Why The Run Defense Has Slacked

October 27th, 2022

Missed?

Joe isn’t ranting here about the Bucs defense.

It hasn’t been playing great, but 21 points is the most the Bucs defense has given up the past three games and that should not be an insurmountable mountain to climb for the Bucs’ many offensive weapons.

The run defense isn’t what it used to be and in this NBC Sports video, former Bucs quarterback Chris Simms breaks down why.

In short, the run-stoppers are missing. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka is not Jason Pierre-Paul against the run, nor is Keanu Neal a Jordan Whitehead. Rakeem Nuñez-Roches is not Ndamukong Suh.

Shaq Barrett is not having a good season. Logan Hall is still learning. And have the Bucs inside linebackers been asleep the past couple of weeks? (If Devin White still doesn’t know tackling high is as good as a missed tackle by now, then he will never know.)

The Bucs’ replacements for guys like Suh and JPP and Whitehead aren’t getting the job done against the run. And the Bucs’ holdovers from the past two years aren’t having down seasons.

Add it all up and you have a mediocre run defense. The Bucs currently rank No. 15 in rushing yards allowed per game.

Anyone seen Akiem Hicks?

Still, the run defense isn’t remotely close to the worst problem on this team.

51 Responses to “Why The Run Defense Has Slacked”

  1. Thisisouryear!!! Says:

    That’s interesting. Play your position.

  2. Bucamania Says:

    Vita Vea is just standing up at the snap and getting pushed around this year. Cmon man.

  3. Jack Sparrow Says:

    Well, they’re mindset right now is why hurt themselves tackling when they already got their money $$$. It’s sad!

  4. HC Grover Says:

    Blunder Bucs

  5. Buc4evr Says:

    Geez, you just realized this? Seriously, A few of us have been saying that JTS was a fraud and that Hicks was useless before the start of the season. Not resigning Suh and JPP was a huge mistake. Tonight JPP will be out for blood and the Bucs O-line is going to get schooled. Coupled with no offense, this is going to be ugly. Ravens 36 Bucs 10.

  6. Since76 Says:

    This team is losing due to bad coaching. You can’t fix bad coaches. You either have good coaches or bad coaches. Players on this team can be very good if coached properly. But……..

  7. Defense Rules Says:

    Joe … ‘Bucs defense doesn’t have the run-stoppers the team had the past two years. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka is not Jason Pierre-Paul against the run. Nor is Keanu Neal not Jordan Whitehead. Rakeem Nunez-Roches is not Ndamukong Suh.’

    Aren’t those kinda statements of the obvious Joe? JTS isn’t able to replace JPP? Really, a guy with 1-year part-time experience not being able to replace a super-star? And RNR isn’t able to replace Suh? Oh please, Hicks was SUPPOSED to be Suh’s replacement, not RNR.

    And I can’t believe that you actually put a question mark following the ‘Missed’ caption under Suh’s photo Joe. Of course he’s missed; and so is JPP. Their LEADERSHIP and ATTITUDE especially.

    But if you’re gonna ask questions Joe, why not put this whole charade back at the feet of THE ARCHITECT of this mess … Jason Licht. Our illustrious GM got rid of the LEADERSHIP on this defense, back-filled it with injury-prone vets & inexperienced youngsters, then handed the mess to Bowles and said ‘Sorry, this is all you get. YOU figure out how to deal with the LACK OF DEPTH’.

    If you’re intent on holding the coaches accountable for this ‘all-in extravaganza’ then you also need to hold THE ARCHITECT responsible. The GM stocks the roster; the coaches just coach them. And right now, this roster is very poorly stocked. You said it yourself Joe … ‘Bucs defense doesn’t have the run-stoppers the team had the past two years’.

  8. Listnfrmafar Says:

    Suh was the best dlineman last two seasons, why would you want to resign him??? How many games has he missed in his career again???

  9. 99 55 47 20 Says:

    Now I know why #8 keeps calling for him, it’s like he saw this mess coming.

