ESPN Frowns On Bucs Defense
October 21st, 2014
No, Myron Lewis is not back with the Bucs. You wouldn’t know any better the way the secondary has played.
Yes, the arrival of the bye week doesn’t mean beat writers get to run off to some sun-drenched Caribbean island full of loose, scantily-clad, sultry babes and cheap alcohol.
One can only dream.
So the copy keeps coming, game or no game. And since there was not a Bucs game Sunday, many are taking to grading the Bucs. Pat Yasinskas is no different. The ESPN scribe who covers Tampa Bay is not fond of what the Bucs call a defense led by a defensive-minded head coach.
Among his grades comes one for the secondary. which doesn’t like to cover receivers.
Defensive backs. The Bucs have a lot invested in their secondary, but they haven’t been getting much in return. Safeties Mark Barron and Dashon Goldson have been very quiet. Cornerbacks Alterraun Verner and Johnthan Banks have been slightly better, but they’re not coming up with big plays. GRADE: F
The Bucs’ pass defense is challenging the worst in NFL history. Some 95 years. If that doesn’t get you an “F,” Joe isn’t sure what will.
Maybe in an effort to be totally and completely objective, Yasinskas is more than generous when he graded the Bucs linebackers a “C.” That might surprise Steve White.
In basketball terms, that grade of the linebackers smells of a make-up call.
October 21st, 2014 at 6:21 am
Ronald McDonald would frown on this defense. Happy the dwarf. The Mona freakin Lisa. Jolly ol Saint Nick.
October 21st, 2014 at 6:46 am
Can we please get some “FIRE LOVIE” billboards?
October 21st, 2014 at 7:20 am
Phil, no. Unless you pay for it. Then, no.
October 21st, 2014 at 8:17 am
“ESPN Frowns On Bucs Defense”. As do I, and I’m sure everyone else.
October 21st, 2014 at 8:20 am
Kudos to Frazier and Lovie for taking a top half defense near the top in turnover differential and turning it into a last place (or close) performing unit. In Lovie we trust HA!
October 21st, 2014 at 8:34 am
@Phil No. Speak for yourself
October 21st, 2014 at 8:38 am
Coaching – D-
Defensive Line – D
Linebackers – C
Defensive Backs – F
QB – C
RB – F
WR – D+
TE – D
OL – D-
So by this grade out at the Bye we have two bright spots LB and QB positions. WOW! The rest of the team sucks.
October 21st, 2014 at 8:43 am
Those grades somehow still seem too generous. Coaching getting a D- is far too kind especially.
October 21st, 2014 at 8:49 am
Their reasoning:
“Still, it’s hard to overlook what has happened so far. Although his defense has been getting torched, Smith has steadfastly stood by the Tampa 2, even though critics say that scheme is outdated. On offense, the Bucs have been conservative and predictable at times and they struggled to get into a rhythm early in the season.
Speaking of the offense, Smith and the Bucs drew a tough break early on. Offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford had to have heart surgery at the end of the preseason. He was supposed to come back quickly, but that never happened. Tedford has taken an indefinite leave of absence and the Bucs are going on the assumption that he’s not coming back.
That’s put quarterbacks coach Marcus Arroyo in a tough spot. He’s only 34 and this is his first year in the NFL. Arroyo has taken on the play-calling duties with the rest of the offensive staff helping out. Arroyo has made the most of his situation and I think his play calling has gotten better since Mike Glennon replaced the injured Josh McCown at quarterback.
But the bottom line is the Bucs are 1-5, which means that the coaching hasn’t been very good. GRADE: D-minus” -ESPN
October 21st, 2014 at 8:50 am
In a flight of fantasy I give the whole team an I for incomplete. There are 10 more games to finish to make a passing grade. It’s going to be a steep uphill struggle for sure. Many here said the Bucs would gel in the second half of the season, that is still possible no matter how ugly the team has performed so far.
October 21st, 2014 at 8:59 am
From today’s Minneapolis Star-Tribune: “…the Vikings have now scored two touchdowns in their past three games while giving up 19 sacks, a stat that tells the story of why they are 2-5 with three losses in a row.”
Don’t you have a sinking feeling that next week, we’ll be saying, “How did we let this crappy team score 34 points on us?”
October 21st, 2014 at 9:12 am
You could change Vikings with Tampa and you have the same result. Except for the 2-5 in part.
October 21st, 2014 at 9:23 am
Never say the words “it can’t get any worse than this” about your Tampa Bay Bucs. Each week they’re prepared to challenge that statement and take you to a deeper pit of despair.
As it stands I’d take Mike Zimmer in a heartbeat over Lovie. At least his plan is working in a similar way to how we thought Lovie’s might. We’d be grumbling but see signs that the defense is making progress – and that the rookie QB is developing.
October 21st, 2014 at 9:34 am
It’s okay ESPN, Opposing offenses are smiling at the Bucs Defense!
October 21st, 2014 at 9:36 am
I have read in the past on espn.com Barron and Dashon Goldson are both better at strong safey. espn questioned bringing in dashon goldson for that reason.
October 21st, 2014 at 10:02 am
I guess we will see if this year turns around when the D goes against the backup QB
October 21st, 2014 at 11:58 am
it’s an easy call…however I cant tell you how long its been since I flipped to the network that has been dong literal hit jobs on this market for years…scru NYBSPN
October 21st, 2014 at 6:48 pm
Having a lot of invested but not getting much in return pretty much describes the entire Bucs roster, not just the secondary…