Tag: midseason grades

Bucs midseason grades: Defense

How do you think the Bucs defense has been?

Since the arrival of Todd Bowles, the Buccaneers defense has been a consistently strong group powered by a stout run defense and aggressive blitz packages. This year, the consistency of the unit has not been as evident, as the Bucs have allowed the fifth-most pass yards (2235) in the league at the halfway point, despite already having their bye in Week 5.

Tampa Bay’s defense has largely survived off high leverage plays, forcing 15 turnovers, and being one of the best red zone defenses in the league. Much of their struggles have stemmed from soft zone coverage, leading to more big plays than are typical with a Bowles defense.

The talent from the Bucs’ Super Bowl run is still mostly on the roster, but the consistency is not. With an offense diminished by roster attrition and a rookie playcaller, the defense has so far been unsuccessful in keeping the team afloat in a winnable NFC South.

Here are the midseason grades for the Bucs’ 2023 defense:

Bucs midseason grades: Offense

How do you think the offense has done so far this year at the halfway point?

At the season’s halfway point, the Buccaneers are where many expected them to be: on track for a high pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. After a hot 3-1 start, the Bucs have lost four straight games since their bye week. At the heart of their struggles is an offense still searching for an identity and any semblance of consistency.

Tampa Bay surprised with their early success, particularly behind the unexpectedly strong play of Baker Mayfield. However, from the very beginning, there were signs that the Bucs were in for a rough ride this season. Their run game is the worst in the NFL, ranking dead last in yards per attempt and rushing first downs.

Offensive coordinator Dave Canales’ inexperience has been evident throughout the season as he struggled with play sequencing and compensating for the disastrous run game. Still, Canales is a definitive upgrade from Byron Leftwich, displaying more creativity and modernity in his play designs and overall structure.

Overall, the Bucs offense is at best average this season. While they have many talented players, the Tom Brady hangover has clearly hit certain aspects of the roster and the coaching staff has not figured out how maximize the unit’s efficiency.

Hear are the midseason grades for Tampa Bay’s offense:

ESPN’s midseason grade of Oklahoma’s Brent Venables shortsighted

ESPN’s grade of Brent Venables at the midway point of 2022 doesn’t see the big picture. Good things are still coming for the Oklahoma Sooners.

The first year of the Brent Venables era hasn’t gone as well as Venables or anybody else would have expected. After three wins to open the season, the Sooners dropped their next three, the first three games in Big 12 play, and gave up 40+ points each week.

ESPN graded each head coach in their new locale at the midway point of the season. Though it’s still early in his tenure, ESPN didn’t look too favorably on Venables after giving the Oklahoma Football program a B+ for the hire at the time Venables was brought on board. ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg gave Venables a D+ (ESPN+).

The grade might seem harsh, as Oklahoma played almost two games without star quarterback Dillon Gabriel and faced other personnel challenges. The Sooners also rebounded nicely on Saturday against short-handed Kansas, piling up points and yards and limiting some of the defensive meltdowns that had surfaced in the previous three games. But what happened against TCU and particularly Texas is unforgivable for a program such as Oklahoma and a coach with Venables’ credentials on defense. Oklahoma endured its first three-game losing streak since 1998 and absorbed its worst shutout loss in team history, while allowing its highest points total ever to Texas. Although the Sooners bounced back in Gabriel’s return on Saturday, they still allowed 42 points to a Kansas team playing with its backup quarterback. “You’ve got to continue to plant seeds of belief, not seeds of doubt and destruction,” Venables told me in September. “These players, they expect to win. We want them to play well. You’ve got to find that delicate balance as you’re building a culture and standards. You’ve got to nurture it too. In the middle of competition, in the middle of failure, mental stress and chaos, your job as a coach is to help in telling the truth, so you’re learning personalities and how to get the most out of guys and pushing the right buttons.” – Rittenberg, ESPN

You’re right, Adam. It is a bit harsh. Expectations were probably too high for a team that lost six defensive starters, five of which were selected in the 2022 NFL draft. Three of those five were key figures to your defensive front that accounts for the lack of pressure the Sooners are creating from their defensive line. The losses of Nik Bonitto, Isaiah Thomas, and Perrion Winfrey weigh heavier than they did at the start of the season.

