At this dead spot in the NFL year even SR is creating topics out of thin air for his articles such as "What if Mike Evans doesn't get 1000 yards...?"
So I'll create my own topic to forget about ...
Sober up Bucs fans!
Where Bucs would have finished in other divisions....
NFC South 1st Place Champs! (9-8)
AFC East - 3rd
AFC North - 4th (tied for last)
AFC South - 2nd (3-way tie)
AFC West - 2nd
NFC East - 3rd
NFC North - 2nd (tie)
NFC West - 3rd (tie)
AFC Wildcard at 9-8 - nope
NFC Wildcard at 9-8 - tiebreaker for last spot (thanks to expanded format!)
Best record of opponent we beat: 9-8 (Packer, Saints, Jaguars)
Rushing YPC - 3.4 (32nd- dead last in league).
Rushing TDs - 8 (league low was 7)
Rushing 1st downs - 79 (T30th), 18% (dead last)
The Bucs did not have a great season. One game - a win against the spiraling Eagles in the playoffs - changed the narrative for this offseason. We're not talking about the hot seat of Todd Bowles. We're not talking about rebuilding. Instead, fans are downright giddy as if they just finished their 3rd IPA about next season for our Buccaneers, unlike the doom and gloom of last offseason when the Bucs had essentially the same record (8-9 but they tanked the last game). Same record, totally different outlook.
Is this optimism justified?
Totally agree. A play here and there, and this whole offseason looks different. Even could have led to change from top to bottom.
I expect a similar start this season - adapting to a new offense will slow progress initially. Depends on whether opponents are going through something similar. Some will, some won’t.
Also, another first place schedule.
New additions & year two development for some players will be interesting to see how they’re utilized (which may also take some time to figure out).
An actual OC, who isn’t trying to learn to call plays for the first time, should be an upgrade - once the team gets on the same page.
all-in-all - it should be exciting. We’ll win some we didn’t think we could - may drop some we shouldn’t.
Which, unless you’re KC, every team will be working to avoid.
Is this optimism justified?
I mean, fans. Right?
Agree with your underlying point. Last season was not great, just great versus expectations because of the play near the end and in the playoffs.
This upcoming season could be really tough.
Anything less than a return to the divisional round will be a failure.
Team should “get” the new system at some point - hopefully early - especially since the QB is familiar with it.
Upgrades at interior o-line and 2nd year development on d-line - should put us in a good position.
Agree, division championship is the expectation of the fanbase.
I started watching the replay of the playoff game vs the Lions. Great defensive stop by the Bucs on the first drive of the game. Two consecutive disaster plays stopped the Bucs first drive, a corner blitz sack on 2nd down, and a tipped pass INT. I got so riled up again I turned it off! Sorry, just had to vent!
I started watching the replay of the playoff game vs the Lions. Great defensive stop by the Bucs on the first drive of the game. Two consecutive disaster plays stopped the Bucs first drive, a corner blitz sack on 2nd down, and a tipped pass INT. I got so riled up again I turned it off! Sorry, just had to vent!
No need to get riled up. We competed with the Lions that day.
Keep in mind, they had superior coaching, superior QB. superior RB's, superior pass-catching group, superior O-Line, etc.
We hung tough with them. Hope it's a sign of things to come.
You know all in all your disposition on one game out without noting that "that's football". Other teams were one game or two games or three games out. The Buc's got their act together and played competitively and won. Every team in the NFC, North, South, East and West had the very same opportunity that the Buc's did. We were with a "supposedly" mediocre QB and were going to fail on all sides. Fate, practice, teamwork as well as the unknown issues that we who are the outsiders don't see not to mention all the injuries that each team suffered throughout the NFC. I forgot to mention parody in this too.
There’s good reason for optimism in Tampa.
Our OL improves instantly. Our running game will be more robust and allow for more of a passing game through the RBs. We have Mike Evans, we have Tristan Wirfs, we have Vita Vea, we have Lavonte David, we have AWJ. Anyone looking for a win some lose some type season with these HOF type players is snoozing. If we only win 9 games this year in the regular season, Bowles should instantly be shown the door. It’s not about being drunk, please show me the gaps.
Kudos to Licht for putting us in position to rebuild so quickly but, we are in position to make a run at the entire shooting match. Go compare our roster to the Lions for example. We are more talented. Coaching, coaching, coaching.
Go compare our roster to the Lions for example. We are more talented.
No we’re not.
Go compare our roster to the Lions for example. We are more talented.
No we’re not.
Check last year’s QB stats. Goff had two more TDs and two more INTs than Baker. The Lions RB are better than ours. Our receiving corp is superior to theirs. The Lion’s defense finished four spots in front of us. I think the Lions are more cohesive but Tampa has more talent.
Check last year’s QB stats.
I did.
And, not surprisingly, Goff was superior in nearly every facet. Not a big deal, he has been the entirety of their careers.
Speaking of check the stats, the Lions primary pass catching group (Top 2) were superior to ours as well.
Obviously, their O-Line and RB’s are as well.
On the defensive side, they’re superior up front; but we’ve got them everywhere else.
They showed they were more talented last year…TWICE.
And, there’s a reason they have the 2nd best odds to represent the NFC in the big game.
Meh, Goff was better in 2024, but by how much?
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GoffJa00.htm
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MayfBa00.htm
Threw for 531 more yards, but just 2 more TDs (2 more INTs, but whatever), 78 more 1st dns which is significant, 5.6 pts better in Success% (also significant), 7.6yds/att vs. 7.1 for Baker, 97.9 Passer Rating for Goff vs. 96.4 for Baker, which isn't really significant.
And Goff had the advantage of being in the same system, with the same coaches and teammates for two straight years. And he's had the benefit of one of the best run-blocking OLs and a top-11 rushing attack for the last two seasons to take a ton of pressure off of him.
Baker had to come into a brand-new situation with brand-new coaches, a brand-new system (and a first-year rookie OC), and new teammates. So ZERO continuity or comfort level with his entire organization/situation. Behind one of the worst run-blocking OLs (sorry fellas, but it's true) and the worst running attack in the league. Not to mention Baker played hurt a good portion of last season.
But still was within a few points here and there of Goff.
And yet, somehow some people think Goff is a legit top-10 QB, but Baker is somehow not in the top half of starting QBs? Somehow, Baker's no better than 20th? Just lol.
