2020 Bucs = 2007 Patriots?
April 30th, 2020
“See, I told you Gisele!”
There is a lot of talk of the Bucs making a Super Bowl run and possibly becoming the first team to play in their home stadium in a Super Bowl.
(The Los Angeles Rams played near the City of Angels in 1980 when they faced the Steelers in the Rose Bowl. And the 49ers in 1984 played the Dolphins in Stanford Stadium, some 30 miles from their then-home of Candlestick Park. But never has a team played in a Super Bowl in their home stadium.)
Good guy Mike Tanier of Bleacher Report doesn’t think the lofty goals are so crazy.
In fact, Tanier makes the case that the Bucs are one of the most talented teams Brady has ever been a part of.
Tanier decided to compare each position with the Bucs to a starter at the same position with the 2007 Patriots. You may be surprised by the findings.
We know what you thought immediately after reading that headline: Nuh-uh, nope, there’s no way that Tom Brady’s 2020 Buccaneers supporting cast can even come close to being in the same class as the 2007 Patriots. After all, the 2007 Patriots had Randy Moss! And Wes Welker! And… [strains memory] lots and lots of other awesome guys!
Yes, the 2007 Patriots indeed had Moss, Welker and other very good players, even if some of them don’t leap to mind after 13 years. But the 2020 Buccaneers have Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Rob Gronkowski, O.J. Howard (as of now), Ronald Jones II and newcomers Tyler Johnson and Ke’Shawn Vaughn. That’s two 1,000-yard receivers, a Hall of Fame tight end, a 2017 first-round pick as the No. 2 tight end and all sorts of intriguing talent elsewhere.
Again, Tanier does a comparison of key positions. It’s an interesting read.
A couple of things stood out to Joe: Tanier has a higher view of O.J. Howard, Ronald Jones and Ke’Shawn Vaughn than most fans.
Also, the Wes Welker comparison with Chris Godwin is, well, interesting.
April 30th, 2020 at 11:03 am
Think positive. More fun that way. Team looks very talented on paper.
April 30th, 2020 at 11:04 am
Nothing wrong with Rojo……his 4.2 per carry projected at 15 carries per game (just 15) is 1008 yards..
I will repeat this until somebody (inc. Joe) gets the message.
They just didn’t hand him the ball enough…..
April 30th, 2020 at 11:06 am
Thank you joe for not including any bait lines in the article. May the comments can stay on topic. In not saying we will win the super bowl But our receivers are easily the best he’s had besides moss.
April 30th, 2020 at 11:07 am
Godwin is way better than Welker.
But — STOP THE NONSENSE about the Bucs in the Super Bowl. The Pats had already been consistent winners by 2007. The Bucs have only had two winning seasons since 2008 and have not made the playoffs once.
Please pleaase please stop the madness.
April 30th, 2020 at 11:08 am
And rojo basically caught everything thrown his way last season. I don’t understand stand this talk about he can’t catch he did well last season.
April 30th, 2020 at 11:10 am
Brady better have Google Chrome app installed
Maybe OJ could Google the Harlem Globetrotting Greatest hits
April 30th, 2020 at 11:11 am
Best chance we have had in the last decade or so, hope the team makes the best of it and doesn’t read the paper or listen to what the talking heads are saying. One game at a time and no excuses or throwaway games.
Btw, we need to sign Gostkowski if he can pass a physical.
April 30th, 2020 at 11:14 am
Just ignore lamarcus don’t give them a platform.
April 30th, 2020 at 11:14 am
Anything thing can happen in any year. Teams change. If you can’t be positive That’s your problem.
April 30th, 2020 at 11:21 am
Pats 2007= coaches
Bucs 2020= Google pads
Huge difference here
April 30th, 2020 at 11:24 am
I’m very hopeful that Vaughn is going to bring something to this backfield like Earnest Graham.
Vaughn is not going to be a lead blocker but he will be Brady’s bodyguard in the backfield. He has a solid reputation for his pass pro and his first comments after being selected by us were about feeling comfortable blocking and how much concentration and effort he’ll put into improving because he’ll be blocking for the GOAT.
Vaughn TOTALLY gets that responsibility.
