Bucs Defense Must Be Better Earlier
October 17th, 2025
Better defensive effort needed.
Joe was impressed with the Bucs’ defense last week against San Francisco, specifically against Christian McCaffrey. Can it take the next step Monday night against a loaded Lions offense in Detroit?
Per Rich Hribar of Sharp Football Analysis, the Bucs’ defense on second and first downs has been terrible most of the season. Bad enough that teams don’t have to sweat much to move the chains.
The Buccaneers are allowing 6.1 yards per play on early downs, which ranks 30th in the league.
That is unacceptable. When the Bucs might be taking the field in Detroit down their top four receivers — hell, even if Mike Evans can play — and no Bucky Irving, Joe cannot imagine the Bucs will ring up 30-40 points Monday night.
The Bucs are going to have to play better defense than Hribar described if they hope to pull the upset in Ford Field.
October 17th, 2025 at 9:05 am
Funny that everyone has the Bucs as #1 on their Power Rankings, yet we’re underdogs in this game.
I’m not complaining; I totally understand it. It’s just seemingly nonsensical.
October 17th, 2025 at 9:10 am
Vegas is wrong here and they will find out the hard way soon enough.
October 17th, 2025 at 9:11 am
Thank God we have a mastermind defensive coach in Todd Bowles.
October 17th, 2025 at 9:20 am
secondary vastly improved though, especially tackling. Lions might not be able to do what it normally does against us, at least not quite as well.
October 17th, 2025 at 9:25 am
They 30-35 points to win this game.
Cannot count on the D to slow down the onslaught coming.
This is Bucs & Seattle part 2 in Detroit.
No time for “I cannot imagine”
They either put up the points or get beat.
GO BUCS!!!!!!
October 17th, 2025 at 9:36 am
As long as Todd has coordinated the defense (106 games) when have you ever felt confidence that on a 3rd and long or on a MUST have down this defense has stopped someone?
Offenses LAUGH at this scheme, it’s WAY too easy to move the ball and posses the ball on a consistent basis. Unless this defense lucks into a turnover or the offense commits a penalty there is little resistance on the field for opposing teams.
October 17th, 2025 at 9:41 am
So…what is the story on AJW Jr.? Is it me or has he been like a man missing in action?
October 17th, 2025 at 9:43 am
not worried about the defense at all!!!!
we’ve held several good teams under 20pts…
that trend will continue!!!!
6-1!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
October 17th, 2025 at 9:51 am
i wouldnt call the lions offense loaded…
if they are “loaded”, they only put up points vs teams that are under .500!!!!
6-1!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
October 17th, 2025 at 9:52 am
I read somewhere that someone mentioned its like the defense coasts through most of the game and only puts out effort in the final 10 minutes… It does!
Even in that 9ers games, Romeo made the comment to move the ball you throw against a Bowles team… EVERYONE knows that nugget… Its NO secret… If the Bucs ever get a good DC, then That Bucs team with this offense could be scary for anyone to play!
October 17th, 2025 at 9:54 am
They have failed to hit 30 only ONE time this year
October 17th, 2025 at 9:56 am
Scotty u missed AJWs game changing plays v ATL, NYJ, SEA?
October 17th, 2025 at 10:10 am
Enjoying the games and am all in on our defense. I like that they come back the 2nd half. Would love to see it all the way through but don’t want them tired out to come back later on when needed either. Go Bucs!
October 17th, 2025 at 10:21 am
smarter than joe – in the red zone they seem to be much better. scrunching field into smaller box might neutralize Bowles’s tendency to give away too much space underneath.
October 17th, 2025 at 10:28 am
lol! Yap. It does! Old Clueless has a plan! Going to allow easy short passes all game and then hold em to field goals! That’s the plan! What could possibly go wrong!?
October 17th, 2025 at 10:32 am
I get the concerns. I was bitching about the soft coverage and yards. But who am I?
