“Compelling”
July 29th, 2020
“That’s right Tom, everyone wants to watch you. Even in Brazil.”
The Bucs, many times throughout the Lost Decade, were downright unwatchable.
For example, how many of Joe’s readers had to clean up puke after watching Dirk Koetter’s offense roll inept Lovie Smith’s defense on national television in prime time?
Then there were the curb-stompings in the Den of Depression against the Steelers — with third-stringer Charlie Batch at quarterback — and the Crows with Joe Flacco.
And how about the time shamed defensive coordinator Mike Smith couldn’t figure out how to put Brent Grimes on Julio Jones?
Those are just a few putrid examples. But now with park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring quarterback Tom Brady and a future Hall of Fame tight end, foot-rubbing Rob Gronkowski, the Bucs are watchable.
In fact, even for a veteran reporter, the Bucs and Brady are must-watch TV this year. Longtime NFL reporter Judy Battista took to NFL Network recently to explain how Brady and the Bucs are “compelling” TV.
Funny, I find [Tom] Brady in Tampa to be most compelling [quarterback story]. With or without these unusual circumstances, Brady’s season would have been riveting. That he is joining a new team for the first time after two decades of dominating the NFL in New England — a team that has legitimate championship aspirations — with none of the traditional offseason work only heightens the anticipation. And that it is a team that has some top-level receiving options — something he did not have much of last season in New England — and a coach like Bruce Arians only makes me want to watch him more.
Last season was such a disappointment for Brady: 60.8 completion percentage, first-round playoff exit, obvious shows of frustration almost every week. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin — and Rob Gronkowski! — should help answer the question of whether Brady’s performance had dropped off that significantly because of age or because he simply had no trust in the receivers around him.
Brady ran offseason workouts with some of his new teammates in Tampa, even going against the union’s suggestion that they stop, but I do wonder how much he will be affected by the compressed time to get ready. Brady certainly knows how to take care of himself, but he is also a demanding task master who expects his receivers to be in the right place at the right time. There is talent in Tampa, but has it had enough time to mesh with Brady? When we finally get to focus on the game, that’s what I’ll be watching.
The TV networks seem to agree that the Bucs are watchable again as they have five prime time TV appearances.
Can the Bucs live up to the hype? As former NFL suit Michael Lombardi said on his podcast “GM Shuffle” this summer, Brady and Gronk now make the Bucs the hunted ones.
July 29th, 2020 at 4:11 pm
These guys have been running routes their entire life. They KNOW how to run a route. If they’ve grown sloppy certainly TB12 will let them know.
IMHO all of the Covid mess simply means it may take a few games for EVERY team to regain their timing and polish. If we play 16 there is plenty of time to jell and kick butt when it counts down the stretch.
July 29th, 2020 at 4:15 pm
“That’s right Tom, everyone wants to watch you. Even in Brazil.”
Of course we want! He is, by a far margin, the most famous player and his former team had about 9 games televised last season (here in Brazil ESPN shows all night games, one Sunday 1pm game and another 4pm game every week)
Brazil is the third market when it comes to eyeballs watching games (behind USA and Mexico)
And now the hype is all over the Bucs
So, expect more and more brazilian fans visiting by
Go Bucs
July 29th, 2020 at 4:27 pm
During a condensed offseason I’ll take having the best player of all time on our side.
This is going to be a big advantage for Brady, but local and national media don’t agree.
July 29th, 2020 at 4:42 pm
stpete
Yup!
Only thing I would add is that when the timing does kick in, we gonna blow the doors off!
July 29th, 2020 at 4:43 pm
TB12 will turn this team around, if corona doesn’t stop the season. I have faith in Tom Brady, and while I believe he is not longer an elite QB any QB that doesn’t turn the ball over constantly is better than Jameis in my book.
That being said, the one single way we can make our offense better in 2021 is by drafting 6’6 manbeast wide receiver Warren Jackson, from the great Colorado State University! He’s a gamechanger, opened up the field for other skill players like Marvin Kinsey and Dante Wright!
July 29th, 2020 at 5:00 pm
Alexandre:
Bem-vindo ao JoeBucsFan.com e obrigado por ler meu bom homem.
July 29th, 2020 at 5:01 pm
Good info!
July 29th, 2020 at 6:05 pm
@Alexandre
I wish games were shown back when I worked in Fortaleza Brazil end of 1999 to early 2000.
