“You’ve Got To Give Up Something”
January 1st, 2024
Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
In speaking about his defense, Bucs coach Todd Bowles inadvertently said something profound about his offense.
The Bucs head coach held his day-after presser today and it was somber, given what transpired in the past 24 hours. Bowles began by deadpanning “Happy New Year” to the gaggle of the local pen and mic club.
Given the events of yesterday and Bowles’ sometimes biting sarcasm, Joe is pretty sure that greeting had more than one meaning.
Bowles was asked about his defensive coverages and how slimy Saints tight ends had a strong day. Bowles admitted he was worried about receiver Chris Olave and the slimy Saints’ deep passing game, and the Bucs’ focus on that opened things up for the tight ends.
“You’ve got to give up something,” Bowles said about a defense that plays strong to one element of an opposing offense.
He’s not wrong. But for Joe, this brings up the Bucs’ offensive strategy — and Joe uses the word “strategy” loosely.
If New Orleans wasn’t doubling both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, Bowles said, they were disguising coverages to make it appear the two were double-covered. Fair point and one could argue this is why tight end Cade Otton and backup running back Chase Edmonds led the Bucs in targets with six each.
Well, of the Bucs’ receivers minus Evans and Godwin, who would be the logical next target you’d want with the ball in his hands? That would be receiving back Rachaad White.
Joe is not won over by White as a running back. Joe is very much won over by White’s pass-catching abilities and his skillset in the open field. The man is downright dangerous.
So if Evans and Godwin were taken out, and to use Bowles’ own words, “you’ve got to give up something,” why didn’t Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales feed the slimy Saints defense a steady diet of White underneath and let his excellent skills in the open field take over?
Slimy Saints coach Dennis Allen, who is actually a good defensive coach, would have had to adjust to take care of White and that likely would have helped free up Evans and/or Godwin.
Joe finds it difficult to believe there was nothing available underneath for White if Evans and Godwin were covered that much. And given the fact Edmonds had so many targets, that tells Joe passes to White were there for the taking.
Again, Joe likes Canales a lot. But Joe just does not understand why he chooses not to put the ball in the hands of players that offer the best chance to move the chains, produce explosive plays and — gasp! — score points.
White running between the tackles isn’t the best option. If it were, we’d be celebrating the Bucs clinching the division yesterday.
White catching the ball in the open field certainly is one of the best options.
January 1st, 2024 at 3:06 pm
Joe – I’m here for you buddy. Clearly you can us a drink. Look for me at the Carolina game. I’ll be rocking a vintage creamsicle Steve Spurrier. Beer on me bro.
January 1st, 2024 at 3:09 pm
Offense was dead until they realized they actually needed to score. Such a weird game
January 1st, 2024 at 3:13 pm
3rd and 5 and the Bucs secondary is playing 10 yards off of the ball. Help it make sense!!!
January 1st, 2024 at 3:15 pm
The good news is if we can go on another 4 game winning streak we will be playing in the Super Bowl
January 1st, 2024 at 3:19 pm
Hmmm…
Isn’t that a game adjustment at any level of football?
Buh bye !
January 1st, 2024 at 3:22 pm
If the fans and media types can see the problems and offer simple solutions then why can’t highly paid professionals see the same and offer the same ? There is much more going on around NFL teams than we will ever know.
Also, I’m sick and tired of hearing football talk. It’s the same as NASCAR talk, MLB talk, NHL talk, etc.etc.
“We just have to execute.” To execute means to do your job as instructed. Why don’t the players execute? Are they too dumb to be instructed ? Are they too lazy to do their job as instructed ? Do they just not give a **** ? Are they not instructed at all ? Are the instructions too complicated ? They are being paid BIG $$$ to execute ! It all comes down to coaching. The players that are being paid more than the coaches don’t execute because they don’t have to execute. The inmates are running the asylum.
January 1st, 2024 at 3:25 pm
Toilet Bowl,
You forgot mentioning the offense with your loved boy, Baker putting up zeros and two picks with seven almost the entire game. You should have a good chance to win a NFL game when you hold an team to 20 points for three quarter.
