“It’s All 11, Man.”
December 20th, 2021
Tristan Wirfs kryptonite
There’s a divide at JoeBucsFan world headquarters.
One Joe thinks the Saints may have cracked the Bucs’ code last night, opening the door for the rest of the NFL to follow a defensive blueprint that shut down the NFL’s best offense.
The other Joe, the one typing here, thinks there is no basis to that.
Last year, the same Bucs offense essentially was shut out by the Saints at The Licht House. The Bucs kicked a late field goal to avoid further embarrassment in a 38-3 loss. That did not lead to the rest of the NFL slowing the Bucs.
The Saints also played their similar brand of attack-dog defense with tight, physical coverage and a dangerous pass rush in the NFC playoffs and on Halloween this season. They certainly weren’t overly successful in either game.
And it’s not like the Saints defense changed much last night. (Why would it??) But it was executed flawlessly and the Bucs weren’t up for the challenge, physically or mentally.
Bucco Bruce Arians said it well today when he noted of the Saints’ defensive success. “It’s all 11, man,” he said, adding the Saints can pass rush with four guys and disguise coverages at an elite level.
The reality is very few teams have the Saints’ caliber of defensive talent and coaching.
Cameron Jordan working over Tristan Wirfs and Alex Cappa losing battles is very much about man-on-man combat. Wirfs himself has said Jordan’s unique size and power gives him trouble. Few edge rushers in NFL history are like Jordan and his 290-pound freakishness.
Plus, the Saints have talent up and down their defense. Kwon Alexander almost looks like he’s back in his prime alongside Demario Davis. So the Joe typing here isn’t worried much about other teams because they simply don’t have the defensive horses like the Saints do.
The Rams have that kind of talent, and Dallas has a one crazy gamewrecker in Micah Parsons, but neither seems to have the defensive coaching or the same Voodoo hex the Saints possess over Tampa Bay.
Hopefully, the Bucs can avoid the Saints in the postseason, if they even get there.
December 20th, 2021 at 3:13 pm
Kyle Trask era is a month away
December 20th, 2021 at 3:17 pm
What did Bruce say, we should’ve ran more. The Bucs offensive line can pass block pretty good, except against the Saints, so why throw the ball 10 straight times (so Cam and company can get loose). Only down by six acting like they were down by 30, we abandon the run against the Saints whenever they take a lead, I do not understand that.
December 20th, 2021 at 3:21 pm
Cappa got straight curb stomped, Wirfs played ok. I would much rather see Stinne if healthy rather than Cappa
December 20th, 2021 at 3:22 pm
You can’t drop double digit passes and beat anyone. Throw out everything else and if half those passes are caught the Bucs probably win a close one. There were a couple big play drops in there.
December 20th, 2021 at 3:25 pm
Lots of doom and gloom among Bucs fans today.
I don’t think it is about people figuring us out. I think it is about players, not plays. Saints players match up well against ours to start with, then when our top guys went out, things just went from bad to worse.
AB is a man beater and a zone beater, and teams can play man all they want, but they need to have the players to do that. And as we know, having the right players available changes on a daily basis due to injuries, covid, etc..
So no need to bury the Bucs yet. I think this is the kick in the rear they needed. Especially Brady.
December 20th, 2021 at 3:39 pm
Oh please, stop fawning over a 7-7 defense…
The Bucs offensive game plan was crap- the Saints were inviting the Bucs to run but the stubbornness of the coaching staff wouldn’t have it.
You really think you can beat the Saints secondary with Johnson, Miller and Darden? Keep dreaming..
Gronk had a bad game, so if Bucs chose not to run – they gave up any chance.
December 20th, 2021 at 3:39 pm
The Bucs beat the Bucs. Stupid play calling and a host of other issues. Gotta be Voo Doo. The Bucs should hire a Voo Doo expert from to break the spell.
December 20th, 2021 at 3:47 pm
Cam Jordan is a declining vet and had 4 sacks entering yesterday game. There is nothing more to him than what we saw and how they own the Bucs.
Saints will lose next week and continue to be a nuisance but nothing more.
December 20th, 2021 at 3:47 pm
I wonder if Brady will retire if they do not make it to the Souper Bowl? Or even if they do Pete. Our draft sucked last year and we lose a lot of good players to FA. BA might retire too. If so we go in to rebuild mode next rear. Now is the time it will be the last Hurrah for a few years provably. Enjoy while we can.
