Five Is Two
July 8th, 2020
Big on five Bucs.
No, that headline is not some math formula concocted by Moe Howard using Pig Latin. It actually comes from former NFL defensive back, scout and current NFL Network talking head Bucky Brooks.
The Bucs’ top-five is the second-best in the NFL. That comes straight from Brooks discussing five skill position players.
Basically, take any team and select its best five skill position players, sans quarterback. With Tampa Bay, Brooks ranks the Bucs as the second-best team with skill positions not playing quarterback.
WR: Mike Evans
WR: Chris Godwin
TE: Rob Gronkowski
TE: O.J. Howard
TE: Cameron BrateTom Brady is stepping into a situation that could enable him to put up numbers comparable to his 2007 MVP campaign (68.9 percent completion rate, 4,806 pass yards, 50 touchdowns, eight interceptions, 117.2 passer rating). Evans and Godwin are arguably the league’s best 1-2 punch on the perimeter with a collective combination of size, speed and athleticism that makes them so hard to contain. Gronkowski, Howard and Brate are a formidable trio at tight end with a collection of interchangeable skills that will drive defensive coordinators crazy when Bruce Arians unveils a variety of 12 (1 RB, 2 TE, 2 WR) and 13 (1 RB, 3 TE, 1 WR) personnel packages. If Brady has still enough gas in the tank to play at a high level, the Buccaneers’ offense should light up scoreboards.
Mind you that Brooks went three-deep on Bucs tight ends and didn’t select a running back. In fact, of Brooks’ top-five teams with five skill position players, the Bucs were the only team listed where Brooks didn’t pick at least one running back. Sad!
Joe honestly doesn’t know of any team that can boast three tight ends this good.
July 8th, 2020 at 8:14 am
Joe, please help me understand the love for O.J. Howard. He may have all the “potential” in the world but correct me if I am wrong that he has not done diddly squat.
Could also say the same for Cameron Brate as he falls into the “what have you done for me lately (last 2 years)” crowd to include some injures.
July 8th, 2020 at 8:15 am
From Logan Mankins to….
Sweazy to Pamphile to Benenocht to Cappa…
When will Licht stop messing around?
We havent been able to run the ball since we had TWO good guards.
Marpet plus Mankins led a top 5 RB duo in the league that year. Yes, DougMartin and Charles Sims had a great year behind TWO good guards.
Then Licht refused to pay Mankins and forced him to retire so he could waste money on Sweazy. Then Licht forced Pamphile to start. Then Benenoch. Now Cappa.
How has no one else noticed this?
Cappa is a career backup. A 6th man. He needs two more years of practice on second string O-line. He should go up against our defense for 2 more years before he competes for a starting position.
We need the best RG we can find for the next two years.
Cappa was one of the worst ranked guards in the NFL last year.
In the second half of the season, Jensen had to help him almost every snap.
Hes a severe liability. He has no lower body strength. 6-6, 300 pounds in NOT a guards body! I thought we learned that with “skinny knees” Benenoch? (Read the pre-draft article on Benenochs skinny legs. Some teams took Benenoch off their draft boards because of his skinny knees. Licht drafted him. And gifted him a starting job. By the way, Benenoch was a RT in college not a guard. And Licht tried to make him a guard. Again, a guard needs a low center of gravity with thick strong legs. Benenoch does not have a guards body. So Licht replaced an amazing Pro Bowl guard in Logan Mankins with broke-back Sweazy.Then he forced THREE drafts picks into the RG slot. Pamphile, Benenoch and now Cappa!
He has forced his three crappy late round picks in a row. And we havent been able to run the ball since Logan Mankins “retired.”
July 8th, 2020 at 8:18 am
The obvious question everyone should have is: Who did he pick #1?
So, who landed at No. 1? How about the Cleveland Browns, with their cast of Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry and Austin Hooper.
July 8th, 2020 at 9:07 am
If one of the RB’s breaks out or if the rookie WR we drafted in the 5th turns out to be what we hope he can be, it is going to be a historic season for the Bucs!
