ILB · Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Minnesota Vikings · 65 graded snaps
Replacement
Anzalone provided disruptive flashes with two sacks and a clutch third-down stop, but biting on play-action and getting sealed against the run kept his grade near baseline.
Run defense6626Coverage6025Pass rush639Special teams605
The full breakdown
Anzalone's day featured high-impact splash plays offset by recurring technical lapses across 65 snaps. He generated quick pass-rush value with two sacks, tracking down a scramble at Q1 11:33 and timing an unblocked B-gap blitz at Q2 15:00. However, his run defense was erratic; despite several quality perimeter fills, he was repeatedly sealed by climbing linemen on zone concepts (Q1 14:11, Q1 13:30). In coverage, he made a key open-field tackle on 3rd & 5 (Q4 06:53) but conceded chunk plays by aggressively biting on play-action fakes. A bad pre-snap offside penalty on 3rd & 10 (Q4 14:06) also weighed down his final mark.
Strengths
Closing burst as a blitzer and spy
Aggressive scrapes and perimeter pursuit
Sure tackling in the open field
Weaknesses
Biting on play-action fakes in zone
Getting sealed by second-level climb blocks
Pre-snap alignment discipline
Plays that moved the grade
+1Q1 11:33, 3rd & 9Rallied from spy alignment with great closing speed to chase the quarterback out of bounds for a sack.
+1Q2 15:00, 3rd & 5Timed a pre-snap mug and shot through the B-gap unblocked to record a 2-yard sack.
-1.5Q4 14:06, 3rd & 10Jumped across the line of scrimmage prior to the snap for an offside penalty on 3rd down.
Every graded snap · 17 wins or losses, 48 routine
-0.5Q1 14:54 · 1 & 10 · CoverageBites on the play-action fake, vacating his zone and allowing the dig route to cross behind him.
-0.5Q1 14:11 · 1 & 10 · Run defenseSlow to fill his gap and gets sealed outside by the climbing center.
-0.5Q1 13:30 · 2 & 2 · Run defenseSlow to read the play and gets easily sealed inside by the climbing RT.
+1Q1 11:33 · 3 & 9 · Pass rushReads the QB scramble, shows great closing speed, and chases him out of bounds for a sack.
+1Q1 04:02 · 1 & 10 · Run defenseFills the C-gap aggressively, takes on the lead block from the fullback, and sheds to make the tackle for a short gain.
+0.5Q1 01:09 · 1 & 10 · Run defenseReads the run quickly, scrapes over the top of the climbing guard, and is in position to make a play.
+1Q2 15:00 · 3 & 5 · Pass rushWalks up into the B-gap pre-snap and shoots through completely unblocked for a quick sack.
Q2 12:11 · 1 & 10 · Run defenseReads the wide zone quickly, scrapes over the block of Fries, and fills the gap to make the tackle.
+1Q2 04:57 · 2 & 10 · Run defenseDiagnoses the run quickly, evades the climbing guard, and fills the gap to assist in the tackle.
-0.5Q2 01:39 · 1 & 10 · Run defenseMeets the pulling guard in the hole but gets kicked out, failing to squeeze the gap and allowing the runner to cut inside.
-0.5Q3 12:21 · 1 & 10 · Run defenseFlows playside but gets picked up by the climbing center and cannot make an impact.
+0.5Q3 09:24 · 1 & 10 · Run defenseReads the toss quickly and scrapes outside to meet the pulling guard.
-1.5Q4 14:06 · 3 & 10 · Pass rushJumps across the line of scrimmage before the snap, drawing a 5-yard offside penalty on 3rd and 10.
+0.5Q4 08:56 · 1 & 10 · Run defenseShows excellent play speed to flow over the top of the blocks and get to the sideline in pursuit.
+1Q4 06:53 · 3 & 5 · CoverageReads the running back's angle route perfectly, closes quickly, and makes a sure open-field tackle short of the first down marker on 3rd down.
-0.5Q4 06:08 · 4 & 1 · Run defenseShoots the gap but gets stood up by Fries, failing to disrupt the 4th down run.
-0.5Q4 01:39 · 1 & 10 · CoverageBites on the play-action fake, taking himself out of position to defend the pass.