Short-Term Memory is Helping Tampa’s Defensive Depth
Credit: Eamon Horwedel-Imagn Images
Calling someone a “rat” is rarely a compliment. It’s often used to describe mobsters that flipped to inform on their “family,” or perhaps low-life con artists. But what if I told you that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense was a lot like rats, and that was a good thing?
You see, amidst their extensive resume of unlikable traits, rats possess an ability that you want to see your football team have: an impressively short-term memory. On Sunday the Buccaneers’ defense, reeling from injuries that cut into their depth, displayed the short-term memory of a rat on their way to a big-time win.
Heading into Sunday’s game, the Buccaneers knew they would have their hands full dealing with Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions. The Lions were only a few plays away from representing the city of Detroit in the Super Bowl last year, and of course, beat Tampa in the postseason last year.
It didn’t matter that Antonie Winfield Jr., the anchor of their secondary, ultimately couldn’t play due to an ankle injury. Calijah Kancey, who had shown flashes of taking that big step forward this season, saw his game-time decision go the way of him sitting out. With all these, few gave the Buccaneers much of a shot to slow down the explosive Lions offense. But thanks to young, talented, hungry guys with something to prove, Tampa prevailed.
It didn’t go smoothly, though. In the second quarter, Detroit successfully executed a fake punt that got them out near midfield. Tampa’s defense thought they had successfully forced a three-and-out, but they were forced to go back on the field. The Lions had the momentum and even picked up another fourth-down conversion on the drive. But the Bucs kept fighting and eventually forced a (real) punt.
After the game, Zyon McCollum mentioned how the coaching staff instilled a simple philosophy into the team all off-season: Just worry about the next play. McCollum gave a lot of credit to that mindset.
“For us as a defense, we were just going to attack,” McCollum said. “Every single snap. If they make a play, just get to the next snap. If we make a play, get to the next snap. And everyone shares a collective mindset to attack every single play, every single ball, every single time.”
If it wasn’t for short-term memory, the Buccaneers’ defense could have easily folded as the Lions continued to move the ball up and down the field. After all, the Lions’ offense put up 478 yards of total offense, compared to 231 yards for the Bucs. It’s easy to get caught up in bleeding yards for most of the game.
Coming out of halftime, the Lions opened up with a 20-yard pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown, and as an insult to injury, William Gholston picked up a roughing the passer penalty. On the drive’s second play, wide receiver Jameson Williams took it around the right side for 15 yards. It looked like the Lions were finally in business, and that it was only a matter of time before the young, inexperienced defense finally would break, allowing Detroit to dance to an easy victory.
"I can't say enough about our defense. That is not an easy team to play against."
Baker Mayfield is with @LauraOkmin after the @Buccaneers win in Detroit 🙌 pic.twitter.com/AJaYWROZjR
— NFL on FOX Podcast (@NFLonFOXPod) September 15, 2024
Instead, the Lions’ offense stepped in the red zone like they did all afternoon (they scored only one touchdown in seven trips inside the 20) and Tampa forced them to settle for the field goal.
But it was the Bucs’ last defensive possession that was the most impressive. Once again, the Lions moved the ball with ease down the field… until they got into the red zone. Once again, the young Bucs forgot about the bad plays, then stepped up to make the necessary plays. The defense took away every bit of daylight in the end zone and forced Goff to look underneath to Jahmyr Gibbs for two plays in a row. Both plays ended short of the sticks.
Even though some players played out of position — like undrafted second-year starter Christian Izien, who replaced Winfield at safety — they were confident that they were ready for anything.
“I think it was important just for everybody to play together yesterday, you know, whether you’re playing your normal position or playing another position,” said Izien. “Trust the preparation we do here throughout the week.”
A lot of that preparation for the team included moving on from the previous play. Without that mindset, the Buccaneers aren’t heading into Week 3 with an undefeated record. The defense’s play between the 20s needs to be cleaned up (and getting healthy will help with that), but if they can continue to play with the short-term memory of a rat, the sky is the limit for this squad.
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