I have to get my last post out regarding questions I have entering training camp. Because once the season starts, I try to just be a fan and remove my “coaching hat.”
If I think with my head and not my heart, I feel we have the tools on offense to be a top 10 offense this year. Part of that reasoning is because I feel our offensive system will not just run the ball to say we run the ball. But instead we will run when the defense is giving us good run looks and throw when they give us good pass looks. Not bang our heads against the wall with 1 and 2 yard gains to just say we stuck to it. I think we will have better success when we do run. One, because we will have a combination of running schemes, not just for example… outside zone or duo, but many options. And two, the change of offensive line coaches will help. Our prior OL coaches came with Bruce Arians and they came to first be good pass pro blockers. We haven’t run the ball well since they came with Arians and I think the subtraction of them will be a plus for us. And lastly, the run game will help Baker spread the ball around even more. Evans will thrive in this offense. Godwin will look as close to as good as he was in his prime while playing in the slot. And McMillan and Palmer will find their knitches and be productive as well.
I feel our problem unit will be the defense. I’ve put it out there continuously that our outside pass rush has not been addressed and it’s weakness is not something you can hide from a good offensive system. I hear all the talk about the quantity of OLB’s we have on the team, but quantity will not make up for a lack of quality at this position. You still need someone that can consistently bring pressure from the outside when rushing 4 defenders. We have 5 guys that are all about as close in potential as the next guy. No standout. I’m excited to see YaYa’s growth from his rookie year to his 2nd year. But I still feel he’s more of a 4i or 5 technique player. I like our rookie from Alabama, but it’ll take him time to get adjusted. JTS is what JTS has shown us the last 3 years. Ramirez and Watts are just like the UDFA players I hear everyone talk about every offseason. Don’t hold your breath on those 2 being our difference makers. And lastly, I’m worried about our corners. With a healthy Carlton Davis, we were stronger at the position than we are this year. Dean is a fine zone corner. Zion has a lot of potential, but still needs to put it together. And Bryce Hall has barely played the last 2 years and looked like it in minicamp.
My heart says we could get as high as 11 wins this year if someone steps up a OLB and we go relatively injury free. My mind tells me we could go as low as 5 or 6 wins, due to our schedule and the types of offenses we will be facing this year.
Well said. I think we'll have a productive offense, but I'm more confident in our pass rush than our run game this season. Our inside push on offense has been poor since 2020, losing Marpet and later Jensen was significant. I like the Barton pick, but I think it's going to take more time for him to get adjusted than Braswell due to him moving to center in an offense everyone is learning, compared to Braswell who can come on the field in certain situations, if he's not ready day 1, and just focus on getting after the QB.
The signings like Opeta and Bredeson give me as much confidence as Ramirez and Watts.
I have the feeling our secondary could be sneaky good. They just need to CATCH the ball.
My mind tells me we could go as low as 5 or 6 wins, due to our schedule and the types of offenses we will be facing this year.
definitely
This is McVay but Bowles has said the same type of thing. Not sure about this lol
McVay talked about how pass rushing is no longer all about edge rushers like it used to be. It’s evolved to inside rushers driving the bus more than ever, he says, and sparking a dangerous and more balanced pass rush.
“… It had been so heavily influenced by edge guys, but now it’s really like, alright, the defensive line is going to affect and influence and change the game,” McVay said.
I disagree. Bowles always has a decent defense. There may be a couple of question marks, but if they could keep it together last year I suspect they'll be able to do it again this year. Last year they only had one game where they gave up more than 27 points. So they kept the team in the game.
What we've heard about the offense is that it's complicated. That means there could be a learning curve early in the season. There are three perseason games, but the starters will be lucky to get in four quarters of actual playing time.
I do have high hopes for this year. I think 11 games is a success. 10 is meh and 9 is a failure.
