Identifying The Bucs’ Philosophy
November 3rd, 2022
Warren Sapp explains.
If accurate, this isn’t a bad way to go through a football season.
But something is so wrong with the Bucs that not even the greatest quarterback who ever lived isn’t putting the Bucs on his back and winning games.
Something is broken at One Buc Palace and Joe isn’t talking about the historically bad Bucs rushing attack.
Bucs legend Warren Sapp doesn’t see light at the end of this tunnel.
“Right now I see nothing going on on the defensive side that is even encouraging,” Sapp said on “In the Trenches” with former Bucs guard Ian Beckles. “I’ve seen Green Bay show up. And you’ve seen how bad they are. Just hand it off and run for eight yards a carry.
“Where is this vaunted run defense that everybody was telling me about?”
Most good teams have an identity or a philosophy, Beckles noted, and the recent Bucs used to be about stopping the run and no-risk-it; no-biscuit winging the ball downfield.
Beckles said he can’t figure out what the Bucs are about this year so he asked Sapp for his two cents.
“Bet on Tom Brady,” Sapp said. “Hold ’em close and bet on Brady.”
That’s not an awful way to try to win games. Except the Bucs can’t hold many teams close enough, and the offense is so pitiful Brady cannot rescue this team the way it is currently playing.
The following may not mean a hill of beans, but Joe has noticed a drastic change in the Bucs locker room the past couple of weeks.
Before, guys remained confident and proud if not stubborn when talking about how they could start winning games. Yesterday, Joe got a very bad vibe.
Not only did usually talkative players suddenly turn cold, guys couldn’t get out of the locker room fast enough. Pro Bowlers were dressed and ready to bolt when Joe walked in.
(Yes, Joe showered yesterday, brushed his teeth and even splashed on expensive cologne — but not from Pierre Desir. So Joe’s grooming did not run the guys.)
It had all the energy and feel of the of the hours after the season finale, when dudes are cleaning out their lockers and they know the quicker they get out of there, the quicker their vacations begin.
Joe even remarked to a fellow reporter, “Man, this locker room has gone south in a hurry.” The reporter nodded his head in agreement.
Joe sure hopes that impression is dead wrong.
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November 3rd, 2022 at 3:58 am
Very Concerning Joe – nothing worse than quitting on the team
November 3rd, 2022 at 4:15 am
Oh boy… Not what I wanted to see today Joe… Someone needs to light a fire under their butts and fast. I mean unless they gave up. We’ll find out Sunday. I know the Defense had this game circled, so I expect a dominant performance… Unless they get bored. No Devin White will never live that down.
November 3rd, 2022 at 4:24 am
“Brady”. That is the laziest non-solution on earth. Outside MSM sports mediot hot air take.
This is a team sport, unfortunately. We are seeing a team failure at the moment, and a complex one that is widespread. Any QB needs a fully cohesive, energized, brilliantly coached team to make it work. It doesn’t matter if it’s Brady or any QB present or past, this current incarnation is not it.
I see failed attempts at philosophy, but the coaching and roster aren’t suitably equipped for any of the ideas, and can’t deliver. Not a shutdown defensive team. Not a smashmouth running offense. Not a “risk it biscuit”. Not killer short passing offense.
Just a mixed bag team, flailing at lots of things. Which perfectly reflects…Todd Bowles.
November 3rd, 2022 at 4:26 am
Gee, yet another ‘Give Tom Brady a pass’ article. Why am I not surprised Joe?
With a solid OLine & decent weapons, Brady is The GOAT. His career stats speak for themselves. But take away that OLine, and he’s as vulnerable as any QB in the league.
Joe Burrow has the Bengals at 4-4 right now, and their OLine is just as bad as ours. It was even worse last season and he got that team to the Super Bowl. Even though he got sacked 51 times in 2021, he still threw for over 70% completions & 34 TDs. This season he’s already been sacked 29 times (on pace for 69 sacks this year), set he’s still throwing for 70% & is on-track for 36 TDs.
Tom Brady, at 45 years old, can’t take sacks like that, for obvious reasons. He’s still throwing for his ‘average’ as a Buc (66%), but it’s been achieved with much more dink-and-dunk. And without a running game, he’s unable to keep drives alive like he’s been able to in the past.
I’m not at all surprised that ‘this locker room has gone south in a hurry’. That confidence of the past 2 years that ‘We’ve always for a chance with Tom Brady as our QB’ is gone. Players aren’t stupid; they know when they’re being thrown under the bus. I think I just heard another ‘Thump, thump’.
