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Week 1: Weekly Defensive Review: Bucs' Stops Fall Short Against Bengals

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Avatar Of Ehinote
(@ehinote)
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Posted by: @bucsbits

Other than saying the obvious "more" the problem with stops as a surrogate for winning or even as a comparison tool is highlighted by something as simple as "missed FG." 

This is just another reference point or stat to be able to take a snapshot look at. Most stats are just part of the story, but to me this stat always points to something. There’s always going to be one-offs, but I’ll amend missed FGs and such. To me, last week’s stat compares very well with how the defense played. We will see how that compares next week. I’d hope they are around 70-80% against the Browns.


 
Posted : Sep. 15, 2026 7:07 pm
Evans Is My Daddy
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One thing that I did say earlier somewhere in this cesspool of idiocy is that the Bengal kicker can basically kick the ball out the stadium. So turning the ball over to them from the 50 on in is basically points every time. Were all the turnovers on the plus side of the 50? If they were, that was at least 12 points minimum. Had the defense been able to stop some of those drives right were they were, the Bucs with all their miscues could have won that shitshow. That defense could have bailed Uncle Rico out of the hole he dug for them.....but they couldn't.....and they played as poorly as they did to finish the season last year.

I expect MUCH more in all facets of the game against Cleveland, including special teams. I remember seeing a bunch of high praise for the new special teams coach. I need more than an old guy with a big mouth chewing a whole pouch of Big League Chew to get me excited. How about a returner that is dynamic? I didn't like our return game either. It didn't really play a factor in the overall outcome of the game but it would be nice to have a returner get the ball back further than the 30. I think Tez gets his shot on Sunday.


 
Posted : Sep. 15, 2026 7:38 pm
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Posted by: @ehinote

I’d hope they are around 70-80% against the Browns.

That would be great. 

 

So here's a decent example of the context missing point I was making. 70-80% stops would be the Falcons last week (per the chart posted here 77% stops). The Falcons lost the game.  So, no QB offense hurt them

The 77% comes from 13 drives, 10 of which are stops, according to the chart.  There are 14 drives though, one is just the end of the half so I guess that makes it 13. 

3 drives in the 1st quarter - 2 stops, 1 score

4 drives in the 2nd quarter - 2 stops, 2 scores

3 drives in the 3rd quater - 3 stops, 0 scores

3 drives in the 4th quarter - 2 stops, 1 score

 

so its actually 9 stops not 10 and one of those stops would have to be a "missed FG" and another would be the running out the clock last drive with Rodgers taking a knee lol. And even then maybe they include the end of the half? who knows, but the point was only that the stops may be a snapshot, but even then it would be debated as to what constitutes a stop

so that is why I said the only thing that everyone would agree up is that the Bucs defense needs "more" stops.  Totally. UNDISPUTED.

 But (Badabings point) you can't say the Panthers defense was better because they had more stops when they also gave up 59 points.

anyawy appreciate your content, as always.

 


 
Posted : Sep. 15, 2026 7:47 pm
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TOTAL EPA FROM WEEK ONE VS. BENGALS

PASS OFFENSE:   +10.2

RUSH OFFENSE:   +1.1

PASS DEFENSE:   -6.1

RUN DEFENSE:   -1.2

SPECIAL TEAMS:  -0.4

PENALTIES:  -3.2

TURNOVERS:  -13.2

 

 

Seems about right. 


 
Posted : Sep. 15, 2026 8:09 pm
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