The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense ranked 15th overall in the NFL in 2019, allowing 343.9 yards per game. It was a huge improvement over 2018, when the Bucs finished 27th (383.4 ypg allowed). Tampa Bay also had the league’s top rushing defense in 2019, and with Todd Bowles sticking around as defensive coordinator, there’s no telling how great this D could be next season.
It’d be a return to the glory days for the Bucs in many ways, since during their early run of dominance in the 2000s, which included their championship season of 2002, they were known for their stellar defenses. Running the defense back then was former coordinator Monte Kiffin, father of Lane. Kiffin was one of the great defensive minds in the game, and this stat proves it.
Take a look.
There are so many great stats from the Monte Kiffin era but here’s one of my favorites: From 10/29/00 through 11/9/03 the Bucs defense had at least one sack and at least one takeaway in 50 straight games. Can you imagine expecting to get a turnover EVERY game?
— Scott Smith (@ScottSBucs) February 22, 2020
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