Things Are Getting Good If…
May 13th, 2020
Bucs QB Blaine Gabbert.
If this is the only hole on your roster, the guy(s) calling the shots for the Bucs is getting the job done.
The stat guys Joe respects, the Football Outsiders crowd, is doing a series of stories on what holes remain to be addressed on teams.
When looking at the NFC South, and the Bucs in particular, Football Outsiders sees one hole. If correct, that means the Bucs have done a helluva good job building the roster.
Scott Spratt writes that the only position the Bucs need to worry about is clipboard holder. In some circles, this is known as a backup quarterback.
The Buccaneers built their super team very differently than the home-grown Saints, but their approach still got them to the same place of a talented and complete roster. And like the Saints, the Bucs filled their few outstanding holes in the draft, trading up for blue-chip offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs and then snagging a safety (Antoine Winfield Jr.), running back (Ke’Shawn Vaughn), and slot receiver (Tyler Johnson) with their second-, third-, and fifth-round selections.
The one drawback to the Bucs’ free-agent-heavy approach is that it is expensive, and that deprives the team of the Saints’ luxury of depth and a succession plan at quarterback. All of the Bucs’ eggs are in the Tom Brady basket, and while Brady is obviously skilled enough to shoulder that burden, he will also be 43 years old in September. Last year, the Saints went 5-0 with Teddy Bridgewater as the starter when Drew Brees injured his thumb. The Bucs have the overall roster talent to do something similar if Brady missed time, but current backup Blaine Gabbert may not be up to the task. Gabbert has not improved his efficiency since falling from grace as a former top pick.
Well, if this is the only hole, then it will be a hole left void as long as Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians has a say.
Arians believes a backup quarterback is a backup and never ever should be considered a starter unless there’s an injury. In that regard, Arians has accomplished his goal. No sober person who doesn’t suffer from CTE would consider Blaine Gabbert an NFL starting quarterback.
Of course, Joe is assuming Spratt believes rookies Antoine Winfield and Ke’Shawn Vaughn, safety and running back, respectively, will adequately fill those two biggest holes on their respective sides of the ball.
Joe has high hopes for Winfield. With Vaughn, Joe’s taking a polite wait-and-see approach.
May 13th, 2020 at 12:41 pm
The big unknown is still Ryan Griffin. He has played like a star in the last two preseasons but , well, you know.
The only action he saw last year, his OC only allowed him to play the plays that got that other QB all of 68 yards in a second half. It would be nice to know what he really is and if we just have to hope Sennett picks stuff up quickly.
Too many question marks.
May 13th, 2020 at 12:43 pm
Nobody gave Fitzy a chance either. It’s why he’s a back-up. When called upon, lets hope he steps up.
May 13th, 2020 at 12:44 pm
I disagree. A bigger hole that I see is a rotational pass rusher. Who do we have to take some snaps after JPP and Shaq? Nelson? That guy is unproven and it’s an important role. Unlike backup QB we need an Edge player that will be taking a healthy amount of snaps.
As far as backup QB goes Gabbert does have a lot of experience. That’s a good start. Really don’t have much other thought then that. We never saw the guy play in a game though based on preseason games Griffin might actually be a better option.
May 13th, 2020 at 12:45 pm
I cant remember what interview it was but close to the end of the season someone asked Arians If he would have pulled JW if Gabbert wasn’t hurt and his answer was anything but a NO!… left me believing if Gabbert weren’t injured JW would not have played those last few games…
Arians may have more faith in BG than people think… (UGH!)…
but he has spent years learning BL offense..
May 13th, 2020 at 12:46 pm
Agree that Ryan (after 5 years) hasn’t had much of a chance. Too bad. Sennett may be a sleeper. Only one year of college ball – but had a fine year. Smart kid and good athlete. But, obviously, no experience. Probably makes the practice squad.
May 13th, 2020 at 12:49 pm
I’m not so sure that our aging DLine has tremendous depth, or that any other position is all that deep, the exception being DB and who knows how they’re gonna perform yet?
A little much to say that we only have one hole. Need to tap the brakes on the hype train.
May 13th, 2020 at 12:52 pm
You are right. There’s not much depth outside or corner (albeit it young depth). Not sure it goes past three-deep. Maybe offensive line is keep (yeah, Joe wrote that).
Life in the NFL. If you have a bunch of stars at the skill positions, unlikely to have depth.
May 13th, 2020 at 1:04 pm
As a Bucs fan living in New Orleans, I follow the saints a little more closely now than I do the Falcons and Panthers. The Saints do not have “depth” because of how they built the team. They have it because loomis is very good at manipulating the cap and pushing $ down the road. They are also good at finding players in Fa/trade that actually fit what they want to do. Not many misses there. The main key is that they KNOW who they are as a team. The few 8-8 years recently were just a transition in philosophy from throw with Brees to run/defense during his slow decline.
Continuity in front office & coaching over the long haul let’s this happen.
Guys brought in recent years, Demario Davis, LaTavious Murry, Eli Apple, kiko Alonzo, Ted Ginn, Eli Apple, the S Byrd(when they had 0 $, Max Unger, the list goes on and on they almost always play a roll though and don’t have Ghost Johnson, and the “tree hugger”. Which might just not be allowed with Brees there.
