Five Things
October 26th, 2020
(Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.)
Another massive Victory Monday is here. This is becoming a regular pattern. Joe can get used to this even though it is foreign as can be. Off to the analysis!
Nothing to fear but fear itself.
Joe admits being a Bucs fan during this ugly playoff drought has conditioned Joe to expect the worst during games.
Sort of like a beaten child syndrome. The poor kid goes home after school each day expecting the worst because it has happened so often.
With the Bucs the past 12 years, way too often has this team found creative if not mindblowing ways to lose, week after week. So much and so often have the Bucs lost that Joe still expects this to happen in games. Joe’s been conditioned from year after depressing losing year.
(Joe’s hardly the only one. You should see the texts Joe receives on Sunday afternoons, even from guys who own luxury suite tickets.)
So when the Bucs went away from the run in the third quarter and the offense — for the only time in the game — began to sputter, Joe immediately had flashbacks to the Bears comeback when Las Vegas kicker Daniel Carlson booted a 36-yard field goal, pulling the Raiders within 24-20 with 12:48 left in the game.
Uh, oh. Joe smelled Bears crap.
But unlike that dreary night in Chicago a little over two weeks ago, the Bucs, like a champion boxer on the ropes, came swinging back for a knockout.
Good NFL teams take the best shot from their opponent and pound back. That’s just what the Bucs did and this just in, the Bucs may be the hottest team in the NFL.
And the way the Bucs have blasted their last two opponents, Joe thinks it is fair to say the Bucs are a damn good team. Finally, after all of these years.
No Run Zone.
It simply doesn’t matter who it is, you cannot run on the Bucs. Doesn’t matter if you were the top running back picked in the draft, a Pro Bowler, a quick veteran, whatever.
The Bucs crazy streak of suffocating top running backs continued yesterday with Josh Jacobs. The stud Raiders running back was held to a measly 17 yards rushing on 10 carries. Basically, when a team faces the Bucs, it is facing a “No Run Zone.” It almost reminds Joe of the glory days of the Bucs defense with Warren Sapp and company.
Old man Brady looks young.
Park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting Bucs quarterback Tom Brady has only been the Bucs quarterback for seven games. Already Joe is spoiled.
The guy is so accurate it isn’t funny. And he knows when and how much touch to put on footballs, it is uncanny. His passes to foot-rubbing, car-littering Rob Gronkowski and Scotty Miller were so good they were artistic (reminded Joe of Joe Montana’s passes).
And when Brady needed to rifle a pass, somewhere, the late Bob Gibson smiled at Brady’s fastball. How good has Brady been of late? In the past five games, Brady has thrown for 15 touchdowns and one interception. At 43-years old.
That’s just mind-boggling to Joe.
And if this keeps up, Brady is toying with setting a standard of excellence maybe none of us will ever see again from a Bucs quarterback.
Keeping Brady clean.
For the second straight week, Brady wasn’t sacked. For the first time since the loss to the Bears, Brady was actually hit. That was by Raiders defensive lineman Maurice Hurst.
Yeah, a lot of people stomp and holler about the offensive line. Personally, the way this unit has played as a whole, it is the best offensive line play the Bucs have had since probably 2007. Maybe even better.
Best offseason move?
Now the Bucs made impressive personnel moves during the months leading up to the regular season. Drafting Tristan Wirfs may be the biggest home run Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht hit since he drafted Mike Evans.
Wirfs looks like a top-shelf rock at right tackle for the next decade. Joe even read an article last week where an author argued that Wirfs is the best right tackle in football.
Not rookie right tackle. Best starting right tackle in the game.
And of course, the ultimate pick-up was Brady. No need to go any further there.
However, Joe read a Twitter yesterday from a reader trying to make the case that kicker Ryan Succop was the best pickup in the offseason. The guy has a helluva point (Joe would still list Brady as the best move).
The kicking game for the Bucs had been a friggin’ circus for years, an embarrassment. And it wasn’t like the Bucs didn’t try every way imaginable to solve the kicking riddle; it didn’t matter if the guy was drafted, pulled off the street, or signed after kicking well for other teams.
Succop, finally, has brought not only consistency but a reliable competence to the position. Succop has made 11 of 13 field-goal attempts and missed just one extra point.
The digital highway billboard shining brightest alerting that this once-moribund franchise has turned the corner may be that Succop has actually made Bucs placekicking boring.
