Buccaneers’ defense has allowed 28 points per game while struggling to generate pressure or turnovers at 0-2.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 0-2 to start a season for the first time since 2014, and while they have lost their first two games by just a combined 10 points, head coach Todd Bowles’ defense has proven to be an issue.
Coming into this season Bowles was a favorite candidate for head coaches on the hot seat after the Buccaneers lost seven of their last nine games last season to miss the playoffs. Despite the late-season collapse and plenty of calls for a change, Bowles was brought back, in part because of the experienced defensive unit heading into this season.
Instead of being a strength, the defense has been a liability through the first two games. The defense has allowed 28 points per game and have had trouble getting pressure on the opposing quarterback. Against the Cincinnati Bengals (2-0) and Cleveland Browns (1-1), the defense has just one sack and just four quarterback hits. They had 24.3 percent pressures per dropback against the Bengals and 5.7 percent against the Browns. Through two games the defense has generated five tackles for loss and one turnover.
Last season, through the first two games, the defense had nine sacks, 19 quarterback hits and 20 tackles for loss. Although the Buccaneers didn’t create any turnovers in the first two games last season, they only allowed 19.5 ppg in two games. This year’s defense is No. 13 in total yards allowed (309.0 yards per game) and No. 26 in points allowed.
As a whole the defense is allowing an average of 20.5 first downs per game and allowing offenses to convert 48.1 percent on third down. Last season, the defense allowed an average of 17.5 first downs through the first two games and held opponents to 39.5 percent on third down for the entire season.
The lone bright spot for the defense is they have allowed only three red zone touchdowns on eight red zone attempts this season.
Along with the lack of pressure, the Buccaneers’ defense is struggling mightily when it comes to tackling ball carriers. Tampa Bay has missed 10 tackles through two games and boast a missed tackle percentage of 15.2 percent. Linebacker Alex Anzolone, who signed with the team as a free agent in the offseason, leads the team in missed tackles with four and a 36.4 percent missed tackle percentage. Last season the Buccaneers averaged 5.4 missed tackles per game and had an 8.7 missed tackle percentage on the season.
After the loss Bowles said the Buccaneers have to improve quickly.
“We had too many missed tackles in the second half, defensively,” Bowles said. “Nobody is coming to save us. We have to fix ourselves and we have to fix it in a hurry.”
The Buccaneers defense does have a chance to bounce back next week when they take on the Minnesota Vikings (2-0) at home on Sept. 27. Through two games, the Vikings are last in the NFL in total yards per game (242.5 ypg) and No. 14 in points per game (24 ppg).
