Bucs working to improve defense
The Buccaneers were back to work today at One Buc Place today getting for a prime time match-up against the New York Giants on Sunday Afternoon.
The Bucs have a lot of work to do in a short amount of time and there are a lot of area’s that need work.
Let’s start with the pass defense. At his press conference this morning DC Mike Smith reiterated that pass defense is really two units working as one. It starts with the pass rush. If you don’t pressure the QB and they have all the time in the world to set up, the Wide Receivers will get open eventually. The other part of the pass defense formula is the DB’s doing a good job of covering the opposing WR’s.
After a review of the Minnesota game, it was evident there was a clear lack of a consistent pass rush on Case Keenum, and the Bucs defensive backs without Brent Grimes really struggled in pass coverage.
Vernon Hargraves was torched for over 130 yards and gave up a TD pass. On the other side Ryan Smyth gave up over 120 yards and also gave up a TD. The Bucs defense did not register a sack and have just one sack on the season.
After the debacle in Minnesota, The Bucs defense is 31 out of 32 in total defense giving up 429 yards a game. Only New England is worse in total defense as they are giving up 432 yards a game. The Bucs are 31st in pass defense giving up 330 YPG. Because of the great Defensive effort against the Bears, the Bucs run defense is 4th in the league giving up 73 YPG.
Some good news on the injury front as Brent Grimes was back at practice today and a full participant. Now for the bad news. LB’s Lavonte David and Kwon Alexander did not participate. Gerald McCoy was limited as was DL Robert Ayers. Noah Spence who separated his shoulder in the game against the Vikings was also a full participant at practice.
Offensively, it all starts with No. 3 and Winston has to do a better job of holding on to the ball. Winston had three picks against the Vikings, and had a couple of throws that he should have held onto. It seems Winston still has not learned the art of throwing the ball away or taking a sack. In some ways it seems he still thinks he is playing against college defenses at FSU, and can beat them by himself.
The running game against Minnesota was disappointing to say the least. I know the Bucs got behind early and had to abandon the run game and go all pass, but when the Bucs trailed 7-0, and 14-3, the Bucs were not running the ball with any kind of authority.
OL JR Sweezy aggravated his back in the game Sunday, but did practice today. This is somewhat concerning considering the History of Sweezy and the fact that he missed all of last season recovering from back surgery.
The Giants are 0-3 and will come to Tampa looking for their first win of the season. The Bucs are 5-0 the last five home games at Raymond James. Eli manning is a career 5-0 as a starter against the Bucs.
After Sunday, let’s hope the Bucs can win their sixth in a row at home and send Eli Manning back to New York a loser.