October 26th, 2020 at 7:03 am
Ahhhhhhhh!!!
Another victory Monday!
October 26th, 2020 at 7:17 am
YOU need to put some respect next to Brady’s name. Dont address him with negative adjectives then try to balance it with faint praise. Recognize he IS great. That you were one blind, but now you see. That hate kept you in a dungeon for over 20 years. That Brady has freed you and given you hope. He has rejuvenated you. Your blog and the city. He did the same for fans, team and media in New England. Recognize what you have while you have it
Why do you type such laughable silliness? First, this site needed no rejuvenation whatsoever. Not much would change here if Brady rolled an ankle or retired after winning a Super Bowl. It’s a team game with fans who love the jersey. Second, Joe uses some fun adjectives maybe half the time. If you don’t find it fun, ok, but the negativity is in your head and heart, not Joe’s.–Joe
October 26th, 2020 at 7:18 am
Bucs better rushing the ball as a team this year.
This season we have rushed on 1st down 93 times for 393 yards a 4.1 average. Hardly, a team that is getting stuffed every time or even a majority of time.
Teams still try to rush against the Bucs run defense on 1st down. They have attempted 70 rushes for 205 rush yards. 2.9 yards per carry.
October 26th, 2020 at 7:20 am
The Juggernaut is just starting to roll, and it sure is fun. Brady is droppin dimes from heaven. You could not hand the football to somebody better if you were standing next to them. 15 td to 1 int, last 5 games, insane. Legit championship defence being played. Holy Gronkamoli the Bucs even have a kicker. SUPER BOWL OR BUST!!! GO BUCS!!!!
October 26th, 2020 at 7:21 am
Will Tom Brady in two seasons be the greatest QB in Bucs History?
This kinda makes me sad for our history but excited for this year and next year.
October 26th, 2020 at 7:28 am
Last night……………….what we saw……..was a true good NFL team.
Last night all bucs fans saw an NFL team that has rounded the corner of losing and now expects to win week after week ……………….they have the confidence now.
We haven’t seen this type of confidence since the glory years of the Bucs.
What’s crazy is that in the glory years………the defense is what kept them in the games…..NOW…..it’s BOTH!!!!!!!!!!!!
Crazy…………. I cannor even believe I’m even typing these words……lol
October 26th, 2020 at 7:55 am
Now for a LT …
October 26th, 2020 at 8:08 am
That roll out to Godwin for the TD also reminded me of Joe Montana.
October 26th, 2020 at 8:11 am
Anthem, what about the weenie arm? Did we see any of that like you’ve been spouting for most of the season?
October 26th, 2020 at 8:13 am
Dear Joe,
We have PTSD (Post Traumatic Stinking Disorder) in our house too. When the Bucs were nursing a 4 point lead and trying to make it a 2-score game again, my wife said, “I hate this feeling…we’re up 4. I feel like we’re down 10.”
It’s going to take a while to wash off the funk of the last decade.
October 26th, 2020 at 8:15 am
The extra-point kick prior to Succop was a stress-inducing endeavor which had me holding my breath EVERY time we kicked an XP! An XP, for goodness sake!
Thank you Ryan!
This team will be hard to beat if it doesn’t first beat itself.
October 26th, 2020 at 8:15 am
Well said about the defense AND offense, Anthem. It’s unbelievable. Hopefully things continue this way.
October 26th, 2020 at 8:20 am
Mobilepreacher is more qualified than any other joebucsfan.com reader in history to weigh in on what he is seeing play out. Mobilepreacher listens to every podcast, reads ever article, and every tweet from joebucsfan.com. Mobilepreacher has been a diehard Bucs fan since Steve Spurrier & Gary Huff. Mobilepreacher is a veritable encyclopedia of Bucs history and can name every starting quarterback, running back, and punter by name, number and in chronological order since 1976. Mobilepreacher is just as traumatized over what adds up to over 2 full lost generations of Buc football over the course of this franchise’s history. Here is what mobilepreacher has to say. “We have turned the corner”
October 26th, 2020 at 8:24 am
Mobilepreacher is more qualified than any other joebucsfan.com reader in history to weigh in on what he is seeing play out. Mobilepreacher listens to every podcast, reads ever article, and every tweet from joebucsfan.com. Mobilepreacher has been a diehard Bucs fan since Steve Spurrier & Gary Huff. Mobilepreacher is a veritable encyclopedia of Bucs history and can name every starting quarterback, running back, and punter by name, number and in chronological order since 1976. Mobilepreacher is just as traumatized over what adds up to over 2 full lost generations of Buc football over the course of this franchise’s history. Here is what mobilepreacher has to say. “We have turned the corner”
October 26th, 2020 at 8:26 am
Penalties, Turnovers & Special Teams…..can wipe out a good Offense & Defensive game…..but we have stopped beating ourselves.
