The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are preparing to oust defensive coordinator Mike Smith, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
#Bucs players were informed the team is making a change at defensive coordinator, sources sources tell me and @MikeGarafolo. Sounds like Mike Smith is out.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 15, 2018
With #Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith being fired, expect LBs coach Mark Duffner to serve as the interim.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 15, 2018
The Buccaneers lost to the Atlanta Falcons 34-29 Sunday, dropping their third straight game after a 2-0 start. They have the NFL’s worst scoring defense, allowing 34.6 points per game.
Smith, who once was the Falcons’ head coach, had the likes of Gerald McCoy, Jason Pierre-Paul and first-round draft pick Vita Vea to work with on the defensive line. But Tampa has recorded just nine sacks in five games and are allowing a league-worst 355.6 passing yards per game.
The Washington Redskins pay the Bucs a visit in Week 10.
• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.
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