Fast Start
May 22nd, 2021
“Overhyping? My arse!”
Good ol’ Lovie Smith. Joe remembers how he used to mention fast starts when he coached the Bucs.
Of course, that’s hard to do when you don’t want to score points in the second quarter.
But a fast start to the 2021 season can be expected by the Bucs. Or should be.
With park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting, handshake-stiffing, jet-ski-losing, biscuit-baking, tequila-shooting, smartphone-phobic, waffle-grilling, trophy-throwing, roller-coaster-scared, numbers-rules-peeved, Bucs-Super-Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady already having a year under his belt with Bucco Bruce Arians’ offense (and a Super Bowl title), and having all his starters back, Lindsey Jones of The Athletic believes the Bucs ought to hit the 2021 season running in overdrive.
Jones answered a reader question from someone who believes the Bucs are a team people are “overhyping.”
Is everyone overhyping the Buccaneers? They were never the dominant team last year and were underdogs in several rounds in the playoffs. Why are they de facto NFC favorites now? — Logan T.
To me, this is a situation where the hype is justified. First, it’s not just that the Bucs won the Super Bowl; it’s how they won it, and who they beat. The Bucs won that game against the defending champion Chiefs and their superstar quarterback, with one of the most dominant defensive performances in recent history. That’s a formula (unblockable pass rushers and strong coverage from linebackers and defensive backs) that’s replicable for the Bucs, especially with every key player — and the play-caller — back in place for 2021. The Bucs were underdogs in the playoffs because they didn’t win their division, but it didn’t matter because they were peaking late, and that was always a likely outcome for Tampa Bay in 2020 as Tom Brady got adjusted to his new life, his new teammates and new offense. There will be no unknowns in 2021, so barring some sort of massive Super Bowl hangover (something Brady has managed to avoid in the past), we should expect a much faster start this season.
Well, the first thing Joe has to say is how the hell can you call a defending champion overhyped when they beat three of the best quarterbacks in the game in three straight games? That’s just freaking stupid.
The hype about the Bucs is real. It’s legit.
In fact, it’s rather insulting to not rank them the preseason favorite to repeat, especially when the team brought back every starter howand clobbered the Chiefs in the Super Bowl.
Overhyping? Jealous much?
Overhyping? GTFOH with that ignorant noise!
Overhyping? What a maroon! (And yes, Joe meant “maroon.”)
May 22nd, 2021 at 7:13 pm
Maroon is an excellent choice.
May 22nd, 2021 at 7:14 pm
I do love that we took the extremely hyped “Mahomes VS Brady” Super Bowl and turned it into a one-sided snooze fest.
That was supposed to be the clash of titans, an epic battle for the history books, but no… it was just an a** whoopin. Hahaha
Before that game I think the Chiefs had scored a TD on offense in every game over the past three seasons, until SBLV
May 22nd, 2021 at 7:19 pm
Joe – love the site, long time reader. But I have got to say it’s time to hang up the shtick with the paragraph long list of superlatives every single time you mention Brady, or Peter King. It’s just plain not funny. I appreciate the attempt at continued humour, but that one should be retired.
May 22nd, 2021 at 7:28 pm
We Dallas ready. simple as that.
May 22nd, 2021 at 7:30 pm
Defense has always been a Buccaneers hallmark! McKays in a time before free agency were brutal. Dungy era built that back again, it’ll take picking up where they left off .
May 22nd, 2021 at 7:47 pm
I love it! Get pissed Joe! I know I am.
May 22nd, 2021 at 7:59 pm
Lovie ALMOST had the Bucs “Tennessee ready”. Simple as that!
May 22nd, 2021 at 8:26 pm
Tennessee ready was one of the biggest embarrassments ever.
Of course in 2003 we smashed the Eagles opening day then blew chunks the rest of that season.
If I remember right chucky brought in a bunch of geezers like Derrick Deese because he was an egomaniac.
I don’t see that happening with BA and JL qnd an unselfish bucs locker room.
May 22nd, 2021 at 9:07 pm
I remember when I thought overhyping the Bucs was saying they were going to be 8-8 through the lost years of the Buccaneers! This overhype is a lot more fun
May 22nd, 2021 at 9:19 pm
Put it in red Joe,put it in red,😄
May 22nd, 2021 at 10:21 pm
Hi Logan T,
I know you probably grew up hearing the phrase that there are no stupid questions and everyone deserves a trophy. Neither of those are true. The following is an example of a stupid question.
Is everyone overhyping the Buccaneers? They were never the dominant team last year and were underdogs in several rounds in the playoffs. Why are they de facto NFC favorites now?
May 22nd, 2021 at 10:27 pm
Lovie’s “Tennessee Ready” game helped elevate him to the worst Buc’s coach of all time. The game had passed him by, and everyone but the Glazers new it.
May 23rd, 2021 at 4:45 am
I gotta remember that not everyone is a Buccaneers fan and we had been gosh damn awful for so long that I kinda get where Logan T is coming from. It’s still ignorant, but he probably just doesn’t realize the significance of what we accomplished last year. If a smart and extremely knowledgeable guy like Chris Simms doesn’t get it, I’m not gonna be too hard on this poor schlub.
May 23rd, 2021 at 5:34 am
Is everyone overhyping the Buccaneers?
it’ll take picking up where they left off ….
Bucs can do it if they want too….. They have to stay hungry , they have to want it bad enough, thats the real issue how bad do you want it !!
May 23rd, 2021 at 8:23 am
Over-hyping is expecting or predicting this team to have a perfect 20-0 season……but to repeat as SB Champions…..nope…