Good Start for Third Down Defense

Last year the Bucs defense was one of the worst defenses in the league and struggled to get stops consistently each week. One of the biggest issues was third down defense in which the Bucs allowed their opponents to convert 46% of the time. That is just awful and it usually means the defense is on the field too much which leads to wearing out as an unit as the season goes on. Probably one of the reasons why the Bucs crumbled at the end of last season losing four straight to end the year.

The good news is that was last year and the Bucs have a new defensive coordinator in Mike Smith who preaches third down defense and getting off the field. When Smith was hired he listed 3 goals for his defense this season per buccaneers.com.

“What you have to have to be successful on the defensive side of the football is you’ve got to have the ability to stop the run when people are trying to run the football because, if not, it’s a slow death,” Smith said. “The other thing that you have to do is you have to be able to take the ball away and you have to be able to win on third down. 

Well the Bucs did two of those things in their season opener against the Falcons in which they held their offense to a 23% third down conversion rate and only 52 yards rushing. The Falcons were 3 of 13 on third downs which is outstanding by the Bucs defense and that is what we call winning football. It starts with better first and second down defense which the Bucs forced Atlanta into more 3rd and longs which allowed the defense to force checkdowns. If the Bucs can hold teams under 30% conversion rate on third down, they are going to be successful more often than not.