Booger McFarland Believes Bucs Still Rule The NFC South Landfill
July 23rd, 2026
Has a Bucs winning plan.
In the eyes of former Bucs defensive tackle Booger McFarland, the Bucs have one of the best offensive lines in the league — when healthy.
So he believes the Bucs should take advantage of such an advantage.
Booger wants the Bucs to go old school and play smashmouth football. No need to be cute. You have hogs up front. Let them root.
“It’s the best to me,” Booger said of the Bucs’ offensive line. “It’s the best. If not, it’s top-three from an offensive line standpoint in all of football.
“They got to get back to bludgeoning people. If they do that, I think the Bucs win the South, and maybe quite easily.”
Bold statement but he may not be wrong. There’s only one catch: Who can be the smashmouth running back? Kenneth Gainwell is not a bruising back. We all know Bucky Irving is a little guy. And Sean Tucker? He might be.
Joe thinks the Bucs may miss Rachaad White. No, Joe was not a fan of White as a running back. But what White did do well was that he was maybe an underrated guy running between the tackles.
White was the best the Bucs had last year getting tough yards in traffic when needed. He led the team in first downs by a good margin.
Joe believes Booger is onto something. Way too many “ifs” about this defense. What’s the best way to cover for a (potentially) leaky defense? Play keep-away. Control the ball. Smashmouth football.
That would put a smile on KitKat-eating Todd Bowles’ face. Smashmouth football is right up the alley of defensive coaches.
"I think the Bucs are the best team in the [NFC] South." @ESPNBooger has high hopes for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 👀 pic.twitter.com/up0HRKbB2Y
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) July 22, 2026
July 23rd, 2026 at 4:29 am
Booger is ABSOLUTELY onto something. He’s preaching, Joe. The analytics back him up. The Bucs’ biggest advantage isn’t just talent, it’s a top-tier offensive line as mentioned. When you consistently win at the line of scrimmage, everything improves: rushing efficiency climbs, third downs get shorter, play-action becomes lethal, and your defense stays fresh because it’s defending fewer snaps.
But here’s another wrinkle: if Sean Tucker is going to be the downhill producer, where’s the lead blocker? We’ve almost abandoned the true fullback in today’s NFL, yet some of the league’s most physical offenses still use a fullback or H-back to create an extra gap. Behind a dominant offensive line, that extra blocker can turn a 2-yard gain into an 8-yard statement.
Smash-mouth football isn’t old school, it’s championship football. Win first down. Own time of possession. Wear down the front seven. Force safeties into the box. Then let Blue Chew Baker carve up single coverage with play-action. That’s complementary football at its finest.
Let Sean Tucker be the hammer. Let Bucky Irving be the lightning. Let Gainwell be the spark, quick, elusive, and dangerous as a pass catcher out of the backfield. Let Blue Chew be the assassin when defenses sell out to stop the run. Oh Lord!
If this offensive line stays healthy, I don’t just see another NFC South title, I see a team nobody wants to face in January.
Great read, Joe. 22 days until Pre-Season Buccaneers football graces our Televisions…
🔥 LFG!!
☠️ Join me… or hate me.
July 23rd, 2026 at 6:39 am
I wish we’d throw more to Kieft, so it wouldn’t be so obvious a running play is afoot when he’s in. The man IS an old-timey fullback
July 23rd, 2026 at 8:22 am
Vita was a running back in High school. Hand him the ball and let him roll over a few big linemen. The commentators and fans would love to see that. It takes a couple of big linemen to hold him back on defense and even than he still puts pressure on the Quarterback.
We’ve watched him clear a hole for for the running 🏃♂️ backs. GO VETA!!!
July 23rd, 2026 at 9:01 am
I think that Bowles got a mulligan last year because there were so many injuries on offense. Interestingly, not many on defense except Morrison and Walker. I forget about him and how good he’s supposed to be. If true, we will have some good edge guys. Bain, Yaya, AQM, Walker and Nellie coming in to make a game saving play every now and then. There will be some great battles in the trenches in training camp. A’Shawn and Nacho are going to be talking pure, unrelenting trash to our proud, veteran Oline who is going to clap back. I think this will be one of the more competitive teams since JPP and Suh were patrolling the sidelines.
July 23rd, 2026 at 9:05 am
Not to toot my own horn,but…..
July 23rd, 2026 at 9:16 am
The reason Tony Dungy loved this style of football was because we had a great defense that he wanted to keep off the field as long as possible.
Incredibly Average Todd Bowles has a trash defense that he wants to put on the field.
