“The New Steel Curtain”
October 1st, 2020
Hyped on Bucs defense.
One of the greatest defenses of all time was nicknamed “The Steel Curtain.” It was the defense of the 1970s Steelers that helped the team win four Super Bowls in six seasons.
A bit player in their secondary was a guy we currently know as Father Dungy. And when Father Dungy took over the Bucs in the 1990s, he patterned his defense after that famed Steel Curtain.
And Dungy did a helluva job while that Bucs defense also became one of the greatest in NFL history.
This all came to mind when Joe heard closet Bucs fan Peter Schrager beat the war drum this morning on “Good Morning Football” on NFL Network, telling all to beware of the rise of the Bucs defense.
Schrager spoke enthusiastically of what he deems as the “loaded” defense, which is sort of in the shadows from the star power of park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring Bucs quarterback Tom Brady, foot-rubbing Rob Gronkowski and stud receiver Mike Evans.
“We talk about Brady and Gronk all day long,” Schrager noted. “The Buccaneers are so good on defense they are suffocating teams the past two weeks.”
For evidence of the “loaded” defense, Schrager pointed out the individual awards Lavonte David and Antoine Winfield won this morning.
October 1st, 2020 at 12:04 pm
Pewter Curtain!
October 1st, 2020 at 12:09 pm
Oh…Please !
October 1st, 2020 at 12:12 pm
The game Sunday will hinge on Turnovers, Penalties & Special Teams……..and it should be our Defense that causes the Chargers to turn it over…..
We need to clean up the sloppy play……
October 1st, 2020 at 12:12 pm
More like we traded our pirate ship in for a iron side battle ship, let our defense withstand anything thrown at them while our cannons (Mike, Godwin,Gronk,Brady, Miller, OJ,) destroy others.
October 1st, 2020 at 12:13 pm
somewhere, realist and smitty are crying around a bunch of sheep!!!!!!!!!!!!…..
this is what REAL defense and player development looks like!!!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!!
October 1st, 2020 at 12:19 pm
It’s only been 3 weeks….
Calm down folks.
Go Bucs!!
October 1st, 2020 at 12:29 pm
One week at a time! The next three will tell us a lot.
October 1st, 2020 at 12:33 pm
Dude called Smb Sean William’s Bunting and said Mike Edward’s had a pick.
Pete’s research is shaky at best. Love the show. But everyone on the show with the possible exception of Burleson is just an entertaining talking head.
October 1st, 2020 at 12:34 pm
He said Edward’s had a pick 6* rather. It was a beautiful 1 handed interception, but he didnt run it back.
October 1st, 2020 at 12:45 pm
Aw, you are right. they are entertainers who talk football except for Nate. I get better takes on this board everyday. If those folks were smart they would read tis board and parrot things the next mornings show.
October 1st, 2020 at 12:45 pm
We played two bad or beat up teams. Slow your roll with this steel curtain redux nonsense. Let’s beat the saints, or packers, or chiefs on the same fashion. Then – and only then – can we talk about that.
October 1st, 2020 at 1:00 pm
Gimme a break! What hyperbole. Give it time, like maybe a season.
October 1st, 2020 at 1:17 pm
Lol, settle down Francis.
I’m stoked on their performance but it’s only been 3 weeks, 2 of which were against bad teams.
October 1st, 2020 at 1:18 pm
The key to keeping up the pace is really simple – STAY INJURY FREE! They’re so talented as a starting group but there’s not much depth behind them.
October 1st, 2020 at 1:27 pm
The Bucs D is definitely for real! It will be fun to see the Bucs become a defense that is feared once again!
October 1st, 2020 at 1:30 pm
They have to stop overreacting every week. Let’s see how the Bucs D plays against Green Bay & KC first before media goes crazy.
October 1st, 2020 at 1:34 pm
I’m as pleased with the Bucs D as most everyone else, but let’s not start comparing them to iconic defenses just yet. They played a mediocre Panthers offense and a Broncos team down their starting QB and WR (though in years past that would have been a recipe for a huge day for the opposing backup QB, so we are obviously moving in the right direction). The real test will be when we face high scoring offenses like Atlanta and New Orleans (again).
October 1st, 2020 at 1:39 pm
This guy also said Jeremy Chin was the most dominate rookie defensive player….he better check his sheet. That would be Antoine Winfield Jr baby!
October 1st, 2020 at 1:39 pm
Bit player sure is correct, Bit coach too. With all the power Dungy had with our Bucs and then the Colts to come away with a grand total of 1 is a JOKE! Give those teams to Belichik and he would have won the Super Bowl EVERY year.
October 1st, 2020 at 1:57 pm
They’ve looked solid against a mediocre Panthers team and a really bad Broncos team. I’ll take wins any way they come but to mention them with all time great teams, that’s premature. i think we have a top ten defense….and we can go far with that if the offense gets in sync.
