The Bucs definitely have quite a lot of points to scrub up on the defensive facet of the ball. Tampa Bay allowed 509 yards to Falcons’ quarterback Kirk Cousins because the the Bucs’ protection additionally gave up 36 factors. Perhaps having a brief week harm their preparation, however that was nonetheless a thoughts numbing efficiency.
By the point that Tampa Bay performs their subsequent recreation on Sunday at 1:00PM in opposition to the Saints, they may have had 10 days to judge what went mistaken whereas additionally discovering options to their move protection. One offender of the Bucs’ woes was inside linebacker Ok.J. Britt. Earlier than SirVocea Dennis went on injured reserve, Britt and Dennis would platoon on the inside linebacker place significantly as a result of Britt struggles in move protection whereas Dennis thrives in it.
Bucs’ Defensive Struggles
There was no hiding Britt on Thursday night time as he was on the sector for 81 snaps and the outcomes have been ugly. Per Professional Soccer Focus, Britt acquired a grade of 46.5 in move protection from Thursday night time’s recreation. This was his third lowest protection grade this season, which speaks to his struggles, however the daunting half is that this was his highest variety of snaps.
Bucs ILB Ok.J. Britt – Picture by: Jeffrey Jones/PR
Britt has been an amazing vocal chief for the Bucs this season and usually excels in stopping the run whereas going north to south. However the NFL remains to be a passing league and the Bucs can’t afford to have a constant legal responsibility.
As he often does, Bowles defended utilizing Britt a lot, and the way he defended the passing performs. He blamed extra of the inefficient tackling for Tampa Bay’s drawback, which is one other challenge of it’s personal.
“It wasn’t robust as a result of it was our regular stuff that we usually run however on the identical time, you already know, we wish to have extra velocity on the sector at sure instances,” Bowles stated. “Ok.J is an excellent zone participant however at instances we wish to have some velocity guys on the sector and the communication needs to be higher, particularly with the safeties. Once we misplaced Jordan [Whitehead], we misplaced among the communication side of it after which we simply missed some drops and missed some tackles.”
The Bucs need to provide you with a solution for what they’ll do a linebacker. SirVocea Dennis isn’t going to repair it both as a result of he’s not accessible.
“We’re not relying on him any time quickly,” Bowles stated. “His shoulder was form of tousled this summer time. We form of knew it was a touch-and-go sort factor there, so we’ll see how he comes round and we’ll play it week by week.”
Bucs Contemplating A New ILB?
As Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds identified, the Bucs might go to a dime package deal look, which places extra defensive backs and fewer linebackers on the sector. However for argument’s sake let’s simply say they stick to a two-linebacker system, would they platoon Britt once more and even outright substitute him?
The Bucs don’t have many choices at inside linebacker. Their different choices are third-year participant J.J. Russell, who has a task on particular groups and undrafted free agent rookie Antonio Grier Jr, who was simply signed to the energetic roster from the follow squad final week.
Bucs LB J.J. Russell Picture by: USA At present
Russell has expertise beginning earlier than in conditions the place different have been out. Is Todd Bowles contemplating this?
“We’ll see,” Bowles stated. “I imply, we’re assured in Ok.J. [Britt] however on the identical time, we have to make extra tackles. I believed our zone drops and our tackling weren’t excellent and that’s the place we form of obtained behind the eight ball.”
One other factor that would assistance is the Bucs staying constant pressuring the quarterback. They’ve had 10 sacks over the past two video games, so if the protection could be cleaned up, the extra the stops will come about.
“We obtained pressures up entrance, initially,” Bowles stated. “They go hand and hand with covers. Typically we’ve to cowl higher and we’re getting again there, and generally we’ve to get again there and we’re overlaying higher. It goes hand and hand, however we made some progress final night time. I believed we should always’ve had a pair extra, however the ball was popping out and there have been missed alternatives all around the area.
