“They Don’t Have A Weakness Right Now”
February 16th, 2021
Where is Bucs’ weakness?
Joe thinks just about everyone knows the key reason the Bucs beat the Chiefs in the Super Bowl: Pass rush.
But Nate Burleson of NFL Network believes that is way too simplistic. While the former Vikings and Lions receiver agrees the pass rush the Bucs put on Pat Mahomes was hellacious, it’s not the whole story. The pass coverage on the second and third levels was equally as good as the rush, Burleson said, one hand washed the other.
Also, Burleson said, complementing Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles’ perfectly crafted game plan was superior talent, and without it maybe the Bucs don’t stop the Chiefs.
While co-hosting NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football,” Burleson asked Brandt where the weakness of the Bucs is — and he got a damn good answer.
“They just beat Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes,” Brandt said of the Bucs. “They don’t have a weakness.”
See their breakdown of the Bucs’ Super Bowl defense below, with analysis from Mike Garafolo.
How did the @buccaneers defense shut down the Chiefs offense? 😤
It’s time for a Bur-Lesson on the new Super Bowl champs 👇
📺: @gmfb | @nateburleson pic.twitter.com/l8iinegjmt
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) February 14, 2021
February 16th, 2021 at 1:10 pm
Yes one hand helps the other, but as we all know, if you give most NFL QBs time, like Mahomes or Brady, or Rodgers, you are going to get beat. At the same time the secondary is coming along nicely. GO BUCS!!!!
February 16th, 2021 at 1:16 pm
thankyou
February 16th, 2021 at 1:21 pm
sure they do. TB’s immobility.
February 16th, 2021 at 1:23 pm
The kicker is good, says it all – but depth at QB, might be an issue
February 16th, 2021 at 1:32 pm
Wait, it was the pass rush that beat the Chiefs???? I saw on the news it was Andy Reid’s kid wreck that caused the Chiefs to not win the game. 😂
I agree the pass rush did the Chiefs in. But even more it was the 4-5 person pass rush getting home all game that really gave the Bucs the win. Giving the secondary the way to double guys all night made a huge difference. Plus a few drops helped along the way.
February 16th, 2021 at 1:41 pm
The secondary has gelled and next year will be their strong year, they are superstars now and they are ready to ball out
February 16th, 2021 at 1:43 pm
we need more depth in o-line and cornerback
why can’t Scotty run back punts and kicks?
February 16th, 2021 at 1:44 pm
The scary thing is that we haven’t yet seen the best of the secondary, they are still growing and learning. If we can keep the front seven together, they are going to be even better next year.
February 16th, 2021 at 1:48 pm
their TE had several drive killing drops….just gut punches, their penalties and their bad gameplan. The pass rush heated up as it got out of hand…as it always does-when the guys can hunt. If it was tight it would have been different.
Bucs played a heck of a game, but they chiefs beat themselves as much as we beat them.
February 16th, 2021 at 2:11 pm
What’s funny is that with a banged-up offensive line, Mahomes and Reid should have gone for shorter passes on quick-breaking routes… but no one seems to realize that. Everyone is in love with Mahomes freakish arm, but he’s not as strong at making the quick reads. That’s what Brady excels at.
February 16th, 2021 at 2:16 pm
Robert Says:
February 16th, 2021 at 1:21 pm
sure they do. TB’s immobility
He ran a 5.24 40 in 2000, doesn’t seemed to have harmed him much
February 16th, 2021 at 2:26 pm
The Bucs only weakness is the returner.
Not a bad way to be 🙂
February 16th, 2021 at 2:27 pm
Can you imagine if TB was injured and we had to ride with Gabbert, geez. Season would have been over.
February 16th, 2021 at 2:37 pm
Chiefs beat themselves? That’s as delusional as it is funny. They got their clocks cleaned in every phase of the game.
February 16th, 2021 at 2:40 pm
Most teams that have a major injury at the QB position can write that season off Buxsxntkt
February 16th, 2021 at 2:42 pm
Cannon agreed also our coverage ST can be had. And a few blocked kicks this year. Overall our Special teams has lots of areas to improve.
