Slow-Motion Bucs
January 23rd, 2023
The Buccaneers have been knocked by various national pundits this season for looking old and slow.
However, there was no reason to look old and slow in a home playoff game after a week off for many starters.
But, per one Buccaneers legend, the Bucs indeed looked slow against Dallas a week ago in their blowout loss.
Joe could feel the pain in Derrick Brooks’ voice.
“The culmination of just looking at the entire game, and from my eyes it was being played in slow-motion, you know, from my football eyes,” Brooks told TAMPA TWO.
He went on to caution Bucs fans not to make snap decisions about what they think is best for the Bucs’ future, including keeping or moving on from Tom Brady. It seems even Brooks needs a few weeks to heal and collect his thoughts.
Joe is stuck on the “slow-motion” line from Brooks. How does that happen? Especially at home?
Joe thinks that speaks to coaching quite a bit, in addition to The Brady Effect wearing off in a big way.
The full TAMPA TWO episode with Brooks and The Sage, Ira Kaufman, on what went wrong against the Cowboys is below. More insight from The Identity Tampa Bay and Joe.
January 23rd, 2023 at 10:15 am
yikes, Brooks should just admit its DOOKIE
January 23rd, 2023 at 10:15 am
Coaching yes but we still have him for at least another year.
January 23rd, 2023 at 10:20 am
It’s not a “snap decision” because our decision was based of a whole year’s body of work. We knew the problem was always the coaching because we had the talent. We should definitely keep Tom Brady because he was not the reason why we had a losing record and didn’t make it to the Super Bowl. Todd Bowels is a “scaredy cat” who blames everyone except himself and Byron Leftwhich “can’t get right” because he willfully refused to make necessary adjustments. Fix the coaching, keep Tom Brady, and all our problems will go away.
January 23rd, 2023 at 10:22 am
Bucs look slow….everywhere……Brady is a snail…..Lenny….very slow…..receivers slow (except Thompkins)…..even Scotty can’t get open.
Defense shows some signs of speed but doesn’t tackle well…..
Leftwich was slow….as in slow-minded…..retarded……lazy….brain-dead…..moron……I guess that covers him.
January 23rd, 2023 at 10:24 am
Tampabaybucfan Says:
January 23rd, 2023 at 10:22 am
Bucs look slow….everywhere……Brady is a snail
Being slow as a snail didn’t stop Tom Brady from winning 7 Super Bowls
January 23rd, 2023 at 10:25 am
There are three kinds of slow- 1. You are just slow. 2. You are fast , but your opponent is faster. 3. You are fast , but poorly coached against what your opponent is trying to do to you, ergo you look slower from a lack of proper preparation. believe number 2 and number 3 are appropriate. Bucs need a WR that can take the top off a defense in the worst way. Thompkins showed some burst and want to when given his very limited snaps-play him more.
January 23rd, 2023 at 10:26 am
The players looked old and slow because they didn’t believe the coaching staff could get the job done, especially on the offensive side of the ball. All year the defense was flying around and making plays, the offense on the other hand lacked cohesiveness, creativity and urgency.
January 23rd, 2023 at 10:28 am
Chiefs seems to do very well in adding speed thru the draft licht has failed miserably over they years.
January 23rd, 2023 at 10:31 am
The still healthy Suh is going to the championship game. Wish Bucs had him.
January 23rd, 2023 at 10:37 am
Kellen Moore , Dallas OC
As Bucs next HC
If he would even consider signing with this dysfunctional franchise
Take BA’s name off the ROH
and get James Wilder up there ASAP
Sell the team G’Boys !
Sell the
TEAM
January 23rd, 2023 at 10:49 am
Yes. It points right at coaching. And particularly the HC. But I guess we can count on another year of old and slow in 2023
January 23rd, 2023 at 10:49 am
My expectations for 2023 are real low. I look at it as a ‘healing year’. Take our hits from the salary CAP fiasco in 2023 instead of pushing it further down the road to 2024 & beyond. Keep the core players & see what we’ve got in our youngsters (including those we draft). Get a quality OC to handle that side of the ball (and be prepared to promote him to HC if Bowles falters). Get a quality DC (either from within if one exists or hire someone from outside the organization) to work with Bowles on fixing our defense (it’s in a shambles right now).
Whatever our record is in 2023, I chock that up to the cost of fixing poor past decisions (salary CAP, personnel, etc). Lots of other teams are in similar situations next year, including many of those who made the playoffs this year (what happened to the Bucs & Rams in 2022 is largely the result IMO of overpaying for ‘stars’ & skimping on quality depth players).
January 23rd, 2023 at 10:58 am
After watching the Jaguars and the Chiefs, it is pretty apparent that the Bucs are old , slow and weak. The Jags OLine is fast. Time to unload our injury prone players.
