GMC: Run Defense Needs Work

August 10th, 2018

Not there yet.

Yeah, Bucs stud defensive tackle Gerald McCoy was happy the Bucs pulled out a win last night. He said if a score is kept, the goal is to win. Period.

However, GMC wasn’t exactly giddy with the win. He believes the Ryan Tannehill-led Dolphins offense (and yes, Brock Osweiler, too) exposed flaws in the Bucs defense that must be corrected.

“They were able to run the ball on us,” GMC said. “That was our Achilles heel last year. That’s why we couldn’t rush the pass the way we wanted – because we didn’t stop the run. So if we are going to be the defense we want to be we have to start stopping the run.”

And excuses, if the Bucs cannot stop the run, won’t fly any longer. When a defense has what the Bucs have up front, when a defense has the linebackers the Bucs have, there should be no excuse for a team like the Dolphins to gouge the Bucs on the ground.

Miami averaged 5.3 yards per carry and Frank Gore didn’t play.

47 Responses to “GMC: Run Defense Needs Work”

  1. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    To allow that draw play to go for big yards is unacceptable…..let’s see what happens going forward….I still think our defense will show great improvement.

  2. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    Joe,

    After you review the tape.
    Give me your thoughts on the play of Kwon Alexander.

  3. Bobby M. Says:

    I think they are still figuring out the right combo of players and assignments…..but i’ve said before, good players on a roster look good on paper but lack of chemistry will be exposed in the game. Assuming no injuries, i expect by week 4 or 5 things will start clicking for the defense and they’ll play at a very high level. Those first few weeks are really critical….will need a little luck to keep the season alive….Whether its Fitz magic or turnovers from the defense, we have to find a way to capture some wins while this unit gels.

  4. ChanEpic Says:

    The starting D-line looked GOOOOODDDD but we have middling to no depth on that line. Some of those runs were EASY but hopefully the second-3rd stringers need more work. A lot more work specifically defending the run. Oh and our Kicker is…. ummm scary.

  5. ChanEpic Says:

    *second-3rd string will get more work.*

  6. Not there yet Says:

    If there are no holes in the front 7 then it must be the guy coaching this scheme. If the defense looks bad this year there’s no way Mike Smith should make it through the season

  7. DB55 Says:

    Teflon Kwon. I counted at least 3 missed tackles. There should be a competition at mlb bc kwon is missing too many tackles.

    Looked to me like JPP was the only one tackling out there last night. McIceCream made a nice tackle downfield after kwon missed the tackle of course.

    Anyone who argued with me that Allen, Unrein or Curry were/are better than Swaggy or Ayers please slap yourselves. It was obvious when they signed but last night they completely embarrassed themselves. Absolutely ZERO pressure all night. And you paid these dudes way more than Ayers and Swaggy. Should’ve kept the cheap contracts and just added JPP.

    What did I tell you? #WeakHavoc but wtfdik

    No pressure and huge holes in the running game, AGAIN.

    OH BUT OUR DLINE IS MUCH IMPROVED BLAH BLAH BLAH. SWAGGY BAKER BLAH BLAH BUT AYERS BLAH BLAH BLAH. LOL, smh.

  8. DB55 Says:

    I know this will seem preposterous to many if not all of youz but I’d play kwon at SS, Beckwith at MLB and Spence at Sam. Unfortunately Spence was stuffed for a majority of the night sans that free play where he missed the qb. If we only had another high priced fa DE who could make plays, hmmmm.

    I’ve been raving about Whitehead since day 1. That’s how you play safety. I think he and Davis earned jobs yesterday. As for Stewart I see a huge bust on the horizon but to be fair it’s only 1 ps game but he got burnt all night. Mohamed Sanu and Michael Thomas make that catch in the end zone. Total wasted pick especially with 3 day 1 starters still on the board at the time.

