Welcome to a new weekly feature that will focus on one key statistic: the number of defensive stops made by the Bucs in the previous game. While this metric doesn't tell the entire story, it provides an insightful perspective on defensive performance. This analysis isolates defensive output, unaffected by the offense or special teams’ performance. Whether the offense scores five touchdowns one week or gets shut out the next, it won’t alter this assessment.
The analysis includes total drives, with success defined as a drive stopped without yielding points (either a touchdown or field goal). A stop can occur through various means: forcing a punt, creating a turnover, achieving a safety, or a turnover on downs. The stop rate is calculated by dividing the number of stops by the total number of drives in the game.
Summary:
Drive Qtr Time Result Pts Stop? Stop Type
1 Q1 9:09 Punt (3 and out) 0 YES Punt
2 Q1 1:51 TD (Gesicki, 2 yd) 7 no —
3 Q2 5:35 TD (C. Brown run, 5 yd) 7 no —
4 Q2 0:10 FG (McPherson, 20 yd) 3 no —
5 Q3 10:08 FG (McPherson, 55 yd) 3 no —
6 Q3 2:24 INT (Trotter, Int TD) 0 YES Turnover (INT)
7 Q4 14:09 FG (McPherson, 58 yd) 3 no —
8 Q4 5:23 FG (McPherson, 32 yd) 3 no —
9 Q4 3:19 Run out the clock 0 no None (clock-kill)
FINAL WORD: THE DEFENSE NEEDS TO FORCE MORE STOPS
Here’s a number that stings: our defense only managed to stop 2 of Cincinnati's 9 offensive possessions (22.2%). The stops included a punt on the opening series and Jeremiah Trotter's pick-six. Everything else resulted in points, or Cincinnati simply running out the clock in the final minutes of the game, leaving us without the ball. In stark contrast, Cincinnati's defense successfully halted HALF of our drives (4 of 8)... all ending in turnovers.
Yes, the Bucs offense was a turnover machine, and more will be covered about their deficiencies later, but the defense must get better at getting stops if we hope to be successful this year. This has been a common theme of Bowles' defenses for years.
can you also do one of how many times the offense trips over their dicks to cost us the game?
wake me up when they can at least put up 23 points, league average, then i'll start being upset that our defense isn't the 2002 Bucs.
they held the Bengals to at worst 23 points (less Baker's feminine fumble for a TD, and Bucky's fumble in field goal range). Going up against one of the better talented offensive teams in the league.
yes, if they give up 23 or more to the Browns, i'd start to be concerned with the defense. But on the flip side, if the offense can't at least put up 23 points, then what are we even talking about?
Fire Bowles, i get it. Guy should not be on the sideline but if you had to blame 1 person for yesterdays game....it's the guy that lost the ball 3 fucking times.
Bengals hitting a 50 + yard FG after taking over at midfield is a stop
Bengals hitting a 50 + yard FG after taking over at midfield is a stop
good point
ehinote - add yardage given up on the drive and that should help paint the complete picture.
offense deflated our chances with back to back fumbles. One a direct 7 while the other was a 33 yard drive, leaving little wiggle room for the defense
14-3 after 1 quarter of play, solely on the offense shoulders. Could the defense have held to a field goal? sure, but this first quarter was strictly on the offense.
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Bengals drove 80 yards after yet another turnover. they then let the Bengals drive 70 yards but then held them to a field goal.
Not good by the defense at all. But again, going up against the Bengals here, what do we expect, no touchdowns? But yes, second quarter was on the defense.
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held Bengals to 36 yards and a field goal and then a pick six
Pretty good by the defense. Would say they kept them in the game, no?
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Bengals drove 43 yards for a field goal
helpless Baker fumbled for his 3rd time setting them up at Bucs 44. held them to a field goal.
Score is 33-20 at this time. Not bad by the defenses, again would say held them in the game. Are we in garbage time yet?
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Bucs score garbage time TD with a little over 3 minutes left in game but all 3 time outs
Defense couldn't stop Bengals from burning the clock. Defense let us down here.
so it's interesting but i would say there were maybe 2 drives where they let us down - the 80 yard after Baker fumble and then not being able to get ball back with 3 minutes left. Hard to really fault them for the effort yesterday
