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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) /
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TAMPA, FL – DECEMBER 11: Gerald McCoy #93 and William Gholston #92 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers talk on the sideline in the first quarter of the game against the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium on December 11, 2016 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – DECEMBER 11: Gerald McCoy #93 and William Gholston #92 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers talk on the sideline in the first quarter of the game against the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium on December 11, 2016 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

David Harrison

The Buccaneers are going to be predicted as the winner in this one by most experts and fans alike.

Even Bears fans will have to admit they aren’t exactly confident going into this match-up on the road.

Still though, Chicago kept it tight against the Falcons in Week 1, and Tarik Cohen was a big part of that. He turned 13 touches into over 100-yards of offense and a score.

He’s not all that established as an NFL running back, but the kid has skills. Pairing him with Jordan Howard forces the Bucs’ defense to do twice the homework they normally have to, as they’ll need to stop both backs.

I’m fairly confident my fellow writers here on the site are going to lean heavily on the linebackers, and they’re not wrong. I’m going to go a different way for my focus though.

I believe the key to stopping him on the ground, is setting the edge all day long. Defensive ends are going to be the key.

Guys like Robert Ayers, William Gholston, Noah Spence and Jacquies Smith. If they can keep Cohen inside the tackles, then players like Gerald McCoy and Chris Baker should have no issue taking down the 5’6” rookie.

Cohen isn’t much of a truck threat, he’s an open field terror though. Getting him into the interior gaps will help limit his impact out of the backfield.

Now, for the passing game, this is where linebackers are going to be the biggest help. However, even here, the edge defenders can help out.

Any defensive lineman has been coached to get their hands up if the quarterback is throwing the ball before they can reach them. If the edge defenders do this Sunday against Mike Glennon, then it’ll help prevent swing passes getting to Cohen before the linebackers or safeties can collapse down on him.

Best case scenario, we get a tip-drill interception from one of the front-line guys. Worst case is Glennon has to hesitate just a hair, and either Lavonte David, Kwon Alexander or Kendall Beckwith gets a second longer to close down on him.

Of course, Cohen isn’t the only Bears player the team has to account for, but if the edge rushers play smart and get to their spots, then the rookie should get less room to operate than he did against Atlanta just last week.

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