Stopping Chris Lindstrom
June 6th, 2025
Solving Chris Lindstrom.
Joe has been to too many NFL combines to count. Each year, Joe is on a quest to learn how many coaches or front office shot-callers think the PFF tribe’s mindless “grades” are worth a bucket of warm beer.
Joe has yet to find one.
Joe once found an assistant coach, but when the coach realized Joe was asking about the PFF tribe grades and not quality control stats, the coach freaked out on Joe in the middle of St. Elmo’s and nearly puked.
In particular, Joe found that some front office people grow visibly angry when mentioning tribal offensive line grades. Their biggest issue is how does the PFF tribe know assignments on any given play.
Fair point.
So, Dalton Wasserman of the PFF tribe, armed with the mindless offensive line grades, claimed Dixie Chicks guard Chris Lindstrom gives the Bucs more fits than any player in the league.
Lindstrom has played terrifically against Tampa Bay throughout his career, [including] seven of their 10 most recent meetings. As is customary, Lindstrom has dominated the Buccaneers on the ground. Still just 28 years old, he isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, so Tampa Bay will have to figure out a way to beat him.
Joe decided to put thought behind this. Who would Lindstrom face? Likely Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey.
Joe looked up Kancey’s numbers against Atlanta. He’s only played Atlanta three times. Kancey has one sack in those three games and a quarterback hit in each one. So it’s not like Kancey’s getting shut down by the Dixie Chicks.
Vea? His numbers against Atlanta the past two years (also only three games), show he’s mostly been held in check, though Vea does have a sack and a quarterback hit in those games.
Joe is pretty confident when Lindstrom is facing Vea, he’s rarely doing it alone.
Logan Hall last year in the loss at Atlanta went nuts with two sacks and five quarterback hits. Otherwise, he’s been pretty invisible against the Dixie Chicks.
Could Lindstrom be owning the Bucs? Perhaps. But a guard isn’t the reason the Bucs lost to the Dixie Chicks twice last season, that’s for sure.
June 6th, 2025 at 12:28 am
“a guard isn’t the reason the Bucs lost to the Dixie Chicks twice last season, that’s for sure.”
maybe not A Guard in particular – but the Bucs lack of pass rush in general was more apparent vs Atlanta than just about any other 2024 opponent.
Man, was it frustrating watching Kirk Cousins (who had less mobility than a statue last year) complete balls all over the field – to the tune of almost 800 yards and 8 TDs – with an average of 75+% completion rate! 42 completions and 509 yards in the 2nd meeting…. SOOOOO unacceptable……
June 6th, 2025 at 1:30 am
Kirk’s Cousin plays like Dan Orlovsky against the rest of the NFL but like Dan Marino against Bowles. It has nothing to do with some guard we’ve never heard of and everything to do with cover zero, as in receivers.
June 6th, 2025 at 2:08 am
You wanna make stops on 3rd down?
Install the Tampa 7!
4 down lineman. Yaya, Vea, Kancey, and Reddick
7 defensive backs. (Pull LVD on 3rd down)
Rush 4. Drop 7.
Zion and Dean outside.
Parish and Morrison inside.
Izien, Tykes and Winfield at safety/ moneybacker.
Less snaps for LVD to save him for the playoff run.
And 7 DBs flying around!
June 6th, 2025 at 2:56 am
Teacher – as long as 4 of the 7 in coverage are playing man, I’m down with your scheme. But we all know, Todd is too smart to do something like that, he needs to disguise, confuse and keep everyone guessing. Including his own players.
June 6th, 2025 at 3:06 am
Teach,
That is about the only lesson plan that explains Bowles’ proclaimed confidence in the ILB group with the present personnel – you only need one on the field part-time.
Even if Dennis is the next Derrick Brooks, if they are playing two ILBs, who is the backup that is so great behind David and Dennis if/when whatever happens does happen?
June 6th, 2025 at 6:05 am
LOL
When is the last time I heard of an O lineman taking over a football game?
How bout never. These guys at PFF are out of control and need to go outside more. Geez!
Go Bucs!
June 6th, 2025 at 6:48 am
Honestly I rather have our Oline than the Dixie Chicks.
June 6th, 2025 at 7:40 am
My Tampa 7 would work because Izien and Tykes are nasty in the box
They both blitz and hit like linebackers!
I honestly think the future of the NFL will include more “money backers” on passing downs.
June 6th, 2025 at 8:50 am
Their biggest issue is how does the PFF tribe know assignments on any given play.
Same can be said about P.P Prisco where he claimed Kancey blew by Penei Sewell
“so fast” on a play. Many times that is by design and the lineman is going to be caught by a Trap Block. Means nothing if someone blows by a blocker and takes themselves out of the play. Almost as bad as an edge guy pinning his ears back, rushing the Qb, and getting dupped by a late developing screen.
June 6th, 2025 at 1:19 pm
Their grades help me consistently find gems in fantasy. Defenses as well.
June 6th, 2025 at 3:36 pm
What about a Five man front with Dime coverage behind it? The Patriots ran this on obvious passing downs under Coach B. Imagine (Left to Right) a DL of: Reddick, Kancey, Vea, Hall, Diaby. Then line up the DBs McCollum, Morrison, Izien, Winfield, Parrish, Dean. Line up the DB’s closer to the line of scrimmage and play match-up zone. The DL has to win at least 1 match up, and most likely causes quick short throws guarded close to the line of scrimmage by our DB’s. This could be a third down and long or obvious passing downs.