These are different scenarios requiring different solutions.
July 23rd, 2026 at 9:51 am
It all starts with the big guys up front – on both sides of the ball. We may learn early on about the recovery of the OL, with the Cinncinati game. The Bengals have traded their #1 for Dexter Lawrence and also spent close to $100M on their defense.
I’m more concerned about the DL. Can Kancey stay healthy? Will A’Shawn and Vita show their age? Can A’Shawn and Nacho justify their big talk?
July 23rd, 2026 at 9:59 am
Joe,
The NFC East is the worst division in the NFC, based on 2025 win-loss records.
So, the NFC East is the landfill and the NFC South is like the dumpster or something just ahead of the landfill.
July 23rd, 2026 at 10:08 am
NFC East AND AFC North both had fewer victories than the NFC South last year
July 23rd, 2026 at 10:18 am
Joe,
But what White did do well was that he was maybe an underrated guy running between the tackle
Only in his contract year did he run hard between the tackles,
Even his mom said you look like nothing!! At one point ?
July 23rd, 2026 at 11:47 am
Landfill Lords. Has a ring to it.
July 23rd, 2026 at 11:52 am
Any back can be part of a “smash mouth” offense. The smashing is done by the OL.
And of course we’ll miss RW…. We may have picked up another win or 2 if we’d have used him more.
July 23rd, 2026 at 12:20 pm
I saw the big-ole Boog on PAWL Finebaum yesterday, at SEC Media Days!!!! It’s almost HERE… I can just about SMELL-IT. A lot of the “High School” Preseason Polls, were being released last week… It’s always, all the exact same teams every year, BUT STILL. It’s another check mark off the list, meaning that real LIVE GAMES are near!!!!
July 23rd, 2026 at 12:43 pm
BoriMex 813 Says: “Let Sean Tucker be the hammer.”
This seems plausible to me; any reason it’s not?
July 23rd, 2026 at 1:48 pm
BoriMex 813 Says: “Let Sean Tucker be the hammer.”
This seems plausible to me; any reason it’s not?
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Running style – Tucker has not shown he’s a power back @ all. He’s our fastest back but not a pile mover. He’s likely to house a couple of outside zone runs though.
July 23rd, 2026 at 4:03 pm
Thanks, Simple T
July 23rd, 2026 at 7:19 pm
Yeah the beauty of Tucker is if we spring him, nobody is going to chase him down before he scores. Which is great. If we are very systematic and accurate in our blocking, he will provide a big payday every time. So we should use him a bit more IMO. Especially if blocking appears to be going very well.
July 23rd, 2026 at 8:32 pm
Without a doubt the Bucs have one of the top offensive lines in the NFL and absolutely can be the BEST offensive line in the NFL if they can actually stay healthy.
July 23rd, 2026 at 8:36 pm
Simple T Says:
July 23rd, 2026 at 1:48 pm
BoriMex 813 Says: “Let Sean Tucker be the hammer.”
This seems plausible to me; any reason it’s not?
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Running style – Tucker has not shown he’s a power back @ all. He’s our fastest back but not a pile mover. He’s likely to house a couple of outside zone runs though.
————
Tucker is really really really bad at reading blocking, which is why he’s not played a ton – also he lacks agility and the ability to make cuts on a consistent basis. Last year they almost always had him run outside – meanwhile they gave Bucky and White the garbage inside low YPA runs. Tucker is fine as a #3 RB who might once in a while get you a 100 yard game (like Keyshawn Vaughn did), but he’s nothing more than that.
July 23rd, 2026 at 9:37 pm
Rod Munch Says:
July 23rd, 2026 at 8:36 pm
Simple T Says:
July 23rd, 2026 at 1:48 pm
BoriMex 813 Says: “Let Sean Tucker be the hammer.”
“…….Tucker is fine as a #3 RB who might once in a while get you a 100 yard game (like Keyshawn Vaughn did), but he’s nothing more than that.”
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Oh, you mean like when Tucker gained 106 on 19 carries for 5.6/carry, with a 43 yard TD run against the Bills last season?
Tucker has not been utilized with any consistency since he joined the Bucs. He’s also a reliable receiver. Hopefully, Zac will include him in this season’s offensive strategy.
July 23rd, 2026 at 10:18 pm
I will throw my hat in for Tucker as well. He can be a feature back in this league but he needs different schemes- bigger Te’s or a lead blocker.
“Landfill Lords” is hilarious.
‘We have to get back to bludgeoning people’ sounds on the surface like vacuous analysis until one contemplates that exact observation can win you Secretary of Defense nowadays…