Sacking The Quarterback

March 9th, 2023

Next step, please.

Long-time readers of this here site know what Joe thinks of sacks. A defense cannot have enough.

Joe learned the value of sacks as a kid from his old man . “It’s hard to get a completion when the quarterback is sitting on his arse,” Joe’s old man used to say often.

No play effs with an offense like a sack. It often creates turnovers and kills drives. And once you get a sack or two, now you live in the opposing quarterback’s head. He begins to hear footsteps and starts doing stupid s(p)it.

Would you believe (said in your best Maxwell Smart voice) the Bucs’ 2022 stats, with virtually no edge rush from outside linebackers, show the team tied for seventh in the NFL with 45 sacks?

It’s true.

If the Bucs somehow found an edge rusher, or Shaq Barrett returns to his previous self after blowing out his Achilles, or Joe Tryon-Shoyinka finally takes his next big step (first?) in development, this defense could be ferocious.

Joe must give props to Bucs coach/defensive coordinator Todd Bowles. To lose his best pass rusher at midseason (Shaq) and get little to no pass-rushing production from JTS and still be in the NFL’s top-10 for sacks, that’s good coaching.

26 Responses to “Sacking The Quarterback”

  1. Tim Says:

    I think with Sideshow Bob up there, what you see is what you get. He’s got some speed, but he often can’t shed blocks. Seems like right now Nelson gives you AT LEAST as much production as JTS. We don’t have a good record drafting pass rushers.

  2. BA’s Red Pen Says:

    Sideshow Bob

  3. Goatfarmer Says:

    Against anyone that was any good that mattered, the defense from the Bucs’ Bowels was shredded. No credit is due the Bloweszo, just keep growing those red hair tufts from each temple, get him a bigger red nose and a frilly collar.

    Let’s let Cooper Kupp run uncovered on a non-executed but called for Cover Zero blitz! Yay!

  4. Rod Munch Says:

    The most amazing stat I’ve seen is that the Bucs secondary played more zone coverage than any team in football last year.

    So the Bucs won the SB as the most aggressive team in the NFL, to having a losing record with one of the most conservative teams in the NFL. The era of Arians is dead.

  5. Power of Pewter Says:

    The stat the matters is 8-10. And a few of those 8 wins were 4th Qtr heroics by Brady.

  6. Proudbucsfan Says:

    I will never forgive Blows for calling that blitz, we should’ve been repeat champions. I have no faith in him leading this team anywhere. If he does I’ll gladly eat crow but I doubt it.

  7. Joe in Michigan Says:

    IF the new OLB can teach Tryon to FINISH, he might get double the sacks. In case he doesn’t, I’d like to see the Bucs get an edge in the first 3 rounds, especially if Nelson and Nassib leave in free agency.

  8. Joe in Michigan Says:

    Yes, Goatfarmer…The Bucs got absolutely SHREDDED for 3 points on the first game of the year against Dallas. 🙄

  9. An Erection for Sacks Says:

    “Rod Munch Says:
    March 9th, 2023 at 1:01 am
    The most amazing stat I’ve seen is that the Bucs secondary played more zone coverage than any team in football last year.

    So the Bucs won the SB as the most aggressive team in the NFL, to having a losing record with one of the most conservative teams in the NFL. The era of Arians is dead.”

    Oh man, that’s not amazing, that’s downright depressing!

  10. 1sparkybuc Says:

    Sacks are great if they stall a drive, but way too often the Bucs still allow their opponents to convert for a first down on the following play.

  11. An Erection for Sacks Says:

    “Joe was looking over Bucs stats last night from the 2022 season… the Bucs, with virtually no edge rush from outside linebackers, were tied for seventh in the NFL in sacks with 45.”

    This begs the question: Where did the majority of the sacks come from?
    DTs? LBs?

    AW31 is a great blitzer, but I know the DBs didn’t lead the way.

