Brutal would be the word to describe how the Buccaneers lost this afternoon to the New York Giants. After being up by 18 points at halftime and the game all but wrapped up, the Buccaneers defense began to crack. Not from the defensive line and the historic performance of Shaq Barrett. Not from the stellar play of the linebacker group, led by Lavonte David. And no, not from the three missed kicks by rookie, Matt Gay. The Buccaneers lost today’s game on the heels of pitiful play from the secondary.
Give The Rook A Break
Before the hysteria of your post-loss rage gets the best of you, just think about it. Yes, Matt Gay missed an early PAT that he should of made and of course this article would have a different sentiment if the 34-yard game-winner went through the uprights. But let’s not forget that Gay’s second PAT was clearly blocked. If he sinks that second PAT, the Buccaneers are playing in overtime right now. What Gay didn’t have any part of was the 336 yards and two touchdowns that were given up by a rookie in his first NFL start.
Corners Failed To Step Up
One note from this loss that clearly needs to be addressed is a solidified starting corner. Too many times throughout the game I saw rookie safety, Mike Edwards, flying in from the back end to make a play on a guy who broke several cornerback tackles. Something needs to change. It’s starting to feel like crossing routes are the Buc’s corner’s kryptonite.
Shaq Barrett is superhuman, but he can’t sack the quarterback and play corner too. The defensive line, played an admirable game today and kept the pressure on Daniel Jones all night. The secondary, via M.J Stewart, Vernon Hargreaves and Carlton Davis gave up too many yards when they needed to step up.
It Gets No Easier From Here
With the loss, the Buccaneers fall to 1-2 and are now faced with a daunting 49 day road stretch. With their next two games being on the road against the Los Angeles Rams and the New Orleans Saints, the Bucs secondary needs to find some common ground and cover it it quickly. It gets no easier from here on out.
Source: buccaneers.com, NFL.com
Photo credit: buccaneers.com