I do think we also struggle defending QB scrambles. But lets admitt we are searching deep to find a weakness on this team
February 16th, 2021 at 2:42 pm
Mike C correct. Most teams put money into the starter and pray he stays healthy as the backup is much worse. If he wasn’t worse he’d be starting somewhere.
February 16th, 2021 at 2:43 pm
You have to ask yourself. What position could someone new step into and become a starter? There just aren’t any positions like that on this team. In regards to depth there are some positions available such as back up QB and RB and all of the lines could use good depth but in that case rookies would be best IMO.
February 16th, 2021 at 2:46 pm
Has any other team that won a Superbowl went through a murder’s row of quarterbacks like the Bucs did?
Maybe 1 or 2, but 3?
Don’t think so.
This just makes the Bucs victory even sweeter!!!
February 16th, 2021 at 2:57 pm
Mike c, correct. There’s a reason Brady goes down quickly as soon as he’s contacted. It’s to avoid injury obviously. Smart move. Live to play another down. If the saints end up starting Taysom Hill, I would put money on him not lasting the season given his style of play.
February 16th, 2021 at 3:00 pm
The Bucs WERE the most complete team. NOW, they have a lot of holes.
WEAKNESSES
-Age of Defensive Line
-LBs (FA LVD, Shaq)
-Backup RB
STRENGTHS
-Offensive Line
-QB
-WR/TE (even without Godwin)
February 16th, 2021 at 3:02 pm
Akick…..Not only went through those QBs but we beat them in dominate fashion.
Ive been thinking all week whens the last time a team just rolled through the playoffs manhandling every team in their way? Im not sure theres been too many dominate playoff performances like the Bucs in 2020…..Maybe one of them 49ers teams in the 80’s? Not sure.
February 16th, 2021 at 3:02 pm
Pretty sure Robert is one of the BradyBruce Hating Clowns in disguise. Yes, Brady’s immobility has really wrecked his career.
February 16th, 2021 at 3:06 pm
SlyPirate Says:
February 16th, 2021 at 3:00 pm
The Bucs WERE the most complete team. NOW, they have a lot of holes
____
Every team has perceived HOLES due to free agency going into the off-season. Age of our DL…. who? Suh? That’s one.
LBs… okay David and Barrett are free agents. Doesn’t mean they won’t be back. Backup RB? Sure. I’m sure Vaughn won’t get any better going into season two and no way he can match Fournette and McCoy’s terrible production during the regular season.
Poor analysis. Even for an average know nothing fan.
February 16th, 2021 at 3:14 pm
Beeej Says:
Brady is so slow they timed him with a sundial.
February 16th, 2021 at 3:18 pm
Robert: Are you RGIII himself? Even though you ran a 4.41 at the Combine, Brady’s record as a starting QB is 230-69, yours is 16-26. Mobility isn’t everything, obviously.
February 16th, 2021 at 3:27 pm
I’m not hating guys!!!!!!!!! If the Chiefs had a a guy like D White hunting TB we would be in trouble is all I am saying. The Bucs kicked their butt’s, but we had some good luck as well. Still would have won I think, but definitely not a blowout.
February 16th, 2021 at 3:36 pm
Robert: I was just joking about you being RGIII…Still, nobody wants to hear minor complaints about the guy who helped the Bucs to a Super Bowl victory.
February 16th, 2021 at 3:36 pm
“Everyone was smoking Bowles like Cheech and Chong” hahahaha, great line.
Oh Kay, how I love thee so.
February 16th, 2021 at 3:41 pm
Even if we keep the team together which I doubt but HOPE will happen. Our weakness is ST thank God we found Sucoup but our return and coverage teams are weak. Don’t forget it was a penalty that stopped NO from returning 2 punts in the 1st quarter and later the punt returner was blasted while playing WR by Devin White and didn’t return to the game. I’m not sure why the ST coach doesn’t just have Pinon kick away from dangerous returners and why he can boom it out of the back of the end zone some times and others he can’t buy a touch back which also surprises the coverage team because at times it seems they’re not running as hard and then get surprised when the returner brings it out of the end zone. Can we please have Scotty try and return punts he’d put some fear in teams. Although I’ll admit it doesn’t seem like we ever truly have a return set up.
