The Seahawks kick off the second half of their season Sunday when they host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. To find out more about this week's opponent, to Buccaneers.com senior writer Scott Smith, who answered five questions about the Bucs.
Q: It's been a crazy month or so of travel for Tampa Bay with trips to L.A., London and now Seattle, plus a couple of other road games. How big of a toll has that taken on the team/how are they handling it?
Smith: It's a little weird to think that this weekend's trip to Seattle is finally the end of this run because it has been a hot topic around here since the day the schedule dropped in April. For anyone who doesn't know the details, the Buccaneers played a home game in Week Three on September 22 and then didn't have another game scheduled for Raymond James Stadium until November 10. In between: four road games, one outing that was technically a "home game" in London, a bye week and approximately 20,400 air miles traveled, which is just a bit less than the team flew in the 2017-18 seasons combined.
The initial reaction to that stretch in the schedule was, shall we say, an unhappy one, but after voicing their displeasure the Bucs got right to planning. Bruce Arians has assembled a large "sports science" staff, and that crew worked hard to find ways to help the players adjust to all the travel and time zone changes. It seems to have worked. There have been few complaints from the players and Arians said on Wednesday that this stretch has not been worse than he expected. That said, the trip to Seattle is really not that much shorter than the one to London, but in the opposite direction, so Arians believes the real test – the "telltale," as he said on Wednesday – will be how the players feel next week after finally returning home. So we'll see.
Of course, from a bottom-line perspective, maybe it has taken a toll. After a rousing win over the Rams in L.A. in Week Four, the Bucs have dropped three in a row. A win in Seattle to conclude the trip would be helpful, and this team is definitely still chasing the same goals, but even 3-5 is a tough place from which to start a second-half playoff run.
Q: The Bucs have turned the ball over 17 times this year, including 11 times in the past two games, how big of a concern is that, and what needs to be done to clean that up?
Smith: You don't have to watch a minute of tape to know that is an enormous concern. It is virtually impossible to win when you're turning the ball over around five times a game. Those 11 giveaways have masked the fact that the Bucs' defense has played better in the last two weeks, allowing fewer than 275 yards to both the Panthers and the Titans. Unfortunately, in those same two games the Bucs' opponents had scoring drives of 10, six, -2, 36, eight and six yards. The defense has simply been put in too many bad situations, and while it would like to have been more sturdy in the red zone, particularly in last week's loss in Nashville, there's only so much it can do.
How do you fix it? It would be nice if there was one simple answer, but the causes of these turnovers have been varied and plentiful. As an example, Jameis Winston was credited with a fumble in the last game when the snap came too early and hit him in the facemask before he was even looking at center, and that early snap was the result of a bit of miscommunication between linemen. It's hard to see that one coming. Winston also had two interceptions in that game but Arians was adamant that both were the result of route-running mistakes by receivers. Winston definitely made some mistakes in his five-interception game in London, but there were protection issues in that contest as well. It's just been a lot of little things, and it's those little things that have the Bucs where they are in the standings, even though they believe themselves to be a better team than the record indicates. Here, allow me to let Winston explain:
"Yeah, little things will always get you. That is the difference between a great team and a good team. To win, you have to be great on Sunday, you can't just be good. We are typically good. That is why we are 2-5 right now, but we've got to keep working to be great. We [need] to fix the little things because little things add up. One small thing is going to turn out to be a big thing. That's what we've got to focus on – doing one small thing right, finding a crumb and doing our job."
Q: Shaquil Barrett's torrid start to the season probably wasn't sustainable, but how much have teams adjusted in how they block him? And on a related note, how does Jason Pierre-Paul's return change things for the pass rush?
Smith: Yeah, you're not going to see a lot of nine-sack months, but it really wasn't a fluke. Shaq Barrett got a lot of one-on-one pass rush opportunities in September and he won them at, as you say, a rate that probably wasn't sustainable. That said, what Barrett showed in that month is what the Bucs thought he could be when they signed him in free agency and gave him a larger workshare after he had flashed in more of a rotational role in Denver. The opposition finally started to adjust in Week Five and Barrett was held without a sack in the next two games as he saw a whole lot of chips and double teams. It was inevitable, really, but it was also unlikely that he would continue to be shut out for long. Sure enough, Barrett got his 10th sack in Nashville last Sunday and he remains tied for the league lead in that category.
