Logan Hall fought his way off the turf yesterday on this play to force a fumble from No. 20, Cardinals running back Bam Knight, as he entered Hall’s gap.
Joe would love the amateur and professional film gurus reading to turn on the All-22 and tell Joe two Bucs defensive players were not loafing on the first play from scrimmage in the second half yesterday.
It was Arizona ball at their 42 yard line.
Again, first play from scrimmage in the third quarter. Everybody is rested. Everybody is seemingly pumped up on sidelines after a coach or player speech, or just the energy that comes following the refreshment of halftime.
Cardinals running back Bam Knight took a handoff and escaped Tykee Smith, who was in the backfield on run blitz. Knight stiff-armed cornerback Zyon McCollum at the line of scrimmage and broke the run outside.
McCollum got up and, rather than sprint after the guy who broke his tackle, McCollum jogged in the direction of Knight to feign chasing him down. This was not a young and hungry defender playing with his hair on fire. Frankly, it should embarrass any fan watching.
Vita Vea was hustling on the play. YaYa Diaby was not.
Joe challenges anyone to watch the film detail how Diaby and McCollum were giving acceptable effort. This was not the fourth quarter with players gassed.
The Bucs need to figure out how this happens and pull the plug on it.
Ironically, on the very next play, defensive tackle Logan Hall personified heart and want-to.
He was double-teamed on run play and lost his footing, and was then pinned to the ground by Cardinals guard Isaiah Adams. Hall kept fighting, found his way off the ground and knocked the ball out of Knight’s hands has he ran into hole created in Hall’s gap. Smith recovered for a Bucs turnover.
It was the most underrated defensive play of the game.
The Bucs defense, Joe believes, would benefit from a much hungrier workforce.