Respect For Bucs Is Growing
July 16th, 2025
Winning demands respect.
Joe will begin this here post pointing out a fun fact to folks like good guy Kevin Clark of BSPN who don’t think the Bucs can be on the same level as the Eagles and Lions.
Since January 2024, the Bucs have played the Eagles and Lions twice each, a total of four games. In those four games, the Bucs are 3-1. And that one loss was a one-score game (with a two-point conversion).
So don’t try to con Joe the Bucs are somehow the Little Sisters of the Poor compared to the Eagles and Lions. Stop it!
It’s this sort of wanton disrespect that Sara Walsh of NFL Network thinks will end this fall. She is already noticing the winds of change.
But basically, Walsh noted, the Bucs are forcing people to begin to respect them because the Bucs keep winning.
“I think it’s probably changing this year,” Walsh said of the national perceptions of the Bucs. “Going into the season, the Bucs have now won the NFC South four years in a row. No team has ever won that division five years in a row.
“I don’t think anyone is discounting the Bucs. I mean, this is a potent offense. They’ve got every starter returning [on offense], including every member that started on that offensive line that is huge.”
The best way to gain respect is to earn it. Teams earn it by winning. Winning against good teams.
It would also help to win games when the eyes of the nation are upon you. Baker Mayfield is 1-7 since he joined the Bucs in primetime games. That is terrible.
Keep losing against good teams when the country is watching, no wonder so many wave their hands in the air when the Bucs are brought up.
Watch: @Sara_Walsh breaks down the @Buccaneers heading into 2025: "The Bucs have now won the NFC South four years in a row – no team has ever won that division five years in a row…This offense was so good last season, I don't think there is any more slipping under the radar." pic.twitter.com/5dVXFQ6Knc
— Buccaneers Communications (@BuccaneersComms) June 17, 2025
July 16th, 2025 at 7:08 am
Yes, the Offense is loaded. It is the Putrid Pass Defense that must improve and get off the field on 3rd down. Between Reddick, the DB’s that were drafted and the growth of Ya Ya, Cancey and Braswell should give us more of a Pass Ruch this year. And hopefully on 3rd and longs we wont see our DB’s playing 10 yards off of Receivers. It will all be about getting a Pass Rush to make it all Go right. Go BUCS!!
July 16th, 2025 at 7:24 am
Bring on the pre season games…..Ready to see the new offense.
July 16th, 2025 at 7:34 am
Until the Bucs start playing hard hitting games where they force their will and dominance on the other team CONSISTENTLY they won’t be a real contender. They’ve also got to be prepared to play week in and week out. Not just prime time games, but for every game. One of the biggest reason I’m not a fan of Bowles is too many times this team hasn’t even tried to show up for a game. Losing happens, but when the team acts like they never even got off of the buses that’s a big hit to the coaches not getting them ready. Roster wise, the Bucs have to be top 2 or 3 in the NFC so a lot of pressure on Bowles and other coaches to have this team ready to hammer on the team they’re playing. If Bowles can do that, I’d be 100% behind him and 100% sure the Bucs make it to the NFC championship game and have a great percentage to make the Super Bowl.
July 16th, 2025 at 7:50 am
I know the Lions are getting Hutchinson back and he is lethal, but I kind of think their window is closing. Our guys don’t really sweat them too much anyway. And we have totally had Philly’s number recently. LFG Bucs!!!
July 16th, 2025 at 7:52 am
Truth Be Told … ‘Yes, the Offense is loaded. It is the Putrid Pass Defense that must improve and get off the field on 3rd down.’
I gotta call ‘Unfair’ on that one Truth. That’s making it sound like everything is the Defense’s fault and that the Offense can do no wrong. BOTH sides of the ball play into both winning AND losing.
