Bucs Film Room: Key Defenders Return To Stifle Rams

The Bucs got out to a hot start in 2022 thanks in large part to their defense. They dominated the Cowboys in Week 1, with the defense allowing just three points. Then, in Week 2, Tampa Bay held New Orleans to 10 points and forced five turnovers in another win. Even in a Week 3 loss to the Packers, the Bucs allowed just 14 points.

After that Week 3 loss, though, everything went downhill for Todd Bowles’ team – including the previously stout defense. Tampa Bay allowed 41 points to Kansas City in Week 4 and that was just the beginning of a downward trend. The Bucs allowed 15 second-half points before hanging on to beat the Falcons in Week 5, but then they allowed 20, 21 and 27 points over the next three games, respectively. The team lost all three of those games, falling to 3-5 through eight games.

There were plenty of reasons for Tampa Bay’s defensive struggles against the Chiefs, Falcons, Steelers, Panthers and Ravens. Poor play from the offense had the unit on the field for extended periods of time in a lot of those games, but poor execution didn’t help matters. Injuries played a role, too.

Veteran Akiem Hicks went down in Week 2 with a foot injury and missed the next six games. Safety Logan Ryan is currently on injured reserve with a foot injury of his own. No. 1 cornerback Carlton Davis III dealt with a hip injury for most of October, missing games against the Panthers and Ravens. Sean Murphy-Bunting, who serves as a key depth corner for Tampa Bay, injured his quad in Week 5 and missed the following three games.

And perhaps the biggest loss has been Antoine Winfield Jr., who suffered a concussion in Week 7 and hasn’t played since.

Bucs CB Carlton Davis III – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

While the Bucs weren’t at full strength defensively for Sunday’s 16-13 win over the Rams, they got some of those key faces back. Hicks returned to anchor the defensive line with Vita Vea, while Davis and Murphy-Bunting were back to man the secondary. And while the group would still love to get Ryan and Winfield back as soon as possible, the three who returned from injury on Sunday proved to be game-changing reinforcements for Tampa Bay.

Hicks’ return opened things up for Vea, who had a monster game against Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Davis and Murphy-Bunting played a key role in the Bucs’ ability to limit the horizontal passing and stretch running aspects of Sean McVay’s offense.

Let’s dive into the film and see some examples. We’ll start with Hicks and the presence he added to Tampa Bay’s interior defensive line.

Between Hicks And Vea, Who Do You Double?

Part of the appeal that came with signing Hicks this offseason was the help he could give Vita Vea, strengthening Tampa Bay’s pass rush up the middle. But with Hicks out, the Bucs had to rely more on reserve Rakeem Nunez-Roches and rookie second-round pick Logan Hall. That made it easy for opposing offenses, as they could simply double Vea and take their chances elsewhere. But with Hicks back in the lineup on Sunday, it made for somewhat of a conundrum for the Rams.

Hicks is 6-foot-5, 324 pounds. Even at 32 years old, he still has a quickness to his game that makes him a formidable pass rusher. Vea, on the other hand, is 6-foot-4, 346 pounds. He’s a beast of a run stuffer, but his pass rushing ability has improved over the years and he’s now miles ahead of where he used to be. So, with two massive, talented pass rushers to worry about, who do you double team? There may not be a right answer in many cases. The Rams didn’t seem to know one way or the other on Sunday.

Let’s watch both of Vea’s sacks. He took Matthew Stafford down twice in Tampa Bay’s win, increasing his 2022 sack total to a team-high 6.5. Here’s the first sack, which came on a second-and-10 in the first quarter:

Watch the middle of the screen. Off the snap, right guard Chandler Brewer is shading to help with Joe Tryon-Shoyinka off the edge. He lends somewhat of a hand to center Brian Allen, who is left to handle Hicks (No. 96) up the middle. But with those two guys tied up there and with left tackle Alaric Jackson occupied with Genard Avery off the edge, Vea (No. 50, to the right of your screen), is left one-on-one with left guard Bobby Evans. That’s a one-on-one you’ll expect Vea to win 99 times out of 100. He wins it here and gets to Stafford for a loss of nine.

This play is more of a disaster for the Rams offensive line than anything. But Hicks’ presence alongside Vea creates panic. The big veteran is someone to account for. Having Hicks and Tryon-Shoyinka on the left side of the defense is what draws a lot of the Rams’ attention, which gives Vea a favorable one-on-one on the right side. That wasn’t happening enough for the Vea while Hicks was sidelined, so he’s surely happy to get this opportunity here.