December 20th, 2021 at 3:51 pm
maybe we should just be glad and grateful we went into their building and beat them in the playoffs last year…
that was a very tall order…
how did we even pull that one off…
they’ve been whooping our azzes for as long as i can remember now…
there was a time when a different team won the nfc south for 8 straight seasons…in those 8 years each team won the division twice…it was like an even rotation…it was weird but it actually did happen…
then the saints basically took over the division and pretty much won it ever since…
i guess we were trying to celebrate too early by handing out red shirts to everyone last night…
the saints weren’t having it last night, and the offense didn’t come to play…
the last thing i would have predicted was a tight shut out loss with zero touchdowns from either team…
geez, we even held there top weapon, kamara, to 30 total yards
December 20th, 2021 at 3:56 pm
their*
December 20th, 2021 at 3:58 pm
When you are constantly throwing low percentage passes downfield on 3rd & 4/33rd & 2…..it isn’t the defense that’s stopping you.
MOVE THE CHAINS….especially in a 6-0 game
December 20th, 2021 at 4:08 pm
Ya know…the “this is the kick in the pants or whatever else you wanna say” crowd sounds so foolish!! They had time to game plan and prepare for this team. They had a kick in the pants the last time and twice last year, so that is bullsh!t! They got outplayed and now we’re missing one of the best receivers in the league for the year! I’m very concerned about this team! They’ll make the playoffs and win the division, simply because the other teams suck this year. I don’t see them going Far in the playoffs…prove me wrong Bucs!!!
December 20th, 2021 at 4:09 pm
Adam we pulled it off because our D stepped up and Brees was a shell of himself
December 20th, 2021 at 4:11 pm
11 cheap shot artists deliberately going for guys’ knees you mean over and over all game. No wonder Brady gave the big FU to them on the sidelines. Reminds me of bounty gate all over again. Deliberate payback for losing Jameis against us?
December 20th, 2021 at 4:15 pm
We had a bad game, it happens. Injuries played a big part. Offensive effort was not there. Saints had a good plan, not all teams will be able to execute like that. We have 3 more and need to win all 3.
December 20th, 2021 at 4:29 pm
Despite the poor play on offense, the Bucs were in it until Brady threw that pick in the 4th qtr. That, iIMO, was the most consequential play of the game. Voodoo hex is right. Poor line play, dropped passes, bad throws. It was gut wrenching. But got to give it to the Saints. Their D played lights out, but have to agree with this Joe. I don’t think it spells doom for the playoffs. Injuries? That’s another matter.
December 20th, 2021 at 4:30 pm
there’s a LOT wrong with the offense coaching side thats Not going to be solved until BL leaves…..Consider that in the last 100 minutes Bucs have scored ONE touchdown–With ME , CG , & Fournette..!!!!
So I just don’t see how we improve with Darden, Miller & Rojo-who gets “Gassed” after a couple of decent end sweeps ???
our only hope is the Panthers & Jets can’t execute the saints game plan which they are committing to memory as we speak
playoffs start in 27 days–hopefully ME & Fournette will be healed .. But if we play Rams or Saints in 1st game –its one-n-done
December 20th, 2021 at 4:35 pm
Oh & Yes -AB will be back .. But he’ll play part time .. AB hopes for 30-35 snaps. we had 74 yesterday .. With Darden , Miller & AB out there –who gets doubled ??
December 20th, 2021 at 4:49 pm
Teams with similar defensive talent:
– Cardinals
– Packers
– Rams
– Washington
– Saints
Good thing we won’t be playing any of them in playoffs- oh wait.
December 20th, 2021 at 4:49 pm
Move on Buc fans. We got beat by the better prepared team on Sunday. We are the overall better team record wise. But..on any given sunday, you can have your lunch handed to you. Give the Saints credit. They came into our house and put a whippin on us. NEXT…………..
December 20th, 2021 at 5:23 pm
Finally some reasoning here. I agree with you Joe. Way too much panic. We go crazy when they win or lose.
December 20th, 2021 at 7:57 pm
This was all coaching, or lack thereof. Other teams don’t seem to have the issues the bucs have with the saints, perhaps not enough time game planning. The 3rd and short play calls were a dereliction of duty, 3 or 4 times the play call was a deep pass??? Ridiculous. Play calling overall was very redundant. The bucs run the same plays they run week in, week out, no matter the opponent, it’s becoming very predictable. Granted they usually score 30 a game, but when it was obvious it wasn’t working, there was no plan b. Darden = Dexter Jackson.
December 20th, 2021 at 8:01 pm
I agree. The Saints have been stifling to the Buccaneers for a couple years and others have not been able to follow suit besides the patriots.
So long as they can get healthy, I think they will be fine against others.
The problem is – it’s been 2 years, why can’t the Buccaneers figure it out?
Remember, they did not light it up in the playoffs against the Saints. It was tight until the defense made some plays.
December 20th, 2021 at 8:20 pm
Now Joe I was with you on this piece until you said, “if they even get there.”
Come on now Joe, really?! Really. The Saints are on the outside looking in as of today. –Joe
December 21st, 2021 at 10:58 am
It’s no secret rush the passer with four and drop back seven in coverage. The Saints do it well. Joe’s right easier said than done, but The Saints are up for the challenge. Hopefully The Bucs will be too if they meet again. GOBUCS!