This game was a great example of why toilet bowl and the journeyman qb need to be ceased. Trash Baker hasn’t and will never win a championship game We can’t continue with this mediocre team and the coaching for the next two years. Time to re-build.
January 1st, 2024 at 3:25 pm
tup SB-LV
thats called in game adjustments.
something this coach does not believe in. He believes in sticking to his guns and game plan, so when it works sometimes he can say SEE, I WAS RIGHT.
The other times? throw players, coaches, fans etc. under the bus.
I have wanted him gone since last year…..but man……
he’s taking this into lefty territory! He may just be unemployed period after this…
January 1st, 2024 at 3:27 pm
Perhaps the solution would be to eliminate guaranteed contracts and institute a ” must execute” clause.
January 1st, 2024 at 3:28 pm
Once again, the porous OL had a hand in the problems with the Offense. And that is on them and Canales. Learn to adjust, Canales. You don’t wait until halftime. Don’t you get any help from guys in the box?
Why not have roll outs for Mayfield?
Why not use the tools you have and to their strengths?
When the stupid short passes and runs are not working, why not start throwing downfield as a first proposition and not as a third read?
I saw a lot of lazy route running, too, by Godwin. Yep. Said it.
January 1st, 2024 at 3:34 pm
Boss Says: he’s taking this into lefty territory! He may just be unemployed period after this…
Are we seeing any common denominators here ? Perhaps the Kangol Hat and his hand picked staff is one.
January 1st, 2024 at 3:37 pm
@ Mod
I agree.
The O-line was bad but the play calling was worse…
Hey NFL if any of you really want Dave Canalas as your Head Coach please come and get him.
January 1st, 2024 at 3:42 pm
If there were open people, within 2-3 seconds, it’s safe to say Baker would have hit them. There’s zero reason to assume he can’t do that
January 1st, 2024 at 3:44 pm
Alright Joe, you’re hired as the main play caller (you, me and so many of us)….its stupid to be forced to watch such elementary BS by these coaches!!!!
January 1st, 2024 at 3:45 pm
The defense had once again laid down, and allowed the Saints to win the game, in the first Quarter.
Down 17 that quickly, on a team that cant run, and has TEs that cant catch
– even the stupidest trasky knew our only choice was to pass.
When they dont have to play the Run, taking Evans and Godwin out of the equation was Childs play.
Why wasnt Godwin and Evans Targeted more. Because New Orleans didnt bother playing the run. Evans and Godwin were always double teamed. One of them was usually triple teamed.
So sad to watch this one armed team trying to run behind Hainsey and Stennie. Those two are so bad, there was never a seam to run thru.
Yet we kept running there, so much so, that even the announcers were laughing at them
“ how many times do you keep banging your head into the wall!”
Cant run. And then Otton picked yesterday to butter up his hands, kept dropping pass after pass.
But none of this is a surprise. This is a bad team. The surprise is winning the division with a horrible team.
Thank you, Baker Mayfied. I hope you are ok
January 1st, 2024 at 3:45 pm
‘“You’ve got to give up something,” Bowles said’
THEN WHY DON’T YOU GIVE UP ON RUNNING BETWEEN THE TACKLES ON FIRST AND SECOND DOWN?!
-Angry, reasoned and intelligent Bucs fans
January 1st, 2024 at 3:46 pm
Here is a positive for the Bucs Fans
Cheaper tickets next year
January 1st, 2024 at 3:46 pm
I don’t claim to know a lot about plays but that strategy (sic) with White was SO obvious! He does so much better in YAC style. IDK what the coaches were thinking. They were calling Leftwichesque plays which never worked elsewhere. That game was an insult to fans.
January 1st, 2024 at 3:51 pm
I haven’t gotten a chance to go back and rewatch the game or all 22yet but from what I remember Canal Water didn’t put Godwin back in the slot until late in the game
January 1st, 2024 at 3:55 pm
@ Capt Tim – the part about the announcers just clowning the Bucs coaches was the worst part about the game. I recall one point where they must have been told to stop making fun of the team for continuing to try and run the ball because they stopped themselves and changed subject.