Let me give you an example. Got curious awhile back about the impact of giveaways so did a quick analysis of the 2024 season. No one ever seems to mention the impact that OFFENSIVE giveaways have on DEFENSIVE scoring stats. Probably for good reason: it’s ugly. So basically just looked at what happened AFTER our offense made a turnover (INT or Fumble Lost). Here’s what I found …
The Bucs’ DEFENSE was put in a lot of bad field positions by offensive INTs & Fumbles … and paid a healthy price.
o Bucs’ offense had 5 games where they made 0 giveaways. We went 3-2 in those games (beat Commanders, Eagles & Panthers, but lost to Chiefs & 49ers).
o Bucs’ offense had 4 games where they made only 1 giveaway. We went 3-1 in those games (beat the Lions, Giants & Saints but lost to the Falcons).
o Bucs’ offense had 5 games where they made 2 giveaways. We went 2-3 in those games (beat the Panthers & Chargers, but lost to the Broncos, Ravens & Cowboys).
o Bucs’ offense had 3 games where they made 3 giveaways. We went 2-1 in those games (beat the Saints & Raiders, but lost to the Falcons).
Here’s where it got interesting though.
o Baker threw 16 INTs on the season. Our defense allowed the opposition to score 4 TDs & 5 FGs on those INTs (43 points), but held 7 times (actually created 2 fumbles in the process & gave the ball back to our offense). And 7 of those INTs resulted in short fields, resulting in 3 TDs & 3 FGs allowed.
o Offense lost 7 fumbles on the season. Our defense allowed the opposition to score 2 TDs but no FGs and they held on the 5 others (and actually got 1 INT of their own on 1 of those). And 3 of those fumbles resulted in short fields, and resulted in those 2 TDs allowed)
So on the 2024 season the offense turned the ball over 23 times, and our defense allowed 6 TDs & 5 FGs but held on the other 12 giveaways. And as a reward our defense got tagged with surrendering 57 points, mostly because of the short fields that resulted. But take heart, on 1 of those our defense created a fumble/safety and so the offense gained 2 points as a consequence. Fair trade right?
To our offense’s credit, Baker threw ZERO Pick-6s in 2024 and NONE of those fumbles were returned for TDs. Small wonder though why Todd Bowles wants to see fewer giveaways out of our offense and more takeaways from our defense.
July 16th, 2025 at 7:55 am
One game at a time.
BEAT ATLANTA!!!!
July 16th, 2025 at 7:58 am
Joe … ‘It would also help to win games when the eyes of the nation are upon you. Baker Mayfield is 1-7 since he joined the Bucs in primetime games. That is terrible.’
Yes it is. That needs to be a major focus for 2025.
July 16th, 2025 at 8:00 am
Agree with Miller, stop playing down to weak division opponents and pound the snot out of these weak teams. Then win some big night games and the respect will grow.
July 16th, 2025 at 8:05 am
[one man standing ovation for Defense Rules]
Excellent breakdown.
July 16th, 2025 at 8:10 am
Defense rules-not sure why you are confused on the Bucs makeup when its obvious what the deal is. This is a Top 5 Offense-check the box. This teams issue to anybody that watches them has been their inability to get off the field on 3rd down and the lack of a Game ending/winning Stop by the D to seal a win. The Pass Defense has been Putrid the last couple of years. That is and will be the biggest issue for this team this year. Plain and simple. Go Bucs!
July 16th, 2025 at 8:31 am
Would rather stay under the radar and have the players feeling disrespected
July 16th, 2025 at 8:36 am
Yeah DR no one seems to remember the Offense coughing the ball over to put the Defense in a pants-around-your-ankles position, that is the number 1 thing coach’s harp on all year long, THAT narrative never changes and probably the single most reliable and telling stat there is. And injuries. Those 2 are more telling about who is playing for crown at the end of the year.
July 16th, 2025 at 9:16 am
Respect comes with winning… who cares the level of respect year in and year out… look how much respect the Bucs got the second and third year of Brady’s runs with Tampa… all from the first run and a SB win.
Bucs need to win, simple as that.
July 16th, 2025 at 9:34 am
Truth Be Told … I’ll stand by my statement that ‘BOTH sides of the ball play into both winning AND losing’.
Our 2019 team is the perfect example. Bucs had the #3 offense with Jameis at the helm & scored 48 TDs. Unfortunately the offense also committed 41 Turnovers, that just happened to include SEVEN Pick-6s. Bucs finished 7-9 that year DESPITE having the #3 offense, because that same offense kept putting the Bucs’ defense in horrendous situations.
That defense, trying to learn Todd Bowles’ 3-4 scheme and having a number of new faces, couldn’t recover from those 41 turnovers. They gave up 449 points on the season, of which 49 were attributable to those Pick-6s (with our defense sitting on the bench). And then they had to contend with the impact of the other 34 turnovers, many of which resulted in short fields. That defense finished ranked #29 that year, but went on the next year to finish #8 … and contribute mightily towards winning the Super Bowl.
