10 Things To Keep An Eye On In Bucs-Saints Game
September 13th, 2020
Joe’s going rapid fire here:
*Bring on a monster consistent effort from Donovan Smith! He can do it. Joe doesn’t want to see Smith extend his arm to help Tom Brady off the turf.
*Cut the damn penalties. The Bucs led the NFL in penalties last season with 8.3 per game. And they had 18 accepted penalties in the final two games last season, both at home. That’s on the coaching staff and Joe wants to see no more than 6 today.
*Bucs officials tell us Ronald Jones is ready – ready to build on his strong finish in last season’s final two games. It’s his job to lose. Will he keep it or lose it today with Leonard Fournette breathing down his neck? Last year in two games against New Orleans, Jones totaled 13 carries for 48 yards.
*If you were studying the Bucs defense, where would you target? Sean Murphy-Bunting and rookie Antoine Winfield Jr. likely will be the beneficiaries of Sean Payton and Drew Brees dissecting them in the film room for the last two months. Joe’s curious to see how both those Bucs DBs might be set up in the first half for plays in the second half. Hang in there, guys!
*Kicker Ryan Succop. Enough said.
*Gronk’s blocking. Can he return to being one of the legendary tight end blockers? Today might be as healthy as he’ll be all season. Joe’s very eager to see this. How great would it be to see the Bucs finish off this game on the ground behind Tristan Wirfs and Gronk.
*Longtime Tom Brady observers will tell you he’ll target most who he trusts most. Of course, the game dictates a lot, but Joe’s eager to see who gets those targets in Game 1.
*New team, new targets, new playbook, new feel. Joe does not expect a razor sharp Brady today, but he still can’t throw picks. An interception-free game would be a fantastic sign. Joe prays to the football gods that Brady doesn’t toss two picks in a loss and leave his teammates wondering.
*Captain Devin White is ripe to make the leap that most great players do from Year 1 to Year 2. It should show up a bit today, including on the blitz.
*Jason Pierre-Paul and Shaq Barrett: Joe wants to see these beasts set the tone early in a big way.
BE THERE!
September 13th, 2020 at 8:30 am
Gameday…
yes…
September 13th, 2020 at 8:33 am
Joes
Keep eye on gronk. No preseason and no practicing with other teams . No different looks in practice from Other D coordinators.
Brady knows exactly gronks speed / ability to find holes / where to throw up
They have played together for years. He will be bradys safety blanket today as brady learns his other new receivers on the fly
September 13th, 2020 at 8:38 am
Jaymiss says: First TD goes to the GOAT’s new bestest bud “Scooter” Miller.
“How great would it be to see the Bucs finish off this game on the ground behind Tristan Wirfs and Gronk.” Waaaaayyy great!!
September 13th, 2020 at 8:42 am
Honorable mention.
Can Brady get any Juice out of OJ?
Will Brady love or hate for Cma Brate.
Is Bardy feeling at homes with Watson!
And if all else fails. Can Brady go Shady?
September 13th, 2020 at 8:44 am
All of those things make sense to me. However, I do expect Wirfs having to keep Cam Jordan at bay will result in some holding penalties as the FNG. That said, I expect a lot of two tight end sets.
Anyone know who is the best blocking RB is on this team? I don’t remember a whole lot on RoJo in that role. Whoever it is, may see that guy spend a lot of time in the game to help keep Brady upright.
Finally, Brady’s got a pretty quick release so we may see a lot shorter passes, especially early on (no, I don’t think age/fading arm strength would be why); it’s simply a matter of keeping him on the ground.
September 13th, 2020 at 8:47 am
@Whocares, all good questions I think. I think we’ll see a lot of Gronk and Godwin with passes to Shady and other RBs. It’s a big question mark with me about how much he’ll go to OJ…but hopefully OJ holds onto the football better this year. Cam too.
September 13th, 2020 at 9:03 am
Lets go Bucs!
Start this hopefully magical 2020 season off with a smackdown of the Saints.
Establish who is BOSS in this division from the first live play of the year….
September 13th, 2020 at 9:06 am
Gronk blocking on Cam Jordan will help
September 13th, 2020 at 9:10 am
I have some concerns about our special teams…..I believe the teams’ offenses & defenses are equal…..this game will come down to ST, penalties & turnovers.
September 13th, 2020 at 9:18 am
IF…. IF… they can establish a running game everything else will fall in place!
Today it will be about establishing a RUNNING GAME….
September 13th, 2020 at 9:26 am
6 hours 58 minutes and counting, go bucs whoop dem dirty taints
September 13th, 2020 at 10:08 am
@AlteredEgo, I have to agree, a good clock-controlling running game today would help Brady immensely. Plus it keeps Brees off the field. D wins, O wins, Bucs WIN!
September 13th, 2020 at 10:10 am
Will JayMiss be active #3 QB for NO?
September 13th, 2020 at 10:16 am
Leave his teammates wondering what? That a guy with no preseason in a new offense threw two picks? No one on this roster has earned the right to wonder about Brady. He’ll be fine by October.
September 13th, 2020 at 10:19 am
I want to see what it will look like to have our wr’s and Te’s get some well placed balls to allow for decent yac. Hopefully OJ and Miller will blow up as well.
September 13th, 2020 at 10:27 am
Looking at the run game. Whoever establishes the run will win the game. Both teams success in the passing game will be set up by a successfull run game.
How many touches does rojo/shady/fournette get?
Can vita get pressure up the middle on a rook center? That is brees’ kryptonite.
Can one of our corners emerge to be a true #1?
Can we make a kick?
September 13th, 2020 at 10:29 am
If there are any offensive pre snap penalties I just might blow a gasket!
I’ll be watching Wirfs and OJ in regards to blocking. Hope to see some sort of power runs with Fournette (maybe a pulling Marpet to lead the way). Hoping to watch the QB GOAT show how it’s done and hit 10 completions in a row.
Defensively, how effective the pass rush is with JPP healthy to start the season. Looking forward to more LB and DB blitzing. Hope to see Winfield Jr roaming the field and get a int or at the least a deflection or two.
I hope to begin to feel confident on PATs!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let’s go Bucs!
September 13th, 2020 at 10:45 am
YESSSS !!! Let’s celebrate today even before the win lol it’s a great day to be a Bucs fan. Let’s go bolts and Bucs.
September 13th, 2020 at 11:16 am
Just run the darn ball and we will be in fine shape!
September 13th, 2020 at 11:22 am
Pick, nice to see you back.
September 13th, 2020 at 12:13 pm
Davenport out for the Saints, I do believe. I do not think our edge rushers will get to Brees, he gets rid of the ball too quick, it will be on Suh, Nacho, Gholston, and Vea too push the pocket. I think you you are going to see the Bucs try and pound the ball early, just hope we don’t see the return of 1st and 2nd down up the gut and have the team in third and long. If ME is hurt, I would rather not see him out there (long season)
September 13th, 2020 at 12:29 pm
Ten things to watch in Bucs game
1)Brady
2)Brady
3)Brady
4)Brady
5)Brady
6)Brady
7)Brady
8)Brady
9)Defense
10)Special Teams
September 13th, 2020 at 1:28 pm
Damn, am I looking forward to seeing these new/old uniforms.
September 13th, 2020 at 2:42 pm
Gronk doesn’t need to be doing anything except playing in the red zone on passing plays. Howard is a fine blocker and has probably learned some knowledge from Gronk in the offseason