First Quarter Grades for the Buccaneers
Secondary: D
This group…
This is, somehow, only the 15th ranked pass defense in the NFL, allowing 258.5 passing yards per game. Chris Conte is a joke of a starting football player, Alterraun Verner has been relegated to the bench again, Bradley McDougald and Keith Tandy still find covering receivers an impossible task, and Brent Grimes has been a massive disappointment.
The only thing exciting about this secondary is the consistent growth we’ve seen out of Vernon Hargreaves III, who seems to be the only one who can cover or tackle. Despite Grimes ability to break up passes here and there, he also finds ways to slip and fall constantly, leading to big plays or he gets worked in the red zone by opposing receivers and gives up a touchdown.
This defense hasn’t put together a complete game yet and yes, some of the secondary’s problems are caused by the defensive line not getting pressure on the quarterback. But let’s not let them off the hook completely. They’ve had plenty of opportunities to make plays and blown it.
This Bucs’ offense may have the most potential we’ve seen in the history of this franchise, but they aren’t built to win shootout after shootout because the secondary gives up five touchdowns a game. They have to be better. Period.