We only had 4 penalties yesterday but we see their negative impact…
And, you are right about Succop…..do you know that he has only missed one kick all year that was unblocked?
October 26th, 2020 at 8:28 am
I know you won’t get rid of the nonsense moniker you have been using for Brady but I do want to let you know it’s just lame. You do what you want with your site but please know it is just not the least bit funny and makes you look amateurish. It reminds me of that weird coworker we all have that everyone rolls their eyes at when he walks out of the office after telling another one of his dumb jokes that only he laughs at. Love the site and the content, save for that nonsense.
October 26th, 2020 at 8:30 am
Boston boy, go away mad or insulted but just go away. Joe does this out of fun besides it’s HIS WEBSITE!!!! Go start up your own Brady man crush site for the more sensitive “men”.
Brady by far is the best pick up this season and of course if he wins us a Superbowl will be the greatest FA ever hands down! I knew he would make us better just thru subtraction of turnovers plus look what he did with no one to really throw to. Now look at him since he’s better acquainted with the system and players……lightening them up. Now Succop has been a nice calming addition but our ST coverage and blocking sucks. That guy from Chicago routinely burned us fielding it 9 yards deep in the end zone abed taking it out past the 40. It seems like everybody else’s gunners are in our returners face as soon as he gets the ball but our guys are never there! It’s maddening to watch that!
October 26th, 2020 at 8:32 am
All 5 points are spot-on Joe. Brady, Wirfs, Succop … tremendous additions. Fournette did great yesterday too, as did McLendon, 2 more outstanding pickups. And Gronk has definitely grown on me; I had my doubts when the season started, but as he’s gotten in better football condition, he reminds me more & more of an Abrams M1 tank … unstoppable.
Obviously RoJo has ‘grown’ a bunch this season, but so has Alex Cappa, Devin White, Jamel Dean & Mike Edwards. They’re all playing good solid hard-nosed football right now. These last 2 games have sure been fun to watch, especially since we stopped shooting ourselves in the foot.
October 26th, 2020 at 8:45 am
Agree with Rules. Good 5 points. Although we didn’t run the ball much better than LV. No complaints though. Better each week. And the injury bug seems to be abating. Great Bucs season.
October 26th, 2020 at 8:52 am
“Sorry to disappoint you”
-Jason Licht
Legendary.
October 26th, 2020 at 9:05 am
obviously BL is pulling all the right strings and pushing all the right buttons….
BL is the best OC in the NFC…2nd best in the NFL behind eric b….
GO BUCS!!!!
October 26th, 2020 at 9:05 am
Joe I’m glad you said we have our RT for the next ten years. Wirfs is not a LT, all though I think he can play there. He’ll be a pro bowl RT for years to come. Let’s not screw that up trying to move him to the left side. And why should we? Smith has had his shakey moments, but he’s been playing lights out the last few games. He’s under contract next season at a reasonable price for a LT. He keeps playing like he has I see no reason to replace him. Draft a future LT, sure, but you don’t let go a good LT hitting his prime. You just don’t.
October 26th, 2020 at 9:05 am
Do you think the Titans would have liked to have Ryan Succop make their game ending kick yesterday? Thank you Mr. Succop for making kicking boring again!
October 26th, 2020 at 9:06 am
Devin White was about 20 yards away from Carr last night, and ran him down for a sack and absolutely destroyed him.
October 26th, 2020 at 9:19 am
What we’re starting to see is something I think we’ve all been begging for…ACCOUNTABILITY. Accountability demanded by savvy vets with real bonafides. The difference between eating your W fingers and actually having championship rings on them is huge. #s 3 and 93 were anointed leaders, but lacked any any on field credibility. #12s impact goes far beyond what’s left in his arm…there’s a new professional standard being established right before our very eyes. It’s quite a sight to see.
