Bucs Have A “Legit” Team Except…
May 16th, 2023
Surprising team?
You can forget about Caleb Williams.
Joe senses a sect of fans almost wanting the Bucs to lose, and lose big this fall. Joe notices some are still angry with Todd Bowles for the loss to the Rams in the 2021 playoffs. Those fans seem to want the Bucs to fail so there is a coaching change — and along the way the team will find a new quarterback in the draft.
Well, Cody Benjamin of CBS has awful news for these folks. Benjamin is of the mind the Bucs have a solid team, sans one position. Unfortunately, it happens to be the game’s most important one.
Benjamin believes outside of quarterback, the Bucs are too “legit” to quit (tank), thus, the Bucs won’t be able to touch Williams in the draft.
They’re ready to take their lumps. The Bucs are paying the price for their years of Tom Brady catering, “welcoming” Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask as post-Brady QB options. The rest of the lineup is actually pretty legit — far more balanced than, say, another buyer-turned-seller in the Rams, with intriguing additions along the lines — but without a sustainable signal-caller, it’s not as easy to count on them staying atop the NFC South.
Joe agrees, short of Baker Mayfield resurrecting his career, the Bucs will be (or should be) in the quarterback market next spring. But the Bucs will be too good to make a run at Williams or Drake Maye. But Joe is sure intrigued by Michael Penix and has a hunch that Quinn Ewers will have a strong season at Texas.
May 16th, 2023 at 8:06 am
Caleb Williams sucks. Learn your lesson from Jameis, Joey.
May 16th, 2023 at 8:09 am
Everyone seems to agree on the range of 6-8 wins for the Bucs this year. Not good enough to be the top pick but a top ten pick if we fall near the 6 win mark.
May 16th, 2023 at 8:10 am
I don’t want them to lose but after watching a year of Bowels with the GOAT … well the natives are restless and not buying anymore of his song and dance
May 16th, 2023 at 8:14 am
Let’s try and play this season first before we start dreaming about next season.
Trask could very well end up being that guy but he needs his shot first.
May 16th, 2023 at 8:16 am
Is it just the FSU homer in me or is Jordan Travis not an NFL prospect or even in the conversation as a potential R1 or R2 pick?
He’s bigger than Bryce Young both in height/weight and is a human highlight reel that has never had an Alabama like O-line but has gotten better every year sitting as the key centerpiece of a complete program rebuild.
It’ll be interesting to revisit these 2024 QB rankings next year.
And screw tanking man. Tank teams tend to not work out when they take the top QB at #1. Unless you’re Cincy / Joe Burrow or Jags/ Lawrence and even then they almost ruined Lawrence’s career.
IMO it’s more about building a talented team that any decent QB can do well with; then go all in on a talent you like when you have the infrastructure but not hte QB you need. It doens’t have to be a top 5 pick. You can find franchise QBs in the top 15 or end of R1 or in R2 going off recent history.
Just looking at the most recent successful QBs, only Trevor Lawrence & Tua were top picks, and all these guys were like the 2nd-5th or later QBs drafted in their class:
Mahommes
Hurts
Josh Allen
Herbert
Dak Prescott
Lamar Jackson
Justin Fields
Like do you think Hurts has the same success if he went #1 overall to the Browns? Do you think Herbert does as well on a team like Houston vs the talented Chargers team he went to? Maybe but i dunno man. Even Tua looked like a bust until they surroundded him with like the fastest offense in the NFL where he can underthrow Tyreek by 10 yards and still complete a bomb lol
May 16th, 2023 at 8:19 am
Thats the problem, there is too much talent on this team to totally tank even with our lower level QBs. Six or Seven wins probably puts this team out of the top QB draft sweepstakes. Let’s hope the Traskfield experiment works out…..
May 16th, 2023 at 8:22 am
The Seahawks averaged 2000 yards + rushing per season the last 5 years.
The Bucs averaged 1500 yards rushing per season the last 5 years – last year was a paltry 1308 yards.
If the Bucs average 30-35 yards more per game rushing, and with Baker having perhaps his best set of WR’s in his career, there’s every chance the Bucs improve their scoring by 6 points/game – 10 wins is very realistic.
Obviously, injuries and turnovers are factors.
May 16th, 2023 at 8:29 am
I think Bowles is getting a fair shot this year unlike last year. Leftwich was a flat tire last year. We weren’t getting anywhere as long as he was the OC. But I’m glad we got rid of him at the end of the year. I see this year as being year one for Bowles. Unless is obvious that we end up with a horrible record because of him, I think he will be back next season.
May 16th, 2023 at 8:33 am
The whole idea of tanking/losing, just to turn around and do the SAME thing we did w/Jameis Winston AND Josh Freeman would be moronic. I get different players give different results but since 2009 we’ve handed our offense to rookie QBs twice and both instance led to some pretty dark times as a fan of this team.
