Not Getting Home
December 8th, 2023
Blitzes not getting to QB enough.
Obviously, this stat isn’t an absolute when it comes to determining a good team — but it’s damn close.
Joe is willing to wager that Bucs coach Todd Bowles doesn’t want to be in the middle of the pack in this stat. Bowles loves to blitz. One could say he’s blitz-happy. Blitzing a lot is all well and good so long as you get to the quarterback. If you don’t, you’re hanging your secondary out to dry.
Apparently, this is happening too much for Bowles and the Bucs.
Stathead turned handicapper Warren Sharp listed the percentage of blitzes on early downs that get pressure on quarterbacks. The Bucs are in the middle of the pack ranked at No. 15.
Aside from the No. 1 team on this list the Jets (!), the top seven teams are all good. Coincidence? No, Joe doesn’t believe in coincidences when it comes to football.
defensive pressure % when blitzing on early downs:
68% – NYJ
62% – SF
52% – BAL
52% – DET
51% – SEA
47% – BUF
47% – DAL
47% – CLE
45% – GB
45% – PIT
44% – TEN
41% – LAR
41% – IND
40% – WAS
40% – TB
39% – ATL
39% – CHI
39% – NE
38% – MIA
38% – CIN
38% – NO
37% – HOU
37% – NYG
36%…— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) December 8, 2023
December 8th, 2023 at 10:49 am
Ineffective blitzing. Seems like Bowles might be able to time his blitzes better (i.e. fewer) or rush better blitzers.
December 8th, 2023 at 10:56 am
STAT’s
Have you been watching?
Derek Sharp
Stick in the Eye !
December 8th, 2023 at 11:05 am
A good secondary is a great help to an anaemic pass rush. And a great pass rush is the best friend to a terrible secondary – they’re symbiotic.
December 8th, 2023 at 11:09 am
In points given up per game we are #11. I say our problems lie elsewhere.
December 8th, 2023 at 11:32 am
Yeah, the problem is not the D. I don’t expect them to win us games by scoring for us.
However, I do expect them to win us a few games by keeping the other team from scoring. Heck, it feels like they are the only reason we have won any games this year.
Baker is no Brady. He can’t overcome his own inabilities as well as the coaches. Baker is not that kind of leader, if he is one at all.
The only thing that can save Bowels now is if Kyle comes in and balls out.
If ATL starts to stomp us. I hope Bowels benches Baker and gives Kyle a chance to keep our season alive.
December 8th, 2023 at 11:50 am
On defense, this is supposed to be Bowle’s wheelhouse. His blitzing is what he is known for. If his defense is not top 10 in it, then he isn’t doing his job.
This is just further proof that he should be fired.
As far as our issues lying elsewhere, I say they lie everywhere at the moment…with the exception of our kickers (for a change).
December 8th, 2023 at 12:03 pm
maybe they should try and be good without the blitzing. fake it more.
they expect toilet bowl to blitz
December 8th, 2023 at 12:18 pm
Baker is a terrible blitzer! Too short!
December 8th, 2023 at 12:40 pm
What does Bowles expect? Seriously he was starting JTS and Hall for most of the season. Not the fans fault that the Bucs decided to take a flyer on some poor excuses for players.
December 8th, 2023 at 2:09 pm
Joe … ‘Aside from the No. 1 team on this list the Jets (!), the top seven teams are all good teams. Coincidence? No, Joe doesn’t believe in coincidences when it comes to football.’
I don’t believe in coincidences either Joe. And it’s no coincidence that those top 7 teams have more talent up-front than we do. Bowles was effective blitzing when he had Vea, Suh, JPP & a pre-injured Shaq up-front. Plug in Hall for Suh & JTS for JPP, plus the post-injury Shaq and the results may vary. We’re missing the beasts.
December 8th, 2023 at 2:09 pm
Blitzing wins you regular season games, nice statistics… against playoff level quarterbacks will get you beaten by and large.
Unless they are playing injured.
December 8th, 2023 at 3:32 pm
Head coach, a couple of line men, a decent running back equals success for the Tampa Bay. A coach that doesn’t show any type of emotion is not what the team needs. They need someone that’s not afraid to chew that ass, maybe hi five a player now and then. In other words, lead the damn team. Hell I can stand on the sidelines and cross my arms or put my hand under my chin. Emotion is good if controlled. P
December 8th, 2023 at 4:08 pm
If all else fails get our vertically challenged QB some lift shoes.
Maybe then he can see over the line and target some wide open receivers.
December 8th, 2023 at 4:26 pm
The timing on a lot of our blitzes is off. We seem to tip our hand more now than in previous years.
December 8th, 2023 at 6:59 pm
Hum de Dum de Doo
December 8th, 2023 at 10:35 pm
The thing about some of the top teams on this list, like Cleveland and even the lowly Jets, is they get pressure without having to blitz. The blitz is a bonus to them, not a necessity in getting pressure on a QB.
We need to do better without the blitz so we don’t expose our already weak secondary. With Ya Ya and Kancey we should improve in that department and them getting playing time finally, hopefully it does improve.