculous but we only put up 7 points. The defense was not existent last Thursday. Absolutely no excuse to lose to Saints this week
ouch
Rattler is gonna do well BUT Kancey is back... And hopefully Winfield.
Maybe Bowles figures out that DBs can jam at the line of scrimmage? Too much to ask?
If you re-watch Barkley's 59 yard run, Diaby fails to set the edge but Britt doesnt even get close to forcing him back to the inside
There is a hilarious discussion on the Board about whether the Bucs contained Saquon Barkley (and an even funnier discussion about the way averages work).
Against the Bucs Barkley had 84 yards running (most coming on a single 59 yard run) and ZERO TDs and 4 catches for 32 yards
Last night he has 159 yard running, a TD and 3 receptions for 40 yards.
BUT he also had one of the most phenomenal moves ever, perhaps?
https://x.com/NFL/status/1853191677399245255
wow
If Dennis is now out long-term the Bucs are really in bad shape at LB, right? This was PR's (generous) take on KJ Britt's game
- KJ Britt
- The stunt to set up David’s second sack was his best play of the game.
- Got exploited in low red zone on Hurts’ scramble that led to TD pass to Campbell.
- Lack of athleticism leaves him stuck in mud in those situations more often than not.
- Bucs tried to limit him as a coverage defender by blitzing him a ton.
- Outside of being a solid stunter he was not very adept as a pass rusher.
- Stiff hips meant he couldn’t change directions and was often pushed to the ground by using his own momentum against him.
- Lacks explosivity out of his drop in coverage.
- Asked to be the pole-runner in several Cover 2 reps and lacked the speed needed for that assignment.
If you re-watch Barkley's 59 yard run, Diaby fails to set the edge but Britt doesnt even get close to forcing him back to the inside
To be fair on the 59 yd run he was taking on a 300lb center pulling 1on1 the center is gonna win that more than not, issue was he got sealed too easily.
This feels like Ryan Neal all over again, the pff says it, the film says it... i mean if it looks like a bear sounds like a bear its probably a bear. Issue is can our other MLBs fill in. Bowles says they can't, but idk JJ russell been here for a few years now, longer than SVD I would hope he knows almost as much as Britt. Just let one of the other LB's do what SVD did and see how it goes, you won't upset KJ too much because he's moving back into his role with SVD and you get to see the other guys.
I can see Britt knows his assignments but hes not gifted in athleticism or innate instincts so he's always gonna be a few ticks too slow to the ball. He needs to either get faster or get better instincts from intense film study to improve his football speed or else he's always gonna be a few ticks too slow to make the play.
For the cover 2 assignments he fills that in pretty well he knows how to get depth but then doesn't have the agility to make smooth breaks from in breaking routes or rally and close pursuit when the ball gets dumped off
Britt and Hayes down the stretch
LVD has hours and hours of highlights but some real lowlights this season due to age and supporting cast. Last night though? Wow did he pop off the screen on a few plays. Still such a smart football player.
Will be tough to see him retire
Bucs defensive performance
week 1 - 20
week 2- 16
week 3 - 26 (but we have an INT that gives them a ball on our 9 and then TD)
week 4 - 16
Dennis INJURED, Britt takes over
week 5 - 36
week 6 - 27
week 7 - 41
week 8 - 31
week 9 - 36
So, weeks one through 4 Dennis and Britt platoon and the points allowed is 19.5. And really closer to 18
Since it is 34 points per game
Dennis/was no All-Pro and there are other injuries, but Dennis goes out and the Falcons LIGHT UP the Bucs over the middle and the Bucs have been unable, for the most part, to stop it since. Dennis barely plays against the Eagles in WK 4, but clearly the Falcon saw the film of Britt
And not much positive from Britt to offset the big damage in passing defense:
”Opponents are running for 4.9 yards per carry against Tampa Bay”
If you read nothing else read this incredible article by Pewter Report
https://www.pewterreport.com/bucs-make-more-permanent-change-at-ilb/
its is many things:
1) and explanation for the 19pts allowed to 34 pts allowed change in the Bics defense
2) and indictment of Bowles’ scheme
3) proof that the FO is incompetent (it is not) or still primarily focused on $ (cap etc) over talent
I could add #4 or maybe it’s 2b
the complete lack of preparation by Bowles and his staff
Bowles is notoriously slow to change players but, as JQ says, Russell has to be better than Britt, even if he’s no Dennis (or White)
The Bucs FO had to know by AT LEAST early last season that they were moving on from White. Knowing that it makes sense to elevate Dennis. That’s why you drafted him.
BUT, to leave your defense do completely exposed if Dennis got injured? Especially when his shoulder problems existed BEFORE the season and especially when you know Britt cannot fill the role and LVD is 34. Especially when it should relatively easy to find another more athletic back up to Dennis or to at least train up Jones or Russell earlier
Bucs had Payton Wilson for the taking there in the third round and went for McMillian who will be lucky to have 30 catches by the end of this year.
Don't think the kid is a bad player by any means but we definitely could've used our draft picks smarter.
this post really hits home on the last part of my post above, especially when there seems to be questions about McMillan
I think they were in love with Dennis and thought they could squeeze another year out of David. And Plan B was to buy KJ Britt some faster shoes.Bucs had Payton Wilson for the taking there in the third round and went for McMillian who will be lucky to have 30 catches by the end of this year.
Don't think the kid is a bad player by any means but we definitely could've used our draft picks smarter.
this post really hits home on the last part of my post above, especially when there seems to be questions about McMillan
Bucs had Payton Wilson for the taking there in the third round and went for McMillian who will be lucky to have 30 catches by the end of this year.
Don't think the kid is a bad player by any means but we definitely could've used our draft picks smarter.
McMillian is looked down upon by the locker room and other people in the organization. He is going to be a bust in the end.
