Buccaneers defensive grades at the first quarter mark
By Ryan Doyle
Through four games, the Buccaneers defense has been putrid. The team cannot stop the pass and the fanbase has clamored about the defensive coordinator’s job.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense is terrible.
Currently, the Bucs have allowed the most points in the league (139) and the second-most yards per game (445). Teams are averaging just shy of 35 points per game. That’s atrocious.
In no way is the performance that Tampa Bay fans witnessed in the first quarter of the season going to lead to many victories. Things need to change fast if the season is going to turn around.
A historic offense masked the issues during the first two weeks, but the Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears exposed the Buccaneers.
The pass defense was where the issue lied. A young secondary looked lost against the Bears, and it led to six touchdowns passes from Mitchell Trubisky of all people.
Before the season, it looked like a revamped front seven could help take the pressure off of the young defensive backfield. The veteran front hasn’t made a difference yet. Even when the pass rush finds a way to get to the quarterback, receivers are already wide open down the field.
The brutal performance from the defense will get covered up by Ryan Fitzpatrick unlikely rise, but in the long run, it could be the reason Tampa Bay falls back into irrelevancy.