Defense Will Be OK
August 5th, 2022
Can he match JPP’s production?
Todd Bowles recently told NFL Network in a moment of candor he learned that you win with offense.
That’s an interesting statement coming from a guy who made his bones on defense. But could Bowles actually be offering a glimpse into the 2022 season for the Bucs with that statement?
Bryan Knowles, typing in the Football Outsiders 2022 Football Almanac, believes that is just how the Bucs will win a big number of games this fall.
But as long as the defense isn’t actively dragging the Buccaneers down, they will be fine. And with Lavonte David, Shaq Barrett, and Vita Vea up front, there’s a decently high floor to how bad Tampa Bay’s defense could possibly be. Our mean projection has this as a slightly below-average defense, but not to the point where it’s an anchor that kills their playoff chances. It’s not good enough to win because of, but it’s good enough to win with.
The departure of Jason Pierre-Paul and Ndamukong Suh is one reason Knowles thinks the Bucs defense will be just OK. While both slumped last year — and are unemployed — Knowles isn’t sure Logan Hall and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka will be much better. Oh, Knowles likes their upside, but not yet in 2022.
He may have a point: JTS is a second-year player with only six career starts. Hall of course is a rookie. JPP and Suh were wily veterans.
So yeah, if the Bucs win a Super Bowl this year, it appears they’ll have to do it on the backs of their offense.
August 5th, 2022 at 4:16 am
If healthy (big if), defense should be not only above-average but well above it, I would think.
The problem last year was the health of the defensive backs. As guys kept getting hurt, the Bucs’ susceptibility to the short passes, in particular, soared. They got papercutted to death.
When the team started to get healthier, this issue got better.
Also, the pass rush needs to improve from last year. But part of a better pass rush is better coverage. So that comes back to healthier defensive backs, again.
The only consistent way to move the ball on the Bucs last year was the short, quick passing game. Handle that and good luck moving the ball on the Bucs.
If the Bucs stay relatively healthy on defense, they should certainly be better than last year and should be solidly above average.
August 5th, 2022 at 5:04 am
Just like when I was pushing for us to get Big V and Devin White….and then Mr Hall this past draft….we’re gonna be fine. JTS kind of blindsided me with that pick from Mr Licht, but we’ll see. He’s doing his best and hopefully that camp he went to pays off for us.
August 5th, 2022 at 5:10 am
Agree- Suh and JPP should be signed
August 5th, 2022 at 5:24 am
^ id love it as long as they were affordable and could contribute in the camp 53…but we dont have the room…is what it is
August 5th, 2022 at 5:43 am
Suh.
August 5th, 2022 at 5:59 am
Signing Logan Ryan, K. Neal and H. Nicks are not even taken into consideration?
August 5th, 2022 at 6:00 am
Suh and JPP. JTS is a light weight that gets pushed around and redirected. He is not even close to JPP. Hall is an unknown question at this point. Sign Suh to provide depth on the line.
August 5th, 2022 at 6:54 am
My guess is that our D will be surprisingly good.
August 5th, 2022 at 7:04 am
I’m gonna miss JPPs nastiness and Suh chasing Karen Rodgers
August 5th, 2022 at 7:21 am
If they were worth signing, they wouldn’t be sitting on the couch right now. Mebbe if someone gets hurt
August 5th, 2022 at 7:38 am
That’s a load of BS. This defense is going to ball out!
August 5th, 2022 at 7:57 am
Does JTS make a big step or is still crawling, trying to figure out what his feet are for! ….i say we are a top 7 defense because JTS steps up and has a very solid year!
August 5th, 2022 at 8:02 am
Aikeem Hicks with Vita Vea will provide plenty of Push up the middle, and our defense is gonna feast because of it.’
Hicks is an upgrade from Suh, so I am excited about our defense this year!
August 5th, 2022 at 8:02 am
Aikeem Hicks with Vita Vea will provide plenty of Push up the middle, and our defense is gonna feast because of it.’
Hicks is an upgrade from Suh, so I am excited about our defense this year!
August 5th, 2022 at 8:03 am
All I gotta say is if we can get pressure on the QB we will be fine but that means we need a big year from Shaq we need JTS to make that 2nd year leap n we’re gunna need hicks to eats up the middle of the line every game. This is exciting. I think our defense plays better than most think. Goo Bucs
August 5th, 2022 at 8:06 am
The defense will be better sans Suh & JPP, bank on it.
August 5th, 2022 at 8:08 am
With Turncoat Tom at the helm who needs Defense?
August 5th, 2022 at 8:11 am
Bucs defense in much better this year.
August 5th, 2022 at 8:31 am
Our defense is younger…..and the extra year’s experience with our younger players will pay off…
JTS, White, Winfielld, Davis, Edwards, SMB, Dean…….
Not worried about our defense…..or our offense….
August 5th, 2022 at 8:43 am
I think that the front 7 will be fine and if our secondary can get past the first four games without getting embarrassed, I’ll have confidence in the entire defense.
August 5th, 2022 at 8:55 am
Knowles … ‘Our mean projection has this as a slightly below-average defense, but not to the point where it’s an anchor that kills their playoff chances. It’s not good enough to win because of, but it’s good enough to win with’.
It’s just a prediction, and with all of our unknowns, he’s probably not that far off. With our tougher schedule, I could see us being a middle-of-the-pack defense in terms of Points Allowed.
Folks forget that in half our games last year, Bucs trailed at some point in the 4th quarter. We lost half of those games, but pulled out the others because Brady brought us back AND our defense held. 4th qtr is the money qtr, and it takes BOTH offense AND defense to come out victorious. Jury’s still out IMO as to how well our ‘replacements’ will perform this season.
August 5th, 2022 at 9:08 am
We really need the kids to step up.
August 5th, 2022 at 9:53 am
Being below average would be kind of shocking after being the #7 defense in points allowed consecutive years lol.
That’d mean Suh & JPP were like each All Pro in their prime type players and Hicks sucks and JTS won’t develop and Logan Hall sucks lol.
Makes no sense.
GO BUCS
August 5th, 2022 at 10:31 am
Hicks is a animal…..he wil be the face of the Bucs D…..what a upgrade
August 5th, 2022 at 12:53 pm
Bucs 2022 defense will be better – not worse.
Top 10 defense overall – The Bucs will win 12+ regular season games and be in the running for #1 seed in playoffs.
August 5th, 2022 at 3:29 pm
JPP and Suh are old men. Bowles’ strength is defense. It’s the beginning of the season, preseason for cripes sake! Give the youngsters a chance.
August 5th, 2022 at 5:44 pm
Unless JTS and Hall are complete busts, the defense should be better than last year. Those are the only two positions that are possible downgrades, and that’s debatable as both Suh and JPP had sub-par years. Other positions on defense are upgrades or have better depth. And as Head Coach, Bowles has freer rein on how he crafts the defense (although Arians gave him a pretty free rein, but still…)
August 8th, 2022 at 12:48 am
Um you definitely called Coach Bowles, Knowles. Twice. Like Beyoncé