Is The Bucs Defense Soft?
December 13th, 2022
Rough day at the office.
Joe won’t let one game with a depleted secondary sway Joe’s view of the Bucs defense, despite how gross Sunday’s loss was.
The reason Joe asks if the defense is soft, talented but soft, is the way 49ers tight end/fullback Kyle Juszczyk manhandled Bucs defenders.
Former NFL offensive lineman and NFL Network talking head Brian Baldinger was working yesterday’s Bucs-49ers game for Westwood One radio and he saw first-hand Juszczyk worked over several Bucs defenders.
The video below is a cutup of a number of these plays and it makes Joe want to eat a half-bottle of TUMS.
Bucs outside linebackers were just pounded, abused and embarrassed by Juszczyk time after time after time. What the Bucs needed was for a lineman or a linebacker to jack up Juszczyk to try to slow him down. You know, matchups?
The perfect guy to put on Juszczyk was Vita Vea but he left after the first series with a calf injury.
This video below demonstrates that if the Bucs make the playoffs (right about now that’s a sick joke), all it takes is a physical offense like the 49ers’ and the Bucs will fold like a tent in a tropical storm.
.@49ers @JuiceCheck44 watch how Juice can affect the game with barely ever touching it. An unselfish warrior and brimming with #PequaPower #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/rmSqPl3bdF
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) December 12, 2022
December 13th, 2022 at 12:35 am
Outside of Neal the defense is soft.
December 13th, 2022 at 12:54 am
This why so many opined for suh to return. He had a way about himself that enabled our star linebackers to make plays on ball carriers. Without him eating up opposing blockers, our star linebackers have turned into ghost against the good running teams.
December 13th, 2022 at 1:18 am
Gotta think that Vea leaving the game had a big impact on this…
Going into the season with only 1 proven pass rusher (not including blitzers) probably wasn’t the best idea either.
December 13th, 2022 at 1:18 am
i’n kind of at a loss for words at this point…week 15 is here and nothing changes…
same bull-pucky being spewed out of all guys in position of power on the bucs – and there’s nothing more to say about it…
“they are who we thought they weren’t”
we thought it was a mirage…and the team was underachieving or would come out of a bad spell…but they haven’t…
“they are who we thought they weren’t”
i’d like to apologize to denny green for twisting his classic line, but it fit’s the bucs of 2022…they are who we thought they weren’t…
no one can understand how you drop off this fast — from uber elite — the new america’s team — to a bunch off pooputs on snooze control or cruise control – however you want to refer to it…
this team has nosedived while under the guidance of the “bowzo & lefto show”
tommy b looks like a frenchie bulldog trying to swim across a backyard pool in and instagram reel…and he can barely stay afloat…
tom still has like 90% in the tank…minus a slight loss or shift in his mobility…this fiasco is not brady’s fault…
sometimes i wish BA would resurface and sort stuff out a bit, since he’s still there with his office and all…
but i guess it’s getting too late …
the nfl should really have a rule…that if a team wins a division with a losing record — they should be ousted from the playoffs — and the next best team in conference should replace them — if you can’t play over .500 ball in a 17 game season, you should qualify for nothing
December 13th, 2022 at 1:26 am
The Bucs defense, especially secondary, is once again mash unit. Winfield was our best player on defense and he has missed multiple games this season with a concussion and ankle.
December 13th, 2022 at 1:28 am
jet fans up in new york are loving the acquisition of jordan whitehead…
he’s having a very nice season for gang green
December 13th, 2022 at 1:35 am
This may sound crazy but I think l I know what’s going on here. You know how Brady holds a lot records at this stage in his career, well how about this. No team has ever won the Super Bowl entering the playoffs by winning their division with a losing record and Tom Brady wants to be the first. There, now we know hahaha
December 13th, 2022 at 2:42 am
Simple answer to the headline: yes.
Soft and depleted since the offseason. You don’t lose key veterans, fail to replace them with same or upgrades, fail to draft instant impact, and have all of it misguided Todd Bowles, and expect to be elite. But it’s worse than just depleted and injured. You have starting veterans —chest puffing with swag and big contracts—who are consistently out of position, mentally and physically not where they should be, not functioning like a defense must. The playoff loss vs. the Rams remains relevant. What happened then has kept happening in most games, and it is all thanks to Mr. Bowles.
Good coaching regimes get high caliber results from less on-paper talent than what the Bucs have.
