Yes, there are moral victories, and the Bucs can get one on Sunday.
Much ado has been made about the Bucs home grown talent. 44 of 53 opening day players are draftees and UDFAs signed by the Bucs. Supposedly the Bucs are a deep team because of that. Licht and Bowles have been getting complements for their ability to work together to put together a deep, homegrown roster. They'll have to be deep to withstand the rigors of a 17 game season and come out on the other side 10 wins or more.
Already in Week 2 the Bucs are hit with injuries, so Detroit is going to put that theory to the test. The backups need to perform. If they don't and we get blown out 45 to 3, then it will be hard for me to believe the Bucs can have a winning season. If they do perform and we get a competitive game, then perhaps we can hope to win a couple of those hard fought games against contenders in the middle of the schedule.
I'll take a moral victory if the Bucs can pass the depth test.
Not in the mood for moral victories. Backups need to play like they belong. Preparation is key and they had a whole week to know to be ready
When injuries have taken out numerous starters, and backup’s…I don’t think it’s realistic to simply expect backup’s to step up. No doubt Bowles will have a scheme, and will likely try and lean into his typical aggressive playcalling - but he’s limited at edge, has a cobbled together secondary, and now the enforcer on the offensive line (who shutdown Hutchinson in the first game last season), won’t be playing either…meaning the QB is likely going to be under a lot more pressure.Not in the mood for moral victories. Backups need to play like they belong. Preparation is key and they had a whole week to know to be ready
I do think if we’d only lost one or two starters you could expect to rely on backups to step up - but it’s not a reasonable expectation to think that can happen under the current circumstances.
We have good depth for situational plays, but to play an entire game against possibly the best team in the NFC?
The Lions have some injuries, and Baker’s release has improved over last seasons, we have 3 dangerous receivers, a really developing running game, the scheme has a lot of motion and the skill positions are pretty solid…we can score points.
A loss is not etched in stone, but it’s one of the most uphill battles we’ve faced in a long time. I believe we have a chance, but I’d only put it at about 30%.
Just looking at it realistically. It could/should have been a great game, but our defense has had their wings clipped.
If Izien can go I am confident that he and Meriweather can play as starters. Thomas is also in the mix as depth. Hall returning will help share the load of rotation on the DL.
Really think Skule will be okay at RT and I am more worried about Mauch than anyone else on the line.
I am not worried about depth.
The existing starters need to be able to perform in the run game on offense and defensively the edge rushers need to bring pressure and sacks.
The Bucs still have 15 of their top 17 highest paid players healthy. Only one injury was season ending, and that was a backup. Most of the injuries are week to week, so they'll likely be back for the great majority of the season. You can't pin your hopes for the season on the idea that 22 starting players are healthy the whole time. But the backups have to do their job as backups. They're just supposed to hold their own. If you are a DB you don't look like Chris Conte and get stiffarmed. If you are an O-lineman you don't want look like your feet are anchored in cement and get your QB killed.
The Bucs still have players who can make plays. They have a chance in this game if the backups can just do their job and plug some holes. Much has been made of how deep this team is, so we'll see.
A win and this team may be Super Bowl bound
And that statement I made may be ridiculous but no more ridiculous that fans being disappointed if the Bucs lose on the road tomorrow with half their defense out, down a man on offensive line
Detroit by 10 most likely
Considering that Detroit is the one who is supposedly a Superbowl contender I'd agree.A win and this team may be Super Bowl bound
And that statement I made may be ridiculous but no more ridiculous that fans being disappointed if the Bucs lose on the road tomorrow with half their defense out, down a man on offensive line
Detroit by 10 most likely
then it will be hard for me to believe the Bucs can have a winning season
Yep.
Season would be over.
Probably looking at a Top-3 pick.
Might have to fire Licht and Bowles on Monday.
Most likely trade Evans, Winfield, LVD, and Wirfs before the deadline.
Glazers most likely to relocate the team.
@donkey_hunter sell the team to the Taliban.
It's over
Yep.
In all fairness, I simply copy/pasted my same reply to this jack-off's similar post from last week.
I'll have it on deck again for the next banger he'll post in 5-6 days.
Wow you have some personal issues to resolve or something. I said Game 1 was a must win. Win the Bucs won, so we move on. This one all I implied was that we must get a moral victory to show that we have enough depth to have a winning team over the course of a long season. I don't understand why either of those opinions stirs up such anger. Whether you agree with them or not, they aren't that controversial. I didn't predict the Bucs were going to have the 8th pick of the draft. I really wasn't looking for or expecting such vitriol.@donkey_hunter sell the team to the Taliban.
It's over
Yep.
In all fairness, I simply copy/pasted my same reply to this jack-off's similar post from last week.
I'll have it on deck again for the next banger he'll post in 5-6 days.
Goedeke shut down Hutchinson last year. He's a really good RT. Think this injury will hurt more than people realize.
Goedeke shut down Hutchinson last year. He's a really good RT. Think this injury will hurt more than people realize.
I don't think anyone is downplaying the significance of him being out.
McCollum and Smith being active is huge, because at least the missing players aren't all from the same part of the team.
Todays game against the Lions will show if the Bucs are a contender or a pretender.