November 3rd, 2022 at 4:58 am
Joe, did Devin White show some hustle running for the exit door in the locker room? It’s not surprising they’ve checked out in the locker room since they’ve already checked out on the field.
November 3rd, 2022 at 5:10 am
Just when I was hoping that somehow these guys might turn it around against LA Joe brings us possibly bad news that players left the locker room right at the final bell. Kind of like some kid had to rush to the pharmacy on prom night to get a pack of condoms just hoping he might need one. But we all know that hope isn’t a good strategy, tireless preparation and executing a good sound plan is. Considering we haven’t seen the Bucs perform well at all on the field really since Dallas I guess hope is all we have. Feels like it did for all of those years before Mr. Brady came to town, kind of hope-less.
November 3rd, 2022 at 5:59 am
The locker room problems will come out after the season. Until then, expect multiple losses and a “couldn’t care less” attitude.
November 3rd, 2022 at 6:20 am
And we’re supposed to be pulling for these quitters?
November 3rd, 2022 at 6:25 am
Oh well. It was fun while it lasted.
November 3rd, 2022 at 7:55 am
Going through the motions. Brady may not be perfect but this the rest of this team is disgraceful.
November 3rd, 2022 at 8:01 am
The team doesn’t have the talent, -because of injuries, retirements, -and the players know it. And the coaches , for whatever reason, haven’t been effective.
November 3rd, 2022 at 8:06 am
Ok DR the new Brady hater, here are a few stats for you: First Downs passing Buc 160 opponents 146, rushing 1st downs 34, opponents 50, 3rd down conv 37/107 opponents 48/114 total off yards 2663 opponents 2611, offensive plays 516 opponents 514 rushing yds 495 opponents 1059 or 4.8yds/carry. Point your D and GENIUS DC AIN’T so good.
I wrote this in another thread, Brady has NO option to check down to the run, ya think an opposing DC knows what’s coming. This is a game of heart and many on this team have no heart and pride, they are mirroring their HC and BL’s incompetence is on Bowels to.
November 3rd, 2022 at 8:10 am
The Lost Season
November 3rd, 2022 at 8:20 am
Joe, is there a way for you to interview in the opponent’s locker room after a game? I’d ask you to ask them about the feel, eyes & body language of the Bucs, from their vantage point, on the field. I’m sure it would be telling! Sadly though, I’m afraid their responses might only further confirm the culture you are describing in this article.
I was hoping to never have to change my moniker, again. Sadly, it might be time. Go Bucs!
November 3rd, 2022 at 8:21 am
The feet folliw the head. Same OC, same DC, and grand dad is still smoking cigars in the background. Aside from letting leadership walk on defense, what has changed on offense? Hmm, maybe Brady is not the goat when he is distracted. List, I realize you are still in the denial phase of loss, but stats are tools of manipulation. Not saying TB isn’t still great, he just doesn’t seem to have the capacity to overcome these fools at the helm this season.
November 3rd, 2022 at 8:21 am
The players are probably depressed because not only are we not winning, but our coaches do not seem to have any answers, except “play better”.
Anyone can plainly see that we are being grossly outcoached, besides being poorly conditioned.
November 3rd, 2022 at 8:24 am
Seems to me that the defense has given up because the offense can’t score and can’t sustain drives….
This is 100 % a coaching problem……
November 3rd, 2022 at 8:33 am
Burrow and the Bengals didn’t look too good the other night, and THEY have a running game
November 3rd, 2022 at 8:34 am
Joe any truth to a U Hual sighting already in the players parking area?
Why does it feel like a losing team in week 17?
November 3rd, 2022 at 8:39 am
They’re getting Hicks back. Maybe for two or three qtrs they’ll stop the run???
If they wanna win the NFC South they need this game.
November 3rd, 2022 at 9:04 am
It could be worse.
They could have brought back Gerald Softie.
November 3rd, 2022 at 9:04 am
We see in the field what you saw in the locker room – a checked out team
November 3rd, 2022 at 9:04 am
Listnfrmafar … There’s an old saying ‘It’s hard to soar with eagles when you work with turkeys’. Bucs 2022 has far too many turkeys.
Our starting offense for the Ravens game included FOUR players in their 1st year starting, at least 2 of whom wouldn’t be starting if we had any other options, plus Julio, who should’ve retired a couple years ago.
Our starting defense in that game included FOUR players in their 1st year starting here, at least 3 of whom wouldn’t be starting if we had any other options.
