Attention!
September 18th, 2019
Strong early results.
The offense of the Bucs through two games is rather, well, meh.
The team is far below what it was last year in offensive yards and some (like Joe) would say underperforming given the talent.
The other side of the ball, the defense? Well, it may be overperforming.
Look, Bucs fans have been kicked in the nuts so often by rotten defenses and rotten defensive coaches sprinkled throughout the past decade in this post-Chucky era, Bucs fans are numb.
Well, they shouldn’t be, types Albert Breer of theMMQB.com. Breer suggests the Bucs defense is worthy of attention and the credit for that defense belongs with one man.
I think the Buccaneers defense deserves some attention—as does coordinator Todd Bowles, who’s proving once again to be one of the game’s best on that side of the ball. I asked a high-level staffer in Tampa what Bowles has done particularly well there, and he brought up Bowles’ ability to teach, and his feel for what an offense is bringing. It’s showing up big-time. The Bucs were 27th in total defense last year. It’s two weeks, but Tampa is allowing 80 fewer yards per game than in 2018 and held the Panthers out of the end zone completely.
Breer makes a good point. The Bucs denied the Stinking Panthers a touchdown and totally bottled up dangerous running back Christian McCaffrey. Forgive Bucs fans for waiting to see if this defense is not an optical illusion, though. They are still throbbing down there.
Right now the defense is carrying the offense. When is the last time a Bucs team did that? The 2016 winning streak. The Bucs allowed just 64 points in those five games and choked out Drew Brees, Russell Wilson and Philip Rivers.
September 18th, 2019 at 5:37 am
Oh Joe, I was so proud of you in those first 2 sentences (and yes, meh is such a descriptive word). But then Paranoid Joe got out of the dungeon and pooped all over the castle in the 3rd sentence.
How exactly does a TEAM overperform? Does it make plays it shouldn’t have made? Does it hold opponents to FGs when past history says they should’ve scored TDs? Does it get off the field on 3rd downs like it’s supposed to?
The Bucs’ defense is doing what Todd Bowles & his coaching staff TAUGHT THEM TO DO. Major personnel changes & better coaching … WHODATHUNKIT. Guys are making plays. Not huge numbers of splash plays (like so many seem to crave), but more like DOING THEIR JOB. Wow what a concept!
September 18th, 2019 at 5:41 am
Oooh, did I get put into the cooler because I used the word pooped? Or maybe Paranoid Joe? Oh wait, I’ve got it … DOING YOUR JOB. We haven’t gotten used to a defense doing that around here yet, I get it. Or maybe the caps blew the algorithm’s mind?
September 18th, 2019 at 5:53 am
Our offensive numbers, at least passing yards, are going to be lower by design. Arians said on the radio yesterday he has no desire to have 350+ yards passing. He said if you have that, you most likely have no running game and your losing. He wants a 50/50 balance between run and pass with a big play sprinkled in here and there through the third quarter, and adjust in the 4th based on if winning(more runs) or losing(more passes). This coaching staff is much more smash mouth football than we have seen over the last few years. I like it!
September 18th, 2019 at 5:59 am
Could it be the neophyte that is calling the plays? I think maybe so.
September 18th, 2019 at 6:06 am
When Arians leaves it Bowles that should get the job not leftwhich..He was given nothing to work with in ny..
Weak link Leftwhich is going to be Arians Mike Smith..The one that brings the entire ship down
September 18th, 2019 at 6:09 am
We tried letting the O be the focal point and load up on weapons for Winston…how did that work out for us??????
Balanced O, good D, solid ST is what makes a good team
We are on our way there
September 18th, 2019 at 6:17 am
CLW it didnt work out because the entire opposing offense had a formal invitation to score at will eveey time they were on the field. If you put the old offense with this defense everyone is talking playoffs.
September 18th, 2019 at 6:24 am
Defenses are usually ahead of new Offenses, but I think there is more to the story.
