After the season ended, there were many notions that there existed a dire need for safety, improved defensive backs play, and better pass rushing. The Bucs snatched up DT Chris Baker as well as drafted S Justin Evans, LB Kendell Beckwith, and DT Stevie Tu'ikolovatu for the defense in this off-season. Evans was selected in the second round. Baker, Beckwith, and Tu'ikolovatu share a common defensive trait - they stop the run.

Football Outsiders' Defensive Rankings

Overall: 18th

Pass: 6th

Rush: 24th

ESPN Defensive Rankings

============= Sacks ===========================

Sacks: 9th most (38 sacks)

============= First Down Conversion ==============

Rushing First Downs Allowed: 26th (102 rushing first downs) Passing First Downs Allowed: 19th (203 passing first downs)

============= Third Down Conversion ==============

Third Down Conversion Allowed: 1st fewest allowed (34.4%) Third Down Conversion Attempts: 30th fewest attempts (195 attempts)

As we look at this metrically, the pass defense ranks high and the rush defense does not. The defense is in the top 10 for sacking the quarterback. The egregious deficiency is in rushing first downs and third down attempts.

The inability to stop the run allows teams to be a two-dimensional offense. They are an offense that can run and pass. That run game can also set up the pass game. Stop that run game and the opposing offenses can become more one-dimensional. A one-dimensional offense cannot produce offense as the Bucs' defense revealed such last season against the Seahawks and the first New Orleans games. In both of those games, those offenses only manage field goals. Caveat, in both those games, they were missing their starting center.

Pro Football Focus Run Concept Rankings

Recently, Pro Football Focus (PFF) did an article on Best Offensive Line Units by Run Concept from 2016. In it they list the top five in Zone Base Scheme (Inside and Outside) and Gap (Power) Scheme. What they displayed was eye opening to this Bucs' fan.

Outside Zone

Last year, the Bucs faced the Saints twice, Falcons twice, and the Bears. This coming season, they will face the Saints twice, Falcons twice, and the Bills.

Inside Zone

In 2016, the Bucs faced the Cowboys with Elliot and that offensive line. The ensuing season, the Bucs get to face a better inside zone running team than the Cowboys in the Bills. What a consolation prize for the privateers!

Gap

Tampa saw the Falcons twice and the Saints twice last year. The Bills are now added onto the defensive pallet to the NFC South divisional foes this year. New Orleans added RB Adrian Peterson this past off-season; which implies the use of gap (Power) scheme for Peterson.

NFC South

To increase the chances of going to the playoffs, a team must first try to win their division. Loading up on stopping the run appears to be sound advice considering you will be facing a top 5 rushing team in both outsize zone and gap a total of four times because they are divisional foes in Atlanta and New Orleans.

Last year's divisional record was 4 -2. The divisional winners, Falcons, went 5 - 1.

When the defense is able to corral the opposing team's rushing game, then it appears such actions will increase the chances of winning. Atlanta and New Orleans were top 2 in total offensive yards and points per game, but the Bucs were able to steal wins away from both.

This is why the Bucs focused more on personnel stopping the run than all the hoopla about the secondary or the pass rush. Force the opposing offense to become one-dimensional and play into a top ranked pass defense. Atlanta failed its comeback attempt trying to throw against the Bucs' pass defense.

If the Bucs can force more situations like that, then it plays into the Bucs pass defense's favor. If they can force more third downs, then it plays into a top notched 3rd down defense. Stopping the run is not as flashy as an interception or as bombastic as a sack. Stopping the run does not score touchdowns or have explosive plays like on offense. Stopping the run is just bland to most casual fans. That is why the acquisition of DT Chris Baker gets unnoticed so often this offseason. That is why some people question the drafting of LB Kendell Beckwith. Steve Tu'ikolovatu was a surprised because the Bucs did not expend a lower round pick on another fullback fodder. But the coaches know that in our division we need to stop the run in order to succeed and increase our chances of making the playoffs.

While the Falcons and Saints get all the accolades from last year as well as the Saints signing Peterson for two years, the Panthers drafted RB Christian McCaffrey this past season. The NFC South will be running. GM Jason Licht helped DC Mike Smith to preempt the division from literally running all over the Bucs' defense.

The run defense's theme song for this off-season because they are often overlooked:

"I can't get no satisfaction. I can't get no satisfaction.

‘Cause I try and I try and I try and I try...

I can't get no, I can't get no..."

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Links to other articles pertaining to the defense:

MarchantWarchant's " A Metric-base Contextual Review of the 2016 Bucs "

" Inducing More Third Downs "

" Predict the 2017 Bucs Defensive Performance "