Jason Pierre-Paul's return probably had something to do with that. JPP didn't wait long to announce his presence – on his very first defensive snap played this season he dropped Ryan Tannehill for a sack. Later, both Barrett and Carl Nassib, the two players who took the vast majority of the edge-rushing snaps in Pierre-Paul's absence, got sacks too. The veteran pass-rusher's return should help Barrett and Nassib in a couple ways. One, opposing defenses have to respect Pierre-Paul as a threat; he also had three tackles for loss and another quarterback hit in his return. Two, the other pass rushers will see a slight reduction in their snap counts, which will hopefully keep them fresh at the end of games. Todd Bowles has a lot of different ways to deploy those three guys along with down linemen like Ndamukong Suh and Vita Vea, and there were times in last weekend's game when Pierre-Paul, Barrett and Nassib were all on the field together.
Q: Bruce Arians' Cardinals teams had more success at CenturyLink Field than most teams, is that something he's bringing up this week/hoping can help, or is it a non-factor given that he's with a different team now?
Smith: Coach Arians didn't bring that up, but someone else did during his post-practice media session on Wednesday. It's a nice note, complete with that "our house" exchange from one of his previous trips there with the Cardinals, but it probably doesn't have much relevance. Those Arizona teams also won four of their five games after bye weeks, and the Bucs just lost in that same situation.
That said, I would imagine that his experience coaching teams at CenturyLink Field will help him prepare this one to succeed in that environment, to communicate effectively despite the noise. Arians said that a lot of those games with the Cardinals were close ones that came down to the end, so the key was to hang in there, not get overwhelmed by the crowd (and the Seahawks!) and have a chance to win it at the end. That lattermost point is a big one, because it's exactly what the Buccaneers players are harping on this week, following an impassioned speech by team leader Lavonte David in the postgame locker room in Nashville. They're tired of not being the team that makes the big plays at the end of games to get the win. They want to finish better.
Q: Just looking at the numbers, it seems like it has been an odd year for Tampa's defense, which is the toughest team to run against in the NFL, but has given up a ton of passing yards and points. What's led to that discrepancy, and what's the feeling about that unit overall?
Smith: Yes, first in the league in rushing defense and 31st in passing defense is an eye-catching imbalance. The run defense is legitimately great, not just a product of game situations. In most cases, the Bucs have shut down the opposition's rushing attack from the jump, despite playing against such prolific running backs as Christian McCaffrey, Todd Gurley, Alvin Kamara, Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry. The interior-line trio of Suh, Vea and Will Gholston (with help from Beau Allen and Rakeem Nunez-Roches) has been nearly impenetrable, and those guys deserve a lot more credit than their raw statistics would imply. The front seven as a whole, with David and rookie Devin White as the inside linebackers, is coming off a very good game in Tennessee, its best of the season so far according to Arians.
The secondary is young and still finding itself, and at times has had communication issues. They've also faced a very high volume of passes because opposing teams have had to abandon the run. In Week Four the Rams essentially didn't even bother trying to run the ball; Gurley didn't get a single handoff until halfway through the second quarter. That group came back from the bye week believing it had ironed out some of those communication problems, and while there were still a few in the Titans game the coverage was clearly better. The Titans' wideouts only accounted for about 60 receiving yards, though the tight ends proved to be a bit of a problem. Cornerback Carlton Davis had three of the team's eight pass break-ups, and that didn't even count the two interceptions he had overturned by penalties. The Bucs have also made some changes in the secondary; rookie Sean Murphy-Bunting replaced M.J. Stewart as the nickel back a few games ago, and then in last week's contest Vernon Hargreaves played outside in the base defense but moved into the slot in the nickel, with Murphy-Bunting playing outside.
As for the points, I go back to the last question. The Bucs have given up three defensive touchdowns, and that averages out to three points a game right there. Otherwise there have been too many short fields, as mentioned above.
The Seahawks and the Buccaneers will meet this Sunday at CenturyLink Field for the ninth game of the 2019 season. Take a look back at photos from past games between the two teams.

