Field Gulls
When the Seattle Seahawks’ schedule was released and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were on the list, it was already known it would be a tough game. Tampa Bay may not be a top Super Bowl contender, but they are an extremely competent team.
They don’t have TJ Watt or Nick Bosa on the defensive line, but they are extremely aggressive. They have success against the run and pass. On offense, Baker Mayfield isn’t among the best QBs in the league, but he’s more than capable of leading his team to victory. The team’s last two OCs have become HCs; Dave Canales and Liam Coem have respectively taken over with the Panthers and Jaguars, and Josh Grizzard is expected to be in the running for head coaching at some point in the future.
Despite numerous injuries, including starting left tackle Tristan Wirfs (who only returned in the last game), their two starting guards, star receiver Mike Evans, and defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, the team is 3-1. Their only loss was against the Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, by just six points, and they held onto their chances of winning until the end of the game.
It’s going to be a great matchup.
Let’s go preview this game!
Mayfield is third in the league in passing TDs with eight, and he’s only thrown one interception, which came late in the last game against Eagles. He’s capable of making all types of throws and good at escaping the pocket.
Despite being the fourth-most pressured QB in the league with 66 pressures, he’s 12th in sacks and has the seventh-most rushing yards among QBs with 129. More than half of the Bucs’ runs of more than 10 yards were scrambles by him. It’s worth remembering that against Kyler Murray, especially late in the game, the defense conceded advances in these types of situations.
This is the danger. The Seahawks defense has been able to consistently pressure the opposing QB. The big problem is that the team has difficulty converting these pressures into sacks. Mayfield has been spectacular, buying time in the pocket and gaining yards.
Emeka Egbuka (third in receiving TDs with four) has been a recurring target at all three levels of the field. With Chris Godwin’s return, attention will need to be divided, and Egbuka can find space.
Something that has been recurring is the use of intermediate routes and “isolating” Egbuka on a deeper route. Mayfield has also been using the pump-fake technique extensively to manipulate the safeties. It’s worth noting that Julian Love may not be available in this game, which would be a huge loss.
PS: Charlie Heck is the second OL in pressures allowed in the league with 18 in three games, behind only the Browns’ Cornelius Lucas, who has conceded 28 (18 in the last two games). This should be an avenue worth exploring, as the first EDGE sack only came in Week...
