“We Didn’t Show Up At All”
December 12th, 2022
Bucs receiver Russell Gage.
Bucs wide receiver Russell Gage was not ready to give the San Francisco 49ers a ton of credit for their blowout win yesterday against Tampa Bay.
“I mean that’s a good football team, for sure, but, you know, we didn’t show up at all,” Gage said of his team on the Buccaneers Radio Network. “I think on both sides of the ball, I think we killed ourselves more than anything. For sure, that’s a good football team but, man, we gotta play a lot better than that. That’s just not us.”
Gage went on to say the team needs improvement in everything and added that the team “didn’t come out at all.”
Joe expected the Bucs to lose but Joe certainly expected to see a competitive game. How does non-competitive happen — against a first-time starting rookie quarterback with the No. 3 seed in the NFC on the line? Where was the hair-on-fire energy?
Todd Bowles doesn’t seem to have command just two weeks before Christmas.
December 12th, 2022 at 2:46 pm
Orange Creamsicle flashbacks. They switched the game to Carolina Seattle at the half (or maybe before). Sad.
December 12th, 2022 at 2:47 pm
Back to the Den of Depression.
December 12th, 2022 at 2:48 pm
Lose out for draft position.
December 12th, 2022 at 2:49 pm
Such an embarrassment.
December 12th, 2022 at 2:50 pm
The season is over… they’re just dragging it out. I don’t think these guys really want the playoffs. There’s something internal that we don’t know about… It might just be that the offense has no faith in Leftwich and just can’t get pumped up to playing for this guy when they know the sh!t he’s gonna call is not giving them an opportunity to win.
December 12th, 2022 at 2:58 pm
Gage is a FLOP
December 12th, 2022 at 2:59 pm
I can honestly say I hate everything about the 2022 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. All World underachievers.
Makes me sick.
December 12th, 2022 at 3:02 pm
I’ve thought all season, they can turn this thing around. I just don’t know after yesterday. Yes that’s a solid defense, but so are we at least the rest of the season we have been. I wonder if Arians could fix the offense. I just can’t understand what has happened. For those clinging to the line. Brady is having time in the pocket. He just hasn’t been hitting the throws. I think the play call has been a ton better the last two weeks, but we just aren’t connecting. I really don’t have a clue what’s going on with Evans. He’s not into it and Brady doesn’t seem to have confidence in him. I don’t know how you repair the offense this late in the season. Otten looks great. Why isn’t he used in the first half? I just do not get it.
And the defense…What was yesterday? Mccaffrey kills us like that. Come on. I didn’t notice Lavonte all day other than to see him lined up at the beginning of the play and he’s the man.
December 12th, 2022 at 3:04 pm
Don’t know why you thought this game would be competitive Joe, didn’t you see the Browns game? What about all the other games Joe where we could barely crack 17 points? If you take away Brady’s two late game comback TDs we’d average 9 pts a game. So I can’t believe people are shocked the old slow Bucs couldn’t compete against the best defense in the league on a short week, and a long trip. This game had blowout written all over it. I was so confident I put Purdy up on my fantasy team, and sent Brady to the bench. Something I should’ve done a long time ago, Brady has been fantasy disaster! Not lighting it up for the bucs either.
December 12th, 2022 at 3:05 pm
I’m growing very tired of them stating the obvious and doing nothing to correct it.
December 12th, 2022 at 3:10 pm
This is a team that won the Super Bowl 2 years ago and was one broken play from probably winning another last year. Yes they have some injuries this year but so does every other team. The problem with this team is coaching. Both Bowles and Leftwich are in way over their heads. Would this team be 6-7 under Arians or any other decent head coach? Of course not. The offense is dead and completely predictable. The defense is undisciplined and commits way too many penalties. The offense needs to stop the pipe dream that they can establish the run game, it ain’t happening with this line. The best hope is to play mostly up tempo and go to the no huddle as much as possible.
December 12th, 2022 at 3:16 pm
tbbucs3 Says:
December 12th, 2022 at 2:58 pm
He’s had a hammy that has hobbled him all year. The dude is a good player and will show it next year once he’s healed up and they (hopefully) hire a decent O-coordinator.
