Bucs Look “Explosive”
September 24th, 2021
Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians.
It seems one national NFL writer has learned something about the Bucs after watching the first two weeks of the season.
The Bucs were fun to watch last year. And while the Bucs haven’t yet peaked — the running game is, well, subpar and the pass defense is shaky — Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports believes the Bucs are a scary team.
Why? Well, Benjamin believes the Bucs’ defense is still capable of splash plays and the offense is just starting to get warmed up.
They have to be considered NFC favorites. Tom Brady is throwing it like he’s 25. Their defense is back to making splash plays. Yes, a lot can happen between now and the playoffs, but they look explosive.
Well, in the offseason we heard Bucs quarterback coach Clyde Christensen say the offense is eight games from peaking. That’s six more games. Dang, the Bucs offense can be better? Whoa!
And Joe is confident Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles will find a way to slow down teams in the pass defense. He’s done it before.
The Super Bowl champs are already damn good. They can be better? That’s enough for Joe to run off to Publix and stock up on Bromosa from Big Storm Brewing!
September 24th, 2021 at 7:08 am
Hopefully we play our third worse game of the year, but still win the game.
September 24th, 2021 at 8:16 am
I know I’ll get skewered for saying this, but I’m not nearly as impressed with the Bucs’ offense as you seem to be Joe. It’s rolled over 2 average defenses, scoring 31 points against Dallas & 35 points against Atlanta; that’s impressive but it keeps putting the defense in precarious positions along the way. That’s NOT impressive, nor is it good COMPLEMENTARY FOOTBALL.
We’ve had 25 drives all together in 2 games, and scored on 10 of those (9 TDs & 1 FG). That’s incredibly impressive IMO, but it masks a couple of issues that will likely bite us in the arse over time.
For one, FIVE offensive turnovers in 2 games is ugly. An average of only 26 mins TOP is also ugly. Too many penalties are a big part of the problem (shooting ourselves in the foot?), but so is 3rd & 4th down conversions (10-for-25 or 40%). This offense is capable of better than that. Extending drives would get us more plays (we’re only averaging 62 plays a game right now, as opposed to our opponents 73 plays per game).
It’s great to have an awesome quick-strike capability like we have, but our defense is showing that it can’t effectively deal with 34-35 mins on-the-field per game at this point. Most defenses couldn’t actually. We need fewer offensive TOs, fewer penalties, and more time-consuming drives to give them a fighting chance.
September 24th, 2021 at 8:34 am
” We need fewer offensive TOs, fewer penalties, and more time-consuming drives to give them a fighting chance”.
This is coaching not ability, they will be better.
The Defense is not getting off the field, because they are giving up third most first downs. That is concerning.
It all goes back to a lack of pass rush so far, which is hanging a a gimpy pass defense out to dry.
GO BUCS!!!!!!
September 24th, 2021 at 9:21 am
August … Agree whole-heartedly about the defense giving up way too many 1st downs. Opponents have figured out how to play the Bucs: control the clock, keep Brady off the field & in the process wear down our ‘older’ Front-7 guys. Seems to be working because the pass rush isn’t getting there.
I thought initially that we were giving up too many 3rd & 4th down conversions (and we are), but the bigger problem may be that we’re allowing too much yardage on 1st down. We’re not forcing enough 3rd-and-longs it looks like (so far at least). It’ll be interesting to see if that continues against the Rams’ offense.
September 24th, 2021 at 10:06 am
@DR:
Good synopsis from you as usual. And when we think of quick-strike capability, that always equates to superior talent, like the Bucs receivers possess. I think the Bucs are trying to fine-tune their quick-strike/explosive plays now so those splash plays will be there in December and January. In the interim, the Bucs and Brady have already demonstrated the ability for sustained drives. My point is: just because we haven’t seem much of the dink-n-dunk for long drives yet, they are there when the Bucs really want to use them, especially against good secondaries. Brady is known for it, so I’m not worried about the O for this year. They will be able to sustain drives later in the year. They just aren’t emphasizing it as much right now, but long-drives are definitely in the Bucs’ toolbox.
