Explosive Bucs Offense
November 4th, 2021
Winging it.
Joe came across some information that, for long-time Bucs fans, is stunning to the nervous system.
With apologies for triggering fans’ PTSD from watching the Bucs with Leeman Bennett or Ray Perkins, and the Bucs leading into the Father Dungy era, having a quarterback among the league leaders in passing (not sacks or picks) is simply mindboggling.
But here we are.
Leading the league in passing is salad-bar-hating, 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, helmet-tossing, football-punting, Bucs-Super-Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady.
That alone is wild.
But pulling back an onion skin or two, would it surprise you to learn the Bucs lead the league in passes of 20-or more yards? It’s true, and it’s not really that close.
The Bucs lead the NFL in completions of at least 20 yards, which averages out to five a game.
Shoot, there was a time if the Bucs completed one pass in a game of 20 yards or more, fans would be chugging their lukewarm Miller Lites at The Sombrero in giddy celebration.
The Bucs have 40 of these throws (including one from backup Blaine Gabbert). Next-closest is the Raiders with 37. Who knew Chucky was a no-risk-it, no-biscuit kinda guy?
Knowing how far the Bucs have come from their rich history of lousy quarterbacks, this stat really resonates with Joe for some reason.
November 4th, 2021 at 12:34 pm
I guess Desean Jackson wasn’t as explosive as projected again. Released. Lol
November 4th, 2021 at 12:38 pm
yeah I didnt care for him…. but he still burned us…….
November 4th, 2021 at 12:41 pm
Oh, he was explosive all right. Just not on the field. The game field, that is.
November 4th, 2021 at 1:20 pm
Weren’t make fun of him exploring against the nice now were you? Another stat for losers, explosive offense was not on display in the two losses. They looked undisciplined and unprepared in those two games. The only issue in this offense has always been penalties
November 4th, 2021 at 1:21 pm
Lol typo but you know what I’m saying, they weren’t many joke about Jackson when he roasted us
November 4th, 2021 at 1:30 pm
48 of the 55 superbowl winning teams, have been in the top 10 in scoring defense. They allow way to many points. Keep touting that offense, because it’s your only hope. If this is what they are on defense, and we’ve had half a season to judge, then they most likely will not win it all. Depending on who they play, it could be a one and done. Home field is the only chance. What’s the old adage, defense travels. The bucs defense isn’t good enough to travel. Unless they start coaching, and executing better on defense, Ben sees real trouble
November 4th, 2021 at 1:56 pm
All the Bucs have to do, is outscore the other teams. And it’s a passing league now. Luckily, the Bucs have a QB who’s thrown the ball a few times.
It ain’t Larry Csonka football, no more.
November 4th, 2021 at 2:27 pm
Now we know why Gio doesn’t play, BL & BA love the low percentage passes. After the Bucs played the Rams, I’m surprised there isn’t a statue of Jackson at the entrance of the stadium. I would of thought with the departure of Ridley Atlanta would of taken a flier on him.
November 4th, 2021 at 2:29 pm
Good to have Bengreen back…fresh off the graduation of his daughter from The Paul Blart School of Mall Coppery. He must be proud…
November 4th, 2021 at 3:04 pm
ITs a no brainer that the defense has to put QB’s on the ground more. I thought Shaq Barrett and Vita Vea would be difference makers against the Saints but man was a wrong. Neither of them made any impact plays. Saints always have great offensive line but you expect with a second team guard that there is a weakness in the middle to exploit. Thats where Vea and Suh do their best work.
During the bye week Arians and company have to re-evaluate the blitz packages. The teams with good offensive lines, Cowboys, Rams and Saints totally neuralized these blitzes. There must be something that has to change when you blitz as much as the Bucs do and get nothing for the effort. Good coaches put their players in best position to make plays.
Get it together already, they have 10 days to figure it out.
November 4th, 2021 at 3:54 pm
I admit that seeing touchdowns on three consecutive drives was great.
I still have to ask why they were so flat during the first half.
If the Bucs could start a game with a touchdown in each of their first three series, I would be much more impressed.
Then maybe that spectacular Cyril Grayson moment would not have been wasted.
November 4th, 2021 at 4:06 pm
Desean Jackson could make his way to NOLA.
November 4th, 2021 at 4:15 pm
Yea – i’m one of those guys Joe that watched the Yucs under Leeman Bennett and Ray Perkins, John McKay too. Agreed that those stats are mind boggling!
November 4th, 2021 at 4:31 pm
Very true, SlyPirate…and/or OBJ…even more reasons to dislike the Saints.
November 4th, 2021 at 5:45 pm
Suh was a mad man in that game sometimes too aggressive and Vea was double and at times triple teamed.
November 4th, 2021 at 6:08 pm
SportsNaut had a really interesting article on Monday titled ‘NFL defense rankings: Saints dominate Tom Brady, Rams add Von Miller’. In it they ranked the Top-20 defenses (Bucs were ranked #8 BTW). One of the early paragraphs …
‘One thing to keep in mind, the state of defensive play is down. Through eight weeks, the NFL is setting all-time highs for league-average completion rate (65.6%), passer rating (94.2), net yards per attempt (6.52 NY/A) and the third-highest points per game (23.5). But as the season rolls along, defenses are settling in and clear tiers are emerging.
As of now, the Bucs have given up 183 pts (22.9 PPG), just a tad better than the average. We’ve allowed opposing QBs to complete 220 of 322 passes (68.3%), somewhat worse than average.
Bucs’ defense deservedly slid in the rankings after the Saints game to #14. Here’s what SportNaut’s writeup noted …
‘While Tampa Bay surrendered 36 points on Sunday, 17 of those came right after Tom Brady’s turnovers. The Buccaneers held New Orleans to a 42.8% red-zone conversion rate and allowed just 5.0 yards per play. While competition (Trevor Siemian) must be factored in, avoiding a bigger slide down the 2021 NFL defense rankings is because cornerbacks Carlton Davis and Sean Murphy-Bunting could return from the IR in Week 10.’
Not everything’s doom & gloom. I suspect that after our BYE both the offense AND defense will be considerably healthier & play better football, just like we did last year.
Oh BTW, included in their Top-20 defensive rankings were 5 teams that we’ll end up playing 6 times in our next 9 games: Bills (#1), Saints (#2), Panthers (#6), Colts (#15) and Giants (#20).
November 4th, 2021 at 6:45 pm
How is 27 points against a really good defense not explosive? Would’ve been 35 if Brady had hit Evans and Suckop didn’t miss his customary extra point. 2 of the tos weren’t really Brady’s fault, strip sack and bad play design/Johnson didn’t run it correctly. Brady still threw 4 tds against them. If the defense could stop a back up qb and making stoopid penalties that game was ours to win.
November 4th, 2021 at 7:06 pm
Seriously how many nfc championships and Superbowls would we have won under Dungy if we just a at the very least a competent offense. That was infuriating hoping the offense would get off the field so the defense can come back and make a play.