    So what we gonna do about the Teflon Kwon? I you better hope Vea is the real deal or it’s 32nd ranked D once again and golly Gee JPP decides to retire next year only to re-sign with the giants again. (Cough cough cough)

  9. johnnybuc Says:

    yeah talk about a understatement . i mean that was flat out embarrassing letting someone 4th round rookie & some no name back run all over us. not a great first impression by the d line and linebackers need to step up as well. only game 1 of preseason but if derrick henry and the titans start pounding the ball down there throats next week we’ll know that they have a serious problem

  10. Destinjohnny Says:

    Gerald you guys were breathing so hard after 3 plays
    Maybe get b better shape

  11. BucDan Says:

    LUVMYBUCS Says:
    August 10th, 2018 at 8:05 am
    Joe,

    After you review the tape.
    Give me your thoughts on the play of Kwon Alexander.
    —————————————————————–

    No need to watch the tape. Disappointing to say the least.

    Over-committed multiple times, multiple missed tackles. Plays that should be one yard loss or gain turn to greater plays because he can’t keep is head up and square up to make a solid wrap tackle.

    And don’t get me started on R. Bulloguh…

  12. johnnybuc Says:

    @ db55 damn dude talk about a overreaction LMFAOOO one preseason game and this guy is crying for swaggy and ayers back man that’s sad . if you really think baker and ayers are better players than curry allen and unrein than you really have no clue how to evaluate talent at dline. ayers was injury prone and unproductive last season but we should keep him instead of signing curry ? lol that’s a good joke. you can make an agruement that he should’ve been kept over gholston but that wasn’t what you were b*tching about … not even going to speak on baker the fact that you even think it’s remotely close to a bad idea to let go of that lazy bum is mind boggling but hey i guess we all react to weak 1 of PRESEASON. in different ways … oh yea might i remind you that vea and unrein weren’t even playing .. probably the main guys along with allen that licht signed to help stuff the run .

  13. AlteredEgo Says:

    Hey…it occurred to me late in the game I had not noticed Stevie T in the game…or his name mentioned…did I miss it…any info ?

  14. DB55 Says:

    but if derrick henry
    ——–
    You misspelled “when”. And when you can’t touch Ryan Tannehill good luck touching MM. Pray MM trips on a blade of grass and has to go on IR.

    I have a feeling next weeks game is going to be ugly. Worse than Lovies season opener, YIKES! Titans just have way too strong of a team, Jon Robinson earning his pay over there. PS. Thank you for sending Seaton our way Jon, good looking out. 👍🏽

  15. Gobucs Says:

    And people on here talking about 10 wins lmao

    Hahahahahahahahaha hilarious.

    More like 10 losses.

  16. johnnybuc Says:

    db55 you are reaching hard dawg LMFAOOO one preseason game and this dude crying for ayers and lazy bum baker back that’s pathetic . ayers is old and injury prone but we should’ve kept him instead of curry?? nonsense . if he’s so good whys he still looking for a job? there’s a arguement to be made about keeping him over gholston but that’s not what your b** ching about … not even gonna bring up lazy bum baker i mean the fact that you’d even bring up bringing back that guy is mind boggling .. think you need to go back and watch some tape from last yrs d line because the push they were creating on pass rush was night and day from last yr. you can overreact to one preseason game if you want but just remember unrein and vea both did not play and those 2 along with allen are the main run stuffers for this d line. it’s one preseason game dude, if the trend continues then there’s reason to be concerned

  17. The Buc Realist Says:

    After hearing how the Dolphins O-line has struggled against the Dolphins D-line all training camp long, It really seemed that many have over-sold the Bucs D-line!!!!!!!!!!!! I have heard local media even say “it should be a top 5 d-line in the league”!!!!!!!!!!!

    In reality, the “real” fans saw a D-line that looked it has been upgraded by 2 salary cut casualties and a 3rd round draft pick trade to the D-line!!!!!!!!!! Unless Vita Vea is defensive rookie of the year, It seems the D-line has been oversold!!!!!!! Which is par for the course for the local media!!!!!!!!!!

    Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!

  18. Martinii Says:

    They had difficulty against run. IMO first preseason game, still trying to find best rotation, need work on tackling skills, and it seems they just don’t get needed work in guarded practices. With talent available still a work in progress. At least it seems we have a feel for the new rules.

  19. johnnybuc Says:

    db55 LMFAOO that’s probably the biggest overreaction to one preseason game i i’ve ever seen and it’s the first preseason game too LMFAOOOOO ayers and baker ??? get the F outta here with that bull no one wants to hear about them bums if ayers so good why he still unsigned and on twitter everyday begging for a job? not even gonna talk about that lazy bum baker you should be ashamed for even mentioning him . maybe you missed the part we’re 2 of our main ru stuffers didn’t play witch effects depth witch means guys who probably wouldn’t of played or wouldn’t have played that long got extended looks and it showed . first team didn’t do great as well but it’s wk 1 of PRESEASON this is what they are for.. find out what you still need to work on and go from there, at least it’s encouraging that even without the greatest run defense the d line was able to generate push and pass rush wayyy more consistently than last year.. speaking of witch you should probably go back and watch some tape from last yrs gram think you forgot just how bad and how soft that d line was .

  20. Dano1969 Says:

    I know it’s only the D Lines 1st game, but for the DOLPHINS to run all over them does not bode well. Another Free agency catastrophe? Or is Smitty still on Arthur Blanks payroll? On the Flip, the offense looked dangerous again. The bucs May cut a couple of talented receivers that could end up getting good play time elsewhere.

  21. joestang Says:

    defense looked pathetic against the run. this was Miami, gonna get a lot tougher. Nobody on defense can tackle. Tannehill picked the secondary apart, I don;t think we are gonna see a much better defense. Offense looked sharp. Only way to win is to keep defense off field.

  22. Destinjohnny Says:

    6-10

  23. Joel Says:

    Mr Super Hero Excuse Factory!!!!

    Let me guess… we need to get more talent around him?

    What a joke.

  24. Joel Says:

    All of the talk of the “upgrades” on defense….

    Hate to break it to the idiot masses… McCoy and Mike Smith are still here. Different crew, same results.

  25. Alanbucsfan Says:

    When Kwon was out last year against Cardinals and Vikings- Peterson and Cook had a field day running the ball- it’s one pre-season game-I still say Bucs need a more physical secondary- play the rookies

  26. Broy34 Says:

    Some of you guys are truly out of touch. It. Was. One. Preseason. Game. We didn’t have our two best run stuffers and one guy is actually saying we should’ve kept swaggy and Ayers. Omg. That’s gotta be the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen. Another is saying the titans are gonna beat us worse than Winston’s debut. Am I dreaming. My goodness. I’m saddened that some buc fans can be that clueless.

  27. Broy34 Says:

    And yes the d line is improved. These vets aren’t gonna go all out in the first preseason game. I’m sure there’s bad tape but curry off a fresh deal isn’t gonna go nuts to win a preseason game. Period. We just drafted a d tackle top ten and he wasn’t on the field for God’s sakes

  28. Broy34 Says:

    Play Kwon at strong safety LMFAOOOOOOO. Dude that’s the absolute most ridiculous thing I’ve ever read

  29. 813bucboi Says:

    DB55
    I agree…..I want to see whitehead and evan at safety….JPP looked frustrated early during that first drive….allen and curry for 1PS game at least looked like baker and ayers….

    realist

    you were one of the folks along with defense rules and bonzai hyping up the dline…..you overestimated the defense and smitty….yet again….and why are CB’s still playing 12yards off?…..but smitty gives them freedom….BS….

    #NOEXCUSESIN2018

  30. AmericasEnabler Says:

    Keep playing Kwon at MLB and keep losing. If your MLB can’t shed blocks and fill gaps QUICKLY then you’re faked. Move Beckwith inside and let Kwon play strong side.

