Bucs Broken: Fact Or Fiction?
December 1st, 2020
Breaks down Bucs.
Some believe after the Bucs lost to the Chiefs on Sunday, the final four games of the Bucs’ season allows the team to shake off the cobwebs and get ready to make noise in the playoffs.
Fat chance, says popular sports TV and radio host Adam Schein.
Schein was a huge booster of the Bucs. But the way the team has imploded and is currently in danger of circling the drain, Schein has jumped off ship.
It’s difficult for Schein, writing for NFL.com, to believe the Bucs will do anything in the playoffs. If they make the playoffs.
The Buccaneers’ offense will figure it out before it’s too late: This is fiction. Bruce Arians deserves a ton of blame. His “no risk it, no biscuit” strategy clearly doesn’t fit the 43-year-old quarterback. Tom Brady is struggling mightily throwing the ball, specifically downfield. His general accuracy is seriously lacking. With two more interceptions in Sunday’s 27-24 loss to the Chiefs, Brady has seven picks in his last four games. He had eight all of last season.
Kansas City’s three-point win in Tampa was far more one-sided than the score indicates. The Chiefs are on a completely different level than the Bucs. Blame the COVID-curtailed offseason and a resulting lack of chemistry. Blame Brady. And definitely blame Arians. His random and arbitrary usage of running backs (stop playing Leonard Fournette!) defies logic.
But whomever you want to blame, just know that this isn’t going to get better. Brady and the Bucs have been front-running all year. With five of their seven wins coming against teams that currently own sub-.500 records, they beat teams they’re supposed to beat. But when it’s bad, it’s avert-your-eyes ugly. And it’s been a horror show recently. The Brady-Arians connection just hasn’t taken. Despite all of the talent on this roster, the Bucs are broken beyond repair and will not become the first team ever to host a Super Bowl.
Joe maintains the talent is there. It is how to use that talent.
Of course, the Bucs didn’t get any favors because the past two games, defensive coordinator Todd Bowles’ gameplans were atrocious. Sunday the Bucs didn’t know what hit them, and when they did learn the name of the hurricane that hit them, it was too late by the time Bowles made adjustments.
Are the Bucs broken beyond repair? Joe doesn’t think so. However, it will take better coaching than what the team has had recently to make those needed repairs.
December 1st, 2020 at 8:26 am
We are 7-5. We have 5 losses. 4 of the 5 losses have been to teams that are undisputed Top 10 teams in the NFL, arguably all even Top 5.
Re-lax. Its not like we’re losing to scrubs, we’re losing competitive games to good teams.
Everything will be okay.
December 1st, 2020 at 8:36 am
ok a little bit of a new conclusion…
if we go 4-0 in the final 4 games and rock these teams easily, maybe we are a damn good team…
it’s gonna be awfully hard to beat the falcons twice in 3 weeks, etc…
so if we go 4-0 to fin out, i’ll be impressed…and maybe just maybe we will be on a roll and ready to steamroll for a couple games in the playoffs…
i know…tall order…one game at a time…
just talking possibilities and thoughts after a disastrous 3rd quarter of the season
December 1st, 2020 at 8:36 am
I think the Bucs could get hot and make a run, but hey, I’m an optimist!
December 1st, 2020 at 8:37 am
just saw on good morning football that other than the 2 saints games…
we lost to the chiefs, rams and bears by a grand total of 7 points…
go figure…
December 1st, 2020 at 8:38 am
for the love of the bucs, we often become floptimists for being optimists…
#ItsAyeBucsLife
December 1st, 2020 at 8:47 am
This team has the talent. They could make a run, even still.
In my opinion, the problem with this team is ego.
Instead of scheming against our opponents weaknesses, its almost as if our team believes it can just line up and be “better” than the other team.
Think about it.
Rather than attacking a defenses weaknesses, we roll out the same go deep or go home attack.
On defense, we really don’t have an identity, other than “we’ll blitz you into submission”.
It all just reeks of a team that acquired a ton of talent, and believes that talent alone can win the game.
December 1st, 2020 at 8:49 am
Joe says—Joe maintains the talent is there. It is how to use that talent.
Agree 100% on this one Joe…..
December 1st, 2020 at 9:11 am
This is one fickled fanbase. So now it’s not good enough that we make the playoffs. Avoid having a losing record for the first time in over ten seasons. Now we’re expected to be in the Super Bowl? To go from last to first in one plagued season. ..smh
December 1st, 2020 at 9:14 am
Cannon we think alike…no schemes just roster dreams. Antonio brown threw us off. Scotty miller always fights for position hes been worked so far down the depth chart I believe we wasnt expecting a target on bradys 2nd pick
December 1st, 2020 at 9:17 am
All lives matter….fans like Tmax will tell you the Bucs are supposed to go to the Super Bowl every season or the season is a failure. Been saying that for years now. He also says if YOU expect less then you’re not much of a fan.
Silly I know.
December 1st, 2020 at 9:32 am
Alright Schein, calm down. Good points by other commenters that I would echo. Slow starts are an issue but overall the offense is not THE issue.
Still, when Carleton Davis is working on his best Tim Wansley vs Marvin Harrison impression in the 1st quarter, yelling about the offense is like yelling about the food service on the titanic. Winfield deserves some blame or chalk to a “rookie mistake” too for taking the eye-bait instead of helping deep on single high coverage.
December 1st, 2020 at 9:52 am
It would seem that four things are becoming obvious:
1. Arians and his bloated staff are over rated, over paid, and outcoached far too often. They cannot prepare the team to start in the 1st half. They cannot make the necessary game time course corrections.
