Bucs at Texans: Most Disappointing In Week 2

Every kicker goes through slumps, but those slumps are something many of them do not get to see play through. For instance, Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo was benched in favor of Parker Romo on Sunday night after his missed field goal against Tampa Bay in Week 1. Not saying it is time to make a similar move, but it even being a possibility is something you would have been hard-pressed to believe before this year.

The special teams issues went deeper than that, too.

In the fourth quarter, punter Riley Dixon appeared to casually boot the ball, and it was blocked by Texans fullback Jakob Johnson. That gave Houston the ball on the Tampa Bay 35-yard line and they were able to get a field goal to make it a 14-13 game.

If that was not enough, the punt unit also gave up a 53-yard return to rookie wide receiver/punt returner Jaylin Noel late in the game. That set up a go-ahead touchdown, and it would’ve cost the Bucs the game if not for Baker Mayfield and the offense coming through with heroics late.

Special teams are what can often win and lose games, and while the Bucs pulled off an improbable victory, they cannot afford for this unit to continue having struggles.

ILB SirVocea Dennis Covering Texans RBs

What stood out early in Monday night’s game was the Texans’ running backs ripping off long catch-and-run plays. First, it was Nick Chubb, who galloped to pick up 27 yards on a screen. Then, backup Woody Marks ripped off a 37-yard gain on the second drive.

Responsible for covering them on each play?

Bucs inside linebacker SirVocea Dennis.

Dennis was pushed slightly to the side in pursuit of Chubb as he received the screen pass from C.J. Stroud, but the second one was a case of the third-year linebacker not being prepared and getting caught looking. Marks cut to the left, leaving “Voss” off guard and not in position. That gave him plenty of open space to head up the sideline and pick up yards in bunches.

Last year, the pass defense struggled to cover opposing tight ends up the middle of the field. Now, the weakness appears to be covering opposing running backs who are finding success on the sidelines. Dennis cannot afford to keep letting these plays happen, and I am sure head coach Todd Bowles will be driving that point home to him after the game.

Bucs 4-Man Pass Rush

Todd Bowles got creative dialing up blitzes as he attempted to throw off C.J. Stroud. Bowles did not want to see a repeat of Stroud’s 2023 performance that really put him on the map as a promising young quarterback.

While Tampa Bay’s defense did get pressure in the form of successfully sending safety Tykee Smith home for a sack and telling SirVocea Dennis and rookie cornerback Benjamin Morrison to pin their ears back, the four-man pass rush was largely lackluster. What made matters worse was that the defensive front suffered a blow with defensive tackle Calijah Kancey leaving the game with a pectoral injury.

Who would have thought reserve defensive tackle Greg Gaines would have the only sack in the first half over the likes of outside linebackers Haason Reddick and Yaya Diaby? That’s telling of the outside linebackers failing to get home for much of this one, especially as they went up against rookie left tackle Aireontae Ersery and right tackle Tytus Howard.

In the words of NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, this had the making of being “barbeque chicken” for them. They could have feasted, but instead, the four-man pass rush was left famished.

OLB Yaya Diaby

I mentioned Yaya Diaby above, but I wanted to point out that in this game, he looked invisible. Diaby’s name was first mentioned making a tackle in the third quarter. For what was already said about the four-man pass rush, there was no excuse for him to be as quiet as he was in this one. For all of the optimism about Diaby having a year three breakout after Larry Foote returned to coach the outside linebacker room, it has been a quiet start for the group, especially “Sub Zero.”

ILB Lavonte David

This was a big game for inside linebacker Lavonte David coming in, as it is the 200th NFL game of his storied career. David came through with rookie defensive tackle Elijah Roberts for a sack, but otherwise, the 35-year-old disappointed. “LVD” failed to impact the game otherwise, finishing with just two tackles and dropping an absolute gimmie of an interception.