The Good And The Bad
September 16th, 2020
Analysis.
A couple of former Patriots beat guys have full faith that park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring Bucs quarterback Tom Brady will bounce back from his yawning first game as a Bucs signal-caller.
However, about his teammate, foot-rubbing tight end Rob Gronkowski, they are not so sure.
Gronk pretty much had little to no impact in the game. And that got former Boston Globe columnist Michael Holley and former Boston Globe Patriots beat guy Michael Smith to explain that in their eyes, Gronk is done.
They won’t go down that path with Brady, however.
Holley and Smith co-host a sports talk show on Peacock, the streaming-service owned by NBC.
Smith believes Brady is the answer in Tampa Bay, despite what he showed, or didn’t show, in New Orleans on Sunday.
“He is going to be better as the year goes on,” Smith said. “He is going to be dangerous. I still believe in him even at 43-years old.”
On Gronk, Holley believes he is physically toast, even though he may be healthy.
“You talk about those weapons,” Holley said of who Brady has to throw to. “Oh, I like Mike Evans. I like Chris Godwin. I like [O.J.] Howard. But Rob Gronkowski, he should be here with us.”
Well, Joe has faith in Gronk as well. It was just the first game. Perhaps Gronk was rusty because he too was not familiar with the Bucs’ offense?
And Gronk was so good when he was healthy for the Belicheats, that Gronk at 60 percent should still be better than most tight ends.
You can see the full clip of Holley and Smith discussing Brady and Gronk in the Peacock video below.
😂 @michaelsmith is NOT worried about Tom Brady so he says get your jokes off now. @MichaelSHolley on the other hand just wants to know what’s up with Gronk. 👀 pic.twitter.com/774fl40qG4
— Brother From Another on Peacock TV (@HolleyandSmith) September 14, 2020
September 16th, 2020 at 2:27 pm
He will be okay
I do wish Jason would have held his water and only coughed up a 7th
September 16th, 2020 at 2:29 pm
Again, I still don’t get all the “Sky is falling” and inferences that this team someone underachieved and were terrible against the Saints.
Brady didn’t have a great overall game, no doubt. But when you take the pass interference calls into account, we produced like 340+ yards of passing production. In his first game with a new system in over 20 years.
Brady will be just fine, just like this Bucs team.
The Offense is the EASY thing to adjust and fix. The tough one is always the Defense. But our Defense was solid against the Saints for most of the game. They dominated them for much of the game.
Gronk hasn’t played in over a year. That’s a lot of time off from football. He’ll get better and better as he plays more and they call more plays for him. His run blocking will also improve with more playing time.
THE SKY ISN’T FALLING.
Mark my words, within 3-4 more games that league will be talking about this team being a Super Bowl contender — far more than the offseason chatter.
This Bucs team is LEGIT on both sides of the ball. The TALENT is there.
People need to RELAX a bit and give them a little bit of time to pull it together. If you honestly think Fournette showed his absolute best in that first game, then you haven’t been paying attention to football. Guy is a stud and just needs more reps and our blocking schemes need to gel and improve a bit.
It will only get better. Patience Bucs fans. This NOT another year of “It’s a Bucs life.” This truly is a different team and season.
September 16th, 2020 at 2:39 pm
Colleen Wolfe
Sorry had to do it
September 16th, 2020 at 2:44 pm
Simple question for Gronk. Did you earn your paycheck Sunday?
September 16th, 2020 at 2:48 pm
I agree, we were all fools to think we were gunna roll up against a team who has had as much continuity in the craziest offseason in history and just roast the saints. They have every advantage a team could have in a year like 2020 where as we are so new in so many important places. Time my friends, time.. we will be talked about with the respect we garnered this offseason but we gotta get it time first. THIS basically was our preseason! Unfortunately it counts and we’re 0-1. But give the team some time to adjust, take the good (Defense) with the bad (offense) and the worst lol (special teams/Left Tackle)
September 16th, 2020 at 3:09 pm
Thank you Ivan for saving me a long post. Well said! People…calm down. This team will be fine.
September 16th, 2020 at 3:23 pm
Of course they’ll be fine Rob. Half the teams fans in tbe league are whining right now. Filter it out. As far as Gronk he must have been at 20% then because he looked really slow, stiff and out of football shape.