January 23rd, 2023 at 11:00 am
DR
Agree completely…….2022 was a very costly year for the Bucs…….received little in return for pushing cap to 2023…..older players getting older….(slower)
If Brady returns, that would push things off again. If he doesn’t, time to adjust…..take our lumps (maybe not)…..
January 23rd, 2023 at 11:01 am
DR … I will go with your “ healing year “
However a new HC and his staff must be running the show in 2023 !
January 23rd, 2023 at 11:02 am
DR… agree with 99%, except we probably won’t get a quality OC or DC under Bowles, who is likely a one-year wonder. And when Bowles goes, Licht, who was on thin ice before Licht, then Brady, probably will go too. We should start the total rebuild right now from at least the coaching level on down. And if Licht can’t hire a talented HC with a fire and winning edge, who can bring in good coaches, a good OC and DC, (Bowles only fire to overwork the vets in practice possibly,) fire Licht and rebuild.
January 23rd, 2023 at 11:03 am
Licht was on thin ice before Arians…
January 23rd, 2023 at 11:05 am
You don’t throw good players and money, at bad management/coaching, and expect great results. It doesn’t work in Business. It doesn’t work in sports.
January 23rd, 2023 at 11:07 am
Out with Bowles !
Furgit about Brady!
Sign Kellen Moore ASAP !
January 23rd, 2023 at 11:10 am
Still feel losing Gronk was huge. He was Brady’s safety net, kept drives alive and actually helped the running game with his blocking. TE production this season was zero on a scale of 1 to 10.
January 23rd, 2023 at 11:15 am
Maybe they looked old and slow cause the are old and slow.
January 23rd, 2023 at 11:16 am
Licht was not on thin ice before brady. His drafts and FA signings built the roster to attract brady. Outside of the 2016 draft he did very well and 2018-2019 were great. Biggest mistake was hiring the jets coach to run the team this year. I completely trust him to draft and rebuild the roster.
January 23rd, 2023 at 11:20 am
Bucs we’re buying players to surround Brady on the delayed credit plan, payment is due.
Time to plow over the fields, reseed in 2023
Ripe the benefits in the coming years.
It is nearly impossible to do it softly.
Has Bowles been fired yet?
Kellen Moore as the new head coach!
January 23rd, 2023 at 11:22 am
10 times this year they came out with zero energy or it evaporated in the first 5 minutes of the game- unprepared and out-coached from the start of the game
Likely because they knew on Wednesday that week the gameplan was a joke on both sides of the ball and the people selling it to them should be coaching HS football somewhere
As long as Bowles is in charge, we are screwed
The lack of passion in their play lacked most every week
January 23rd, 2023 at 11:24 am
I’m fully prepared for the product we are going to see on the field next season. You won’t recognize this team by next September. And I’m totally ok w that.
EVERYBODY is fair game except Wirfs, Godwin, Jensen and Winfield Jr. Release whoever is not on a rookie contract. Time to end this old n slow roster.
January 23rd, 2023 at 11:26 am
Bucs56. He became the GM in 2014, didn’t he? The Lovie Smith and Dirk Koetter eras? He has drafted some good players. But the last drafts since the Winfield/Wirfs drafts haven’t been very good. And those during the Lovie era? My point is that he was on thin ice before Arians took the job. And after last year and his decision to keep Bowles on? I think they are tied to the same future with the Bucs.
January 23rd, 2023 at 11:27 am
Dan Mullen as OC for the bucs
January 23rd, 2023 at 11:30 am
Bowles should have probably been replaced after the 2021 post season. Instead, he was promoted to HC in 2022. And I get the timing issue. But 2023 is strictly on Licht.
January 23rd, 2023 at 11:34 am
What 2021 or 2022 draft pick other than the punter has broken through to the starting lineup, other than through injury? And who looked poised and playing at a high enough level last year to actually do so next year? Maybe White, if Lenny is gone. But is he really starting quality? Who am I missing?
January 23rd, 2023 at 11:35 am
I used to be fast, now I’m half fast!
January 23rd, 2023 at 11:35 am
Has Bowles been fired!!??
January 23rd, 2023 at 11:38 am
Any good and successful OC will likely wait another year, unless they become a HC elsewhere. Why would they leave a good situation? Wait a year, and they might get the Bucs HC job, or at least an OC job here with a new HC coach they really believe in, that will likely to be here more than a year?
January 23rd, 2023 at 11:41 am
He’s a middle tier starter who got his pay day….unless he’s blown through all his money, probably not getting the most motivated player. He’s also older, accumulating wear and tear, if we can get a stud LT at #19, maybe it’s time to move on.
January 23rd, 2023 at 11:44 am
Sinking Ship…..
