Bucs Conversion Percentage Still Terrible

December 13th, 2023

Bucs coach Todd Bowles.

Yes, the Bucs racked up 29 points last week. Pretty cool. Take away a safety and a really, really short field following a Carlton Davis pick, and it’s the same ol’ Bucs.

The Bucs entered the game at Atlanta averaging 19.4 points a game. Take away the touchdown and safety, that’s 20 points.

Joe has just about given up on the Bucs offense. There is no question this team is built to pass, even though Baker Mayfield has struggled lately. We’re 13 games into the season and it’s SOS.

Running back Rachaad White is so, so, so much better in the open space than pretending he’s Mike Alstott. What do the Bucs have against moving the ball and scoring points? Are they again afraid the defense is going to get worn out?

Give Joe a team that can score and make the playoffs with a potent offense and a tired defense any day of the week. That’s better than a rested defense watching the playoffs like you and Joe from the couch.

The PFF tribe put out a graphic about how often teams convert a series of downs into a first down. The Bucs are in the bottom third of the league (24th) in acquiring first downs.

Only three teams are worse than the Bucs at moving the chains on first downs, per the PFF tribe.

Hey, why get White out in space and target him or Mike Evans or Chris Godwin for explosive plays when you can grind White to the bone running him between the tackles in an effort to set up for third-and-long?

This lethargic, anemic offense might cut it against the Dixie Chicks or the Stinking Panthers. Against the Packers in Green Bay in mid-December or at home against the Jags? Well, we’ll see.

20 Responses to “Bucs Conversion Percentage Still Terrible”

  1. Leopold Stotch Says:

    See it’s weird that Todd doesn’t want a lot of points, because then the opponent will be more likely to pass making the team one dimensional which is his goal, but if it’s close they can run and be balanced,since we don’t do anything really well, specifically, on defense. His philosophy doesn’t make sense.

  2. Salary Cap Hell Says:

    Running back Rachaad White is so, so, so much better in the open space
    Joe I agree , He would be just like S.F Dabo… great hands and dangerous in open space!! But noooo!! Thay cant see that??

    Todd Bowles is stubborn to a fault…. When asked about being a Head Coach a while back he said ” I like to do things My Way” ….. How about I like to win … and will do whatever works best ?

  3. BucU Says:

    Amen to this Joe writer. A realist amongst dreamers.

  4. Fansince76 Says:

    Our offense sucks.

  5. Brandon Says:

    Y’all obsessed with blaming Bowles for Canales’ crappy Arroyo-like offense. Blame Bowles for defensive issues. Absolutely. He doesn’t run the offense. That’s for the resident man-child Canales whom everyone was satisfied would be a star due to his preseason press conferences… then you roast Bowles for his pressers. Such low IQs here.

  6. Ha-Ha-Ha Says:

    Two more years of Toilet ball to go.
    A wasted 1st round pick next year on a big slow back to fit this offense.
    Waste 4 years tearing down a passing team, fire the coaches, waste more years trying to rebuild the team to fit the new coach’s philosophy, then fire him for not winning.
    Leeman Bennett-Ray Perkins era all over again.

  7. Alanbucsfan Says:

    Bucs scored on 3 of their last 4 possessions vs Falcons, 2 td’s and a fg.
    That’s pretty good production in one half.
    What started clicking? The run game – All the Olinemen and Otton were holding their blocks, and there were some excellent pulling linemen plays where Edmonds and White were hitting the holes beautifully.
    Then the passing game opened up with key receptions by White, Godwin and even Evans’ lone reception which kept a drive moving.
    The point being- if they can maintain this improvement and continue – the past poor production will be irrelevant.

  8. Pewter power Says:

    Only problem with that is you can’t take away the touchdown. Every team in the NFL gets the same breaks and the same type of short field because of their defense which contributes to points per game

  9. Beeej Says:

    Defense ALSO allowed 400 yards+ something like 6 games of 7. Anyhow, 3rd Ave 7 over and over and over isn’t a recipe for success

  10. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Canales talks great….very likable….but he doesn’t get a pass from me.

    “We have to establish our run game”…

    NO WE DON”T….

  11. orlbucfan Says:

    Ray Perkins was a MUCH better coach than Leeman Pukeazoid Bennett. He was up against Craperhouse (Culverhouse). Some of your morons weren’t around or hatched back then, like you triple chuckles. Good thing Bucs are going to Lambeau Sunday. Weather here is looking badly bonkers this weekend. See if the lightbulb has gone on in Canales’ head. The players will be fired up and ready.

  12. BucaneroJim Says:

    Catch 22

    The running is no good – pass the ball… the passing game is no good – run the ball. Both passing and running are bad. Blaming one on the other won’t solve the problem.

  13. D Cone Says:

    Bucs ran the ball pretty well against the Falcons. Set up some 3rd and short and Mayfield was lights out at the start of the season. Has dropped recently.
    Bucs ran the ball on the last drive and moved the ball. Pass to Godwin was on 3rd and 10 after two incompletions.

    OC is going to call his game. Looking at the Green Bay Giants game NY ran for 209 and won turnovers by 1. Expect more of the same Week 15.

    3rd and 4 or 5 is a Pass/Run play and Favorable. 3rd and 7-10 are where Good QB’s flourish.

    If players want to be elite then do what the elite players do a game long.

  14. Deadwood South Dakota Says:

    Bye bye toilet bowl..

  15. Craig Says:

    The thing that really gets me is the excuse by Baker fans that the defense let the team down.

    It again comes to that spot between a rock and a hard space.

    The defense plays well enough to keep the Bucs in the game while the offense takes its weekly nap.

    Then the defense fails in the final minute.

    Is that the defense’s fault or the fact that they were on the field for almost all of the previous three quarters?

  16. Tucker Says:

    Hello from the dungeon

  17. Chuckys Bucs Says:

    The play calling seems to follow a predictable cadence. The lateral plays on short distances aren’t helping either and Im not sure white is the best option on 3rd and 1 – he tends to have a levels bell style delay before hitting the hole.

  18. Chuckys Bucs Says:

    Leveon *

  19. Tony Marks Says:

    Unfortunately since the run game is showing signs of improvement I don’t expect any big changes.

  20. Ugo Says:

    Craig,

    Regardless of how the rest of the game went, if your qb gets you a 4+ point lead with less than a minute to go in the game, as a defense, you should be able to hold the other team off. If you fail, then yeah, game was in your hands and you fell short, no other way to go about it.