Maybe Coach Bowles knows more than me. Maybe he lulled them into a sense of invincibility. And when the time was right, he dropped the hammer.
All I know is it does not matter what happens during the game as long as Tampa has one more point than the other team when the clock goes to zero.
October 17th, 2025 at 10:37 am
Area Code Girl and her exclamation marks, capital letters, and maple syrup claiming the Lions offense isn’t loaded, despite being historically potent this season. Never let facts and reality get in the way of blind exuberance.
October 17th, 2025 at 10:40 am
This is why I have Little Confidence in Bowles. He never has his defense ready to play for four full quarters.
October 17th, 2025 at 10:57 am
i get a chuckle every week seeing some of these comments. After a win, every one is happy, no negativity, and it’s all “Baker for MVP”.
Then about Wednesday, you can start to hear the skittering of troll claws. And then on Thursday out they come, “Bucs were lucky”, “Todds defense sucks”, “Todd sucks”, and then how the Bucs will get beat next Saturday.
I swear these people must live in Atlantic Station in Atlanta or on Canal Street in NOLA…!
October 17th, 2025 at 11:24 am
Thanks captain obvious!
October 17th, 2025 at 11:26 am
I have never heard any media people ask Todd Bowles if he thinks his defense is good. Would really wish someone would do that and lets hear his answer. It would tell us a lot about his defensive master ability to listen to explain it.
October 17th, 2025 at 11:50 am
Maybe this time Todd adapts before the game, not during the game.
October 17th, 2025 at 11:50 am
Beej … ‘They have failed to hit 30 only ONE time this year’.
Got me a little confused Beej. Detroit’s lost 2 games … one by 27-13 to the Packers & the other by 30-17 to the Chiefs … averaging only 15 PPG in those 2 games. In their other 4 games they’ve scored a total of 161 points, roughly 40 PPG average.
So how did the Packers & Chiefs limit them to 15 PPG average? Well for starters, the Packers’ defense is ranked #10 & the Chiefs’ defense is ranked #11, and both of them played excellent defense when they played the Lions (who own the #2 ranked offense). Plus they both have quality offenses (Packers #8 & Chiefs #9) and they had excellent games against the Lions defense (ranked #18). So overall they turned out to be good matchups.
Bucs match up well offensively (ours is the #6 ranked offense), but defensively we leave a lot to be desired (ranked #24). But that’s a little deceptive because we’ve been so banged up. In 3 of our games we’ve surrendered 20, 19 & 19 points (58 total), but in the other 3 games 27, 31 & 35 points (93 total). Not very consistent, but we’ve been winning nonetheless.
Bucs’ defense seems to play reasonably well against the Lions. Last season we won 20-16. In 2023 we lost 20-6 in the regular season, but lost 31-23 in the playoffs. In 2020 we whooped ’em 47-7 in their house, and whooped them again in 2019 by 38-17 in their house. So in 4 regular season games starting in 2019 when Todd Bowles became our DC, the Bucs have limited the Lions to 60 total points … 15 PPG average … holding them to 16, 20, 7 & 17 points. For some reason we’ve seemed to match up well with them over these past 6 years. Hopefully that continues Monday night.
And oh BTW, Packers used a very balanced attack (25 rushes for only 78 yards & 22 passes (16 completed) for 188 yards). They had no giveaways, but did lose the TOP (35:25 to 24:35). Chiefs also won with a very balanced attack (29 rushes for 112 yards & 30 passes (22 completed) for 257 yards). They also had no giveaways, but won the TOP 30:37 to 29:23). Packers scored 3 TDs & 2 FGs in 9 drives, while the Chiefs scored 4 TDs & 1 FG in 9 drives.