February 16th, 2021 at 4:02 pm
“They don’t have a weakness” yet we’re not even the #1 team favored to win the next Super Bowl smh…
I’m surprised Joe hasn’t linked the Tom Brady skit on SNL. Tom is drunk and the trophy looks like its been run over by a Semi truck. Hilarious!
February 16th, 2021 at 4:37 pm
Punt and kick coverage. That’s it.
February 16th, 2021 at 4:41 pm
@Akickinthebucsnuts
You are correct. Bucs are the first team to beat 3 SB MVPs in the playoffs.
February 16th, 2021 at 4:45 pm
Special teams is a very weakness, the return game and coverage is horrid. Miller or Johnson are the obvious return options or Brown if he stays. I read earlier about Brady’s lack of speed. In NE vs Atl SB mic’d up Brady ran for a 1st down still losing 28-3 at the time and Mohamad Sanu was on the bench and compared Brady’s run to their walk through practice. He didn’t say much after as he saw the 28-3 lead vanish while walking back to the locker room with head down in shame.
February 16th, 2021 at 5:00 pm
Keep drafting defence. We need more depth on the line, at lb and the secondary.
If you find value on the draft board for an offensive player take it. A guy like Tyler Johnson 5th round, Godwin 3rd round.
I see Brate, Haeg, Watford, Shipley, McCoy, Buchanan, Cichy, McClendon gone for sure. OJ will coming back. We still have a shot with Lenny.
February 16th, 2021 at 5:21 pm
Bring GMC back let Shaq GOOOOO. $ not worth it… PAY Vea
February 16th, 2021 at 5:25 pm
Great breakdown and good info about the DBs.
I wouldn’t say they are the perfect team though, the special teams, coverage and return game, has been pretty weak.
I will also defend the Chiefs receivers. Everyone keeps talking about them dropping passes.
The reality is, Kelce had a huge drop on a long third down when they were backed up and the defender was near his ankles.
That to me was the only legitimate drop.
There were 3 others that people refer to but the defenders were all around the receivers, hands blocking their site line to the ball, sometimes even slightly tipping the ball. Yes they’re being paid a lot of money and should catch the ball but they weren’t flat out drops. The defense was there helping to cause those drops.
Add to that the fact that Mahomes was running for his life and the receivers were running around not doing their patterns anymore at that point, there’s an added sense of urgency and almost panic setting in. Maybe penick isn’t the right word but it’s just added pressure as the play extends And as things aren’t going well in the game.
And all of that is not on the receivers, it should be a pat on the back to the defense
Now go sign Shaq and LVD back!!!!
February 16th, 2021 at 5:40 pm
They good use a better catching back.
February 16th, 2021 at 5:45 pm
Wow someone says something that it is actually true but because it goes against what you want to hear and you get all triggered and jump down his throat! The Chiefs did beat themselves as much as the Bucs whooped up on that butt, but the great thing is the Bucs helped them with beating themselves. The Chiefs lost control because the Bucs didn’t. The Bucs were the more physical team. The score could have been much different if Myhomies hadn’t missed a wide open receiver that probably would’ve gone for a td and the dropped td passes. That’s what happens when you feel the pressure instead of applying it.
February 16th, 2021 at 5:55 pm
Another thing would people stop with this Scotty Miller returning kicks??? The only thing he has is speed, no shake and bake 0 no power or strength to his running. Anyone gets a hand in him he’s down. Antonio Brown would be a better bet but we definitely need an upgrade there because Mickens isn’t the answer. Dude runs straight into tackles.
February 16th, 2021 at 6:15 pm
It’s funny how we go from Cinderella to Jugrnaut. Go Bucs!!
