Bucs’ Run Defense Officially Is A Problem
October 9th, 2022
Todd Bowles arrived in 2019 and the Bucs proceeded to have a historically good run defense for two-plus seasons.
Now that run defense officially is just a fond memory.
Joe can’t make excuses any longer for the mess that is the Tampa Bay run defense when compared to what it used to be.
The wacky thing is that many of the characters have been here for years, so the defensive roster has a deep understanding of its run fits and run support. Plus, it’s a massive point of emphasis for Bowles every week.
So what’s gone wrong? Vita Vea is considered by some to be the best (?) nose tackle in the game, and others consider Lavonte David and Devin White to be the best inside linebacker duo around.
Joe has a lot of thoughts, such as nobody gets taken out of run plays quite like Joe Tryon-Shoyinka does, and it seems like Father Time may be catching up to Will Gholston. Also, Jordan Whitehead’s work in the run game is not something that’s been replaced. Those are just a few examples.
And of course, many Bucs fans would point to the absence of Ndamukong Suh.
Joe isn’t going to get all film-guy now, and Joe has yet to re-watch today’s game, where the Bucs allowed Atlanta to rumble for 151 yards on the ground on 31 rushes.
Statistically, the Bucs run defense will check in ranking about 16th or 17th in the league when the Week 5 games are complete. It’s a far, far cry from the days of big-name running backs repeatedly having their worst days against Tampa Bay.
October 9th, 2022 at 8:21 pm
Yes we used to have a great run defense, but our pass defense was hot garbage. What matters is total points allowed. In 4/5 games our overall defense has been quite good. In fact it’s been the only thing that has been keeping us in games while our offense flounders.
October 9th, 2022 at 8:23 pm
Just came in for the Suh comment… be back later
October 9th, 2022 at 8:25 pm
I didn’t see it. I saw Mariota scramble once, I saw a big run when the Buccaneers had a pass defense in a long third down.
They played against a team that had 8 people in blocking. I thought the run defense was really good.
October 9th, 2022 at 8:26 pm
Yeah, I think losing Whitehead is one of the reasons why our defense is now average at best.
October 9th, 2022 at 8:27 pm
Joe you think signing suh would help bolster the D?
October 9th, 2022 at 8:28 pm
JTS stinks right now, but can one guy really be the cause of our mediocre at best run defense? Something is just off on both sides of the ball so far this year. It’s still early though, so hopefully it clicks for these dudes.
October 9th, 2022 at 8:32 pm
Statistically speaking. We have faced some of the best RUNNING teams in the league so far. I would say we have done well based on the fact that we are still in the top half of the league in run defense.
Just saying!!!
October 9th, 2022 at 8:34 pm
Carl Nassib and Senat are both completely mediocre.
Joe Tryon plays soft
William Gholston and Vita are the only Dlineman I trust. I’ll give a pass to Anthony Nelson
October 9th, 2022 at 8:36 pm
I think our 4 minute ball.comtrol offense sucks too. We are solid when we are just slinging it, but stall very quickly when we try to control.thr ball and milk the clock
October 9th, 2022 at 8:37 pm
Was Shaq Barrett out today? never heard his name. 🤣
October 9th, 2022 at 8:37 pm
#8 where ya at?! Whitehead laid a lot of wood back there…for some reason Devin White tries to tackle high each season.
October 9th, 2022 at 8:39 pm
Where is Hicks? You know…Suh’s replacement.
That is all.
October 9th, 2022 at 8:43 pm
JPP with the sack.
I don’t rewatch raven ball. Has he been decent?
October 9th, 2022 at 8:45 pm
Hicks is definitely a big reason why but I think it’s just sad how we can’t lock it up Vita needs to be better. Also sad to see JPP with Baltimore contributing big time for them.
October 9th, 2022 at 8:48 pm
JPP just got a sack for the Ravens.
October 9th, 2022 at 8:49 pm
Coaching. They ran when the Bucs expected the pass alot. Someone show lefty how to do it. The option wrinkle also helped them out. No biggie it’s a win.
October 9th, 2022 at 8:49 pm
Our offensive run game is more of a problem than the defense. You can’t have Brady throw 50x a game. He’ll definitely take his vet rest day on Wednesday
October 9th, 2022 at 8:49 pm
Everything Joe said plus no healthy JPP- he looks good with Ravens.
October 9th, 2022 at 8:55 pm
Why not draft anyone on the d line ?
Wait we did…….