December 12th, 2022 at 3:22 pm
How did the Glazers get conned into hiring a Tony Dungy clone for a coach? Their previous coach ran a high-octane offense and threw caution to the wind on a regular occasion. That is not Todd Bowles personality at all and shame on him for trying to remold this team into something they are not. So stupid. Run the offense this team was built for. Square peg, round hole….smh
December 12th, 2022 at 3:34 pm
“We didn’t show up at all.” No $hit Sherlock.
December 12th, 2022 at 3:37 pm
Understatement of the year but being fair gage technically that is you and the way you’ve played in big games all year, every game is a big game. There’s just no excuses anymore for this coaching staff. If you haven’t figured it out by now you never will.
I mean didn’t dirk koetter go 9-7 his first season as a head coach ever? That team wasn’t nearly as talented
December 12th, 2022 at 3:38 pm
And you won’t be showing up against the Bengals either. They are on a roll and hittin the notes. Their D is playing great. Better protect Bady. he could be carted off the field……
December 12th, 2022 at 3:39 pm
The problem with the defense was the soft zone paired with a reliance on an effective pass rush. Crazy. No Shaq Barrett, no JPP…. which means a subpar pass rush with lots of room for the 49er receivers to exploit.
December 12th, 2022 at 3:41 pm
Kinda irrelevant if Gage is good next year when we’re 5-12 with Trask at QB. We signed him to be a contributer this season and he’s fallen short.
December 12th, 2022 at 3:44 pm
The crumbling of the offense under Leftwich is unacceptable.
Saw this posted on Twitter:
If Tampa Bay scored just 22 points in regulation of all of their games, they’d be 10-3. Toss in one game where they drop 28 against BAL and they’re 11-2.
December 12th, 2022 at 3:45 pm
Tbuc-lol winning 5 games with Trask? Are u his uncle? Trask will be out of the league in 3 years or holding a clipboard.
December 12th, 2022 at 3:49 pm
Offense bad and sloppy all year. (Leftwich)
Special teams bad and sloppy all year. (Armstrong)
Defense stout at times but then has big lapses as well. (Bowles)
^ That’s The Trifecta of Ineptitude right there.
Now I will say injuries have contributed to some of these issues as well. Obviously on the o-line. The WR has been beat up all season as well between Evans with his ribs, Julio in the beginning, Godwin just now getting to 100%, Gage with his hammy, etc.
Losing Shaq was a huge loss on defense, but that is a bigger indictment of the coaching staff and FO for relying solely on him for a pass rush.
I don’t want to hear anything about JTS. Kid is pushed out of the play 99% of the time. He was gifted a starting role that he did not earn.
Da’Quan Bowers 2.0
December 12th, 2022 at 3:49 pm
Even if they do turn it around at this point, I don’t think I care.
December 12th, 2022 at 3:50 pm
Yes Russell, this is you guys.
December 12th, 2022 at 3:54 pm
Bowleszo has been carrying old /dead wood on the roster from sept . only last wk did they finally get rid of Darden . but we’re still carrying Rudolf , Perriman , Brate , Bernard. Those are still 4 roster slots that could have been filled before the trade deadline with better players ( O-line , D-line guys) . and , although I Love Jensen & sincerely wish he never got rolled up on -they knew he was not coming back this regular season..
If you include Darden & Jensen ; thats 6 players we could have traded for..But both Licht & Bowleszo were/are to dam stubborn.. and just Maybe BA as their ‘Advisor” also deserves some credit as well..
December 12th, 2022 at 3:58 pm
Most QBs in the NFL could win at least 5 games with a top 10 defense and 2 pro bowl WRs…..not a lot to ask
December 12th, 2022 at 4:03 pm
@joe Todd Bowles is a leader of 11 not 53
December 12th, 2022 at 4:10 pm
Russell Gage is a good WR & he will prove that when he’s healthy….he seems to catch most everything thrown his way.
As far as the team not showing up…….that is 100% on Todd Bowles….that is the coach’s job…..to prepare his team…….
His HC is an abject failure……and I see little chance he will turn it around.
If we get into the playoffs it will be because Atlanta & Carolina lose games.
December 12th, 2022 at 4:13 pm
Gage … ‘That’s just not us.’
Actually Russell, the 6-7 record tells me different. If you were 12-1 or even 11-2, I’d agree with you. But 6-7? Tells me that y’all failed to show up more times than not. Simple as that.