October 1st, 2020 at 2:24 pm
Hey Joe! How about the Devil’s Triangle defense? After all we ARE the Buccaneers! “ The Devil’s Triangle defense, where offenses enter and are never heard from again! “
October 1st, 2020 at 2:35 pm
Barbosa with the win!
October 1st, 2020 at 2:49 pm
@Barbosa
Dilly! Dilly!
Go Bucs
October 1st, 2020 at 2:54 pm
I second Mort’s sage comments.
Beat somebody full-strength good first.
So far it has been fun but inconclusive.
But a good start.
October 1st, 2020 at 2:58 pm
Look at Lavonte David last week defending that FG drive. That tackle he made was nearly out of body. It was a play made based on pure effort. It was an example of the new standards on this defense.
If we can play with these standards each and every game with no relent we are Championship defense No debate!!
hashtag Lavonte David must be All Pro!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
October 1st, 2020 at 3:02 pm
Look at each and every big play this defense has made this year(there are many).
Now go back and look at the play before. We are causing turnovers. We arent just getting them. Our ferocious D is not just finding plays. We are making them!!!!……..This goes back to last year. Nothing new.
October 1st, 2020 at 3:06 pm
Our Special team has made plays for over a year too.
The blocked punt wasnt just a chanse happening. We were creating turnover on ST all of last year.
Yeah sure pentalties took away all of our big plays and ruined Devin Whites monumental moment as a Buc(in Tennessee) but they all still happened and would have without the stupid referees.
October 1st, 2020 at 3:10 pm
Everyone expected the defense to be ahead of the offense, defense is playing really good and no one wants to admit it now. Offense is all holding back this team. What I’m worried about is penalties and run blocking the passing game will overcome leftwich
October 1st, 2020 at 3:25 pm
OK, Steel Curtain may be a bit of hyperbole, but to all you “need more time to evaluators,” what would you be saying if they were sitting at 1-2 right now? You’d be righting them off. So enjoy it. It’s ok to throw a few accolades their way. The NFL thought so, when they named 2 as defensive players of the month. The have solid personnel and a solid defensive scheme under Bowles. So, whose to say they’re not the next great Bucs defense. Dream a little already.
October 1st, 2020 at 4:17 pm
2 Huckleberries, 1 cool cat and Kay Adams.
Meh
October 1st, 2020 at 4:21 pm
When the Bucs had winning teams, it was cos they had awesome defenses. Bowles is well on his way to joining that club. Now, if Buc Luck aka serious injuries would kindly spare us this season. Go Mighty Bucs Defense! 🙂
October 1st, 2020 at 4:26 pm
I watched the Steel curtain. In 1976 after winning 2 superbowls, The Steelers started 0 and 4. At the team meeting that week, Joe Green stood up and said ” no team crosses the 50 yard line on us”. They went on to win the rest of their games and the 50 yard line was only crossed a couple of times. Think about that for a while, then you understand defense. It’s not possible in today’s game but I do agree, this defense is tough to deal with and has a great opportunity in front of it.
October 1st, 2020 at 5:13 pm
Lol, we are no longer pathetic on defense, but the steel curtain?!? Naw. I’d take our 2002 defense over any other in the history of the nfl, but the current one is just simply good until proven otherwise.
October 1st, 2020 at 5:56 pm
Barbosa Says:
October 1st, 2020 at 2:24 pm
Hey Joe! How about the Devil’s Triangle defense? After all we ARE the Buccaneers! “ The Devil’s Triangle defense, where offenses enter and are never heard from again! “
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I prefer the nickname “The Perfect Storm”
Of course this refers to the entire team though so I’m perfectly happy to accept the ‘Devils Triangle’ moniker for the defense.
October 1st, 2020 at 6:37 pm
If you think the offense is going to jell as the season goes on – watch the defense – it’s just gonna get better and better and better as well
We have a very tough 5 game stretch coming after another wounded team – the next 6 weeks has me on the edge of my seat, popcorn ready
October 1st, 2020 at 8:19 pm
CarbonFiber Curtain!!!!!!!
October 1st, 2020 at 8:20 pm
Kevlar Curtain!!
October 1st, 2020 at 10:16 pm
It’s the Plunderin’ D
October 1st, 2020 at 10:25 pm
Well if we’re all entering names into the hat I’ll vote for the Pewter Plunderers
But only if they continue to rack up more sacks and turnovers as we get thru the season!!
Clearly though the Joes need to host a naming contest on the real tho…..
October 2nd, 2020 at 7:29 am
I saw the red brick wall
October 2nd, 2020 at 9:49 am
“Light’s Out” defense
October 2nd, 2020 at 9:54 am
“Light’s Out” Defense