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Early on in Thursday night time’s 27-22 loss to the Ravens, the Bucs contained Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson awfully nicely. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman seemed to show an undermanned secondary all through the primary half, and each the again half of Tampa Bay’s protection and its go rush held up and annoyed the guests. By way of half-hour, the Ravens had simply three factors.
Then, within the second half, the wheels fell off. However why? Maybe the Bucs’ offense lack of ability to maintain drives mixed with Baltimore’s dashing assault wore everybody down. Head coach Todd Bowles wasn’t focused on utilizing that as an excuse after the sport, although.
“It doesn’t matter,” Bowles mentioned. “You attempt to win ball video games. Protection, offense, whoever must be on the market to attempt to get off the sphere or win the ball sport must be on the market. We prepare for this. That’s what we’re purported to be doing, in order that’s not an excuse for us.”
Bucs ILB Devin White and Ravens RB Gus Edwards – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
So, what was the issue within the second half? Linebacker Devin White had one of his worst games within the NFL, which definitely didn’t assist. The opposite evident drawback got here extra because of who wasn’t on the sphere. Tampa Bay’s secondary was banged-up, lacking nickel cornerback/security Antoine Winfield Jr. (concussion), Carlton Davis (hip) and Logan Ryan (foot). And for a lot of the second half, the protection was with out Shaquil Barrett (Achilles) as nicely. Previous to exiting with what has been confirmed to be a season-ending injury, he had a sack and two tackles for loss.
Taking a fast take a look at Professional Soccer Focus’ run protection grades for every of these gamers exhibits fairly clearly what the Bucs have been lacking because the Ravens ran for 231 yards on 33 rush makes an attempt (7.0 avg.). Winfield’s run protection grade of 90.1 leads Tampa Bay’s protection for the yr. Ryan’s 89.1 grade has him No. 2 on the staff. Davis’ 66.2 grade continues to be within the above-average vary. For the season, Barrett had a 77.5 run protection grade. So, it’s secure to say the Bucs have been with out fairly a number of of their high run defenders.
All of it will get even worse whenever you take a look at the grades from Thursday night time’s sport. Keanu Neal graded out the worst in opposition to the run, ending with a 33.1. White’s 34.2 grade was matched by Mike Edwards, who additionally had a 34.2. Rookie Zyon McCollum graded out with a 37.9, whereas Carl Nassib completed with a 38.5. Dee Delaney was one of the best of the backups in opposition to the run, but he solely graded out with a forty five.5.
When you assume PFF’s grades for these guys have been unhealthy, the tape actually tells the complete story. They don’t deserve alllll the blame, but it surely was an particularly tough sport for Bucs safeties Keanu Neal and Mike Edwards.
Bucs Had Simply About Each Drawback You Can Have Whereas Enjoying The Run
The tape from Thursday night time’s sport has all of it. Guys out of place, guys eaten up and unable to wiggle free from blocks and definitely some missed tackles.
Missed Alternatives For Tampa Bay As Neal Offers With A Case Of The Whiffs
PFF credited Keanu Neal with three missed tackles and a missed deal with charge of 30%. Right here’s a nasty one which led to a 12-yard run by Gus Edwards. Neal comes flying in from the highest of the display.
As Jackson fingers off to Edwards, it’s truly Nassib who will get to the ball provider first. He whiffs, then Neal comes flying in and may’t carry Edwards down both. The Baltimore operating again shakes free and will get a primary down. The drive in the end resulted in a punt anyway, however as an alternative of the Tampa Bay protection having the ability to reap the benefits of the Ravens being pinned deep by Jake Camarda’s punt, it was the Ravens who have been capable of flip the sphere.
Let’s keep on Neal (left aspect of the display) for this subsequent clip. It’s one other easy instance the place the protection steps up and places himself in an excellent place to make a play on Edwards, however he simply can’t carry him down.
Neal actually does a terrific job of studying the play and strikes nicely to get to Edwards. What occurs, although? He might over pursue only a tad, which retains him from actually squaring up for the deal with. However he’s in a adequate spot to make the play. These are those you need to end. And the worst half is, Neal’s energy at this stage in his profession is meant to be stopping the run! This was a tough one for the veteran.
Bucs’ Edwards Was The Worst Edwards On The Discipline On Thursday Evening
No gimmick infringement supposed right here (sorry anyway, Mr. Goldberg), however who’s subsequent? Let’s check out Mike Edwards, who had a woeful sport in opposition to the run. Baltimore’s Gus Edwards had the significantly better of the night time between the 2 Edwardses, as Tampa Bay’s security discovered himself being indecisive and out of place too typically.
On the entire, the Bucs didn’t do a horrible job of containing Jackson as a runner. However he did break away for a 25-yard run early within the second half as Baltimore drove down and tied the sport at 10. And whereas Edwards was removed from the one one who contributed to this play, he badly overruns Jackson and permits the run to go for 10-12 extra yards than it most likely ought to have.
