Stathead Explains How Bad Defenses Will Help Bucs Offense
July 18th, 2022
“Mike, let’s roast some of these weak-arse defenses.”
Until recently, Joe was a little restless at night.
And no, it had nothing to do with the excellent ribeye Joe polished off at Herbs and Rye in Las Vegas. Nothing remotely upsetting about that.
Joe was getting rather upset at the prospect of the Bucs’ passing attack taking a huge dip.
No furniture-tossing, bicycle-throwing, V-card-forging, quitting Antonio Brown, no foot-rubbing Rob Gronkowski, Chris Godwin out for who knows how long, and the mysterious spring injury to Russell Gage.
Then Joe learned Godwin’s rehab is going very well and him being ready for Week 1 is not yet off the table. Joe then heard whispers that Gage likely will be ready to roll when training camp opens next week — next week!
Back after a nightmare return trip from Sin City, Joe last night began browsing Warren Sharp’s 2022 Football Preview. It is loaded with all sorts of nuggets from the handicapper-turned-stathead.
One tidbit Sharp offers is that last year the Bucs had a tough schedule as the defenses they faced were stout. This year? Flip the coin, he says.
In 2020, [Tom] Brady’s Bucs faced the NFL’s 14th toughest schedule of defenses. In last year’s chapter for the 2021 Football Preview, I predicted Brady’s offense would face the fifth-toughest schedule of opposing defenses, making things more difficult on the offense. The actual strength of schedule of opposing defenses at season’s end? Second-toughest. I was quite close.
This year, I predict Brady’s Bucs will face the NFL’s third-easiest schedule of opposing defenses. That’s a massive improvement over the fifth-toughest last year. In fact, it’s the biggest improvement any team makes this season.
Yes, Brady’s offensive line will face a few hiccups with new guards, and yes, the wide receiver room is getting a facelift. But at least they will cut their teeth on far easier defenses.
This is excellent to learn. And as Sharp points out, this lessen the adjustment period for new offensive personnel on the offensive line and at skill positions.
So maybe, just maybe, Joe’s small wager placed last week may not be that ridiculous?
July 18th, 2022 at 6:31 am
Wow. Go to know. Could be a fun year. High scoring games as we play some solid teams who can score too.
Who will be bradys security blankets this year with AB and gronk out?
Godwin and who?
Time for gage to please stand up please stand up. He has to realize he will be facing a teams #3 all season with limited to zero safety help.
July 18th, 2022 at 7:21 am
Can’t wait to get this thing rolling! I think the team’s level of performance will hinge primarily on the o-line. Not the receiving corps. Not the RB stable. The O-line. The need to sync quickly.
July 18th, 2022 at 8:25 am
But at least they will cut their teeth on far easier defenses.
-not the 1st 2 games on the road
July 18th, 2022 at 8:25 am
With all the high profile QBs, unless our defense takes an huge step in the passing ga, we are going to get in a lot of shootouts, which is great and bad, shootouts are like playing craps, it’s mostly luck
July 18th, 2022 at 8:46 am
That arena game looks like a Mcdonald’s with customers complaining about the McNuggets.
July 18th, 2022 at 8:47 am
Wrong thread.
July 18th, 2022 at 9:42 am
Tough start to the schedule but a lot easier in the stretch ain’t all bad. Test by fire then strong finish would be fine by me.
July 18th, 2022 at 10:34 am
It’s the offenses Todd will face that scare me.
July 18th, 2022 at 12:59 pm
Ok Joe’s think about this ! We still have Brady and he has not shown any signs of slowing down. In 2019 when with the pats he had no one to throw to and still made the playoffs. 2020 we won it all his first year during the heights of covid. Brady is coming in to his third year into the offensive system with basically all the same receivers besides Gage as the newbie. My point is Tom Brady is going to have this team humming, this is going to be the best year yet.
July 18th, 2022 at 1:08 pm
Something else that hasn’t been mentioned enough, is the fact that the bucs will not play a team that’s had extra rest. That as important as the defenses they’ll face. The offense should be fine for the most part. It’ll look a little different, because Brady has fewer weapons. This team will go as far as their defense takes them. They only have a few teams to worry about in the conference. If bowles doesn’t change his strategy against the Rams, it won’t matter anyway.
July 18th, 2022 at 4:54 pm
The Todd Bowles Bowl, Cooper Kupp and cover zero against Matthew Stafford.