After surrendering 26.6 factors per recreation, which ranks twenty eighth within the league, and having the league’s Twenty ninth-ranked cross protection, permitting 255.4 yards per recreation, the Bucs are some making some personnel modifications.
That’s what head coach Todd Bowles mentioned on Monday when he was requested about attainable modifications on the center linebacker and cornerback positions. The play at each of these positions was very disappointing in Sunday’s 31-26 loss to the Falcons.
“We take a look at personnel modifications each week and see what’s greatest for us,” Bowles mentioned. “Typically we are able to’t do something [due to injuries] however we’re doing all the pieces this week to attempt to put the blokes out on the sector that may hopefully assist us get higher and form of go from there. If we don’t have them, we don’t have them, but when we’ve them on the workforce, we’ll positively attempt to put them in there.”
Bucs Doubtlessly Trying To Platoon Vi Jones With Okay.J. Britt
Beginning inside linebacker Okay.J. Britt has the worst cross protection grade on the workforce, in keeping with Professional Soccer Focus. Britt has allowed 20-of-24 targets (83.3%) to be caught for 226 yards, and he’s earned a horrendous 32.3 protection grade in consequence. PFF has Britt because the 146th-ranked inside linebacker within the league with an total grade of 37.7.
Bucs ILB KJ Britt and HC Todd Bowles – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Bowles has recognized Britt’s weak point in cross protection over the past two years. Even when Britt supplanted Devin White because the beginning center linebacker final 12 months he platooned each linebackers. Britt performed on early downs and briefly yardage conditions, whereas White, who was higher in protection and a greater blitzer, performed on third-and-long and apparent passing downs.
That platoon system carried over into the 2024 season with second-year linebacker SirVocea Dennis taking up for White because the passing down substitution. However when Dennis was misplaced for the season in Week 4, Britt has stayed on the sector – and struggled – in protection.
Bowles brushed apart solutions that J.J. Russell may very well be a cross protection substitute for Britt, as a substitute saying that Vi Jones, a follow squad linebacker, could be the perfect candidate to platoon with Britt.
“There’s in all probability just one [player] that may do it and he has to get caught up to the mark,” Bowles mentioned, referring to Jones. “On the time, he wasn’t caught up to the mark. All people else was extra of a MIKE linebacker or just about the identical from an athletic standpoint and Okay.J. was the neatest of the bunch.”
Jones, who frolicked on the Bucs’ follow squad final 12 months, confirmed sufficient expertise and promise within the preseason to stay on the follow squad in 2024. He earned a PFF total grade of 68.4 within the preseason and had a 64.3 protection grade. He allowed 5-of-7 (71.4%) targets to be caught in cross protection, however for simply 33 yards within the preseason.
Bucs ILB Vi Jones – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Jones totaled 5 QB pressures and a QB hit within the preseason, along with 11 tackles, together with a deal with for loss. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Jones is a sooner linebacker than Britt. Jones was clocked at 4.52 popping out of North Carolina State, whereas Britt was timed at 4.76 popping out of Auburn.
Whereas Britt’s protection woes have been problematic in Tampa Bay, it hasn’t been simply him who has struggled to cowl the center of the sector. Fellow inside linebacker Lavonte David has additionally given up 83.3% of his targets (35-of-42) for a team-high 357 yards and two touchdowns. However not like Britt, David has an interception to his credit score, along with forcing two incompletions in protection and breaking apart 4 passes.
It’s attention-grabbing to notice that the Bucs promoted rookie Antonio Grier Jr. from the follow squad to the lively roster – not Jones – when Dennis went on injured reserve after Week 4. That is a sign that maybe Jones hasn’t mastered sufficient of the protection to be a think about cross protection simply but for Bowles
Bucs Might Additionally Bench Tyrek Funderburk At Cornerback
Falcons WR Darnell Mooney and Bucs CB Tyrek Funderburk and ILB Okay.J. Britt – Photograph by: USA At the moment
Tampa Bay’s undrafted free agent cornerback Tyrek Funderburk was benched at halftime of Sunday’s 31-26 loss to Atlanta after surrendering a 30-yard landing cross to Darnell Mooney and failing to make a deal with on Kyle Pitts’ 49-yard rating. Funderburk had changed starter Jamel Dean when he was injured within the workforce’s 51-27 win at New Orleans and received his first begin within the Bucs’ 41-31 loss to the Ravens.
However now it’s Funderburk who could be changed, in keeping with head coach Todd Bowles.
Josh Hayes, the workforce’s high gunner on particular groups, and a sixth-round choose in 2023, changed Funderburk within the second half and earned a 72.4 Professional Soccer Focus protection grade on the 11 protection snaps he had versus the Falcons. Hayes allowed only one catch for eight yards and was solely focused as soon as.
When requested if Hayes was a candidate to start out at cornerback reverse Zyon McCollum shifting ahead till Dean’s return, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles mentioned, “Yeah, he’s positively an choice.”
Bucs CB Josh Hayes – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
After Sunday’s recreation, Bowles mentioned Hayes’ efficiency.
“He fought onerous and I do know he didn’t surrender too many [completions],” Bowles mentioned. “He’s a troublesome child and, so far as I do know, he performed nicely. I’ll take a look at the tape and see.”
In his three video games on protection throughout his rookie season, Funderburk has allowed 11-of-12 (91.7%) targets to be caught for 146 yards and two touchdowns with one cross breakup. He has earned a 55.3 protection grade, in keeping with PFF.
The opposite choice the Bucs could contemplate at cornerback is Keenan Isaac, who had preseason and was signed from the follow squad to the lively roster.
Bucs Hope To Have Tykee Smith In Kansas Metropolis
Bucs DB Tykee Smith and CB Tyrek Funderburk – Photograph by: USA At the moment
The Buccaneers are hopeful to get beginning nickelback Tykee Smith again in motion towards Kansas Metropolis subsequent Monday night time. Smith suffered a concussion towards Baltimore two weeks in the past and missed the Atlanta recreation.
“He’s progressing,” Bucs head coach Todd Bowles mentioned on Monday. “We’ll see how he feels through the week. It’s somewhat early proper now.”
The workforce’s third-round choose is likely one of the greatest cross defenders in Tampa Bay. He’s allowed 27-of-38 (71.1%) targets to be caught for 228 yards and has allowed two touchdowns, but in addition has 4 cross breakups and two compelled fumbles. Smith, who earned the beginning slot cornerback job due to a terrific coaching camp and preseason, has a 70.1 PFF protection grade, which is the fifth-highest on the workforce.
