“I Think We Have Lost Our Minds About The Bucs“
June 29th, 2020
Worries about production.
Some interesting things to think about with the Bucs and how they can adapt and perhaps make the playoffs with new quarterback Tom Brady.
Former NFL general manager Michael Lombardi, a coffee fetcher for Bill Walsh, Al Davis and Bill Belicheat, took to his GM Shuffle podcast recently and said he’s not totally in love with the prospect of taking the Bucs’ season-win total at 9 or 9.5.
Lombardi is leaning toward the under. He doesn’t know if the Bucs’ defense has improved enough and wonders if park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring Brady can match the production of Mr. Entertainment, America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston.
Yes, you read that right.
“I think we have lost our minds about the Bucs,” Lombardi said. “I think so often anytime we see a player move we forget what happened in the past so let’s take a moment and look at the Bucs.
“OK, last year they won seven games, OK. And my question to you is, did they beat any playoff team? Nope, no playoff teams. … They couldn’t beat a playoff team. And they lost to the Seahawks and the Falcons in overtime. So people say, ‘Well you know, we were really close.’
“Here is the amazing thing about them: You know I am a huge first half differential guy. They were sixth in the NFL in first-half point differential. So they had the lead at halftime in most games. They just couldn’t finish it. They couldn’t finish it. They couldn’t do it.”
Joe remembers the shameful way the Bucs were humming throwing the ball against the Giants when Bucco Bruce Arians took the ball out of Jameis’ hands in the second half and placed the ball squarely into the hands of Peyton Barber and Ronald Jones for nine consecutive runs in the fourth quarter.
That was a fail beyond words.
Lombardi also added that third-quarter adjustments by the Bucs “didn’t exist” and that killed the Bucs.
See: Barber, Peyton; above.
Then Lombardi pointed out something very interesting to Joe. Brady completed 53 of 105 passes throwing the ball 11 to 20 yards. Jameis on the other hand connected on 109 of 160 passes in the same range, a 68.3 percent clip.
“That’s a huge difference,” Lombardi said. “Somebody is going to have to convince me — yes, I know Tom will protect the ball better. But who is going to get those yards?”
This is where the Bucs receiving corps comes into play. If the receivers and tight ends are as good as they believe — and Joe believes — they should help Brady make up much if not all of the difference between the yards Jameis got and Brady should get.
June 29th, 2020 at 8:08 am
Who will get those yards?……..>>DARE, of course!!!
June 29th, 2020 at 8:11 am
Ha! I absolutely love this common sense take!
Hard to replace #1 in the NFL in total offense.
Potentially a really dumb move to trade a 43 year old for a 26 year old.
But we always get entertained either way, and that’s what’s it all about.
Go Bucs!
June 29th, 2020 at 8:22 am
Jameis gets no respect for the excellent stuff he did. All anyone nationally ever cared about was “But he threw 30 picks!” Like it was some sort of record (it’s not even a Bucs record!) and so they didn’t notice the 5,109 yards and 33 passing TDs. There was the highest of the highs and the lowest of the lows, but that was entertaining as hell and a load of fun.
June 29th, 2020 at 8:34 am
I wish we had Jameis sitting behind Tom smh.
June 29th, 2020 at 8:38 am
Lombardi does not factor in the reality that every CrabLeg turnover was worth about 50 negative yards.
June 29th, 2020 at 9:08 am
Let’s just say… Brady will succumb to the Bucs culture.
June 29th, 2020 at 9:23 am
This team has absolutely no depth except for tackle. One player goes down the bucs are dead. Brady goes down do you think Gabbert or Griffin can win I highly doubt it.
June 29th, 2020 at 9:23 am
They took the ball out of his hands in the second half of the Giant game because he was starting to choke. Jameis threw for just over 100 yards in the 2nd half, with no TD’s, and one pick. Gay missed a game winner, but if Brady was our QB then it never would’ve come to a FG. Jameis gagged on that home game like he did against the 49ers, Texans, and the Falcon finally. That’s why Jameis now has half his arse hanging off the end of the Saints bench.
June 29th, 2020 at 9:24 am
There’s a line where turnovers cancel out yards. Not sure exactly where that IS, but based upon last year, we’d have needed either a ton more yards or fewer turnovers
June 29th, 2020 at 9:25 am
Winston defense force is out in full today I see………..
Some of you need to go to saints boards if you are still this butt hurt.
June 29th, 2020 at 9:28 am
An overlooked failure of last year’s season was the inconsistent playcalling by Byron Leftwich. While the yardage and points look huge, a review of game film shows a lot of predictability, poor run game design, and not nearly enough play action. We also liked to take our foot off the gas with leads, choosing to call HB dives and punt until we were losing, and then start airing it out again (see: Giants game). I believe Brady will really help our playcalling become more consistent and effective, with better pre-snap reads and more play action. GO BUCS
June 29th, 2020 at 9:29 am
Noone ever mentions that alot of those 30 picks are the reason the offense had so many yards. Shameis was playing catchup. Jon Gruden says stats are for losers. So with Brady and less than half of those 30 picks, there will be no need to play catchup and the defense will be better rested and not put into the situation of a short field for the other team. My hope is that we finally can score early and often and give this defense some breathing room to work with.
