“They Set Themselves Up To Repeat”
April 19th, 2021
Bucs GM Jason Licht.
The Peacock network owns broadcast rights to the boring-arse Olympics. Friggin’ yawn. So Peacock has to find creative ways to market those trash sports.
And in an effort to make nice with the folks who cut big checks, a recent edition of Pro Football Talk, seen on Peacock, found a way to work in Olympic references to NFL chatter.
So while awarding medals for teams that had the best offseasons, former Bucs beat writer and current Pro Football Talk reporter Charean Williams gave the Bucs a gold medal for the job AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht had done coming off a Super Bowl win.
“I’m going with the defending Super Bowl champions,” Williams said. “I think they set themselves up to have a repeat. All 22 starters are back — I never thought they’d be able to re-sign all the guys. They got everybody back. [Antonio Brown] is the only guy out there and I don’t think they really care if they get him back or not.
“Getting Chris Godwin and [Ndamukong] Suh and Shaq Barrett and Lavonte David and then they add Gio Bernard and Steve McLendon rejoined them. I mean, they have just done all the right things to me in free agency to get this team back together. They have a great chance to repeat. They are deep. They are as deep as any team in the NFL.
“If you are going to bet on teams, I am definitely betting on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to repeat. I realize it is harder to repeat than it is to win the first one. But, oh my gosh, this is a loaded team.”
If this doesn’t give you an extra jolt in your Black Rifle coffee this morning, consider the following: Even though the Bucs closed the Super Bowl-winning season on an eight-game win streak (longest in Bucs history), quarterback coach Clyde Christensen claimed just after the Super Bowl that the Bucs’ offense was eight games away from peaking.
And the Bucs added a versatile running back to that offense. And they may draft a receiver. And furniture-tossing, bicycle-throwing Brown may still return.
If all that happens, this offense could rival the 1980s 49ers or the 1970s Steelers for firepower.
Bucs fans, we’ve never had it this good!
April 19th, 2021 at 9:31 am
Love love love that they added Gio. !
April 19th, 2021 at 9:36 am
I’m believing this is the best Bucs team of all time, including the 2002 season SB team. They’re loaded at all positions and they’ve got great depth. But, most of all they’ve got Tom Brady. That alone makes them better than any other squad. I will be very surprised if they don’t completely dominate their opponents this year. What a great feeling!
April 19th, 2021 at 9:52 am
If the offense increases their average points per game by 10%, they’re going to be cranking. This will cause teams to play catch up allowing the D to hunt!
It’s amazing how one man can change the fortunes of 47 other players and coaches! It’s going to be a fun year to watch!
April 19th, 2021 at 9:53 am
I think with with Rojo, Lenny and Gio one the last year or one year contract picking up a top shelf RB in this draft is imperative. I can see Lenny walking and going into 2022 with Rojo, Gio, Vaughn and “the new kid”, albeit going into his second year.
April 19th, 2021 at 9:56 am
first off Gio Bernard is NOT A BIG addition at RB……………
………….he’s a part-time-check-down-pass-catcher player
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^…………………he ain’t no bell cow
If you ask me ………………….the bucs need to find a way to keep ROJO on the field longer
I know playoff lenny has his moments, but there’s no back on the this team besides ROJO that combines *SPEED * EXPLOSIVENESS*POWER like ROJO can.
I am no ROJO fan either, but he is the best RB on the team by far
April 19th, 2021 at 9:57 am
Now that the dust has settled, we take a look at the Chiefs, Packers, Saints and the Washington teams and fans as there is only one team on their minds that they fear the most, your Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They think of them and picture a lost season. Prayers go out that the Bucs will start flat. Mahomes still wakes up startled from the nightmares of evil Buccaneer defenders chasing him down. James awakes in a cold sweat thinking “I can’t throw picks” Darnold asks himself “what have I gotten myself into” and Ryan thinks he may be too old and tired to do this anymore and thinks to himself ” How does Brady do this at his age?” Poor NFC. SO WORRIED!!!
April 19th, 2021 at 10:33 am
This could be the best Bucs team, but they’ll have to prove it, just like last year. GO BUCS!
April 19th, 2021 at 11:32 am
Add to add to the 22 starting players, we will have OJ back, along with 7 draft picks.
April 19th, 2021 at 11:40 am
Tom Brady has those rare intangibles that include ability, intelligence and work ethic that may make the rest of the NFL pull their hands up in surrender,”gee, until Brady retires, there’s no shot in hell.”I lived through the Michael Jordon era where Pat Riley mused, “Until Jordan retires, it’s unfair to the rest of the league. I’m sure the pain accumulated by Buc fans over the years will present little sympathy for the NFL.
April 19th, 2021 at 11:42 am
As long as Brady is behind center the Bucs will repeat.
Rocket science…I know.
Go Bucs!!!(Back2Back)
April 19th, 2021 at 11:49 am
Too many Bucs fans are counting chickens before they hatch….
This team returns enough talent to win it again, but all the balls need to bounce the right way….Again. (Remember, the 2020 team was 7-5 after 12wks.)
The 2021 schedule will not be nearly as easy as 2020…(I am assuming the NFC South gets AFC East – much like 2017…Plus IND as the 17th game….Not withstanding that the NFL International games may be back on track for 2021…& you damn well know that the Glazers will want to go play in London to cross promote the Bucs & Man U..)
I still see 12-5 / 11-6 as being the ballpark for the 2021 – if all goes well & injuries do not derail the train.
April 19th, 2021 at 1:01 pm
catcard – No need to assume, the opponents are published. They also get the NFC least, so count a minimum of 3 chickens out of that coup.
Anyone in the NFC south scare you? To me there’s 4 out of 6 wins guaranteed to hatch. Split the AFC at 3-2, and games vs. the rams & bears at 1-1 if you want, and we still end up at 11-6.
That feels conservative for an all-22 returning defending champion with an ascendant defense and The GOAT entering year-2 of an offense. Guessing that’s how Vegas got to 11.5 o/u themselves!
April 19th, 2021 at 1:37 pm
Yeah Vegas picked the Chiefs in a high scoring game for the Superbowl so out the window that statement goes
April 19th, 2021 at 1:48 pm
Shout-out to Black Rifle. Their coffee is the best, hands down. It’s all we drink in our house.
April 19th, 2021 at 4:19 pm
It’s not guaranteed we repeat but i think its almost 100% that we make the playoffs again and that’s exciting.