Buccaneers by the numbers through 8 weeks

So far the defensive side of the ball reminds me of a French cliché, "Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose" – the more things change, the more they remain the same. In 2012, our defensive points allowed was 24.6 which includes six games without a starting cornerback of note. After seven games in the 2013 NFL season, the points allowed is at 23.28 (or 23.3) points.  Last week, our points allowed was at 22.0. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have spent $137.25 million on contracts to upgrade our secondary with safety Dashon Goldson and cornerback Darrelle Revis.

After seven games in 2012, the defense had collected 11 total sacks.  This season after seven games, the 2013 defense has collected 17 sacks.  This is an improvement of six more sacks, but there exists a caveat at the expense of personnel not on the defensive line.  Here is a chart that compares the two seasons.  I want you to focus on the production rate as opposed to the total numbers, because I am utilizing all 16 games in 2012.

Please note that 2013 only covers seven games, but it is the production sack rate that I am stressing for you to inspect.  We have a 36% drop off sack rate from the defensive line.  The defensive line accounts for less than half the sack production.  Which means the defense is pulling more resources outside of its defensive line to pressure and/or sack the opposing quarterback.

Losing DE/DT Michael Bennett was a terrible mistake as the gamble that Adrian Clayborn, AC, would have similar production.  Hindsight is easier to evaluate decisions, but it is apparent the Bucs are lacking a competent pass rush that was labeled inadequate last year as they were ranked 29^th overall in 2012.

The gamble for replacing QB Josh Freeman with rookie Mike Glennon does give the team a better chance at winning, but unfortunately, the Bucs find themselves winless after four games with Glennon at the helm.  The question that has come up often is can the Buccaneers do better than Glennon because Glennon has been deemed not a franchise QB by many.  In the 2013 NFL draft, two other quarterbacks were drafted before Glennon:  EJ Manuel in the middle of the first round and Geno Smith in the top of the second round.  Geno and the Jets are 4 – 3 as of Saturday, October 26, 2013.  EJ and the Bills are 2 – 3 with Manuel at the helm.  Let us look at some projections that ESPN.com has collected upon these three gunslingers.  (I took the liberty to do other projections because ESPN projections are based upon 7 games worth despite playing fewer games on behalf of Manuel and Glennon.)

Geno Smith

EJ Manuel

Mike Glennon

With these numbers presented for all three rookie quarterbacks and with the notion that the Bucs are in dire need of a franchise quarterback, then does this mean the Jets and Bills are also in the fold for a franchise quarterback along with the Jaguars?  And how in the hell did the Jets and Bills get those wins?