Buccaneers’ defense needs an infusion of consistency
The Bucs have allowed 17 passing TDs. No Bucs cornerback has yet to make an interception. ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO MARTIN FENNELLY COLUMNSNov 7th, 2015The kid at quarterback is growing each game. Granted, not enough for Jameis Winston to engage in a top-this touchdown throwdown with New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, who lost 7-6 to Drew Brees last Sunday.That’s where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defense comes in.And it had better.The Bucs’ offense has averaged 30 points over its last three games. The Bucs would have been 3-0 in that span if the defense hadn’t folded at Washington.This is the same defense that was supposed to guard the front door while Jameis found his NFL game.True, there were some promising things in Atlanta. The defense had four takeaways. The defense made that stop in overtime, a comeback after the Washington debacle and giving up its ghost on a short field when Atlanta scored that touchdown to force overtime.But why should anyone have real confidence in this defense until it shows consistency? If it would kick in, this thing could come together. It’s near the bottom of the NFL at 28.4 points allowed per game.“(Atlanta) didn’t punt on Sunday and they were held to 20 points,” defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said. “Why? Because of the takeaways. That’s big. Sometimes you’re going to find yourself in some situations where you may give up some yards, but at the end of the day in our league it’s always about points, always.”Then Frazier blew it and mentioned that this defense is “headed in the right direction.”Nearly a year and a half in and a Lovie Smith defense is merely headed in the right direction?Also: Is it?The Bucs’ defense has allowed an opponents’ passer rating of 111.5, on pace to be the worst in NFL history, worse than the 2008 Detroit Lions, who didn’t win a game.It’s hard to miss the deck chairs being moved around in the secondary. The iceberg always seems to win. Head coach Smith and coordinator Frazier have tried nearly every combination at cornerback. Alterraun Verner, brought in after Darrelle Revis, has been reduced to nickelback. Tim Jennings is a starter one game, a healthy scratch the next. Johnthan Banks has been a disappointment since the Bucs drafted him. Mike Jenkins? Seriously?The Bucs have allowed 17 passing TDs. No Bucs cornerback has yet to make an interception.Banks will probably cover — or try to cover — Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who caught three Manning TD tosses in New Orleans.Godspeed.If that’s not enough to drive a Bucs fan mad, it’s enough to remember Lovie rushing Revis out the door in the name of saving money and, hey, we’re not going to play as much man coverage. Think they could use a Revis about now? Think any team could? As for the money saved, it freed up funds to buy beauties like Anthony Collins, Michael Johnson and Josh McCown.The last time the Bucs met the Giants was in 2012 in New York, in the Bucs’ second game under Greg Schiano. Manning threw for a career-high 510 yards. Schiano had his defense bull rush on the game’s final play as Manning took a knee. Giants coach Tom Coughlin took Greggy to the woodshed over that. Ah, memories.The Bucs’ defense needs to follow up on Atlanta. Someone needs to step up. It might as well be the leaders on the field and in the bank accounts: defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and linebacker Lavonte David.I know McCoy is fighting a bad shoulder and double teams, and he was around QB Matt Ryan’s ankles on that final play in Atlanta, but the Bucs need more. David hasn’t come close to playing up to his new contract. This would be a good time to start.Here come Eli and Odell.Bucs linebacker Danny Lansanah and his teammates watched film of the Giants-Saints feeding frenzy. Lansanah was asked what he thought.“Where was the defense at?”The Bucs should be tired of that question themselves.