June 29th, 2020 at 9:33 am
Tompa Can finish
June 29th, 2020 at 9:39 am
“Joe remembers the shameful way the Bucs were humming throwing the ball against the Giants”
Coincidentally, the NFLN is airing that game in about 20 minutes from now at 10 am.
June 29th, 2020 at 9:41 am
if dare makes the team this year, maybe he should just have a simplified nickname of his long last name that many can’t even spit out properly in convo…
let’s call him:
“Oggie”
simple…to the point…and we all know who it is
June 29th, 2020 at 9:43 am
Mort, read bradybunches post. He nailed it.
June 29th, 2020 at 9:43 am
Lamarcus Says
“Let’s just say… Brady will succumb to the Bucs culture.”
What culture? To not give up? Don’t know if you’ve watched lately, but this team plays to win.
The turnovers hurt too much, and those won’t happen now. Brady will be the difference here.
June 29th, 2020 at 9:43 am
dekerhoff can be hear saying:
“alstott up the gut”
“oggie horse tackled to the ground”
“oggie with the first down”
“oggie with the fumble”
“oh dave, i don’t know about this oggie…what do you think dave?”
June 29th, 2020 at 9:44 am
heard*
June 29th, 2020 at 9:44 am
Patriots signed Newton. They won’t regret that move.
June 29th, 2020 at 9:56 am
Cherry picking stats…..As usual….
June 29th, 2020 at 10:01 am
Bucs vs Giants starting on NFLN.
June 29th, 2020 at 10:03 am
@bradybunch… totaly agree. As lombardi said “who will get all those yards?”…. won’t need to get all those yards!
June 29th, 2020 at 10:04 am
Brady Bunches, totally agree! Lombardi fails to factor in the effect of turnovers and the short-field advantage that often gives to the opponent. Or, when the ball is turned over in the red zone, squandering a time consuming drive and eliminating the chance for points. Brady is not going to do that. He may not put up Winston’s numbers, but he will protect the ball and that means more time of possession for the Bucs and rest for the defense. The Bucs are not going to squander half time leads with Brady at QB.
June 29th, 2020 at 10:50 am
I got a Fact for everyone Brady had a better season than Winston last year. Go ahead say I’m wrong 5000yds lol. Y’all don’t know football if it smacked you in the face.
June 29th, 2020 at 10:59 am
For the first time in almost 2 decades, the Bucs will be relevant and competitive. May whosoever enjoy the ride.
June 29th, 2020 at 11:18 am
Pryda…sec147 Says:
June 29th, 2020 at 8:34 am
I wish we had Jameis sitting behind Tom smh.
……………….
You don’t get a divorce, re-marry and let the ex sleep in the same house.
June 29th, 2020 at 11:34 am
People that are still bellyaching about Winston. You’re missing the big picture. The NFL is a business. Right now the wins and losses don’t even matter.
The Bucs are absolutely banking on the Brady signing. Season ticket sales, nationally televised games, jersey sales. Hit any sports website and it’s all Brady, Gronk, and the Bucs. You’d get none of that with Winston.
June 29th, 2020 at 11:36 am
How many ints did he throw between 11-20 yds I’ll wait. How many between 1-12 yds I’ll wait. You can throw up any stat you want but it comes back to the truest stat in the nfl for 100 years turnovers.
June 29th, 2020 at 11:43 am
Hopefully this is just more blackboard material for the Bucs. The best way to gain respect from the disrespectful is to prove them wrong. It’s really that simple.
June 29th, 2020 at 11:44 am
Maybe in General Neyland’s day that was true.
Terry Bradshaw had 25 picks in 1979 and won a Super Bowl.
That same year Fran Tarkenton led the NFL with 32 picks and won a division title.
The reason why teams *can* have turnovers and still win games? If you have a defense where you can get away with it. The Bucs, at least for the first 10 games last year, did not have a defense to dodge the picks. Same as it has always been since the Bucs drafted Jameis (except one season).
June 29th, 2020 at 12:03 pm
I’ll repeat my position as a liftime bucs fan..This move with brady and his sidekick Gronk will go down as one of the worst in Bucs history. And I actually do hope I am wrong. brady is only 2 good hits away from another yrs rehab or worse. We should have kept Jameis at least as a backup. But Arians is betting the house on a non productive journeyman named Gabbert. Gabbert will see lotsa action. And We will not like viewing that action. But I’ll be here to say, I told you so.
June 29th, 2020 at 12:18 pm
Mike, you could have made that same argument about Brady for the last 5 years, and all he did was play in 4 Superbowls and win 3. So what difference does 1 more year make?
And yards… give me a break! If games were scored by yards vs. yards it’d be a different conversation, but it’s not! It’s about points… 7 pick-sixes in 2019 people… Case closed!
June 29th, 2020 at 12:27 pm
Fran Tarkenton had Chuck Foreman, Bradshaw had Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier….
June 29th, 2020 at 1:02 pm
youngbucs how did the Colts win in Payton Manning first 5 years and Payton Manning had more interceptions than Jamies and fumbles and they still was able to make the playoffs ?? And I will wait for that answer ???