January 1st, 2024 at 4:05 pm
All the highly paid players and coaches are just pawns for the “money makers”. There is so much money being made by the NFL that the cost for services by the pawns is not particularly significant. Contracts, lawyers, rules, regulations, referees, umpires, television, radio, digital media, politics and much more surround a GAME played for entertainment. Who pays for all that ? You pay for that. Who is being taken advantage of ? (a rhetorical question). When the money makers want a new venue for their follies they usually ask for the taxpayers to foot the bill.
But if we could only execute better.
Keep buying those jerseys folks.
We Americans generally agree that CEO salaries are too high and out of step with workers wages. Many of the big execs. make 20-25 mil a year.
The Bucs have an underperforming linebacker that wants to be paid like the CEO of Walmart.
But if we could only execute better.
January 1st, 2024 at 4:16 pm
Some times common sense isn’t common on mediocre teams!
January 1st, 2024 at 4:23 pm
Stubborn is a common reason a coach gets fired.
January 1st, 2024 at 4:23 pm
Dang Citrus. politics much?
January 1st, 2024 at 4:24 pm
@ Citrus:
Press Guy: Coach McKay, how do you feel about your team’s execution?
McKay: I’m all for it.
I’ve been tired of Bowles for a year now.
January 1st, 2024 at 4:26 pm
One day the owners may wake up and place incentives in the players contract. Give a set amount and then give incentive bonuses like they did to BM. Makes sense and may get the players to play a better brand of football.
January 1st, 2024 at 4:31 pm
Why are you blaming Canales??? He wasn’t throwing the ball
January 1st, 2024 at 4:44 pm
Watched about 5 or 6 games in total this year. I just can’t take Todd Bowles seriously as a head coach. Please get someone else in so I can enjoy the games again.
January 1st, 2024 at 4:46 pm
The politics is exemplified by the coaches and players. ie.
We are so capable but we just have to execute better. In other words, we aren’t playing up to our capabilities.
We have to do a better job. In other words, we know we did a lousy job and we know what we could have done better but we didn’t.
We’ll have to look at the tape. In other words, all the fans watching on TV could see we played and coached poorly but we don’t want to talk about that right now.
We could have done better in certain areas. In other words, this player or that player didn’t do his job but we don’t like to mention names ’cause it ain’t nice to do so when we are paying him so much money to do said job.
January 1st, 2024 at 5:03 pm
If Bowels can’t win this week and doesn’t win a playoff game, show him the door! Let him play Chutes and Ladders and fall down that really long shoot chute that is somewhere in the 80’s on the board. Haven’t played the game for over 50 years, but I wanna say you go from 86 to 19.
January 1st, 2024 at 5:15 pm
You want politics? Try this…..
When Bowles speaks, he makes as much sense as Biden does.
January 1st, 2024 at 5:24 pm
I am just so OVER this dude! The thought of a third year with this turd is just awful.
January 1st, 2024 at 5:25 pm
Nice Bowels speak Citrus County!
January 1st, 2024 at 5:45 pm
Bowles knows he’s going to be let go soon.
January 1st, 2024 at 5:45 pm
Dazed and confused. They put a bunch in the box and stuffed the running. How stupid to put that then try to make plan 10 in to Evans who would of caught the long ball interception and held on to the other fumble. I watched it all on Tee Vee. He is an idiot. Get him out.
January 1st, 2024 at 5:47 pm
In the spirit of optimism and brotherly love after the first two games I proclaimed Bowles to be an excellent coach. I wanted to believe that he had made great self improvement after the previous year. I ignored the little voice that said otherwise.
That little voice tells me now that this team will never stabilize. The NFL is much the same as all other sports leagues. They all seek the same two things ; Parity and Profit.
January 1st, 2024 at 5:47 pm
Citru the proble is that they DID their job. Set by the Dazed and Confused coaching staff.
