Where are the Bucs? Half way grades pt II

Earlier Today we covered the Defense and Offense…lets recap the defense with stats…

We’re one game away from the halfway point in the Bucs regular season, and so far at least, the Bucs strategy is starting to take form. The Bucs spent the first two picks of the 2010 NFL Draft on defensive tackles Gerald McCoy and Brian Price. McCoy played all of last year until his week 11 injury that cost him his season. Brian Price only got into a couple games last year as he had a freak injury, but he is pack this year and should finish up the year with McCoy who is due back after a 3-week injury hiatus himself.

This year, the Bucs spent their top two picks on defensive ends, and that is paying dividends almost immediately.  2^nd round pick Da’Quan Bowers is coming along nicely, but top selection Adrian Clayborn is leading the team with 3 sacks. That ranks him 28^th, but last season, no one from the Bucs even made the first page. The top sack man in 2010 was Stylez G White and all Clayborn needs only 1.5 sacks the rest of the way to even that mark. Clayborn has actually come on fire lately, and he could easily break LeeRoy Selmons rookie record of 5 QB Takedowns set back in 1976. Warren Sapp had 3 as a defensive tackle though.

But football is a team sport, and stats are for losers right? Well our Bucs have improved in D-line play as a team too. Statistically, the Bucs are ranked 28^th in total yards against, 26th against the Pass and 22^nd against the Run. Out of 32 teams, they are 23^rd in Sacks. In the running game, they are 18^th in allowing 4.5 yards per play. In 2010 the Bucs were 28^th against the run, giving up 132 yards per game. So far this year it’s 123rd, 9 yards less per game.  But instead of being 23^rd in sacks, they were 31^st out of 32 teams. Only Denver was worse.

Not only that, but The Bucs have had 3 of their 7 games this season holding the opposing offense to under 100 yards combined rushing. In 2010, the Bucs only got 4 games all year that they didn’t give up over 100 yards rushing. Clearly the defensive line is making a difference.

Middle linebacker is also an improvement this year and responsible for the Bucs slight but still apparent move up the charts. It may not be earth shattering, but the dominant Bucs defense of old wasn’t built in one year either. 1999 was the year the Bucs defense became a thing of beauty, so in its second season, were seeing the fruits of that turnaround now.