Btw- this is NOT a keep flus post. I just think the defence gets a lot of blame because of the stigma of last year sticking to it. Some of which is misdirected.
Since Flus has been calling plays in week 2, the DEFENCE has given up
20 points vs tampa (-7 from pick 6)
41 points vs chiefs (easily could have been more tbf)
24 points vs broncos (-7 fumble 6)
20 commanders
Vikings 12 (-7 fumble 6)
Raiders 13
Chargers 30
Saints 24
Panthers 6 (-7 punt return TD)
= 21.11 defensive points allowed per game.
Do I like soft zones? No. Is this skewed by getting to play some garbage teams and kc taking mercy? A little. Is the defence as bad as it looks? No. Giving up the underneath routes for free gets you picked apart by good qbs, but pressure should change that, and even still, the defence is serviceable. It looks bad with missed tackles, easy completions, and no pressure, but it has been keeping the offence in games the offence can’t finish.
This defence gets blamed a lot. Situationally, doesn’t pass the eye test, but it probably isn’t as bad as you think when you account for scores the offence spotted them. I also think the green bay game left a bad impression, but alan williams isn’t calling plays anymore after he made peanut cry.
There are a lot of stats that show the defense has been good enough. We’ve all seen this before, though. This is what this defense is. They do well against bad teams and can’t hang against good ones. The stats get padded. Look at the two games against real QBs, KC, and LA. They got absolutely destroyed. This is the shit that used to happen to Lovie. This we he got fired even though he had a winning record that year. Anytime the Tampa 2 has been successful, it’s been on the backs of hall of fame level players (or players that played at that level for a couple seasons. You got the Sapp and Urlacher as the main difference makers. Then, there are a ton of other guys like Lynch and Barber, and I’m sure I’m forgetting a couple of those Tampa guys. Briggs, Tillman, Mike Brown, Tommie Harris. I can’t think of an instance where the Tampa 2 has done anything else of significance. In this NFL. It’s never going to get us anywhere. Because in it’s history it’s only won 1 superbowl.
Compare it to 2018, where the Bears had 1 hall of fame-ish caliber of player with Mack and then just good - above average players at most of the positions. That’s sustainable. That’s a defense you can pair with a good offense and win a championship because it was adapted to players’ strengths.