January 23rd, 2023 at 11:47 am
Not to be mean to you guys, but when they look at Bowles coaching history, what do they see? A guy that had a team that got worse every year in NY. A team that couldn’t get its act together at the end of 2021, or the 2022 season. A team getting old, with its best D players old on the D side old and injured, losing many guys in FA, and young guys that haven’t done squat on the D side of the ball. With the exception of Winfield. On the O side of the ball, other than Wirfs, the O line is a mess, poor tight ends, average at best RB’s, No starting QB, and aging and often injured WR;s. And you had a good job already. Would you buy into that? These guys aren’t stupid. Would you risk your future and reputation? Guys, it doesn’t add up.
January 23rd, 2023 at 11:54 am
Poor coaching and execution will make you look even slower.
January 23rd, 2023 at 12:01 pm
Having a lame duck 45 year old QB with one foot out the door the entire season and preseason takes its toll on everybody. There has been zero building for the future the last two years, it was all about giving 12 what he wanted.
They sold their souls for a chance to chase a second ring, and now the bill is due.
January 23rd, 2023 at 12:02 pm
Mark right on!!!
January 23rd, 2023 at 12:15 pm
Mark2001 … The old saying ‘you are where you are’ still applies. Glazers would’ve moved on from Todd Bowles by this point IF that was their intention. And I disagree with those who say no quality OC will be interested. Glazers have a history of sticking with the ‘familiar’ (Raheem, Lovie, Dirk?). That means that if Bowles can’t get this ship straightened away, there’s a good likelihood Glazers will fill his HC seat in 2024 from within.
A quality OC who can get this offense squared away would have an inside track me thinks. It’s the perfect way for a talent like Bill O’Brien to make his way back into the NFL. If our offense improves in a year or 2, he’d be in a perfect position to slide up to HC or be hired as HC by another team.
And BTW, I’m very optimistic about our offense for 2023 ASSUMING that we hire a quality OC (and since the Glazers aren’t afraid to overpay for coordinators I think we’ll get a good one). Our offense is in excellent shape for 2023. Under contract: ME13, Godwin, Gage, Fournette, White, Wirfs, Mason, Jensen, Hainsey, Goedeke, Otton, and oh ya, Donnie. QB is admittedly problematic, but I for one don’t want Brady back (I’d rather take our lumps now than later). Trask MAY be more talented than many of the JBF-experts expect, but maybe not. I wouldn’t hesitate to bring back Gabbert either (Trask isn’t the only one who probably learned a thing or two from watching Brady). There’ll be lots of other candidates out there, but I’d really like to see us go with a QB who we can build an offense around instead of just grabbing a 1-year stopgap.
January 23rd, 2023 at 12:18 pm
Marc 2001.
Last 2 drafts you are selecting later in the round. He drafted 2 lineman with 2nd day picks who started, but were drafted for depth. He got 2 high upside line players with his first pics who need development time. Hall was going to be a project. Got white who was better then Lenny most of the year. Darden stunk but he was taken in the correct round for risk v reward Fact is when you got a good roster and draft later in rounds you are doing so for depth and future seasons. He trades a 4th for Shaq Mason who starts every game.
January 23rd, 2023 at 12:20 pm
Well DR… I guess time will tell. We will see who we get. And as far as an inside track is concerned? Unless the OC set’s the world on fire, I think they will likely at best, keep the OC job they had under Bowles.
January 23rd, 2023 at 12:22 pm
Don’t discount drafting Trask in year 2 of brady. Perfect development situation. Trask looked good in pre season. If he works out then he hits a homerun in that draft
January 23rd, 2023 at 12:25 pm
Got that later in the round, 56. But it hasn’t kept teams like KC from perennially being in the hunt, replenishing their talent. And NE has had good teams for over a decade drafting last much of the time. So no excuses for not getting any starting talent but for Punter the last couple years.
January 23rd, 2023 at 12:28 pm
SB~LV Says: “Take BA’s name off the ROH
and get James Wilder up there ASAP”
You’re damn right….alas we agree. When they announced BA’s name I started to think back at who better to deserves it. Gruden for one and Wilder of course long overdue.
January 23rd, 2023 at 12:29 pm
Licht tries to be the smartest and cutest GM in the room drafting outside the box instead of of taking players from the perenial top programs in the NCAA, when the bucs had the glory years under Dungy and Gruden the team was led by former top players of top programs and at the time it was FSU, Miami, and UF, go draft Bama, UGA, OSU, etc
January 23rd, 2023 at 12:32 pm
I mean, I’m not a mathematician. But it seems to me with 22 starters, O and D, and the average NFL career is about 3 1/2 years… but let’s just say 5 to 10 years, you need to be able to draft or sign starters to the tune of two to three every year, on the average. Seems to me we are falling behind.