2. They are inflexible in adapting to the team they have vs. the team they want.
3. Their play calling on offense and defense is at times abysmal. Everyone in the stadium (except them) knows we are going to run up “the gut” on 1st down. Everyone in the stadium knows that we are p*ss poor at defending the deep over the top pass…and, that Brady won 6 Super Bowl rings by throwing the short/medium routes yet, “no risk it – no biscuit” continues to be the BA/BL offensive game strategy.
4. BA needs to stop competing with TB for who is the alpha dog. IF we win, there’s plenty of room for them both. If we don’t make playoffs at a minimum, it will be (I predict) BA who will be packing his bags
December 1st, 2020 at 9:53 am
Poorly coached and BROKEN for sure. This team is fool’s gold like Dirk’s 9 win team. Yucs can’t hang with the top teams.
December 1st, 2020 at 9:56 am
Strong post Cannon, couldn’t agree more.
Only thing I might add…
It seems that we’re trying to prove that we can win without a running game.
December 1st, 2020 at 10:00 am
Is it me or was Tom hitting Miller deep all the time early. Now he’s a ghost with AB. What a shame.
December 1st, 2020 at 10:03 am
No Risk it, No Biscuit my a$$.
Circling the drain. 8-8 at best
December 1st, 2020 at 10:26 am
9-7.
Lose to Vikings and at Falcons.
December 1st, 2020 at 10:32 am
The only reason I am optimistic is that I saw a change in the second half of the Chief’s game. The offense appeared to make some adjustments and looked more suited to Brady’s style. I agree with what Cannon said though. It is either ego or some strange form of stubbornness. If they keep up this inflexibility, they may go 1-3 and end up 8-8. If they wake up and tailor game plans based on the opponent, they could go 4-0. This must be very difficult for Brady based on what he’s been used to all these years, but I guess it was his choice.
December 1st, 2020 at 10:47 am
I agree with Schein…..unfortunately.
December 1st, 2020 at 11:09 am
Schein touched on something I brought up after the game. Why the hell did BA not keep feeding ROJO the ball late in the game. Seems as though ROJO was on a bit of a roll and BA inserts Fournette. On his first carry, he runs up the middle for 1 yd. I realize RBs need rest every once and awhile, but when you have a hot hand, don’t pull him. Geeeez!
December 1st, 2020 at 11:12 am
I didn’t know the bucs offense was so garbage!
I thought they were the 6th highest ppg in league!
I know all22 shows people open so it’s not playcalling!
I know Brady and this garbage offense is going to break bucs TD record!
I know Brady and this garbage offense is going to cut INT in 1/2 to last year!
I know the bucs have the easiest part of schedule remaining
I know the bucs have lost 3 of 5 games to the best team in nfc/afc
I know the defense got lit up last 2 games in 1st half
I know fournette should never be in game ahead of Jones
Most importantly I know the bucs in the playoffs in anyway with Brady as QB is more then we could have imagined and gives us a shot. All you need is to get hot going in!! (Just ask Eli and Arron who’s 3 rings came from last wild card positions)
December 1st, 2020 at 11:38 am
Sad that anyone thinks that not making the Super Bowl is acceptable for this team. You folks are just underachieving losers like the Bucs. Before you get your panties in a wad ladies, answer me this.
What was the point of bringing in all of these guys if the Super Bowl was not the expectation? To make the playoffs? Big freaking deal…especially this year with the expanded field. Have some standards ladies.
December 1st, 2020 at 11:53 am
Schein. You said it all. I agree with most of the comments made by the fans. This is one f*cked up football team. I would also like to give special thanks to our great GM for talking the Glazers into hiring BA as HC. (impersonator) Its time for GM, HC to say bye bye.
December 1st, 2020 at 12:06 pm
If the Bucs win 3 of the last 4 and reach the playoffs will some of these comments look pretty stupid…including Schein’s. He can’t have it both ways…on the bandwagon then jump off…ok but if the Bucs make the playoffs Schein offered a losing opinion…IE Schein will have FAILED with his observation. Of course he’ll still get paid which is why it’s so good to be a pundit. ZERO accountability.
@First Down Tampa Bay
We should have simply stopped this thread after your response. It’s spot on.
But of course we need room for the naysayers and doubters,.,I get that.
But I finish with this logic AGAIN.
IF you unabashedly cheer for the Bucs to make the playoffs and they don’t there will be disappointment. If however they make it you will have had from this day forward to be “cheerful”…cheer up.
If you take the negative outlook and the Bucs DO make the playoffs you will have wasted the excitement of the last four games of the season. IE Even if the Bucs do (miraculously in some of your opinions) reach the playoffs you will have wasted the possible cheer and excitement of the final four games
December 1st, 2020 at 1:53 pm
I don’t agree with all the “defense is horrible” and “Bowles’ gameplan was terrible” memes on JBF. You hold KC to 27 points, get them to punt four times, stop them for field goals twice while your offense is goingt 3 and out.
As a coordinator sometimes your man just gets beat by their man. To start off not believing in your players, to feel that your guy has to be protected, every play leads to what I call the Smithian defense. Third and 3, your CB’s play 8 yards off with both safeties 15 yards deep, and they pitch and catch every time. If they beat my man over the top on third down, good for them. In the modern game, a punt is a turnover. Take chances, get off the field. If your man gets beat sometimes, he gets beat. But Bowles attacks, challenges and to give up 27 to KC should be a win.
December 1st, 2020 at 6:35 pm
Maybe when your offense has a grand total of 14 plays for less than 40 yards total between your first FOUR POSSESSIONS, it puts your defense in a bad spot, especially when facing the leagues #1 offense?
They held them to just 10 points over the next 3 quarters…