Poison
May 4th, 2017
Gamewrecker.
Former Buccaneers quarterback Chris Simms has one question for NFL defensive coordinators.
How in the hell are you going to stop the passing attack of the Bucs?
Simms, now analyst for Bleacher Report, looks at how rookies will impact their new teams. He just cannot understand how defenses will keep the Bucs off the scoreboard with the addition of tight end O.J. Howard.
As a pass-catcher he’s something special. He can run by a linebacker or nickel corner for a long reception. He can split safeties and catch long passes down the seam. He can be an outlet receiver and catch short passes and then outrace anyone in the secondary to the end zone.
Defenses are truly going to be in a tough spot covering the Buccaneers this season. With Howard, Jackson, Evans and Brate, it’s going to be a pick-your-poison situation. Tampa will be able to spread defenses wide, and it’ll be able to run two-tight-end sets with a magical combination of Brate and Howard.
This is going to be fun to watch. And what a jarring yet welcome display this should be for Bucs fans accustomed to plodding offenses for decades.
Folks, the days of Father Dungy handing the ball off to Mike Alstott twice up the middle and then trying Warrick Dunn around the end are about as distant as Jupiter.
May 4th, 2017 at 5:29 am
Agree 100% Joe … “This is going to be fun to watch.” Bucs have added some impressive weapons. But we’re not alone in the NFC South. Tend to think that the best way to beat a high-powered offense is to keep them off the field. And everyone in our division should have a high-powered offense.
Atlanta may have lost both its coordinators, but they do have some impressive weapons too (offense ranked #1 last year?). Same can be said for New Orleans (ranked #2 offensively) and Carolina (ranked #1 in offense year before last). Falcons focused first on defense (understandable), but they did add a potential starting Guard (Harlow), RB (Hill) & a TE (Saubert). Saints went heavy defense (for good reason), but did add a potential starting tackle (Ramczyk) & a RB (Kamara). Panthers added some scary weapons in a RB (McCaffrey) and a WR (Samuel), plus a big Guard (Moton) & a big FB (Armah).
On looking at who each of us play this year, 14 of our 16 games are the same (play the same opponents). But those other 2 games could well be critical. Panthers might have it the easiest (play SF & Philly who won 9 games total last yr). Saints might have it next easiest (Redskins & Rams won 12 games total). Bucs could well have it a little harder still (Giants & Cardinals won 18 total games last yr), while on paper the Falcons should have it the toughest (Cowboys & Seahawks won 23 games together last yr).
As you said Joe … “This is going to be fun to watch.”
May 4th, 2017 at 5:41 am
Great pick!
We got another TE as talented as ASJ but with his head on straight.
ASJ did nothing last year for the Jets.
Happy we got rid of his spoiled ass.
May 4th, 2017 at 5:48 am
Love what we’ve done but where’s the BIG RB or FB??? Still no 3rd and short guy. We have a ton of RB’s but I still think we need s bruiser. Then we’ll truly have matchup nightmares from every angle.
May 4th, 2017 at 5:50 am
*s=a^ not to nonfuse “S” with safety.
May 4th, 2017 at 5:56 am
Teacher, I agree. But I do believe you mean his soiled* ass. 😉
May 4th, 2017 at 6:08 am
Those 2 games that Defense Rules mentions is playing the teams that finished in the same place in their division as your teams has. So yes, the worst you did last season the easier your schedule will be.
Panthers, Eagles, 49ers finished last
Saints, Redskins, Rams finished 3rd
Bucs, Giants, Cardinals finished 2nd
Falcons, Cowboys, Seahwaks finished 1st
May 4th, 2017 at 6:10 am
Blount should be signing any day now
May 4th, 2017 at 6:22 am
@Defense I believe our Defense will help us win the division. I like our defense during the second half of last season. Baker addition should be interesting to watch. A healthy Spence and J. Smith at DE will be a big plus. Lets see what wrinkles Smitty adds to the D. Smitty is the key to success in the South.
May 4th, 2017 at 6:29 am
Plus we should see a new brand of football offensively with our Bucs. The division opponents will have plenty of time to create their game plan for us since we play them in the second half of the season.
May 4th, 2017 at 6:30 am
I think one thing we as fans ahould ezpect are some growing pains. I think with the addition of Howard and djax….and even Godwin things are going to be scary good eventually, but its going to.take.time to build that chemistry and timing as well. Hopefully they start clicking early, lots of new toys
May 4th, 2017 at 6:30 am
Joe where is the article on signing Blount
May 4th, 2017 at 6:33 am
Ah, yeah! I’ve only been saying the same thing since we signed Desean Jackson! That’s why some of us wanted OJ Howard for the last few months! This offense is now a matchup nightmare! Once Jameis and his new weapons get on the same page, this offense might be one of the most explosive the NFL has seen recently.
May 4th, 2017 at 6:51 am
ARGH_M8E – you obviously don’t follow Bucs roster at all…signed 2 FB’s in January, 1 of them is 6’1″ 256 lbs.
