The “Worst” May Be Over
November 8th, 2021
Return around the corner?
Joe put the word “worst” in quotation marks in this sentence and in the headline because it may not fully mean what it often portrays.
Joe thinks the “worst” for the Bucs this season is about to become past-tense.
Yeah, it was a kick in the nuts how the Bucs lost to the Saints. But in the bigger picture, are the Bucs lucky to have lost just two games?
The Bucs at one point in October were down their top-five cornerbacks. When have you ever heard of a team having so many injuries at corner and still leading its division with a 6-2 record?
Oh, there may be a team, but damn if Joe’s going to spend a week of research trying to find out.
The Bucs have been without their best corner, Carlton Davis, since the first game in October at New England. The Bucs have been without starting corner Sean Murphy-Bunting since the first half of the season opener. And Jamel Dean missed the New England game with a knee injury he’d been nursing for most of October.
Most teams would roadkill by now. Not the Bucs.
It appears that SMB may be ready to roll when the Bucs travel to Washington next weekend. If that is the case, then the cavalry is coming. Just in time for the stretch drive to the playoffs and beyond.
November 8th, 2021 at 6:12 am
Keep getting healthy Bucs. This is the right time to start gaining momentum.
November 8th, 2021 at 6:32 am
Just as concerned about Gronk & AB, they take us to the promised land on offense.
November 8th, 2021 at 6:48 am
Bye week. NO. Loser. Dallas. Loser. Rams. Loser.
Without throwing a pass or making a tackle.
Not bad Bucs, not bad.
November 8th, 2021 at 6:57 am
Gotta tell ya, nothing more irritating than watching that Rams game and after EVERY play cameraman panning on McVay. What has he ever won?
November 8th, 2021 at 6:58 am
Well…. Hugh Culverhouse “ Whatever “ … I’ll have to begin seeing consistent play before I can buy into anything other than a short playoff run
November 8th, 2021 at 7:07 am
List, remember when it used to be Kurt Warner’s wife?
November 8th, 2021 at 7:20 am
Here’s to SMB coming back healthy & playing at a high level.. it’s no guarantee he will although I’m rooting … outside the playoff run last season he’s been just avg more so then a savior… this CB unit plays off eachother by committee..
GoBucs!
November 8th, 2021 at 7:34 am
Modhairken. what the hell does that mean. Warner’s wife has breast cancer
November 8th, 2021 at 7:37 am
Well alrighty then… Let’s get sum key guys back also what’s the word on gronk… Also they should use that LSU receiver into a kick returner
November 8th, 2021 at 7:39 am
Some of you seem to be surprised that we are 6-2 with all the injuries. Not me. The Saints game is just an excuse, not a reason. As a career Brady fan, i’ve seen him carry defenses in many games. Gettin a healthy defense would be like getting a concealed permit in D.C., NY or Ca. hahahaha
November 8th, 2021 at 7:49 am
Green, has she had breast cancer for the past 15 years? I understood immediately what Ken said. Yes, you couldn’t watch a Rams game back in the day without seeing his wife in the stands multiple times every game, it was annoying because there are many other players and coaches wives. Once a game? Sure. But I literally still remember exactly what she looks like and I haven’t seen her since Warner was throwing touchdowns for the Rams. So I understand the sentiment Ken was trying to convey with seeing McVay all freaking game long.
November 8th, 2021 at 7:57 am
This was a very positive weekend of football for a Bucs Fan: Saints, Panthers, Rams, Cowboys, Packers all lose.
November 8th, 2021 at 8:18 am
Redneck much? As long as you’re not a felon, it’s super easy to get a concealed permit in California. It doesn’t even cost a high-priced lawyer.
November 8th, 2021 at 8:26 am
JOE,
Any word on the return of CD3? I rewatched the 1st half if the season this past week, the value he adds to this defense cannot be understated.
November 8th, 2021 at 8:57 am
Mod does have a point. I remember during the Opie Warner days, that Kurts wife was “the thing”. Seems we say or heard about her all the time as a personality… a character, when Warner was the hot QB. I don’t think he is talking about the Cancer issue dark days for her. That came a little later.
November 8th, 2021 at 9:25 am
Seriously, I was talking about McVay’s smirk and pouty face, how the heck did this turn into a tribute to Warners wife? Though I do remember what she looks like so her appearances definately left a subliminal image in my mind.
November 8th, 2021 at 9:56 am
Let’s stop acting like the Bucs are missing two Pro Bowlers. They are missing two average to above average DB’s. Bowles scheme is still going to get dissected and picked apart by smart coordinators.
Brady and the offense will carry this team
November 8th, 2021 at 9:56 am
I’m still waiting for a meaningful Carlton Davis update, especially if there’s a date attached to it.
November 8th, 2021 at 10:03 am
This past weekend of games proves on any given week, any team can beat another. Jax beat the Bills….Giants beat the Raiders….Falcons knock off the Saints….Titans take down the Rams…..Broncos beat the Cowboys.
