Faster Start
January 29th, 2021
Bucs OC Byron Leftwich.
So what did we hear about the Bucs leading up to the slimy Saints playoff game in the divisional round? The Bucs were a different team.
And that’s true. The Bucs are not the same team that struggled with losses to playoff teams in three of their final four games before the bye — slimy Saints (seal-clubbing), Rams and Chiefs.
Yes, the Bucs only lost to the Chiefs by a field goal, but the Bucs were awful offensively to start the game. This terrible start (bad Bucs offense or good Chiefs defense?) cannot repeat itself in Super Bowl LV (which Joe is hearing the good citizens of Tampa call “Bucs game.“)
Sheil Kapadia and Ted Nguyen of The Athletic crunched some numbers from the Week 12 matchup.
Brady’s final numbers — 27-for-41 for 345 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions — from the first game against the Chiefs weren’t bad. But the truth is Kansas City defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo had Tampa’s offense on its heels for most of that game. The Bucs scored just one touchdown on their first eight drives in Week 12. They managed one first down on their first four drives.
As Joe stated, the Bucs are different now. The offensive line has been dominating and the run game has been solid through the playoffs. Also, Antonio Brown (if he plays) wasn’t smoothly in the flow of the offense back then. He is now.
Joe is getting great vibes about this next “Bucs game” a week from Sunday.
The fruits of playing at home in a Super Bowl. Having truck serviced at @BillCurrieTampa (a mile north of the stadium) and twice from different people heard them refer to Super Bowl LV as “Bucs game.” @HerbieTeope
— JoeBucsFan (@JoeBucsFan) January 29, 2021
January 29th, 2021 at 5:06 pm
Bucs have been starting fast since the last 4 weeks of the regular season up til this point….
i dont see that changing….
bucs will continue to start fast and get 7 in the redzone….
BL has been working MAGIC!!!!
its about execution!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
January 29th, 2021 at 5:09 pm
Brady bout to work some more magic next weekend 813
January 29th, 2021 at 5:16 pm
Really my only concerns on offense is Chris Jones lining up over Stinnie one on one and their corner blitz’s. Other than that the Bucs should be able to move the ball and score points. Chiefs are 30th in the league in tackling and YAC, and they are 30th on 1st and 2nd down defense giving up the most yards on those downs. I think play off Lenny and/or Rojo will be in for big games.
I also hope the Mike Evans or Godwin line up on #35 Ward he is the Chiefs worst starting secondary member and leads their team in passer rating allowed/DPI/holding calls on the season (9).
Lastly I would love to see Gronk break out because last time the Bucs played them Sorensen couldn’t cover him and he had a 100 yard game.
January 29th, 2021 at 5:21 pm
buc15
cool…
i hope he leaves the forced/headscratching throws on davis island….
BL IS WORKING MAGIC!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
January 29th, 2021 at 5:21 pm
The offense has adjusted since the KC game, however it’s the play-calling that has me concerned. BL has become predictable running every time on first down, it puts the offense in long down and distance and against the Chiefs that has to change.
January 29th, 2021 at 5:33 pm
#shutchiefsdown
January 29th, 2021 at 5:36 pm
Joe. It’s the running game, silly. That’s what had made the difference. It opens up everything. Every fiber of Evans and Brady and Gronk and Godwin.
2nd and 6 is the money down for this team.
January 29th, 2021 at 5:46 pm
The Bucs still opened by running 4 consecutive plays for the first down with just 2 yards. Why not mix it at 50%?
January 29th, 2021 at 5:47 pm
I expect for Mike Evans to contribute more to the offense by catching the balls that hit him in the hands and by being aware when his QB is trouble by cutting off his routes to react to the pressure.
Like most of the JBF readers, would like to see them much less predictable on first down.
January 29th, 2021 at 5:51 pm
I’ll say this for sure 813 has been a huge BL fan all season long. I’ll admit I hate the run to the left on 1st down and I yell at my TV when we take deep shots early in the game on 3rd and short and we miss (early I mean 1st or 2nd drive). Lately we’ve hit more then missed but I still find myself yelling WHY? LOL get the 1st down and put together a long drive it almost bit us in GB but almost doesn’t count. That’s not the style of this offense and if it wins us a Superbowl so be it.