May 13th, 2020 at 1:06 pm
I’d still get a physical on Eric Berry and bring him in. Don’t hand Winfield the job. I’m a Winfield guy too. To have a former All-Probin the room can’t hurt.
May 13th, 2020 at 1:06 pm
blah, blah, blah
I like a vet backup, and a vet starter.
heck Fitz was better than our starter by far. not worried at all if TB goes down.
May 13th, 2020 at 1:21 pm
bucsfanman
BINGO!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
May 13th, 2020 at 1:32 pm
I’m not worried. If I’m not mistaken not more than a week ago someone with first hand knowledge of the Bucs’ backup QB’s said “he’s (Brady) getting a great quarterback room there. They’re going to compete, they’re going to push him.” Any QB that can push the GOAT must be special 🙂
May 13th, 2020 at 1:33 pm
I don’t know a thing about Gabbert…college or pros…I mean I’ve heard of him but never watched him play
May 13th, 2020 at 1:41 pm
You can’t say we don’t have depth that’s just stupid. There’s a reason no one was saying thank god we had beau Allen coming off the bench, this is ridiculous dude had 10 tackles and half a sack any rookie could do that and so can nacho. If your good TEAM you can lose a starter but still compete
May 13th, 2020 at 1:41 pm
I’d rather spend the $ to address another need instead of a backup QB. If Brady is lost for a significant chunk then we are screwed anyway.
May 13th, 2020 at 1:46 pm
“The one drawback to the Bucs’ free-agent-heavy approach is that it is expensive…”
Other than Brady, what free-agents did the Bucs sign (other than the ones on the Bucs last season) to be considered heavy?
May 13th, 2020 at 1:48 pm
Got roped into going to a Jags-Rams game once in St. Louis. The Rams weren’t very good. In fact they were bad.
Gabbert started for the Jags. He. Was. Brutal! It honestly got to the point that Joe was laughing out loud.
May 13th, 2020 at 1:57 pm
Hmmmm. I’d have to research it but it seems the Saints have just as many free agent signings as the Bucs the last few years. Plus the Aints are the ones in salary cap heck every year. Cheaters just switch some numbers around. And hopefully we won’t see it but ole Gabs might get it done if he’s in there with this talented offense. Go Bucs
May 13th, 2020 at 2:09 pm
Cam Newton.
May 13th, 2020 at 2:09 pm
Could have had the NFL leading passer as our backup.
May 13th, 2020 at 2:10 pm
Who by the way knows the offense pretty well
May 13th, 2020 at 2:11 pm
Hmm almost like I said that second paragraph the other day. If you look at the starting lineup it is very solid. It’s our depth that worries me and our contracts don’t lend themselves to longevity. We are almost like the Rams last year but not quite in as bad of cap shape (they really did go for broke last two years).
We have basically a 2 year window to win a Super Bowl. Unless something unforeseen happens like we sign a low priced FA to long term deal and he kills it. Or we hit on an unusual high percentage of our draft picks. These things just aren’t likely to happen. So buckle up and enjoy this ride, hopefully we have something to show for it in the end.
May 13th, 2020 at 2:23 pm
Weez we have Suh, Barrett, Gronk, Brate, Lavonte, Haeg, Godwin, and a boat load of less significant players are due to be FA next year. We also have an out with Donovan Smith next year.
The following year Brady, Donovan, JPP, Jensen, Gholston, OJ, Rojo, Carlton, M.J, Cappa, Whitehead, Watson, and a number of other less significant players as well are up for FA.
That’s a LOT of talent that will either leave or want to get paid more on their next contract. If the Salary cap takes a hit because of this pandemic and couple that with our roster situation, we are going to have to make some real hard decisions on some of our favorite players.
It sucks and you can deny it all you want but it’s happening. Just enjoy this ride we are about to go on, should be better than the roller coaster of the last 5 years.
Go Bucs!!!!
May 13th, 2020 at 2:51 pm
It’s really an irrelevant conversation driven by this extended offseason. Backup quarterback position is in better shape than it was last year considering who we had backing up Winston and even with him hurt there was no significant talk about the backup quarterback
May 13th, 2020 at 3:09 pm
I don’t really mind having a iffy future if it means trying to go deep into the playoffs right now. The last five year have been bad it has been on everyone. A lot of people are crying that a contender for years is better then what we are right now but one maybe two teams can actually be contenders for years to come barring any unforeseen circumstances.
Tl;dr being a contender for years to come is a pipe dream 99% of the time.
May 13th, 2020 at 5:34 pm
The difference isnt the depth its the playcalling.Sean payton could win with Blaine Gabbert, Bruce Arians could win with Blaine Gabbert
.Those are two phenomenal…GREAT playcallers.
Byron Leftwich would lose with both of them. Brady will dictate what plays get called when based on what he is seeing.Anyone else under center will be at the mercy of a wanna be offensive coordinator who is underqualified and over appreciated.
