There was a long period of time that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn’t have a player with 10 or more sacks in a season. From 2006 until 2017, no Buccaneer could eclipse double digits in that category. Jason Pierre-Paul achieved it in 2018 with 12.5 on the season. Most recently Shaquil Barrett achieved it and also led the NFL in sacks last season. Fast forward to 2020 and the Buccaneers are looking at having possibly two players hit that double-digit sack number.
Two Bucs with 10+ sacks in the same season? Jason Pierre-Paul has 9.5, Shaq Barrett has 8 with 3 games left.
Bucs have done that just twice ever — Warren Sapp and Marcus Jones in 2000, and Sapp and Chidi Ahanotu in 1997. No 10-sack seasons from 2006-17, now maybe 4 in 3 years.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) December 14, 2020
As Greg Auman mentions, this has only been done twice in the Buccaneers’ history. It’s not far fetched to think both Pierre-Paul and Barrett could get 10 or more with three games remaining. Just looking at their week 15 and 17 opponent, the Atlanta Falcons, both players could easily get the sacks they need in those two weeks. Atlanta’s Matt Ryan has been sacked the sixth most times this season with 33 and has taken his far share of hits also.
Ultimately the Buccaneers’ secondary will have to do their part to help those players get those sacks. Remember the old saying, “the secondary setups up the pass rush.” Now is the time that these play makers need to make their presence known on the field. Teams want to get real hot on defense in December in hopes that the momentum carries over into the playoffs.
Wait, playoffs? Did I just say playoffs?!
