Red Zone = Bucs Zone
December 26th, 2013
Lavonte David leads one of the NFL’s best red zone defenses.
There’s not much to be proud of for Bucs fans this year outside of some superb individual performances.
But the red zone defense is a major source of Bucs pride.
After 15 games, the Bucs rank sixth in the NFL in red zone defense. Tampa Bay has allowed an average of 4.42 points every time an opposing offense gets into the red zone.
And it isn’t just the red zone. When opponents get a series of downs inside the Bucs-10, they’re not scoring many touchdowns. The Bucs have allowed the second-fewest average points per visit inside the 10 — 4.5 points. Their goal-line stand that led to a forced fumble kept the game close in St. Louis on Sunday.
The defense really hasn’t been the problem this season. It’s been the NFL’s worst offense. Yeah, the ones wearing pewter and red. This annoys Joe more than warm beer.
December 26th, 2013 at 10:12 am
How about the ones wearing black shirts on the sidelines leading the offense??????
fundamentals people …fundamentals!
December 26th, 2013 at 10:40 am
It’s hard to believe that the same team under the same Head Coach can be so aggressive on defense but so passive on offense. This offensive system and playbook will not win in the modern day NFL. No matter how good your defense is, you still have to be able to outscore your opponent and be able to catch up if you fall behind.
December 26th, 2013 at 10:52 am
@ Mr. Patrick – Is it that hard to believe? Didn’t we live through years of it with Dungy?
Sullivan is going to have to catch the ax because someone has to pay for it being this bad but Schiano is going to have to take a good hard look at his offensive principles that he’s imposing on his coordinator.
December 26th, 2013 at 10:58 am
@ Patrick in Va
Exactly. And Dungy was fired for it after NFC Championship games and division titles. And Gruden was fired after winning a Superbowl and 2 consecutive 9-7 seasons So why should Schiano get a pass after regressing? Have the Glazer’s standards dropped that much?
December 26th, 2013 at 1:07 pm
I was just looking at analytic site Football Outsiders’ defensive ratings & was surprised at how high T.B. ranks. (Cannot claim to actually understand their methodology.) http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamdef
December 26th, 2013 at 1:08 pm
If Schiano comes back my money is not going towards his “paycheck!” I will support the players away from that stadium.
Season ticket holders should get 25% off their tickets for watching an offense play only half a game in 2013!