May 16th, 2023 at 8:34 am
Joe:
I think you are correct in your assessment of the Bucs having too strong of a roster to end up with the first or second overall pick, but the Bucs do have a bad coach and they do not have a QB or a left tackle. If the Bucs have heavy injuries they may only win three or four games, but if they stay relatively healthy my guess is they have a 6-11 record, which will have them picking in the top ten in next years draft.
May 16th, 2023 at 9:00 am
A couple of years ago, after Trask left UF, there was wonder of how the Gators could move on without him.
That is part of what makes me think Trask can get there as an NFL QB.
The Bucs need to find out if he can get there. Look at Hurts and the Eagles. They weren’t sure but were also stuck in a hole of QB catering. I had higher expectations of Trask than Hurts, I still do.
Find out what the kid can do go from there. Quit blaming him because Brady stayed an extra year and pushed Trask backwards.
If the Bucs can’t make Trask work, they will not be able to make Williams work either. The Bucs aren’t known to be a team that can develop QBs, but Trask has a basic skill set that might help that out.
May 16th, 2023 at 9:23 am
oe notices some are still angry with Todd Bowles for the loss to the Rams in the 2021 playoffs.
Continue to remind us and we will never be able to get over it.
And, stop with the Caleb Williams at least until we lose a game.
May 16th, 2023 at 9:28 am
Definitely a homer
May 16th, 2023 at 9:35 am
He also I forgot to mention not having a quality head coach. Imo.
May 16th, 2023 at 9:37 am
Cornelius – I totally agree, but I am also a bit of an FSU homer. But watching Jordan Travis’ Houdini act and the year over year growth, I feel like he should be getting a lot more attention as a draft prospect. I would be ecstatic if we stole him in the 2nd round next year or later, assuming Traskfield doesn’t work out. He reminds me a lot of Russ at times, without the “coocoo for cocoa puffs” headcase. And we know Canales knew how to work with a guy like Russ…could be a nice experiment.
May 16th, 2023 at 9:58 am
Honestly, i feel that we have potentially upgraded every position over last season’s 8-9 team outside of QB. But considering the QB and the offense failed to put up points and stay on the field, if Mayfield can come in with a healthy Godwin and Gage, and of course Evans, and a more talented and productive RB, this will be a good team. Mayfield isn’t Brady but he is, at worst, an average NFL starter. If he and the offense are merely average and the F is as good or better than last season, we win 10+ games.
May 16th, 2023 at 10:06 am
We will probably pick around number 15 I’m guessing, not likely to get a serviceable quarterback without trading up, no matter how much the bucs wish to not do that
May 16th, 2023 at 10:31 am
If QB is the final piece to pushing a good team to greatness there are more ways to aquire them besides sucking so bad that you have the 1st or 2nd pick in the draft.
Take it as it comes. I’d rather be a potential playoff team that shows development that is a QB away from making a few runs at a title and trading picks to aquire the final piece, rather than having such a lousy team that you take a QB #1 and throw them into a sh!t show where they are destined to fail.
May 16th, 2023 at 10:38 am
ModHairKen … The Bucs will not be in contention for the #1 pick, but Caleb Williams definitely does not suck. He’s no Winston, either. Watch a USC game. He’s awesome.
May 16th, 2023 at 10:53 am
The whole conversation about sucking enough to draft one of the top QBs is pathetic. It’s premature and overly pessimistic.
May 16th, 2023 at 11:04 am
Also looking at the potential worst teams next season, the only ones’ that do not have significant investment or draft capital in QB’s already are Atlanta and Washington unless I’m missing something.
It’s very possible like the top 5-7 picks are to teams that do not want to take QB
Houston/Indy already just got their guys
Titans are invested in Levis
Vegas maybe – although they have a 3 year contract for $72M in Garrapolo which doesn’t seem to scream backup $$
AZ has Murray – so even if they wanted to pivot to the draft it means Murray becomes another avenue the Bucs could take
Rams could be really bad but have Stafford – so similar to AZ situation where if they lean towards the draft then we have a legit vet QB option
Pats could be a surprise horrible team but I think they will finish decent with Mac Jones
May 16th, 2023 at 11:14 am
Bowles will trade Trask to another team so he can win a Super Bowl for another routine par.
May 16th, 2023 at 11:19 am
How many ‘can’t miss’ QB’s have been taken in the top 3 and actually backed it up in recent years?
Joe burrow? Andrew Luck. Any others?
May 16th, 2023 at 11:35 am
Does everyone here have short term memory loss?