January 1st, 2024 at 5:52 pm
I volunteer to give up Bowles and his entire staff.
January 1st, 2024 at 5:54 pm
I will also volunteer to give up Plan 9 From Outer Space and Bowles pressers.
January 1st, 2024 at 6:02 pm
It’s the inconsistency that makes me crazy. That and a defensive scheme that plays WRs 10 yards off the LOS. Gee, I wonder where they’re going to throw it?!
And tell me what their WRs have done to EARN that much respect and cushion!!!
Painful!
January 1st, 2024 at 6:38 pm
Bucsfanman, hell of a true statement. You couldn’t have said it any better
January 1st, 2024 at 6:39 pm
This guy is a joke and no matter what should be axed at seasons end – we will NEVER win a championship with Todd in charge
They certainly didn’t have to give up anything to shut our pop gun offense down did they genius???
Maybe he can go work for Dennis Allen….
January 1st, 2024 at 6:57 pm
Toad and Canales have to go if there is any chance for this team to get better next year. There is no accountability. This team needs to unload underperforming overpaid players, something Toad won’t do. We know who they are.
January 1st, 2024 at 7:00 pm
Maybe we can trade TB for a 7th round draft pick!! He’s still a defensive guru if you don’t mind giving up 400 yards a game between the run and playing soft zone coverages!! Any takers??
January 1st, 2024 at 7:02 pm
Will the people bashing Baker saying he needs to go, please drop their best 3 alternative options? Players capable of 4000 yards 28 TDs and 10 picks don’t just grow on trees. What FA or 20th overall draft pick are you bringing in?
Keep in mind, we have what looks to be some good young players in the mix, more cap space and Evans and David would probably prefer to stay with a QB option that can get them to the playoffs again.
After the season I’d like to see a poll with the likeliest options.
January 1st, 2024 at 7:08 pm
If you say Trask or a draft pick since we have a decent young core and you wouldn’t pay big bucks for Mike or Baker, essentially starting a rebuild, I can buy that as a team building strategy. Can’t wrap my head around losing Evans or David to another team and I think with a good HC/DC this team could be a contender after another strong offseason… so rebuild seems crazy to me. I would prefer a better QB than Baker but I don’t currently see better options.
January 1st, 2024 at 7:10 pm
Parity. Everybody is about the same. You are up and then you are down. You win about as much as you lose. How can any team strive to be the best when no team (relatively speaking) is the best. I would rather have one team that no other team could beat so that the others would strive to be the best and beat that team. Eventually one would succeed and the process would repeat. Money and a giant ring appear to be the motivators not the sense of accomplishment of beating the best.
The 17 game season is too long. Injuries take a toll and the players seemingly conclude early on their chances of getting bonus pay and giant rings. Their effort follows those conclusions.
January 1st, 2024 at 7:16 pm
Again, the question I am interested in hearing Bucs fans answers and opinions about, is Mayfield consistent enough to lead the Bucs the next 2 or 3 years and the same question about Bowles. One other thing about Bowles, will he stay stubborn on making changes as needed or just when 98 percent of the Bucs media, fans and others start to Bowles bash him and the loses start to Pile up. In other words, do you trust Bowles or Mayfield long term
January 1st, 2024 at 7:35 pm
Saskbucs:
Justin Fields plus he will run for 1000 yards
Kyler Murray
And with 5-8 solid NFL QBs in the college the Bucs will have their pick of these three:
JJ McCarthy
Quin Ewers
Bo Nix
Those are just a few players guaranteed to be available
Not to mention
Case Keenham
January 1st, 2024 at 7:39 pm
I didn’t mean to imply that all the players are just “mailing it in”. The effort put forth by some of the young guys is obvious. Baker’s effort and passion is obvious. If this team could not self motivate, in spite of the seemingly feeble effort put forth by Bowles, to win a home game on New Years Eve against a hated rival to clinch the division championship, then we have a big problem.
That game screamed ” We just don’t care! ” by both the players and the staff.
