The Bucs Defense is About to Get More Aggressive
2 min read
Look for the Buccaneers defense to be in “attack mode” under the leadership of Todd Bowles. The Bucs are going to use a 3-4 hybrid style defense that will be more focused on pass rushing; something our new DC loves for his defenses to do.
In an article written by ESPN’s Staff Writer Jenna Laine titled Bucs’ Defense Shifts into ‘Attack’ Mode under Todd Bowles, Laine writes,
“From 2015 to 2018, Bowles’ Jets blitzed 936 of 2,501 drop backs (37.4 percent), second-most in the league, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Those blitzes resulted in 125 quarterback hits and 26 interceptions, ranking third most and second most, respectively, of any team when blitzing.”
“When he was the defensive coordinator of the Cardinals from 2013 to 2014, Bowles’ defense blitzed 620 of 1,333 dropbacks (46.5 percent), which was the most in the NFL. Quarterbacks were contacted on 92 of those dropbacks and threw 17 interceptions, both numbers more than any other team in the league.”
Jenna Laine also gave us some perspective.
“From 2016 to 2018, the Bucs blitzed just 418 of 1,792 times (23.3 percent of dropbacks), so this will be quite a change. It also will mean the secondary will be much more vulnerable on the back end, but the gist of this scheme is ‘high risk, high reward.'”
I can’t wait to watch a more exciting, creative, and aggressive defense that will put more pressure on the quarterback, switch up blitzing and coverage packages that will confuse opposing quarterbacks. Hopefully, this will lead the Bucs defense to give up fewer points by creating more turnovers, resulting in more wins in the future.
I am intrigued by the potential on the defensive side of the ball going forward. I look for the defense to be much improved and finally to stop being consistently one of the worst defenses in the NFL.
GO BUCS!
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