The aftermath: Week 10 – Tampa Bay/Seattle

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 21, Seattle Seahawks 16 (Nov. 13)

Welcome back – I am sure you’re going to read this with vigor! Two weeks in a row and finally, a complete game from Tom Brady’s Bucca … I mean the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Understand that it was great to see the run game in rare form! It was executed almost perfectly. Raccad White was given his opportunities and he performed really well. I saw the Bucs staff stay patient and continue to run the ball. I saw a little creativity from the offensive staff and the Bucs’ defense played in a form I haven’t seen since week 1 through 3. Let the praise begin.

The Bucs defense played well. I mean really well – we all know that. Devin White played pissed off, and boy did I like that! He played fast, he hit holes or gaps and made plays. In fact the defense all around played better than I expected. I really don’t care how many yards they give up. They can give up 1,000 yards and it makes no nevermind to me. You can run up those stats all you want. The stat that wins you games is points put on the board.

Plus, the Bucs got back University of Minnesota alumni Antoine Winfield, which is a huge boost (yeah, he and I went to the same college). The defense is getting back to form, and the only thing that is disappointing is the Bucs are going into the bye week. It is much needed, but they’re on a roll. I would like to see them keep going with this momentum.

I still have my concerns with #9, Tryon-Soyinka – I still don’t trust him just yet. The second half of the game the Seahawks were coached up, and seemed to have the Bucs defense on their heels. Extremely concerned that the coaches got out-coached again in the second half. However, the players flew around and contained them.

The Seahawks’ run game was almost nonexistent; although QB Geno Smith played a good game, it wasn’t good enough. It was exciting to watch the coaching and planning going into this game. Which brings me to the offense.

The linemen were coming off the ball. Schematically the offense looked sharp. The starting (or should be starting) running back Raccad White looked fantastic, and Leonard Fournette looked better in the backup role until he was sidelined with a hip injury. When the Bucs offense came out in the second half, it usually had only one rush attempt. After that they seemed to want Brady to throw 25 more times.

I sat there and wondered, were they going to get away from the run game like usual and have Tom Terrific pad his stats? That’s a slippery slope, and it seems to be a recipe for disaster. Thankfully they did stick with the run and stayed with the run game for the better part of the second half. This was new, but this formula worked. They tried a trick play but it didn’t work out well. I didn’t mind it at all. The offense saw an opportunity they thought was there and they tried it.

Brady played well with 22-29 attempts, and a couple TDs with one interception. This is more like it, minus the interception. The offense had 44 rushing attempts with 22 attempts for 105 yards from R. White. This has to feel good when your team plays a complete game.

There isn’t really much to say about the game Sunday. The Bucs didn’t make any excuses, they were more concerned about what they do, not the team they played. What’s crazy is they had to go all the way to Munich, Germany to find their identity. A running game and fast defense. Who would think!?

Next up, the Cleveland Browns! Speaking of a run game (insert devilish smile). See ya in a couple weeks!

Former defensive end Stylez White played for the Houston Texans, Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, Washington Redskins, Chicago Bears and Orlando Predators. He was on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defense from 2007 to 2010.