Bucs’ Most Improved Player Is…
October 13th, 2021
Surprise!
The following does seem ridiculous. But upon further pondering it makes sense.
Over at the four-letter, there’s a list of the most improved player for each NFL team. Before reading the article, Joe was trying to think pick the Bucs player. Joe was stumped.
Surely it couldn’t be someone like Tom Brady. But yes, Jenna Laine of ESPN went there. And her case makes sense.
This sounds ridiculous, right? What does a seven-time Super Bowl champion QB possibly need to improve on? But if you go back to this time last year, Brady was still learning the playbook and still trying to establish a rapport with his receivers, while offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich was still trying to learn him. Brady’s touchdown to interception ratio has gone from 3.0 at this point last year to 7.5. Yards after the catch has also gone up from 542 yards to 850 yards, as has yards per attempt (7.93 yards per attempt versus 7.02, so he’s not trying easier throws), suggesting better chemistry overall.
Jenna makes a heck of a point. You don’t think of Brady being improved. Because he’s Tom Freaking Brady.
But if you think about it, Brady was good last year. This year? He’s great.
If you look up and down the lineup, aside from Brady, what player is playing better than last year? Furniture-tossing, bicycle-throwing Antonio Brown, maybe? Playoff Lenny, maybe? Donovan Smith?
So yeah, Brady makes sense.
October 13th, 2021 at 8:31 am
I’ve never had as much hope for this team as I do now that we have Brady. The man is truly a football marvel. That pit I used to get in my stomach when things start going wrong on the field is over. Now I think we have Brady, we always have a chance. Nice feeling for a change.
October 13th, 2021 at 8:32 am
AB or Fournette might make sense as well. But yeah, Brady seems to be the more obvious choice.
October 13th, 2021 at 8:45 am
No…..and on second and third thoughts no Brady is just being Brady! Most improved player should go to the most improved player and that would not necessarily be your most valuable player, which that would be TB12!….not as many bad snaps this season so maybe it’s Jenson the center!!!
October 13th, 2021 at 8:48 am
AB didn’t join until the second half of the season and Gronk wasn’t in football shape yet at this point. Those are also contributing factors in TB’s performance and stats.
October 13th, 2021 at 8:50 am
Agree about AB and Fournette having great years. AB is just getting back to his normal storied self – but Lenny is reaching his potential. Getting better each game. Both will have very strong seasons.
October 13th, 2021 at 8:52 am
Agreed Joe. Playoff Lenny needs to show more, he’s looking good though. AB is showing steady consistency, that’s not a knock. He’s a monster.
Like Hodad said, with Brady it’s gravy.
Go Bucs
October 13th, 2021 at 8:57 am
Vita is playing better.
October 13th, 2021 at 9:23 am
How much fun is it to be a Bucs’ fan right now? My only regret is that Brady isn’t ten years younger.
October 13th, 2021 at 9:36 am
Gronk gets my vote, even taking into account the missed games for his injuries.
October 13th, 2021 at 9:57 am
AMI -Chris. Well said.
October 13th, 2021 at 10:19 am
Brady gronk or AB
In regards to brady , he threw a ton of picks early on last year
He is 15 td to 2 int right now
One was a hail mary. And one was a easy screen pass that fournette thought was a hot potato
So you could argue 15 to 0 picks bit fine giving the 2
October 13th, 2021 at 10:24 am
If Gronk didn’t get hurt, he could be considered. He was tearing up defenses the first few games of the year.
October 13th, 2021 at 10:39 am
My only concern is what we do when Brady is gone. I hope he plays to 50 for us…but that’s unrealistic and I really do not want to go back to losing constantly.
Quarterback and Oline made the difference. I hope the Glazers remember that. Start bringing in young talent to try out as backups. Give us hope for a future.
October 13th, 2021 at 11:03 am
I would say Gronk or ME13. Gronk because he likely improved after a year out of the league, and Evans because Brady is starting to finally find the guy that opposing teams have to double team. Evans can move the chains, gash defenses for 20 yards a pop, and is just as dangerous as Gronk in the redzone. He is also the reason every other receiver on the team normally enjoys single coverage. Last year at this time ME13 put his ego in check for the offense to figure itself out. This year, his presence is being felt early in the season. Please double team AB and Godwin! Evans will make you look silly.