January 1st, 2024 at 7:44 pm
I hate the 17 game schedule, too. The Offense needs to have a team meeting with Canales. He throttled them in this game. The 2 games before, he opened things up. Then he closed them again. The Offense captains need to have a talk with this clown. I blame him for the loss and embarrassment.
January 1st, 2024 at 8:00 pm
Amazing how the tide can turn, back and forth, on a man. The toast of the town after the win streak, calls for his head on a spike after yesterday. Imagine turning off the noise and adjusting, week in, week out, to a fresh opponent , is not for the faint of heart . New oc. New qb. Many young rookies. Compared to other current head coaches with similar circumstances…he’s done well . Yesterdays loss may be a blessing in disguise. Refocus. Reinforce idea that game plan must feature playmakers ( early and often). Better Canales learn this lesson yesterday, rather than later, where a loss means season over.
January 1st, 2024 at 8:09 pm
General observation but did we ever see a problem with running up the middle with Arians as HC? Regardless of our QB being Winston or Brady, this was never a conversation. Bowles takes over and suddenly the running up the middle becomes a common complaint, whether it be Leftwich or Canales as OC. Common denominator is Bowles….he dictates the the game and he does so in a manner that focuses predominantly on benefiting his defense vs winning the game. Bowles knows he’s in over his head but in order to have future employment elsewhere, his defense must rank well.
January 1st, 2024 at 8:17 pm
What I don’t understand is this; How could Dave Canales show so much improvement the previous weeks and then drop a stinker like that ? I don’t think Canales is to blame. The head coach is responsible for all aspects of the game plan. It was blatantly apparent early in the first quarter that changes needed to be made. Were there no assistants up in the booth pointing out the obvious? I don’t think Todd Bowles knows ANYTHING about offense and therefore is not suited to be a head coach. The head coach of an NFL team should not be one dimensional. I think BA knew that about Todd and preferred Leftnut for that reason. When the Glazers chose Bowles that came as a surprise to BA caused the tantrum that resulted in the subterfuge and sabotage. This mess is all on the Kangol Hat.
January 1st, 2024 at 8:25 pm
If Bruce Arians had not left the team in the way he did, the Glazers would not have had to decide between Leftwich and Bowles. Neither was a good choice. Thank you Kangol Hat. Had you not been able to persuade Brady to come here your career would have remained mediocre as it was and as it should be. You got the ring and bailed with a bunch of loot.
January 1st, 2024 at 8:39 pm
Baker fans stop all these crap posting blaming the OC over the complete offensive failures in yesterday game. Your boy is the issue and have been the issue for the 9 other coaches on the past six years. All these coaches fell victim to your trash qb inconsistent plays.
Just two days ago you were so excited to see a combo of Dave C. and Baker next year.
Baker fans are bunch of morons on this website. Please get hell out of this site. Baker/TB are done here even if they defeat Panthers next week. They proved doubters that they are still trash yesterday.
January 1st, 2024 at 8:53 pm
This in a nutshell (with an emphasis on “nut”) is why Bowels is not a good coach and a poor strategist.
January 1st, 2024 at 8:53 pm
If the Glazers can somehow manage to get a new and competent head coach that will keep Canales and Mayfield you will see that Baker is a more than adequate QB and that Dave is a very good OC.
That is not likely to happen. By the way, I’m not the moron and no one tells me to get the hell out.
January 1st, 2024 at 9:02 pm
Oh david. Had you been one of the disciples, you’d be Simon the zealot.
January 1st, 2024 at 9:06 pm
Let’em Bake; Let’s just hope David knows about the disciples and subscribes to their teachings.
January 1st, 2024 at 9:24 pm
McKay said it best when asked about the team’s execution.
January 1st, 2024 at 9:32 pm
If you bring in a coaching staff that you actually go through a fair hiring process. (Crazy I know). Use a first round pick on a QB and retain the best players not named baker. Draft well this team can compete and ascend for years. Keep these coaches and Mayfield and we will wallow in this cesspool of mediocrity for another lost decade. Malcolm would not settle for this complacency he wanted a winner.
