What to Expect from the Buccaneers’ Pass Rush and Pass Defense in 2015

June 26, 2015   ·   Jason Kanno   ·   Jump to comments

Lovie Smith's return to Tampa Bay last year failed to immediately resurrect the Buccaneers' Super Bowl-caliber defense. Pass rush or lack thereof was a key contributor the Bucs' struggles last season. The 2015 season could be the turning point for a defensive renaissance for the pass rush and the defense generally.
The Tampa 2 defense—and Smith's iteration in particular—relies on the defense's ability to generate a pass rush with just the front four defensive linemen. This allows the back seven to fall into zone coverage and both prevent big plays and force more turnovers, a hallmark of Smith's defenses in Chicago.
The defensive line must have a consistent 3-technique defensive tackle disrupting the opposing offensive line's interior so that the defensive ends can win one-on-one matchups on the outside.
Under Tony Dungy, DT Warren Sapp wreaked havoc on offensive lines and quarterbacks alike. By collapsing the center of the line, Sapp kept quarterbacks from st...

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