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Buccaneers Game Grades: 2017 Week 6 loss to Arizona Cardinals

By Philip Schwegler

GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 15: Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals runs with the football after a reception past cornerback Vernon Hargreaves #28 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 15, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 15: Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals runs with the football after a reception past cornerback Vernon Hargreaves #28 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 15, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 15: Gerald McCoy of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fights through a block by Alex Boone #75 of the Arizona Cardinals to sack Carson Palmer #3 during the fourth quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium on October 15, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 15: Gerald McCoy of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fights through a block by Alex Boone #75 of the Arizona Cardinals to sack Carson Palmer #3 during the fourth quarter at University of Phoenix Stadium on October 15, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

Quarterback pressure is something that the Buccaneers defensive line has been struggling with these past 5 games. Their biggest game was against New England in which they got a few sacks.

It’s not for lack of talent that these sacks and pressures aren’t showing up. Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy is predominately one of the best defensive tackles in the game. His get off speed from the time the ball is snapped to the time the o lone reacts is one of a kind.

Looking back at this past week’s game, you have to look at the success that Arizona got running ball. The Bucs defensive line was, at one point, the 6th best defense against the run. This week’s d line was not that same line.

The defense, as a while, allowed 160 rushing yards. This boils down to playing aggressively up front and playing your gaps.

The bright side would be the two sacks the Bucs generated. Clinton McDonald accounted for one as did McCoy. Late into the third quarter after McCoy got his sack, you could tell he was fed up with the way the game was going. He had such a mean look on his face. That’s the kind of aggressive play that should be infecting the defense as a whole.

There were a handful of plays that the defensive ends gave up also. Looking back at a play Peterson made on an inside handoff during the third quarter, the entire left side of the d line got beat by Peterson, who was pushed out of bounds after a 10 yard gain.

More pressure from the ends and up the middle of the d line has to be addressed going into Buffalo this week.

Grade: D

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