Go Bucs!
January 29th, 2021 at 6:03 pm
In a perfect world, our first drive would be ALL runs. 6-7 yards a pop all the way down the field. Totally demoralize the Chiefs and drain that clock. We’ve got the O Line to do it, and at least 2 RB’s, plus Godwin on the end around.😁😁😁
January 29th, 2021 at 6:16 pm
KEEP GOING!!! LFG!!!TB12
January 29th, 2021 at 6:24 pm
During that part of the season our offense was stuck in a lull of 1st half struggles. It continued beyond that the next game when we got down big to the Falcolons.
We just cant get behind big like last time. Id love 3 TDs in the 1st Quater like they done to us but if not you gotta be able to keep pace if need be…….Gotta come out ready. These drops are not gonna cut it. Need a little more from our recievers.
January 29th, 2021 at 6:24 pm
As a Tampa Bay sports fan, when the Rays beat the Astros to make the World Series, I was pretty much just happy to be there but didn’t actually expect to beat the Dodgers.
Although I’m super happy to have made it to the super bowl….I wont not be satisfied with a loss next Sunday. It’s super bowl or bust.
I’m tired of hearing about how “perfect” the Chiefs are…..at some point somebody has got to shut them up.
January 29th, 2021 at 6:41 pm
I just pray that BL doesn’t “play to not lose” The team should be required to watch Mike Tyson’s knockouts and apply that to their plan. Tyson played “to not lose” against Buster Douglas and got is a&% whipped. AND HELL YES stop running on 1st down every damn time. Thats almost cuts us down to 3 plays instead of 4. When we run on 1st down and get 1-2 yds, the defence can start headhunting. It’s just like running the shot clock down on every possession in basketball. the defense knows that you HAVE TO shoot
January 29th, 2021 at 7:24 pm
Leftwitch just got us to a Spuer Bowl and yall are still complaining?
Thats just mind blowing. Youre complaing about running the ball……Meanwhile our play action was deadly. The literal reason play action works is because it amwas set up by the playcaller. And we had one of the best playactions all year.
Put down the Madden boys.
January 29th, 2021 at 7:36 pm
Remember the head banging constant ( everyone knows it is coming) initial running plays set up to be followed run and pass plays. It is a 60 minute game. Now that the O is clicking they know what they are doing as frustrating as it seems. I tip my cap to them!
January 29th, 2021 at 7:36 pm
Jmarkbuc Says:
January 29th, 2021 at 6:03 pm
In a perfect world,…..
Can’t disagree with that!
How special would it be if Mahomie only had time for 3 or 4 plays in the first half?
January 29th, 2021 at 7:40 pm
Those 1st down runs are like jabs in boxing. Jab, jab, jab, then bam right hook, upper cut, haymaker!
January 29th, 2021 at 7:50 pm
Bucs first play on offense will be play action. Change my mind.
January 29th, 2021 at 7:56 pm
Just saw bucs tied for 5th in nfl with most drops
And a lot have been in last few weeks
Hope we got those out of our system
We got to play smart football to beat chiefs
Need tds and not fgs when in red zone.
January 29th, 2021 at 8:03 pm
gp
3-4 plays first quarter anyway… then we start play action. Put it to bed midway through 3rd qtr.
January 29th, 2021 at 8:28 pm
Amen JimmyJack
January 29th, 2021 at 8:51 pm
@Jmarkbuc
Got me!
I meant 1st quarter
Can’t really see that happening though.
I expect a back and forth, high scoring game.
It will be won by defense, but the average watcher won’t realize that.
January 29th, 2021 at 9:08 pm
gp….I love that point you made about the defense and Im getting real confident about thus game thinking about the defense matchups.
I dont see no way the Chiefs beat us if they cant make no plays on defense. Dont know but what I hear is their D is kinda bad……Mahommes cant do everything. Their defense is gonna have to show up if they want the freaking ring.
You can say the same about our defense as well. But theres no reason to lack any confidence with the way they are playing.