May 13th, 2020 at 5:54 pm
It honestly got to the point that (Joe) I was laughing out loud.
My wife would ask me; ” What happened, did he do it again?”
“Yep, on his very first pass of the game!”
I was laughing but only at him.
Now, just like “Suffering Since 76” above, I laugh at his sycophantic supporters.
tickrdr
May 13th, 2020 at 6:00 pm
“IF” Brady gets hurt we shuffle some stuff and sign Cam Newton. Problem solved.
May 13th, 2020 at 6:02 pm
A solid argument could be made that…put aside QB for a moment…the Saints are the most talented team in the league.
And so with respect to Teddy Bridgewater it’s not shocking that he could come in and succeed.
If…IF..you go by one game…not really a statistical sample then Gabbert sucked…if you go by ONE HALF season Gabbert did not suck. Playing on a poor SF Niners team in 2015 and starting 8 games he went 3-5.
Fundamentally…Gabbert was mediocre on a bad team. 10TD’s vs 7 ints…2000+ yards plus an average of over 7 yards on his completions.
Are the Bucs now talented enough to “carry” a backup..and how far can our D carry one…3-5 over 8 games would certainly place pressure on Brady…perhaps needing 7-1 in the other 8. But I suspect the 2020 Bucs are going to be LOT better than the 2015 Niners.
I also suspect that is how BA views it.
May 13th, 2020 at 6:08 pm
I’m not worried about a Covid salary cap hit. It will hit all the teams. All will respond accordingly. If it gets too tough the owners will simply grease the skids of the next agreement.
May 13th, 2020 at 6:24 pm
@Brad- great points about the saints and their methodology.
As you said, it really helps when you have consistency in the front office and coaching staff.
May 13th, 2020 at 7:30 pm
Spratt can look at where Rojo and Vaughn were picked and think that maybe we are good to go with a second and third rounder at running back. The reality is that neither of these dudes has done a damn thing in the NFL. I’m cool with them talent wise and with their potential, but we gotta sign a vet man.
If Brady goes down and Reid Sinnett is not a once in a lifetime good, undrafted, quarterback, we are doomed with Gabbert.
May 13th, 2020 at 7:52 pm
No sober person who doesn’t suffer from CTE would consider Blaine Gabbert an NFL starting quarterback.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
How many sober people considered ‘America’s Quarterback’ a NFL starting QB?
May 13th, 2020 at 8:24 pm
Saints are home grown???? I do recall a certain team in San Diego drafting Drew Brees. Unless the Saints moved from San Diego, they are not all home grown.
May 13th, 2020 at 8:27 pm
I think we should offer cam newton a clip board…give him a year to freshen up after all the abuse and if needed he can step up or design a few run plays and option passes…i think it’ll be a good fit he knows the nfc south and can learn from a real coach not google ohhh hold up he’s not winston he actually learns from his coach lol…been to a Superbowl but with are current cap and cams want to start it’ll be a slim chance this happens..he’s not dumb as winston lol
May 13th, 2020 at 9:11 pm
Joe,
Please find a picture of Gabbert to use where he doesn’t look like he showered in bacon grease.
Or does he ???
May 13th, 2020 at 9:17 pm
TB12 & his band of misfit toys may be talented…But no one knows if they are going to click or clunk, until they strap’em on & play some games.
Until then, every one of us (Bucs Fans) should have the mindset that the Bucs can be & should SB contenders, if TB12 is the difference maker he’s been made out to be & other guys are doing their “work”.
I mean…It’s MAY, the NFL is still on hold & no one has done real FB schit in weeks. (While the truth is…Every team/teams fans think they are in the wildcard hunt, right now…It’s the silly season & everyone is thinking “this is our year”).
But the realist in me knows that the same Bucs that may be media darlings today & have all the people talking glowingly….Are being judged by the same media & talking heads that thought the Browns were SB bound after Dorsey made the LBJ move.
May 13th, 2020 at 9:33 pm
LBJ-Did Dorsey poop with the door open or Get up close to intimidate them with his whisky breath. Any Lyndon Baines Johnson fans out there. But seriously Catcard I was thinking of the 2017 Bucs being media darlings after the 9-7 season and hard knocks only to lay an egg.
May 14th, 2020 at 10:29 am
Itz not if but when players will miss couple of games if not more with the COVID 19 this season. Not having a real backup at QB is going to be criminal offense against Licht. How you pay Gabbert and Griffin 3M combined and let Jameis go over 1M is crazy. Why they didn’t cut those 2 and give Jameis 5M to back up Brady is beyond me. Of course Jameis perhaps had no interest in staying at all after the Bucs trashed him publicly.
May 14th, 2020 at 1:00 pm
@ItzOK
I suspect that it was better for everyone to let Jameis walk. The drama associated with signing Brady while ALSO having Jameis hold a clipboard would be a rather large distraction to the team.
May 14th, 2020 at 3:19 pm
So nice to not see Ndog and O’Neill polluting this room with jaymissy the loser and negative comments about the fans Brady, Bucs team and BA. Go BUCS.
May 14th, 2020 at 4:00 pm
Newton got a bad deal.