Chiefs' Running Game will test Tampa's Defense
by Alstott40 on Aug 19, 2010 11:00 PM EDT
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PrintThough the Kansas City Chiefs aren’t exactly a serious contender for the upcoming season, and they probably won’t be competing in the playoffs anytime soon, but they do have a newly revamped running game that should be a good test for Tampa Bay’s long defense, especially up front.
We all witnessed Gerald McCoy battle through double teams throughout most of the team’s first preseason game, and because of that, we didn’t get to see him make too many plays. But unlike the Miami Dolphins, who have one of the best run-blocking units in the league, Kansas City’s offensive line is near the bottom when it comes to overall rankings. In a recent story on Yahoo! Sports written by Jason Cole, all 32 NFL teams were ranked according to their offensive lines. Miami received the fifth overall spot, while Kansas City nearly came in last at 31st overall. So what does this mean for Tampa Bay come Saturday’s contest against the Chiefs?
For starters, Tampa’s front four will hopefully get a lot of pressure from every angle, and I’d like to see a lot of pressure from the two rookie defensive tackles. Brian Price will be making his debut after being held out of the opener because of a strained hamstring, which should alleviate pressure off of McCoy.
The Chiefs have a good crop of talent in their backfield, consisting of Jamaal Charles, Thomas Jones, and rookie Dexter McCluster. In their opening game of the preseason, Charles averaged 9.6 yards per carry, while McCluster averaged 5.0 yards. Free agent acquisition Thomas Jones didn’t get many carries in the game, finishing with just two touches in the game. Expect Jones to get a little more action against Tampa.
However, Tampa is coming off an impressive game against Miami’s rushing attack, which has been one of the better running units in the league the past couple of seasons. With just 50 yards let up against Miami’s rushing attack, Tampa appears to be moving in the right direction on defense.
Aside from the front four, Tampa will need their linebackers to contribute against the run. If Barrett Ruud can shed some blocks en route to the backfield, Kansas City will be seeing some negative plays and minimal yardage. His 142 tackles in 2009 is an impressive stat that can’t be overlooked, and he wouldn’t have amassed that total had he not been a reliable run stopper.
So what are your thoughts on the Tampa Bay defense, primarily against the run, and how do you see them performing against Kansas City’s running attack?
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I wouldn't call Barrett Ruud a reliable run-stopper, at least not near the line of scrimmage.
I wouldn’t say he’s particularly adept at getting off blocks either. If Price and McCoy can do what they’re supposed to do, Ruud will be able to creep up a little closer to the line of scrimmage, read and react to the ballcarrier (which he does very well), and make some plays at or near the line.
I don’t expect to see Price play much on Saturday due to his hamstring.
Cannons... fire them.
Bucs Nation - SBNation's home for discussion of all things regarding the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Yeah, they will take it easy with Price in this one.
"Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn't work hard"
Barrett Ruud Tackling Machine?
Yes, Ruud had a lot of tackles. Where did the tackles occur? Looked at NFL.com and pro-football-reference.com/ and didn’t find TFL’s. From memory the majority of Ruud’s tackles were 7-12 yards down field. I could be wrong but that is what sticks out to me.
That seems to be the consensus around here as well...
I hoped they would have drafted another MLB to at least push his play. Maybe next year.
by Cracker Ball on Aug 20, 2010 2:00 AM EDT up reply actions
MLB
From what I have seen. I’d be fine with Hayes @ WLB, Hayward @ MLB and Q.Black @ SLB. I know that’s probably not how it will shake out this year. 2011 maybe.
I’ve met Barrett Ruud. He is a good guy. He has done all the right things. However unless another NFL team wants to have a MLB that makes tackles where Ruud does. He’ll end up as a teammate with Jeff Garcia next year.
Harsh, but as far I a can tell truth.
Just found an old article on TBO that claimed Ruud had 0 TFL last season
I don’t have full Internet access at the moment and am stuck on mobile, but perhaps football outsiders keeps track. Either way, only some of the blame can be laid on the atrocious D-line. He needs to be more decisive and cross the line of scrimmage more this season.
"Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example." ~ Mark Twain
by LeeCaz on Aug 20, 2010 8:49 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I'm pretty sure that's not true
His first came late in the season, but I do think he had one.
And yeah, the D-Line is a huge reason he didn’t make more plays earlier. An MLB isn’t supposed to be good at shedding blocks from guards and tackles.
