The Pewter Plank
FanSided

Buccaneers Roundtable, Week 2 : How do the Bucs stop Tarik Cohen?

By David Harrison

CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 10: Tarik Cohen #29 of the Chicago Bears carries the football ahead of Duke Riley #42 of the Atlanta Falcons in the second quarter at Soldier Field on September 10, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 10: Tarik Cohen #29 of the Chicago Bears carries the football ahead of Duke Riley #42 of the Atlanta Falcons in the second quarter at Soldier Field on September 10, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 10
Next
ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 11: Team Owner Arthur Blank of the Atlanta Falcons and Mike Smith, defensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers converse during pregame warmups at Georgia Dome on September 11, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 11: Team Owner Arthur Blank of the Atlanta Falcons and Mike Smith, defensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers converse during pregame warmups at Georgia Dome on September 11, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Bailey Adams

Focus the game plan on him.

It sounds like a simple idea, but that’s what the Buccaneers will have to do. The Bears gave the Falcons a scare in week one, doing so largely because of Tarik Cohen.

Jordan Howard rushed for 52 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, but apart from him, Cohen led the way. The rookie ran for a team-high 66 yards on five carries and caught a team-high eight passes for, again, a team-high 47 yards and a score.

His versatility was key all day, and Tampa Bay needs to crack down on that in order to stop the Chicago offense.

Must Read: Ronde's Case for the Hall

The Bucs should key in on Cohen and let someone else beat them.

As serviceable as Mike Glennon was as a backup in Tampa, he isn’t a superstar. Plus, his receiving corps is fairly miserable, especially with the loss of Kevin White.

If the Bucs can take away the versatile Cohen, they will love their chances.

After Cohen (and certainly Howard), the secondary should be able to lock down what’s left of a depleted group of receivers and the defensive line should get after Glennon.

If Tampa Bay successfully eliminates the rookie from Chicago’s offensive attack, this game should be in hand.

Home/Bucs News