    Forget the play but both LVD and Kwon were blocked and just sat there playing grab ass. It was hilarious.

  31. John F. Ensch Says:

    “SAME OLD BUCS DEFENSE, BAD”!

  32. Cobraboy Says:

    Kwon Alexander may be the most over-hyped Buc in the last decade.

    Beckwith needs to play the middle with the 1’s. He won’t get wiped out, or look like a chicken with his head cut off. Put Alexander at Sam.

    Alexander just needs to STFU and play.

  33. Pickgrin Says:

    Starters played 2 series on defense and gave up 3 points. Runs against starters were for 2,4,10,2,2 on the 1st series and 14, 3 on the second series. So they had 2 bad plays against the run that need to be closely reviewed and shored up.

  34. BigMacAttack Says:

    A few problems yes, but I didn’t think it was that bad for first preseason game. Grimes will make a difference too. I don’t expect any defensive rookies to play at a pro bowl level. I like Whitehead too. I think the starters given more time in a game will get it dialed in. We will see but I’m not ready to pull the plug yet. I hope Mike Smith gets a little more creative when the time comes, but in the meantime run the pass rush games, run more blitzes to perfect them, when it doesn’t count. I wouldn’t worry about showing too much of anything on film. Now is the time to see what you can do.

  35. Buccfan37 Says:

    Funny but when I read DB55 comments I find that I agree with much of what he says.

  36. johnnybuc Says:

    this dude really said put kwon at SS i’m out cuh i’ve seen enough this gotta be the worst football take i’ve ever read in my life .

  37. Broy34 Says:

    Johnnybuc— thankyou dude. I’m truly in disbelief about how stupid the majority of commenters are on here. It’s a disgrace

  38. Joel Says:

    “Kwon Alexander may be the most over-hyped Buc in the last decade.”

    Agreed. Right up there with Lavonte and McCoy. Tired of hearing these guys talk talk talk talk talk. That’s all they can consistently do.

  39. Pryda... sec147 Says:

    I saw penetration a saw a defense affecting the quarterback it wasn’t pretty but it’s progress big time in the right direction let’s see what week 2 brings us. I predict more sacks and domination by the Bucs

  40. SOEbuc Says:

    Vea was brought in to be the 350 lb run blocker up the gut. That’s what he does. That’s why he was picked so they could have a player with a special quality at every position on the dline. I’ll wait for my judgment after he gets out there.

  41. SOEbuc Says:

    *run stopper up the gut.

  42. AmericasEnabler Says:

    Pryda… sec147 Says:
    August 10th, 2018 at 6:04 pm
    I saw penetration a saw a defense affecting the quarterback it wasn’t pretty but it’s progress big time in the right direction let’s see what week 2 brings us. I predict more sacks and domination by the Bucs

    ^^^No you didn’t. You were dreaming obviously or we don’t have the same understanding of what penetration is LOL

  43. AmericasEnabler Says:

    SOEbuc Says:
    August 10th, 2018 at 6:40 pm
    Vea was brought in to be the 350 lb run blocker up the gut. That’s what he does. That’s why he was picked so they could have a player with a special quality at every position on the dline. I’ll wait for my judgment after he gets out there.

    ^^^Ehhhh…. you can double the big guys to open a running lane. Your middle LB needs to be able to fill that gap and shed block which unfortunately is Kwon’s weakness.

  44. Broy34 Says:

    Joel Lavonte has an all pro year last year what r u talking about

  45. AlabamaBucsFan Says:

    Let’s not forget Mitch Unrein and Vita Vea was missing with injuries. Those two would have clogged the middle and the run.

  46. Reach87 Says:

    Hilarious comments after the first preseason game. Sad. I just truly hope we continue the process and stay healthy. Go Bucs!

  47. Tampaspicer Says:

    Kwon has nice hair. Don’t hate the playa hate the game.