Vulnerable Bucs
May 8th, 2025
While the Bucs’ bandwagon needs extra seating, one reasoned and seasoned NFL analyst thinks the Falcons are primed for a revival after a special draft and behind their strong running game.
That’s the word from CBS game analyst Charles Davis, a Tampa-friendly guy who is known to visit Bucs training camp and talk to Tampa Bay movers and shakers. Davis also was a college assistant coach alongside Jon Gruden and an old friend of the late great “Big Dog,” Steve Duemig.
Davis was on CBS HQ this week naming the Falcons as a team that could be one of this year’s clubs that makes the postseason after missing it last year. (Joe will add that Atlanta hasn’t seen the playoffs since the 2017 season.)
Davis loves the Atlanta first-round draft picks of edge rushers Jalon Walker and James Pearce, Jr., and Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts (Round 3), former teammate of Bucs second-round pick Benjamin Morrison. Davis thinks they’ll contribute quickly and the Atlanta running game and offensive line can help carry the team.
But what caught Joe’s ear was Davis ranting about how the Bucs have squeaked by winning the NFC South in recent years and they’re ripe to be caught. Joe was expecting Davis to paint Atlanta as a possible Wild Card team.
Still, Joe can’t say Davis was unfair.
Last season in Week 18, the Bucs trailed in the fourth quarter in a must-win game against a tanking Saints team.
One year earlier, in a must-win Week 18 game, the Bucs needed a miraculous defensive play to beat the tanking Panthers 9-0.
Joe thinks the Bucs are clear favorites in the NFC South, but they still must prove they can play consistently good football throughout a season. Another 4-7 or 4-6 start to a season would be troubling.
Ira Kaufman Asks, ‘Can Josh Grizzard Screw This Up?’ Talks Todd Bowles’ And The Schedule, John Spytek Revelations, YAC, And Much More
May 8th, 2025 at 8:11 am
I’d have to bet whenever Atlanta is on our schedule we’ve got an entire organization with a score to settle. It ticks a team off to lose to an opponent they should have beaten. And losing twice to that team. We’ll be double ticked off. I wouldn’t want to be on the Falcons side of that equation this year.
May 8th, 2025 at 8:17 am
Could be.
I also think that the Atlanta first-round draft picks of edge rushers Jalon Walker and James Pearce, Jr., and Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts (Round 3) were good picks.
But let’s look deeper.
1. They gave up next years 1st rounder as well.
2. They drafted zero (0) other guys that will help this year.
3. They lost a pair of starters from last year in Grady Jarrett and Drew Dalman.
And lets face it. Their receiving duo of Pitts and London are way worse than the Bucs receiving group.
May 8th, 2025 at 8:18 am
Fire todd 🔥
May 8th, 2025 at 8:19 am
The Falcons number 2 WR would be fighting for a roster spot on the Bucs
May 8th, 2025 at 8:30 am
I like the title … ‘Vulnerable Bucs’. Certainly proved true last season. Why? As much as anything … lack of depth in certain position groups. And that’s a key issue IMO: excellent teams are balanced across the board. Bucs weren’t, and it cost us.
Thankfully adding 2 CBs will help our defense. Adding 2 new Edge will also help. Right now though we lack depth in the ILB position group, and it sure would be nice to add 1 more true beast to rotate in with Vea. Maybe even add another Safety. Long ways to go until September.
May 8th, 2025 at 8:41 am
I thought this post was going to be about Bucs in danger of losing their jobs. Nope. This hits my gut far more. All the Bucs love and Bucs will be favored talk has made me really nervous. This team needs to come out on fire and make a statement early on in the season. We don’t need them thinking that they’re all that. No more Denver games. No more mid-season slumps. The goal should be seed numero uno for the playoffs and go from there. Todd always has the team prepared for the first game. Now he has to up his game for what comes next. NO LET DOWNS!
May 8th, 2025 at 8:42 am
With Atlanta’s new QB, they are definitely the team we have to beat… Tampa simply ca not afford to lose against them 2 times like last season.
This means our pass defense has to be able to blanket the WRs and TEs… our pass rush needs to chase Penix out of the pocket to halve the field to the QBs weak side throws.
Gotta beat Atlanta and Penix or Tampa will be praying for them to lose… like last season.
May 8th, 2025 at 8:48 am
Joe thank you for mentioning Steve “Big Dog” Duemig. He was an amazing person and talent. R.I.P. Big Dog.
May 8th, 2025 at 9:19 am
Going to be interesting to see how Penix and Young develop. Our window could slam shut in our faces really quick if one of these guys turns into a legitimate QB.
May 8th, 2025 at 9:28 am
Bucs are better. If they don’t get a linebacker to pair with David to be one and two in tackles like the David / White combo from 2019-2022 then better have plenty of depth in the Secondary. To have David being the top tackler at his age will leave the team ripe for an injury in that area that could crash the season but hey they go an Edge Rusher.