September 24th, 2021 at 10:31 am
Bucs sustained drives = 6 plays, 80yds., 3 minutes.
This was also the curse of Air Coryell.
September 24th, 2021 at 10:45 am
If this Bucs D is going to give up 26 or 27 points per game, and the Bucs O continues to score over 30 points per game, that’s still a path to victory. I just hope the D tightens things up a bit more, but really, we can win shootouts now. The O can carry this team if need be.
September 24th, 2021 at 10:46 am
@defense rules
Teams haven’t figured sh** out, it’s two games dude relax. Secondly it’s not the entire front 7 that’s been getting gashed, it’s mostly the positive plays teams have accumulated by throwing quick and outside the numbers AWAY from the front 7, I.e screens, quick outs and flats, short hitches. Matt and dak both have only 3 completions over 20 yards against the defense. We just have to wait theD will gel
September 24th, 2021 at 10:49 am
D-Rok … I have no doubts that the Bucs offense has the capability to sustain longer drives, but it’s been really tempting obviously to quick-strike. Can’t really blame them (points now vs points later … maybe?). Looking at our drives, we’re making a lot of 1st downs on 2nd down (and even on 1st down) as opposed to ever getting to 3rd down. I suspect that’ll change against the better defenses though, and our TOP will be more inline with say 30 mins each.
I have to keep telling myself too that both teams we’ve played (and are 2-0 against) had significantly offenses than they did defenses. Rams & Patriots should provide much better tests of just how good our offense is (against better defenses).
Cobraboy … Never heard the phrase ‘curse of Air Coryell’ before, but it fits perfectly. Awesome!
September 24th, 2021 at 11:02 am
I won’t be surprised if the Bucs go run-heavy this game.
September 24th, 2021 at 11:08 am
DR: Air Coryell was the Chargers back in The Day with Dan Fouts throwing to John Jefferson, Charley Joyner, Wes Chandler, and Kellen Winslow, with Chuck Muncie at RB.
They could score in almost no time, but their D often tired out later in games.
Air Coryell showed how difficult winning is with offense alone.
O sells tickets, but D wins championships.
September 24th, 2021 at 12:13 pm
We’ll all find out just how good they are over these next two games. It’s the best offense Brady has ever had. Yes Ben is including 07.
The rules favoring offenses has only grown since then. In order to have a chance, you must get pressure with 4. The Rams have the ability to do that. They’ve also got a shutdown corner who can essentially neutralize one of the receivers. If Brown doesn’t play, I think it maybe a long day for Brady.
As for the Patriots, we can’t get home with 4. Bill doesn’t play defense that way anyway. I’m pretty sure you’ll see some kind of 2 deep shell, with everyone else gumming up the middle. Brady will need to take the easy stuff and methodically drive the field. In NE, he’d of been happy to do that. With the bucs, Brady likes to chuck it up a few times a game. He will have at least 2 picks, but probably 4 touchdowns. It’ll be a challenge for this reworked Pats defense. I know bill will have something up his sleeve. He coached the guy forever. If anyone knows how to stop Brady, it’s Bill. Without Gillmore, it’s going to be hard to stop them. Love, Ben
September 24th, 2021 at 1:04 pm
This Sunday at 4:30 I’m looking for something that D White 45 said after the Super Bowl
“Nasty physical football” from our D
September 24th, 2021 at 1:22 pm
Dirk ran a variant of the Air Coryell.
Dirk’s defenses were starting Chris Conte and Ryan Smith.
September 24th, 2021 at 2:08 pm
@Rod: with Mike Smith, who runs a defense softer than Lovie Smith.
If there is anything softer than a Lovie Smith defense.
September 24th, 2021 at 3:33 pm
DR. It would be a tall stretch to ask this offense to slow down, it is not their nature. The.defense needs to get off the field and stop those 7, 8 yd gains. If the offense didn’t score over 30 points each game, Carolina would be running away with the division. Defense get off the field and exhaust the opposing D with Bucs O. Last year when Bucs played Rams, no Vea & no Brown. Rams offense isn’t that good if Bucs can shut down Kupp or Woods.