Got a feeling this is gonna be one epuc Superbowl!!
GO BUCS!!!!
January 29th, 2021 at 9:12 pm
@JimmyJack
Yup!
Gonna be one helluva show!
January 29th, 2021 at 9:32 pm
“Mahomes cant do everything”
Are we sure about that?
The key to this game is keeping the KC offense in check. The last thing we need is to get into a shootout with that team.
January 29th, 2021 at 9:53 pm
Bucs have the better defense and will have the better DL and OL. Those three things right there is typically where Super Bowls are won. If you control the LOS and have the better defense…..that’s what wins championships.
If those three parts of our game give 100% for 60 minutes. The statistics say we have a high likelihood of winning. Look at the Saints and GB games. Good play on the lines is what kept us in those games. That MUST continue.
The only negative x-factor could be the stage. The Chiefs were here last year. They won’t crumble from the pressure of the lights, the cameras, and the eyes of the world. For most of the Bucs, this is the first time here. Hopefully the vets that have been here before keeps everyone’s head in the right place.
January 29th, 2021 at 9:53 pm
Those Chiefs are a good team that is going to be SHOCKED when that ferocious Buccaneer team smacks them in da mouth hard and draws blood. They aren’t gonna know what to do cuz it will be something that they have never seen before.
GO BUCS!!!!
January 29th, 2021 at 9:54 pm
Last article got as thick as I ever want to see with politics. Please knock off that nonsense. Sports and politics never have and never will mix. Lets go Brady! Beat the KC Liberals. JK. But seriously … beat the Chiefs!
January 29th, 2021 at 10:04 pm
I think it’s more likely to be a shootout than not be one. We’ll probably need to score 30+ to win this game when you look at how Chiefs games typically go. And that’s certainly do-able with the Bucs offense. We scored 24 against them back in November, most of it being in just the 2nd half. Had it not been for a 1st half meltdown, you could have won that game.
Defenses tend to rule these types of games though. Something about it. Nerves maybe? You may see both offenses struggle out of the gate.
January 29th, 2021 at 10:05 pm
Remember those Packers got smacked in the mouth with a quickness and they never recovered. Those Chiefs are coming to a huge DOG FIGHT and the big dog Buccaneers is gonna do all the biting. Shuffle pass? lmao Hill? LMAO running game? LMAO end arounds? LMAO Bring some tissue Reid Mahomes is going to need em. GO BUCS!!!!!!!
January 29th, 2021 at 11:16 pm
Jerry
“The stage “ is our house… been sleeping at home for two weeks, practicing at our facility. No huge media commitment this year.. and the GOAT
As far as a shootout, we were up on GB 28-10 and in firm control before TB went all JW. The final score was close, but in all actually the game really wasn’t.
No reason we can’t kick KC’s ass too.Just gotta step on Mahomies foot once to keep him in the pocket . Then cover long enough for Jpp and Shaq to get home.
Go Bucs!
January 29th, 2021 at 11:20 pm
Well, well
Trey Hendrickson is a free agent come March… 🤔
January 30th, 2021 at 2:02 pm
I nominate Suh to step on mahomes foot ! Right then left, just joking big guy , we appreciate you , and Aaron deserv3d it
January 31st, 2021 at 1:51 am
Leftwich had been doing such a good job late in the season — and now he’s reverted back to the predictable garbage he was doing earlier this season. Make no mistake about it, the Bucs are winning because the defense has been getting turnovers and giving the offense a short field – there haven’t been many long drives. That’s largely because Leftwich is again being super predictable with the run up the gut on 1st down, even national sports guys are mocking the Bucs for being so incredibly predictable and they’ve only watched the playoffs games, yet they’re knowing what is going to be called.
You can’t do that garbage against the Chiefs, because if you punt more than once you’re probably going to lose the game. Being in 2nd and 9 and 2nd and 8 on every single drive is how you lose. Just mix it up Leftwich, watch you tape from the last 4 games of the season, that was the only time all year you did anything different and you destroyed those teams. Use all that talent on offense instead of just being a predictable d-bag.