Defense does it for Buccaneers

Sep 19, 2017 - 1:16 AM TAMPA, Fla. -- Don't look now, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have a dominant defense again.

It's sort of in Tampa Bay's DNA to play good defense. But on Sunday, the Bucs looked elite in forcing three of the Bears' four turnovers and turning them into 20 points.

That included a pick-six off Bears quarterback Mike Glennon by cornerback Robert McClain, his first NFL touchdown.

But Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter wasn't entirely happy.

"I said last night, when you play the perfect game, you can stop worrying about what you have to work on but I haven't seen it yet," Koetter said. "Everything about yesterday was really good. Exciting way to start the season. Unique way to start the season based on the set of circumstances. At the same time, that was just one game. I just think we all have a tendency to be way over the top for the good or for the bad. The reality is somewhere in the middle. Every game takes on its own life.

"You can't go into the game expecting to get four turnovers in the first half. That's not going to happen every week. So we better figure out a way to play better when we don't get those."

If you are a Bucs fan, this is very good news. What it means is that the standards are not just sky high but headed to an ozone layer or two.

Besides, one could argue the Bucs have been home schooled long enough.

This is not to suggest that Koetter isn't happy about the Bucs' season-opening win over the Bears Sunday. On the contrary. There was a lot of angst about how the team would react to so many days off and the distraction of Hurricane Irma that forced the postponement of their game at Miami Sept. 10 until Nov. 19. Conditioning - or the lack thereof - was a big concern and indeed Bucs players suffered cramps and dehydration Sunday.

Koetter has no trouble rattling off all the things he liked about the Bucs performance Sunday.

"Well, obviously, the defense shut down the run," Koetter said. "Only giving up seven points. Three turnovers in the first half. All the good things. Offensively, we did a good job on third down. Only one penalty, which is a big step in that area. No turnovers by the quarterback, that's a big positive. Special teams, punt team continues to do a good job. The takeaway, it as a nice play by those two guys. Made all of our field goals."

But Koetter didn't like the way the Bucs closed out the game. They gave up too many passing yards. They lost a fumble in the red zone. It could've been more efficient.

--The Bucs were only ahead 3-0 and punting in the final minute of the first quarter when cornerback Ryan Smith saw the punt bounce again and again and wondered: Would Bears rookie Tarik Cohen really try to field the punt?

"I didn't think he would go for it, but when he did, I made a play," said Smith, who knocked the ball loose, and linebacker Cameron Lynch jumped on the loose ball at the 13-yard line, setting up a Jameis Winston touchdown pass to Mike Evans on the next play for a 10-0 lead.

Smith and Cohen go way back - both are from rival I-AA programs, with Smith at North Carolina Central and Cohen at North Carolina A&T. Smith beat him twice in college, the first time pouncing on a Cohen fumble at the 1-yard line to thwart a game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter. He said he liked facing Cohen again, even if it wasn't completely reciprocated.

"It was cool going against him again. After the game, he said he was tired of seeing me," Smith said. "He's my boy though. It was good seeing him out there. I made a play, but I'm just doing my job."

--Mike Evans caught seven passes for 93 yards and a touchdown Sunday on just nine targets. What was most encouraging for him was how often he drew single coverage, a testament to the options added to the Bucs offense that opponents must now account for.

"The last couple of seasons, the Bears double-teamed me crazy," Evans said. "I probably saw maybe one or two double-teams today. It was great. We had a lot of one-on-one opportunities. We have a lot of talent, so all we have to do is beat the one-on-one matchups. I hope it's like this every week, but it's obviously not."

NOTES: CB Robert McClain, 29, played his 81st NFL game Sunday but scored his first touchdown, intercepting Mike Glennon's pass and returning it 47 yards for a touchdown. ... LB Kwon Alexander aggravated a hamstring strain and did not finish Sunday's game against the Bears. He did play enough to record his fourth career interception. ... LB Kendell Beckwith moved over from strong-side linebacker to middle linebacker Sunday, replacing injured Kwon Alexander. He finished with five tackles. ... WR DeSean Jackson had the ball thrown to him three times, but there were no completions. He caught the first one out of bounds near the end zone. The second was thrown over Jackson's head. The third was thrown over the wrong shoulder. ... G Kevin Pamphile split reps Sunday with Evan Smith at left guard Sunday.