Pretty sure?
Even if it was 1/142 that’s not good. Middle linebackers always have to get past guards and tackles in order to penetrate the backfield on running plays. They are kind of in the way. I wonder what the average for MLBs TFL is across the NFL
"Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example." ~ Mark Twain
by LeeCaz on Aug 20, 2010 12:31 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Actually they don't have to get past guards and tackles that much
Because behind a competent D-line those tackles and guards don’t get upfield nearly as much. They’re tied up by the D-line. Ruud got 2 tackles for loss last year. Most MLBs get slightly more, but not by a very significant amount. Laurinaitis had 3, Lofton had 3 Fletcher had 5, Tulloch had 4. Some had significantly more (Beason had 10 for the league lead).
Look, no one’s pretending Ruud’s this great run stuffer who can get by everything. But the hate for him is completely disproportionate to his actual performance compared to the league performance.
Link?
Not sure where the idea I have hate for him came from. I am aware of the defensive lines job. I played linebacker for 8 years of organized football. When a middle linebacker makes a tackle for a loss it generally comes from penetrating the backfield. He needs to be strong and aggressive enough to stick his nose in there and make a play himself when it is an obvious run down like 3rd and short. Obviously he isn’t expected to overpower offensive linemen, but he should be able to get past them on occasion with his quickness and contact the ball carrier behind the line of scrimmage. He needs to go towards them as opposed to waiting for them to get to him.
"Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example." ~ Mark Twain
by LeeCaz on Aug 20, 2010 2:25 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Link
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/stats/bycategory?cat=Defense&sort=128
‘Stuffs’ there is tackles for 0/loss. Can’t filter for MLBs, though.
I’m not really talking about your response to him specifically, but there’s a lot of hate for Ruud around Bucs fans.
You’re right, though – Ruud isn’t the aggressive, stick your nose in the backfield linebacker. That made him pretty bad for Bates’ scheme, but better for the Tampa 2 as he isn’t expected to be that aggressive. His strengths are pass coverage, diagnosing plays and his range – which is fine for a MLB in this system from what I know about it.
That will be fine if Price and Miller can clog up the middle as we hope they can
But if we are getting pushed back like last year, he needs to change his approach or else teams are gonna jam it tight up our gut all season.
"Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example." ~ Mark Twain
by LeeCaz on Aug 20, 2010 2:44 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
That's true
But I don’t think he can change his approach. I hope the rookies can pick up the slack, but I doubt they can.
System Talk;;
I’m not going to lecture about T2; its a proven coverage system plain and simple. It forces teams to throw fades, or go underneith if fitted with capable safeties. MY POINT to all this is, yes we have a good coverage package, but when it comes to sacks and pressure, not so much.
If Morris has a good year, and somehow, is given extension (which would make me crap my pants) I think he needs to get creative and come up with an “attack” package to attach to T2. Maybe every now and a then drop a safety into a WR man, and drop a corresponding LB into Blitz.. Problem is, none of our LB’s are stuffers. I think if he could put more ATTACK into T2, he could make it successful again. We got Coverage, lets get attack. More blitzes, forcing our DEF to play tighter man; it would really benchmark his progress if their is any.
Hopefully,
but Price will be limited in the game due to his hamstring. I do think the two will work well together when Price gets healthy. Should be a good tandem up front for many years.
"Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn't work hard"
The DL will be tested early and often by the Chiefs running game
What a great one-two punch they have at RB. Right up there with CAR in my opinion.
Well
At least this going to be a test to see how our D going to look like with price & Lewis & Talib in for the game can’t wait
IF U AIN'T A BUC GET THE BUC OUT OF HERE
by WE GOING TO THE SHIP on Aug 20, 2010 7:33 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
I doubt we'll see much of Thomas Jones.
Veterans don’t usually see extended time until the third preseason game. I do think that the outside running abilities of McCluster and Charles will test our linebacking core.
5 picks out of the first 100 in a draft saturated with talent. Yes, I'm optimistic.
I think Jamie Dukes pointed that out
That McCluster has some good outside running ability, but I think Black and Hayes got the speed to put him down before getting the edge. Now if they get past them, cuz Ruud will probably get run on (they look for him), they’ll go the distance. Sabby ain’t stopping crap. T-Jack will lay him out… btw has T. Jackson been active? I can’t remember seeing him last week?
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