Bad Safeties And “Happy Feet”
January 19th, 2022
“Cam, Juice, let’s talk.”
Joe can’t wait to see the Bucs pound the depleted Rams on Sunday!
One of Joe’s dream scenarios is the Bucs piling on their usual 30-plus points (five consecutive postseason games now with 30 or more) with the Rams scrambling to get back into the game after two missed field goals by Matt Gay in the south end zone of The Licht House.
Yes, the Rams are depleted. So are the Bucs. Los Angeles has been pulling dudes off the street at safety but the Cardinals couldn’t capitalize on Monday night.
Kyler Murray couldn’t take advantage of the middle of the Rams defnense. The young Arizona QB looked like the playoff jitters got him. But Joe isn’t really blaming Murray. The Cardinals ended their season losing 6 of their last 9 games. The Rams got a first-round gift — a team worse than the Eagles.
Joe is very confident that Tom Brady and playcaller Byron Leftwich will be able to take advantage of the Rams’ well-documented safety issues.
Perhaps Cameron Brate will wake up and revive his playoff glory of 2020? And maybe the Bucs won’t push Rob Gronkowski into blocking too much and will set him free on that messy secondary. O.J. Howard, are you with us? Tyler Johnson, will your toughness over the middle be consistent?
Retired running back beast Maurice Jones-Drew, who works for the Rams broadcasting team, told The Rich Eisen Show that if the Rams’ four-man rush doesn’t give Brady “happy feet,” then it’s going to be a long day for the back end of the L.A. defense.
Joe has a good feeling the Bucs’ pass blockers, whoever they may be, will rise up enough to let Brady do damage in the pocket. He may take his share of shots, but Joe’s not expecting the happy feet.
January 19th, 2022 at 2:50 pm
Hit’em deep! Go for the throat like Aaron Donald. Put the pressure on the Rams’ back end and score! We can’t be passive on offense. We must be aggressive and Brady must show that killer instinct and ability to exploit a teams weakness. Get a lead THEN play keep away. It’s our only chance.
January 19th, 2022 at 2:54 pm
The Rams will be down at least one Safety, possibly two Safeties on Sunday if Taylor Rapp doesn’t pass the concussion protocol. Whatever they have left on the roster is unimpressive.
Unfortunately, I’m not sure if Brady will have the luxury of attempting deep passes to exploit that weakness, given the state of the Buc offensive line.
January 19th, 2022 at 2:59 pm
Speaking of DB’s, did anyone see that PFF rated the Bucs Secondary as the 2nd best in the entire League during the regular season?! 🤷♂️
I’m not saying I agree, just that was shocking to see us on their list (never mind 2nd overall)….especially given the injuries to that group throughout the year 🤯
January 19th, 2022 at 3:11 pm
The bucs can win this game huge. There whole middle of the defense is suspect gronk should have a huge day as well
January 19th, 2022 at 3:11 pm
I want to see the O Line become super human this week. That is the key to this game!
January 19th, 2022 at 3:13 pm
They have stud corners. They can protect their safeties. 30-13 Rams
January 19th, 2022 at 3:21 pm
TOUGHEST MATCHUP …
Sean McVay. Bucs have proven vulnerable to great coaching (see Saints x2).
McVay is Top 3. Arguably #1.
January 19th, 2022 at 3:23 pm
If they let Mike Evans go inside without being shadowed by Ramsey, they are going to have a long day.
January 19th, 2022 at 3:24 pm
I’m with you Joe, O-line will do the job. LFG!
January 19th, 2022 at 3:31 pm
They may have questionable safeties, but we sure don’t.
January 19th, 2022 at 3:38 pm
If we dont control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball we will struggle. Its going to come down to that…
January 19th, 2022 at 3:47 pm
Finally someone is thinking clearly, I can’t even watch football news because everyone is talking like beating the rams is some impossible task. Our banged up o Line is front and center in everyone’s mind as if they didn’t just bring Eric weddle out of retirement and put him in the starting line up
Unless they get pressure on 100% of drop backs we will have some looks we like
January 19th, 2022 at 3:49 pm
Slow down Jeff
January 19th, 2022 at 3:54 pm
Joe says:
Joe can’t wait to see the Bucs pound the depleted Rams on Sunday!
Joe for real Lol hope it happens–be a frcking miracle!
January 19th, 2022 at 4:03 pm
If Aaron donald grabs one of our lineman by the throat put VV at fullback and let him rethink his decisions 🙂
January 19th, 2022 at 4:11 pm
How is our secondary #2 for regular season?