1. BA is not accustomed to using a 2 set TE package.
2. BA’s loves to throw long passes which is Jameis’ weak point.
3. As predicted the right side the Oline sucks.
4. Byron Leftwich is a rookie offensive coordinator who is still learning the role.
5. Our running backs are average at best. Rojo has improved but has not shown anything special as of yet.
September 18th, 2019 at 6:25 am
Yeahhh cautiously optimistic but still waiting here.. remember Mike Smith was given a contract extension and a raise at one point
September 18th, 2019 at 6:26 am
Bucemup I totally agree with you I’d take our offense from last mix in the run game with this new defense an ST play we are a playoff team. Pretty sure it’s all mental from here we have the coaching an a lot of talent let go Bucs #endthedrought
September 18th, 2019 at 6:34 am
Listen to Dreambig people, and let me recite it again 2014 hawks ran the ball 525x. All these spread happy heavy passing attacks I’m seeing thru out the league are fools gold. Gotta #Run The dam Football once the not so sunny weather begins. The media looked over the hawks in 2014, they were too slobbing peyton manning and all the records he was setting. When pass happy Denver ran into that buzz saw defense coupled with that physical run game we all saw what happened. Obliteration.
September 18th, 2019 at 6:36 am
People just don’t understand what winning football looks like do they?
September 18th, 2019 at 6:54 am
Here are some additional stats that are reflective of the current DEF.
Tampa is currently ranked 8th in total def
Tampa has an NFL BEST 4.6 yard per play allowed.
Tampa is ranked 18th allowing 22 points per game.
Tampa is giving up 304 yards per game, which is a little high
Progress has been made with Bowles at the helm.
September 18th, 2019 at 6:56 am
Correction: Tampa has an NFL 4th place ranking 4.6 yard per play allowed
NE is BEST at 4.0
September 18th, 2019 at 6:57 am
The team is 1-1. Both games could have gone either way. I wouldn’t read too much into that record yet. But agree the D has been outstanding.
September 18th, 2019 at 7:13 am
Let’s keep it that way. We need JW to be a game manager.
September 18th, 2019 at 7:18 am
Smh. Is it Bowles def or is it Suh Manning the middle? Team can’t gash us for first downs and goal to goal without McIceCream in the middle. NEESFLASH
MCICECREAM WAS GARBAGE AND YOU BUMS LOVED HIM.
September 18th, 2019 at 7:26 am
Example Bucs vs Panthers
Arians and Leftwich are calling plays that are keeping Jameis under control and not letting him be his worst enemy. Because of that, the Bucs offense is not accumulating massive amount of yards
……….which translates to less turnovers
………which translates to wins
September 18th, 2019 at 7:31 am
@ Pittsshore
Exactly!! JW needs to learn to be a game manager and Arians and Leftwich are taking a lot of the decision making (bad decisions) away from JW. Because of that, we are seeing the offense being affected as a consequence, like less TEs in the passing game. It will all come back once JW is forced to learn he doesn’t need to win every game on every play.
September 18th, 2019 at 7:44 am
Ndog Says:
September 18th, 2019 at 6:36 am
People just don’t understand what winning football looks like do they?
___________
Jameis sure doesn’t.
Must be why he squints so hard……… looking to see what winning football looks like!
September 18th, 2019 at 7:47 am
Remember donut, our offense has given up 14pts and ST set up 3pts on that blocked punt. Our D has given up 1 TD and none in the redzone.
September 18th, 2019 at 7:50 am
NDog is a troll guys. Just ignore the ignorant
September 18th, 2019 at 7:51 am
2 games in and we are Giant killers? Not buying what you carpetbaggers are selling just yet. Lets see if we can maintain by midseason.
September 18th, 2019 at 7:56 am
This is the week Jameis and the offense get some easier completions. This is the game the Bucs start climbing the power rankings.
We need to play a crappy D(Giants) to get the ball rolling. The game after that is when we start clicking and then look forward to the bye week and come out the gates ruining teams.
September 18th, 2019 at 8:01 am
Joe would rather bucs get garbage time yards and lose than win.
September 18th, 2019 at 8:02 am
Pa Privateer … I’d love to agree that all the Bucs need to do is use Jameis as a game manager so that he stays ‘under control’ but it’s a double-edged sword the way our offense has been built. Turnovers are the kiss of death as we’ve all seen. But neutering Jameis isn’t the answer either. ME13 is predominantly an intermediate to deep threat. So is Perriman (if he ever gets his act together). And although our running game is a critical component of any game-plan, it isn’t dynamic enough to carry this offense.
