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Buccaneers: “Extra Points”: A Week 7 to week 8 Review

By Jerry Stalheim

TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 29: Jameis Winston of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fumbles the ball after being sacked by Julius Peppers #90 of the Carolina Panthers in the second quarter of a game at Raymond James Stadium on October 29, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 29: Jameis Winston of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fumbles the ball after being sacked by Julius Peppers #90 of the Carolina Panthers in the second quarter of a game at Raymond James Stadium on October 29, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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TREND: NOT PREVENTING THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS

UNABLE TO GET OFF THE FIELD OF DEFENSE

Last season the Buccaneers defense was lights out on third down attempts as they lead the league on getting off the field on third down allowing teams to convert on only 34.36% of third down attempts. Allowing just 31.73% of third down at home and 37.36% on the road.

The 2016 percentage was a huge improvement from the 2015 season where the defense allowed teams to convert on 45.97% of their third down attempts.

Now on to the 2017 where it is a total opposite from the 2016 season where the team has gone from first in defensive third down percentage to … worst in defensive third down percentage allowing teams to convert on 48.98% of their attempts. Including an unbelievable 55.26% on the road and 52.38% in the last three games (Panthers, Bills, and Cardinals).

The Buccaneers better improve greatly in this category because the remaining teams on the schedule are averaging converting on 38.97% of their third down attempts which would rank fourteenth in the NFL, so if the Buccaneers want to continue their dream of being a playoff team this season they need to lower their third down percentage to the top ten range of 30-35% which is a tall order to ask but it has to be done.

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