    SUH

  10. CChead Says:

    The only great player the Bucs have on defense is Antoine Winfield. That’s it.Period. The rest are average or below average see JTS

  11. CleanHouse Says:

    Bad management decisions
    Game over
    Said it since they made the decisions

  12. PSL Bob Says:

    Great break down! Now did Bowles ream VV out for abandoning his assignment?

  13. LongSeason Says:

    The offense has been so pathetic that it is wearing down it’s own defense instead of the other team’s defense.
    Confidence and fire. That is what the offense needs. They either get that back or we go 6-11.
    The biggest person that needs to step it up is Brady. Has he ever been in a situation where his offense is this bad?

  14. SufferingSince76 Says:

    Suh! Now. Pay him.

  15. Joey Strom Says:

    Suh is missed big time!

  16. Winny Testaverde Says:

    Instead of Suh…money was earmarked for Kyle Rudolph, Julio Jones & Russell Gage. If only it was 2017.

  17. Deeez NATZ Says:

    SUHHHHHH

  18. Deeez NATZ Says:

    SUH.But toilet bowl has a hard time admitting blame so ovcourse he won’t re sign suh.SUH

  19. Aceofaerospace Says:

    50% of Suh is still better than 0% of Hicks.

  20. T REX Says:

    PFF grade for Vea?

    54.5

    That is garbage.

    And he only plays half the snaps.

    Licht got ripped off…again.

    Vea is a TUB of lard. Waste.

    Carolina could have scored more but they chose to run out the clock and ram the ball down our throats. Trade Vea for what you can get and start the rebuild. He is USELESS

  21. tampabayallday Says:

    JTS can’t contain or control the edge. We’re screwed.

  22. Your Mom Says:

    Yeah I’m not really sure run defense is that important in today’s NFL. If a team gets 3 runs for 15 yards, or one pass for 15 yards, does it really matter?

  23. T REX Says:

    @YM Yes it matters…especially in the second half when you are running down the clock. 3 runs for 15 yards…3 plays and a first down…so 4 more plays and MORE TIME OFF THE CLOCK.

  24. Beej Says:

    How about 20 runs for 180 yards?

  25. D-Rok Says:

    The most glaring error I saw on this play was Devin White completely over-running the play and wasn’t remotely in correct position for the cutback. Then, the blocker was on him and because his hips were turned towards the L sideline, not parallel to LOS, he was completely out of position and the blocker sealed him perfectly. White COULD have stopped this play for only a 5-yard gain, but simply didn’t even come close to doing his job. These are linebacker basics, 101. Terrible technique. Aren’t LB’s supposed to shuffle their feet and keep their hips parallel to LOS? UNLESS, the coaches told him to use this technique…???

  26. Faspro Says:

    It’s not that Vea’s getting pushed around, he’s not focused on his position.

  27. ModHairKen Says:

    So players matter? JPP. Suh.

    Tryon has made a few plays. So has Neal. But not enough.

    And don’t get started on lack of TOs.

  28. Deeez NATZ Says:

    Butthole toilet bowl lol

  29. THOMAS PFALZ Says:

    C’mon Licht sign Suh or have you given up on the season. Most of the FA’s you signed are busts. Now do the right thing.

  30. Greg Says:

    SUH!

  31. Dusthty Rhothdes Says:

    Defense Rules: 100% on Jason Licht, this knucklehead would be drinking beer in Sasckatchewan had it not been for Tom Brady; he has the foresight of Steve Wonder. He passes on a zillion top flight RBs and DTs, there is no future plan nor has there been, it has been “PLEASE TAHMMY” 6-11 is that plan

  32. Adrnagy Says:

    The is game is won will be thru our offense.

  33. Redeemer Says:

    IMO the biggest problem with the run D, is the offense. Teams can now commit to the run, while they couldn’t the last two years. How many times did we see opponents completely abandon the run before halftime. D-Rok is right about White being out of position. Players are taught to read run first. I counted about 8-10 plays, where guys were reading pass first and got burned on that little RPO. Undisciplined. Simms is right about the lack of size on the line. The 3/4 is designed to have big guys tie up blocks, so the linebackers can make plays.