We never played the same lineup two weeks ( or sometimes two quarters) in a row.
Maybe VV should start at FB. Only assignment is to hit Donald. Legally, of course.
January 19th, 2022 at 4:13 pm
Block with 6 on the line (Gronk helping the RT) and keep a back in, 3WRs into the patterns. See how that works. Meanwhile Gronk coming off his pass blocking should be able to win a one on one with the LB waiting for him, as should Gio or (hopefully) Lenny.
This is the only way I can see the Bucs having the time to connect a deep shot.
If releasing 5 to the patterns, better be getting it out in 2.16 seconds.
January 19th, 2022 at 4:19 pm
Realistically, we need Wirfs. We have Tristan we will win. Without him it’s a tossup.
January 19th, 2022 at 4:48 pm
First beat the Rams. The babble.
January 19th, 2022 at 5:24 pm
As long as the Bucs offense gets moving / some points BEFORE Brady gets hit, we should be good.
It’s the early hits while they’re sputtering that seem to turn him into a turtle for the game.
January 19th, 2022 at 6:31 pm
PassinThru says ” Unfortunately, I’m not sure if Brady will have the luxury of attempting deep passes to exploit that weakness, given the state of the Buc offensive line.”
I could not agree more!
The so called “depleted” Rams just killed the Arizona Cardinals.
January 19th, 2022 at 6:43 pm
Joe, your caption on the picture is incorrect. Brady is saying; “O.J., you were drafted in the 1st?!”.
January 19th, 2022 at 6:46 pm
Yup gonna be tough to capitalize when w e are forced into quick short passes. Unless we can get one of those speed guys to get open fast
January 19th, 2022 at 6:58 pm
What if BA went for all the marbles n put Suh on the line in front of Donald. I betcha Suh facing him on the other side alone would slow Donald down. No way he man handle Suh. Might as well get creative and innovative.
January 19th, 2022 at 7:05 pm
Quick deliveries 2.3 seconds on short routes to various receivers will keep TB-12 upright.
January 19th, 2022 at 8:13 pm
And you might have an interesting point there Joe. Matt Gay couldn’t kick at the Licht House for sh!t. Let’s hope he continues with that trend. That will be the Rams downfall.
January 19th, 2022 at 8:38 pm
Put Gronk out wide as a wide receiver. No CB can cover him. Gronk is 6’7 and 270 pounds. I don’t care who The Rams stud corners are. They can’t cover Gronk. The Rams stud corners are too short, give up 70 to 80 pounds to Gronk and are just too physically weak to guard him. Gronk can dominate a NFL 300 pound DE/DT at the line of scrimmage. Because of that, press covering Gronk is impossible. New England split Gronk out wide against Kansas City in the AFC playoff game and Gronk dominated All Pro Eric Berry. The Chiefs lost 2 Championship Games to the Pats in a row because of this. The Chiefs used a safety or LB on Gronk because their CB’s couldn’t. That opened up the box for Sony Michael to have a big day running for over 100 yards in both Championship games. New England ran the ball for over 150 yards because of Bellicheck’s strategic use of Gronk as a wideout. Brady knows this. Gronk knows this. More importantly, LA knows this. LA gets to play Gronk again. When you only have one good WR, be it Edelman or Evans, splitting Gronk out wide as WR2 creates nightmares and mismatches.
January 19th, 2022 at 8:47 pm
Gay out kicked Succop.
January 19th, 2022 at 10:11 pm
The makeshift O line is going to have to step up.
Evans, Johnson, Miller, Darden are the only healthy receivers. Are they calling John Brown up?
Johnson is going to have to step up.
January 19th, 2022 at 10:12 pm
I have not paid attention to the Rams. Who are they missing exactly?
January 19th, 2022 at 11:00 pm
Rams are down a starting safety and offensive tackle.
Glad Joe is not blaming Murray because Kingsbury gets an F for 2nd half of season and playoff game.
January 19th, 2022 at 11:01 pm
Activate John brown!!
January 20th, 2022 at 12:24 am
Arians made it sound like John Brown would play.
January 20th, 2022 at 1:14 am
we’re gonna need one player on offense, just one, to have a “hell of a game” that’s not expected to have a “hell of a game”…
#AllWeNeedIsOneSleeperDude
like if scotty goes 5 for 108 yards…
that’s exactly what we fuggin’ need…
#ScottyCanYaHearMe
January 20th, 2022 at 6:30 am
mix in Brate to slot some, exploit the middle, heck even OJ some if he decides to show up.