January 1st, 2024 at 9:38 pm
I told you all how these trash Baker fans find the ways to deceive the other Bucs fans.
This is what one of them says;
“If the Glazers can somehow manage to get a new and competent head coach that will keep Canales and Mayfield you will see that Baker is a more than adequate QB and that Dave is a very good OC.”
Baker fan posted the above while they have been blaming Toilet Bowl and specially the OC for his poor play callings.
Baker Fans I said before there will be no Baker in Tampa without Toilet Bowl. Why is it so hard to understand ?
Your boy was trashed by another trash qb named Derek C. as he was trashed by another trash qb called Desimon R.
I wanted Baker to defeat the over rated Derek C. Instead, the trash Derek C. defeated your trash qb without two his stars in the offense and the defense even though I
Just imagine how trash is your boy, Baker when gets trashed by Derek C.
Again I would like Baker to defeated another overrated no.1 overall Bruce Y. Uh wait Baker will probably disappoint as he did yesterday.
You better hope he doesn’t get trashed by another trash qb, Bruce Y. next Sunday.
January 1st, 2024 at 9:53 pm
Baker fans, your boy is trash and the main reason the offense failed so badly yesterday. He didn’t give the team a chance to win. He threw a pick short to Palmer on a sure TD. Then he threw a second pick with deflected due to his midget height. It was a bad pass to begin with. He waited as usual towards the end with the game already decided to throw become more accurate with Saints in prevent defense mode. Again once you become a trash you always be the trash and yesterday was a great example of it.
January 1st, 2024 at 10:04 pm
He thinks White is Alstott
January 1st, 2024 at 10:35 pm
We are going to get smoked if we get to the playoffs. Sad part is Carolina could beat us because we always play down to the competition.
January 1st, 2024 at 10:47 pm
The formula is 8-9 or 9-8. Year after year. Count the beans.
January 1st, 2024 at 11:10 pm
We can’t do anything without a good center.
No holes without a good center.
We need a legit NFL center and a TE who can actually block.
Gronk was the greatest PLAYER Ive ever seen.
He blocked like an OT and could catch like a WR.
Grokowski is the greatest TE and player I’ve ever seen.
January 1st, 2024 at 11:54 pm
Olave is a good player, however, he’s no Tyreek Hill. There’s no reason for Bowles to put extra attention on Olave.
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:26 am
David Says:
Just two days ago you were so excited to see a combo of Dave C. and Baker next year.
Baker fans are bunch of morons on this website.
——–
And what do you think has changed TRUE moron. Dave and Baker are fine. Both are in their first years with a new offense. With Bowles practically calling out the offense scheme its unlikely Canales will ever try that nonsense again. We are fine . A win Sunday and your crying and whining are TOAST.
You got five days left to bore us with us with the same stupidity over and over again you had all season long. Trask is eating pine again this Sunday – the final season game so all your belly aching has not done a thing
When your five days are up we will kick you off the flight
True Bucs fan Air Marshall Mike has spoken.
P.S. Kyle sucks so bad Bowles is afraid he might turn the ball over during a victory kneel.
#Kylesucks #takeDavidwithyouNEFan.
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:36 am
I do not think you have to give up anything. The Bucs are more talented. They were outcoached by the second dumbest coach in the league.
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:40 am
Since76 Says: If you bring in a coaching staff that you actually go through a fair hiring process. (Crazy I know). Use a first round pick on a QB and retain the best players not named baker. Draft well this team can compete and ascend for years. Keep these coaches and Mayfield and we will wallow in this cesspool of mediocrity for another lost decade. Malcolm would not settle for this complacency he wanted a winner.
Lovie Smith and Dirk Koetter went through a fair hiring process. Jameis Winston was a Heisman trophy winner and thought to be a “sure thing”. We took him with the #1 pick. His first NFL pass was a pic 6.
I rest my case.
