Drive analysis against the Carolina Panthers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were handed yet another loss by the Carolina Panthers, again, for the twelfth loss of the season. Although the game score seemed like a defensive game by a 19 - 17 totals, it was much uglier than you think it would seem. Well, the offense was already on display for the ugliness award, but we will trudge onward!

Defense

The Bucs defense limited the Cam Newton-less Panthers to only 19 points.  It could have been less if the offense did not turn the ball over at their own four yard line. Now, let us look at what the defense did.

"Bend, but don't break," strategy held in place because the defense gave up 373 yards and only 19 points. Last week, the Bucs' defense gave up 407 yards, but 34 points to Detroit. We fans should be alarmed that the Bucs' defense is giving up so many yards and long drives. Out of the 10 drives that are actual drives, Carolina had seven scoring chances. On Drive 7, that fumble occurred at the Tampa Bay 3 yard line.

Even though the team allowed only 19 points, against a better opponent the score would be significantly more. I imagine that if Cam Newton were the quarterback yesterday, then Carolina would have put up more points.

Seven out of the possible 10 drives (drives 6 and 12 do not count as they ended the half and game) by Carolina's offense were scoring chances. The defense has taken a step back from a standard it set after the bye week. You can identify this in the following chart that denotes all the games played.

The past two games the Bucs' defense has taken a step back. I guess quarterback Josh McCown was not the only player feeling the effects of being thrown around like a rag doll. Trending this way and seeing Green Bay coming in this week, I am already beginning to see flashbacks of the Detroit game. I may have to title the next article in the series "Driving to Déjà vu".

Offense

It is difficult to describe the offense. In the first half, the offense had the lead at 10 - 9. Then the offense went away. I believe the chart below can best describe the dissatisfaction that we all witnessed.

In the possible 10 drives (I did not count the last drive for obvious reasons), the Bucs' offense was able to get into scoring positions only three times. Three out of 10 possible scoring chances were all the Bucs' offense could muster. Compare that to the Panther's offense where it had seven out of a possible 10 scoring chances. Did I forget to mention that Carolina did not have Cam Newton behind center?

Welcome back Doug Martin.  It is much easier to run up through the gut with a FB and a pulling offensive lineman.  Trying to run this sideway scheme to either sneak through a block or cut back is difficult to run in when the opposing defense runs just as fast or when your offensive line is not capable to run this scheme.

This offense looks as though they are a feast or famine type game today. More famine than feast.

Conclusion

The very first drive in the second half was simply foreshadowing for the rest of the game for the Bucs. McCown fumbled the ball and Carolina recovered the ball at the Tampa Bay 4 yard line. Carolina would then score its only touchdown for the game.  Even though the defense limited the Panthers' offense to 19 points, it was a scary proposition to watch the Panthers' offense easily stroll through our defense in the first half and nearly did it again in the second half.

I would not recommend watching the game against the Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers at its helm, but we are Buc fans. The battle of the bay is set and our defense is trending similar to that of a turnstile. This Sunday will not be pretty for Tampa.