Defense Primed To Dominate
August 23rd, 2021
Licking his chops?
It seems no team will face more garbage quarterbacks than the Bucs’ defense will square up against this fall.
That’s the word from Mike Sando of The Athletic.
Now “this Joe” is not a fantasy football guy, always saying fantasy has absolutely nothing to do with football and everything to do with a sultry brunette on a private Caribbean island.
Nothing against fantasy football, but “this Joe” is much more into real football.
Per Sando’s research — he is the one who crafted quarterback tiers years ago — no team this season will play a schedule facing more subpar quarterbacks than the Bucs.
The Buccaneers are the only team with zero games against Tier 1 quarterbacks, partly because Drew Brees finally retired. They are the only team to play every game against a starter rated lower than their own. The Bucs’ nine games against Tier 4 starters rank tied for third with Atlanta. Brady’s Patriots faced the easiest schedule of opposing quarterbacks heading into his final season with New England. The Patriots rode that easy schedule to a 12-4 record while producing the NFL’s best single-season defensive performance since at least 2000, according to the expected points model used by TruMedia. The schedule Tampa faces in 2021 (3.16 average) is even worse than the one New England faced in that 2019 season (2.94).
For those thinking of betting the over on the Bucs’ season-win total, this should get you to pull the trigger (per BetMGM, the over/under is 11.5).
Also, this makes a small wager on an undefeated season all the more intriguing.
The Bucs also may face two rookie quarterbacks, Zach Wilson and Justin Fields. Surely Matt Nagy can’t be that stupid to stick with awful Andy Dalton, can he?
Though Daniel Jones is not a top-tiered quarterback, he is dangerous against the Bucs. Remember how the Bucs choked against Jones when he was a rookie and he went crazy in the second half in 2019? Then last year he damn near upset the Bucs. So watch out for this guy.
Here are the projected starting quarterbacks Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles and his defense will face:
Josh Allen, Matt Stafford, Dak Prescott, Matty Ice (twice), Carson Wentz, Daniel Jones, Zach Wilson, rotten Ryan Fitzpatrick, Sam Darnold (twice), Mr. Entertainment Jameis Winston (twice), pouty Cam Newton, awful Andy Dalton, Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts.
August 23rd, 2021 at 5:38 am
The Bucs have a history of losing to backup QBs. Any given Sunday. I have no doubt that we will make the playoffs, but a perfect season with 17 games is a lot to ask. One game at a time guys.
August 23rd, 2021 at 6:01 am
But, but, but…BradyBucs says our secondary is the worst thing since Vlad The Impaler.
But, but, but…Lamarcus says Jameis is the best thing since whatever the best thing was.
August 23rd, 2021 at 6:22 am
I doubt jameis is the starter by the time we play them. Sean payton will bench his ass mark my words. Hell dirk was benchin him his last year. Arians thought he could fix stupid but found out the hard way stupid is as stupid does.
August 23rd, 2021 at 6:28 am
Josh Allen will be the most dangerous as his receiving corps is one of the best in the NFL.
August 23rd, 2021 at 6:42 am
I guess we still hate fitzy? Mr entertainment = mr loser
August 23rd, 2021 at 7:19 am
“rotten Ryan Fitzpatrick”
Why you gotta hate on Fitzmagic lol? He actually was the most entertaining QB for three games during the decade of depression.
August 23rd, 2021 at 7:20 am
^^^I remember a bunch of ppl at the bar with Fitzmagic shirts lol^^^
August 23rd, 2021 at 7:23 am
I believe Fitz and the Skins are the best prospect to best us. The guy seems to have finally fixed his Winston-like interception trait
August 23rd, 2021 at 7:30 am
Come on Joe, a caribbean island is to hot, and there’s to much to do. Give me a snow covered cabin, and a nordic blonde on a bear rug any day.
August 23rd, 2021 at 7:38 am
Joe on September 17th, 2018
America’s MVP, Ryan Fitzpatrick, is one gracious dude.
On Sept 16th, 2018
Joe asked Fitzpatrick on Thursday whether he felt he had found his prime in the Buccaneers offense. Was this the fit of his career? Fitzpatrick was calm and cool when he said he is the very best he’s ever been as a quarterback whether people could see it or not.
All that experience — physical, mental and his surroundings — had come together to get him where he is, he said.
Man, Fitzpatrick was not kidding.
As Joe has written, it’s not rare for a QB to find his stride late in his career.
August 23rd, 2021 at 7:41 am
Most of the focus is on our offense’s power because of Brady & all his weapons….but our defense is what will win us the close games…..best run defense coupled with a sack attack & a greatly improved secondary with depth…..watch for it!!!