Now, on to the second sack. It isn’t a straight-up double team that Hicks gets. But his lateral movement is a key part of this play.

Watch the center’s first movement. He’s the one shading here, feeling for Hicks on the right side. But as he’s doing that, Hicks is shuffling over in an attempt to gain inside leverage. Allen can’t stick with his right guard on Hicks, as he has to try to pick up Vea, who powers right through Evans again. Allen can’t get over in time, and Vea once again gets to Stafford. It’s essentially another easy one-on-one for him, and he again takes advantage of it.

There’s nothing flashy about Hicks in either of these clips. He didn’t even grade out particularly well for the game, at least according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics. But it’s hard to argue against the impact his sheer presence has on Tampa Bay’s interior pass rush. It very clearly helps Vea.

Returning Cornerbacks Help Shut Down The Edges

Sean McVay is known to be one of the best play callers in the NFL. He’s gotten the best of Bowles and the Bucs time and again, including three times in the last two years. Tampa Bay has struggled in the past with Los Angeles’ horizontal passing game – with its variety of screens and quick passes to the flat – and run game that stretches the field laterally. But in Sunday’s win, the Bucs had an answer for everything. Davis, with some help from Murphy-Bunting, was a big reason why.

Starting here, the Rams look to establish that quick horizontal passing game on their second drive. On 2nd & 10, Stafford throws to Cooper Kupp. But Tampa Bay’s defense plays it well. Davis (top of the screen around the 32-yard line) reacts quickly and comes flying in on the play Linebacker Devin White ultimately gets credited with the tackle, but Davis does a good job taking his blocker on and forcing Kupp to the sideline. There’s nowhere for the receiver to go, and it leads to a favorable 3rd & 8 for the defense.

Davis was only getting started, though. Watch here as he once again comes flying in from the top of the frame on another screen to Kupp.

Davis reads it and reacts well, putting himself in position to make a big tackle for loss. And the best part is, he makes the play, dropping Kupp right where he catches the ball. It’s a brilliant job by the Bucs’ No. 1 corner.

Davis and Murphy-Bunting had some impressive reps against the run, too. We’ll get to one play they would both love to have back in a bit, but let’s start with the positives. Here’s Murphy-Bunting (left side of the screen) quickly getting to the outside and fighting through Darrell Henderson’s stiff-arm attempt to make the tackle after a short gain. The stop brings up third down, and the Bucs ultimately got off the field.

Here’s another win for Davis (bottom of the screen), who reacts quickly and gets to Cam Akers, dropping him for little-to-no gain. What helps Davis a ton here – and throughout the majority of these clips – is his wingspan. At 79.75 inches, he’s in the 69th percentile of cornerbacks when it comes to wingspan. You can see how he allows Akers some outside leverage by crashing the edge, yet he’s able to wrap up and make the tackle anyway.

But it wasn’t all good for Davis and Murphy-Bunting. This is one they likely didn’t enjoy watching in the film room this week.

As Henderson cuts back across the field, Davis is in position to make the tackle around the 25-yard line for a modest gain. Instead, he is spun around by Henderson, who keeps running and ultimately meets Murphy-Bunting, who is taken for a ride of his own before finally making the tackle inside the 10. That’s a bad rep, but Davis got a chance to redeem himself right of the way, and he capitalized.

Watch Davis on the bottom right of your screen. The Rams, as they often do, try to get Kupp the ball in space. But Davis knows it’s coming and he’s there to react right away. He makes a big tackle on first down and Los Angeles eventually has to settle for a field goal.

Positive Signs For The Bucs As They Get Closer To Full Strength

With the return of Hicks, Davis and Murphy-Bunting, the Bucs got a bit closer to the defense they intended on fielding from the start of the season. They were able to rely less on rookies like Hall up front and Zyon McCollum in the secondary, instead rolling with three guys who have seen it all at the NFL level.

The Rams’ offense may not be what it was last year, but Sunday was the best that Tampa Bay’s defense has looked in weeks. It’s no coincidence, either. And as it continues to get guys back – namely Winfield and Ryan – it’ll only help Bowles set his defense up for success down the stretch in the regular season.