July 29th, 2020 at 7:13 pm
From the article: “I thought I had my football team ready to play,” first-year Bucs coach Lovie Smith said. “Obviously, we weren’t ready to play.”
–UNPARDONABLE–
The nightmare started on December 8, 2008, yet this was only one of many low points we’ve been forced to endure. I remember that night very well. My wife & I went out to dinner, and what do I see at the restaurant’s bar? A screen showing a (predictable) blowout. I almost walked out of the place.
I’ll never jump ship, and I always wear my colors, but this $#!+ ain’t easy!
July 29th, 2020 at 7:45 pm
In hindsight, the Lost Decade was unwatchable. But here is the most watchable Bucs game (outside of our Super Bowl win) in my memory: Bucs – Eagles, 2006, Bucs ahead until less than a minute left when the Eagles go ahead 21-20. Our ball, and on to the field comes Matt Bryant. He kicks and 62 yards later we win. I was in the East stands and people were getting up to leave. Then, magic happened.
July 29th, 2020 at 9:04 pm
If there is a full season played I can see Brady getting 4800 yards and 40+ TD’S. He will make Leftwich and Arians utilize the TE position. I can see 15 TD’S from those 3 guys at least. Evans and Godwin 10+ each and a few more from our RB’s. Going to have to score a lot of points with that young secondary, just like last year. Time is running out!!!! TOO many big money guys on the team at the moment. Rebuild is coming!!!!!
July 29th, 2020 at 9:05 pm
Piratic:
You are a damn good Bucs fan. Hang in there.
July 29th, 2020 at 9:11 pm
@Joe Obrigado. I’m really flattered you wrote in Portuguese. Thank you very much. I’m a huge fan of the website since the day I discovered it in 2014
@Rayjay1122 during that time ESPN had the rights but the channel had not a deal with the cable companies and it was hard to keep it up. The sad thing was that from 1994 to 1998 an open channel aired one game per week
July 29th, 2020 at 10:55 pm
Colorado
Thanks for the early heads up. Sadly I do not believe we’re going to get to see much college talent on display this year. So last year will go a long way to establishing this year’s draft.
A 6-6 Manbeast at WR sounds great but if Jackson is all that…won’t he go in the first round? I suspect our first rounder next year may include a QB to get tutored by Brady and be next in line.
Unless you’re suggesting that Jackson is under the radar at Colorado State and can be had in a later round.
July 29th, 2020 at 10:58 pm
Dang Joe multilingual. I’m impressed.
July 29th, 2020 at 11:14 pm
Brady will play the game. Period.
July 29th, 2020 at 11:55 pm
I love the fact that we have Brady and I haven’t been this excited since before last season’s start. I’m also worried that we may have another lost decade if we don’t get a quarterback for the future, like yesterday. Not drafting a young guy this year was dumb and not drafting one next year will be unforgivable unless we hope to luck out on a good vet every few years.
July 30th, 2020 at 7:23 am
Alexandre Nasciemnto Says:
“Brazil is the third market when it comes to eyeballs watching games (behind USA and Mexico).”
I had no idea. I would have thought UK, since the NFL makes so much effort putting games in England. The NFL should be going to São Paulo, then, also!
====================
“… 1994 to 1998 an open channel aired one game per week.”
I spent 18 months in Okinawa from 94-95, and it was the same sorry deal there. One game a week, which meant I got to see the Bucs play one time, live. I had a friend who recorded the games for me on VCR, so I would get to watch the games about a week and a half after the fact. Excruciating.
July 30th, 2020 at 7:26 am
@Joe
I’m impressed. Exchange student? Portuguese is not a common language for Americans to learn.
July 30th, 2020 at 7:35 am
Buczilla Says:
“Not drafting a young guy this year was dumb and not drafting one next year will be unforgivable unless we hope to luck out on a good vet every few years.”
.
.
Aaron Rodgers 2022, Baby!
You’re right, though. We need another early round offensive lineman, too. Hmm.
July 30th, 2020 at 8:18 am
Spoon:
No.
July 30th, 2020 at 11:17 am
It is my contention that Bruce Arians had already accomplished a turnaround in the Buc’s fortunes after his first season as head coach. The team was on the rise. Of course the national media had not noticed.
The addition of Tom Brady changed all of the perceptions from outsiders.
We have a fairly young squad overall. The leadership combination of Bruce Arians and Tom Brady should enable this team to mature rapidly this year. We will be legitimate contenders.