From previous articles, I found that tackles for loss (TFLs) from the defensive line has an impact on pass defense. The research was a small sample of four years and only covered the Bucs, but there's some logic. If the defensive line can be more productive or schemed to be more productive and reliant to stop the run, then it will improve pass defense. The reasoning behind the thought is there are more players dedicated to defending the pass than the run.
| Tampa Bay Bucs | |||||||||
| 2012 - 2015 Sacks and TFL's with Football Outsider Def Rankings | |||||||||
| Year | Dline Sacks | Total Sacks | DL% of total sacks | FO Def Rush Rank | Dline TFL's | Total TFL's | DL% of TFL's | FO Def Pass Rank | |
| 2012 | 17 | 27 | 62. | ||||||