Week 3 with Denver coming here will be a tell tale game. They should beat the Commanders and will have a tough one at Detroit. Denver is a pretty good team, but so are the Bucs allegedly. They should have all the kinks basically ironed out by then. If they lose that game it will make us question if the Bucs are really on the road to success.
Defense was a Top-7 unit last season.
Offense was in the bottom half of the league at #20.
While both sides of the ball should be better, I’m more worried about the offense at this juncture.
@bucsbits - I don’t disagree that interior pass rush has become more of a priority over the last few years. And remember that this was easy for McVay to say while he had the best DT of all time with Aaron Donald. He made that entire DL better. Most DTs are going to push the pocket deeper and allow the outside guys to get home.
We’re pretty good at DT with Vita and Kansey. They’ll do their job. But whose going to get home?
@donkey_hunter - we were 7the in scoring defense and a big part of that was because our goal line defense was excellent. Teams went up and down the field on us and we got strong at the goal line.
Pass Defense- 29th in the league
Total Defense- 23rd in the league.
And remember that this was easy for McVay to say while he had the best DT of all time with Aaron Donald.
had the same thought
Will the draft picks and FAs continue to come up the learning curve quickly?
Will the changes to the offensive line mean significant improvement for the run game? and pass blocking?
Will the offense pick up the new system in time to make a difference early in the season?
Will Mayfield be able to handle more control over the offense?
Will the defense be able to put more pressure on the opponents' QBs?
Will the defensive backfield coverage hold up?
Will the special teams coach and players have a good plan for the new kickoff rules?
@donkey_hunter - we were 7the in scoring defense and a big part of that was because our goal line defense was excellent. Teams went up and down the field on us and we got strong at the goal line.
Pass Defense- 29th in the league
Total Defense- 23rd in the league.
Love it or hate it, Bowles plays the bend-but-don’t-break defense. And they do hand out wins based on the score not the yardage, so there’s some merit to it.
@biggs3535 - it does and he has given us a .500 record. It’s strange, being a blitzing team that plays bend-but-don’t break. You don’t normally see those two things go together. That’s why the McVays’s, Reid’s, Shanahan’s, etc. know that patience and working the short to intermediate routes shreds us. Come out in a heavy package on first down and second downs, which forces us into 3 down linemen and 2 OLBs on the line of scrimmage. They then throw short grass routes and take advantage of our soft zone coverage over top. This years offenses will be tough on Bowles system.
@biggs3535 - it does and he has given us a .500 record. It’s strange, being a blitzing team that plays bend-but-don’t break. You don’t normally see those two things go together. That’s why the McVays’s, Reid’s, Shanahan’s, etc. know that patience and working the short to intermediate routes shreds us. Come out in a heavy package on first down and second downs, which forces us into 3 down linemen and 2 OLBs on the line of scrimmage. They then throw short grass routes and take advantage of our soft zone coverage over top. This years offenses will be tough on Bowles system.
I don’t necessarily disagree. But I suppose the point I’m making is if I had the choice to be a top-10 scoring defense vs. top-10 overall defense - I’m taking top-10 points. Points is what ultimately matters.
how long will it take the offense to hit its stride with a big change in the system.
8:42
https://www.buccaneers.com/video/liam-coen-baker-mayfield-his-team-press-conference-2024
@biggs3535 - it does and he has given us a .500 record. It’s strange, being a blitzing team that plays bend-but-don’t break. You don’t normally see those two things go together. That’s why the McVays’s, Reid’s, Shanahan’s, etc. know that patience and working the short to intermediate routes shreds us. Come out in a heavy package on first down and second downs, which forces us into 3 down linemen and 2 OLBs on the line of scrimmage. They then throw short grass routes and take advantage of our soft zone coverage over top. This years offenses will be tough on Bowles system.
I don’t necessarily disagree. But I suppose the point I’m making is if I had the choice to be a top-10 scoring defense vs. top-10 overall defense - I’m taking top-10 points. Points is what ultimately matters.
@biggs3535. Exactly!
Last time I checked, the games are decided by points. Not yardage totals.
