Buccaneers Def/Spec Team: Bucs missing DT McDonald

The Bucs travel to San Francisco Sunday to take on the 49ers and their new starting quarterback, Colin Kaepernick.

To be sure, the Niners’ problems run beyond a defense that gave up 513 total yards to the Bucs.

For the second game in a row, he reset his career high in yards, grinding out 154 on 26 carries in the Bucs’ 34-17 win over the 49ers Sunday.

“That we’re going to continue to fight”, Kelly said. “You are what you’re record says you are”.

“Of course I am frustrated with it”, linebacker Ahmad Brooks said. “He nearly reminds you of Doug”. “That’s just how it is”. Brooks prefaced his bold prediction by noting the defense has many first-year starters, such as recent first-round draft picks Arik Armstead, DeForest Buckner and Jimmie Ward.

Chip Kelly’s team is in the NFL’s basement. “It was a little uncharacteristic of Adam to put a couple balls on the ground yesterday, fortunately we got them both back”.

Rodgers gained 101 yards in the first half against the porous San Francisco defense.

POROUS DEFENSE: Rodgers didn’t take long to become the sixth straight running back to top the 100-yard mark in a game against the 49ers. The Niners’ previous high was 552 yards in 1956, according to Fox Sports’ telecast.

“So there’s some bumps and bruises along the defensive line“, he said. “I think he doesn’t get enough credit for how physical he is just because he’s not the biggest back in the world, so you automatically think that he’s a nifty, nimble, make-you-miss type of guy”. LeSean McCoy had 106 yards for the Bills last week. “He’s just behind really good guys”, Koetter said.

“Right now we haven’t been playing 60 minutes, we’ve had good spurts and we’ve had flashes, but we haven’t been able to do that on a continual basis”, Kaepernick said.

Kaepernick ran for 84 yards to lead the team with Carlos Hyde sidelined with a shoulder injury. “He definitely still has the foot speed and the playmaking ability as you saw out there”. “Now Shep, he made some big plays”.

Roberto Aguayo, well…has to make kicks and improve his 50 percent success rate on field goals to this point in the season. If Evans does not approach at least 10 targets on Sunday then the Buccaneers are going to have major problems and be at risk of falling to 2-4 very easily. The Niners are on pace to give up the most yards rushing in the National Football League since the 1981 New England Patriots. He also had a third-down fumble on a sack, but that came after a second-and-12 play in which none of four receivers got open and forced him to throw the ball out of bounds.

BUCS entered Week 6 trailing first-place Falcons by 2 games in NFC South, but they own road wins over the Falcons and Panthers for a 2-0 start in division play.

Rookie Aaron Burbridge ran into teammate Jeremy Kerley on an attempted fair catch to result in a muffed punt return, a turnover, and a pivot point in the second half. Jameis Winston overcame a few early hiccups to calmly lead his team with three touchdown passes, including two to Mike Evans.

The 49ers next have their bye before hosting the Saints Nov. 6.