“That Dropoff Wasn’t As Big As The Other Ones”
January 3rd, 2021
Look who led Tampa Bay in tackles today.
Buccaneers savior linebacker Devin White was home with The Sickness and 30-year-old veteran Kevin Minter stepped in and wowed but did not shock his coaches.
“Kevin Minter I thought was outstanding,” Bucco Bruce Arians said.
The head coach added that of the sevearl backups who played a lot on defense, Minter in for White was the least notable change. “That dropoff wasn’t as big as the other ones,” Arians said.
Minter finished with six solo tackles and nine combined tackles, and he added a pass defensed and got a little pressure, though he’s no Devin White on the blitz.
The Bucs’ defensive depth was just ok today, good enough to win but not good enough for the playoffs. Minter, though, gets a high grade.
January 3rd, 2021 at 5:46 pm
The only time I noticed Minter today was when he was standing flat footed as Hearst got in behind him for an easy TD. It was a really really bad read by Minter who had no idea where the TE was.
January 3rd, 2021 at 5:48 pm
Minter had the tackles, OK…..but somehow I think we still missed White’s speed and pass rush….
Glad our racehorse got a rest & is healthy…..that goes for Shaq also….
January 3rd, 2021 at 5:50 pm
I don’t remember linebackers being so prevalent in pass coverage as nowadays
January 3rd, 2021 at 5:57 pm
Minter was OK but these DBs are a complete liability. If we face Rodgers it will be a total field day for him, It will not be like the fluke defensive performance vs GB earlier in the year.
January 3rd, 2021 at 6:04 pm
He wasn’t blitzed as much as White !! Whites blitzing has been good but it is Do to him not being a complete player and the staff utilizing what he does good or doesn’t do well !!! ( and there’s a lot)
January 3rd, 2021 at 6:06 pm
I remember one play where he got trucked on 3rd down and I remember thinking that White would’ve stopped them short. Other than that, I did see him making some nice plays. He did exactly what we should expect out of a backup.
January 3rd, 2021 at 6:06 pm
Dear fellow Bucs fans… it is a new season. And who knows how much Bowles has been evaluating and planning for the playoffs. You don’t want to show everything in the regular season, if you don’t have to. I think Bowles will really put the pressure on in opposing offenses in the upcoming games.
You don’t beat Wilson, Rodgers and Mahomes primarily with coverage. You beat them primarily with pressure.
January 3rd, 2021 at 6:10 pm
On that long run by Brian Hill, Devin White, Shaq and CD III, that likely doesn’t happen
January 3rd, 2021 at 6:14 pm
The drop off was cliff like at all 3 positions…don’t kid yourself! It was glaring how much Shaq and White mean to our defense!
January 3rd, 2021 at 6:19 pm
Noticed there was a run to the outside that got some good yards. Was thinking that’s a play that wouldn’t have that kind of success with Whites speed. Might even be a loss
January 3rd, 2021 at 6:19 pm
Minter is a back-up for a reason, and he looked like it today.
Nice have a huge problem with the lack of depth and talent on the d-line/OLB and they’ve done a good job covering that up all year.
They need to reinforce the trenches big time.
January 3rd, 2021 at 6:22 pm
Yep, this draft is going to have to be heavy on defense, other than a QB of the future.
January 3rd, 2021 at 6:32 pm
Defensive backs are major liability going into the playoffs. They always sit there wait for the receiver to make the catch, then wait for the receiver to get a full head of steam and then try to make the tackle. I just don’t understand it?
January 3rd, 2021 at 6:34 pm
I saw Dean coming in on a receiver as the ball was coming to him. Dean stopped, waited for the receiver to catch the ball then proceeded to let the receiver almost run him over. Not sure why he didn’t continue to the receiver as the ball is in the air. Why stop and let him make the catch cleanly?
January 3rd, 2021 at 6:34 pm
I had PSTD flashbacks to Barrett Ruud watching minter today. Box score does NOT tell all Joe’s!
January 3rd, 2021 at 6:37 pm
I could tell during the game Minter lacks D White’s elite speed and range. Minter is a pro’s pro and a great depth piece but I’d rather have Devin starting next week.
January 3rd, 2021 at 6:47 pm
Minter played well but obviously he is no Devin White.
January 3rd, 2021 at 7:17 pm
I honestly don’t know what some of you guys were watching.
They played without their best cornerback, best linebacker, best pass rusher, and played other back ups on the D line and backfield… for all that, they played great. They had a couple mistakes. The offense had a couple mistakes. Take away two or three plays and the Falcons probably only score 13 points.
Overall, I thought it was fantastic. A lot of back-ups got some good playing time heading into the playoffs where they might need to be called on
January 3rd, 2021 at 7:45 pm
“The Bucs’ defensive depth was just ok today,”
Really? How many teams could lose the leading sack leader and not be affected?
How many teams could one of the very best blitzing LB’s in the league in addition to Shaq out.
Oh and don’t have the same pass rush…the leading DB on the team gets hurt.
That’s THREE important positions two of them filled by bonified stars!
This is why our defense looked bad today. The MAJOR difference in today’s game from last is that we didn’t get to Matty Ice nearly enough. Matty Ice is like Brady….if you give him time he will pick you apart. Both OL’s played well I thought the Bucs OL was exceptional.
Remember as well that Brady threw two beautiful passes into the end zone that were just a WHISKER off with receivers catching both but not able to keep both feet inbounds. Football is a game of inches and it wasn’t kind to us today. Two TD’s wipe out by inches. Again I love the way our OL is playing right now.
January 3rd, 2021 at 9:27 pm
Playoffs? Playoffs? I remember several obstacles the old Bucs had to go through to win it all! Go Bucs!
January 3rd, 2021 at 9:31 pm
SOOO Devin White will not be able to play because we play on saturday night.
Alvin Kamara can play because his team plays on sunday.
Once again the leagues preferential treatment of the Saints happens again. Kamara broke protocol and they let him his team off easy by letting him get back to them.
January 3rd, 2021 at 10:52 pm
All you people do is bitch and complain! Good God you bitched about not making the playoffs, and when we do you bitch about how we got there. Just enjoy ride !
January 5th, 2021 at 4:03 am
I was watching Minter specifically and he played solid and tackled well