Buccaneers game grades: 2017 Week 2 win over Chicago Bears
DEFENSIVE LINE
Adding Chris Baker to the Buccaneers defensive line was an exciting move. Like many others, my thoughts were he’d free up his teammates more than anything as opposing linemen focused on the duo of Baker and Gerald McCoy.
Looking at the team’s first action of the season, it appears those thoughts were correct.
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Not only did the Bears find just about nothing to work with up the middle, but edge defenders were free all day long and able to move with the action as they stifled Chicago’s running attack.
At the end of the game, Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen combined for just 20-yards of rushing on 16 carries.
In fact, when considering Cohen’s longest carry of the day went for 9-yards, the rookie collected just four yards on his other six carries.
We talked about ways the Bucs defense could contain Cohen in this week’s Pewter Plank roundtable, and it appears the Tampa brain trust was on the same page.
One of two sacks on Bears quarterback Mike Glennon came courtesy of sophomore defensive end Noah Spence. By getting in on his former teammate, Spence forced a fumble in the second quarter which was promptly recovered by linebacker Lavonte David.
Sack forced fumble by @nspence94 with @LavonteDavid54 recovering it. Spence already reaping the benefits of a tremendous offseason.
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) September 17, 2017
Stuffing the run game, and putting pressure on Glennon consistently throughout the Week 2 match-up earn this group high marks.
William Gholston led the group on the day with five total tackles.