For Real, A Defense?

September 10th, 2019

Getting props.

Time will only tell if Sunday was a mirage but by the looks of things, the Bucs may just have a defense.

No, the 49ers are not like any of the Bucs’ three rivals in the NFC South. The 49ers don’t have a scary running back. They don’t have Pro Bowl receivers and Jimmy GQ has never been a league MVP or played in a Super Bowl.

But Sunday, we saw glimpses that, for the first time since 2016, the Bucs may have something of a defense, types Albert Breer of theMMQB.com.

Bucs DC Todd Bowles didn’t do enough to win on Sunday, but that shouldn’t obscure how his guys played—Tampa held the Niners to 256 total yards, bottling up San Francisco’s run game and keeping Jimmy Garoppolo at bay. Ultimately, two pick-sixes provided the difference for the Niners in their 31-17 win, but they only got in the end zone once on offense against Bowles’s crew.

Just like several folks on Twitter have told Joe to calm down on wagging a finger at America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, for his awful day Sunday because it is Week 1, then so too should we pump the brakes on anointing the 2019 defense as stout.

But it is a good sign. A much bigger test comes Thursday when the Bucs have a short week to prepare.

22 Responses to “For Real, A Defense?”

  1. Mike Johnson Says:

    I was not impressed with our defense. Where was the pass rush? was there one?
    You fix the secondary is like fixing the trunk before the engine. And our Defensive engine is the D line. Jimmy G had a lot of time to get his passes off..lotsa time. I will forever contend…When our Bucs got away from its great defense? That’s when the losses started way back when. They have not stopped despite us scoring points with an improved offense.

  2. DB55 Says:

    As such, the Buccaneers held the opponents without a touchdown in three or more red zone trips in the same game for the first time in almost six years. The last time they did so was against New Orleans on Sept. 15, 2013. The Saints were zero for four in the red zone that day.
    ———-
    See what happens when you cut McIceCream? Say it with me now BUT WTFDIK?!?!?!?!!!!!!!

  3. Jonathan Limpchimpi Says:

    I’ve always liked Bowles…the guy has the goods…at least on defense. He’s one heartbeat away from becoming the interim head coach if you believe the BA medical reports of potential Jeff Tedford-like phantom heart attacks.

  4. westernbuc Says:

    DB55, if you actually think cutting McCoy has anything to do with slowing down a terrible quarterback then you’re brain dead.

    I’m ready for next year already. Clean house and get a new QB. It’s obvious that Bucco Bruce can’t whisper for sh!t.

  5. adam from ny Says:

    9ers are not a good football team

  6. adam from ny Says:

    and it doesn’t seem like the dude in funny cap can whisper for sheet

  7. Alanbucsfan Says:

    Bucs lost the game because of TURNOVERS!! Jameis Winston TURNOVERS!
    With an assist from OJ Howard and punt team blocking.

  8. GhostofSchiano Says:

    Reach in toilet, retrieve, shine. Present, repeat

  9. ITS ABOUT TIME !! Says:

    time to play RYAN QB

  10. Bucsfanman Says:

    The defense looks improved but it could be better. I’m just happy to see more aggressiveness.

  11. Bobby M. Says:

    Defense looked good…..made some key stops when we gave them good field position. 256 yds is solid….I believe the #1 team last yr avg 292 yds per game. 17 pts will win you a lot of games….if your QB is just competent. They even scored a TD. Again, most teams would win with that effort.

    Keep an eye on this….the Bucs may have a similar formula as the Jags and may end up going the same route as the Jags by letting their “franchise QB” go and moving on to a true game manager. Reality in the NFL is players expect accountability at ALL positions….The team cant keep forcing Winston on the locker room and thinking it wont have a negative impact when he’s clearly the biggest reason we lose….game after game after game.

  12. AlteredEgo Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation. Says:

    The defense is IMPROVING…hoping the real leader of the D can make it back %100 healthy soon !

  13. Jeff Says:

    The defense, sad to say, is collectively better than Jameis.

  14. Loyaltotheend Section 312 Says:

    Much better than Clueless Joes bff Mike Smith

    But nothing great

    Still waiting for this improved coaching to show up

  15. Bird Says:

    Western buc

    Don’t even waste time with Dbs5
    He blames McCoy for a loses and a losing culture

    Yet the qb can look absolutely terrible and yet has nothing to do with the losing culture. Pretty sure QBs have more of an impact on a game then a defensive tackle (unless you are Aaron Donald)

    And then he states everyone else is uneducated. I mean it’s pretty sad and funny at the same time. But again he is a fan of a certain school so that’s all you need to know.

    Just wait until Jameis has a good game cause he will …he will call everyone at and again talk about people not knowing football like him.

  16. Bird Says:

    Bowles defense technically only gave up 17 points (Jameis gave up 14 with 2 pick sixes )
    And put up 7 pints for the offense

    That’s gets you a win 95 percent of the time in the nfl

  17. Tom Edrington Says:

    Not all that excited yet because, let’s face it folks, the 49ers are a pretty crappy football team…..yet they won.

  18. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    At least we aren’t talking about our kicker….

  19. Walkergodeep Says:

    Mj Stewart suck

  20. 813bucboi Says:

    defense played well enough to win….

    cant say the same thing about the QB….

    GO BUCS!!!!!

  21. christopher Says:

    Damn, Joe is as weird about being scared about this defense as he was about propping up Jameis all these years (& I like Jameis). Radically different scheme, young players rounding into shape in the secondary, promising MLB, LVD playing the right position, Vea coming into form, SUH, Captain Carl, Shaq, & eventually JPP. Almost everything is different & they barely know the system yet.

  22. TexBuc Says:

    I like what our defense showed last game, but will be judged by the whole season as I will Winston who had a bad game.