July 16th, 2025 at 9:40 am
If we can avoid that dreadful midseason slump, we’ll be okay
July 16th, 2025 at 10:11 am
“”If we can avoid that dreadful midseason slump, we’ll be okay””
With the Tristan Wirfs debacle they now have to navigate an early season losing streak.
July 16th, 2025 at 10:29 am
Baker has played well enough in those games to be at least 4-4. He suffers from a coach whose pass defense sucks and goes turtle instead of going for the win.
July 16th, 2025 at 11:20 am
Lung…I almost agree with you. I would simply lay it on a LOT more than just coaching.
D.R. As always excellent analysis.
I’ll venture into opinion land and everyone can blast away.
I think the Commanders Playoff loss was a microcosm of the entire season.
The Bucs talent matched up well if not slightly better than Washington they had home field advantage. I felt they should have been 3 point favorites..I forget the actual line.
After discussing all the stats and personnel and coaching ad infinitum in a nutshell the Bucs just didn’t have enough talent to make up for sometimes stupid play, sometimes youthful mistakes, sometimes coaching…the ENTIRE team, coaches and players all SHARE in this record.
It’s a waste of time pounding on the weak link from last season. That link has been dramatically refitted. The Bucs lost all but two of their games by a single score or less. Mistakes, lack of focus, whatever cost the Bucs the Commanders game. A game we all were HOPING to win!
I think FG attempt to win the game at the very end that doinked…coulda gone wide…snuck in for the score. It’s OVER.
The Bucs were CLOSE last year. They should be closer this year. I do not think expecting a SB with this talent is outrageous. Although IMO they may still be a year away.
July 16th, 2025 at 1:03 pm
stpetebucsfan and DR. Sometimes I feel like I can’t let some of our fan base set false narratives on this site and feel like I need to answer all the bull being spouted here. But I’m hopping on the old HD Super Glide and am going to spend the afternoon enjoying Green Country secure in the fact that our readers will get a dose of reality when warranted. Aqualung, stpetebucsfan is right-you can’t lay it on just coaching. DR makes it simple, it’s a TEAM game. And we just so happen to have a good one.
July 16th, 2025 at 2:49 pm
Try winning at least 10 games once. This basic iteration of our Bucs haven’t been more than a .500 team. Either 9-8 or 8-9 is mediocre. Even 10 wins looks less than stellar, now with 17 games . Even 10-7 looks pretty meh. Win 11 or 12, than stand on your successes!
July 16th, 2025 at 6:27 pm
I just listened to Anthony Becht on The NFL channel on Sirius. He might know something about football and coaching. He applauded the way Aaron Glenn came in and immediately hired a real defensive coordinator who is going to call the defense and the plays. Becht went on to say that VERY FEW can actually do both the Head Coach’s job and the Coordinator’s job. He mentioned 2 guys, neither one was Bowles.
That’s the big elephant in the room. When Todd was pure DC for Arians in AZ and TPA, his teams won more than half their games and his defenses were decent. When he does both, his Bucs are 2 games over .500 with increasing points allowed and the 4th worst pass defense in the league in terms of yards allowed.
That’s his and Jason’s blind spot. I think Bowles could be a really good HC if he had a full time real (not in name only on paper) DC to work with and mentor.
July 16th, 2025 at 7:43 pm
Aqualung … ‘Becht went on to say that VERY FEW can actually do both the Head Coach’s job and the Coordinator’s job.’
I for one agree with him, and have ever since Todd Bowles was promoted to HC back in 2022. I’d much rather see Todd as just the HC, and hire someone to run the defense, but I gave up on beating that drum because apparently Todd Bowles the Head Coach is unwilling to accept anyone except himself to run the defense.
Personally I think that he truly LOVES being a Defensive Coordinator, even more-so than being the Head Coach. I think that defense is his passion, and that he’s willing to go into ‘work’ at the ridiculous hour of 3 AM each day to fill both roles. Not my cup of tea, but it apparently is his.
Bucs continue to improve every year he’s been HC, and I’m personally happy with that continual growth & improvement. Our team is getting better & better, and there aren’t that many teams that can say that. Especially not in the NFC South.