He can hang with NFC QBs.

Coaches determined to establish the run set their teams up to lose. The evidence is overwhelming, a spreadsheeter claims. [read more]

“Dave, I’m not going to tell you what to do, but I will need a lot of TUMS if we’re going to run that play another six times.”

Watching the Bucs’ run game last season often felt exhausting. They tried and tried and tried similar runs and the desired results were hard to find.

It reminded Joe of a basketball team running the same play repeatedly — with the same guard missing the same shot 80 percent of the time. [read more]

Solid signing.

It seems Jordan Whitehead is so invisible, many NFL stenographers can’t seem to recall his name. [read more]

In what feels like an effort to restore/revive faith in the annual NFL Network Top-100 Players series that kicked off today, the league released a couple of actual ballots to show fans how players voted for the honors.

[read more]

So this was fun. A noted analyst railed on national radio about how the Bucs are being improperly disrespected by the media … but he still picked the Falcons to win the division. [read more]

Receiver Trey Palmer with head coach Todd Bowles.

Not much of a competition for the No. 3 receiver slot at One Buc Palace. [read more]

Joe still thinks this is a helluva gamble. [read more]

Trend or outlier?

Very interesting data mined on Chris Godwin and his 2023 season. [read more]

Impressive rookie stats.

In football, a stuff isn’t a giant burrito you get from a neighborhood watering hole after a night of pounding beers. [read more]

Bucs coach Todd Bowles.

Joe knew the Bucs’ pass defense was bad last year. This chart demonstrates it really struggled. [read more]

New Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen.

It’s a two-man competition and the Buccaneers’ new offensive coordinator spelled it out. [read more]

It sounds like stud first-round pick Graham Barton won’t be gifted a starting job at center, and no, he’s not competing for a starting guard gig. [read more]

In today’s column, Ira Kaufman sets the scene at the funeral for legendary Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin.

BY IRA KAUFMAN

The start of training camp was always a special time for Monte Kiffin.

Sixteen years have passed since Tampa Bay’s former defensive coordinator last riled up the crowd on the opening day of camp in Orlando. Kiffin’s energy stoked Buc Nation as players drifted onto the field at the Wide World of Sports and he held court.

On Saturday, the wide world of sports gathered at Indian Rocks Baptist Church to honor the memory of an iconic assistant coach who touched the lives of so many. During an emotional 2 1/2 hour service that generated tears, smiles and laughs, Kiffin was lauded for his faith, his devotion to his family and his unbridled passion for football.

Call it the Tampa 3. [read more]

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A draft weekend winner is declared among the AFC West teams, as JoeBucsFan.com draft guru Sean Sullivan explores every pick of the Chargers, Broncos, Raiders and Chiefs. It’s the final chapter of Sean’s exceptional draft-recap series. Enjoy!

Listen by clicking above. Or enjoy at Apple Podcasts and other platforms. All the fun is presented by Bill Currie Ford, where summer savings are fantastic. Sean also is the eager Bill Currie Ford GM ready to help you personally with all of your automotive needs. Fire off questions on football and more to Sean at BestInClass@BillCurrie.com.

Tight end Cade Otton.

Joe was starting to worry about Cade Otton. Thankfully, those worries were premature. [read more]

Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht.

So the seemingly official league entity known as NFL Research has weighed in on the Bucs and their NFC South rivals. [read more]

Home run hitter.

Despite former Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales trying to turn an offense with explosive playmakers into a ground-and-pound team, the Bucs still hit home runs. [read more]

In recent days, Joe has heard Todd Bowles, former Bucs center and assistant coach A.Q. Shipley, NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero and Baker Mayfield himself talk about what’s different for Mayfield this season. [read more]