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Buccaneers defense wreaks havoc on RGIII
They took turns frolicking in the Washington backfield, giving beleaguered quarterback Robert Griffin III an up close-and-personal look at the FedExField turf. And when Tampa Bay’s 27-7 rout was complete, they ran off the field in exultation for a job well done.
A Buccaneers pass rush that had been wildly erratic through a 1-8 start showed up in earnest Sunday, burying Griffin six times and playing a prominent role in an upset that had Washington fans booing by the second quarter.
“We’ve got to have that every week if we want to give us a chance to win,’’ said defensive end Michael Johnson, who registered a sack and two of Tampa Bay’s 11 quarterback hits. “And give some credit to the guys in the back, they made it easier for us. If we can get that extra click, we’ll get there. I’ve said all year that sacks come in bunches. Well, they came in bunches today.’’
Johnson’s only two sacks on the season before Sunday came in the first half of a 27-24 victory at Pittsburgh in Week 4. It helped his cause Sunday when two-time Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams departed early with a knee injury, but Johnson had plenty of help up front.
Defensive end Jacquies Smith, claimed off waivers from Buffalo two months ago, continued his impressive play with two sacks, three quarterback hits and a forced fumble. Defensive tackles Gerald McCoy and Clinton McDonald combined for 2.5 sacks and four QB hits, while rookie defensive end T.J. Fatinkun got in on the fun, credited with a half-sack as the Bucs overcame 11 penalties and a weak running attack. “This defense did what we came for today,’’ safety Dashon Goldson said. “And give it up for our line. Our front four was just awesome.’’
McDonald was part of a dominant defense last year in Seattle as the Seahawks won a Super Bowl. Like Johnson, he signed with the Bucs as a free agent, hoping to establish Tampa Bay as an NFC South power. “This is how this defense is supposed to be, Tampa 2, rush and cover, stop the run,’’ McDonald said. “Coach (Lovie) Smith preached it to us all week — turnovers, turnovers, turnovers. That’s been the difference in the games we’ve won and lost. The Redskins are loaded with weapons, but we came in here today and said enough is enough, let’s go out and play like we’re capable.’’
Bucs cornerback Johnthan Banks had a perfect view of the havoc created up front by a defensive line that harried Griffin sideline to sideline. “Our D-line really went after them and made it easy for us,’’ said Banks, who returned a first-quarter interception for a score. “Those guys made it so much easier with the way they played ... they really got after it.’’
Nursing a groin injury, McCoy failed to make an impact last week against Atlanta as McDonald registered Tampa Bay’s only sack against Matt Ryan. He returned to his All-Pro form Sunday, despite drawing two blockers on most passing downs.
“It just feels good to put it all together today and we finished,’’ McCoy said. “That was the difference. I talked to the group before we went out there and told them, ‘We have to have a different type of attitude today.’ Then we went out there and did what we had to do.’’
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