October 17th, 2025 at 11:52 am
Beeej Says:
October 17th, 2025 at 9:54 am
They have failed to hit 30 only ONE time this year
******************************************************
they’ve also beaten only ONE team above .500
6-1!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
October 17th, 2025 at 12:01 pm
In 3 of our games we’ve surrendered 20, 19 & 19 points (58 total), but in the other 3 games 27, 31 & 35 points (93 total). Not very consistent, but we’ve been winning nonetheless.
******************************************************
jets game is misleading because of the special team blunder…
philly game had special teams blunder and turnovers….cant blame the defense for the blocked punt scored for a TD…
SEA game we were missing out 2 starting CBs….
not providing excuses but stating facts…
when the defense is relatively healthy, and the we dont turn the ball over, we hold teams to 20pts or less….
CBs should be back and Dennis is playing better…i see more consistency and better play in the future…and it all starts monday night!!!!!
6-1!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
October 17th, 2025 at 12:04 pm
Chris Braswell is going to shock us any minute now. While other aggressive teams looking to win now and add key players like 49ers and Eagles (both going after Trey Hendrickson from what I’ve heard) we’re waiting on Chris Braswell to pop.
October 17th, 2025 at 12:05 pm
Chris Braswell is going to “shock” us any minute now. While other aggressive teams looking to win now and add key players like 49ers and Eagles (both going after Trey Hendrickson from what I’ve heard) we’re waiting on Chris Braswell to pop.
October 17th, 2025 at 12:11 pm
YAY! BUCS DEFENSE IS GREAT!!!!!!!! YAY!!!
IT’S NOT TODD’S FAULT THE DEFENSE GIVES UP MORE YARDS AND POINTS THAN 24 OTHER TEAMS! YAY!
GO BUCS!
October 17th, 2025 at 12:51 pm
To HAS TO remain aggressive and flexible in this game. We WI fight hard because we don’t take anything for granted on Offense. The difference is going to be whether or not Todd has changed and for the last two games the answer has been Yes…
First game was a bit sloppy because it’s new for Todd. The second game went Far smoother for Bowles. Now… this game Will tell us if he’s finally stepping into his defensive coaching power, and Staying Flexible, Creative, and Aggressive though the ENTIRE GAME from kick off to the final whistle, For the Full Hour, or will he revert back to waiting until half time to make the adjustments?
We find out who Todd Bowles is tonight. One Way or the Other….
October 17th, 2025 at 12:53 pm
Sorry, I’m just anxious… “Monday Night”
October 17th, 2025 at 12:55 pm
Btw, it’s a HUGE GAME in my household…
I’m Cleary a Buc LOVER and my lady and her family are Detroit fans. There is A LOT of smack talking in between!
GO BUCS!
October 17th, 2025 at 1:10 pm
i think bucs can win and win big, detroits defense is going down and the bucs defense is getting healthy, just don’t let goff get comfortable, steady diet of cade raashad me13 and tez, we got this!!! 38-20
October 17th, 2025 at 1:11 pm
i think bucs can win and win big, detroits defense is going down and the bucs defense is getting healthy, just don’t let goff get comfortable, steady diet of cade raashad me13 and tez, we got this!!! 38-20 go bucs!!
October 17th, 2025 at 1:13 pm
DR: Yah, I brain-farted looking at the scores
October 17th, 2025 at 1:38 pm
Aqualung … Just a thought. Bear with me.
Bucs’ salary CAP allocation is currently $267.0 mil for 2025. And within that, we’re having to allocate $37.7 mil to Dead CAP from past years, leaving us with $229.3 mil to play with. Annual pay for our starters (I included Chris Godwin in there because he was close) …
1 – Mayfield: $33.3 mil
2 – Irving: $1.2 mil … initial contract
3 – Otton: $1.1 mil … initial contract
4 – Evans: $20.5 mil
5 – Godwin: $22.0 mil
6 – Egbuka: $4.5 mil … initial contract
7 – Wirfs: $28.1 mil
8 – Bredeson: $7.3 mil
9 – Barton: $3.5 mil … initial contract
10 – Mauch: $1.9 mil … initial contract
11- Goedeke: $22.5 mil
Total starting offense: $145.9 mil. Six offensive starters are on their 2nd contract. and 5 starters are on their initial contract. Thus our offense starters are getting 63.6% of the available salary CAP.
