Buccaneers’ nonexistent pass rush gave Bucs fans déjà vu in Week 1

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made it their top priority this offseason to overhaul a lifeless pass rush that has held back Todd Bowles’ defense for several years now. 

The revamped defensive front, featuring new additions including Rueben Bain Jr., Al-Quadin Muhammad, and A’Shawn Robinson, was the talk of Tampa Bay. The team also handed Vita Vea a one-year, $30 million extension to end his trade request and get him back on the field. 

But despite all of the investments made to upgrade this pass rush, the unit was a total non-factor in Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals. 

Sitting on my couch watching Tampa Bay’s new-look defense in action, I got a case of déjà vu that had me wondering if I was watching the same dormant pass rush of years past. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ pass rush was a major disappointment in Week 1

According to Pro Football Focus, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was the NFL’s least pressured quarterback in Week 1.

That comes despite Tampa Bay blitzing on nearly half of Burrow’s dropbacks. Still, they were rarely able to disrupt his rhythm, getting home for just one sack on a blitz by rookie inside linebacker Josiah Trotter. 

Cincinnati's offensive line has caught a lot of flack over the years for their poor protection of Burrow, but they absolutely stonewalled the Buccaneers.

Bain was completely shut down by Bengals right tackle Amarius Mims, making zero impact as a pass rusher and finishing the game with just one tackle.

Diaby, who has led the Buccaneers in sacks in two of the last three seasons and is in a contract year, also finished with just one tackle. 

Vea laid a total goose egg on the stat sheet, failing to register even a single tackle in his first game since signing his massive contract extension.

Tampa Bay’s pass rush pulling a no-show to start the season is a major red flag — and I’m not talking about a Bucs flag.

The entire reason anybody believes Bowles’ defense could succeed this season is because, on paper, the front office has given him his best pass rush in years. The implied ability to get after opposing quarterbacks with the front four would allow Bowles to rely less on the blitz which would in turn mean fewer coverage holes for opposing offenses to exploit.

But according to Jon Ledyard, via SumerSports, with the defensive front making no impact early against the Bengals, Bowles reverted to his blitz-heavy tendencies in the second half and sent pressure on 64% of plays. That’s a trend that simply can’t continue. 

If the Buccaneers’ revamped pass rush can’t be disruptive enough to allow Bowles to blitz less and scheme more effectively in coverage, the offseason additions will have been all for naught.

It’s only been one game, and while it’s not time to push the panic button just yet, it’s fair to be concerned. More resources were invested into the pass rush than any other area of the team this offseason, and they looked as ineffective as ever.

If they can’t quickly change course and become the ferocious pass rush they were billed as, Bowles and his Bucs defense could ultimately be doomed to another year of mediocrity.

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