Buccaneers: Five Reasons for Concern Heading Into 2017

4 of 6

Jan 1, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Carolina Panthers wide receiver Corey Brown (10) runs with the ball as Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Brent Grimes (24) defends during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Carolina Panthers 17-16. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Pass Defense

Let me clear up some confusion. In the five reasons to be excited post, I highlighted Vernon Hargreaves as one of the five. This is true, as he is a player that showed a nose for the football, can make a tackle, and is only going to get better. Hargreaves posted good grades against the run in 2016.

However, against the pass, Hargreaves posted a Pro Football Focus grade of 50.1, which placed him as the 101st ranked cornerback in the sport. Brent Grimes had the best year out of the cornerbacks, posting an 89.9 against the pass. Nobody else was even close.

They had some flashes. Keith Tandy proved that he deserves a position as the starting safety. He made plays on the ball, and posted a pass defense grade of 80.9, ranking him 21st in the league in that category among safeties.

Overall, however, the numbers were not good. In 2015, the Bucs allowed 240 yards per game through the air. In 2016, it jumped to 250 yards per game. The completion percentage went down from the 70% of 2015, but it was still over 63%, which simply is not good enough.

This group has to stop the pass.

Home/Bucs News