Expect more sacks in 2011 as ‘Marinelli’ like coaching returns

Since Raheem Morris took over, and actually before that too, the Bucs have suffered from a lack of sacks. That is going to change this season, and we have the new Defensive Line coaches to thank for it. 

Even though there is a work stoppage, only the NFL coaches are not allowed to contact players. Media, thats another story! Scott Reynolds of Pewter Report has interviewed some Defensive linemen who state new coaches Keith Millard and Grady Stretz  are doing things different this year; and thats a good sign for Bucs fans.

The Bucs havn’t had a dominant D Line coach since former Bucs D Line coach Rod Marinelli left to coach the Lions. By dominant, I mean a coach who has his linemen penetrate, as opposed to “read and react” like the line has done lately. Thats because Todd Wash, the last Bucs D line coach, was brought on during the Jim Bates experiment. Bates was the Bucs choice for defensive coordinator when they went with Raheem Morris as Head Coach. Once Morris ended Bates’ reign, he installed himself as D-coordinator, but kept Wash. Not one player has thrown Wash under the bus nor held him responsible. Its just that the Bucs D linemen have been drafted in Tampa Bay for over a decade now as penetrating linemen. They shoot the gap and cause havoc in the backfield.

Last year around midseason, still without sacks, Gerald McCoy was upset about his uncertainty about what to do while playing, resulting in lack of stats you’d expect from someone like McCoy. Gerald plays the 3 technique like Warren Sapp, who exploded into the backfield. Back in the late 90’s early 2000’s, half the time the running game of opposing teams would be stopped by the Bucs DLine on the way to the quarterback.

 That was Rod Marinelli’s way of coaching, and the Bucs new D line coaches are bringing that back, well at least half of them are. The Bucs will have two D-line coaches, one (Millard) will coach the pass rushing, so expect more sacks from the Bucs in 2011.

 Not only are the Bucs starting Defensive Tackles geared for that kind of rushing the QB, so are their backups. DT Tim Crowder was a stud at Texas bull rushing the QB. Crowder worked with Millard in Oakland, and though he is a free agent, feels he wil be back because of that.