Totally agree here. Kellen Moore had the Aints playing pretty well toward the end of the season. I think the team needs a monstrously successful draft filling in some of the holes and weaker links before I am confident the team can win more than 8 games in spite of whatever the grinning idiot on the sideline does.Sigh.
The hopium is high.
A quick look around the NFC South shows that the Bucs still have the most talented roster in the division heading into the 2026 NFL Draft and I’m not sure that’s going to change next week as each team adds a few new starters out of the college ranks.
Unless they added a ton of talent, I find it hard to believe that an 8-9 team that lost Evans, White, and David is a lock to have a more talented roster. If the coaching failed so badly that they landed at 8-9, why would I feel the result would be different? Yes, I am a jaded fan who has followed the team since before its first game. The history of the Buccaneers always gives me pause. At the same time, Todd Bowles and his history do not give me any hope that this will be different.
Tampa Bay has the best, most accomplished quarterback in the NFC South in Baker Mayfield and he plays behind the best offensive line in the division. That alone gives the Bucs an edge in the NFC South because none of the other teams in the division have a dominant defense that can neutralize Tampa Bay’s offense when healthy and at full strength.
Last season, the Falcons and Panthers had better offensive lines. Yes, I understand it was likely due to the injuries Tampa suffered. The Panthers used 11 different starting variations due to injury. The Buccaneers only used nine different starting combinations.
If the Bucs don’t rebound and reclaim the division title in 2026, it will be because of injuries (again) and Bowles holding this team back with game day coaching gaffes either as the defensive play-caller or in the realm of game management.
I expect Bowles to be the weak link. Potentially, Zach Robinson does what Canales and Coen did and bails his weak coaching ass out with brilliant offense, but I fully expect Bowles to struggle. It is what he has a history of doing, and there is no reason to think he learned to do things differently.
One of the Bucs new leaders? JC will not stand for this
"It’s a new year, right?” Barton began. “It’s a new team and you’ve got to learn to adjust, figure out where your strengths are, figure out where you need to get better and kind of go from there. Obviously, everyone who got to the chance play with [Mike Evans and Lavonte David] and chance to know them is grateful for their time and couldn’t appreciate those guys more. … New year, new team, and we got to figure out how we’re going to put this thing together.”
I'm alright with this. What he's saying is true. I think Barton is a good player but I also think he's out of position. I see him as a Guard more than a center.One of the Bucs new leaders? JC will not stand for this
"It’s a new year, right?” Barton began. “It’s a new team and you’ve got to learn to adjust, figure out where your strengths are, figure out where you need to get better and kind of go from there. Obviously, everyone who got to the chance play with [Mike Evans and Lavonte David] and chance to know them is grateful for their time and couldn’t appreciate those guys more. … New year, new team, and we got to figure out how we’re going to put this thing together.”
I'm alright with this. What he's saying is true. I think Barton is a good player but I also think he's out of position. I see him as a Guard more than a center.One of the Bucs new leaders? JC will not stand for this
"It’s a new year, right?” Barton began. “It’s a new team and you’ve got to learn to adjust, figure out where your strengths are, figure out where you need to get better and kind of go from there. Obviously, everyone who got to the chance play with [Mike Evans and Lavonte David] and chance to know them is grateful for their time and couldn’t appreciate those guys more. … New year, new team, and we got to figure out how we’re going to put this thing together.”
one of the interesting stories this season is who steps up. New day in Tampa Bay, almost.
one of the interesting stories this season is who steps up. New day in Tampa Bay, almost.
LFG Gus Swayze!
I see him as a Guard more than a center.
He’s a center. I will never understand the hate on Barton. His tape as a center is damn good. He’s the brains of the Oline and is really good in that capacity.
Bucs WR room is still in the upper half of the league due to sheer talent
Upper half of the league???? It’s a top 5 room even with Evans gone.
Bucs WR room is still in the upper half of the league due to sheer talent
Upper half of the league???? It’s a top 5 room even with Evans gone.
love your optimism but you live in an alternate reality
top 5? So a guy with a broken neck (McMillian), a broken everything else (Godwin), and Michael Clayton 2.0 (Egbuka) are top 5!
obviously i'm being facetious but the Bucs WR core is pure "potential". Can Godwin return to 2024 form or will he look like hes running in mud again in 2026? Can McMillian stay healthy? He has missed time in each of his first 2 years. Can Egbuka be the guy he was the first half of the year? It wasn't due to lack of targets for the decline in production so what was it?
The original comment of upper half of league was the correct statement. You suggesting top 5 is only setting yourself up for disappointment. I could see us struggling in the redzone this year. Who is the new 6'5 just toss it up to him guy?
Who is the new 6'5 just toss it up to him guy?
If you realized how infrequently this actually occurred you’d start to understand the game a bit.
Michael Clayton 2.0 (Egbuka)
This is where every ounce of your credibility is gone.
i said it jokingly, but judging by how last year ended up, he's much closer to Clayton than he is JSN
Let him prove me wrong
and you talk about credibility out of one side of your mouth and then had a post how we'd be winning multiple superbowls with Jameis Winston if he had the right coach
love your optimism but you live in an alternate reality
top 5?
Of course it’s not Top-5.
Unless you’re counting most WR2/3’s in a single room. 🤷♂️
and you talk about credibility out of one side of your mouth and then had a post how we'd be winning multiple superbowls with Jameis Winston if he had the right coach
Checkmate