Dealing With Injuries
January 23rd, 2022
If healthy, big boost.
Joe cannot remember too many teams that had this many injuries, specifically to its secondary, and made it to the divisional round of the playoffs. But here we are with the Bucs.
Most teams if they lost their top four cornerbacks — the Bucs were down that many due to injuries at one point in the season — would have folded up their tent and started booking January vacations to Tulum or Punta Cana.
Not the Bucs. They kept battling and battling and battling.
While the pass defense is currently ranked No. 21, when it comes to points allowed the defense as a whole is No. 5.
It may be a miracle they are that good with all the injuries. Aside from the corners, safeties Antoine Winfield and Jordan Whitehead have been dinged up at different times, so too has Jason Pierre-Paul and Shaq Barrett and Lavonte David and even for a short while Devin White and Vita Vea.
How bad was it in the secondary? This season the Bucs have used 14 different combinations of defensive backs and a total of 42 games were missed by defensive backs.
This is why it was so important that the Bucs’ secondary is back to health. When the Bucs faced the Rams in Week 3, Sean Murphy-Bunting did not play and the Bucs actually held the Rams off the scoreboard until Jamel Dean got hurt and then the floodgates opened.
Might we see a better pass defense today if SMB can get on the field?
The Ira Kaufman Podcast. Dial It Up!
January 23rd, 2022 at 7:15 am
So, you’re saying we have a chance?
January 23rd, 2022 at 7:20 am
Shaq & LVD back is huge…….
We have our entire SB defense ready to play today…..that’s amazing…
January 23rd, 2022 at 7:21 am
The Bucs have repeatedly found ways to win in spite of the injuries. They will do so again today.
January 23rd, 2022 at 7:28 am
The secondary for each playoff team yesterday all played hungry, violent, aggressive, n alert. They were all hitting hard and aggressively attacking the ball. I give props to the defense for each team. Win or lose each defense gave the fans their money worth. Now our secondary must go out n do the same. No playing out of position, no timid or passive tackling, we must play the ball. Do not stop until the whistle is blown. Keep ur helmet on n do not stand over a player n taunt after making a great play. Play fundamental smart football.
January 23rd, 2022 at 7:31 am
The Bucs D will do their job, Rams offense is not the same without Robert Woods- much like Bucs without Chris Godwin.
The key will be the Bucs offense moving the chains, no turnovers, keeping the Rams offense off the field …
Brady over Stafford all day!
January 23rd, 2022 at 7:39 am
jpp knows we will meet them down the road. he is going to impact this game
January 23rd, 2022 at 7:57 am
This team will be so fired up knowing they can host the next game. I look for the defense to take over and give TB12 several short fields. Stafford is a choke artist like AR.
January 23rd, 2022 at 8:06 am
I think you give Bowles a 2nd shot at a QB with a “healthy” starting lineup and we’ll do well. You give Brady a 2nd shot at a defense…..he figures them out. I think we surprise a lot of folks with a statement win…..yesterday was two low scoring games, today i think its the opposite.
January 23rd, 2022 at 8:10 am
I’m perplexed as to why more people aren’t more bullish in the Bucs chances to just open up a can of whoop-a$$!
I submit they mop up. They dominate from the first take-away of the first drive. The fans will show up in spades and be a true 12th man on the field. Brady will prove that anyone who voted for the Packer whom shall not be named (and looks like The Great Gazoo in his helmet) to be MVP is just Brady fatigued and lack the capacity to critically think.
We will absolutely DOMINATE today.
It will be LA Rams soul-crushing.
They’ll want to quit by Q4.
Gabbert gets his first post-season touchdown to get us into the 40’s.
Six sacks and two interceptions. Our little human joystick returns a punt for a TD.
Yeah, it’s going to be THAT kind of game.
Toddradamus
January 23rd, 2022 at 8:28 am
GRAVEDIGGER TIME!!!!
January 23rd, 2022 at 8:47 am
Well, credit where credit is due for the D, but it is also good to have an offense that helps keep the defense off the field.
43 years ago I attended the NFC Conference Championship game here in Tampa, and I sure hope I get another chance to see one in person again…this time with better results in much better digs than old Tampa Stadium.
January 23rd, 2022 at 8:59 am
“…booking January vacations to Tulum or Punta Cana…”
Those locations and “attractions” have nothing on several places in Costa Rica.
January 23rd, 2022 at 9:10 am
Formula. Hold em under 26 score more than 30.
January 23rd, 2022 at 9:32 am
LFG!!!!!
January 23rd, 2022 at 9:43 am
This is a day of UNITY, LET’S GO BUCS!!!
January 23rd, 2022 at 9:45 am
I am still concerned as to why JPP has been missing most of the week and questionable to play because of “personal” reasons.
He has been a shell of himself because of the torn rotator cuff but they really need him and Shaq to play like they did in the Super Bowl
January 23rd, 2022 at 9:51 am
@Toddradamus, you got me so fired up that I just ran through my French doors whooping and hollering….unfortunately, they were closed at the time.