In Baker Mayfield we know what we have. Given the Bucs situation, discarding him to gamble on a prospect isn’t worth it. Trask has looked pretty good when we had a chance to see him play. If we can draft a QB to understudy for a couple of years do it. But remember, Trask understudied with Tom Brady for 3 years.
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:49 am
Let ‘em bake Says:
Better Canales learn this lesson yesterday, rather than later, where a loss means season over.
———–
Agreed!! As long as we win this coming Sunday I will look back and be glad for the loss. Going into playoffs we need to finally realize this team’s identity – its in the passing game not the run.
January 2nd, 2024 at 3:44 am
Not:
Trask is not “garbage”. He’s a player with good character that had to struggle to get where he is today. In spite of the odds he had some success at UF. Upon his arrival here he found himself 3rd string. He’s never pouted or asked to be traded (that we know). He seems to have a quiet mild mannered nature and a good work ethic. Working with Canales he looked pretty good in the preseason games. There was even talk of him beating out Mayfield. It was well known that BA and Bowles had long liked Baker and Bowles was on the hot seat so he took his best shot with Baker’s experience. That proved to be the right choice. Trask may have done very well but he never had a chance. I think the Bucs should keep Baker and Kyle as 1&2 and take a chance on a #3 in the draft and hope for the next Brock Purdy. I LIKE BOTH BAKER AND KYLE. Let’s not be calling a man that struggled to get where he is garbage. He’s a backup quarterback in the NFL making a good living. In my book that is a success.
January 2nd, 2024 at 5:57 am
When you see the punter and Winfield both have horrific games some tings really wrong
January 2nd, 2024 at 6:44 am
Let ’em bake … ‘Amazing how the tide can turn, back and forth, on a man. The toast of the town after the win streak, calls for his head on a spike after yesterday.’
I hope you didn’t expect anything different; Bucs’ fans (probably most other teams’ fans too) have always been this way. You’re only as loved as your last win.
Bucs had EVERYTHING to play for on Sunday, yet they came out flat as a pancake. Saints also had EVERYTHING to play for on Sunday, and they attacked the game with purpose. Both teams played mediocre football Sunday. The difference was (1) Bucs giveaways (near impossible to win a football game when your Turnover Differential is MINUS 4); and (2) our offense peed all over itself for 3 quarters of the game; and (3) our defense couldn’t get off the field, especially in the 1st half.
It was a TEAM LOSS and pointing fingers at specific players is pointless in games like that. They all played like zombies just going through the motions. That goes for the coaches too. If the Bucs pull that same BS against the Panthers, there’s a decent chance that they’ll beat us too.
January 2nd, 2024 at 6:51 am
Not … ‘Citrus, come on now, Trask is clearly garbage or he would have played by now.’
No way that Trask was gonna be #1 or even #2 with Brady here (2020 thru 2022). And no way he was gonna be #1 with Mayfield here & Bowles as HC. We’ll almost surely never know how good (or how bad) Kyle will be until he leaves here & goes someplace willing to give him an opportunity to show what he’s got.
Personally I think he’s got good potential to be a starting NFL QB … with the right team to support him. Being a pocket QB, obviously that support starts with having a decent OLine to protect him.
January 2nd, 2024 at 10:53 am
Thanks TF. I really don’t know what the best way to go will be. Adding a legit C and G this off-season is going to make any QBs life easier. I have my doubts about those options you listed, this seems to be a question of risk. We know what we can get from Baker, those other options could be better could be worse. The cost of Fields and Murray, plus their durability … scares me a bit. Run game would instantly be much better though. The rookies… well the risks are obvious, draft a bum and instantly set back a year, likely more. Let’s all just hope Bowles is gone by the time we need to debate the QB direction this team takes.
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:57 pm
Bucs got knocked in the mouth on the opening drive against the Saints and never recovered. We started much to slow. I saw no energy or urgency from this team. How you let a team with a worse record than you march into Ray Jay and whip your butt is beyond me. There is a disconnect somewhere. And it might be..Coach Bowles.