Carolina won 7 games last season. Had the #9 draft pick and was able to move all the way up to the #1 spot to get their next franchise QB…
Why couldn’t the Bucs do the same if necessary?
May 16th, 2023 at 11:35 am
Caleb’s put up crazy numbers.
I don’t think he sucks or is going to suck at all.
May 16th, 2023 at 11:48 am
I also do not think Caleb Williams will be a bust. He will be pretty good IMHO. I also do not believe we will be drafting him next year because I believe that Mayfield is in fact going to ball out in this offense and with the talent around him. I am pretty excited to see the new OL in action as well as the new professionally ran offense.
May 16th, 2023 at 11:48 am
Caleb does look great but I have a feeling Drake Maye will end up being #1 by end of the college season without injury. Caleb had a solid oline and some of the most ridiculous young wrs kinda like the recent run from Ohio state for was.
While Caleb is mobile and looks Mahome esq idk Maye just the way he seems to read a defense and his throws just impress me more with what he had. I am just not fond of the erratic running around and lucky throws that put massive pressure on your oline and wrs. It’s why even though Mahomes is so good I can’t stand him (also that stupid haircut, Kermit the frog voice, and his brother and wife are awful ppl).
May 16th, 2023 at 12:15 pm
‘You can forget about Caleb Williams.’ – Best thing typed on this site all year!
Bucs Have A “Legit” Team Except… – HC!…. If one’s ego caused Tom Brady to have his only losing season then he is among the worst…
May 16th, 2023 at 12:37 pm
Keep hearing this team has too much talent Bwahwahwahwah. Last we had a quarterback with more talent and went 8-10 so this year with less talent and another year under Bowles we are going to be better oh yeah and a malcontent at linebacker.
May 16th, 2023 at 12:51 pm
Caleb Williams doesn’t want to play for the Bucs anyway. So hopefully if this team gets the number 1 pick they won’t pull another Bo Jackson move.
May 16th, 2023 at 1:01 pm
My eyeballs told me that the Brady/Leftwich combo was not good last year.
Lots of ways to win in the NFL, not sure why fans don’t want to give a chance to our quarterback and OC this year.
If you are a fan on this site betting that the Bucs will score less this year than last year, I will take that bet all day long with you.
Bwahwahwahwah
May 16th, 2023 at 1:15 pm
Could someone please explain why this coach is most commonly referred to in this board as “TOAD BOWELS”?
May 16th, 2023 at 1:33 pm
I think we all should look at the patriots and how they drafted. Every year for a long time they were at the bottom of the draft n still fielded a dominant team. Yes they had Brady but when was he drafted agai? Oh yea that’s right not in the 1st or 2nd or 3rd and so on. I would hate it if we tanked and last time we did look how well it worked out. Sorry but there’s too much talent to do that. Let’s go Bucs n let’s get these dubs
May 16th, 2023 at 1:38 pm
Yep !
They sell legit NFL gear
May 16th, 2023 at 1:45 pm
For all the knuckleheads in this thread agreeing with each other that Todd Bowles is a “bad coach’, c’mon, use what little you have in your heads. Todd Bowles is neither designing the offence or calling the plays. And he is renowned and respected universally as a great defensive coach, and he is the DC for this team.
The rest of the head coach’s job is all admin and setting team rules, which have nothing to do with winning or losing games.
Dave Canales is the OC – by all appearances, he shows promise of being a good one, and in particular working successfully with quarterbacks that the rest of the league considers throw aways, but he didn’t. Seems like his emphasis on a balanced offense with an effective running game is also spot on, as most of the best teams in the league ARE balanced offenses with effective running games, which we lacked last season (mostly do to an offensive line consisting mostly of scrubs because the good ones left the team or could no longer play).
Just because nobody seems to have a high opinion of either of our two quarterbacks doesn’t make them bad. Nobody had a good opinion of Tom Brady when he was drafted in the sixth round and was a mere backup until the starter in NE got hurt. Nobody thought Drew Brees was worth a sh it because he didn’t impress in San Diego. Two first year elibible hall of famers.
Being “well regarded” has nothing to do with how well a player will play on a particular team, with particular teammates, and particular coaches. Not ever player is a good match with a particular team or set of coaches.
The point being, the Bucs are an unknown quantity right now. Will it all mesh and click and produce a winning season, a division championship, and a playoff run? Or not? Absolutely NOBODY KNOWS, ESPECIALLY NOBODY IN THE MEDIA, NOBODY ON JBF AND NOBODY IN THESE COMMENT THREADS.
That’s always why they play the games. Life IS like a box of chocolates – you don’t know what you have until you unwrap it.
May 16th, 2023 at 2:29 pm
Why is anyone surprised about the Bucs’ situation?
They went all-in Wimpy: borrowed a hamburger today for two hamburgers tomorrow.