But remember Graham was not used to run the ball in his first three years…getting only 28 carriers in his second season..his high water mark…just 11 in year three but then injuries forced the Bucs to use Earnest in his fourth year with 222 carries…he averaged a respectable 4 ypc nothing spectacular but he had a couple of years as a journeyman RB.
I think that’s Vaughn. He’s not a runner who can block…he’s a BLOCKER who can also run and catch a bit.
April 30th, 2020 at 11:30 am
If the defense starts strong, stays healthy, and levels up, the Bucs will get wins while the offense has time to gel.
April 30th, 2020 at 11:30 am
Bucs upgraded RT with a 1st round pick
They upgraded TE position with a future HOFer
They upgraded RB position with 3rd round pick
They DID NOT replace ROJO
April 30th, 2020 at 11:36 am
I’ll be happy to see the Bucs win 10-11 games this year. Anything after that is an unbelievable gift from Brady for Buc fans.
April 30th, 2020 at 11:36 am
St. Pete – Not a bad summary comment on Vaughn. However, he may be more than a blocker who can “run a bit”. His running record at football-poor Vanderbilt was pretty impressive. Can’t wait to see him in action.
April 30th, 2020 at 11:39 am
Godwin > Welker
April 30th, 2020 at 11:50 am
Casual Observer
Point taken. I think he’ll be underappreciated as a runner too.
For sure if he’s as good at blocking as we hope that not only gives Brady another layer of comfort but messes with the defense…is Vaughn going to block…take a handoff…or release for a safety valve or swing pass.
I love flexibility and one of the things that makes Brady great at any age is his ability to exploit what defenses give him.
April 30th, 2020 at 11:51 am
On paper they may look comparable but … I don’t see BA in same category as Belichick and 2020 Brady prob isn’t same as 2007 Brady. We should hopefully be contenders though
April 30th, 2020 at 12:08 pm
I am sorry I read that article from Bleacher report. Just garbage in – garbage out to me.
April 30th, 2020 at 12:08 pm
Brady isn’t anywhere close to being what he was in 2007 and, sorry guys, but Mike ain’t Randy.
Also OJ….. LMAO
April 30th, 2020 at 12:10 pm
Why anyone would chose to be negative now is beyond me. I guess so you can say, “I told you so”. Go be a Jaguar’s fan. They have many reasons to be depressed.
April 30th, 2020 at 12:14 pm
Jaguars were in the AFC Championship game a few years ago. We’ve been a joke for almost a decade and a half. Sorry we don’t find the same joy as living in a false reality as you.
April 30th, 2020 at 12:18 pm
Vaughn should also be capable of stepping in should ROJO go down for a time with an injury.
Otherwise, we won’t need to have the superlative running game. An improvement there will do just fine with all of the other firepower we have.
April 30th, 2020 at 12:22 pm
I feel better about the Vaughn pick than I did initially, but the whole “his O-line sucked” argument, while somewhat truthful, doesn’t accurately paint the full picture.
Yeah his unit may have sucked in comparison to other programs. That is certainly the case. Even still, on the vast majority of his big plays, he’s running through wide open holes. His ability to create offense for himself is limited to say the least.
I’ve seen people on here compare him to Earnest Graham and Peyton Barber, but his actual comp couldn’t be more Obvious. He is a bigger, stiffer James White.
April 30th, 2020 at 12:43 pm
I know everyone has high hopes for Dean/Davis/Bunting…. but idk how you could compare any of them to prime Asante Samuel.
April 30th, 2020 at 12:45 pm
I really hope ROJO suprises next season. Perhaps the Bucs passing on a 2d round back will give him confidence and put pressure on him this offseason.
DO NOT let Tom Brady down ROJO
April 30th, 2020 at 12:46 pm
The Buc’s have the talent to win it all.
Now it comes down to:
1. Handling massive expectations
2. Eliminating the loser mindset
3. Having a little luck with injuries
If the team stays healthy and focused, then there is absolutely no reason why we can’t make a deep run into the post season.
Those are really big if’s though, which is why we play the game.
April 30th, 2020 at 12:54 pm
Etzel feel bad for you, hating a team you are a “fan” of.
April 30th, 2020 at 12:57 pm
man I’d hate to see you guys if the Bucs don’t make it lol
April 30th, 2020 at 1:05 pm
I’ve been hate-watching this team for years. Sorry you don’t understand that being a willful idiot brings me no joy.