Throughout the losing streak, Venables discussed the need for the players to be better and for the coaches to improve as well. In particular, there were things on the defensive side of the ball that needed to improve.

While the Sooners gave up 42 points in their win over Kansas, they had a stretch where they stopped the Kansas offense on four-straight possessions with three punts and an interception mixed in for good measure. It was enough for the Sooners’ offense to jump out to a 35-21 halftime lead and control the game the rest of the way.

Brent Venables knows how to coach. He’s been doing it a very long time and has spent time under some of the best in the business over the last 30 years. There’s little doubt that Oklahoma will be a formidable program moving forward. It may take this year and next to get everything established that he wants in Norman, but the defense will come around. He’s been coaching defense at a high level for far too long for it not to evolve into one of the best in the country in a few years’ time.

This is just year one. The results in year one aren’t great, but good thing we don’t judge a book before we reach it’s climax. The “fast, suffocating defense” is on the way.

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Texas Football: Midseason grades for each position group

Grading the Longhorns through six games.

The Texas Longhorns season has been a bit of a roller coaster through six games. The Horns are 4-2 with a close loss to No. 1 Alabama and an overtime defeat at the hands of Texas Tech.

Texas is proving to be a much-improved team compared to a year ago. Outside of the disaster in Lubbock against the Red Raiders, an argument could be made Texas has played well in every single ballgame.

Steve Sarkisian’s team is only a couple of plays away from being undefeated at this point in time.

Texas is building some serious momentum after a 49-0 romp of rival Oklahoma. The Longhorns finally have starting quarterback Quinn Ewers back from injury and look to make some serious noise down the stretch of the year. The goal of playing for a Big 12 title is certainly still within reach for this squad.

As we reach the halfway point of the season, here are the grades of how each position group has faired so far in 2022.

Grading Alabama’s offensive position groups at the halfway point

Let’s look at how the Alabama offensive position units have graded out at the halfway point of the season!

Unfortunately, we are already at the halfway point of the college football season. After last week’s loss to Texas A&M, Alabama sits at No. 5 in the country with a 5-1 record.

Since we have made it to the halfway point, it is time to give a midseason grade to each of the position groups. Today we are going to look at the offensive position groups. Let’s get started!

Quarterbacks A-

It’s hard to find many flaws in Bryce Young’s game at the halfway point. Young has helped carry an offense that has struggled in the offensive line at times and has also had an inexcusable amount of drops.

Two areas of improvement for Young are long ball accuracy and using his legs more to extend drives.

Even as such a young player, Young is one of the better players on the team.

Behind Young are a couple of guys in Paul Tyson and Jalen Milroe. Neither has played a ton, but when Milroe has gotten a chance, you have seen the raw potential that he has.

Running Backs B+

Brian Robinson Jr. has been flat-out dominant the last couple of weeks for the Tide. Over the last couple of games, Robinson has totaled 60 carries for 318 yards and four touchdowns.

Unfortunately, behind Robinson, there has been a couple of injuries. Jase McClellan is currently injured, and so is Camar Wheaton.

Roydell Williams and Trey Sanders will need to step up to help take some of the load off of Robinson.

Wide Receivers / Tight Ends B-

Outside of Jameson Williams, this group has been really disappointing.

John Metchie, Slade Bolden, Jahleel Billingsley, Cameron Latu, and even Williams have had an inexcusable amount of dropped passes.

The group has also struggled at times to create separation from opposing defenders.

Early in the season Latu was a touchdown machine but has since fallen off a little. This group needs to step up if Alabama hopes to win the SEC and compete for another championship.

Offensive Line C+

Even the great Evan Neal can’t save this group. The lack of consistency among this group has been mind-boggling.

Chris Owens has not played at the level Alabama needs there at right tackle. It is time to start wondering if Nick Saban will try different options there. Alabama is approaching a BYE week and the head coach may wait until then before making that decision.

Overall, the offensive line needs to show tremendous improvement down the stretch.

Stay tuned to Roll Tide Wire for all the latest on the Crimson Tide!

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