Bucs defense fails in big situations

Jacksonville doesn't turn it over and converts a third down late.

By STEPHEN F. HOLDER, Times Staff Writer
Published October 29, 2007

Jacksonville quarterback Quinn Gray dropped the ball in the end zone in the third quarter, but recovered and crawled out of the end zone to avoid the safety. Photo gallery
	[Brian Cassella | Times]

TAMPA - The questions kept coming, and one perplexed defender after another struggled to find adequate answers.

How could Jacksonville beat a Bucs team that outgained it 385-219? And how, exactly, do you lose to a Jaguars team that completed a mere seven passes? And why the heck can't the Bucs close out on third down when it matters most?

Explanations were hard to come by.

"I don't know," linebacker Barrett Ruud said. "We have to find a way to win that game."

They faced a quarterback named Quinn Gray, who made his first career start. The Bucs knew a heavy dose of the run was coming.

Still, they gave up 133 rushing yards.

"They don't trust their quarterback to throw the football," cornerback Ronde Barber said. "We knew that. That showed up on film last week (against) Indianapolis. He can throw a fade. I can throw a fade. Anybody can throw a fade."

So, then, what could the Bucs defense have done better?

For one, it needed to produce a turnover, failing to do so for the second straight game (while the offense committed five). When Gray fumbled in the end zone, no one jumped on him or the ball, and Gray crawled out to avoid a safety.

Third down also has been an issue this season. Though it has been relatively solid overall (entering the game 14th in the league at 43.1 percent), the defense has allowed conversions that, in some cases, have been backbreakers.

Overall, the Jaguars converted just 4 of 16. But Consider the third-and-6 predicament they found themselves in from their 7 with 3:17 left. If the Bucs get the stop, Jacksonville is punting from its end zone and the Bucs get good field position.

Instead, Gray completed a short pass to Greg Jones who turned it into an 18-yard gain, breaking tackles along the way before Ruud brought him down.

And it's not a new problem.

During the fourth quarter last week, Detroit had a third and 1 at its 16, and Jon Kitna scrambled for 2 yards. It wasn't long before the Lions were in the end zone celebrating a 93-yard drive that pretty much slammed the door.

"We have to make plays," Barber said. "I said that last week. We had Detroit backed up, and if we get a stop, we probably win that football game. But we didn't. And when we had to make a stop this week, we didn't. We put ourselves in position to win this football game.

"Don't get that twisted. Don't pretend like this defense didn't play well enough to win because we did. But there were some missed opportunities all the way around."

[Last modified October 28, 2007, 23:38:59]