If you had told me before the season that the Bucs would be 6-2 after 8 weeks and heading into their bye week, I would have been ecstatic. Now that we’re here, I am! This ties for the best 8-game start in franchise history, achieved against a tough schedule and amidst numerous injuries across the roster.
However, my rants today—both positive and negative—are more focused on this past game than the season overall.
Defensive Production
It’s hard to argue with the direction of the Bucs’ defense over the last two weeks. They were straight-up dominant against the Saints yesterday. Yes, the Saints' offense is in complete disarray and lacks a starting-caliber NFL quarterback, but the defense did everything you could ask of them.
They racked up 5 sacks, caused 4 turnovers, scored a touchdown (they should have had 2), and allowed only 3 points. The defense is anchored by a strong run defense and a young secondary that is gelling more each week.
Maybe We Found Our Edge Rusher?
For the past 3 seasons, Anthony Nelson has been shelved on the bench, only to start and steal more reps by mid-season. They can’t keep him off the field! Every time he plays, he seems to make big plays. Remember last year at Carolina when he caused a fumble in overtime to set up the Bucs’ win?
He started in place of the injured Haason Reddick yesterday and dominated, finishing with 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 interception, and a touchdown. He’s almost guaranteed to be the NFL Defensive Player of the Week with that performance. We haven’t been able to find help at edge through the draft or free agency for years, and maybe we’re also having issues evaluating personnel on our roster? How has he only recently seen the snaps he got yesterday?
Offensive Regression
Injuries have been an ongoing struggle, and we’ve been dealing with them all year. Players coming back, others getting hurt—it’s ridiculous. Overall, the team has handled the adversity well, but the offense looked really bad against the Saints, marking the second consecutive game of disappointing offense.
Thankfully, our defense played their best game of the year because this offense didn’t perform well enough to win from their side of the ball, finishing with zero points in the first half.
In the first half, we again had too many run plays on first down that left us in 2nd-and-8 and 2nd-and-9 situations way too often. There was no rhythm in the play calling. If we’re worried about the offensive line holding up against the pass rush, let’s try throwing on first down when the defense has to respect the run. It’s better than putting the line in 3rd-and-long situations.
I’ll dive deeper into my thoughts about the offense in my Monday Contemplation article later today.
Our Schedule Doesn’t Get Any Easier
Coming out of the bye week, the Bucs face the Patriots at home, then travel to play the Bills and Rams. I’ll say it now: if we look anything like we have the last two weeks, we’ll be lucky to come out of those games with a 1-2 record.
Despite Bowles’ dreams, the defense can’t carry this team. If the offense doesn’t step it up and score 27 or more points in those big games, we’ll continue to be a team that dominates our division but struggles against the elite teams.
Yes, I know this was a win, and it’s great to be able to point out issues after a victory. Here’s hoping we get healthy and improve during the bye week! #buccaneerblitz #GoBucs #mondayrant
Check out BuccaneerBlitz.com for more Buccaneers content.
Listen, everyone should be happy with 6-2 especially given all the injuries.
i had them at 11-6 this year, 0-4 in prime time games, 5-1 in division.
I had them at 5-3 to this point with losses to Texans, 49ers, and Lions.
Given the way we were playing through the SF game, i upped my expectations to 12-13 wins now.
However, there is cause for concern given how the offense has performed the last 2 weeks. We need Bucky, Godwin, and Goedeke back in the worst way. A McMillian sighting couldn't hurt either.
If the offense performs like the last 2 weeks, we wont get very far this year. After the Seahawks and 49ers game, thought we were getting it together. Let's hope that's the norm of the offense and not the garbage we've seen the last 2 games.
Happy to get the W. Team needs a week off.
I've been a Grizz defender but yesterday was just plain bad. The O-line was getting dominated and it looks like Baker is playing hurt but there is just no way you can run the same play 8 times in a row on the goal line, not to mention calling a fade to STERLING SHEPHERD.
Love the write ups. Thanks for doing them.
To be clear, the Bucs probably went a little too far yesterday in reverting back to the run (almost like Grizz was in the doghouse with Bowles), but I think the issue with the offense is really the second part of this quote (I added bold), not so much the running part
In the first half, we again had too many run plays on first down that left us in 2nd-and-8 and 2nd-and-9 situations way too often. There was no rhythm in the play calling.
Here's why I say that
The thing missing from Grizz's play calling over Coen's is really the short, rhythm passing. The type of passing that was almost an extension of the run game. It seems like under Grizz we are either running or going for chunk yards wiht the pass. Not much in between.
That could be totally off, its just an opinion, but one thing that might support that theory is the actual performance on 1st down runs EVEN WHERE THE BUCS WERE BASICALLY TELEGRAPHING THE RUN ON 1st down.
Drive 1 - they ran for 5 yard on 2st down (a win) and then 0 yards (a loss), but the drive itself is scuttled by penalties and passing, a false start and a sack. Anyway though, running was a wash, one in and one loss
Drive 2 - 3 yards (loss), 9 yards (big win), one yard (loss), 15 yards (big win). This was the 81 yard drive that end up with no TD after 4 stops. This drive had several defensive penalties, so we were getting to them
(Anthony Nelson INT TD)
Drive 3 - 3 yards (loss)
Drive 4 - 6 yards (win), but the passing game gave up a big sack and then a FUMBLE
So, keeping in mind I said they went too far with 1st down running, they were pretty successful running, overall (some if the 1st down runs were big ones) and the drive killers in the first half were mostly pass plays. And that is even with them being very mediocre in their run game - roughly 3 ypc versus Irving 5+ last season. It still served them well, especially with Mayfield seemingly injured.