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Eddie McMillan (41) during an NFL game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Oct. 17, 1976, in Tampa, Fla. (NFL Photos via AP)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Steve Largent catches a pass during game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Tampa Stadium, Oct. 17, 1976. Seahawks won, 13-10. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Brent Williams (93) gestures to fans during play an NFL pre-season football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Aug. 13, 1994 in Seattle. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)

Seattle Seahawks' Merton Hanks (36) celebrates his third quarter sack, as Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Jorge Diaz stands nearby, Sunday, Nov. 28, 1999, in Seattle. The Buccaneers won 16-3. (AP Photo/Matt Wallis)

Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander (37) is tripped up by Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Dwight Smith in the first half Sunday, Sept. 19, 2004, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Grant Wistrom (96) sacks Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Brad Johnson (14) during the Seahawks 10-6 win Sunday Sept. 19, 2004 in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Koren Robinson (81) goes horizontal to pull in a fourth-quarter pass from quarterback Matt Hasselbeck in front of Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Brian Kelly Sunday Sept. 19, 2004, in Tampa, Fla. The Seahawks defeated the Buccaneers 10-6. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Chris Simms (2) can only watch as his fourth-quarter pass is intercepted by Seattle Seahawks' Michael Boulware, foreground left, during the fourth quarter Sunday afternoon, Sept. 19, 2004, in Tampa, Fla. The Seahawks held on the beat the Buccaneers 10-6. Defending for the Buccaneers is Derrick Deese (70) as Seattle's Grant Wistrom (96) lies behind Simms. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, center, throws a touchdown pass while being defended by Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Shelton Quarles, left, and Greg Spires during the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 31, 2006, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Scott Audette)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver D.J. Hackett (18) celebrates with teammate Chris Spencer after scoring a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2006, in Tampa, Fla. Seattle won 23-7. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers fullback Mike Alstott (40) winces as he gets hit by Seattle Seahawks linebacker Kevin Bentley during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 31, 2006, in Tampa, Fla. The Seahawks won 23-7. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander, left, tries to evade Tampa Bay Buccaneers right cornerback Brian Kelly, second from left, and linebacker Derrick Brooks, second from right, in the second quarter Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007 in a NFL football game at Qwest Field in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Carnell Williams (24) tries to get past Seattle Seahawks' Darryl Tapp on a run during the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jeff Garcia (7) scrambles for six yards as Seattle Seahawks' LeRoy Hill brings him down during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 20-6. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Seattle Seahawks tight end John Carlson (89) runs in for a touchdown following a catch during the second half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008.(AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Earnest Graham (34) runs for a first down as Seattle Seahawks safety Jordan Babineaux (27) makes the tackle during the second half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)

Seattle Seahawks running back Justin Forsett (30) returns a kick past Tampa Bay Buccaneer's Ryan Clark (87) during an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Seatle Seahawks 20-10. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)

Seattle Seahawks running back Julius Jones (22) gets past Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive lineman Greg White (91) and Gaines Adams during the second half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008. Tampa Bay won 20-10. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Derrick Ward (28) in action against the Seattle Seahawks, during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Seattle Seahawks' John Carlson crosses the goal line to score a touchdown in the second quarter under pressure from Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Sabby Piscitelli, right, during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense lines up against the Seattle Seahawks offense during an NFL game, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009 in Seattle. The Buccaneers won the game, 24-7. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Sammie Stroughter (18) is gang tackled during an NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009 in Seattle. The Buccaneers won the game, 24-7. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)

Seattle Seahawks running back Julius Jones (22) is upended during an NFL game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dec. 20, 2009 in Seattle. The Buccaneers won the game, 24-7. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Williams (19) dives past Seattle Seahawks cornerback Marcus Trufant (23) to score a touchdown during the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Ben Obomanu (87) beats Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Ronde Barber (20) to score on a third-quarter two-point conversion during an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Running back Marshawn Lynch (24) of the Seattle Seahawks runs upfield against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 26, 2010 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)

Seattle Seahawks strong safety Kam Chancellor (31) celebrates during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL football game Sunday, November 3, 2013 in Seattle, WA. (AP Photo/Tom Hauck)

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) rolls out to pass during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL football game Sunday, November 3, 2013 in Seattle, WA. (AP Photo/Tom Hauck)

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin in action during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL football game Sunday, November 3, 2013 in Seattle, WA. (AP Photo/Tom Hauck)

Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) gets tackled by Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Akeem Spence (97) and defensive end William Gholston (92) during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL football game Sunday, November 3, 2013 in Seattle, WA. (AP Photo/Tom Hauck)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) sets for a snap in the first quarter against the Seattle Seahawks during an NFL football game Nov. 27, 2016 in Tampa, Fla. The Buccaneers won 14 - 5. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)

Seattle Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls (34) tumbles for a gain against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an NFL football game Nov. 27, 2016 in Tampa, Fla. The Buccaneers won 14 - 5. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner (54) and cornerback Jeremy Lane (20) tackle Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) during an NFL football game Nov. 27, 2016 in Tampa, Fla. The Buccaneers won 14 - 5. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) runs for yardage past Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end William Gholston (92) during the first half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)