In short … we NEED Good Jameis all the time. Decent Jameis will maybe get us a break-even season. Bad Jameis will get us a new QB come the end of the season. I LOVE great defense, and I LOVE what I’m seeing out of our new Bucs’ D. But we’ve faced two fairly average offenses thus far, each with offensive ‘limitations’ shall we say. Teams like the Rams, Falcons, Saints, Colts, Titans … all coming up … don’t have those same ‘limitations’. I still expect our defense to play well against them, but I still expect high-powered offenses to do what high-powered offenses do: SCORE POINTS. We NEED our offense to do the same, and neutering Jameis won’t allow that to happen. BA & Byron need to get this offense untracked, and soon.
September 18th, 2019 at 8:18 am
bucem
you’re wrong buddy….
last years offense put up a ton of yards but not points and we abandoned the run early and often which made our offense predictable…..
leftwich is doing a great job….sticking to the run and keeping JW under 28 pass attempts….those are the keys to winning the game along with playing solid defense…..
GO BUCS!!!!!!
September 18th, 2019 at 8:22 am
It would seem to be logical that if a team can under-perform….they should also be able to over-perform….but that’s not the case…..I don’t believe it is possible to “over-perform”……just perform.
A team is like an individual….it is not capable of achieving the un-achievable.
As for the offense….it’s looks like it is designed to keep Jameis from making mistakes (impossible) but Jameis didn’t cooperate in game 1……game 2 is a better look at how our offense should work…..a good running game….some safe short & intermediate passes and an occasional long pass. Keep in mind we played game 2 against an excellent defense.
September 18th, 2019 at 8:27 am
Dreambig Says:
September 18th, 2019 at 5:53 am
Our offensive numbers, at least passing yards, are going to be lower by design. Arians said on the radio yesterday he has no desire to have 350+ yards passing. He said if you have that, you most likely have no running game and your losing. He wants a 50/50 balance between run and pass with a big play sprinkled in here and there through the third quarter, and adjust in the 4th based on if winning(more runs) or losing(more passes). This coaching staff is much more smash mouth football than we have seen over the last few years. I like it!
**************************************************************
BINGO!!!!!!!!
its week3 people…..why are folks panicking?…lol…yall want that trash offense that racked up yards between the 20’s and settled for FG’s…lol….
relax!!!!!!….
we dont want our team to peak so early…..we’re in the process of finding our identity and creating a winning culture…..
BL is doing a great job…..we cant have this team peak in september again….last year we peaked after the eagles victory and came back down to earth in week3 vs the steelers and never recovered…..
GO BUCS!!!!!!
September 18th, 2019 at 8:38 am
Had it offense looked great so far? No. But part of the lack of numbers may have much to do with the fact that we aren’t behind by three scores in the first half as well. We racked up lots of garbage yards the last few years while teams played soft with big leads.
September 18th, 2019 at 8:45 am
That DEFENSE RULES GUY: Give him a job JOE!!!
September 18th, 2019 at 9:27 am
Pittsshore Says:
September 18th, 2019 at 7:50 am
NDog is a troll guys. Just ignore the ignorant
Says the guy I have proven wrong over and over and over again! Ha ha ha ha ha you just can’t stand it can you? It must suck to look clueless constantly!
September 18th, 2019 at 9:39 am
Dirk is Falcons OC and Matty Ice has 5 INT and Todd Monkin is the Browns OC with Baker Mayfield with 4 INT after 2 games just an interesting fact to ponder.
September 18th, 2019 at 9:49 am
I’ve heard it all, Pittsshore calling somebody a troll. Classic!!!!
September 18th, 2019 at 10:20 am
The defense acted like it stuck its collective thumb in a live electrical socket in the first preseason game. You could feel the contagion even from a distance. If Buc Luck (injuries) will take a year off, this defense will be primo by season’s end. Bucs have always been known for their great defenses.
September 18th, 2019 at 10:25 am
Breshad Perriman shouldn’t be out on the field. His one asset, speed, is useless if he drops balls in the end zone… Put Scotty Miller out there.
September 18th, 2019 at 11:00 am
Dreaming …813bucboi ….good job, enjoyed reading your posts…now if we can move on from McCoy…he gone and is no longer a part of the organization…BA and TB has built a D/Line that seems to work…at least at stopping the run!! Let’s enjoy it while it’s happening!! GO BUCS GO SUHY GO MT. V GO BIG WILLIE G.!!
September 18th, 2019 at 12:41 pm
You know, it takes about six weeks minimum for a team to digest a brand new offensive system. I’m worried about Leftwich running the O, but he has time to get it right.