October 13th, 2021 at 12:41 pm
Also, Jenna Laine’s answer to everything is “Tom Brady”… Every question is about Tom Brady.
October 13th, 2021 at 3:33 pm
Tom Brady…whoopee do. He could get carried off the field tomorrow night cos his age caught up to him. Who will replace him? Gabbert (gag)? Griffin? The rookie from UF?
October 13th, 2021 at 4:03 pm
15 TDs
2 INTS
Those 2 INTs In the first game were because a ball went right through Fournettes hands and a Hail Mary attempt.
Add in about two drops per game it seems… He’s playing phenomenal
October 14th, 2021 at 3:01 am
orlbucfan,
Tom Brady could carried off of the field tomorrow night because his age caught up to him……lol!!! Brady won’t be playing when he’s 84 years old, hold on a second, he may. At 44 years old Tom Brady is still the best quarterback in the NFL today. Anyone can get carried off of the field on any given day and no one plays at age 44, they only dream of it and it doesn’t really matter who the backup QB’s are there will never be another Tom Brady. Tom Brady isn’t only the greatest Quarterback there’s ever been, Brady is the greatest football player to ever step on a football field.
October 14th, 2021 at 6:46 am
Is it just me or is Tom faster than he’s ever been in his career? I mean there’s been times in his career at crucial points in a game where nobody is open but the field, so he took off for the first down. It seemed like I could bake a cake before he got the first down. This year dude’s speedy gonzales, 14 yd sprints? Lol and he poked fun at himself for it……..or did he? Was he really working on getting…. Faster? After 18 years? He decides then? No look at him, no knee brace. Quarterback rollouts, dashing for a first down or two. HOWWWWWW!!
October 14th, 2021 at 7:34 am
J.Jett greatest football player no , greatest quarterback I still say no . Football is soft now days especially the NFL when it comes to the quarterback position. Now I want to know one thing? Is Barry Bonds the best baseball player in the history of baseball or are you going to say he cheated ? Because Brady was accused of cheating as well as his coach and they won superbowls and who knows how many games they have won by cheating. I just wonder what people would say if Jordan or LeBron was caught cheating any kind of way 🤔 . I know they wouldn’t be a goat in no body conversation. They would be called cheaters…
October 14th, 2021 at 9:16 am
O’Neilbuc are you trying to bring our heads down? Enjoy the ride man, this doesn’t happen too often when The Bucs are Super Bowl contenders every year. As far as cheating is concern, NOTHING was ever proven about Tom Brady. He got a bad rap on that deflate gate nonsense. GO BUCS!
October 14th, 2021 at 11:52 pm
Eddie Marx, thank you. TB basically gifted a Lombardi to all of Tampa. Brought a group of individuals together to form a hand of brothers. Kindly stop the nonsense. Kinda fed up with the constant belicheats references, as he was only doing what EVERY friggin’ team had done for years. Brady has more personal integrity, fortitude, and commitment to his craft, than anyone before. Lease just stop that nonsense. As deflate gate…at halftime score was 17-7, with supposedly under inflated footballs…fixed at halftime…end result 45-7, ’nuff said.
October 15th, 2021 at 12:03 am
And yes, as you’ve prolly surmised, I am for forever going to be a Patriots fan. I grew up just minutes away in a little town called, Franklin MA. And we were for the most part, a floundering franchise, yet still love me some Patsies, lol. All Tom Brady did was take over for our very own numbah 1 draft pick, Drew Bledsoe. And lead us to our first of many Lombardi’s. He literally changed the culture of Patriot football, for what I had hoped was forever. Seems not to be the case. I am a die-hard Pats fan. As I believe most of you are Bucs fans forever. I am able to ENJOY seeing you enjoy your team. He has now, irrevocably (mehopes) changed Bucs football, for the ever. And if you revert…Well, to be a doofus…I’ll just equate it to…it is better to have loved and lost, than never to have…won another FREAKING Lombard, again, lol. Enjoy him…for as long as you can. Herein, ends the lesson. Amen.