Fans can scream ‘Fire all the coaches’ all they want, but when you start an OLine of D Smith, Leverett, Hainsey, Mason & Wells against the #1 defense in the NFL, you’re not exactly dealing from a position of strength in the trenches. And when your big guy on the DLine, Vita Vea, gets carted off the field in the 1st quarter, and you’re playing a Top-10 rushing team, things aren’t looking all that great on that side of the ball either. Especially after half of your starting Secondary was already out for the game.
Bucs are who their record says they are; a sub-par patchwork of aging veterans & under-developed rookies that’s struggling trying to live up to an identity that left the building in 2021. Losing guys like Marpet, Jensen, Gronk, Suh, JPP, Whitehead meant that we also lost an immense amount of veteran presence & field leadership. Replacing them with Leverett, Hainsey, Otton, Hicks, Hall, JTS represents a huge loss in terms of leadership. No one’s stepping up to fill those voids. Combine that with the injuries that we’ve had to guys like Godwin, Gage, Edwards, Winfield, Hicks & a number of other starters and 6-7 sounds just about right.
December 12th, 2022 at 4:18 pm
Defense ✓
December 12th, 2022 at 4:18 pm
It’s not like it was a big game or anything.
December 12th, 2022 at 4:24 pm
I bet their paychecks dhow up tomorrow
December 12th, 2022 at 4:24 pm
Re Jimmy from NY-What do you base that slam on Trask on? Have you seen him play a game with the #1’s? I haven’t. That’s a problem with this coaching. We NEVER know what we have until you throw them out there. Do you think that SF thought they had the second coming of Christ with Purdue? They HAD to use him and what has he done? Destroyed the Fins and the Bucs. Our coaches stuck with Darden for 13 guys cuz he was almost there. Finally cut him and brought up Tompkins. Kid didn’t run to the sidelines once to avoid being tackled. He has speed and heart. Certainly more impressive that Darden. Didn’t trip over a hash mark on the field once! You never know what you have until you give them a chance. We will see how he does next week. I’m not going to dump on Trask until I see him with the big boys. Great preseason that gives me a little hope. We will see.
December 12th, 2022 at 4:24 pm
The Bucs have to beat the opponent and Bowzo and Lefty clowns.
December 12th, 2022 at 4:25 pm
Gage is wrong, we did show up, and got our butts kicked.
This is what the 49ers do.
They just put up 33 points on Miami the week before who have one of the best defenses in the NFL.
They are well coached, and really have no weaknesses.
We simply got beat by a much better team is what happened.
In case no one has noticed, we are no longer one of the elite teams in the NFL.
We are a below average team in a terrible division.
Only because we are in a terrible division are we even thinking playoffs.
And even winning this terrible division is not a for sure thing either.
We will not beat Cincinnati, and probably will not beat Arizona either.
Remember, we play them in Arizona.
The Panthers have already beaten us, and may very well beat us again ?
December 12th, 2022 at 4:30 pm
sasquash, don’t bother, in Ttsucs mind everyone sucks except Jamais & Bowles. Ttsucs, a D that let’s up 35 points to a 3rd string QB DOESN’T qualify as top 10. The problem with what Gage said is we hear it EVERY week, same song different singer.
December 12th, 2022 at 4:32 pm
I wish Todd Bowles and the rest of this staff would not show up at all anymore. Literally. A whole new staff would be a lovely X Mas gift.
December 12th, 2022 at 4:37 pm
Npr@ I’d like to see Thompkins as a wr, he has balls and speed and obviously catching ability if he returns kicks. This guy has been on the couch for 11 effing weeks, shameful.
December 12th, 2022 at 4:37 pm
Losing like that and making a third string QB look like Joe Montana is inexcusable. Bowles specialty is defense right? Then how could the defense play like that? How is it the offense which was a well oiled machine the past two years play like a bunch of high schoolers in a pick up game? One word. COACHING!
December 12th, 2022 at 4:40 pm
Gage has a really bad attitude and he’s definitely not worth his value at all. Hope he’s gone next season.
December 12th, 2022 at 4:41 pm
“No balls” Boles and “Left field” Leftwich need to be fired NOW!!! There is no attitude or inspiration coming from these guys to instil in the players. They are the worst in the NFL. They suck and so does the Glasers for being WOKE!!!!! That’s the only reason Boles got this job. It wasn’t because of his stint with the Jets who finally fired his ass..