May 4th, 2017 at 6:51 am
Right now it’s all on paper so slow yer roll Simms. If they don’t fix the seive Fameis will be running for his life that’s how you put a wrench in the passing attack, a fierce pass rush. Hopefully Mongo in the middle will kill the pressure coming thru center. That’s probably a big reason they drafted McNichols for his pass blocking to give those deeper routes that Dirk loves a chance to get open.
May 4th, 2017 at 7:06 am
Really curious to see how running backs pan out. With those 4, 5 and 6 receiving weapons, defenses can’t double Evans and stack the box. Teams did this relentlessly and it worked. Can’t see the running back about to get tackled as he is getting ball like in the past. The pass game will set up the run game. I almost think my 15 year old dog could run for 100/per with those receiving weapons on the edge
May 4th, 2017 at 7:28 am
Please don’t tell me this is the death of the end around 🙁 lol
What about Dirk’s favorite screen to Humphries, that has been gold!! Hope we don’t lose that one haha
May 4th, 2017 at 7:32 am
2017 should be fun fingers crossed for everyone to stay healthy and Jameis to emulate Andrew Luck’s third year
May 4th, 2017 at 8:12 am
Tampa Tony I’d take 40tds 4700 yards from Jameis this year.
The interesting thing is that Luck was 25. Jameis will be just 23 this year.
Lets hope he’s ready to fully control the offense. Jameis didn’t check out of Dirk’s plays enough imo. Need better decision making so Dirk can trust him.
May 4th, 2017 at 8:22 am
tdtb2015 … Agree wholeheartedly about the defense. Every NFC South team should (theoretically) have a high-powered offense, so defense & ST will be the key. Far as I’m concerned, Bucs & Panthers should have the 2 best defenses in the division (at least on paper). Still, it all comes down to what you do on the field. I’m just hoping that Bucs play at the start of this season like they played in the second half of last year. In a division like ours, it’ll be important to start hot.
May 4th, 2017 at 8:37 am
Do you guys see what’s going on? I read an article yesterday that used some good analogies about our division. Basically there is an ARMS RACE in the NFC SOUTH this year. Yes we have loaded our offense up, but so have the panthers and saints. The falcons are already set offensively. You guys are always crying about nobody paying us any attention? Well after this season, I seriously doubt that will be an issue anymore. Anybody who loves football is absolutely amazed by our division as a whole. According to them we went from the worst division in football to the most exciting in the span of a few years. 2 super bowl runner ups, a tampa bay football team who missed the playoffs by the slimmest of margins and a saints offense that is perennially a top 10 unit. This is the year boys. All eyes will be on our division this year. Why do you think they scheduled all of the division games for the back half of the schedule? They know they will be a sight to see, that’s why.
May 4th, 2017 at 8:39 am
I think the division is wide open. I like our chances as long as we stay healthy, you just hope for improvement by Donovan Smith and Dotson, Falcons bringing fire off the edges, Saints Cam Jordan always shows, not sure Peppers is gonna bring with the Panthers. But every offense in the division will be on fire on paper, better be ready to play every week. Don’t think you gonna back into the playoffs, you have to be “badass” and get in there.
May 4th, 2017 at 8:52 am
@jameisdungy- usually the 3rd pro year is when QB’s usually get it. Jameis has no excuses this year, weapons, experience and a decent d. Time to get it done and get to the playoffs
May 4th, 2017 at 8:57 am
BuccoBruce91 Says:
May 4th, 2017 at 6:10 am
Blount should be signing any day now
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No thanks. I’d pass on the tip toe burglar. Fumbled in the SB and doesn’t hit the hole hard enough to be our short yardage/goaline back.
May 4th, 2017 at 10:00 am
A TWO Tightend offense??!
Wow!, what a great Idea . . !!
But, does this mean we still want to get rid of Brate?
( before the post start flying- that would be a gentle sarcastic rib!)
May 4th, 2017 at 11:20 am
What’s this Winston has no excuses? The dude has been breaking records while having no one besides mike Evans to throw too.
May 4th, 2017 at 11:22 am
Winston is one of 4 qb’s to throw for over 4,000 yards his rookie year. He’s never used any excuses
May 4th, 2017 at 11:34 am
Yo feel what are you talking about no power???? Blounts no burner so that is his biggest asset. The man ran for 18 tds for a reason when other faster backs didn’t even come close. Did you ever see that 25 tackle breaking 500 yard he made against Green Bay as a rook?😂🤣😂🤣 Dudes shouldn’t let their hatred of a player make things up about said player!
May 4th, 2017 at 11:40 am
Peyton Barber is 225 and our only “power” runner.
Just curious. Have the JBF posters given up on Barber?
I’m not sure I have. While it’s true that RB is a position where a guy can come right of college and start….the opposite of QB or OL where experience is critical.
Many backs have done this but having said that there are others who simply blossom later. This could be the year Barber figures it out.
I don’t think any deficiency at pass catching will be a hindrance on a team with this many targets….but he better improve his pass blocking.
Personally I think if he can pass protect for the franchise QB he’s a good enough runner and he’s getting better.