Grinding Grimes
October 26th, 2016
Sparks impressive secondary rebound.
Joe has maintained that through the first six weeks of the season, the Bucs have the best corner duo in the NFC South, Brent Grimes and Vernon Hargreaves.
Given how disgusting the pass defense was last year, just typing that previous paragraph, it dawns on Joe the job defensive coordinator Mike Smith has done rehabilitating one of the worst pass defenses ever seen in these parts.
For example, last year the Bucs allowed a horrid 70 percent completion percentage, worst in the NFL. Currently, the Bucs are fourth in the NFL in defensive pass completion percentage at 58 percent. (Oh, in 2015 under a total clown of a coach, the Fighting Illini had the third-best defensive pass completion percentage in the Big Ten. Currently, Illinois has the worst completion percentage in the Big Ten. Anyone notice a pattern here?)
One reason for the cornerback renaissance is the play of Grimes, who of late is locking up opposing receivers. Bucs multimedia maven Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com did some digging.
Grimes was one of Tampa Bay’s key acquisitions in free agency this past spring. In his six games as a Buccaneer so far, he has already registered multiple passes-defensed in four of them. That includes the last three, as he also had two PBUs against Carolina in Week Five and three against Denver in Week Four.
That sort of weekly disruption of the opposing passing game is something the Buccaneers’ defense hasn’t seen in a while. According to press box totals compiled by Statspass, the last Buccaneer defender to break up two or more passes in three straight games was Brian Kelly in 2004. Pass defensed totals are only available through the 1994 season, but since then Grimes is just the fifth Buccaneer to have a streak of three or more games with two or more passes batted down. In addition to Kelly, Donnie Abraham did it twice in 1999 and once in 2000, Ronde Barber did it twice in 2001 and Charles Dimry did it in 1995.
This is cool stuff and shows not only how valuable Grimes is, but what a savvy signing was made by Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht. He ignored the loud white noise of the haters and signed Grimes.
Also, per Smith, only three other players in the NFL have more passes defended this season than Grimes. The guy with the most passes defended in the NFL? That would be David Amerson with the Raiders.
October 26th, 2016 at 12:42 pm
Amazing how a coach can yuck things up. I remember being some what excited about Lovie coming to Tampa. Thought at the least he would be solid and we could play competitive football.
After getting batterer and deep fried week in and week out, I couldn’t stand the thought of him remaining in Tampa. I wont lie, had a little party when he got axed. I feel bad about it, but the guy had to go. Six games in to this season and the entire D looks much better.
October 26th, 2016 at 12:42 pm
grimes has played solid the last few games….him and VHG are really clicking….this will be a huge test for the both of them….crabtree and cooper are studs….both have great hands and are great route runners….GO BUCS!!!
October 26th, 2016 at 1:21 pm
Here comes the Pest, Joe: what’s up with Banks?? Smith going to deactivate him for this one? Cripes, he’s just as good as Hey Jude. C’mon, Tampa Bay!!!!!!
October 26th, 2016 at 1:24 pm
The sad thing is we had an easier schedule last year than this year.
Grimes has been good outside of slipping & falling down every game at some point.
October 26th, 2016 at 1:30 pm
You have to measure PBU’s to Opportunites… 2 PBU’s in a game with 2 Ops is GREAT. 2 PBU’s with 15 Ops. Not so good.. Right?
October 26th, 2016 at 1:48 pm
Really enjoyed all the different articles this morning Joe. Might be wrong, but it seems like when Bucs win, the media (and fans) focus more on what’s going right and a lot less on what’s going wrong. The discussions seem to end up being a lot more analytical and a lot less emotional, and to me that makes the articles much more interesting (and enjoyable).
Bucs defense is gelling nicely right now and improving every game, despite all our DLine injuries. I’d think that it just takes time for coaches to learn their players, and for players to get to know each other. The secondary seems to be playing especially well right now, and we don’t seem to be seeing as many major breakdowns (like we did earlier in the season). Confident that getting Ayers and McDonald back into the lineup will make a huge difference, and allow the defense to take another big step forward.
October 26th, 2016 at 1:53 pm
I love our secondary. Grimes has been solid. Hargreaves looks like a franchise corner. Jude has been great at nickel. At safety, Bradley Mcdougald is able to punish opposing receivers w/o drawing stupid penalties. He our enforcer back there. If only we could compliment him with a safety that could cover. And props to Mike Smith for not panicking when many, myself included, did.
October 26th, 2016 at 1:56 pm
You remember she 54 said this could be a top ten defense & we all laughed saying he was crazy look if this was last year with Lovie the d would have got destroyed but & im not going to lie I was one of those in lovies corner but mike smith not only got this defense going he adjusting to what he dont have which is something Lovie didn’t do I’m impressed
October 26th, 2016 at 2:04 pm
Not surprised Dumb Lovie is already negatively ruining the Illini. Grimes and Hargraves are both great jumpers despite both being only 5’10” and both are very instinctive. What a great Duo. Of course DC Smith deserves part of their credit and GM Licht should share in that credit for his Free Agent signees and his draft picks every year. We have demonstrated we are competitive this year no matter if we make the playoffs this year or next.
October 26th, 2016 at 3:11 pm
The addition of 2 talented corners in Grimes and Hargreaves – along with major upgrades in position coaches (and scheme) – has made all the difference in the secondary’s improvement over last year. There were a few serious communication issues in the new defense the first few games – but it seems like the secondary and defense as a whole are playing much better and more consistently going back to the Denver game.
Kudos to Mike Smith for assembling a good staff and getting the talent currently available headed in the right direction.
If we can find a great safety in next year’s draft, our secondary will be in much better shape talent wise than it was the day Koetter and Mike Smith took control of this team.
October 26th, 2016 at 3:22 pm
I won’t argue that the scheme was flawed. However, the biggest difference to me is the talent level. Where are the supposed “starters” that everybody thought would flourish once Coach L’s scheme was gone? P.S. They stink! Players play! We now have good players at those positions, hence the improvement in pass-defense.
Yes, good coaching helps but you must have players.
October 26th, 2016 at 3:32 pm
Mr. Peepers
October 26th, 2016 at 5:14 pm
Lovie Smith should be banned from the NFL for life
October 26th, 2016 at 6:59 pm
Great pickup licht. We are going to have to draft a cb early soon though. Grimes only signed thru 17 and 34. But for now he’s been good.
October 26th, 2016 at 7:22 pm
Great seeing Donnie Abraham mentioned again! He was a great CB. I would love to have a CB playing here getting 31 Int in six seasons here again.
Go Donnie Abraham!
Go Bucs!
Keep up the good work Mr. Grimes. I sure didn’t like us playing against him, so very glad he is now on our team. Teaching the rookie how to go out and do it, by doing it. Not just talking about it. Doing it! Thank you for wanting to play here.
Go Bucs!
October 26th, 2016 at 10:34 pm
Abraham and R Reynolds were both Studs than never got their due, they were both great cover corners.