  12. MadMax Says:

    He’s a backup at best…sorry….what a wasted 1st! But someone had to try and get cute (come on Licht, learn man)

  13. HC Grover Says:

    The only sacks plan 9 is good for is paper sacks. Over the fans heads.

  14. Fansince76 Says:

    JTS progress so far has been with QBs -missed it by that much!-
    (keeping with the Get Smart theme).
    Lets hope he freaking finally develops this year and gets
    at least 8 sacks.

  15. firethecannons Says:

    keep anthony nelson and get a new coach for tryon he needs to take the next step and he wont do it on the bench

    agree with Rod Munch we are in trouble with bowles he is not able to set the tone get some decent players in the draft and get out of cap hell get Hooker and get him healed up get ready for a new coach 2024 Canales? get a tackle, running back and Hooker try to get an edge that is decent, get a linebacker or sign David somehow

  16. BucsfanFred Says:

    I do believe JTS will focus more this year.

  17. DJB Says:

    The defense had one good game against a good offense in the first game of the year against Dallas. They failed miserably against all the other top offenses. And Dallas came back to tear them a new one in the playoffs. BTW, are we going with the co-defensive coordinators again this coming year? hahahahaha

  18. dmatt Says:

    I’m at wits’ end with JST. The few double takes he caught my attention on last year were two bone head plays that players from pop Warner league wouldn’t do. He’s outta his element. His only attribute I’ve seen from him is speed only. He play passive, confused, lost, weak, n often gets man handled.

  19. Duane Says:

    Sacks are great when they happen, but even on the very best defenses at sacking, they get maybe 3 of those per game. Out of around 60 defensive snaps per game. Big plays are nice, but if a team dominates on the vast majority of plays, they are going to win most of the time.

    Consequently, quarterback hurries and hits are much more significant than sacks, because a really good pass defense can get a couple dozen of those per game, affecting nearly every drop back .. because when the quarterback knows he’s getting rushed effectively, he has to get rid of the ball quicker which means fewer long passing plays and more INTs.

    Sacks are “headline” stats that every idiot can quote from a internet box score … but it is the quarterback hurries and hits that control the success of the passing game.

  20. Doughboy Says:

    No confidence in Bowles!

  21. Beej Says:

    Sacks are more common when the other team is trying to come back from a deficit, which wasn’t common last year

  22. Goatfarmer Says:

    Dope in Michigan – you missed the “when it mattered” part.

    How about that playoff game against Dallas, eh? How about that game against the Niners? How about that game against the Chiefs? How about that game against the lowly Panthers when it was for all the marbles?

    No one is more overrated as a defensive genius than the Bloweszo. No. One.

    Four consecutive losing seasons in a row and counting. Five in a row is a slam dunk.

  23. Joe in Michigan Says:

    Goatfarmer Says:
    March 9th, 2023 at 9:02 am
    Dope in Michigan – you missed the “when it mattered” part.

    How about that playoff game against Dallas, eh? How about that game against the Niners? How about that game against the Chiefs? How about that game against the lowly Panthers when it was for all the marbles?

    No one is more overrated as a defensive genius than the Bloweszo. No. One.

    Four consecutive losing seasons in a row and counting. Five in a row is a slam dunk.
    ^^^^^^^^^^
    Goatfarmer aka Blow-It-All: The first game didn’t matter? Hahaha

  24. Mike Johnson Says:

    Joe tryon is not the answer. He flashes here and there with no consistency. He has a habit of..disappearing in games.

  25. 80forBrady Says:

    I’m all for calling Florida’s Elite Restoration to fix our Rusty Pass Rush! Owner Josh Martin – do your magic!

    Maybe hire assistant from the Eagles and learn how they do it.

  26. garro Says:

    I would be interested to know how many sacks were schemed blitz and or stunts.
    And of those what percentage got home for the sack. When a team blitzes it generally leaves some area of the defense vulnerable. So did we give up big plays to often because we were scheming for sacks?