On Track To Dominate The NFC South
March 28th, 2021
“Hey Glazer, you think Mayor Jane will allow a half-full stadium by next winter without masks? Ron DeSantis is the only guy who isn’t scared of her.”
Of the many great things about the Bucs winning the Super Bowl is Joe won’t have to write (for a long time, hopefully) about being back in Buccaneers Cove.
During the Lost Decade, the Bucs almost annually docked in the cove, you know, where the last-place team in the NFC South tied up each winter.
Barring something completely horrible happening, the Bucs should win the division this year, and may do so for the foreseeable future.
Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports writes that with Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht kicking the NFL’s tail this offseason, the Bucs are the new Mouth of the South.
It’s not uncommon for Super Bowl champions to lose a handful of core pieces while they’re still basking in the Lombardi celebration. That’s not the case in Tampa, where the Bucs have worked wonders with their cap to bring back every notable title piece save for Antonio Brown, who could still return. … … The kicker is they’re not really overpaying for a single one. Gronk, Suh and David are on reasonable win-now deals, and Barrett’s big extension is an absolute steal considering he would’ve commanded close to $20 million per year on the open market.
Is it a little risky to run it back rather than get creative to upgrade in some areas? Maybe, but it’s not as if Godwin and Barrett — arguably the two best re-signings — won’t be around for the long term, too. They could stand to add some depth along the trenches, and they still need a backup for Tom Brady, but there’s no way to classify their offseason as anything but a home run.
Grade: A
Later in the linked article Benjamin documents that because of players who left the slimy Saints, New Orleans has all but ceded the NFC South to the Bucs.
Man, how cool would it be if the Bucs could get a playoff bye week and then host a divisional round playoff game?
Not quite as cool as hosting a home game in the Super Bowl, but still pretty cool.
March 28th, 2021 at 7:19 am
Completely agree!
March 28th, 2021 at 7:23 am
Saints are loaded though. Saints will win some games
Dont forget teddy bridgewater went 5-0 there 2 years ago
Taysome hill went 3-1 last year
Even if its jameis, they will still win games.
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Agree that saints and atlanta lost some players
And carolina still being rebuilt. Crazy how they signed to olineman i have never heard of.
March 28th, 2021 at 7:41 am
I’m confident but let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves…..
Everything is looking good for a repeat…..it’s hard to see us at 7-5 again…..more like 10-2…….but it’s also hard to see 8 in a row at the end…
I’ll use Joe’s favorite word…..hopeful.
March 28th, 2021 at 7:43 am
What a difference a year makes!! As evidenced by my moniker, it’s been a long, and mostly painful, journey. The view from up here is wonderful!
March 28th, 2021 at 8:06 am
Bucs were just hitting their peak towards the playoffs. For Brady and several other players, this is only their second year in the system. Both offense and defense will be able to insert more complex systems this year. It is not impossible to believe that the Bucs may even be better this year.
March 28th, 2021 at 8:14 am
Totally agree with Alabama. Also what if Jason hits another home run in the draft. Can’t wait.
March 28th, 2021 at 8:15 am
Praying the stinkin’ Panthers still don’t wanna trade for D. Watson. And Saints defense should be way worse
March 28th, 2021 at 8:25 am
Joe wrote another article quoting someone as Shaq being a steal below perceived market value! 😃
March 28th, 2021 at 8:43 am
Joe….
There’s a Beach Bar in St. Maarten called “Buccaneer Cove.” My wife and I stop there for drinks every time our cruise ship makes a stop at their port.
It’s funny to misinterpret the term because “Buccaneer Cove” in our house implies “super heavy drinking” which isn’t far from what those dark years for the Bucs led to.
March 28th, 2021 at 8:47 am
Curbstomping all opponents should be the goal this year. But all other teams are trying to improve as well. I would love to go 6-0 against division rivals on the way to a 16-0 regular season. But realistically 12-4 is an improvement and would be a win in my books.
It’s such a good feeling to only be starting to look forward to the draft now as opposed to starting in November.