Defense isn’t doing nearly that well. Annual pay for our defensive starters …
1 – Vea: $17.8 mil
2 – Kancey: $3.6 mil … initial contract
3 – Logan Hall: $2.3 mil … initial contract
4 – Reddick: $14.0 mil
5 – Diaby: $1.4 mil … initial contract
6 – David: $9.0 mil
7 – Dennis: $1.0 mil … initial contract
8 – Dean: $5.3 mil (including incentive)
9 – McCollum: $16.0 mil
10 – Winfield: $21.0 mil
11: Tykee Smith: $1.4 mil … initial contract
Total starting defense: $92.8 mil. Six defensive starters are on their 2nd contract, and 5 starters are on their initial contract. Thus our defense starters are getting 40.5% of the available salary CAP.
Fairly sizable disparity between Bucs’ offensive & defensive salaries ($53 mil), but … it’s reflected in PERFORMANCE (offense ranked #6 & defense ranked #24) as should probably be expected.
Todd Bowles & Jason Licht have intentionally taken this approach (focus more on offense than defense in terms of salary CAP allocations). I’m convinced that their overriding belief is that our offense can score enough points to make the Bucs competitive (and entertaining), and our defense can limit our opponents’ ‘damage’ to something the Bucs can live with. Todd’s been here 6 years plus now, and this defense is actually quite consistent in terms of POINTS ALLOWED. The outliers (2019) can easily be explained away (hello Jameis). Same with 2024 (ridiculous number of injuries).
October 17th, 2025 at 2:07 pm
You go girl 😘
October 17th, 2025 at 2:09 pm
Beej … Welcome to the club. My brain gets very loud that way.
My point BTW (not well stated) is that I believe the Bucs can once again beat the Lions, but that BOTH our offense AND defense will have to show up. It’d be nice if the S/Ts joined the party & kicked some arse, but I’m not holding my breath on that one any more.
October 17th, 2025 at 2:10 pm
If we win the toss in Detroit, should we receive first or put our defense out so we can get the ball first in the second half??? or does that even matter?
October 17th, 2025 at 3:06 pm
Sir Vocea had what was probably the best game of his career versus the Lions last season. His pass coverage was excellent. I recall one play in particular where he sniffed out a screen to Gibbs, he knifed in and made a hard tackle, stopping Gibbs in his tracks.
October 17th, 2025 at 3:20 pm
We have enough, and the RIGHT people to play as much man as Todd wants. I only expect the 10 yard cushion on 3 and 15
October 17th, 2025 at 3:47 pm
Do we have a longer than usual wait for comments or is daytime Joe just deleting my comments lately?
October 17th, 2025 at 3:50 pm
Can’t tell you how many seasons of following this team, I’ve noticed they start off slow on either O or D or both, then the pace picks up as the game continues. It didn’t matter if it was a Dark Age season or a rare decent one. In the last few years, that has started to change. One of the factors slowing things down are the # of injuries which is nuts. Other fans I knew commented on the same thing. What I would like to see is the Bucs start fast out of the gate. The initial 49er turnover at the game’s start shocked me, and it did a mental number on the 49ers that helped lead to their defeat. It’ll be interesting to see how this game pattern develops. I hope it helps the Bucs. C’MON, BUCS!!
October 17th, 2025 at 4:06 pm
I ‘should’ not expect Britney Spears to show up at my door tonight looking for a good time, but you never know, it’s possible, I guess.
That’s how I read what Bowles said. Saying, ‘yes, he should be’ just sounds like ‘yes’ to me with the normal hedging you always get. But I didn’t hear it myself, so perhaps the tone implies more of a doubt. In any case, I certainly hope Luke is back soon.