October 26th, 2020 at 9:31 am
Brady has cleared a few low grade trolls right off of this page.
October 26th, 2020 at 9:54 am
Bellingham Bucs Fan Says:
October 26th, 2020 at 9:31 am
-Brady has cleared a few low grade trolls right off of this page.’
GONE..and they won’t be missed.
Hey guys… Gronk is BACK
October 26th, 2020 at 9:57 am
Pillow Says:
October 26th, 2020 at 9:19 am
-What we’re starting to see is something I think we’ve all been begging for…ACCOUNTABILITY. Accountability demanded by savvy vets with real bonafides. The difference between eating your W fingers and actually having championship rings on them is huge. #s 3 and 93 were anointed leaders, but lacked any any on field credibility. #12s impact goes far beyond what’s left in his arm…there’s a new professional standard being established right before our very eyes. It’s quite a sight to see.-
Oh YEAH
October 26th, 2020 at 10:18 am
I agree with Boston boy retire that awful, stupid moniker you put on Bradys golden arm and beautiful mind it totally makes me not to want to read those articles. Brew confidence and success in our team not something stupid like that name. Everybody that reads this write joes let him know!!!!!
October 26th, 2020 at 10:22 am
After years of heartache and frustrations, Bucs fans have not felt this kind of happiness, positiveness and excitement in a football team. This is just awesome feeling and looking for more win, win, win and more wins….. i’m not getting tired of WINNING..!!! Go BUCS !!!! Thank God we have Tom Brady on our side.
October 26th, 2020 at 10:23 am
Boston boy must have been the reason Brady had to move! Spying from the water BB? Every true football fan respects Brady. Plain and simple. Now that that’s outa the way enjoy the ride!! If you’re gona preach it be about it!
October 26th, 2020 at 10:51 am
We were all conditioned to expect the worse. You don’t reverse that conditioning at the snap of the fingers or the waive of a magic wand.
Isn’t a turnaround fun? Isn’t it just fabulous? Twelve years of futility down the drain! Fans and Buc reporters are in for many glory days ahead for the foreseeable future!
Also, Jason Licht hit home runs with his picks for Mike Evans, Ali Marpet, Chris Godwin, Vita Vea and Devon White. He struck out on Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Vernon Hargreaves and Roberto Aguayo most notably. His latest picks of Tristan Wirfs and Antoine Winfield are looking great. Overall his personnel decisions including drafts, trades and free agency additions are looking fine at this point.
October 26th, 2020 at 10:59 am
Well Brady’s Arm isn’t exactly Justin Herbert strength and Brady has lost alot of “zip” on his passes………….
Brady has enough arm strength to be “effective”
So yeah………..I’ll eat crow and I’ll say I was wrong
but in no way at all will I say he has a “strong arm” cause he doesn’t.
October 26th, 2020 at 11:01 am
813bucboi … “BL is the best OC in the NFC…2nd best in the NFL behind eric b…”. I’m beginning to really appreciate your consistency bucboi. Well, consistently delusional that is. Two days ago BL was ranked #27 OC in the NFL by 1 site & #13 by another site. Split the difference & we’ll give him #20. Deal?
Having a QB like Tom Brady is undoubtedly helpful. Having weapons like ME13, Godwin, Gronk, RoJo, Fournette (to name but a few) probably helps too, as does having a quality OLine for blocking. BL is the weak link in this chain bucboi. Gruden’s attack was a lot more imaginative yesterday IMO; he just didn’t have the firepower & defense to keep up.
Oh and speaking of defenses, our #3 defense (in Points Allowed of course) is looking better & better against some tough offenses (Packers #2 now, Raiders #11). And those 12 TOs that they’ve generated in just 7 games sure have come in handy. Makes for some nice COMPLEMENTARY FOOTBALL.
October 26th, 2020 at 12:14 pm
holy gronkamoli now that’s a moniker i really like, betcha the gronkmiester likes it too!!!!
October 26th, 2020 at 1:57 pm
DR
your the one thats delusional…lol…
you talk about BL having weapons but look at eric b….
he has pat mahommes…kelce…hill…robinson…hardman…along with a decent oline….that sure is helpful too….lol…
grudens attacks was outdated…..injuries had nothing to do with it….
