Run Defense Held Up
August 11th, 2017
Better
The Bucs allowed an ugly 4.4 yards per carry last season.
Tonight, there was at least a little evidence in the preseason opener that Tampa Bay has found a fix.
Through the Bengals’ first two series, with primarily the Bucs’ defensive starters on the field, Cincinnati had 10 rushes for 38 yards.
Joe will take it.
Sure, there were strong Bengals runs and the Bucs’ defensive line was blown off the ball badly a few times. But there were some run stuffs and a tackle for loss in the run game by Noah Spence.
Mike Smith called last year’s run defense “not acceptable” earlier this week. Tonight, he has to be slightly encouraged by the progress shown.
The Bucs’ second- and third-team run defense? Well, they didn’t have a good night.
August 11th, 2017 at 10:22 pm
Mixon was tearing those boys up
August 11th, 2017 at 10:23 pm
“Held up” as in “robbed”?
August 11th, 2017 at 10:24 pm
Joe just got referenced by Chris Myers. Too bad he hasn’t seen the latest updates. Where are his priorities ?!?!? 😉
August 11th, 2017 at 10:30 pm
Huh. I came to the complete opposite conclusion.
August 11th, 2017 at 10:30 pm
Preseason sucks
August 11th, 2017 at 10:31 pm
Wow. THose stats are deceiving then cause Bengals were running ball right up the gut when McCoy and baker in the game That’s what I saw anyway. You sure about that joe?
August 11th, 2017 at 10:32 pm
Joe – every time I’ve attempted to post in the last few months my comment has been held for moderation. Did I do something wrong?
August 11th, 2017 at 10:32 pm
Yes our run D sucks a ss. Let’s hope it gets better.
August 11th, 2017 at 10:37 pm
Can only guess you may be using a naughty IP address. Filter is kicking your comments into moderation for a reason (no, Joe cannot read the mind of software programming).
August 11th, 2017 at 10:39 pm
Where was any pressure on the QB? Are they still playing “Hands Off”?
August 11th, 2017 at 10:41 pm
runs by cinci of
1
6
9
5
-2
5
3
to start the game. (not in a row, just in that order on 1st drive) doesnt look that good to me. numbers of from nfl.com play by play in box score. i believe they are correct.
Did you even read this post by Joe? –Joe
August 11th, 2017 at 10:41 pm
Awwwsnap now NewTampaChris, I literally saw where ur coming from but this was game 1 of the pre-season..suppose our starters dug in their heels just to prove a point and someone vital got hurt, like season ending hurt. Like Joe said, I’ll take what our starters gave us, the rest I’ll chalk up to ultimately meaningless pre-season game #1. GO BUCS!!!
August 11th, 2017 at 10:42 pm
Hum… I didn’t see a good run defense out there. The numbers are what they are, but to my eye they looked pretty awful stopping the run for the most part with the first teamers.
August 11th, 2017 at 10:47 pm
Judging anything about preseason is difficult. I noticed a lot more rushing issues after the ones left the game.
August 11th, 2017 at 10:50 pm
Joe you are blocking my comments for moderation as well which is annoying. Maybe it is because we both have numbers in our name because IP has nothing to do with it. Run D did not do well but it is also the first preseason game so who cares. I agree that no significant injuries accured so I call it a successful night. Go Bucs!!
August 11th, 2017 at 10:52 pm
Joe doesn’t “block” comments that go to moderation. Either you are using naughty words or you are using a naughty IP address. Or Comment filter is being triggered for a some unknown reason.
August 11th, 2017 at 11:04 pm
Hmm…well no bad words here, and I’m sending this from my iPhone so who knows. Just letting you know so maybe you can help me out. I have been a fan of this site for several years this is a first for me. But go Bucs!!
August 11th, 2017 at 11:12 pm
The hard knocks hero was every where tonight. To bad we are loaded at mlb he looks like he has the it factor.
August 11th, 2017 at 11:15 pm
87 – I’ve had a few messages go to moderation and it was because I used a different email in the email field, I have a backup email autofill in on my phone and that triggers the moderation message for me. It took me a couple of times to notice that. No idea if that might be a case, but worth double checking.
August 11th, 2017 at 11:20 pm
“We can’t stop a run or a pass. Other than that, we’re in great shape.” – John McKay 1976
August 11th, 2017 at 11:21 pm
Joe Dirt did have a nice night, but it was against 3rd and 4th teamers. I hope he gets some playing time with the 2nd team, he was really flying around out there and I want to know if that play style holds up against better players.
Here’s Joe Dirt prepping himself up before the game:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bq8Ju_ZUJ6I
Also Joe Dirt is an awesome nickname for him – he needs to embrace it, he’ll make a ton of merch money if he does, and he’ll have to give some to Blake Sims for giving him the name. If Martin just embraced Muscle Hamster… well it just makes me sad to see a marketing opportunity missed like that. Don’t make the same mistake Mr Dirt.
August 11th, 2017 at 11:47 pm
I thought the starters got gashed up the middle a few times. There were two plays in a row, just before the Hargreaves pick, where Baker was blocked in place and McCoy was pushed there, four, five yards off the line of scrimmage.
They did, but that happens in every game. The average was solid, and the support behind them was, too. small step through 10 carries against the first-teamers.–Joe
August 12th, 2017 at 12:01 am
Agree to disagree Joe. Mr. Unblockable was seen too many times standing erect 5 yards to the side of a pile. Also game just seemsed way too fast for Stevie T.
August 12th, 2017 at 1:29 am
I tell you what…Our starting DLine was not getting pass rush and Bengals were making huge holes up the middle in their run game.
August 12th, 2017 at 1:32 am
“We can’t stop a run or a pass. Other than that, we’re in great shape.” – John McKay 1976
Love it
nice pick by hg3
August 12th, 2017 at 8:02 am
I was not at all impressed by not just the run defense, but the defense in general.
I did see Bond flying around.
August 12th, 2017 at 10:32 am
How opinions differ. Joe is trying to sell us that the run defense is better. Don’t buy it. It may be better than last year but it still is atrocious. What i saw was our defense being pushed all over the field by the Bengals. The only time our 1st team defense stopped them was by turnover. Did they ever punt when our 1st team defense was on the field? If they did I must have been in the bathroom because i never saw them punt against our 1st team defense. Seems the Buc’s will have to be like the Saints and out score their opponents if the defense doesn’t play better. Bottom line, the Begals 1st team offense punked our 1st team defense.
August 12th, 2017 at 1:58 pm
I went back and watched the condensed version of the game for the first quarter and my memory didn’t fail me – the Bucs were awful at stopping the run. Not sure what you saw Joe but check the tape.