LFG BUCS!!
January 23rd, 2022 at 9:52 am
Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport reporting that Brady has not committed to the Bucs for 2022 and may retire at the end of the current playoff run.
Maybe just rumor mill chatter to hype up the game, but who knows…
January 23rd, 2022 at 10:33 am
Bucs need best day of tackling today. Prevent YAC. Tackle as a team, and no silly penalties. GB vs 49ers game didn’t seem to have a large amount of penalties. My guess is Rams vs Bucs will have a ton. Let’s not beat ourselves with dumb penalties.
January 23rd, 2022 at 10:39 am
Has anyone actually heard anything from BRADY about him retiring? No. Rest of the NFL wishes he would. If he wins the Super Bowl, a statement of retirement holding up the Lombardi would be the another mark set in NFL history books by Bucs and Tom Brady.
January 23rd, 2022 at 10:40 am
Any chance we can get AB back before today’s game starts?
Imagine if we had that psycho tearing up the Rams secondary and catching balls for us today? Zero (logical) reason that’s not the case.
Oh well, I guess TB’s legend will be even bigger if he (and the team) can do it without the psycho.
Go Bucs!
January 23rd, 2022 at 10:43 am
NFL Gameday just made their predictions and every one of them picked the Rams in a close one except Cynthia Freelund. She’s the only one who brought up the fact that the Bucs defense is as healthy as it’s been all year and they will be the difference.
I AGREE
They also said Wirfs and Jensen are playing. I don’t know if that’s valid but just interesting
January 23rd, 2022 at 10:46 am
SOEbuc
Nope. All I’ve heard is how he wants to play until he’s 45 and that he wants to retire when he feels he can’t play at a championship level… Well that wasn’t this year because he should be the MVP.
They have the ability to bring back the players they need- sign Godwin, Jensen, and Davis and get a little bit younger on the D line.
If they don’t win he’ll want one more shot. If they do win… Why not try to be the first QB to ever have 3 in a row?
BA is on record saying he would be “shocked” if Brady does not return next year.
January 23rd, 2022 at 10:47 am
Keep 23 out…huge liability, does not belong in this team. He was a waste of draft pick
January 23rd, 2022 at 10:48 am
COCO
There is absolutely no part of me that wants him anywhere near the team the way he threw coaches and players and Brady under the bus and the way he quit on his team. That is the worst thing you can do as a player in a team sport.
No team should ever sign him again.
January 23rd, 2022 at 10:50 am
Coquiro
Nope. Davis, Dean and SMB were getting better and better. Dean is way underrated. SMB can be a ball hawk. Davis is probably a top 8 cornerback right now. Injuries were the only thing that slowed them down from becoming a fantastic secondary.
GRAVEDIGGERS are about to show up big!!
January 23rd, 2022 at 11:04 am
Agree.
SMB Toast is a liability.
Yes, he can make a big play, but usually he just gets burned.
January 23rd, 2022 at 11:05 am
Brady got us to this point by sheer willpower. Now he can watch a defense take over. Sacks, and interceptions, and fumble recoveries. oh my.
Brady will have the team stoked and get an early lead, then the Rams will implode as Stafford shows the real reason Detroit never went anywhere.
January 23rd, 2022 at 11:11 am
SMB isn’t good.
January 23rd, 2022 at 11:18 am
SMB has the occasional splash plays…..but he’s better suited playing short man coverage and helping support the run defense.
SMB is not a good cover corner……and he’s been burnt alot.
I’d only bring SMB on run plays and short yardage plays.
January 23rd, 2022 at 11:30 am
Cheater Brady last game today. Bucs will get rolled. Dark times ahead without Brady as the team will crumble and coaches get exposed.
January 23rd, 2022 at 11:46 am
Sounds like Joe is beginning to offer consolation in preparation for a reasonably likely loss to Rams. The consolation being our beloved Bucs have already over achieved just to be in this game. I can go with that thought process. BUT if the Bucs lose because the Rams are better prepared, there is NO consolation. Bowles and Leftwich interviewing this week is inexcusable. Why did Arians allow it? Because he expected them to voluntarily do the right thing. Instead, they disappoint. Neither one of them deserve to retain their positions as a Buccaneer coordinator.
January 23rd, 2022 at 11:53 am
Troll Karen Troll
January 23rd, 2022 at 12:01 pm
@DoooshLaRue,
Did you have to use that pic lol
January 23rd, 2022 at 12:02 pm
Proud Bucs Fan Says:
January 23rd, 2022 at 11:30 am
Cheater Brady last game today. Bucs will get rolled. Dark times ahead without Brady as the team will crumble and coaches get exposed.
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Who are you jivin’, “Proud Bucs Fan”? Get lost, troll!