BL has faced injuries as well and the offense still improving putting up points…. BL attacked the entire field and used different personnel…..defenses cant keep up….
BL is the strongest link in the chain other than a healthy brady….we are witnessing what BL can do with a QB who doesnt turn the ball over….
stop hating and enjoy the ride….BL is making a smart poster like yourself look foolish every week….lol….
GO BUCS!!!!!
October 26th, 2020 at 2:13 pm
DR
you do realize you’re bashing a OC that put up 30+ vs an undefeated team and 40+ on a team that beat the SB champs….lol….
BL IS WORKING MAGIC!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
October 26th, 2020 at 3:48 pm
Did you really just say not much would change here if Brady twisted an ankle?
One, you would lose a lot of readers and two most definitely your site would go back to being a miserable outlet for some supposed Bucs Fans. You knpw, the ones who hope that something horrible like Brady twisting an ankle and not playing qb for the Bucs makes them right about hating the decision to have him at qb to begin with.
Your content is entertaining but acting like people aren’t enjoying your content more with a winning team is pretty arrogant.
I think we all know where you stand. It isn’t unreasonable for readers to ask you to move on to something else. It gets old.
But in the interest of fairness you did add in the new “down forgetting” thing so as long as Brady keeps messing up, you’ll keep adding on to it.
Not sure if you think this is still hilarious or if you still hate Brady for all the things the Patriots did. He did serve a suspension for not cooperating with the ball deflation investigation so why don’t you put that in as well. Now that would be hilarious.
October 26th, 2020 at 3:54 pm
Lots of good stuff in this article. I’m happy as hell too Joe’s. 😀
October 26th, 2020 at 5:01 pm
813bucboi … I am enjoying the ride, in spite of BL. Brady’s now running plays that he’s run for 20 years (in flying we used to call it ‘being on autopilot’). As long as our OLine can protect him & he continues to be surrounded by the weapons that he has now, he’ll continue to pick defenses apart. He’s the ultimate Field General, and it shows. And oh ya, being supported by a Top-5 defense doesn’t hurt either.
Jameis Winston ran BL’s offense last year with many of the same weapons but we ended with a 7-9 record. Jameis wasn’t Tom Brady to be sure, but his biggest mistake was in having to execute BL’s attack. I’m not a huge Jameis supporter because IMO he lacked the leadership qualities that truly superior QBs possess, but it never would’ve worked anyways because the ‘Bombs Away’ attack scheme is antiquated. It’ll put up a lot of yards, and even score a lot of points, but it’ll eat you alive in turnovers & consistently put your defense at a major disadvantage.
Seen too many times in my life when an organization succeeds ‘in spite of someone’ not ‘because of them’. I’m not saying BL is terrible, just that he’s middle of the pack at best. Hopefully we’ve got the talent here to overcome a ‘just average OC’.
October 26th, 2020 at 5:23 pm
DR
as i said earlier, you’re making yourself look foolish….
BL is proving what he can do with a QB that doesnt turn the ball over….brady has been running the same offense since week1….the difference is execution and bucs not beating bucs….
i’ve seen too many times in my life when an organization or fan base doesnt give credit to a coach or player only to watch that coach or player leave….and the success leaves with them…..
BL is better than middle of the pack and the bucs offensive stats proves that….he’s the best in the NFC….BL will be a HC next year easy….
if you cant see that, you’re just a HATER!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
October 26th, 2020 at 6:00 pm
‘just a HATER!!!’ Oh come on bucboi, I thought you were better than that. Childishly labeling people who disagree with you is so .. oh ya, childish.
The reason Brady isn’t turning the ball over is because the Bucs are now running HIS offense, not BL’s & BA’s. And oh ya, because he’s The GOAT.
What we’re seeing now is a more effective running game, a LOT more short passing with a few deep passes thrown in to keep defenses honest. But hey, you don’t have to believe me. Check out what Peyton Manning said in one of JBF’s later articles “Why The Bucs Weren’t Running His Plays Earlier In The Season, I’m Not Sure.”
Of course you’ll probably label him a HATER too.
October 26th, 2020 at 7:56 pm
They simply HAVE TO get a QB to learn under Brady ASAP!! This draft is what I mean by asap … This team is set up for long time success if they have that 25Tds and 12 picks kind of guy!! They will be perineal playoff contenders if they do!!!