The 20th-Ranked Bucs
July 2nd, 2024
Two NFL experts very calmly and coolly — and without a hint of indecision — discussed their joint ranking of the Bucs as the 20th-best team in the NFL.
Joe hopes Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht sends this to Baker Mayfield.
It happened on The Mina Kimes Show today as host Kimes sat down with Ryan Clark, the retired 13-year NFL safety. Each is a rising NFL star at BSPN.
No surprise from Kimes, who considers Todd Bowles to be a weak head coach already on a hot seat. But Clark surprised Joe. He had no apparent problem ranking the Bucs No. 20 just behind the Bears and one better than the Jaguars.
(Don’t forget those mighty Colts at No. 18!)
Clark, ironically was very positive about Tampa Bay which seems impossible for a team considered 20th-best in a 32-team lead.
Per Clark, Trey Palmer is “a hidden gem” that shows up on film. Clark also loves Mike Evans and considers Antoine Winfield Jr. to be the best safety in football. And he believes Baker Mayfield took “a big step forward last year” and Rachaad White will make a significant leap in the running game in 2025.
Clark, however, is unsure whether Mayfield will stay at the same level because of the offensive coordinator change to Liam Coen.
For those wondering, the Raiders and Broncos tied for the 20th-best record in the NFL last season at 8-9.
July 2nd, 2024 at 3:00 pm
Not bad fer the Bucs.
July 2nd, 2024 at 3:06 pm
so they basically think we suck like they said last year yet we made it to the divisional round with less than 8 teams left.
July 2nd, 2024 at 3:10 pm
How can you call him an expert? What is an expert? Show me the track record of the predictions for the so-calledexperts.
July 2nd, 2024 at 3:26 pm
When you consider the Bucs were one game better than the Bronco’s and Raiders in 2023 and won a playoff game the Patriots and maybe the Panthers could have won it is not all that impressive.
Bucs were 5 wins better than the Commanders. Should we put a Week 1 win down now?
July 2nd, 2024 at 3:31 pm
So, really, these mooks think Coen will hold the Bucs back?
Lord, please make the next three weeks fly by so these geeks have something real to report and won’t beg for clicks with contrived controversy…
July 2nd, 2024 at 4:38 pm
I wish they would have rated the Bucs even lower, like 30th. Just puts more wood on the fire and makes the chip on Baker’s shoulder even bigger. So much bulletin board material, so little time.
July 2nd, 2024 at 5:17 pm
Hard Knocks – Offsetting With the NY Giants starts tonight on Max.
July 2nd, 2024 at 5:25 pm
It’s so funny, even with Brady there were lots of doubters. Too much heritage from 76-77, 83-96, and 09-19. That’s 27 years that produced only 2 winning seasons.
Hard to believe.
July 2nd, 2024 at 5:58 pm
Bucs ranked #20 in Points Scored last season, BUT our defense ranked #7 in Points Allowed. Taking the 2 of them TOGETHER (plus considering our overall decent S/Ts), that should give us an overall ranking around #13 or 14. And IMO that’d be fair to start off the season. But #20 overall? Nah, especially since BOTH our offense AND defense should be improved through our draft selections and a couple of FA acquisitions.
July 2nd, 2024 at 6:01 pm
The only way to shut them up is win 10+ games, 4-peat as NFC South champs, and go deep in the playoffs again. Even then, some of these “experts” are so damn uninformed they’ll pick the Bucs do even worse next year.
July 2nd, 2024 at 6:11 pm
Going to have to get a bigger bulletin board.
July 2nd, 2024 at 6:36 pm
They upgraded at strong safety and most likely center. Beyond that it’s the same team as last year. Secondary depth is a concern like always.
Hard to have crazy expectations, but that’s why they play the games. Avoid the mid-season skid this year and we’ll see what happens.
July 2nd, 2024 at 7:19 pm
11-6 or 12-5
July 2nd, 2024 at 7:20 pm
If the defense can grow to be a stifling intimidating unit, it’s Katy bar the door.
July 2nd, 2024 at 7:48 pm
I agree with Dave on this, it could be the best balanced team in a long time
July 2nd, 2024 at 7:54 pm
I love that the Bucs are flying under the radar again. Like last year it will make this season enjoyable to watch.
I feel like this team really hit all cylinders late in the year and will do much better early in the season this year despite a tougher schedule IMO.
July 2nd, 2024 at 8:47 pm
The lesson of 2020 for me is that you need to be peaking in December then January in order to even have a prayer of making a run for the Lombardi. The more I think about it the more trite it sounds to say this. Every year it is this way. We have only played and won one twice during the whole existence of the franchise after all is said and done.
Go Bucs!
July 2nd, 2024 at 9:01 pm
Watch’em go unbeaten 😂 as a fan I’d be thrilled, but to watch the so called experts $h!t themselves
July 2nd, 2024 at 11:03 pm
LOL 😆 @ Hodad…
July 2nd, 2024 at 11:28 pm
I’m sure getting tired of this stuff. I might be taking a break.
July 3rd, 2024 at 1:18 am
9 points against Carolina isn’t exactly hitting on all cylinders, and the Fleagles would have folded against Robinson HS in the playoffs. I’m always hopeful, but I try to be realistic as well. Winning our division three years in a row isn’t a monumental accomplishment. This division doesn’t scare anybody.
July 3rd, 2024 at 4:59 am
Hodad, thank you for the laugh! “Bigger bulletin board.”
No breaks, Buccaneer Bonzai. We are all in this together for the Bucs. Thankfully, Joe is keeping us going everyday!
Under 40 days until our first preseason game. Only around 36 days until the Hall of Fame preseason game; Texans and Bears.
We should be ranked higher then 20th. I don’t believe Todd is in the hot seat. He has at least a few more years as our head coach. He has a five year contract since 2022. And once we have another SB, Todd will be here for the duration of his contract, and then could retire or not. Like others said before, he didn’t get to choose his staff right away. He is now getting it together and has done well. Go Bucs!
July 3rd, 2024 at 9:40 am
BSPN strikes again.
Can we the fans start a ranking system for the media where we can publish our honest and unbiased rankings of their performance. Maybe with some stats like accuracy, popularity contest penalties, Network agendas showing penalties, Market bias, and just plain ignorance?
The winners get a pay your own way ticket to the crap ProBowl that they helped to make that way.
Go Bucs!
July 3rd, 2024 at 5:05 pm
That is a great idea garro! And give them back their own stats in the ranking 😂