October 17th, 2025 at 4:22 pm
Lions are 5.5 point favorites smh.
We shall see.
October 17th, 2025 at 4:24 pm
6pt underdogs. vegas showing not a lot of confidence in this defense even when healthy
October 17th, 2025 at 4:35 pm
Actually been busy recording a pod. You know, content? The reason why people come here.
October 17th, 2025 at 4:46 pm
Bucs fans on Monday “we are the best”
Bucs fans On Wednesday “Todd Bowles Sucks!”
Glass half empty half full fans
October 17th, 2025 at 4:47 pm
DR, is this not the last year of dead cap from Jensen and Shaq? Had that in my mind, anyhow doesn’t look like Dean gonna be here next year
October 17th, 2025 at 4:54 pm
it depends which version of the D shows up. there is more than one. going to be another tough challenge for both offense and defense. need offense or defense to start fast and have an impact quickly. keep the crowd out of it. score points, get a takeaway, stop hutchinson or at least blunt his impact. run baker run.
October 17th, 2025 at 4:55 pm
1000% Disagree. Understand the Game within the Game.
1. Actual Talent. The Bucs OLB and DL (minus VV) aren’t dominant. Bowles needed to create a strategy to maximize the talent they have.
2. Bowles Strategy. Watch the game as a progressive strategy from half-to-half. Bowles plays ultra-conservative, bend-don’t-break, in the first half. This allows the team to stay close (barring a ST meltdown). He then unleashes the hounds in the 2nd half with exotic blitzing. This catches the opponent off guard when they are tired. Almost all the sacks and turnovers occured in the 2nd half.
If he did what Joe suggests, and goes all in early, the opponent can adjust and the defense gets tired.
October 17th, 2025 at 5:11 pm
DR, I would guess that offensive to defensive salary cap disparity in favor of the offense is probably the case with most teams since the QB is usually the highest paid on most teams. I think there are 20 or so qb’s making more than Baker and most of those make 20 million more. Offense sells and I think that disparity is only going to increase in the near future.
October 17th, 2025 at 5:17 pm
One reason the Bucs are rated the #1 team in football is to get more eyes on the Monday night game. It’s also being build as an NFC championship game preview. The Vegas money is on the Lions and (even though I’m a Bucs fan) rightfully so. The Bucs have been decimated on offense with injuries, they are playing a very good team, the Bucs defense has been not very good and it’s being played in Detroit. However don’t count this team out.
October 17th, 2025 at 5:34 pm
Good points LakelandSteve. I would add the Lions are pretty thin in the secondary . I think it’ll all boil down to controlling their pass rush and playing some defense.
October 17th, 2025 at 6:28 pm
DR, your posts are always interesting, grounded and I appreciate them. Sometimes it’s necessary to expose those who are intolerant of warranted criticism and would cancel critics if they could. Fortunately JBF is very strong about freedom of speech, also appreciated.
Meanwhile, cheers to you.
October 17th, 2025 at 6:32 pm
The Bucs have a 14-15 record on Monday night football. Let’s get to 500 at least.
October 17th, 2025 at 6:48 pm
I know we’re down receivers and Bucky but if the game plan
is good and our line can hold up there is no reason we can’t score into the
30’s . It’s all about the line . Their secondary is depleted so our
your receivers with Shepard should be fine.
October 17th, 2025 at 6:54 pm
Oscar … Isn’t there a saying that goes something like ‘Offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships’?
October 17th, 2025 at 7:07 pm
Beej … I believe you’re spot on about this being our last year of big Dead CAP hits. Spotrac projects us to have a $233,922 Dead CAP next year, as of right now at least. That’s miniscule compared to what we’ve been paying for the past several years.
Spotrac is also forecasting the 2025 salary CAP to increase by roughly $28 mil to $307 mil. Bucs in essence hit the trifecta …
1 – Bucs have a current ‘excess’ CAP space of $17 mil that’ll be available next year.