February 16th, 2021 at 6:32 pm
Joe!
Howard is reading Brady’s Mexican self-help books!
Great, great stuff!
Google Miguel Ruiz “The 4 Agreements”
and “The 5 Levels of Attachment”
February 16th, 2021 at 7:13 pm
In 2003, the Bucs defense came out of the gate being the same dominate defense they were in 2002 – they shut out the garbage Eagles in that dump of a city Philadelphia in their trash new stadium, and all was well – they gave up gave up 0, 12 and 10 points. But on Monday Night Football vs Dungy and the Colts, Brian Kelly got hurt when it was 28-7 for the Bucs, and that caused a domino effect that killed the defense.
In the offseason before the 2003 season the Bucs lost Dexter Jackson in free agency. To cover for that, they moved Dwight Smith, the 3rd CB on the team to safety. With a tight cap, the Bucs couldn’t do much of anything to help with depth other than rookies and unknowns. In that MNF game the Bucs were dominating Manning — then Brian Kelly gets hurt. What did Manning do? He just threw over and over again at his replacements and they came back in a historic come from behind victory (helped by the refs of course).
But that injury to Kelly knocked him out for the season – and the Bucs defense did not have the depth to overcome that.
So that is your warning for 2021. To me, the key is SMB. If SMB plays like he played in the regular season, then this defense is going to take a big step back. But if he plays like he did in the playoffs, then this should easily be a top 5 defense – and with this offense, should again be posed for a deep playoff run – assuming of course Shaq is back and they have people to play on the d-line with Vita (Suh and Gholston might both be gone).
The other huge issue is backup QB. If something happens to Brady, and garbage Gabbert is playing, this is a 6-10 team. He might be OK for a game or two, maybe, but backup QB should be addressed with a real option, not a dullard like Gabbert.
February 16th, 2021 at 7:18 pm
@Robert has always been an A$$ Clown.
You guys just catching up?
Chiefs don’t have a White or David.
Quit making excuses.
They got BEAT DOWN in all phases of the game.
Next year their offensive line will be better and they won’t even make the playoffs.
Just ask the 49ers
February 16th, 2021 at 8:41 pm
@DBBF99 is right on with Scotty returning kicks or punts. His asset is speed and getting open on receptions. Not a slight on him but he goes down on initial contact every time and obviously the staff knows this and he is not a good fit for a returner.
February 16th, 2021 at 10:47 pm
Even if we want for the return of all the jedis, it will not happen with a lower salary cap.
Priorities?
1-Levonta David (A must. A star.)
2-Gronk (A force for the run, for the protection of the QB, and a great receiver)
3-Stinny (At this $ he impressed me A LOT in the super bowl! And good back up O-Linemen are difficult to find. His previous price? 600 K. It’s ridiculous. Keep him! And with a raise please.)
4-Succup (I’m done with missed FG we always had in critical moments before him, it makes me sick, cannot stand it anymore,… If we let him go and we miss FG at repetition again I will destroy my TV I am afraid,… A reliable kiker is mendatory for our BUCS! And my mental health,…)
5-Others? Yes if possible, but FA and the draft if the price is to hight. And it will be what will happen in real life I’m afraid. But with Brady, Gronk ans Succop it will be enouph to win another SB!
GO BUCS!
February 16th, 2021 at 11:25 pm
If Brady gets hurt…..
If sack and suh leave?
We have issues
Also Lenny is our only 3 down back
If he goes….
February 17th, 2021 at 7:34 am
The bucs special teams are a weakness, for sure. Kick coverage and punter need work. The rest depends upon the creative minds of Licht and the financial dudes.
February 17th, 2021 at 10:07 am
Remember when Bowles had Shaq or JPP dropping into coverage? I do. Now he’s a genius for putting these two guys in a defense where they just rush the passer.
SMH
February 18th, 2021 at 8:58 am
Robert? Really?
February 18th, 2021 at 2:13 pm
Todd bowls should have won MVP!! He is the one that made the super bowl win possible!!!