Pass Defense Killed The Bucs Example No. 3,285

The article argues that forcing punts via three-and-out defensive stands is a critical defensive strategy, as it acts as a turnover and preserves the defense by limiting snaps. However, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were terrible at this in 2024, ranking 28th in the NFL (fifth-worst) by forcing three-and-outs only 28% of the time.

This failure is attributed primarily to the team's poor pass defense. The author expresses disbelief that since head coach Todd Bowles arrived in 2019, his pass defense has ranked in the 20s (specifically 29th the last two years) five out of six times, despite Bowles' defensive background and Super Bowl success. The author calls for Bowles to make necessary changes to fix this persistent weakness.

The article questions whether the problem is Bowles' defensive adjustments or the organization's personnel decisions. It points out that the Bucs have prioritized rebuilding the offense and defensive line for years, neglecting safety, inside linebacker (ILB), and backup cornerback positions. Even after drafting a defensive back in the first round this year, ILBs were still ignored.

The author criticizes the decision to start safety Jordan Whitehead in 2024, citing his generally low performance value historically, including his best recent years being with the Jets. It suggests the team unrealistically hoped star safety Antoine Winfield Jr. ("Clark Kent Winfield") could compensate, but he played injured all year.

Furthermore, the article highlights concerns about the coverage abilities of the linebackers expected to protect the middle of the field in 2024, noting that Lavonte David and Anthony Walker ranked in the bottom tier for coverage among linebackers with at least 350 snaps.