Overall, this is not a bad team. The hole is QB, and #1) no solid QB was available for the price the team could afford, and #2) the team has no cheese until the two Brady hamburgers are paid back.
I do not expect a massive Superstar year from either QB. I *am* topped off with hopium those two can deliver decent “game management” within what’s supposed to be a new no-biscuit no-turnover O. Just give me 3.4 yds each run and an occasional 15 yard play and I’ll be happy…for now.
May 16th, 2023 at 2:32 pm
Give Mayfield the first 4 games. If he wins at least 2, go with him for the rest of the season, and maybe we have a shot at winning the division. If he wins one or less, go with Task and see what we’ve got. If he sucks, we are in position to draft a good QB.
May 16th, 2023 at 3:10 pm
@Duane: I am not a casual, and I have *zero* confidence in Bowles as a Head Coach. I have 80% confidence in Bowles as a DC. I have no opinion on Canales beyond “he has to be better than the last flat-brimmed, arrogant, empty-suited, still-unemployed” OC.
IMO, Bowles is 100% responsible for the train-wreck offense from last season. The fact he did not intervene in Flat-Brimmed incompetence is Bowles fault, 100%, end of story.
I suspect Bowles does not now enough about evaluating OC performance, not to mention how to fix it. IMO that fact is Bowles track record…as well as his legacy.
Arians screwed this team over in not retiring in a timely manner, and then pimping the Flat-Brim and Bowles duo when better options for both might have been available.
Many better options were available had Arians retired right 30 minutes after the Stafford-Kupp dagger. Hell, Arians should have retired in his post-game presser.
One name initially comes to mind: Brian Flores. Do you think a Flores team would have looked as impotent as what Buc fans endured last season?
Yeah, I’m still bitter about Flat-Hat and Bowles’s abysmal performance last season.
May 16th, 2023 at 5:53 pm
….”for Todd Bowles”.
May 16th, 2023 at 6:06 pm
We have talent on this team but just not at the coaching level.
May 16th, 2023 at 6:54 pm
It’s gonna be hard to get a QB at 32.
May 16th, 2023 at 7:31 pm
I guess many here believe lightning has already struck twice. TB a 6th round pick and Brad a 9th round pick the only two QB’s to lead the Bucs to the Lombardi!
Then there’s the #1 pick in the overall draft who led the Bucs to embarrassment and controversy!
Mayfield has at least ONE season where he was superb unless we think that Cleveland team was loaded even more than this year’s Bucs! Mayfield led them to their first away playoff win in DECADES against the arch rival Steelers in Pittburgh! That’s called scoreboard! He at least deserves a little respect.
Trask played exceedingly well at UF his last season and has a history of exceeding expectations both in high school and college. He COULD do it again this year.
But if we could stop obsessing on these individuals and consider what else makes a QB successful we’d look at the FREAKING OL.
Injuries devasted them last year. This season Jensen is back..if Wirfs replaces Donovan and Geodeke or somebody handles the RT position this team could have a superior OL!!! Mauch is another red headed nasty mean man like Jensen. Imagine an OL going from NO nasty starters to TWO!
Matt Feiler is a sleeper in all of this. The dude only started 33 games the past two seasons with the Chargers and the two seasons before that was solid at RT for the Steelers!
There is TALENT on this year’s OL. What does an improved OL mean?
Makes it easier on the QB and voila the Bucs discover their running game.
IF the OL stays healthy the offense will flourish!!!
May 16th, 2023 at 8:21 pm
The Bucs have a legit team but YOUR COACH IS A HABITUAL LOSER!!!
May 16th, 2023 at 9:19 pm
I think Bowles can lead us to 12 or more losses
May 17th, 2023 at 2:08 am
@stpetebucfan
Completely agree!
All this tank for Williams crap is absurd!
When are people gonna understand drafting QBs in any round is an abloute crap shoot! 40% bust rate on 1st round QBs to include 1st overall !
This tanking crap is a slap in the face of every guy thats out there busting his ass to get better at one Buc!
May 17th, 2023 at 2:24 am
BTW that 40% does not include all the Mediocre QBs taken. So the percentage of excellent QBs goes down! Maybe 20% tops that you hit on that magical 1st round franchise QB! Any organization that tanks for these percentages will soon be looking for a new HC and GM.
May 17th, 2023 at 10:31 am
Our best hope is that either Mayfield or Trask have a good/great season and help us not be too desperate for a franchise quarterback next season. But if that doesn’t happen, we may end up still being in a position to trade some picks and move up far enough to get a potential franchise QB. It feels like someone will pull a Ricky Williams next year and be willing to trade their whole draft for a shot at one of those stud QB’s. Could be the Bucs for all I know.