July 8th, 2020 at 9:15 am
This is not factoring in players missing games this season due to injury or illness but I believe this offense will average 29 PPG and we will allow on Defense 18 PPG.
My win total, again as a best case scenario with player availability is 11 games.
July 8th, 2020 at 9:25 am
I believe in the Bucs O line Winston was able to throw for over 5,000 yards and we rushed for over 1,000 yard with three runningbacks not including Winston 200 rushing yards. Turnovers was particularly Winston taking risks and holding the ball to long.
July 8th, 2020 at 9:32 am
[Joe has absolutely no clue what you are suggesting. At best your accusation is false, at worst it is patently absurd if not slander. — Joe]
July 8th, 2020 at 9:43 am
I thought I was reading a different article, turns out “our running backs are not good enough” *YAWN* is the one I got.
July 8th, 2020 at 9:46 am
That is not just inaccurate, it’s not fair. Is Howard inconsistent? Of course. Has he played below his level too much? Sure has.
You could also argue he was grossly misused last year.
July 8th, 2020 at 10:02 am
Brate and OJ are both over-ranked as both have limitations and neither is an elite TE. I believe next to Gronk, Brate should fare well in the red zone as Gronk will require double teams or the opponent’s best cover option. I also think that RoJo belongs on the list as his production in limited usage suggests a good rb! So substitute RoJo for OJ. I dont think this group is top 2 as I would put the Cowboys, Browns, Chiefs, and Saints ahead of the Bucs but a #5 ranking is still very good!
July 8th, 2020 at 11:24 am
The only thing the major sports outlets know about OJ Howard is his 40 time lol
July 8th, 2020 at 11:51 am
First of all, OJ sucks. Hes too soft and stone handed to be a dominant tight end. Second, I dont think we are giving ROJO enough credit. Give him the rock more and i think he balls out this year. Theres no denying his talent in the open field.
July 8th, 2020 at 11:53 am
Why is Howard and Brate on the five receivers they are not even in the top 20 of tight ends.
July 8th, 2020 at 11:54 am
That’s why the last two years they haven’t unloaded them. There not even worth a seventh round pick. HAHAHA
July 8th, 2020 at 11:56 am
The jury is out on our RBs for sure but I think the use of Jones and Vaughn with the screen and dump off passes by Brady more will ingnite them in the running game as well. Jones was used so sparingly in the 2nd half of last year it was almost criminal since the end result was Peyton “3 yards and cloud of dust” Barber pounding the rock in futility. I am bullish on our backs but just because i still think Jones has great upside and Vaughn performed well against SEC defenses time and time again. Cant wait for this season to start!!!!!!!!! Great to know they got the deal done on training camps and Corona restrictions. Its getting closer to reality we will see a season this year!!!!!!!!!!!
July 8th, 2020 at 12:11 pm
Teacherman777 wow thats an interesting take on our running game and one I cant really argue with. To that point i dont think Ronald Jones is a bad back as some have suggested (sorry Joe not throwing you under the bus). I agree two good guards making a running game go. I am wondering if swapping Wirfs to guard and then using that free agent we signed from the colts to play right tackle might be a better option knowing that we are now up against the cap and our GM hasnt found a solid right guard in the last 5 years.
July 8th, 2020 at 1:03 pm
Everyone is sleeping on Rojo but they won’t be after the quarter of the season. I think he has a 180-220 yd rushing game and gets interviewed on Sunday NFL Countdown and then everyone knows about him. Watch his film, he has absolute elite agility and a wicked jump-cut with hip flexibility. Last year he looked clumsy with his new weight, this year he becomes a household name. We have the best blocking Skill position players in the game and nothing I mean nothing gets a team fired up like doing a 5-6 play drive with all runs where each run is a 12-15 yard chunk and all the receivers are in on the blocking. Big passing plays get everyone excited for a minute but demoralizing all-run drives lasts for a quarter or more. Watch SF’s celebrations, that will be us.
July 8th, 2020 at 8:12 pm
I’ve beaten the “no viable running back” horse to death. Resorting to hopes and prayers is my only recourse given our front office’s nitwit approach to acquiring running backs.