September 16th, 2020 at 3:27 pm
I don’t think Leftwich knows who to use TE’s and Gronk looks mummified
September 16th, 2020 at 3:32 pm
Gronk looked like he was running in slow motion on that one catch. Brady will be just fine. Gronk? I’m not so sure
September 16th, 2020 at 3:32 pm
Too much manscapping going on around here
September 16th, 2020 at 3:33 pm
Let’s all be honest here
Gronk has lost like 5 STEPS……..
I expected him to have lost a step or two………but man……..he looked really slow
September 16th, 2020 at 3:37 pm
My issue with Gronk, can say the same about Howard really is that so often Gronk was flexed out wide to create mismatches in New England. As an in line tight end you lose some of what made him special.
September 16th, 2020 at 3:57 pm
He’s a good value at $5 million per year. At $10 million…..he’s just not going to come close in production to justify that amount. Its only week 1….again with a very bizarre offseason so I anticipate improvement as he gets back into game speed/shape by week 4…maybe week 5. At that point, we’ll know what we have, hopefully we’re sitting at .500.
September 16th, 2020 at 3:57 pm
One game does not a Season make-RELAX.
Love the Disrespectful-just Hilarious moniker.
park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring Bucs quarterback Tom Brady
September 16th, 2020 at 5:09 pm
I sure hope he contributes…..a 4th round pick & $10 mil would have helped…..and the same goes for Fournette & Shady…..we lost 3 good special teams players acquiring those 3…..if they contribute, it will be worth it….
September 16th, 2020 at 6:24 pm
IMHO, the faster Fournette learns our offense, the better.
September 16th, 2020 at 6:27 pm
What Ivan has been saying the past two days.
BTW…given the questions on our offensive line did anybody here pay attention to Gronk’s blocking? I did not. Did anybody replay the game to see how he blocked?
He may not be the featured pass catching TE but if he can block he’s still a greater threat to defenses than Auclair who IS a good blocker and not a bad receiver. I assume since they see him in practice that BA and the boys see something that makes them hesitate to game plan him as a target. Maybe Auclair is just stuck behind too much talent and CAN actually catch the ball.
September 16th, 2020 at 7:36 pm
He isn’t worth the $10 million the Bucs are paying him. Could have used that money elsewhere…
September 16th, 2020 at 8:18 pm
Marinebuc
I’m with you. $10m on Oline would have been more useful.
September 16th, 2020 at 9:20 pm
I saw one play where Gronk was helping out Smith effectively on the blind side while Marpet was over on the right flank protecting in front of Brady’s completion to Godwin on that sideline. Yes, Wirfs also blocked his man on that play.
September 16th, 2020 at 9:28 pm
Many also quickly forget that TEs feast off of play-action.
TEs act as additional linemen in blocking schemes and then often ‘release’ into the 2nd level for receptions.
We didn’t get much production out of our TEs against the Saints because the Saints are one of the top Rush Defense teams in the NFL (like us) and so our running game really didn’t get going to open up the play action which can lead to more TE catch activity.
Once we start running the ball better, as Fournette learns the offense as has more practice time with us, his success will open up more pass activity to our TEs.
Again, we’re only just getting started with all of this talent and our first test was on the road against a Top 3 team in the league.
September 16th, 2020 at 11:02 pm
The next time we play the Saints BOTH teams should be much better. Then the test will show us where we are at that time and give us a clearer view of our play-off prospects.
Until then, one game at a time as always.
September 17th, 2020 at 12:58 am
Joe, how long are you going to refer to the GOAT as “park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring Bucs quarterback” we know you have to fill a word quota but it’s just not funny. Let’s not kill the excitement and positivity (and dare I say hopefulness) many of us have with negative vibes.
Thanks!
September 17th, 2020 at 1:17 am
Not sure. Never thought about it. Maybe a year or two at least.
Joe knows of no word quota.
September 17th, 2020 at 2:29 am
The guy’s been out of football for a year or more. He’s still getting in game shape. I’d rather save him for the stretch anyway if we’re in contention. But, to say he’s washed up after one game is just talking heads talking.
Imagine if players who holdout, or rookies who miss minicamp, have to take numerous games to get in game shape. What about someone coming off a year? He’ll be good to go soon enough.
September 17th, 2020 at 4:02 am
I tried tell ya’ll that old broke-back mountain man GRONK was done…now you know, he’s been in the whirl pool since the fat lady sing her song at the end of the game! HENNY AND HOG..late nite action!!
September 17th, 2020 at 1:03 pm
A year or Two 50% of the time right JOE?