11 Things To Watch Against The Bears
September 30th, 2018
Man, there are many juicy elements to this game and Joe wants to see how they play out.
*The Bears allow three sacks a game. That’s one sack per every 11 1/2 Mitch Trubisky attempts. Dirk Koetter’s goal is one sack by his defense for every 14 attempts. The Buccaneers’ have a revitalized pass rush, especially when you compare it to last year’s. Tampa Bay should stay solid against the run today, but will the pass rush continue? Bears center Cody Whitehair isn’t going to the Pro Bowl anytime soon.
*Did Brent Grimes just need a game to get his football legs under him? That’s likely. And that’s what Joe is hoping for because Grimes sure didn’t look like a stud cornerback against the Steelers, which his salary says he’s being paid to be. A true Grimes revival would be a sweet addition.
*Rookie safety Jordan Whitehead came up with a mysterious hamstring injury on Friday, and rookie cornerback Carlton Davis popped up with a groin injury on the same day. Were they wrestling? Joe is joking on that, but man, Joe sure hopes these guys are ready. The Bucs’ depth behind them is scary. Whitehead coming down to hit in the run game could be a big element to this game. There just aren’t many safeties hitting like Whitehead in the NFL.
*Vita Vea! We’ll know at 11:30 a.m. if he’s going to make his debut. Joe will wager he does and can’t wait to watch the guy. If Vita is as competitive and strong as his teammates says he is, it should be damn fun to watch him compete.
*Hey, Adarius Taylor. Make a play for a change! Man, the Bucs really are seeing a dropoff from Kendall Beckwith.
*Will Todd Monken keep his foot on the gas with the playcalling? Joe thinks so. Stay fearless, Todd! The receiving corps is the clear strength of this team. The bottom line is the Bears are depleted in their secondary because of injuries and the Bucs own the matchups. If the Bears are forced to blitz, (nobody blitzes less in the NFL), the Bucs should be able to carve them up quickly and make the Bears offense play from behind.
*Joe hopes Caleb Benenoch can bounce back. He’s not a good right guard after three games. Benenoch rhymes with I-can’t-block, and Joe could see that becoming a nickname if things don’t get straightened out in the next couple of games.
*Joe will look for Ryan Jensen to be better today. He had a wicked case of the runs on gameday last week. He toughed it out but wasn’t himself.
*On the offensive line, it’s cash time for Donovan Smith and Demar Dotson. The nation is watching Khalil Mack and they’ll want to know who stopped him for the first time this season. Dirk Koetter said on his Friday radio show that he expects Mack to rush from both sides. For Smith in a contract year, man, he can lock down some extra cash today, while Dotson could extend his stay in the NFL. For the record, Warren Sapp thinks the Bucs’ offensive tackles need help (see home page story).
*Joe can’t find a reason why Ronald Jones should be deactivated today. The guy playing ahead of him, undrafted rookie Shaun Wilson, is nothing special. There is something really wrong, in Joe’s mind, if Jones does not play.
*Now the entire league knows how deadly DeSean Jackson can still be on punt return. It’ll be interesting to see if the Bucs throw Jackson back there every time now — and to see if the Bears are dumb enough to punt it to him.
September 30th, 2018 at 8:45 am
Hey Joe
You forgot to put on your list:
GMC disappearing Act
………I’m sure he’ll get one garbage sack in the game while apologizing at the same time
September 30th, 2018 at 8:45 am
Good stuff. Short passing game and screens seem in the offing. TEs stand out.
September 30th, 2018 at 8:55 am
Bombs away- might as well do everything we can to 50/50 ball this game down the field (going against conventional wisdom of short- quick-timed passes). Gash the Bears down the seam with a heavy dose of OJ and Brate and keep going long. This league is all about O right now, so why not try and draw PIs with DJax and roughing calls?
September 30th, 2018 at 8:55 am
I’m watching for Jameis on the sideline body language plus if Fitz has a few 3 and outs or some picks/fumbles watch Jameis come in
September 30th, 2018 at 8:56 am
Brutal yet honest observations Joe.
I like it.
Go Bucs!
September 30th, 2018 at 8:56 am
TMI on Ryan Jensen. Don’t need to know about the guy’s Immodium intake.
September 30th, 2018 at 9:04 am
Thebucsanthem
Explain a garbage sack please
September 30th, 2018 at 9:10 am
GMC GARBAGE SACK:
Definition – created when the game is lost or outta reach
September 30th, 2018 at 9:16 am
Otherwise known as a stat sack as opposed to a game changer.
September 30th, 2018 at 9:17 am
Grimes gets a pick today. He hadn’t played in 3 weeks so rusty is understandable.
Run defense is what we are good at. Hope vita plays and plays well. No offense but beau allen hasn’t looked like anything short of average.
Bears secondary has 1 good corner and 1 good safety so 2 guys should be open on any given play. They need to give fitz time.
Jpp gets another sack today.
Need Carlton and Whitehead to play.
September 30th, 2018 at 9:21 am
I agree 100% ^ Bird
September 30th, 2018 at 9:36 am
Zero for me. I’m going to be stuck watching the winless Texas here in h-town😕
September 30th, 2018 at 9:40 am
^
You know rick………there is this thing called the internet
…..just saying 😉
September 30th, 2018 at 10:11 am
I expect a ton of two tight end sets Vs. Bears. That should slow the pass rush, specifically Mack, down and still get the TE away from Mack into routes…
Looking at past Bear film, few teams have tried that.
September 30th, 2018 at 10:40 am
You guys think the bucs can stop the run LMAO. Youll understand today how misguided you dummies are 🙂
September 30th, 2018 at 10:43 am
@Bucs anthem…. I can here it now “ oh my goodness Mitch I am sorry as all heck fire I touched your shoulder please don’t be mad at me!” That was the BIGGEST pansy move I have EVER seen by an NFL lineman. He has solidified his status as a Wus in my eyes.
September 30th, 2018 at 10:49 am
@Canadianbucs fan… per Webster’s dictionary… Garbage sack: a sack of the opposite teams Quarterback when the game is out of hand and can’t be won by said team. See Tampa Bay defensive player Gerald McCoy as an example. Also could mean a plastic liner put in a disposal bin, See also Gerald McCoy. That was straight from the dictionary my friend. EH?
September 30th, 2018 at 10:56 am
LOL
Yeah, let’s hope GMC infectous, soft, candy arse play didn’t affect Vita who????
GMC is the cancer on defense
September 30th, 2018 at 11:13 am
Please don’t let Shaun Wilson return any type of kick today.
September 30th, 2018 at 11:47 am
Hey BucsAnthem none of the first three games have been out of reach or garbage time.
September 30th, 2018 at 12:23 pm
GO BUCS!!!