March 28th, 2021 at 8:56 am
I mean we do have the best QB in the division!
March 28th, 2021 at 9:25 am
Although it’s great that Licht was able to secure all of last year’s veterans, it’s not as if the team has ignored yoong developmental players. Look at last year’s draft – Winfield, Vaughn, Johnson. Look at the Bucs young secondary. They will certainly add depth to the O- and/or D-lines in this year’s draft. So, there’s no reason to believe that when Suh, JPP and other aging veterans finally retire, or move on, the Bucs won’t be ready to pick up the slack. My only real concern is at QB. There is not a better opportunity than they have right now to groom Tampa Bay’s QB of the future. Knowing Licht, I’m sure he has a plan. I’d love to know what it is.
March 28th, 2021 at 9:33 am
17 game season in 2021….. 15-2 is very reasonable, could be better. Count Down until week 1 continues. “1-2-3 Dominate”
GO BUCS!!!
March 28th, 2021 at 9:49 am
Heyitsadam
Just wait until the season starts, all the prime time and night games, stadium back to full capacity, “super heavy drinking” is going to have an all new great meaning
March 28th, 2021 at 9:49 am
This year, home field advantage and a playoff bye will be required…gotta earn that. Set the goal; make the milestone.
March 28th, 2021 at 11:33 am
Matt Rhule has a history – expect the Panthers to be a highly competitive 8-8 or 9-7 team and the Bucs will have their hands full when they face them.
March 28th, 2021 at 12:16 pm
With the bucs schedule as long as they can ward off father time and the injury bug they can break records, and win back to back.
With everyone coming back it feels like a team that will win a lot of games. Although I still think it’s going to be a difficult road. The division will be competitive with Arthur Smith in Atlanta, and Sean Payton in New Orleans. Also will have tough games against the Pats, Rams, Giants, Bills, Dolphins, WFT, Colts, and the Bears.
Hopefully they can sweep Carolina again with teddy at QB.
The jets, eagles, and dallas cowboys go in the should win bucket, but we all know that “any given Sunday applies.”
I cant wait for the season to start!!
March 28th, 2021 at 12:40 pm
Does anyone know how the 17th opponent is chosen and how they determine the home team for that? I assume they’ll alternate with 9 home games one year, 8 home games the next. I can’t find anything that determines this.
March 28th, 2021 at 12:55 pm
DRFEELGOOD-
@Johnbreech on twitter has the 17th game matchups
March 28th, 2021 at 1:07 pm
The 17th game thing is still a bit undecided, but it’s supposed to be a team from the other conference, other than than the conference you play during the course of the season, who finished last season in the same divisional placing you finished last season.
In our case that would be the 2nd place team from either the AFC West, North, or South. If memory serves that would be either the Chargers, the Fish, or the Colts.
It’s supposed to be either an international or some neutral site game
March 28th, 2021 at 1:15 pm
LOL!!!
Adam, next time you go on a cruise let Joe know. He will offer up some Bucs gear you should give the bar to hang up on a wall or something.
March 28th, 2021 at 1:27 pm
According to CBS our opponent this year will be the Colts.
That’s assuming the bigwigs approve the extra game..
March 28th, 2021 at 1:28 pm
Oh, AFC will host this year.
March 28th, 2021 at 2:10 pm
“ and Barrett’s big extension is an absolute steal considering he would’ve commanded close to $20 million per year on the open market.”
I thought he tested the open market?
March 28th, 2021 at 3:29 pm
Be interesting see who Licht and coaches draft and sign as UDFAs.
March 28th, 2021 at 3:59 pm
Dominate the NFC South?! But, but…the dreaded Saints have Jay Miss at the helm if he beats out Hill.
March 28th, 2021 at 4:15 pm
Thanks AlanBucsFan.
March 28th, 2021 at 6:12 pm
LFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 28th, 2021 at 6:42 pm
I was thinking with that link for the Mouth of the South, it would be Jimmy Hart’s picture lol