  34. Darin Says:

    The offense sure isn’t helping them out. D is on the field way too much. The three and outs are brutal. Leftwich may as well be blamed for messing up the run defense too. Let’s go with that and can him tonight after the game.

  35. Roc Says:

    Someone let Raheem and McSofty into the locker room

    Go get Suh so someone will bring a backbone back to this Defense

  36. orlbucfan Says:

    More rah-rah for Suh. Whoopee do, just like all the cheerleading for JPP cos he plays on the Ravens’ DL. He’s lucky he hasn’t called it quits after he came close to getting his neck broken. I’m glad I’m skipping this one cos the potential is there for some very bad player injuries.

  37. Listnfrmafar Says:

    Darin, heard the same song and dance last two seasons when the O was scoring 30+. What’s next?

  38. Listnfrmafar Says:

    Oral, you know why Suh wasn’t resigned? Bowels blames him for the Rams loss when he got the roughing call on Stafford.

    #bowelsscapegoat

  39. Bucamania Says:

    Hicks still has a boo boo on his foot. Not playing AGAIN.

  40. chark Says:

    If #9 JTS had any instincts he would have made the tackle either in front of Vea or behind Vea on this video replay.

  41. Bucobill99 Says:

    Hicks was a waste like most thought he’d be

    Suh

  42. Lennon Duncan Says:

    Let this be a lesson learned messing with team chemistry is bad. When you let suh and jpp go it went to all hell. This looks like a setup for arians to comeback. No one talks about the Antonio brown thing that cost us another Super Bowl. If I was Tampa I would be tryna trade SMB for picks, lineman or a tight end. This is crazy sugar to shyt in a matter of months, but oh hey we’re gonna blame the coach this was a disaster when Arians retired knowing they were not going to be the same.

  43. orlbucfan Says:

    Hey list, wonder how long it would take for you to click on me, you yahoo.😂

  44. orlbucfan Says:

    I ought to add semi-literate yahoo since you still can’t correctly spell my handle.

  45. BucU Says:

    Here’s a shocker. Akeim Hicks downgraded to doubtful tonight. He and Julio are pathetic.

  46. Oddball Says:

    Adrnagy,

    Uh what offense?

  47. lambchop Says:

    @Defense Rules,

    It’s called the Salary Cap and getting a bit younger. Suh had an average year and JPP was injured all season.

    The GM has constraints he has to be under to build a team. He doesn’t have the luxury of hindsight.

  48. The Beer Whisperer Says:

    I was in the small camp of armchair experts, who didn’t see this claimed drop off in Suh, (The Iron Man)

    But, Suh was replaced by some-one good, I was told.

    By who? Where’s this person at? What’s his name even?
    I ain’t seen hide nor hair of Suh’s replacement.

  49. The Beer Whisperer Says:

    I’m hoping the offense can score more than 3 points, this week.
    That’s tough on any defense to cope with.

  50. Defense Rules Says:

    Lambchop … Yes I understand salary CAP limitations, but the reality is that teams create their own limitations. No one forced JL to sign Hicks for $8 mil. No one forced him to sign Julio for $6 mil. No one forced him to re-sign Vea for an astronomical $71 mil 4-year contract, with half of that guaranteed. Same goes for a BUNCH of others who Licht re-signed.

    My mama used to say ‘You made your bed, now you’re gonna have to lay in it’. Made enough mistakes in life to learn exactly what she was saying. Well, JL has made his share too, and a big part of that relates to salary CAP management. We got our Super Bowl, but folks need to realize that we mortgaged the future to pay for it. That’s not hindsight Lambchop, that’s called ‘bad management’.

    Yes Suh did have an ‘average year’ … for him … although eh still led our DLine in most categories that matter. And yes JPP was obviously hurt, but his biggest mistake was being a warrior and playing through it. He bounced back, like he always has, and the Ravens gain is our loss. Wish we had them BOTH on our team right now.

  51. Buczilla Says:

    Not resigning Suh was a terrible decision, JTS stinks, and Vita doesn’t look anywhere near as dominant as he has in the past. David is still good, but White is overrated as hell and I don’t know if he’ll ever be consistently good.