If Two Players Ball Out
July 9th, 2020
Could ignite
So the season rests on the shoulders of two people in the minds of some.
Over at the PFF tribe, there is a best-case/worst-case scenario for each NFL team this season. Joe’s in a good mood this morning so Joe’s going with the best-case outcome.
(Beware tomorrow, however.)
In the best-case, the tribe believes the Bucs could win 11 games. To do that, so the tribe suggests, two players must have excellent seasons and play up to their reputations — one player each on either side of the ball.
Those two players are park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring Bucs quarterback Tom Brady and middle linebacker Devin White.
How they get there: Brady is, in fact, still one of the game’s elite, and he has a bounceback season with his old friend Rob Gronkowski and the best wide receiver duo in the NFL ─ Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Simply taking care of the football significantly reduces the stress on a defense that continues to play at the high level it showed over the second half of last season. Devin White moves beyond simply making the splash plays and becomes a consistent down-to-down contributor, which only elevates the Buccaneers’ defense.
There is no question if Brady has a superior year, the Bucs will be scoring points. That’s the name of the game. Outscore the other team and good things happen.
White is an interesting case. He played solid if not strong after he returned from a minor knee injury. But he was drafted No. 5 overall because the Bucs believed he would wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks with multiple blitzes. This didn’t happen. In fact, White struggled on interior blitzes.
White had 2.5 sacks last year. The Bucs need more from him.
The rest of his game? No problem whatsoever assuming his pass coverage continues to improve.
If White can get, say, seven or more sacks, Joe suspects this defense could be special.
July 9th, 2020 at 9:25 am
I would add a third player to this mix- Jamel Dean. Last year’s D became solid when Dean became an above average graded corner and opposing teams no longer had free reign to complete passes at will. If Dean becomes the lock-down corner that his talent suggests he can, then this team will be able to protect late game leads and not blow them like they have done for more than a decades since Ronde last roamed the field. While I think Carlton Davis can be a very good #2 CB, Dean has the IT factor. OSU recruited him hard and only reason he didnt play there was the medical staff did not pass his physical due to his HS knee injuries. Dean left for Auburn and got considerably better each year as his health returned!
July 9th, 2020 at 9:40 am
Weak sauce speculation from the PFF
It’s all on the “quarterbacks” of the team
Little bit lazy?
July 9th, 2020 at 9:42 am
The secondary is way more important to the W/L record. DW isn’t responsible for deep sideline routes.
July 9th, 2020 at 9:47 am
I’m not sure expecting 7.5 sacks from your Middle LB is realistic. Just not something you see from MLBs. For sacks I’m relying on Barrett and JPP. A handful of chip ins from Vita Vea would be nice too. We need this guy to stuff the run and improve his pass coverage, particularly vs TEs. We have been eaten up by those guys in the past. The CBs worry me more than Devin does. He’ll come on. Not sweating there. Secondary? Yeah I might have to wear a Brett Michaels style bandanna to keep the sweat out of my eyes.
July 9th, 2020 at 9:47 am
I am very excited too watch both Vaughn and White this year. I love the athleticism these guys bring. If Shaq can play well again I think this defense absolutely can be special. While the youth in the secondary scare me, a good pass rush can help young corners out tremendously.
July 9th, 2020 at 9:53 am
LOL Devin White is not getting 7+ sacks, hes not Josh Allen. Hes a mediocre linebacker with no pass coverage ability.
July 9th, 2020 at 9:57 am
….is Joe expecting a middle linebacker to get 7.5+ sacks. That’s a bit much of an ask Joe middle linebackers don’t rack up sacks.
July 9th, 2020 at 10:06 am
@Waterboy- spot on about Dean.
If he continues the trajectory he was on, he’ll be our #1 corner.
But I worry that this lack of off season is really gonna hurt players like him.
July 9th, 2020 at 10:20 am
By week three Godwin and Brady will be on course for history in production. Godwin will be able to show his speed, instead of his circus catch skills. At the start it will be Brady to Gronk, but that will change.
Evans will be an outlet first down option, as will Brate.
Devin White just needs more pressures. That will stop the double teams on Shaq and JPP. Those will be the sack guys.
If Winfield gets up to NFL speed quickly and the DBs can learn deception in play calling, this defense will be close to what we used to see.
July 9th, 2020 at 10:24 am
Joe, since you are so hot under the collar for a RB
Raheem Mostert wants out of San Fran.
July 9th, 2020 at 10:30 am
Doc Berto D-White and Allen play completely different positions . One is an OL edge rusher and one is a MLB . It’s like comparing Shaq Barrett to Devin White , they do completely different things on the football field .
July 9th, 2020 at 10:50 am
Well aware. Spoke about this on Ira’s podcast that was recorded last night and has yet to publish.
July 9th, 2020 at 10:55 am
Not continuously placing the defense in a bad position will force teams into longer drives and result in more punts and turnovers. BTW, 2019 Bucs/Winston rated the worst, while the Pats were 2nd if I recall correctly.
July 9th, 2020 at 11:21 am
Mostert is overrated journeyman buyer beware.
July 9th, 2020 at 12:06 pm
“Only 2
Byron Leftwich &
Byron Leftwich disconnected headset”
Kobe Faker
July 9th, 2020 at 12:57 pm
I am admittedly biased about White…he’s one of my Buc faves right behind Godwin.
Some have already mentioned expecting seven sacks from an MLB is too high of a number. I think they are on to something.
Without knowing exactly what Bowles expected out of his MLB and his schemes I’m not sure White performed all that poorly as a pass rusher. Obviously he’s a rookie and has a lot to learn.
LVD was considered a very promising pass rushing LB. His second year he did reach Joe’s magic plateau with seven sacks. Everyone thought LVD would be a big pass rusher…several years later he did have 5…but last year he had just 1.
I do not know the opportunities either LVD or White had to rush the passer…I do not know their responsibilities and I haven’t graded any film. I obviously do not really know.
I suspect however both LVD and White’s lack of sacks in otherwise good years might be influenced by the amount of opportunity they were given to blitz.
Some stats geek here can check the number of times White or LVD were used to blitz and how that compares with other interior LB’s.
July 9th, 2020 at 4:06 pm
I could totally go with the idea of Lavonte and White. Lavonte HOF numbers. Better than Kuechly and still killing it. He’s been the true defensive leader for a long time and now he’s dying to finally get in the playoffs.
#FrontSevenMonstas
GO BUCS!!!
July 9th, 2020 at 5:41 pm
The answer is Rojo. If he is better at running, catching, and blocking (in that order) the Bucs are playoff bound. If he remains the same or regresses, the Bucs will end up with a losing record.
July 9th, 2020 at 7:15 pm
SOEbuc Says:
“Lavonte HOF numbers. Better than Kuechly and still killing it.”
.
.
Lavonte has got to be possibly the most underrated player I’ve ever seen. Totally unfair how he’s ignored.
July 9th, 2020 at 8:32 pm
I love the moves we made on defense. Moving on from Kwon, McCoy and Hargreaves as our leaders all look pretty solid too.
And I like how Joe’s talking here to see more from White as a blitzer. We need to see improvement if they want a championship. That could be a big improvement.
Let’s face it the guy was nonexistent on blitzes. Get stronger and get better…..Even if it aren’t 8 sacks, get in there and cause some havoc!! Bat a few balls everyone in a while, flush out the QB, smash the throwing arm…..but that ain’t gonna happen if he cant fight through blocks.