Even with a healthy secondary, Saints could knock us off. We simply didn’t play disciplined football. Three turnovers, penalties, etc…..we kept the Saints in the game. Getting these guys back will be nice but we still have to execute. I think teams are starting to get a feel for what Bowles is doing. We have one of the best front seven in the league and we cant rattle Winston or Sieman? I expect every team to look at what Payton did and will copy it until we prove we can stop it.
November 8th, 2021 at 10:17 am
@TD Tampa BAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYY
I disagree. Carlton Davis is pretty damn good, though SMB is a below average starting CB. But even SMB is better than using special teamers and street free agents at CB which is what the team has been relying on. The Bucs don’t need a Pro Bowl CB or two, they just need starter-grade CB play.
November 8th, 2021 at 10:22 am
I think the banged up secondary has a large effect on everyone’s plat
…
1.dline has less time to get there…
2. Lbs are used in more coverage and less blitzes
3. First downs are easy to get in a pass happy league
Every single person in are secondary has been injured I’m not aware of one player that hasn’t been banged up.
Winfield concussion..Davis Dean Murphy significant time…Whitehead missed time.. deelany sherman and so on..we need to get the backend some spinach and chocolate milk..time to build their bones strength up.
Not to mention losing lvd for those games jpp is banged up badly.
This defense will look more explosive with the grave diggers intact.
More turnover more sacks and more plays broken up.
We should see more blitz packages.
My biggest disappointment has been white.
His inability on wide open lanes to get the qb down has been tough to watch.
November 8th, 2021 at 10:32 am
@Listnfrmafar Says:
“..Gotta tell ya, nothing more irritating than watching that Rams game and after EVERY play cameraman panning on McVay. What has he ever won?..”
————–
1- they beat us more then ones; let me correct myself: they embarrassed us.
2 – He is passionate and innovate HC (not lost, and yelling to Refs on side-lines)
3 – He is bringing something new unseen to NFL; giving away unknow draft picks for well know good players (kind of TB12 is doing)
4 – Watching Vrabel vs McVay is like fresh air in NFL coaching
5 – I don’t know if we can be even competitive against these two teams.
November 8th, 2021 at 11:00 am
Worried a bit about Gronk. He was having fun and now he remembers why he retired. AB is a ticket to a deep playoff run
November 8th, 2021 at 11:43 am
One Glaring Problem …
These coaches don’t know how to limit guys coming back from injury.
>JPP’s first game back he took his full dose of snaps. JTS was on the bench.
>Gronk was rushed back and instantly out again. OJ/Brate were on the bench.
I hope they learn how to rotate guys a little better.
November 8th, 2021 at 12:06 pm
Davis playing next week would be big news.
SMB – not so much unless and until he develops some consistency.
Sure he made a few nice plays and got important Ints in the playoffs.
But as often as not for the past 2 years (including most of last season) – Murphy-Bunting is chasing (trailing his man) Hargreaves style and giving up an 80% catch rate of everything thrown at him…..
November 8th, 2021 at 12:51 pm
Love to hear it time for the defense to step it up ! We’ll be peaking just in time for the playoffs. Not like these so called contenders who already peaked imo ahem cardinals rams
November 8th, 2021 at 1:11 pm
I dont mean to damper the excitement but when SMB and CD were in the lineup, the backend of this D was still leaky.
November 8th, 2021 at 1:20 pm
@donuts-Exactly. we aren’t getting back two top flight DB’s we are getting back one above average CB in Davis and one below average in SMB. Unless this defense gets a turnover they don’t stop anyone.
November 8th, 2021 at 1:29 pm
I love how many people trash SMB and Dean because they expect st every position. SMB is pretty damn good, Dean has been playing very well. Davis is close to being an all pro. The rookie Delaney has played way above what I thought he would.
As they get healthy, they will be fine.
And no, teams are not going to “figure out Bowles scheme”
because he doesn’t have one.
He plays single high, he plays Tampa 2, he plays zone, he plays man, he plays a hybrid of them, and he comes up with new blitz is every game.
It’s about being healthy, communicating on the field and executing.
They will be fine
November 8th, 2021 at 1:53 pm
Great news! We have no pro bowlers at corner, but when you have to start picking old dudes (Sherman is a nice addition, just stating facts) off the street, you learn to appreciate what you have.
November 9th, 2021 at 8:05 am
As far as I’m concerned 6-2 stinks. They should be 7-1 and beaten the saints. Better not throw away games in the post season. GO BUCS!
November 9th, 2021 at 6:41 pm
BUCS VS CARFINALS FOR SUPERBOWL I DON’T THINK BUCS LOSE ANOTHER GAME. THERE GOIN TO BE ON FIRE JUST LIKE LAST YEARS BYE WEEK. AND WE DID FINE WITHOUT GRONK Y RUSH HIM BACK. WE ONLY GOT TEN GOOD RECEIVER’S. IF BRADY CAN PRACTICE ALOT MORE WITH EVANS ITS ALL OVER BECAUSE EVANS BEEN WIDE UP ,99 percent of the time and Winston had same problem with Evans he’s always wide open and they miss him guarantee you he could of hadv150 plus touchdowns by now ever since Evans was a rookie. Come on Brady get MAD and start slinging!!!!!!