The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finally earned their first victory of the season with a 24-16 win over the Dallas Cowboys, but their defense faces another challenge when Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers visit Raymond James Stadium on Sunday.
Tampa Bay has struggled to consistently finish plays in the backfield, recording just six sacks through five games. However, a closer examination of the Buccaneers' pass rush and Pittsburgh's offensive line reveals some interesting opportunities, particularly for rookie edge rusher David Walker.
Steelers offensive line presents opportunities for Tampa Bay
According to Pro Football Focus, Pittsburgh's offensive line has had mixed results in pass protection over five games, with several players allowing significant pressure.
Right tackle Troy Fautanu has surrendered
a team-high 13 pressures on 222 pass-blocking snaps, including one sack, five quarterback hits, and seven hurries. His 69.8 pass-blocking grade isn't necessarily poor, but the pressure total suggests opposing defenders have found opportunities against him.
Right guard Mason McCormick has allowed 10 pressures and three sacks despite earning a respectable 67.9 pass-blocking grade. Left tackle Max Iheanachor has surrendered eight pressures and two sacks, while Brock Hoffman has allowed seven pressures.
Not every Steelers offensive lineman has experienced the same difficulties. Center Zach Frazier has allowed just six pressures and no sacks across 223 pass-blocking snaps, earning a 71.3 grade.
Those numbers suggest Pittsburgh's protection issues are more pronounced at certain positions, giving Tampa Bay opportunities to create favorable matchups rather than simply relying on additional blitzers.
David Walker has been the Buccaneers' most productive pass rusher
Walker has generated nine quarterback pressures on just 38 pass-rush snaps this season, giving him a pressure rate of 23.7%. He also leads Tampa Bay with two sacks and has earned an 82.3 pass-rush grade. His production becomes more impressive when compared with the Buccaneers' other edge defenders.
Yaya Diaby has recorded seven pressures on 95 pass-rush snaps, a pressure rate of 7.4%, while Al-Quadin Muhammad has generated four pressures on 82 opportunities. First-round rookie Rueben Bain Jr. has recorded two pressures on 55 pass-rush snaps.
Walker has played significantly fewer snaps than those players, but his efficiency suggests he could warrant additional opportunities against Pittsburgh. However, his pressure rate is based on a relatively small sample size. Whether he can maintain that level of production with increased playing time remains an important question for Tampa Bay's defense.
Aaron Rodgers can neutralize pressure with quick decisions
Rodgers enters Week 6 following three consecutive games with three touchdown passes, including a 235-yard performance in Pittsburgh's 34-22 victory over Indianapolis.
The veteran quarterback has thrown for 1,234 yards, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions through five games. His experience recognizing defensive pressure and delivering the football quickly makes him a difficult opponent even when protection breaks down.
Pittsburgh's victory over Indianapolis demonstrated how dangerous that approach can be. Running back Jaylen Warren turned a reception into an 80-yard touchdown, while tight end Pat Freiermuth caught two touchdown passes.
That creates a challenge for Todd Bowles and Tampa Bay's defense. Winning individual matchups along the defensive line will be important, but those victories won't necessarily translate into sacks if Rodgers gets the football out before pressure arrives. This has also been an issue every week so far this season; the earlier the opposing quarterbacks have gotten rid of the ball, the worse the Bucs' defense has looked. They need the secondary to cover well at the start of the play so that opportunities can be created for the defensive line and the front seven overall as a unit.
The Buccaneers forced three turnovers against Dallas, including two interceptions, but Dak Prescott still threw for 316 yards. Tampa Bay cannot rely entirely on takeaways to overcome the opponent's passing production.
Walker's efficiency gives the Buccaneers a promising option, while Pittsburgh's offensive line numbers suggest opportunities to disrupt Rodgers. Whether Tampa Bay can turn those advantages into hurried throws, stalled drives, and sacks could play an important role in its attempt to earn a second consecutive victory.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: David Walker could be key to Buccaneers' plan against Aaron Rodgers