Bucs will compete and have had a nice run and for fans it’s nice to go into a game knowing they have a good chance to win.
Although the Bucs got better other teams have too and not just in the Division.
Rams added Adams and Stafford will have his best deep threat receiver since Megatron and could have an MVP year.
Commanders added Samuel to go along wit McLaurin.
Lions are Healthy and if Goff can avoid the 4 INT brain farts will be contending.
Cowboys added Pickens to go along with Lamb.
Eagles are still the Eagles and still have Barkley.
Seahawks could surprise some after getting the Best QB in Barkley’s Draft Class.
Then you have the Packers, Vikings, and Bears (with a new Offensive Head Coach).
NFC is Stacked.
Wild Card from the NFCS is probably not going to be an option so the Bucs will need to take care of business against the Falcons and Panthers who will both be much better as they had more room to move.
Then there are always the Saints that could always be the spoiler no matter how bad they are. With new offensive guy at the helm he might add a Legitimate Pro Bowl QB to the mix if the price is right.
Going to be exciting and will be a lot of games that are decided late in the 4th quarter. Get your Popcorn ready.
May 8th, 2025 at 9:47 am
Coming out flat in must win games or in playoff games is unacceptable and we’ve seen too many examples of that, with the disgusting home playoff loss to the Cowboys in Tom Brady’s final game being a prime example.
Coaching.
May 8th, 2025 at 10:16 am
Jason Pierre-Paul is available. If he is not a starter, his leadership would be great, and in a pinch he could fill-in as depth. I think he just wants to play at this point, and would sign for minimum.
May 8th, 2025 at 10:16 am
I know JPP is 36…that’s why I said depth.
May 8th, 2025 at 11:21 am
That’s right Geno. Can you imagine where the Bucs would be ranked if we lost our starting C and Vita Vea?
We should have improved lines and aside from adding a couple rookie OLB … what have the Falcons done? Who is their replacement for Dalman, that gets to line up across Vea and Kancey?
If the Bucs don’t win the South, something has gone terribly wrong.
May 8th, 2025 at 11:24 am
No to JPP, we need a younger vet that hasn’t been out of football. We also need Jalen Ramsey for a year or two. Think the Bucs are headed for a disaster if they don’t do something about the depth on defense. Atlanta and Carolina have gotten better.
May 8th, 2025 at 11:39 am
Bucs OL and running backs are better. Bucs QB and receivers are better. Bucs HC is better. Bucs DL is better.
May 8th, 2025 at 12:01 pm
#1, Charles Davis is a buffoon.
#2, Raheem will never be able to get out of his own way. I pray that he and Terry Fontenot stay in Atlanta for years and years to come. Much like Dennis Allen was in New Orleans, Raheem will be the gift that keeps on giving.
May 8th, 2025 at 12:47 pm
revenge game for us though, beating them head to head would really really help
May 8th, 2025 at 1:11 pm
So Much to chew on here but time is limited so,
DR….. I’m impressed that you’re not stroking the “good vibes” group. Truth is, We May Well Be in Serious Trouble IF….. And you named at least 2 Serious areas of concern. I’m surprised you haven’t been attacked by those that are Smoking “HOPEIUM” and “DRINKING THE KOOL AIDE”. You have a soft touch when trying so hard to point out the “TRUTH”.. I think it’s the respect you’ve earned through time as to why the “High Ones” don’t rebuttal. Abshame THEY AREN’T LISTENING TO YOUR WISDOM…
Now, I understand that it “gets old” worrying and complaining and we’d ALL like to back up to just a few short years ago when we were Winning Super Bowls and Breaking Records.
So WHAT changed? What changed? Hmm….
1. We lost guys
2, Pay to Play
Ok but we STILL HAD a “Miracle” in 2022. Brady wasn’t done “yet”. We DID NOT put decent O linemen in there to replace the lost and retired. Brady RAN for his life! And we finished the year with 8! Count them 8 wins….!!! And by some miracle we won(?) the division? ??
Now THAT you can account for a LOUSY division! But what was even more lousy? What was it? The VERY year before we finished with a ORGANIZATIONAL record (2021) of a “Juggernaut” 13 wins in a single season!! So WHAT CHANGED???
Here we are in 2023 now. What Changed??? what changed?
Hmm. We end up with a paltry 9 wins Again, BARELY squeaking by… A New OC. A New QB. Start hearing “POOR TIME MANAGEMENT” and “DEAR IN THE HEADLIGHTS” and talk of “THE HOT SEAT”….. From a JUGGERNAUT just 2 years removed to Another miracle “Falling Backwards” into another LUCKY playoff appearance.
