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Buccaneers Round table: How the Bucs will beat Minnesota in 2017 Week 3

By David Harrison

TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 17: Defensive back Robert McClain #36 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs into the end zone followed by teammates cornerback Vernon Hargreaves #28 and defensive tackle Gerald McCoy #93 on his 47-yard interception for a touchdown during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on September 17, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 17: Defensive back Robert McClain #36 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs into the end zone followed by teammates cornerback Vernon Hargreaves #28 and defensive tackle Gerald McCoy #93 on his 47-yard interception for a touchdown during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears on September 17, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 17: Case Keenum #7 of the Minnesota Vikings heads to the field with Sam Bradford #8 before the start of the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on September 17, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 17: Case Keenum #7 of the Minnesota Vikings heads to the field with Sam Bradford #8 before the start of the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on September 17, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Jerry Stalheim

If the Buccaneers Win in Minnesota, it’ll be because …..

Case Keenum started at quarterback ha-ha, no but serious, with Sam Bradford not playing in week two, the Vikings were a whole different offense than they were in week one.

Now, granted the Vikings played against a much better defense in week two in the Steelers than they did in week one against the awful Saints defense.

But they were obviously a much different offense with career back up Case Keenum at starter, with the offense only gaining 237-total yards, and only mustered one touchdown while converting 5 of 15 (33%) third downs including 0 for 3 on fourth down.

Keenum had an awful 20 completions on 37 attempts (54%) for a mere 167-yards and zero touchdowns.

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Dalvin Cook was a much different player in week two as well gaining only 64-yards on twelve carries but still with a 5.3 yard/carry average. Playing from behind the entire game, the Vikings had to abandon the run fairly quickly, only rushing a total of twenty times for 91-yards and one touchdown.

As mentioned above, the Steelers also have a much better defense than the Saints averaging just 237 total offensive yards per game (3rd), giving up 13.5 points per game (6th), while giving up a quarterback completion percentage of 58.8%, and 3.3 yards/carry rushing.

While the Saints defense, when Bradford looked like a Hall of Famer and Cook looked like rookie of the year, are averaging 512.5 offensive yard per game (last), 32.5 points per game (last), and giving up a quarterback completion percentage of 80.3%, and 4.1 yards/carry rushing.  Meanwhile, Dalvin Cook is averaging 5.7 yards/carry.

Now the Vikings are being very secretive of course about Bradford’s status but it is looking increasingly likely that he will play.

So, what do we know about Bradford and Vikings offensive play style?

He likes to throw short careful passes averaging just 6.5 yards/attempt (minus the anomaly game in week 1 versus the Saints where he averaged 10.8 yards/attempt) during his career with a career high of 7.0 yards/attempt just last season (with a 71.8 completion percentage).

While only throwing five interceptions last season out of 552 pass attempts (interception every 111 pass attempts), only Dak Prescott (115) and Tom Brady (216) had few interceptions.

With Bradford’s short passing game working in week one against the Saints, completing 27 passes for 346 yards and three touchdowns, it pushed the defense on their heels and allowed for Cook and the backs to have a great game.  The group totalled 28 attempts for 132-yards but no touchdowns with a 4.7 yard/carry average.

So back to the original: “If the Buccaneers win in Minnesota, it’ll be because…?” First of all “WHEN” the Buccaneers win …..

With Bradford now playing, the thing that the Buccaneers defense has to do to win is to not let him get comfortable and in a groove like he did against the Saints (completed 18 of 21 passes for 2 touchdowns in the first half). Getting pressure on him and rattling him a bit is the first thing the Buccaneers defense needs to do.

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Second, the defense needs to capitalize on the rare miscues by Bradford or make a great defensive play to create miscues.  Since he lives off of the short passes, it might have to be the linebackers who catch the miscues and we all know they can do that.

Third, the Buccaneers offense needs to capitalize and score touchdowns in the red zone.  An issue that I brought up in a previous article as an area of concern, and in their game against the Bears they went 2 for 5 (40%) in the red zone and settled for 3 field goals.

The Bucs can’t  do that against a Vikings teams with a much better defense than the Bears.

Finally, WHEN the Buccaneers win in Minnesota it will be because Jameis Winston did not make any costly mistakes that hurt his team.

No interceptions in the red zone and definitely no pick-sixes against Xavier Rhodes and Harrison Smith, and no strip sacks by Everson Griffin and Anthony Barr. So, as part of that, the offensive line has to keep those players off of him as well.

Those are my reason as to why the Buccaneers WILL win this weekend in Minnesota against the Vikings at US Bank Stadium, and thank for reading and hope you enjoy.  Make some noise in Minnesota #StickCarriers.

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