August 23rd, 2021 at 7:41 am
Cmon joe. This article gave your real fantasy away
Mr entertainment in a ice tub with extra apples
August 23rd, 2021 at 8:38 am
Lol, there’s nothing wrong with that Joe !
August 23rd, 2021 at 9:06 am
Like the details here. 🙂
August 23rd, 2021 at 9:43 am
I would not take the undefeated bet. The kick or punt coverage teams will cost the Bucs one or two games this year, hopefully during the regular season and not the playoffs. Armstrong is not getting it done, special teams are the only area that has not improved under this coaching staff.
August 23rd, 2021 at 9:57 am
@Sando … “They are the only team to play every game against a starter rated lower than their own.”
Kind of a silly statement considering that our QB, Tom Brady, is almost universally referred to as ‘The GOAT’.
August 23rd, 2021 at 10:05 am
And it appears that Sando believes the Bucs defense is ‘primed to dominate’ because opposing QBs suck in his view. Strange perspective, essentially equating to ‘you’re good because your opponent is bad’.
I actually agree with Sando that the Bucs’ defense is ‘primed to dominate’, but not because opposing QBs suck. We’ll dominate because we’ll be a Top-5 defense this year.
August 23rd, 2021 at 10:05 am
I’ve been impressed by Mac Jones so far. Cam not so much.
August 23rd, 2021 at 10:07 am
That’s a dumb ass report, playing a QB rated lower than our own!
We just saw 100s of posts over the weekend about backup QB’s kicking our ass regularly ! That means QBs rated lower than ours routinely beat lf pass coverage (in the past ).
August 23rd, 2021 at 10:20 am
If the Patriots trot out Cam, it’ll be a win for the Bucs. The one thing Cam does very well is run, which also matches the strength of the Buc defense. He was terrible last season at passing the football, and though I expect improvement from Newton this season, he’s still a below average passing QB.
I agree with Stanglassman, Mac Jones is the superior QB but I think Belichick knows that it is far too early to throw him into the fire. The Patriots got a break on Mac Jones, he shouldn’t have been there at pick #15. He’s accurate and processes the field well. Doesn’t have a rocket launcher of an arm, but he does throw a very catchable ball.
Fitzpatrick is unpredictable. He can have a great game and beat the Bucs, or he can stink it up and get WFT destroyed by 30 to 40 points. That’s why he’s a journeyman, he’ll make a good team play at .500 or so as you cannot count on him being consistent.
Stafford is Stafford, I expect improvement over Goff (airhead QB) but I don’t see him as part of the “near elite” tier. Josh Allen is dangerous, as is the entire Buffalo team. Let’s see if he can sustain that level of excellence from last season. Many good QBs flash for one season then fall back to the pack (Matty Ice).
August 23rd, 2021 at 10:56 am
^As is the entire Buffalo offense. The Bills defense will likely remain mediocre.
August 23rd, 2021 at 11:52 am
Why the little jabs at Fitzy Joe? He was great for us, and is still fun to watch! Geez… and furthermore, if we go down to the WTF’s, I lay blame at your feet Joe! LOL
August 23rd, 2021 at 1:01 pm
Daniel Jones should have his top RB ready for the game against, the Bucs, and that is the biggest factor in Jones career as far as winning vs losing. He needs a strong run game.
Yeah the Bucs defense should carry this team most of the season until the WRs stop dropping passes, because the run blocking on this team is a joke. But if the Bucs have to rely on their backups, we all know how that is going to go. They drafted for depth, but even that looks like a bust at this point. Maybe Tyron can stop making his rookie mistakes in time to be a viable backup at OLB at least. The LB position will be a disaster if either LD or DW goes down. The Secondary is not that deep either, and JW is injury prone the way he plays. Go Bucs.
August 23rd, 2021 at 1:25 pm
As loaded as this team is and people still think there is a connection to the past. How are people thinking this team, which just won a Super Bowl will emulate the lost decade teams?!?! And before anyone brings up the 2003 Bucs I’ll say put down your beer please. 2003 Bucs < 2021 Bucs.
Now that is fantasy football.
August 23rd, 2021 at 2:16 pm
Like Isparky says:
The Bucs have a history of losing to backup QBs. Any given Sunday.
we barely beat the WFT
no doubt we will play Tameis and it will take a boatload of prayer to win those games
Just don’t count on anything–every game is trap
August 23rd, 2021 at 4:07 pm
The 2019 Pats defense was better than the 2002 Bucs defense? LOL!
Right there you know the article is fake news.