April 30th, 2020 at 1:27 pm
The Bucs have an as good or better roster than the Pats have had in a while. Especially the weapons for Brady.
Time to kick some a**!
April 30th, 2020 at 1:31 pm
It’s been over a decade of losing and have heard the same old damn toons of hearing we’ve won the offseason only to suck. I admit this may be the time when a prayer at the alter may be answered, however after being at the alter so many times in the past, especially this past decade (save the 14 year drought my Dad experienced) I ain’t going back to the alter. In other words, I ain’t drinking the Kool-Aid of optimism. It’s like after so many failed relationships you finally get you’re soulmate but you expect the same old song to repeat going in. Hoping for the best, preparing for the worst. Go Bucs!
April 30th, 2020 at 2:27 pm
I aren’t even worried about the offense. I got full confidence they are gonna be able to score on pivotal moments. I’m thinking we might even light up a few scoreboard when we face weaker defenses(Falcons?).
But I’m really getting stoked about this defense. The Winfield pick is looking real good on paper. And I’ve seen some highlights in my day but my God, littered with game winning plays!!! Are you kidding me?
This was such a great call to build up that secondary. Our front 7 is stout. Nobodies running on us again. That secondary needed a pick. And man if they nailed their scouting on this guy we are sitting pretty.
I am a little worried about our passrush. We need a little more beef. I’m thinking they are weighing their options. I think they bring in another guy who can give us quality snaps as a passrush spealist in a rotational role. You put an experienced vet subbing in for JPP and Shaq and they are gonna darn well know they must pull thileir weight.
Make it happen Licht. Get us that last piece we need.
April 30th, 2020 at 3:20 pm
There’s no doubt The Bucs are ready to make a push for a Championship.
Reminds me of 2001 when we lost to the Eagles, Got Gruden to light a fire under this Football Club.
Now we have a Legend at the QB Position. Tom Brady & his Lieutenant Gronkowski, We’re stacked on Offense & Defense! This is a Great time to live in Tampa Bay & To be a Bucs Fan.
Bruce Arians changed the Culture last year. No more Music playing at practice, no more ping pong table lol. No more players here, just here to pick up a pay check. BA took out the Trash!
Now BA got his Leader of the Football team. The GOAT Tom Brady. This is gonna be a Great season.
Go Bucs!!
April 30th, 2020 at 3:34 pm
Rojo 1,400 combined yards, Vaughn over 1,000 combined yards if they stay healthy. You see the Bucs will have at least eight more minutes in time possession because Winston and his turnovers are gone.
April 30th, 2020 at 4:21 pm
TBBF,
I’m glad someone else sees this. He would have easily had 1000 yard season and he also caught everything thrown his way when given the opportunity. Unless they can pull of something stupid like Howard for Leveon Bell I’m not worried at all about the running game. Now that Someone has higher authority over the final play call over Weak Link Leftwich I’m happy.
April 30th, 2020 at 4:40 pm
One thing I really don’t get is Rojo had over 1033 yards combined last year. He saw limited playing time in games he should have been pounding the rock more.
Yes I wanted another running back at some point I wasn’t opposed to it. But if we had a right tackle that could run block literally AT ALL Ronald Jones would have hit 1000 yards rushing last year. I am not saying he is incredible but he doesn’t really deserve the hate he gets around here.
April 30th, 2020 at 5:59 pm
Bucs in the Super Bowl? I just hope there is an NFL season in 2020-early 2021.
April 30th, 2020 at 8:21 pm
Mike’s one of my favorite Bucs, but Moss was a unique, once EVER player. I agree with that one, but Welker over Godwin is just dumb.
May 1st, 2020 at 7:53 am
Simple math.
If Jameis threw 15 interceptions and 3 for pick6s. How would you feel about this offense? Pretty stocked if you ask me. Because that means we got to the playoffs.
Back to reality….. the main problem is replaced by the GOAT. Add Gronk to the equation plus improvement on the o-line. Now we are cooking with gas baby!
The only thing stopping us this year is unfortunately the corona virus.
Stay home. Stay safe. I want football to start on time.
Go Bucs!!!