Extra Point: Takeaways From The Buccaneers Loss To The Eagles
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers moved to 2-1 on the season after a disappointing 25-11 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football. The defense got pushed around in the run game and had issues in coverage and tackling all game long. While the offense could not generate anything on the ground and didn't get the passing game going until it was too little too late.
There weren't a ton of positives to take away from the loss that looked better on the score sheet than it did watching it play out. The Buccaneers will look to put this game in the rearview as they get ready to visit the Saints in New Orleans in a divisional matchup before their Week 5 bye.
Here are my top three takeaways from the Bucs Week 3 loss.
Bucs Run Game Is Struggling
Coming into this week’s matchup the Buccaneers knew it would be difficult to run the ball against Philadelphia’s top-ranked run defense. Though the Bucs continued to try throughout the night, they weren’t able to get anything moving on the ground. Starting running back Rachaad White was stymied all night long and was held to just 38 yards on 14 attempts for a paltry 2.7 yards per carry.
VIDEO: Buccaneers' Devin White Intercepts Eagles' Jalen Hurts Before Halftime
To make matters worse, the ineffectiveness running on first down that plagued the team so often last season reared its ugly head again. Tampa Bay ran a total of nine times on first down for just 19 yards on the day. Take away a 12-yard scamper late in the ball game and the Buccaneers had eight runs for just nine yards including a run for no gain and two for a loss including a safety. The 2.1 yards per carry average just wasn’t going to cut it and the Bucs were in second and long situations on eight of their nine first-down runs.
The Buccaneers are tied for the lowest yards-per-carry average in the league at just 2.9 yards. They rank 27th in total yards with 234, but 13th in attempts at 84. Tampa Bay has just 14 first downs through the on the ground and while they are trying to remain balanced they have just been ineffective running the ball. It starts up front with the offensive line needing to execute and get a better push. But also with White and Sean Tucker doing a more consistent job of hitting the hole and turning small gains into big plays.
Bucs Gashed On Big Plays
Not only could the Buccaneers not stop the run on Monday night they had issues with the Eagles' passing attack as well. Specifically with yards being gained after the catch. The Bucs allowed 15 plays of 10 or more yards including 6 plays of 20 plus yards on the day. Coverage was bad, tackling was bad, and the defense just couldn’t find a solution to stop Philadelphia’s offense from making explosive plays.
While Tampa Bay is dealing with several injuries to key starting players in the lineup, there can be no excuses made for failure to properly make tackles. There were several instances where the ball carrier just ran through tackle attempts and others where Bucs defenders just took bad angles.
The Eagles totaled 93 yards after contact by runners and 98 yards from receivers on yards after the catch. The Bucs missed 17 tackles on the day. Those numbers won’t win you ball games and with a road trip to New Orleans on the docket the Buccaneers need to turn things around in a hurry.
Injuries Starting To Pile Up
The Bucs entered the game against the Eagles already down two starters in defensive lineman Calijah Kancey and cornerback Carlton Davis. They potentially lost another one for an unknown time period with their other starting corner Jamel Dean leaving the game with a shoulder injury.
Defensive lineman Vita Vea and linebacker Devin White gutted through injuries in the game. Which had a noticeable effect on both of their ability to play the game they are accustomed to. White had a shot at a pick-six on an interception off Jalen Hurts but had to run out of bounds due to discomfort with his groin injury. While Vea did not look like the dominant run-stuffing force he had through the first two games as he dealt with a pectoral injury.
Davis is dealing with a turf toe injury he suffered in Week 1 and looks like he could miss a third straight game. While Dean's shoulder injury could keep him sidelined as well. The Bucs are paper thin in the secondary and while Dee Delaney stepped in for Dean and performed well he also left the game with an injury before returning on special teams. For a team with questionable depth, the Buccaneers need to get healthy, stay healthy, and do it quickly or it could be an issue in a hurry.
Three Up
S Ryan Neal
Neal was all over the place on Monday against Philadelphia. While it’s not always ideal for a safety to have 11 tackles, Neal was the last line of defense and came up big. He had a huge stop on the Eagles opening drive on fourth down. With the team knocking on the door in the Bucs red zone, he stuffed running back Kenneth Gainwell for a loss to turn the ball over on downs.
P Jake Camarda
Camarda has been one of the Buccaneers' most consistent players throughout the first three weeks of the season. The reigning special teams player of the week has been booming punts. He has six punts of 60-plus yards and two for more than 70 yards including a career-best 74-yard punt on Monday night. He continues to shine each week.
DB Dee Delaney
Delaney stepped in for an injured Jamel Dean in the second half and played better than expected. Bowles has had nothing but praise for the “heady player” who came up with a clutch interception at the one-yard line. Unfortunately, the Bucs couldn’t capitalize getting stuffed for a safety but the swiss army knife of the defensive backfield looked good in his season debut.
Three down
WR Mike Evans
While he did bounce back in the second half, Evans had a first half to forget. He had four drops on the night including one in the endzone and one on third down early in the game. He recorded his third touchdown in as many games, but if he is looking for Cooper Kupp money he needs to make those catches he dropped.
VIDEO: Buccaneers’ Mike Evans Makes Insane One-Handed Catch From Baker Mayfield
RB Rachaad White
It was a tough night for Rachaad White. He had a costly fumble and just couldn’t get anything established in the ground game. His 38 yards on the night were his worst numbers as a starter and his 2.7 yards per carry were his second lowest of his career. While the blame doesn't fall squarely on his shoulders, he has tried to make too many big plays instead of just grinding out what was available.
C Robert Hainsey
It was another poor game for Bucs center Robert Hainsey. He was pushed around on nearly every play by the Eagles' formidable defensive line rotation. The second-year starter had trouble holding his blocks and got little to no push in the running game. Additionally, he allowed plenty of pressure up the gut to force Mayfield off his spot and bail from the pocket and get rid of the ball sooner than he would’ve liked.
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