Buccaneers Extra Points: A Review of 2017 So Far

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TAMPA, FL – SEPTEMBER 17: Outside linebacker Lavonte David #54 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers recovers a fumble by quarterback Mike Glennon #8 of the Chicago Bears during the second quarter of an NFL football game on September 17, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /

SIMILAR THINGS IN BOTH GAMES

BASICALLY ZERO PASS RUSH FOR THE BUCCANEERS

One of the concerns I brought up in a previous PewterPlank article is the Buccaneers inability to get a pass rush going during the preseason, and I wondered how it would carry into the regular season.

Well so far my fears are correct in that the Buccaneers have failed to get any pressure on the two quarterbacks other than a strip sack on Mike Glennon by Noah Spence.

Giving Glennon and Keenum plenty of time to stand in the pocket and find the open receivers completing 69% and 76% of their passes, or 73% collectively, and both of them throwing for over 300-yards passing for a total of 670-yards passing.

If the Bears had any receivers Glennon might have had even better numbers like Keenum did with Stephon Diggs who had over 100-yards and Adam Theilen who was close to 100-yards receiving.

Granted, the lack of pass rush isn’t the only thing that makes opposing quarterbacks look great, but also the poor play of the secondary has helped the last two quarterbacks look great.

Second year corner Vernon Hargreaves is still getting picked on heavily the first two games and is giving up a lot of catches and yards the first two games.

Vernon Hargreaves is getting attacked again this year. 73 routes, 20 targ, 15 rec, 185 yds. Rks 62nd in routes, but 4th in FF pts allowed
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) September 26, 2017

Also, with Brent Grimes missing the game against the Vikings that left Hargreaves and promising cornerback Ryan Smith to try to cover Diggs and Theilen with little success.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 24: Stefon Diggs #14 of the Minnesota Vikings catches the ball for a touchdown over defender Vernon Hargreaves #28 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second quarter of the game on September 24, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

DEFENSE ON THIRD DOWN

Last season the Buccaneers had the top defense on third down in the NFL, allowing opposing teams to convert on 34.36% of third downs. This season it’s a whole different story allowing the Bears to convert on 50% and the Vikings on 54% of their third down attempts for a total of 51.85% or current 30th in the NFL.

Due to the Buccaneers defense not being able to get off the field on third down even though they have only played two games they have the third worst defense in average yards per game allowed (402), and have given up the second most average passing yards per game (329.5) also giving up the seventh highest passer rating at 104.1.

Last season the Buccaneers defense only gave up 250.8 passing yards per game and a quarterback rating of 88.0, and a total of 367.9 yards per game which made them the eleventh best pass defense in the NFL.

I am not sure why the team is choosing to play Chris Conte more at safety then Keith Tandy who towards the end of last season was clearly the best safety on the team and played 100% of the defensive snaps four of the teams last five games.

Conte is playing strong safety while Tandy is playing free safety but Tandy can play both spot on the defense and should be starting over Conte in my opinion.

In doing so that may help the Buccaneers third down conversion defensive percentage go down since while Conte started for the Buccaneers last season their third down conversion was 34%, and while Tandy started the third down conversion was 36%. Tandy also had 45 tackles and four interceptions in those five games while Conte had 64 tackles the eleven games he started.

Tandy should be starting and Conte should be the one splitting time with T.J. Ward and that would most likely improve the Buccaneers third down conversion and their defense as a whole.

Next: Buccaneers Round Table: Which Team is the Real Buccaneers?

Well those are my “Points After Touchdown” that were the difference between a week two win against the Bears and a week three loss against the Vikings, and some of the patterns that I am seeing for the Buccaneers after the first two weeks. Those patterns must be improved if the Buccaneers want to be that playoff team that every player and fan is expected them to become this season.

It all starts with this weeks home game against the 0-3 New York Giants and if the Buccaneers don’t fix these issues and patterns this could be a trap game as the Giants will be desperate for a win and will go all out to get that victory.

So what do you think StickCarriers are those the main difference that you saw in the Buccaneers first two games of the season and can they be adjusted as early as this weekend to beat the Giants?, and will the Buccaneers be able to get over some key players out this week such as Lavonte David and Kwon Alexander? and what could the Buccaneers due to change some of those patterns that I have seen, and do you see any patterns yourself that I have missed?

Feel free to leave me your comments on the site or to me directly on Twitter at @ND1Bucsfan, and thanks for the read and remember to make Raymond James Stadium a fear place for the Giants this Sunday. GO BUCS!!!

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