What the 49ers showed everyone was the contrast between a well-run aggressive and confident team and a Todd Bowles team. Speed, physicality, execution and smarts, on all on a different level. Humiliating.
My greatest concern for the Bucs is the intangible. The malaise or hangover that we’re seeing in individuals and as a team. That is the hardest to fix. Bucs are declining the way the post-SB Seahawks did, from 2015 on. Super Bowl hangover. Problems with chemistry and attitude. Problems with locker room. Talent erosion. Veterans leaving. Eight years later, they still haven’t fixed it.
For the Bucs, with four games to go, it would take some sort of magic reset of everything and everyone waking up and suddenly playing like different guys. But it can’t happen if Bowles and Leftwich are in charge.
December 13th, 2022 at 2:44 am
Starting to wonder if JTS should be called Joe Tryon Stinka instead.
December 13th, 2022 at 3:14 am
You’re missing Winfield, by far the best player you have on defense.
Then you have Vita out, who, for the 50% of plays where he’s actually on the field, is probably your second best player.
Then you’re missing Shaq, JPP, Suh, etc.
It’s a lot of guys to be missing and think there’s not going to be any drop-off in play.
Shaq, JPP and Suh aren’t coming back, but if Vita and Winfield can get on the field, if you got Hicks out there as well, and Mike Edwards, you at least got a chance.
Putting guys who are way too slow to play on the field, like NEAL and Delaney, you’re not even giving yourself a chance.
December 13th, 2022 at 3:57 am
The Bucs defense is soft n passive across the board. I don’t see that aggressive killer instinct. JTS is a waste of a pick. Bowles keep saying he’s almost there but it’s obvious this guy is outta his league. He gets juked, bullied, n manipulated at the line of scrimmage.William Gholston is dead weight n DWhite continues to overrun plays.Bowles don’t know talent. Deven Thompkims has been itching to get on the field to showcase his skills after week in and week out of watching JDarden fair catch or run outta bounds, r u serious, we allowed this for about 26 games until we realize Darden’s a bust. Put DThompson at wide out n watch him make a play. He has speed, quickness, n a vertical leap that will make viewers do a double take. A good coach would know that about a player’s (rookie, or free agent) skill set n potential.
December 13th, 2022 at 4:39 am
When Samuels scored the Niners first TD, and Devin White chose not to push him out of bounds…Is White soft, or just dumb (he might’ve thought the first down marker was the end zone)? JTS is soft as Charmin.
December 13th, 2022 at 4:47 am
I was really happy with the Defense the first 3 games
They were playing fast, they were playing physical, flying around making tackles and most importantly putting their hands in passes batting them down and intercepting some.
I dont know what happened after that or if it got inti their heads that they are so good but things have changed after week 3. Especially in the coverage, seems like 9 out of 10 catches are uncontested. And way to many missed tackles.
Go back and look at the tape. Yes watching the games the first 3 weeks i would say we have a top 5 Defense no doubt. After week 3 we re an average Defense and yes they re playing quite soft. With the exception of a couple of players.
December 13th, 2022 at 5:10 am
Out coached. An OC who wants to get everyone blocked how about that. It is nice to watch for a change. The one yard runs here aren’t
December 13th, 2022 at 5:19 am
When Vea went out in the SF game, it was game over for our defense. The interior couldn’t hold their gaps on far too many plays, and Devin White & LVD got blocked out of the plays all too easily.
Fact is that we were ‘out-physicalled’ on BOTH sides of the ball. San Fran imposed their will on BOTH our offense & our defense. Could’ve just as easily ended 70-0 as 35-7 if that’s what they had wanted.
Games like that are depressing, but it’s still just 1 game. Bucs can either let that define them at this point, OR they can put on their big-boy pants and vow never again. We’ll get to see what they’re made of in these next 4 games. More talk won’t cut it.
December 13th, 2022 at 5:34 am
4 a change will give the D a pass. When you have an offense that is pathetic as this one is, especially with this roster, then you dont have a chance really.
December 13th, 2022 at 5:51 am
JTS replaces JJP
Logan Hall replaces Ndamukong Suh
Whitehead is gone
Barrett is injured
Vea is not an every-snap player
Winfield is injured
Etc.
