“Nobody Can Run The Ball Against Us”
October 3rd, 2020
Bucs observations.
When studying game film of the Bucs’ win over the Broncos last Sunday, former Bucs guard Ian Beckles saw a lot he liked.
Still, Beckles cautioned about getting too giddy. The two wins the Bucs have so far should have been wins. And, Beckles added, that’s a good thing.
“The Buccaneers are a better team than the Broncos with Jeff Driskel, let’s just get that straight,” Beckles said on his podcast “In the Trenches.” “They are just a better team than the two teams they played in a row here with Carolina and the Broncos.
“It is going to get tougher. But it says a lot for a team that it beats teams that they are better than. There are a bunch of teams [in Week 3] that lost to teams they are better than.”
One reason for optimism is Beckles sees growth in a club from the typical losing Bucs of the Lost Decade.
“The Buccaneers looked like a different team than I have seen in the last few years,” Beckles said. “The reason I say that is, despite winning a few games last year, they were 7-9, they didn’t have that swag. They didn’t have that confidence.
“I am seeing a Buccaneers team defensively, at this moment, that is confident in what they are doing. I see defenders dancing and playing loose like back in the day when guys like Sapp and Simeon Rice were dancing and acting a fool. I see a little of that.”
Beckles said it is good the Bucs are building confidence now because they will need it.
“It’s going to get a lot harder than it was [last Sunday],” Beckles said.
Beckles had other observations about the win over Denver:
* Running to the ball. “There is no great defensive coach that doesn’t emphasize running to the ball. Run to the football because people miss tackles. Balls end up on the ground. And that is the premise of a great defense. Monte Kiffin preached it. Rod Marinelli preached it.”
* Six sacks. “It’s been a while since the Bucs have done that.” (Yes, Joe knows the Bucs accomplished that in the season finale last year.)
* Run defense. “Nobody can run the ball against us. I think people come into the game knowing they can’t run the ball against the Bucs. If you are one-dimensional, and you don’t have an Aaron Rodgers or a Drew Brees or a Tom Brady as your quarterback, you are in trouble.”
* Foot-rubbing Rob Gronkowski. “Gronk showed up. There were a couple of times I saw double-coverage on Gronk. If he is doing that, OK. We don’t need crazy statistics.”
* Right tackle Tristan Wirfs. “At this point you have to give him a passing grade.”
* Offensive line. “As a whole they played pretty darned good.”
* Kicker Ryan Succop. “It’s been a while since we had a kicker. Have to celebrate that.”
* Park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring Bucs quarterback Tom Brady. “He looked comfortable. A comfortable Tom Brady is tough for other teams.”
As always, Beckles welcomes feedback and encourages listeners to submit Bucs questions by e-mailing him at IanBeckles@RadioInfluence.com.
October 3rd, 2020 at 8:14 am
Another win on Sunday at RAJAY to help remove the STENCH of the Den of depression moniker lol. We now actually have a kicker where the ball comes off his foot consistantly with a good trajectory, so many of the other kickers the ball would just do weird things. The sharks are in the water this week just waiting for J Herbert. GO BUCS!!!!
October 3rd, 2020 at 8:15 am
Didn’t you quote Beckles last week as saying the Bucs were a 7-9 team? No. He said the inconsistent effort against Carolina was that of a 7-9 team. –Joe.
Why keep quoting him? He doesn’t seem too savvy about the current Bucs team.
October 3rd, 2020 at 8:24 am
We still had too many penalties last week…..we need to clean that up. Brady took a couple of coverage sacks….didn’t cough up the ball, and thew it away a couple of times…..I can guarantee you that last year those instances would have resulted in a minimum of 2 turnovers.
October 3rd, 2020 at 8:36 am
So now he praises the Bucs. So whatever happens in the season, he can (will) say , “I told you so.”
October 3rd, 2020 at 9:56 am
Looks like a Smurf took a massive SH!T on that one girls head.
October 3rd, 2020 at 10:55 am
You clearly do not read much about f the Beckles’ posts or listen to his words aside from headlines.
October 3rd, 2020 at 11:33 am
Casual, you need to take a 3rd grade reading class as they may assist you with your lack of reading comprehension!
October 3rd, 2020 at 11:48 am
I just don’t think that Beckles prognostication record is that good. But could be wrong, I admit. We’ll see this year.
October 3rd, 2020 at 12:01 pm
Beckles seems to have a good feeling for and pulse of the Bucs overall. Glad to hear from the former Buc and his opinion.
October 3rd, 2020 at 12:16 pm
IB is awesome, I value his opinions about football even if I don’t always agree. Ten year careers are rare, he knows his stuff.
October 3rd, 2020 at 12:34 pm
Casual & Jerry
Y’all are just jealous of Ian’s posse!
October 3rd, 2020 at 12:48 pm
That female lineup looks like a bunch of skanks. Beckles can do better.
October 3rd, 2020 at 12:56 pm
You didn’t just type that left handed, did you orlbuc?
October 3rd, 2020 at 1:11 pm
Howard always enjoys Beckles takes on the Bucs.
He’s like a stern and demanding father lol
October 4th, 2020 at 9:29 pm
If he says Wirfs has a passing grade, then he was a complete failure during his time with the Bucs. He made so many bone headed plays especially if he was pulling to the weak side. It was unbelievable how bad he was. Beckles painting himself as an authority is akin to high school Qb’s listening to Trent Dilfer (who could only throw at the feet of his receivers and when under pressure couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn). Why does he have the right to be a judge? He sucked in Philly too! Why should we listen to him?
Yes, I have a long memory Mr. Beckles. Perkins should have dumped you during your rookie year. He would have saved us the pain of having to watch you play.