NOT IMPRESSIVE! More Talk of “HOT SEATS” , “DEAR IN THE HEADLIGHTS”, and “Lousy Coaching”
Here we are just last year (2024) Now the WHOLE INDUSTRY is BORED with us and they say our Luck has run out…. Well I guess they were wrong.
We Absolutely Got Lucky Again! It wasn’t Skill that ruled the day for us in the end.. No. NO! Once again, LUCK! 10 SCRAPING BY, BARELY Enough once again….
Now the question is… What isn’t changing?
What Did Change? A Top of the Line OC showed us All “HOW TO” us the talent we have! In a STUNNING TURN AROUND we Dominated on the Offensive side of the ball and it gave us A TRUE HINT as to what we’re MISSING on the Defensive side of the ball as our defense continued to tank!
What Changed? ISN’T IT OBVIOUS?
Our Luck might run out this year. WE NEED SKILLED TEACHERS! We.HAVE the Talent!
We MUST HAVE COACHES that aren’t FAT AND LAZY! WE NEED THE EYE OF THE TIGER BACK! WE MUST THROW “HOMER SIMPSON” OUT and Bring in a STRONG COACH!
This IS Bowles last year of his contract! There IS a Very Good Reason WHY he Hasn’t been extended quite yet……. If he doesn’t WIN WITH AUTHORITY this YEAR then it’s Probably his LAST! NO MORE LUCK! WE NEED SKILLED COACHES!
Apologies about the rant. I’m just tired of some taking a wiz on our legs and telling us it’s just raining… Done with it..
May 8th, 2025 at 1:38 pm
It rides on Penix remaining healthy and completing an entire season, while playing well. And, on the Bucs staying healthy, Baker not turning the ball over, the offense not missing a beat under Grizzard, and of course, Todd Bowles. I’m sure the Bucs will make it ANOTHER “Dogfight.”
May 8th, 2025 at 1:39 pm
Prob should’ve said that the Bucs “will find a way” to make it ANOTHER Dogfight.
May 8th, 2025 at 1:45 pm
I don’t think we are vulnerable at all. We just need to tighten up that defense a little. If we managed to do that with the new corners and the new pass rushers we will probably win 10 or 11 games at least. I don’t see the Foolcans improving very much this year if you consider the big picture of a team that is overly desperate. The Panthers probably improved some, but I just don’t see Rah winning the division just yet. The Aints need a QB. I know they drafted one, but I think he’s more of a project. As long as we don’t rack up the injuries, we are sitting pretty in my view.
May 8th, 2025 at 1:52 pm
I know this has been said for several years but this year is different…. with a 4 man pass rush the defense is on the verge of being top 10. Add that to the 30+(32?) points per game offense and they look like a 13-4 Superbowl conteder.
ATL? Definitely getting better but not close to Tampa’s offense tis year.
May 8th, 2025 at 2:02 pm
NFC South division futures and model projections
Team Model div sim% Implied model odds Best market odds
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 72.8% -268 +115 (FanDuel)
New Orleans Saints 18.2% +449 +1000 (DraftKings)
Atlanta Falcons 7.6% +1216 +240 (DraftKings)
Carolina Panthers 1.4% +7043 +450 (BetMGM)
May 8th, 2025 at 2:04 pm
saints chasing manning, agreeing with the betting public that Bucs are like 50/50 to repeat and falcons will beat the other two enough to challenge closely. i like the panthers as a potential surprise team though, were competitive down the stretch and got a lot better.
May 8th, 2025 at 2:07 pm
The most vulnerable aspect of the Bucs is between Bowles ears.
Dude has no idea how to coach a defense anymore.
Once he’s gone we will reach our potential.
Facts over feelings.
May 8th, 2025 at 2:42 pm
I will trust Todd has made the right changes and this defense will look and play different.
Penix will basically be a rookie starter so who knows what happens.
The Bucs are loaded from 4-5 straight good drafts.
The Bucs have way more SB winning veterans than any team in the NFCS
The Bucs are an overall better team.
The Bucs should easily win the South.
May 8th, 2025 at 2:58 pm
like i’ve been saying…the bucs didnt exactly blow the doors off the south last season especially…they had help in the final games. they dont have a championship defense and if bowles and the d coaches cant get it done with the new crop of d players then they need to clean out a bunch of offices at one buc place…..
May 8th, 2025 at 5:20 pm
Games we should have won and didn’t capitalize on last season… Atlanta game 1, chiefs, cowboys, 49ers. These games were close because we didn’t finish. This was a lack of a hungry mindset we had with Brady that we kind of lost. Give your all every game, and watch our momentum and playoff seeding change. Stop losing on field goals and stupid mistakes. 2 games lost by rookie Bucky, and Rashaad for ego mistakes. Stomp teams this next year and don’t give them a breath to recover. Stop finding a way to lose. That is no longer the Bucc mindset.