Even if I stopped after the first three of those, the loss of mental and physical toughness in those alone has been pretty impactful. Think of how many teams score on the Bucs in their first possession. These Bucs don’t have the ability to ‘set the tone’ the way they would like. The Palindrome (45 54) have bailed out enough meh play to make the defense work, but by the same token, their missteps are magnified
December 13th, 2022 at 5:55 am
Watch it again, and see how useless Devin White is. Shanahan does a great job scheming the run game. We have a fullback in Ko Keif you ever see him do what the 49er FB is doing? On occation you do see it, but not like the 49ers do it. Shanahan, and his staff are just better then Bowles, and company. John Lynch has done a great job as G.M.. Glazers might do well to follow their model moving forward. The Arains, Bowles era needs to come to an end. Time to turn the Licht off too.
December 13th, 2022 at 5:56 am
*logan hall and an injured Akiem Hicks
December 13th, 2022 at 6:12 am
Oh, and BTW, a FB in today’s NFL does have a place. (See video clips above!)
December 13th, 2022 at 7:10 am
Undisciplined. That is all.
December 13th, 2022 at 7:43 am
Does anyone watch Whitehead with the Jets? He is one bad mfer. No drop off in play. Prob the hardest hitter in the league with decent speed. Him and Winfield together is quite the safety duo. Or would have been. We allocated that money to Carlton Davis, which frankly I understood at the time but in hindsight Whitehead is the better football player. As an aside, and as I’ve said all yr – JTS runs all gangly. Takes weird angles. No strong direct path , gets faked out easier than anyone I’ve ever seen. The golden state warriors for example recently sent their number 3 draft pick down to the g league. Because he’s soft and plays stupid. Much like JTS! The difference is the NBA actually has a developmental league. The NFL doesn’t. JTS belongs in a developmental league
December 13th, 2022 at 8:00 am
And Plan 9 was there like a stone wall.
December 13th, 2022 at 8:07 am
Goforthface@ yes I have watched him, it appears Saleb has coached him up to the player he was capable of being. Tough kid!
Bowles was a DB, why is that the biggest weak spot. Are there any strengths on this team other than punting? Seriously, name one?
How about when Winfield comes back, take White out on passing downs and move Neal to LB? Neal is not the best cover guy but better than White and it gives White a breather.
December 13th, 2022 at 8:17 am
When we lost JPP and Suh we lost our leaders and no one has been able to step up.
December 13th, 2022 at 9:41 am
The Bucs defense is weak on the edges and because Shannahan is a competent play caller, unlike someone who will remain nameless, the 49ers attacked the Bucs weakness and results were horrendous.
December 13th, 2022 at 9:44 am
In large part it is a function of the game plan and a couple of not ready for prime time players.
After that it is a matter of effort and pulling up the slack of those not ready for prime time players.
I can’t say anything about injuries, because all teams have losses that are similar, it is the coaches making sure the replacement guys know their job and are stout at it.
When you have someone like D. White looking like he was on the sideline all day it can take the heart out of so many others.
December 13th, 2022 at 11:30 am
Is that a question? Lol. Anthony Nelson, Carl Nassib, JTS, Rochez. Need I say more? Not sure why they are on the team. I asked the same question about Darden
December 13th, 2022 at 12:00 pm
Neal at mlb..white at right end
December 13th, 2022 at 12:29 pm
Look at these guys… either running around blocks or eating them smh.
SOFT
December 13th, 2022 at 2:02 pm
Ask Baldy if he’s interested in the HC job at One Buc Place. The film never lies.
December 13th, 2022 at 2:05 pm
Sorry, there is no OC opening One Buc place
December 13th, 2022 at 3:19 pm
Jets are also Laughing their Azz off because Bowles is our HC
December 13th, 2022 at 3:27 pm
No one is laffing their azz off at Bowles or the Bucs Defense. That includes the NYJets. Our guys are discouraged. Who can blame them? BTW, where’s the article about Brady getting conned by this crypto currency Ponzi con artist named Bankman? He’s being extradited to the US from his fancy crib in the Bahamas.
December 13th, 2022 at 8:15 pm
Juszczyk is a “Hardboy”. If the Bucs had 10 players like him, They’d win another Super Bowl.
December 13th, 2022 at 9:12 pm
orlbucfan Says:
“BTW, where’s the article about Brady getting conned by this crypto currency Ponzi con artist named Bankman? He’s being extradited to the US from his fancy crib in the Bahamas.”
.
.
The only reason they arrested him yesterday is because he was going to testify for Congress today. Some people didn’t want him talking.
December 14th, 2022 at 6:35 am
We let solid young players leave – Whitehead and Cappa – and wasted the money on do nothing FA’s Julio and Gage.