Clearly, Edwards isn’t the one answerable for permitting this run to get to the second stage. Have a look at the highest of the display. He’s taking part in deep and off the snap, he almost drifts off-screen. However Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, regardless of having Jackson within the backfield, can’t make the play. He finally ends up on the bottom. Jackson then runs by a diving Vita Vea, who additionally finally ends up on the bottom. It’s then that Edwards is the subsequent man as much as make the play after his preliminary drop. However he over pursues, making it simple for the Baltimore quarterback to side-step him and maintain operating.
Watch from the opposite view, which sees Edwards run up from the underside of the display making an attempt to make the play:
Edwards, like Neal on the beforehand coated performs, truly does fairly nicely to get himself ready to make the deal with. However he overruns the play simply sufficient to value himself the cease.
It received worse for him, although. The Ravens ran some well-designed end-arounds that caught the Bucs out to dry a few occasions. A type of occasions noticed Edwards hesitate for a split-second, which leaves him ready to be run into the bottom by Devin White, who’s being blocked into him. Watch him right here, the place he begins on the left aspect of the display earlier than following the movement over.
Let’s get the opposite view of this play. Watch as Edwards (backside of the display, No. 32) reads the play nicely off the movement. He sees what’s coming and runs with Devin Duvernay, who turns into the ball provider. However what occurs subsequent is what prices the Bucs an opportunity at a possible cease.
Edwards stops and anticipates a cut-back inside. The issue, although, is two-fold. One, he has Lavonte David there to make the play if Duvernay does reduce. So, maintain going exterior to include there and let David make the play if it involves him, proper? Solely Edwards hesitates and tries to remain in play for the cut-back, which ends up in drawback No. 2. That hesitation happens behind White, who can’t get off his block. The linebacker is pushed into Edwards, making for an unpleasant rep for the protection regardless of his recognition of the play.
The Issues Come Collectively For The Bucs
Now, whenever you hand over as many huge runs because the Bucs did on Thursday night time, it’s by no means going to only be one or two guys. Neal and Edwards definitely weren’t at fault for every thing, as White performed his function as nicely. Tryon-Shoyinka and Nassib additionally missed alternatives. However when these huge runs occur and guys get to the second stage, it’s on gamers like Neal and Edwards to step up and make performs. They persistently failed to do this in opposition to the Ravens.
On this play, Edwards (proper aspect of the display, high of the formation) takes a nasty angle to the ball and as soon as once more will get caught up in White’s block. Neal, taking part in off the road of scrimmage within the slot, struggles to get off his block down the sphere, however ultimately does to make the deal with with McCollum (backside of the display), who didn’t get off his block till after the play was previous him. It’s simply unhealthy all-around.
Duvernay’s fourth-quarter landing run was one other instance of every thing simply falling aside for this protection. Now, at this level, the unit had been on the sphere for many of the night time. However that is nonetheless unhealthy.
Pat O’Connor rapidly penetrates the backfield, however Duvernay is already exterior of him. White is blocked, with Jamel Dean getting caught up in that block as nicely. Edwards heads exterior, however as a result of Dean will get caught up, there’s nobody within the inside lane that Duvernay takes. Edwards can’t get again over and Neal by no means actually will get there both. It’s a straightforward landing run that helped Baltimore put the sport away.
All proper, one final breakdown and we’ll depart this alone. The place the Ravens actually kill the sport is on their closing possession. After the Bucs lower the deficit to 24-16, the protection comes again out and instantly provides up a 40-yard run to Kenyan Drake.
O’Connor is taken out of the play. McCollum is taken out of the play. White is blocked downfield. Edwards will get caught inside, so Drake bounces to the surface and from there, Edwards is the one one who can get to him. He does nicely to get there, but it surely’s 40 yards down the sphere. Not lengthy after, Justin Tucker kicked a discipline aim to make it a two-possession sport with simply over two minutes to go.
Now, To Wrap Up… (One thing The Bucs Couldn’t Do)
Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
There have been so many points with the best way the Bucs performed the run on Thursday night time. It’s a disgrace, too, as a result of that undermanned secondary held its personal within the first half and put the staff in a strong place heading into halftime. However Tampa Bay’s offense couldn’t maintain something and as soon as Baltimore went to the bottom, it was over.
Edwards, lengthy generally known as a ball-hawking security, had truly been a strong run defender early on within the season. However this was an terrible night time for him. Neal, compelled into extra motion because of the accidents to Winfield and Ryan, wasn’t any higher. The Bucs’ linebackers weren’t any assist, and when there are that many points, two backup corners in McCollum and Delaney aren’t going to miraculously save the day.
Any such efficiency has to make Todd Bowles sick. His protection relies on stopping the run, and that group has been uncharacteristically terrible in opposition to it for many of this season. Now, you need to surprise if a number of the adjustments which have been made are coming again to chew Tampa Bay. Two key figures from a Bucs run protection that was beforehand close to the highest of the league are gone, because the staff mentioned goodbye to Ndamukong Suh and Jordan Whitehead within the offseason. Bowles can be working with extra underneath fronts and fewer two-gapping, so there may be one thing to the concept schematic adjustments have impacted the unit’s dip.
No matter it’s, there is probably not a fast repair right here. However getting guys like Winfield and Ryan again can solely assist going ahead, particularly if Neal and Edwards are delivering performances like this.
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