Vea is playing so soft wow
When Brady is done
The free agents will be all gone
Get ready foe some lean years buys
October 9th, 2022 at 9:00 pm
Guess who is on the street with no team. SUH. There is a reason for it.
October 9th, 2022 at 9:01 pm
Looking at you kacy rodgers and vita vea damn dude did you get your money and decide to do absolutely nothing in the off-season but eat Taco Bell?
October 9th, 2022 at 9:02 pm
JTS is bad against the run, still. Don’t hype him for having a great day. He needs work, and he needs a lot of it, and needs a lot more power. Not sure he’s got that.
Same with Hall. Better, but don’t say he was great today. Snack Barrett has been invisible for weeks, and still is.
I’ll say it: Suh. Suh or any defensive tackle. Vea wasn’t horrible like he was last week, but he’s not reliable. Nassib, JAG. Only Gholston is solid.
October 9th, 2022 at 9:04 pm
No Suh and no JPP.
That’s the difference in the run defense this year. We lost two very good major players on the DL.
However, the Defense did hold Atlanta to 0 points going into the 4th quarter. The problem is the offense then had 3 straight 3 and outs and kept putting a tired defense back on the field late in the game on a hot and sunny Florida afternoon.
That’s what happened.
October 9th, 2022 at 9:04 pm
Everyone gets a sack against the Bengals.
Heck, I have had two and I don’t even play.
October 9th, 2022 at 9:07 pm
Seems everytime they try to coast to a win it gets scary as heck they should just smash the gas until the game is over. What’s up with Brady’s hand hope it’s nothing but he keeps flexing it. Go bucs
October 9th, 2022 at 9:11 pm
Suh
October 9th, 2022 at 9:13 pm
What Jerry said.
October 9th, 2022 at 9:13 pm
JTS had a sack today also so what is the point about JPP?
October 9th, 2022 at 9:15 pm
Suh
October 9th, 2022 at 9:17 pm
Dunno apparently jpp had a sack on a terrible offensive line and that means something I guess.
October 9th, 2022 at 9:19 pm
For the people saying suh has no team and there is a reason. JPP was on the street before last week and he sure looks pretty good getting sacks for the ravens. Vita sucks when he plays more then 50% of snaps and we need someone who can fill In and not break immediately. SUHHH!
October 9th, 2022 at 9:23 pm
JPP came in off the street last week and played great. It’s not just this week but yeah stick with what we got and we’ll be fine all the way to Bradys retirement after the wildcard game.. 🤡🤡 This is an all in season, Kyle Trash isn’t bringing us anywhere next year and Gabbert sure as hell isn’t either.
October 9th, 2022 at 9:27 pm
We need another body and Suh makes perfect sense if he takes a reasonable salary. With no Hicks, then Vita is used more so he is too gassed by end of third quarter.
October 9th, 2022 at 9:40 pm
Nice to see JPP playing well..
October 9th, 2022 at 9:46 pm
when your defense resembles a block of swiss cheese, celebrate by having a grilled cheese sandwich and a brewski
October 9th, 2022 at 9:47 pm
What came first, the chicken or the egg?
Was the run defense really that good, or was the pass defense just so bad that teams felt obligated to throw? There have been games in the last two years where I couldn’t believe teams gave up on the run so early against us because they were absolutely gashing us. Indianapolis last year comes to mind.
October 9th, 2022 at 9:50 pm
the run defense looked good in the first half – and the numbers reflect a job well done…especially if you give a semi pass for the mariota scramble runs…
yet in the second half they got gashed for many yards…
i can’t say they ran over the d – yet they definitely somehow began to accrue a lot of yardage as the game rolled on…
run defense seems seriously swiss cheesy
October 9th, 2022 at 9:52 pm
i must say, i do really love a generous portion of gooey melted swiss cheese tho…melted and hot it’s delicious…
but i’m not sure that helps coach bowles in any way 🙂
October 9th, 2022 at 9:59 pm
A lot of rumblings about an “easy streak” coming for the Bucs.
The Steelers will punch them in the ******* mouth all day long if they’re not ready.
This team has issues but Go Bucs!!!
October 9th, 2022 at 10:12 pm
Suh
October 9th, 2022 at 10:20 pm
Keano Neal had a poor game from what I saw. Missed tackle at first down marker, had an offsides penalty, and completely wiffed at the goal line for a TD.
October 9th, 2022 at 10:22 pm
Suh.
Duh.
Suh.
