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Bucs' big question: Where's the D?

By GARY SHELTON
Published September 20, 2006

If nothing else, those of us in the Tampa Bay area know how to perform an autopsy.

A team turns brain-dead, and we know where to start cutting. First, you dissect the coach. Then you carve up the quarterback. If all else fails, you blame the offensive line. For years, it has been a foolproof system.

And so we rush toward the familiar suspects. What's worse? Chris Simms' decisions after the snap or Jon Gruden's before it? What's more painful? The way Cadillac Williams' back felt last week or the way it will feel after running behind this line for a few more?

In our annual migration toward blaming the offense, however, perhaps this has escaped your notice.

The defense has been wretched, too.

This is the most disappointing part of the Bucs' ugliness, and the most surprising. We knew the offensive line was going to be leaky, and we knew the opponents were going to key on Caddy, and we should have suspected that Simms might struggle.

But the defense? For a decade now, the defense has been as consistent as gravity. It was going to give the offense field position, and it was going to protect the end zone, and it was going to display the same kind of nastiness of seasons past. Most of all, it was going to forgive the offense for its struggles.

Instead, we have seen bad tackling and worse pass coverage. We have seen holes as wide as the interstate up the gut. We have third and 9's turn into first downs with alarming regularity. We have seen slow and soft and squishy. If I didn't know better, I would swear that Broderick Thomas and Keith McCants and Eric Curry were back in town.

What we have not seen is Simeon Rice. You remember Rice; he used to play around here. If anyone locates him, he should contact Monte Kiffin immediately.

What we have not seen is Booger McFarland. You remember Booger; he was supposed to anchor the line. Honestly, have you even heard his name on the loudspeaker?

At this point, it is not even certain that the Bucs are using defensive ends. You couldn't find them with MapQuest. I'm not sure if they play safeties very often, either.

Consider: The Bucs are the worst team against the run in the NFL. The worst. Every time an opponent hands off, it gains 5.2 yards. Last year, that number was 3.5.

Consider: After nine years in the top 10 in the NFL, after being the No. 1 team last year, the Bucs are currently ranked 22nd. The surprise isn't that 21 teams are better; it's that 10 teams are worse.

Consider: The Bucs are the 19th-ranked scoring defense in the NFL. If the Falcons weren't so awful in the red zone, the Bucs would probably be last.

It looks so wrong, like pigeons swimming or cats flying or ducks selling insurance. Around here, we have grown used to a standard of excellence by the defense. Frankly, so have the defenders, who have spent year after year expecting the game to be on their shoulders.

Instead, we have seen the Ravens wade through them and the Falcons fly past them. Speed bumps would have been more effective.

Consider: In two games, a starting defensive lineman does not have a sack. (And none are among the team's top seven tacklers).

Consider: In two games, a member of the secondary does not have an interception.

Consider: Opposing quarterbacks have a rating of 86.7 against the Bucs. If you need a comparison to go by, it was 48.4 during the Bucs' Super Bowl season.

How does this happen? Not since Kiffin arrived at the airport back in '96 has the Bucs' defense been chewed up like this.

Is it age? Yeah, the Bucs have a lot of players on the wrong side of 30, but does a team really get old all at once? For two games, the Bucs have looked like a casting call for one of those Grumpy Old Men movies.

Is it coaching? Look, we all knew that Rod Marinelli and Mike Tomlin were great assistant coaches. But did anyone expect this level of dropoff?

Is it a bad day multiplied by another bad day? The Bucs had better hope so. Because if they are going to make this season interesting, it is going to be up to the defense. As ever.

Consider: In 1986, when the Bucs had the worst run defense in the league, they allowed 165.5 yards per game. Twenty years later, they're allowing 204.5 yards per game.

Consider: In opponents' time of possession, the Bucs are next-to-last in the NFL. Yeah, that has something to do the offense not keeping the ball, too, but it also speaks to an inability to get off the field.

Consider: The Bucs have given up 409 yards rushing in two games. Last year, it was Game 7 before they gave up that many.

Look, Derrick Brooks still leads the Bucs in tackles, and even though a penalty negated it, he at least visited the end zone on Sunday. And Ronde Barber is second on the team in tackles.

Still, is it too much to ask that Rice inserts himself into the competition? McFarland?

Rice, if you remember, is the guy who wants you to believe he's the best player in the league. After two games, however, he has two solo tackles. That ties him with Earnest Graham.

As for McFarland, no one expects him to be Warren Sapp in his prime. Still, he is being paid to be the anchor of the line. He hasn't been.

Here's the question, then. Do you still consider the Bucs' defense to be a great one? Answer: Not so far.

In the weeks to come, the Bucs have to play against Chad Johnson and Donovan McNabb and Eli Manning and Steve Smith and Santana Moss and Terrell Owens and Ben Roethlisberger and Shaun Alexander. And Michael Vick.

In other words, there is going to be some traffic to stop.

Do you still consider the Bucs up to the task?

[Last modified September 20, 2006, 01:56:03]