I don’t want anyone overlooking this 0-4 Buccaneers team. I don’t know if you know this or not, but every Buccaneers game this season has been decided by seven points or less, and this defense for the Cowboys hasn’t showed me enough to feel comfortable.
I believe the Cowboys have the offensive firepower to control the game, but whether they do that or not, I think, comes down to these five things.
1. I’m making the Buccaneers Deal With CeeDee and Pickens
We have CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens and I want the opening script to reflect we have those two superstars.
Here is the reason why the Buccaneers are sporting a run defense that allows only 78.5 rushing yards per game, third best in the NFL. Dallas only averages 89.5 rushing yards per game, or 25th in the NFL.
I don’t think I’d spend the first quarter running into that defense just to prove we are committed to the run game.
Let Dak attack on first downs. Move CeeDee around and get Pickens started with slants, comebacks, and intermediate routes. His only role shouldn’t be deep balls.
If we see the Buccaneers try and take CeeDee away after his massive game last week, then Pickens will have one on one all day. If they try to take both those guys away, find Jake Ferguson, Ryan Flournoy, or Javonte Williams.
I would love to see CeeDee and Pickens lined up together for some snaps. Send them to different areas of the coverage and make the secondary decide who will carry the routes. I guarantee some confusion and open receivers.
2. The Run Defense Has to Give Us a Chance
This is an area of the defense that has been getting better each week, but they are still giving up 150.3 rushing yards per game. While letting offenses convert 52.3% of their third downs. Both of these areas of the defense rank 31st in the NFL.
The bad thing is, this is the fifth week in a row this defense will face a running quarterback. So we can’t just assume because Jalon Daniels is a rookie, he will struggle against this unit.
The Buccaneers ran for 141 yards against Green Bay. In that game, Bucky Irving had 61, and Daniels added 55 more. My concern is Dallas lets those two keep the offense in second-and-short all night.
Our defensive tackles, Otito Ogbonnia, Quinnen Williams, and Kenny Clark are playing much better, but if the updated depth chart holds true rookie sensation Jaishawn Barham will be playing behind DeMarvion Overshown this week.
Daniels’ scrambling scares me. The Cowboys need to have a guy with their responsibility being the quarterback this week.
I’m over watching the defense force and third-and-long just to see us give up a big first down on the ground. Make the rookie quarterback throw the ball.
3. Test Jalon Daniels’ Protection Before Testing His Arm
The Buccaneers allowed 16 sacks through four games. Daniels took three sacks alone against Green Bay, and pressure got to him on his final fourth-down throw. That’s where I would start attacking.
Show pressure near the gaps, and change who goes. Bring a linebacker one snap and drop him back into coverage on the next. Make Daniels and his blockers think about what’s coming.
The defense will have to be smart on the pressure because Daniels may have thrown two interceptions, but he also threw a touchdown that kept Tampa Bay in the game. Allowing quick throws will make his job too easy.
We just need to see some hesitation. The secondary has to play well enough for the pressure to get to him. The edge defenders have to seal the edge because chasing a sack five yards in the backfield will open up running lanes for Daniels.
4. Stop Only Getting Three Points
We have watched the Cowboys get touchdowns on 81.3% of their red-zone possessions. The Buccaneers allow touchdowns on 45.5% of opponents’ trips, and that’s why this will be a matchup I’ll be watching when the Cowboys get close to the goal line.
It worked last week, so why change up running the ball with Javonte Williams at the goal line? It gives Dak more options when the running back is a threat. We will see the linebackers step forward looking for the handoff, and Ferguson can work behind them.
If they crowd the line, I like our chances with Lamb and Pickens on the outside.
Antoine Winfeild Jr. will be out this game with a rib injury, so let’s see some motion and formation changes to make the Buccaneers talk without him on the field, especially right before the snap.
With all the weapons this offense has at its disposal, I would expect Dallas to make the defense cover the entire formation. Leaving points off the board is exactly how we end up in a shootout at the end of games.
5. Make the Rookie Earn His Field Position
I trust Brandon Aubrey’s leg just as much as the next person, but that doesn’t mean I love every decision to use him.
His missed 65-yard field goal against Houston gave the Texans the ball at the Cowboys 45 with 26 seconds left before halftime. The short field turned into three points before half.
This goes for the rest of the team too, especially you, Terence Steele and Luke Schoonmaker. I don’t want to see a careless penalty erase good field position and force Dallas to play ten yards behind the sticks.
Make Jalon Daniels drive the length of the field, and convert third downs. We have Dak, CeeDee, and Pickens on our side. I want to see Dallas make the Buccaneers keep up with them without handing out extra chances.
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