A simple stat underlies a major problem for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this season
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' defense has been going through it lately. The team has allowed 27 or more points every game since the Bucs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 33-16 back in September 29. The Bucs' passing game has been the primary culprit, with the secondary and ILB K.J. Britt taking a large bit of the […]
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' defense has been going through it lately. The team has allowed 27 or more points every game since the Bucs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 33-16 back in September 29.
The Bucs' passing game has been the primary culprit, with the secondary and ILB K.J. Britt taking a large bit of the blame. Kirk Cousins threw for 509 yards to set an Atlanta franchise record, while Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes looked every bit like the MVP candidates they are year in and year out.
The Bucs' pass rush, if you were to look at just sacks, doesn't appear to be a major problem with the defense. The Bucs have totaled 25 sacks this year, eighth most in the NFL.
However, it's how they've gotten them – more specifically where they've gotten them from – that's been indicative of a bigger issue. Per FOX Sports' Greg Auman, none of the Bucs' top four sack leaders are edge rushers.
Don't get me wrong. It's good to get pressure from the inside, and the Bucs have been pretty good at that. However, there's a reason why team's pay a premium to get guys who can change the game off the edge, and it's clear the Bucs don't have one on the roster right now.
2021 first-round pick Joe Tyron-Shoyinka's fifth-year option was previously declined by the team, which means he's set to become a free agent after this year. JTS has posted an underwhelming pressure rate of 9.2% with a 49.4 Pro Football Focus grade this season. This was to be a "prove it" year for him, and that proof, it appears, will never have surfaced during his four years in town.
Chris Braswell has upside, but he's still learning the game at the NFL level. Yaya Diaby had a very promising rookie season last year, but it's been a slower year for him – at least statistically – despite producing a solid pressure rate of 14.6% and PFF grade of 72.9 so far in 2024.
The Bucs need more from their edge rushers, but it appears at this point that this unit is what it's going to be for the rest of the season, with the Bucs having done nothing to improve it before the November 5 trade deadline.
We'll see if Todd Bowles and outside linebackers coach George Edwards can find a way to get more out of this group in the second half of the season.
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