BUCCANEERS 101

Yes, you read the headline correctly. It is not a typo.

Through three games this season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the league's best run defense.

The same defense that ranked dead last in the NFL last season by allowing a franchise-worst 156.1 rushing yards per game has transformed into a dominant run-stopping machine. The Bucs are only giving up 47.3 rushing yards and just 2.3 yards per carry so far in 2012.

In Week 1, the Bucs held running back DeAngelo Williams to negative 1-yard and quarterback Cam Newton to just four yards on the ground. Against the Cowboys, running back DeMarco Murray had just 38 yards on 18 carries.

It has been amazing to watch the Bucs turn things around like they have. Last season, Tampa Bay's rush defense had holes so big a motorhome could drive through them. Now they are playing stout defense and making life difficult for opposing ball carriers.

But the Bucs will be tested in a big way when the Redskins and their second-ranked rushing offense comes to town. Washington is averaging 180.7 rushing yards per game.

Leading Washington's ground attack is rookie Alfred Morris, who has 263 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Also, No. 2 overall pick Robert Griffin III has been terrorizing defenses with his legs just as much as he has with his accurate arm. The former Heisman Trophy winner has 209 yards on the ground to go along with three rushing scores.

It will be like when the immoveable object meets the unstoppable force. And the Bucs' rush defense must remain immoveable if they went to get back to .500 on Sunday.

 

Tags: Football, NFL, Robert Griffin III, Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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