Bucs Defensive Rank Improves To 9th; Rush Defense Slips
October 18th, 2021
Defensive coordinator Todd Bowles
With one game remaining on the Week 6 schedule, Tampa Bay’s defense is looking a lot better on paper.
The Bucs’ suffocation of the Eagles on Thursday has led to the team’s defensive ranking jumping all the way up to ninth in the league (total yards allowed).
The Bucs’ 24 points allowed per game ranks 17th overall. The offense is third-best in both total points and yards.
Officially, Tampa Bay’s smothering run defense is now allowing 3.4 yards per rush, a tenth of a yard worse than the slimy Saints allow. The Bucs led the league in that category in 2019 and in 2020.
The drop can be attributed to Eagles QB Jalen Hurts scampering for 44 yards and two touchdowns on 11 rushes on the Bucs. That’ll happen against a running QB, as the Saints felt when Taylor Heinicke ran 40 yards on five rushes against them last Sunday.
No, Joe is not worried at all about the Bucs’ run defense slipping. So many of its yards allowed were in garbage or near-garbage time this season.
October 18th, 2021 at 5:44 am
Some posters were talking about putting Brady on a pitch count 😂. Not happening but it’s obvious that Vea and Suh are being used conservatively to keep them fresh for the playoffs.
October 18th, 2021 at 5:56 am
‘The Bucs’ 24 points allowed per game ranks 17th overall.’
Points Allowed is the real bottom line & our Bucs rank 17th after 6 games using that criteria. That’s a significant improvement over where we sat after the first 3 games, although those last 3 offenses weren’t nearly as powerful as the first 3 we played. And I’d expect that ranking to continue to improve over these next several games.
A large part of that improvement is thanks to our Bucs’ offense. Our defense has been on the field for a lot less time each game as our TOP has improved from 27 mins/game average in the first 3 games to 37 mins/game in these last 3 games. That’s monstrous. But also our giveaways have markedly decreased & that’s also made a huge difference. Bucs had 5 giveaways in the first 3 games, but only 1 giveaway in these last 3 games. That’s been huge also.
Turnovers especially seem to influence winning & losing. There was an interesting study done after the 2016 season. It concluded that from 2007 to 2016, teams that won the turnover battle won 78% of their games. Then they went back further. From 1950 to 2016, the average winning percentage of teams that won the turnover battle was … the same 78%. Throw in winning the TOP battle & the numbers go up. Hmmm, keep the ball, control the game, score points. Wow, what a concept.
October 18th, 2021 at 6:06 am
Defense Rules, I have always appreciated your posts since before I started posting on here. Joe’s, if you haven’t, DR should have a job as historian and statistics analyst or something. The breakdowns are that good. Anyway, I agree with the breakdown. I think we’re turning into the greatest show on turf 2.0, where if I recall correctly, the Rams would throw it down field and rack up a bunch of points in the first half. Then slowly suffocate you with TOP in the second with a punishing run. Sprinkle in some throws, no risk it no biscuit even for a touchdown and come out with the win. I imagine Fields will do some damage against us with his ability to scramble/run, so it’ll be beneficial to keep them off the field. Not that da bears can actually keep up with us.
October 18th, 2021 at 8:25 am
Great analysis D.R.
I think the emergence of “Playoff Lennie” has helped complete this team. It’s not just his talent it’s his physical style. I like that Lennie frequently runs with “attitude” while ROJO was a flash and dash guy. With Lennie our running game has become more punishing and it seems to have set an edge for the entire team.
When people view our offense they all begin of course with the GOAT and then talk about his many great “targets”. And the Bucs are loaded but something the Bucs possess that I think gets overlooked is simply “toughness”. The Bucs may have lots of talent but we also can play physically on both sides of the ball. Our Oline has an excellent amount of nastiness and talent.
I like seeing the guys face off against opposing D’s and saying we’re going to throw it all the way down the field…we’re going to run it down your throats..we’re going to run it around you…pretty much we’re going to do whatever we want and dare you to stop all of it. We have the “swag”!
October 18th, 2021 at 8:59 am
Stats are for losers.
October 18th, 2021 at 9:53 am
The how is less important to me (i’ll leave that to the coaches) as the final results. No. 1 in our Division. Let’s keep it that way. If we can come out of NO with a win and head into the Bye week at 7-1, I’ll feel very comfortable about our positioning for the playoffs.
October 18th, 2021 at 12:52 pm
I also think DR has great research and posts. I’m sure the Joe’s have noticed.
October 18th, 2021 at 11:02 pm
The only reason the Eagles picked up some yards on the ground was because it was late in the game when 99% of the time you have to pass. The Eagles weren’t able to pass that game so they caught them off guard twice with a couple big runs