Don’t listen to Easterbrook. He admitted in a recent column that he’s not qualified to write about Tampa Bay because his distaste for Schiano prevents him from doing it objectively.

The Buccaneers ranked 32nd in pass defense because Leonard Johnson, Anthony Gaitor, Brandon McDonald, and Danny Gorrer combined to start 11 games at corner. EJ Biggers contributed another 12 starts on the opposite side. Behind them, Ronde Barber was learning how to play free safety after 15 years at cornerback, and rookie Mark Barron was getting his head around the pro game.

Meanwhile, up front, Roy Miller and Daniel Te’o-Nesheim failed to get the push necessary to muster even a meager pass rush. All of Tampa Bay’s defensive linemen combined for 21 sacks.

It had little to do with “stacking the box,” and more to do with having the worst pass defending personnel in the league. Occam’s razor, I guess.