Bowles has shown that he can run a very effective defense when he has the beasts in the trenches to stop the run & pass rush; without that his defense reminds me of Mike Smith’s (he didn’t have the beasts in the trenches either BTW). And BTW, Bucs defense did quite good against the Ravens in the 1st half, but were totally worn out by midway in the 3rd qtr after our offense had a total of 7 plays in 2 drives. Try looking at the bigger picture for a change.
And BTW, I’m the farthest thing from a ‘Brady hater’ (your words, not mine). Joe’s statement was … ‘the Bucs can’t hold many teams close enough, and the offense is so pitiful Brady cannot rescue this team the way it is currently playing.’ I’d say that Tom Brady continues to get a pass in the media … and by Joe … for the way this offense is currently playing. He hasn’t been ‘all-in’ all season, for a number of reasons apparently. But if your star QB can’t lift the team, who’s supposed to?
November 3rd, 2022 at 9:24 am
Good stuff here, Joe. I was afraid of this locker-room vibe after reading your comment about “vibes” yesterday.
Not a good development, by any means. No fire. No spit. No vinegar.
No identity.
November 3rd, 2022 at 9:39 am
It’s getting ugly in here. Wonder if Ram’s fans are jumping off bridges, too?
November 3rd, 2022 at 9:56 am
No loafing there. 🙂
November 3rd, 2022 at 9:57 am
Again, the locker room had the early-January feel of the day after the final game when guys were cleaning out their lockers knowing they had a flight to catch for the Dominican.
November 3rd, 2022 at 10:05 am
Maybe the head coach FINALLY reamed the whole team out and told them all to start playing better or they’re gone or benched?
I’m almost certain that didn’t happen, but it’s one possible explanation for the somber moods.
We will not do much of anything in any game this year with a locker room fitting your description, Joe, and echoed by another reporter as confirmation.
Eeeks.
November 3rd, 2022 at 10:38 am
The season has spiraled out of control…it was never quite right when Brady un-retired…it gave false hope to the 2022 season. I would be shocked if they beat the Rams. Sadly they won’t…and it may just give The Rams new life for 2022.
November 3rd, 2022 at 10:48 am
GOAT
means
Gronk Orchestrated Awesome Team
Bucs miss Gronk’s clutch catches, big plays, solid blocking, locker room presence and leadership.
November 3rd, 2022 at 11:48 am
My Momma thinks that with the loss of Shaq, in addition to the loss of key players from the last two seasons, and the players that Licht Beer put into those positions as replacements, who are not performing (you can’t get blood out of a turnip), or who are injured (pure genius), our Pro Bowl players can see that they’re doomed especially when they saw Licht Beer do nothing to rectify those deficiencies before the deadline. Pure, unadulterated malfeasance on Licht Beer’s part. Sad part is, the Glazers won’t get rid of him.
November 3rd, 2022 at 12:19 pm
There will be a rush out the door when this lost season is done . I think Gowin only has a 1 yr contract this yr –so he’ll be gone I’m not sure what contract ME has ? But i doubt they’ll be Bucs nxt yr ..
November 3rd, 2022 at 12:26 pm
It all comes down to not having Gronk. He had Brady’s back in the locker room. I am not sure he could not accomplish what he was able to do in the SB run without Gronk having his back in the locker room. It was a buddy system and players bought in. They miss Gronk both on the field and in the locker room. That is my take on the current dismal performances.
November 3rd, 2022 at 12:35 pm
ME won’t leave the Bucs. He had been through losing a lot and still has stayed and gives his all. Maybe something happened in practice that sobered everyone up for some reason. It seems bad, though.
November 3rd, 2022 at 6:07 pm
We are now Todd Bowles’ hapless Jets 2.0.
November 3rd, 2022 at 7:29 pm
DR, worn out? 20+ min half, a series or 2 of offense TV timeout and Ravens get the ball and run right down their throats 3 series in a row. No hurry up and 7 passes from Lamar, Harbaugh played with the D and put the hammer down, Bowles had no answer. Same player on D as first half, Shaq didn’t leave until the damage was pretty much done. I agree I posted even Brady the GOAT can’t overcome Bowles and BL’s incompetence. Bowles was a good DC in 3 PO games in 2020, what have you done for me lately? Injuries are prominent on every team.
November 3rd, 2022 at 9:22 pm
If our players were brought in for no risk it no biscuit,
Why won’t just run that as our offense?
November 5th, 2022 at 1:48 am
Bowels is smart and has a philosophy.
Philosophy majors end up waiting tables.
Leftburble isn’t able to have a philosophy.
The Bucs don’t need philosophers. They need energized players who know what they’re supposed to do and do it right 110% of the time.
Empty the short bus seems to be the default philosophy.