If Bucs’ Run Defense Shows Up, Bucs Should Win
December 21st, 2025
Stop the run.
Joe touched upon this briefly in “GameDay Tampa Bay,” but Joe will dwell on it a bit more here.
The Bucs have a decent run defense. No. 8 in rushing yards allowed per game. Not great, but decent. Could be better, could be a whole lot worse.
Today the Bucs face Dave Canales’ Stinking Panthers. We know from when Canales was the Bucs’ offensive coordinator in 2023, he loves to run the ball.
Once, a reporter asked him if he really would run the ball 30 times a game if given the opportunity. Canales replied, “Watch me.”
(This was sort of the precursor to Indiana coach Curt Cignetti’s now-famous line when questioned by a reporter about his under-the-radar resume, “Google me.”)
How much does Canales like to run the ball? In the 14 games the Stinking Panthers have played, only four times have the Stinking Panthers not run for over 100 yards in a game.
In those four games, the Stinking Panthers are 1-3. That lone win was an overtime win at Atlanta on Nov. 24.
YaYa Diaby told Joe last week that the key to the game is the Bucs stopping the run.
“That would open up everything to everybody,” YaYa said of how much bottling up Carolina’s run game would help the Bucs.
So the way Joe sees it, the Bucs have the run defense to at least slow down the Stinking Panthers. If the Bucs keep them to under 100 yards rushing, Joe is confident the Bucs will eat a W today.
December 21st, 2025 at 12:24 am
Go Bucs!
December 21st, 2025 at 1:09 am
Who cares? If Young puts up a 4 or 500 burger on this putrid pass defense they may not need to run at all. I see Teta and Leggette having huge days today. You don’t think Canales doesn’t know how to pick this leaky D apart?
December 21st, 2025 at 1:52 am
BWAAAAHAAAAHAHAHAHAAAAAAHAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAaaaaaaaaarrgrghhgffftmmoh
December 21st, 2025 at 5:19 am
Right on about the defense. They need to put the pressure on Bryce and intercept his passes too. He had no interceptions in his last game. The time is now. Go Bucs!
December 21st, 2025 at 7:25 am
Why would teams want to run on the Bucs when their pass D is soooo bad! I see play action early and often. Be ready !!!!
December 21st, 2025 at 7:47 am
If you don’t think the Panthers are going to get some explosive runs on this defense you haven’t been paying attention. The run D, like the pass D has given up it’s fair share of long TDs. I don’t trust us to stop either.
December 21st, 2025 at 7:54 am
It’d be nice if our o-line gives bake more than 1 second to throw
December 21st, 2025 at 8:23 am
Panthers first drive everyone is thinking Dave will run up the gut on first down. There will be a play action pass targeting Morrison. It’s a prime opportunity for Winfield/ Smith on a INT. It should have been practiced this week over and over. If it’s anything like the last weeks it will be a easy completion for Young.
December 21st, 2025 at 9:00 am
I took the Panthers +3 at the Hardrock last night. At home against a Bucs defense that has clearly quit on their coach. On offense, the Bucs back-up guards will be destroyed by Derrick Brown (who played really well against our starting guards last year) and pressure Baker up the middle and keep him in the skittish-mode he’s been in since hurting his shoulder and making him inaccurate again. And SP will give up at least two big returns. Hope I’m wrong but I see another ugly loss coming.