2 – Bucs Dead CAP next year is reduced by about $37.5 mil.
3 – The salary CAP for all teams goes up by about $28 mil for 2026.
So all together, our coffers will balloon by roughly $82.5 mil come 2026. That’s very good, because we’re gonna have several hungry mouths to feed.
October 17th, 2025 at 7:25 pm
Lol @aqua – cancel ?
Do some of you think you’re celebrities 🤣🤣.
As much as you would like to paint yourself as some kind of sympathetic character because people object to your CONSTANT slander of our coach, based on an obviously limited knowledge of football (or teamwork, leadership, defense, etc etc), most of us see you as troll #1…..YAY!!! 🏆
Only 8% had little or no confidence in Todd last poll. That means 92% were confident. So what is it exactly that you 8% know that the rest of us don’t?
Have you ever played sports of any kind? Or been a part of any kind of team? Or at least watched a YouTube video or 2 on the zone coverage you like to harp on?
Learn a little, change your name again, and maybe people will include you in discussions about football instead of pointing out your constant trolling for 2 years.
“Keep in mind that a man’s just as good as his word,
It takes twice as long to build bridges you’ve burned”
> Tyler Childers
October 17th, 2025 at 10:15 pm
Definitely need to improve on those early downs….. if we give them too many 3rd (or 2nd) and shorts it’s going to make things very difficult.
Going to be a tough test for our D. Would love to shut them down but they are crushing it at home this year (43 points?). Love to see us shock some people, most people, by holding them to 21 or under but it will take our best effort yet.
Lfg Bucs!!!
October 17th, 2025 at 11:29 pm
The reality is they have given up 19 or 20 points in three games. I’ll take that all day every day.
Against the Jets they gave up 27 and that was an absolute fluke.
Philly – the defense changed it up, settled down and shut them out most of the second half and end of the second quarter. They scored them 22 seven during that time. And held them to 0 yards passing.
Seattle was horrendous
Anyway, my point is they are not nearly as bad as some people think and they’re not even close to being as bad as what the stats might say at the moment. The pass rush is everything.
If they get after GOFF like they did against San Fran, they win easily.
If not, the O better bring it.
October 18th, 2025 at 12:42 am
GoonGaytor, a pathetic, humorless, arrogant but ignorant bloviator who tolerates no opinion other than its own. Sad.
October 18th, 2025 at 7:03 am
At halftime of the game thread last week I said the defense was going to give up 3 or 23 in the 2nd half. Nailed it, so let’s go for two.
This Monday night Goff is either going to throw 3-4 INTS or 3-4 TDs.
I am honestly curious to see what Todd does with his entire intended secondary at his disposal. I can’t remember the last time that was ever the case.
October 18th, 2025 at 9:16 am
While the Bucs defense can be frustrating to watch, they are getting turnovers this season. That was not so in recent seasons. I think that will continue on Monday night. Turnovers and Tucker showing up big in the run game, which will open up the pass game, will keep the Lions offense under control. That should be enough for a narrow Bucs victory.
October 18th, 2025 at 1:22 pm
Great analysis by @DR again. Bowles gets the blame for the porous defense but the $s tell the story. He’s been playing with the short deck his whole tenure. Next year will be his first out of cap hell. He’s kept the team in the playoffs with second rate players available due to being cash poor from dead cap payments.
The FO made the decisions to prioritize offense spending which is their prerogative. Personally, I like the excitement. Regardless, Bowles takes the hit. Switch the priority and the fans aren’t crying every week about how bad the defense is. This does not absolve Bowles completely but it does explain why he takes the conservative approach. It’s a lot easier to be aggressive when you have a bunch of studs. It will be interesting to see how the money is reallocated in 26. I’d bet on an infusion to the defensive side after they pay Baker. DT, DE and LB all need a lot of help.