To me Grizz is more failing in the short passing game than in run versus pass. In lasts season win against the Saints in New Orleans, there were multiple big runs in that big second half, but also a very short pass to Tucker that went for for a 36 yard TD and to Irving for 18 yards. Thats part of whats missing. I think they were both non-screen short passes. It seems like we dont see much of that this season.
no way you can run the same play 8 times in a row on the goal line, not to mention calling a fade to STERLING SHEPHERD.
yes that was a really bad two sequences, especially the fade lol
@bucsbits - I 100% agree with this take. I loved Coen’s short passing game (ext of the run game). And I’ve been saying the same “we either run or take a shot down field.”
I loved Grizz’ Seattle flow. He knew we’d have a tough time running the ball. So he came out throwing on first down. He didn’t put us in tough situations. We played ahead of the downs.
Now there’s two things with the Lions game. Yes, Grizz completely got away from the run game in the second half. And that’s when the lions were ready for the pass. Grizz’ play calls in the first half were overly safe. I would have loved to seen him open it up early and then ground and pound. “Throw early so you can run late.”
And lastly, I also wondered if he was in Bowles dog house. But the worst thing that can happen to this offense is to have Bowles get involved. Trust your coaches. Let Grizz do his thing. You hired him. Trust him.
I would say the Saints wanted to stop Mayfield above all else and thought our O-line was the weak point (we had Feeney in as our 4th or 5th G this season)
48.1 – The Saints’ 48.1% blitz percentage was the team’s highest of the year and was the highest faced by the Buccaneers.
80.6 – Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield’s 80.6 passer rating was his second-lowest of the season so far. His -7.4% completion percentage over expected was also his second-lowest of the season.
Not worried about the offense or defense to be honest. Injuries have impacted both units and it is hard to overcome in the modern NFL. They will be back to near full strength after the bye.
I will say though that JTS should have been benched for Nelson a long time ago but that is why the team brought in Reddick and drafted Walker and let JTS walk into free agency. Not rocket science that a competent end opposite of Diaby whether Reddick or Nelson just makes this defense perform better.
Diaby is an interesting one.
During the preseason PPF had him in their top 32 rushers, I think. He's 20ish in the league in their Pressures metric. He's on track to 9-10 sacks, so that's pretty good BUT he must lead the league is MISSED sacks. LOL
One from the last game stands out because he flat out beats his guy but then maybe doesn't have the bend to get a soli hit on the QB. He's had several of those.
hes been good in many ways , so just focusing on the sacks as one part of his role.
Diaby just has to continue to learn to finish but he is improving. He does lead the team with 4 sacks but he might be a perennial 7-10 pass rusher which is fine as a B level player. Nelson already has 3 sacks and he may end up around 6-7 sacks which is slightly above his career norm.
Braswell has to show up to the party at some point because with increased playing time Nelson and Watts are going to keep producing and smoke him for more playing time. That is how it goes. Even if you are in a few snaps you have to make some magic happen to give the coaches a reason to bump up your playing time.
Braswell has to show up to the party at some point
Obviously hoping he succeeds, but I sure dont see much from him as a pass rusher.
Braswell has to show up to the party at some point
Obviously hoping he succeeds, but I sure dont see much from him as a pass rusher.
yeah i wouldn't count on Chris Braswell; dude will maintain being a depth player but a swing and a miss draft pick. Shit happens.
Expect a huge makeover in the front 7 this offseason
- Lavonte David likely retiring one would assume?
- Unless we see a huge turnaround, Haason Reddick being one and done contract signing
- What to do with Logan Hall? Does he sign at a William Gholston type deal or is he easily replaceable? Not sure of his market value but seems like JAG to me.
- Can we rely on Calijah Kancey? He has played in 28 games in 3 years while missing 23 (assuming he doesn't return this year)
- Sirvocea Dennis at the very least needs competition. Looks terrible at times
so leaves Vita Vea and Yaya Diaby as sure fire starters.
In the first half, we again had too many run plays on first down that left us in 2nd-and-8 and 2nd-and-9 situations way too often. There was no rhythm in the play calling. If we’re worried about the offensive line holding up against the pass rush, let’s try throwing on first down when the defense has to respect the run. It’s better than putting the line in 3rd-and-long situations.
17 runs vs. 6 passes on 1st down.
Success rate on the runs: 29%
Success rate on the passes: 50%
Over the past 2 weeks, not only has the sequencing become predictable, but so has the actual plays.
Showed some real promise over a 3-week stretch and has now completely shit the bed the past 2 weeks.
Really needs to get his shit together over the bye.
The play calling in offense felt like it was called to survive till the bye week. Either way it’s very concerning it took 8 attempts from 1 yard away to finally score and even that was very close. Injuries are probably catching up to the offense. So this bye week is going to be critical for guys to start getting healthy again. We have a tough stretch of games coming up.