Roy T. Buford Says:
January 23rd, 2022 at 8:47 am
43 years ago I attended the NFC Conference Championship game here in Tampa, and I sure hope I get another chance to see one in person again…this time with better results in much better digs than old Tampa Stadium.
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I was at that game, too. What’s this “old Tampa Stadium” crap? That was a great stadium, and seated more than RJS does now. Not the stadium’s fault that the NFL ownership back then shoved Culverhouse down our throats. Remember him?
January 23rd, 2022 at 12:02 pm
Also, good morning everyone, let’s bring home a W today!
January 23rd, 2022 at 12:04 pm
ain’t no room for burnt toast today…
he’s gotta bring that A game…
walk the walk today SMB…
so you can talk that talk in the post game presser with jenna
January 23rd, 2022 at 12:11 pm
The ghosts of the “Big Sombrero” rise up and Stafford leaves in early 3rd Quarter with a torn bicep.
Hey Joe-How about a little breakdown of young Hochuli’s tendencies in officiating??
January 23rd, 2022 at 12:13 pm
I’m expecting some of these returning injured guys to not be able to finish the game. So I hope we start quick and dominate for the first half.
January 23rd, 2022 at 12:13 pm
Rams are a really good team, and in nearly every position except QB, TE and RT Center, they have the stronger players. They have the better special teams, the better defensive unit, and the better WR1 and WR2 as of today. They have the better coach, and the better pass rush. They have the better head to head record v. Brady 0-2. However, they do not have Brady and Gronk and they do not have a legendary QB whom can draw for a SB, they need Tom to take a job for an up and coming legend in a Allen, Burrow or Mahomes in SB, so they have new top face for the league. All 2000-2022 legendary QBs faces are gone now or are retiring in the next year: Brees, Manningx2, Rothihsburger, Rodgers, Smith, Rivers, Vick, Farve, Warner etc. All legends do the job before leaving and Brady is no exception he has to put over his replacement star in the SB, before retiring.
January 23rd, 2022 at 12:15 pm
I hope cyril grayson plays. These other wideouts have to step up today or it will be a long day for this offense. Have to play physical against the rams. Can’t play finesse or they will get blown out again. Put pressure on Stafford.
January 23rd, 2022 at 12:43 pm
What’s up with these clowns predicting a loss?
January 23rd, 2022 at 12:44 pm
Team with the best pass rush will win.
January 23rd, 2022 at 1:00 pm
New England Patriot fan…
Do you think the Rams have better at every position except for a handful? Do you realize the Buccaneers give up less points per game and they are about even in sacks and interceptions? The Buccaneers have a better turnover differential.
Did you know the Buccaneers offense scores more points and puts up more yards and commits fewer turnovers?
The Bucs are a better team and offense and defense AND The defense is playing with all their starters one of the few time this year
January 23rd, 2022 at 1:04 pm
@ David
The only reason why the Bucs fans are nervous of even think they won’t win because of all the losses of personnel from injuries………….there are just too many players hurt or not playing or even loss like AB.
FORGET WHAT THE STATS SAYS!!!!!!!
January 23rd, 2022 at 1:07 pm
BucsAnthem … ‘SMB is not a good cover corner……and he’s been burnt alot.’
When Davis, Dean & SMB are all healthy, doesn’t SMB play Nickel instead of outside? And yes he got burned for 3 TDs this year in his 9 games, but so did Davis in his 10 games. Maybe part of that is that our safeties (Whitehead especially) play up & blitz quite a bit, and so maybe our CBs aren’t getting enough help ‘in the backfield’ so to speak.
The 3 of them actually did quite well this year I think … when they were in there (too many games missed).
o SMB … 9 games – 461 def snaps – 54 targets – 32 complete for 59.3% & 408 yds (12.8 YPC) – 0 INT – 3 TD allowed.
o Davis … 10 games – 638 def snaps – 70 targets – 40 complete for 57.1% & 422 yds (10.6 YPC) – 1 INT – 3 TD allowed.
o Dean … 15 games – 685 def snaps – 66 targets – 32 complete for 48.5% & 319 yds (10.0 YPC) – 2 INT – 0 TD allowed.
Considering that our opponents this regular season averaged 65.4% completion & threw for 26 TDs, I’d say that our 3 starters did quite well. Of course, missing 17 games all together in a 17-game schedule kinda hurts.
January 23rd, 2022 at 1:21 pm
@ Defense Rules
Well that’s just it…….he’s not a cover corner….furthermore, receivers playing in the slot or a nickle corner covering plays more man than anything.
and what do we know how healthy SMB is????? No-one knows for sure how well he can even play today…..IF he even does?????
January 23rd, 2022 at 5:06 pm
Joe I think you meant “big liability”.
SMB hasn’t made a good play since the playoffs last year.
Burnt toast is back and he fkn sucks
January 23rd, 2022 at 5:49 pm
Bunting is god awful, stop with this crap Joe.