The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are fresh off a week one loss. They need a big bounce back this week or else it will feel like the season is taking on water. Fortunately, they are hosting the Cleveland Browns who are among the worst teams in the NFL.
However, that does not mean that the Bucs can overlook them. Too many things need to be cleaned up from last week to assume a win against anyone. If you do something like fumble the ball away four times in a game then there isn’t an opponent that you can’t lose to.Â
Common sense is that the Bucs have to play well. They have to exploit their talent matchups and not be beaten where they don’t have an advantage. That is my focus today.
It’s not like the Browns are totally void of talent. They have some good players who can make life difficult for opponents. One such player is my focus in this week’s key matchup.
X Marks the spot! Here is my X-Factor Matchup for Buccaneers vs Browns
Aside from Baker Mayfield, last week had one clear dud for the Bucs. That would be new inside linebacker Alex Anzalone. He is a captain in his first year in Tampa and the guy who makes all the calls on defense.
So it was especially disappointing when he looked so bad in his first game with the Bucs. There were misalignments, he fell down several times, and he just didn’t look like the player that he has been over the course of his career. A bounce back game is desperately needed.
Despite playing the Browns, this will be a tough matchup for Anzalone. As the team’s primary coverage linebacker, he will have to go against one of the better young tight ends in the NFL. That would be second year pro Harold Fannin.
Fannin The Flames
As a rookie, Fannin pulled in 72 receptions for 732 yards and 6 touchdowns. Those are very impressive numbers for any tight end, let alone a rookie. He’s coming off just 21 receiving yards last week, so he will be looking for a bounce back game of his own.Â
Anzalone has to make sure that this doesn’t happen. The Bucs have been gashed by tight ends in recent years, including giving up 78 yards to Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki last week. That can’t be the case this Sunday in Tampa.
This is exactly why the Buccaneers went out and got Anzalone. Coverage from the linebacker unit has been a big problem in recent years and Anzalone has been one of the best linebackers in the NFL in that aspect. He had even gone as far to say that in Detroit he had been used for match coverage with specific targets so they didn’t take advantage of other linebackers on the roster.
We need that version of Anzalone this weekend. The guy who can run step for step with Fannin. The guy who wears the green dot and is in charge of communication on defense. This is what he was brought here to do.
…Is UndefeatedÂ
Of course the fear is that father time has come for Anzalone. He will turn 32 next week and while that isn’t incredibly old for a linebacker you never know when a guy will lose a step in his 30’s. Especially a guy who has dealt with injuries like Anzalone has over his career.
I’m not saying Anzalone is washed up. I think he can absolutely be that guy who the Bucs envisioned him being. However, if he struggled with Fannin like he did last week, then it could be a bad sign for not only this game, but the entire season.
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