June 29th, 2020 at 1:30 pm
Last season I hated it when the Bucs were ahead at the half. Those were the games our former QB gave away too often.
I know the Defensive backfield will be much better this season and the line will still stuff the run.
The offense will be able to play a whole game every game instead of only one half, like last season.
June 29th, 2020 at 1:33 pm
@Mort- losing is not fun nor entertaining.
June 29th, 2020 at 1:54 pm
Lombardi’s son coaches on the patriots his name is Mick. Lombardi is Belichick’s lap dog rooting against Brady and praying he fails. Lombardi is a very hateful and spiteful human being
June 29th, 2020 at 2:24 pm
Oneilbucs that’s easy when where the picks thrown where were the picks thrown. And if I’m not mistaken Manning most ints where his rookie year he progressed. Winston not so much and save the how did he win I can evaluate QBs without all the defensive run gm excuses. You should try it sometimes go look at Winston pre draft profile the nailed his gm. They were even right about his prone to emotional outburst on the field 😂
June 29th, 2020 at 2:35 pm
By the way you claim to be a Bucs fan. But only pop up if Winston is mentioned in the article kick rocks.
June 29th, 2020 at 4:09 pm
youngbucs Payton Manning had a hall of fame runningback and a waaaaay beter defense . So I guess if we don’t make the playoffs or the superbowl it’s going to be all Bradys fault ?? If you believe that then you just don’t know anything about team sports . Lol lol lol .. And by the way I am a bucs fan I just call it like I see it . We have a bad team overall . We were bad before Jamies and when this Brady thing came over we will be back at the bottom if we win with Brady . And go look at our cap space . Bruce Arians is leaving us in the dump just like he left the Cardinals !!!!
June 29th, 2020 at 4:13 pm
Oh yeah youngbucs
If anyone has anything to say positively about Winston, they’re not a Bucs fan.
So glad The Bucs have you to sort fan membership out.
June 29th, 2020 at 4:44 pm
Lol like I said talk about him individually. You do know that defense run gm excuses not gone protect him his whole career. He has to start to get it or he’ll never reach his potential. You can make any excuses you want that’s why he’s fighting for his career now as he should be. The #1 pick in the draft coddling period is over time to put up.
June 29th, 2020 at 5:31 pm
We also had a few games where we were in good positions against playoff teams and Winston gave the other team a touchdown. Or two….
June 29th, 2020 at 6:22 pm
Y’all got what you wanted, so sit in it! Oh and buy a Brady/Gronk JJ jersey!
June 29th, 2020 at 7:06 pm
Jameis will breakout in New Orleans if given the chance, and his interceptions, will be mostly a thing of the past. Why, because now he can see. He had just undergone laser eye surgery and that will greatly improve everything pertaining to his eyesight. I know because I have had the surgery. And I just can’t believe, in light of the complete physicals that. NFL players get, that no one checked his eyesight
June 29th, 2020 at 7:35 pm
This is the same guy that said “ Doug Pederson might be less qualified to coach a team than anyone I’ve ever seen.” And……The Eagles went on to win the Super Bowl. Plus he does not have a good track record as a g.m. Here us a list of quarterback drafted by him. Yes he did draft Jamarcus Russel. Scott Barry
-Steve Slayden
-Clemente Gordon
-Keith McCant
-Eric Zeier
-Marquis Tuiasosopo
-Andrew Walter
-JaMarcus Russell
Nuff said
June 29th, 2020 at 8:48 pm
If he wins a superbowl ring w/bucs,He’ll retire,if not he won’t be back.
Could get injured too..
June 29th, 2020 at 9:15 pm
They better have good o line or bucs are done!
June 29th, 2020 at 9:19 pm
points not yards
dont give them the ball, they dont get points
move the ball just enough to get more points than they do.
that is football
yards are everything is what nintendo football is about
June 30th, 2020 at 12:46 am
I know you love you some Michael Lombardi, but everytime you reference this guy, I just remember.
He drafted Jamarcus Russell. Then after his GM career offered to give everyone tips on properly evaluating college quarterback prospects.
In his own words “You’re an idiot’ to draft DK Metcalf over N’Keal Harry”
and my personal favorite.
“Meet the Eagles’ head coach, Doug Pederson! Now, everybody knows Pederson isn’t a head coach. He might be less qualified to coach a team than anyone I’ve ever seen in my 30-plus years in the NFL. “
June 30th, 2020 at 8:25 am
Lombardi doesn’t recognize that every Winston turnover is about a 50 yard loss.
June 30th, 2020 at 10:58 am
Man I can’t believe all the negative Nancy’s we have on this board. Relax as Rogers would say and lets see how it plays out. Unlike you Nancy’s I see a lot to be excited about this year. Stop with what we can’t do this year, and start talking about what we will be able to do this year. That is more fun than being all doom and gloom all the time don’t you think? Go Bucs And welcome to Tampa Tom Brady.
June 30th, 2020 at 11:11 am
Lol I’ll take a 26-3 win over a 42-38 nail-biter any day. I think we have a very potent rushing attack and our offense is extremely efficient.