October 9th, 2022 at 10:25 pm
JPP
October 9th, 2022 at 10:47 pm
It’s not a problem, Mariota is a running qb and this offense is a run first offense I mean the guy was the OC of the Titans before this and that is their whole offense, the defense played well but needs to improve on the passing defense more than anything
October 9th, 2022 at 11:03 pm
I don’t think it’s the defensive line as much as everyone else does. I specifically re-watched some of the Falcons runs and our linebackers were getting mauled. Specifically Devin White. White makes plays when no one can get up on him to block him but when they do, he absolutely is terrible at shedding and getting off blocks. Even Lavonte got manhandled a couple of times by the O-line. I know the D-line is supposed to eat up blockers so the linebackers can flow and make plays but when that doesn’t happen when the running back hits the hole safety’s are having to make the tackles.
October 9th, 2022 at 11:16 pm
Average team
October 9th, 2022 at 11:52 pm
SUH!
October 10th, 2022 at 12:28 am
I saw JTS make some good moves, unlike some of you and I also saw Devon tackling lower than he has been and with some success. I did not see anything done well by Neal, tho. BTW JPP did more than just get a sack. He made a few good plays. We didn’t just lose playability from him and Gronk leaving–we lost their mouths in the locker room and voices on the field.
October 10th, 2022 at 1:44 am
The run defense is weak w/o Suh, JPP & Whitehead. Nothing we can do now about the latter two, but we should sign Suh NOW! Vea needs help.
October 10th, 2022 at 2:47 am
SUH!!!!!
Forget Odell, sign SUH ASAP!!!!
October 10th, 2022 at 6:42 am
JTS over JPP?
Huge mistake.
But I’m happy for JPP.
He belongs on the Ravens.
They have a legendary swagger. They hit hard and play hard.
I’m happy for JPP. One of the greatest 10 defenders in Bucs history.
October 10th, 2022 at 7:57 am
Wasn’t glued to the screen for the Ravens game but I was watching for JPP when did watch.
From my sampling, JPP was only in for about 50% of the defensive snaps and in the latter half, appeared to be pretty gassed.
Very uncharacteristic of JPP to “take plays off” when on the field.
Will he get back into form? He is JPP.
He’s not there yet, and the Ravens know it.
Sorry, I don’t plan to follow the Ravens to find out.
October 10th, 2022 at 8:33 am
Other than three decent runs by the RBs, the RBs didn’t produce much…. their end of game stats and yards per carry were actually poor… the majority of the damage was done by Mariota’s legs. He ran at close to 10 yards a carry. The run defense against the RBs wasn’t great, but it was good.
October 10th, 2022 at 9:03 am
JTS, is a waste of a 1st round draft pick as he loves avoiding contact, and as stated above veterans like suh and JPP not out there along with the eraser whitehead seem to fuel the poor run defense. The offense & that OL is a huge problem moving forward
October 10th, 2022 at 9:09 am
IF Patterson had played
They would hav run us out of the building
The RunD needs to step up NOW
October 10th, 2022 at 11:22 am
This Suhre is complexing, what a mystery, Suhre hope they get it figured out as to what is missing from the previous years to today. Suhre would be nice to get Vea a quality non injury prone DT to help eat some blocks
October 10th, 2022 at 11:34 am
SUH drop Hicks, Jones and Rudolph and get SUH plus two more than can play.
October 10th, 2022 at 12:14 pm
After reading many comments about Suh, he must be the greatest tackle. If that is so, why is he unemployed .
October 10th, 2022 at 1:19 pm
We need SUH. And sign JPP from the Ravens too, F it.
We messed up BAD not bringing them back.
I could feel it in my bones too.
Not only were they the Heart & Soul of our Defense, they were both very good/strong NFL players no matter what the analytics say.
We F**d up.
SIGN SUH AT LEAST, CMON MANE
October 10th, 2022 at 1:23 pm
I’m more concerned about the injured DBs than I am about the DL. It’s only been 5 games played so far and Bucs are 3-2.
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“However, the Defense did hold Atlanta to 0 points going into the 4th quarter. The problem is the offense then had 3 straight 3 and outs and kept putting a tired defense back on the field late in the game on a hot and sunny Florida afternoon.
That’s what happened.”
Thanks, Jerry. Absolutely correct.
October 10th, 2022 at 1:50 pm
The person that made the call to let JPP go—SCREWED UP BIGTIME !!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 10th, 2022 at 11:46 pm
Bring back Suh.
Can certain coaches get players to play more aggressively?
October 13th, 2022 at 8:49 am
“Bucs’ Run Defense Officially Is A Problem”…Ya think?