Still early and tough stretch ahead, but a few interesting stats from SR (and the comparison to 2024)
TOTAL DEFENSE
2025 -"Bucs rank fourth in total defense, allowing just 272.8 yards per game."
2024 - Bucs rank 19th in total defense, allowing 342 yards per game.
Up 15 places because of nearly 70 yards per game improvement
PASSING DEFENSE
2025 - "Tighter coverage this year in the secondary has produced a Top 10 passing defense, as the Bucs rank ninth, allowing 187.8 yards per game.
2024 - 30th passing defense . . allowing 245 yds per game
THIRD DOWN CONVERSION RATE ALLOWED
2025 - "Tampa Bay ranks second in third down defense too, allowing just a 32.65% conversion rate."
2024 - Bucs ranked 15th with a 39.4% conversion rate
SCORING DEFENSE (aka "only stats that matters" (sometimes lol))
2025 - Bucs rank 20th at 24.3 ppg
2024 - Bucs defense ranked 17th at 22.7 ppg
But if you adjust out 14 (or 17) Special Teams points the Bucs are close to top 10 (maybe 11 or 12) in scoring at 20-22
Bowles pitched a great game vs eagles. Week 1 was tough to watch but the defense is getting better... Injuries suck but that's why he went for so much depth at corner.
Dennis and David are major liabilities tho.
perfect analysis, I agree.Bowles pitched a great game vs eagles. Week 1 was tough to watch but the defense is getting better... Injuries suck but that's why he went for so much depth at corner.
Dennis and David are major liabilities tho.
i think ILB (obviously) making it tougher to scheme, think Bowles option will be to play more vanilla early, stop the run, keep contain. Then 2nd half bring in corner/safety blitz packages..and the wood. Bowles doesn’t have a lot of choices, especially with scraping the bottom of the secondary depth barrel.
perfect analysis, I agree.Bowles pitched a great game vs eagles. Week 1 was tough to watch but the defense is getting better... Injuries suck but that's why he went for so much depth at corner.
Dennis and David are major liabilities tho.
i think ILB (obviously) making it tougher to scheme, think Bowles option will be to play more vanilla early, stop the run, keep contain. Then 2nd half bring in corner/safety blitz packages..and the wood. Bowles doesn’t have a lot of choices, especially with scraping the bottom of the secondary depth barrel.
The eyeball test alone says the defensive backfield is much more talented (when fully healthy). We have some good, young talent. Unfortunately, same basic eyeball test says that the ILBs are struggling a bit.
On the D-line, no Kancey hurts for sure, but its also sort of the norm. . . again, unfortunately.
and No 1 in "havoc" score lol
"Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war"
I like where your heart is, and I want our guys to have the same conviction, but Seattle is a really good team…I just hope we can bring enough dogs to this fight.and No 1 in "havoc" score lol
"Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war"
Dennis and David are major liabilities tho.
Unfortunately, LVD is at the end of the road.
And, the "Savior" has been dogshit.
Should be a good LB class this upcoming year. Needs to get addressed with that and FA.
