mdb1958 wrote:MJW wrote:I'm sure this has been mentioned in this thread...but the 2017 Buccaneers defense is on pace to be the worst in franchise history.
Again, the worst in the 43 year history of our franchise. Including 1976, Leeman Bennett, the Raheem years, the Lovie years, etc.
The worst.
I said it earlier, our defense thinking they have finally mastered the Smith plan - but - it turns out others have known about it for 15 years...
Does any think they were playing his defense right, even if its an outdated defense I would think it should not of looked that bad.
Without checking, I'm pretty sure last years defense was pace after the TNF game vs Atlanta (which was the 8th game of the season iirc) to be the worst in franchise history regarding yards against.
This years squad has all the same cast of characters vice marginal role players like Akeem Spence, Daryl Smith, and Bradley McDougald, who we've replaced with the likes of Baker, Beckwith, Ward, Evans, and McClain.
We're getting NO edge rush. 1 sack in 5 games from our DE's is simply unacceptable. Ayers and Spence are invisible out there. VH3 hasn't shown near the aggressiveness he showed in the offseason and preseason after coaches telling him they want to see him be more aggressive this season. It's like VH3 was listening during the preseason when games didn't matter, but once the lights come on for the regular season he reverts back to playing soft/scared.
Mike Smith's defense is not outdated. Most NFL defenses are running similar concepts which include C-3 zone, quarters, and mixing in some m2m looks w/a single high safety. We blitz about at about the same rate as league average (slightly more iirc).
When I watch the Bucs play defense this season and compare them to what I'm seeing around the rest of the NFL I see a lack of effort/tenacity each and every play. The Bucs play like that sometimes and when they do we get stops and turnovers, but for whatever reason there have been far too many drives where the defense just playing with the same level of intensity and just going through the motions out there.