How the Bucs defended the packers week 6 and playoff recap.

Playoffs 

The Bucs beat the Packers in the playoffs and are going to the Super Bowl. One of the reasons was the play of their defense. They sacked Rodgers 5 times  and had 8 qb hits on the day and more importantly held them to 2 field goals when the Packers had 1st and goal inside the 10. One was a mysterious 4th and goal late.  

 Rodgers went 33 of 48 for 346 yards with three touchdowns and one interception on the day.  They were also 16 for 67 in the run game but got away from the run game and threw the ball 75% of the time. Also, the biggest stat was the turnover the Bucs caused on Aaron Jones which led to a score. Their physical style helped get them the win and a trip to the super bowl.

Let's look at some plays on the goal line which really cost them. . 

They had an easy touchdown down 14-7 but the packers bring edge pressure and forces a bad throw. Devonte Adams is wide open and they should have tied the game up. The center slides left but the tackle doesn't take the blitzing lb so he's right in the qb face. He's forced to throw hot and they pass up an easy touchdown.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On 3rd and goal, Adams runs a great route against double bracket coverage, but Rodgers double pumps and that 1 second delay forces Adams out of the endzone. Should have been another touchdown. Poor execution by Rodgers as you can see when Adams is on the goalline he's open. That 1 second delay causes Adams to run out of room, field goal.

 

 

On 1st and goal with 2 minutes to go, They run an rpo but the wr runs the wrong route. Looks like the Bucs go cover 4 to the strong side. If the wr goes vertical instead of running the slant, it may be a touchdown. 

Rodgers thinks seem, wr runs slant, big miss with 2 minutes to go.

The Packers miss a big opportunity as their was a window open but the miscommunication on the route.

Week 6 recap

  The Bucs did something most teams stuggle with  when they play the packers

The Bucs got home with 5 man pressures. Although, Rodgers  usually excels in this department, the Bucs got home most of the day and flustered Rodgers quite a bit. 

The Bucs did a great job of that vs the pack.  In the Bucs game, packers went up 10-0, and early the Bucs didn’t send 5 at all. After that they brought 5 or more 8 times , and the Packers were  1 of 8 for 4 yards, 2 sacks , 2 int, 1 hurry and the ball was out quick! The Bucs won 38-10. They shut the Packers down. They mixed it up nicely with some sim pressures and some other unique blitzes.  

The key matchup will be Carlton Davis vs. Devonte Adams. Last game Davis travelled with Adams and covered him on the outside but didn't cover him when he was in the slot. Also, last week against the Saints he was matched up against Michael Thomas quite a bit. 

Here on a big 3rd and 5 they put Davis on Michael Thomas and he makes a great play on the goal line in man to man defense. They try a back shoulder fade to Michael Thomas and Davis plays it real well. Pass incomplete and they settle for the field goal. Davis is a very underrated player.

Bucs Defense

The Packers will probably put Adams in the slot because the like the matchup of Adams vs Bunting more. Expect that to happen.  Last week Bunting played well against an 80% Michael Thomas. Here he breaks under the route and makes a nice play. Again Davis travels but doesn't necessarily matchup with Thomas.  

They send 5 get pressure and great man coverage and they get the pick!

Interception and return to the 1 yard line

 

Again, in the first meeting the pressure on Rodgers was immense after the first quarter

Here's some clips from the Bucs bringing 6,technically 5 with the add in. and putting their best db on Adams. The Bucs ran a large amount of 5 man games but have much better pass rush than the Bucs. Here below they send 5 and ad in with the 6th rusher. 

 The Bucs did a great job on this blitz below.    Here they send the sam and nickel  on the bottom of he screen go cover 2 and Rodgers throws the pick 6. Rodgers rushes as he feels pressure and the cb jumps the route. Nice blitz concept vs condensed set. 

The Endzone view:

You see the nickel and the sam coming off the edge and one rusher comes free. 

Rodgers rushes the throw and throws an interception

Bucs version of the 2 under 3 deep from double A gap mug look. Love Bowles and how he dials up pressure. The good thing about this one is its 3rd and 10. Great call and down and distance to run it against. Some teams will play it safe on 3rd and 10 but the Bucs show and bring pressure. 

(they just drop JPP too but it is really a nice exotic pressure)

Other things Bowles did is he doubled Adams at times .

Below you see the Defensive back playing trail technique because he knows he has safety help over the top on 3rd and 10 .

Rodgers  scrambles and dumps it off but the downfield coverage was excellent.

Another thing Bowles did was matchup with his cb to the side Adams went to. 

Bowles also put #24 Carlton Davis to Adams side most of the game.  Here it is 3rd and 3 and they try to hit Adams on the slant. The 6 man pressure gets home and they get the interception. Nice Coverage by Davis 

The pressure forces the quick throw and the Bucs get the deflection and interception. 

3rd and 3 1st half Bucs up 14-10

The Bucs run a 6 man cover 0 concept with the free safety dropping to be a rat defender. The back stays in so the rush is 6 man. Big sack on Rodgers. Great cover 0 design which leads to the sack. 

The pressure 

The Bucs cause pressure by going odd with Barrett as the mike. That causes the slide as the Bucs try to get the guard and tackle on Barrett rather than leave a rb on him. The rb has to take David off the edge and he gets home as does Barrett up the middle.

Later up 31-10 the Bucs bring more pressure. On 1st and 10, the Packers come out in 12. Bowles dials up a nice 5 man 3 under 3 deep pressure. The crossing route gets open late but the pressure gets home.

Here was the last sack of the night and the end to Rodgers in the 38-10 game. The Bucs send 6 and play man and the pressure gets home.

But that being said,

The Packers had some opportunities and had some good plays built in.

Clip #1 they run the wheel off Jet motion (ball is late) 

Clip #2 they run 4 verts and the tight end is wide open vs 5 man pressure. Rodgers just missed the 2nd throw.

These are just some of the things to expect when they play this weekend.

How do the Packers counter. 

#1 free release the back more at times and motion him out of the backfield. Force the Bucs to adjust with a lb and take some of the heat off. 

#2 Rodgers has to hit a few 4 verts , wheel routes and zone beaters.

#3 Match Adams up inside, the Bucs inside slot is not as good as Davis on the outside

#4 Establish the run game and go more play action out of 12 personnel. Think they have to take some shots in 12 and hit the deep crossing dover routes against the Packers 5 man 3 under 3 deep.

#5 Do a better job with their screen game. Get some screens involved and hit some quick screens. The packers were so aggressive last game on screens they may be open to fake wr screen and hit #2 vertical.

Don't be surprised if you see that.

Curious to see the adjustments the Packers make with Adams and in the passing game. 

Will they run more screens and free release the back? Will you see Adams in the slot more.

Time will tell.

Hope you enjoyed the article.