5 Things To Watch Against The Bears
September 17th, 2017
Of course, Joe’s not going with the obvious here. That would be too boring.
So with the thought-provoking in mind, here are five things to consider in today’s game.
1) Will Gholston: The Buccaneers’ run defense is a very different animal when Gholslton is in the game and healthy. That’s why the Bucs forked over $7 million for Gholston this season, with another $6.5 million guaranteed for next season — a fortune for a guy who isn’t a good pass rusher. So Joe wants to see Gholston, in his prime at 26 years old, earn his cash today. The run-first Bears seem to be a perfect test.
2) Will America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, eat a sack? Will he give up on a play and live to fight another snap? The Bears’ 3-4 defense is solid and best in its front-7. Yes, Jameis will encounter his share of pressure today. The Bucs have been preaching patience to Jameis, about as much as Joe longs to be invited to the cheerleaders’ Christmas party. A big question this season is whether Jameis has matured to the point where he won’t force things under pressure — or perceived pressure. The circumstances surrounding today’s game make it ripe for Jameis to lose his cool. Joe wants to see if Jameis can stay composed all game.
3) Tight end snaps: Joe will be watching to see how Dirk Koetter divides the load in this game. It could provide a window into usage this season. Luke Stocker likely is a better blocker than O.J. Howard, so don’t rule out Stocker getting his share of time.
4) Kevin Pamphile: It’s a contract year for Pamphile, the Bucs’ 2014 fifth-round pick who is a beastly left guard and extremely versatile. Dude is good football player and solid offensive linemen are paid huge dollars in free agency. There’s a lack of them around the NFL. Joe expects intelligent Pamphile to come out and set a tone for this season against the Bears. Frankly, Joe thinks the Bucs already should have shown Pamphile the money and locked him up for years to come.
5) Nick Folk: Make kicking calm again, Nick. Please. It’s been a horror show and a freak show for too long around here. It’s unclear whether Joe’s heart (or Jason Licht’s) can handle another season of ridiculous kicking.
September 17th, 2017 at 10:03 am
Just took an ASJ
September 17th, 2017 at 10:13 am
Only concern I’ve got is Fitzpatrick. He stunk up the stadium in preseason. Reminded me of McClown. UGH!! 🙁 Go Bucs!!!
September 17th, 2017 at 10:15 am
I think brate and howard both have big games. Quizz will do well too. I think chicago overplays the deep routes, opening up the stuff for the big TEs. Cant wait to find out. Less than 3 hours baby. Go Bucs.
September 17th, 2017 at 10:20 am
I just hope the Bucs can get past the desperation that marked the Tennessee ready team and other squads who have laid a big egg in the Den of Depression.
You obviously can’t call the first game of a 16 game season a must win…but there is as much pressure on this Buc’s team as on any team in the league. It’s almost playoff level pressure!!!
They are playing a clearly inferior team…a team they SHOULD beat.
They are at home as THE franchise..even worse than the Brownies at home. They simply MUST stop succkking at home…not just to retire Joe’s Den of Depression but to establish a playoff caliber team.
They’ve had two weeks to think about this game…when not distracted by IRMA.
Expectations are through the roof! If the Bucs can win convincingly today as they should…they really begin to kick the monkey off their back.
I just hope their collars are not getting too tight!
September 17th, 2017 at 10:23 am
I are se thwre yet?
September 17th, 2017 at 10:25 am
Are we there yet?……ups, sorry!
September 17th, 2017 at 10:25 am
I want to see Winston to DJax, Winston to Evans, and Winston to OJ Howard…..all day long!
September 17th, 2017 at 10:28 am
Easy win jameis will have bug numbers and bucs will do what the Texans couldn’t for their city!!! That’s get a win at home for their fans and take their minds off of the disaster our state went through
September 17th, 2017 at 10:42 am
Got my 15 year old Buccaneers Superbowl shirt on for this game! I am fired up!
September 17th, 2017 at 10:46 am
In regards to it being a contract year for Pamphile, do players really sit around and say, this is not a contract year so I don’t really have to try my best this year? To me that is a really bad character assination on a guy. Pretty good bet that is not what Jameis gets up thinking each day. If you give a player a 4 year contract, your really only going to get their best during the 4th year? Except for slackers like Swaggy, I am not buying that.
September 17th, 2017 at 10:51 am
I just woke up and I’m FLUCKING PUMPED!!!!!!!!!! GAMEDAY BABY!!!! LETS GOOO!!!!!!
September 17th, 2017 at 10:58 am
IS ANYONE ELSE STOKED?!?!?!?!?!??!
September 17th, 2017 at 11:12 am
I’m looking at Swaggy, Ayers & Beckwith on D, and Marpet, Sewwzy & Humphries on O.
September 17th, 2017 at 11:16 am
My 3 Keys to the Bears n Bucs game:
Winston #3 – Will he be turnover prone and/or take a dumb personal penalty due to emotions OR will he be poised and show he has learned how to hit the long ball to Jackson and when to throw it away when the play is simply not there.
Cohen #29 – This kid is the real deal. Will our LB crew be able to stop him in space. How is Kwon’s hammy? Cohen tore up a bad Falcons DEF last week but speed it speed and the Bears will scheme to dump it off to take pressure of Glennon.
Bucs DL – Can they get pressure on Glennon? If yes, then the Bucs will dominate the game early and it will be the difference. This is probably the biggest question mark of the game.
September 17th, 2017 at 11:45 am
I’m looking for some unlikely stars in today’s game……..like……Humphries, Sims, Barber…
I also expect that our defense will be extremely stout.
September 17th, 2017 at 11:57 am
Watching all of the Hard Knocks eps right now. On Ep 3
A link: http://www.pugetsoundgoatrescue.org/adopt/
Just in case Jameis reads this 😉
September 17th, 2017 at 12:00 pm
Dreambig Says
“In regards to it being a contract year for Pamphile, do players really sit around and say, this is not a contract year so I don’t really have to try my best this year?”
You would be surprised how many do that. Michael Clayton was one here. Heck, Sean King earned a starting role with no money and he was so certain he was a lock that he came back fat the next season and it cost him.
I was afraid Doug Martin would be the same way. Still not convinced he wasn’t.
September 17th, 2017 at 12:03 pm
On a side note…Joe on a podcast said he was tired of the Bucs deferring.
I like it when they get the ball in the second half…and if the defense plays first in the first half, they are fresher. All things considered, they should be fired up and getting a 3 and out for us.
September 17th, 2017 at 12:05 pm
A little something to fire us up even more. Imagine Jameis Winston saying these things:
https://youtu.be/1LSewbS5eQI