Enough is enough!!!!!
December 12th, 2022 at 4:43 pm
@Max-
Bad attitude? Where the hell did you come up with that?
If he was healthy he’d be a bargain at 10 mil/year.
December 12th, 2022 at 4:46 pm
Why didn’t they show up? Saying that doesn’t make it better.
December 12th, 2022 at 4:53 pm
Brett Says:
December 12th, 2022 at 4:46 pm
It doesn’t make it worse either. He was asked and he gave an explanation. If these guys had a solution, they would have fixed it already. My personal view is that the players know that Leftwich’s offense will not work and they’re demoralized.
December 12th, 2022 at 5:26 pm
dude’s a thief
December 12th, 2022 at 5:37 pm
@ unbelievable – stats aren’t linear like that. Th ere are many variables that go into a “game score”…a team with a 2 score lead may run the ball way more in the 2nd half artificially keeping the score lower. I get what you are trying to score but it doesn’t account for in game scoring adjustments. Hope that makes sense.
December 12th, 2022 at 5:52 pm
Check your stats roof cleaner Miami is middle of pack defense 17th actually and they got ass kick last night . And no they are not a good defense.
December 12th, 2022 at 5:54 pm
I see a major exodus coming this spring where capable players will opt out of Tampa and seek positions on teams with real coaches….next years Bucs will be a creamsicle type of demand the rebuilding starts anew…..
December 12th, 2022 at 6:11 pm
He needs to get on the field or shut up.
December 12th, 2022 at 6:29 pm
I hope Buc fans realize there are simply teams out there better than we are. Much better. We have had 2 great years, And now we are trying to beat the same horse to death. He is tired. His time has passed. Now, sit back and watch another superior team Sunday..The Bengals. They are simply better than us. As you shall soon see.
December 12th, 2022 at 6:35 pm
Nick2 Says:
December 12th, 2022 at 6:11 pm
He is still affected by the hammy injury.
He was asked a question, so he responded.
Don’t be a d!ck.
December 12th, 2022 at 6:39 pm
OLDE pfart Says:
December 12th, 2022 at 5:54 pm
Apparently you’re not aware that there are things called contracts and players don’t just “opt out”. They still have plenty of good players under contract. They will have to unload some guys to get under the cap… but there won’t be an exodus because contracts don’t allow it. Nice try though.
December 12th, 2022 at 6:51 pm
I’ll say this, it was a fun couple years.
Had Uncle Bruce stayed healthy, he coulda squeezed another year or two, outta this group.
December 12th, 2022 at 7:15 pm
I don’t know what to say that hasn’t already been said. The oldtimers on this site, with the exception of a handfuf of seasons, have seen it and talked about the same old buc shiiit!! That’s part of being a buc fan. Bucs vs panthers for the division championship.
What excitement. Its over when its over.
December 12th, 2022 at 8:09 pm
@T REX – I get that, but it’s not like any of those teams just went into ground and pound / prevent defense… they were almost all close games with our opponents still trying to score near the end. Heck, SF was still airing it out yesterday even after being up 28-0.
December 12th, 2022 at 9:46 pm
The bucs will be lucky to win one more game. The Cardinals look way better…
December 13th, 2022 at 9:29 am
It’s gotta be hard for an offensive player to stay fired up when the same old plays that don’t work are called, over and over again. “We’re doing this AGAIN??? Great. Throw me the ball beind the LOS and I can get hit immediately. Yay football!”
Only positives from this season are sweeping the Saints and we’re not the Rams.
I think Brady has hit his breaking point with this last so-called game. He rarely says much publicly but had a few choice words after the game. He’s gotta be thinking “I came back for this?” He was embarrassed in front of about 100 friends and family who attended the game. If WE know the play calling is horrible, you know he sees it in 10x more detail than we do and sees first hand the affect it’s having on his teammates’ attitudes and blah performance.
Arians needs to earn whatever they’re paying him and get in the booth with a headset wired straight to Bowles and Leftwich. He needs to help prepare a game plan and help make in-game adjustments. He’s a “special advisor” who needs to start advising.
Maybe Arians is secretly glad they aren’t succeeding without him? Cements his legacy with the fan base. It’s working and about the only thing that is working this season.