The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Need To Stop The Run - And They Know It

by Sander on May 6, 2011 8:04 PM EDT in NFL Draft

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had one very big deficiency on defense since December 8, 2008. That was the day of the Bucs' last Monday Night Football appearance and the day on which the Panthers ran all over the Bucs. The numbers were ugly - really, really ugly. The Panthers rushed for 299 yards that night. That total was only surpassed once in Bucs history: the Falcons managed 306 rushing yards at home in 2006. But the 6.95 yards per attempt the Falcons rushed for in 2006 didn't come close to the record 8.08 yards per attempt the Bucs gave up against the Panthers in 2008. That Panthers game was one of the ugliest games the Bucs have played since the Glazers bought the team.The run defense has remained a problem ever since.

In 2009, the Bucs gave up a league-worst 2,531 yards on the ground, for another league-worst 4.8 yards per attempt. Football Outsiders had the 2009 Buccaneers ranked as the 28th worst rush defense of that season. So the Bucs added two premier defensive tackles in the draft in an effort to improve their run defense. But did it work? Nope. Rushing yards given up: 2,107 - 28th in the league. Yards per attempt given up: 4.7, 31st in the league. Football Outsiders rank: dead last. Of course, one of the defensive tackles barely got on the field and the other was still a rookie, so there's reason to believe that'll get better this year.

The Buccaneers weren't content to just let potential improvement fix their run defense. They went out and added 3 run stuffers in the first three rounds of the draft. For all the talk of adding defensive ends to get to the quarterback, the Bucs didn't add glamorous pass rushers. Adrian Clayborn was a terrific college player, but there are questions about his ability to consistently beat NFL-quality left tackles as a pass rusher. And while Bowers was projected to be a top 5 selection before the injury concerns surfaced, he is a complete defensive end who's play is based on power. He is not an elite edge rusher. However, both of these guys are terrific run-stuffers, and they should improve the Bucs' run defense immediately.

The Bucs' third round pick was another one aimed at improving the run defense. Mason Foster is a physical linebacker who will be aggressive at the line of scrimmage. The Buccaneers have a lot of athletic guys at linebacker who are good at defending the pass, but there was no real run-stopping thumper on the roster before last season. They added Tyrone McKenzie during the season, and have now added another run-stuffer with Mason Foster.

The more I look at this draft, the more I'm convinced the Buccaneers didn't come in with a need to fix the pass rush. I think they wanted to fix the run defense. But that doesn't matter, because by adding two defensive ends they may have fixed both.

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Comments

Glad you mentioned McKenzie

USF stud I think many have forgotten we added last year. He certainly has the talent, and will provide great depth and could even challenge for a starting spot. Dug up this short piece on him. Add another LB to the mix and we’ve got some nice depth and young talent…

by jMagic09 on May 6, 2011 11:47 PM EDT reply actions

Our big 4

And by that I mean McCoy, Price, Bowers, and Clayborn have all shown the ability to get to the quarterback but the thing I like most about them is they all seem to have a nasty streak in them. McCoy has the biggest smile I’ve seen in a while but he can be mean when he wants to be. I love having a mean defense…

by T-Jack on May 7, 2011 12:23 AM EDT reply actions

Finally Agree

I finally agree 100% with one of your posts. Sacks are the most overrated stat in football. This regime knows Football, and every single one of their moves shows that. Now it helps that they have Hit and gotten Lucky on some of their Moves but they Understand the game. Another thing this does it Eliminates another Position a High Draft pick could be used on. I dont expect the Bucs to take a QB, WR, or DE with a 1st or 2nd round pick in at least 3 years. If Price is OK then add DT to that list.

by RidersOfDoom on May 7, 2011 3:44 AM EDT reply actions

This is something I've been talking about since last year

Was hoping GMC and Price would help, but Price hardly played and it took GMC over half the season just to figure out the pass rush. The DEs have been horrible at run defense for several years, which opens up cut back lanes for running backs (especially RBs in zone blocking schemes like Torrain).

People keep talking about the LB group as if they’re the ones failing in run stop, but the D-line has been completely getting blown out and giving up double gaps that LBs can’t fill. If the new DEs can be effective in run stop, I think you’ll see the LB play improve drastically (whether it’s Ruud or Black or Hayes or McKenzie or Foster or whomever).

Thing about run stop is that when you can stop the run at the point of attack, it leaves your second level to play coverage or “read” defense. Play action isn’t as successful because the coverage guys are less likely to “jump” up in run support. And when teams abandon the run, it’s extremely easy to play coverage when you only have to rush 4 knowing those 4 can stop the run if they should happen to attempt it. That also improves sack numbers when there is nobody open to throw to.

by Bruce McRae on May 8, 2011 12:08 PM EDT reply actions