January 23rd, 2023 at 12:35 pm
Bucfan … ‘TE production this season was zero on a scale of 1 to 10.’ Agree 100%. Brady’s ‘intermediate game’ (10-20 yards) really took a hit this year. I think the biggest reason was because of no-Gronk.
Otton had an Average Depth of Target (ADOT) of only 4.9 yards this past season. Gronk’s ADOT was 10.1 in 2021 and 11.0 in 2020. That’s a huge difference for your primary TEs.
A number of other major differences. Otton had 2 broken tackles all year; Gronk had 9 in 2021. Otton’s Average Yards per Reception was 9.3 in 2022; Gronk’s was 14.6 in 2021. Otton had 2 TDs in 2022; Gronk had 6 TDs in 2021. Otton had 19 1st downs in 2022; Gronk made 39 in 2021. Those are some pretty significant differences in performance for the same position. Fact of the matter is Gronk was a very unique talent who’s headed to the HOF.
January 23rd, 2023 at 12:35 pm
Whats sad is we won only 8 games with Brady and a top ten defense. It looks like 2023 has got to be a rebuild and not a reload. One site the list of possible OCs for the Bucs and it was an offensive assistant for the Bucs I thought they fired them all.
January 23rd, 2023 at 12:37 pm
If there is a top left tackle available in the draft it’s time to move on from Donovan Smith. He’s going to get any quarterback we have killed. You have to be mike Vick or Lamar Jackson to mask how slow and lacking in technique he is
January 23rd, 2023 at 12:38 pm
I hate to dim your optimism about Trask. Maybe he will turn into a good QB. But his downs have been just as observable as his highs so for the last two years, the few times we have seen him. No problem with hope. Some backups sit on the bench for years in a nearly perfect situation and don’t develop. We have seen nothing demonstratable on the field to lead us to believe he is ready to step in this year.
January 23rd, 2023 at 12:38 pm
Drafting a quick LT and trading/cutting a slow Donny would improve our protection. And possibly improve the salary cap situation in the process.
January 23rd, 2023 at 12:45 pm
Mark2001 … ‘you need to be able to draft or sign starters to the tune of two to three every year, on the average.’
In a perfect world, I’d agree with ya. Sadly the Bucs are far from perfect. Look at 2023 based on our FAs: at a minimum, we need to replace a QB, 2 DTs, 1 ILB, 1 OLB, 2 CBs & 1 S as starters. That’s EIGHT starters, before we even start counting key rotational players & then quality backups. Obviously not doable, BUT we do have a number of FAs who’d be worth re-signing to fill the gap … IF we can afford them (guys like Dean?).
In years like this, drafting 2 or even 3 starters will help some, but not nearly enough. That’s why I keep saying our defense is in a world of hurt. Now’s a very good time to be replacing players who can’t stay on the field, but only if we can find quality talent to replace them with.
January 23rd, 2023 at 12:48 pm
Mark2001 … Don’t disagree with you about Trask (gotta keep hope alive though) but he really hasn’t had a chance to run with the big dogs (who themselves weren’t very good at running either). May or may not pan out. Surrounded by enough talent, even guys like SF’s ‘Mr Irrelevant’ can surprise.
January 23rd, 2023 at 12:52 pm
I think they were just slow physically, period. As in their speed, how fast they can actually move. Especially on offense. Watch the Isaiah Pacheco 40 yard run from Saturday as an example of what speed looks like.
January 23rd, 2023 at 1:02 pm
They need a young, fast receiver, someone quick, not someone with just straight line speed like Scotty Miller.
They need on O and D line
January 23rd, 2023 at 2:49 pm
This whole team is in a world of hurt defense rules even if tom comes back they need so much and the cap isn’t helping. Time to take your medicine bucs and prepare for a rebuild keep hearing they have a shot in a bad division with bad teams only thing people fail to mention is that they are one of the bad teams as well. They have some players they probably should trade for picks sooner they start the quicker its over.
January 23rd, 2023 at 3:31 pm
Another dangerous receiver or even a tight end would go along way for whoever is quarterback but left tackle really seems like a need at this point. Wish with a full offseason wirfs could make the switch since he’ll get paid big money anyway
January 23rd, 2023 at 6:23 pm
I think brady would stay if we have hope of being good. I have no faith in Bowles. What is the job of the head coach. It is to deal with things like Leftwich. What did we we. A historically bad offense with the best quarterback of all time at the helm. Brady kept us from going 4 and 13 nearly by himself. Would anyone want to keep Bowles if that happened. I am SHOCKED he was not fired. His job was to fix the offense. He failed in a big way. 😔
January 23rd, 2023 at 11:13 pm
1 year ago we almost went to another Superbowl bowls and leftwich drag this team down,,1 year,,fire him,,how does it fall apart that fast,,,coaching,coaching,coaching