“Brutal” Back-To-Back Turf Challenge
September 22nd, 2022
Super Bowl Bucs cornerback Carlton Davis.
Sunday’s Buccaneers home-opener at The Licht House is about more than friendly fans and whiny Aaron Rodgers.
It’s also about returning to the grass surface that’s much more body-friendly to a bunch of starting NFL players who completed a relatively soft training camp and a preseason that had them in bubble wrap.
Cornerback Carlton Davis talked about that today at his locker and noted how it was “brutal” to open the season with consecutive games on turf in Dallas and New Orleans following limited summer work.
He said players’ bodies adjust through the season “but starting off it be really brutal on the body.”
Head coach Todd Bowles’ job is to have the Bucs healthy and humming in January and, along the way, guide them to the No. 1 seed in the NFC. If that means they’re a little soft in September, that’s fine with Joe.
From Joe’s vantage point, Bowles has done a masterful job preparing his defense physically and mentally. They’re largely healthy and they’ve been extraordinarily physical through two games.
The offense? Well, the Bucs are 2-0 and that’s all that matters today.
September 22nd, 2022 at 5:58 pm
I HEARD THE BUCS SIGNED SOME FREE AGENT NAMED “RUSSELL GAGE” ANYONE SEEN HIM YET?
September 22nd, 2022 at 6:03 pm
It plays its schedule and doesn’t whine about it. Bucs are OK today, sitting pretty at 2-0 but with a LOT of work to do. Let’s go guys, whip them Packers into soft, buttery cream.
September 22nd, 2022 at 6:11 pm
Now comes the next X-Factor…… The HEAT.
RJS is a dag gum micro wave. If it is 90 degrees outside of the stadium the field will be 100-105 degrees no doubt!
September 22nd, 2022 at 6:13 pm
Hoping this Bucs defense can be in the company of the 1985 Bears and2000 Ravens defense.
September 22nd, 2022 at 6:15 pm
The offense is going to be fine. Get the line back up to speed and Godwin back, they’ll be fine.
September 22nd, 2022 at 6:15 pm
The Heat is to our advantage because it is Fall up in Green Bay.
The NFC is up for grabs, the Rams are not the team they were last year.
It is our Time, and it all starts Sunday!
September 22nd, 2022 at 6:18 pm
Just saw JPP signed with Ravens. I wouldn’t mind seeing Suh come back.
September 22nd, 2022 at 6:20 pm
I have lived in Tampa right next door to RJS my entire life. Not sure many of the Bucs Players can say the same.
YOU NEVER get use to the HEAT like you do the COLD.
Non the less, it SHOULD BE to our advantage. ESPECIALLY, if we can keep their D on the field for LOOOOOONG Stretches of time.
This game will be a 4 quarter battle of attrition for sure. IF we can keep our D fresh for the 4th quarter. GAME OVER!!!
September 22nd, 2022 at 6:22 pm
@Killian
Trying to figure out how to beat us latter this season?
September 22nd, 2022 at 6:28 pm
Agree, Rob.
September 22nd, 2022 at 7:08 pm
Mr. “Jeopardy Alex Rodgers” hates the heat as he has said a few times. If we knock him down a couple of times in the first half, he should be toast….you see what I did there,LOL
September 22nd, 2022 at 7:10 pm
We will dominate GB at RJS. Rodgers looks lost without Adams. They could try to run the ball but no one has been able to do that. There is blood in the water. Karen Rodgers is going to come unglued as he continues to eat turf all day.
September 22nd, 2022 at 7:28 pm
I am surprised players still say that about turf. Some turf is almost soft and spongy and gives way more than the ground. The advancements in it over the last 20 years is incredible.
I played in a football All-Star game in the Carrier Dome in Syracuse in the 1980s. It was basically an outdoor carpet laid over concrete!
During the game you don’t notice anything because of adrenaline.
That night & the next week… you feel like you were in several car crashes.
September 22nd, 2022 at 7:30 pm
Rodgers saying he wants to focus on the run game against The Bucs
September 22nd, 2022 at 7:54 pm
White & LVD need to help out with the run……..and, we need to get our TEs & RBs involved in our passing game……dink & dunk…..
September 22nd, 2022 at 8:11 pm
Am I the only one who absolutely despises when the only place you can get a football game is streaming? I like to watch it, turn the channel during commercials, potentially record it for later. Streaming makes all of this difficult. I would imagine Thursday night football games are going to see a major decline in viewership
I love the idea of streaming as a second option but as the only way to see a game it’s horrible
September 22nd, 2022 at 8:14 pm
@David
Thats what having multiple “SCREENS” are for.
Thanks for reminding me, I am about to put the game on next to the Rays Game!!!
September 22nd, 2022 at 8:16 pm
JPP may sign with the Ravens.
September 22nd, 2022 at 8:18 pm
@David – yea I HATE not being able rewind on a stream they way you can with cable / DVR.
Drives me crazy!
September 22nd, 2022 at 9:52 pm
NO, David. You are not the only one! 😫
I would love to see the demise of Thursday night football in the NFL, by the way.
September 22nd, 2022 at 11:16 pm
Soft spongey turf with a downhill slip to the sidelines sounds great but the stickiness of no give when cutting or just changing direction is so different than grass………… yes the old stuff was hard but the foot or the carpet would at least move or slide a smidge ………. If you play on the new cushy soft stuff it feels good until you plant and cut and every joint and ligament is suddenly tested like you have never felt and then if your going to the sideline you literally are cutting back up hill on a few fields , making the change of direction even harder on your joints !! The next day your muscles hurt a lil worse but your joints and ligaments may feel like they never ever have on real turf !! Like 4 times worse !!! Soft sponge turf will tear out some liggies and beat the hell out of some hips and ankles …… just tearing up hamstrings and knees
September 23rd, 2022 at 12:23 am
I commented before the Dallas game that Godwin should wait until 1st game on grass . those turf fields can be problematic & Godwin recovered on grass, Your feet plant differently.-and it was an awkward turn on a down slopping turf field when he got hurt . the hamstring connects to the knee.
September 23rd, 2022 at 3:41 am
If the NFL truly cared about players, and not just profit.
They would do things immediately.
1. Ban artificial turf that rests on top of CONCRETE floors.
They need to do tests on all artificial turf fields to test the buoyancy of the turf. Placing turf on top of CONCRETE is a recipe for concussions and injuries. The NFL makes billions in profits. They should invest millions in state of the art fields that are soft and safe.
2. Extend the space between sidelines and the stands.
It’s just a matter of time before a player running full speed through the end zone runs into a wall of stands that is within a few yards of the end of the end zone.
Also, field goal posts should be completely in the air.
The base of the field goal. The pole. Is very dangerous. A player could easily run full speed into the goal post and break their neck or spine.
September 23rd, 2022 at 8:44 am
TBBF – I agree with your strategy for the gameplan. Drink and drunk.