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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: PRESSURE ON THE QUARTERBACK AND INTERCEPTIONS

NO PRESSURE ON THE QUARTERBACK LEADS TO NO INTERCEPTIONS

The Buccaneers as a team have an NFL worst seven sacks so far in seven games with Gerald McCoy and Clinton McDonald leading the team with two sacks each, and after Noah Spence went on IR they lost their best pure pass rusher even though he only had one strip/sack on the season way back in game one against the Bears.

The Buccaneers inability to rush the passes has led to most quarterbacks being able to carve up the secondary as they have given up the 30th worst yards passing per game (274.7 yards) and the 29th worst completion percentage per game (67.7), and also the lack of pass rush and the poor play in the secondary has allowed opposing quarterbacks plenty of time to find the open receiver and not make risky passes which is the reason that the Buccaneers have only intercepted five passes this season.

If the secondary was playing better the Buccaneers could get more creative in apply pressure to the quarterback but with the secondary allowing teams to complete so many passes a blitzer cannot be spared, but against the Panthers the secondary played much better in holding them to their lowest total yards this season, Cam’s lowest passing yards, and his second worst completion percentage on the season could allow the defense to play better and gain more confidence to send more blitzes.

With that in mind the quarterback pressures could improve causing opposing teams passing numbers to go down, and the sacks and interceptions to go up for the Buccaneers. We will just have to wait and see I guess.

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