Schedule Puts Run Defense On Center Stage
May 11th, 2023
Vita Vea, Devin White and friends will need to put on their big boy pants early.
Man, the Bucs’ 2023 schedule released tonight had Joe thinking of the memorable quote from Raheem Morris when he was head coach of the Buccaneers.
“Training camp’s a little big different. To me, that’s when you establish the men. You know, you take off your underwear, put on your big boy pads and you put your face on people.”
Raheem, in his own very special way, was talking about a team building a physical mentality. That’s what the Bucs will need to do in a hurry.
The numbers say the Bucs run defense got soft last season after taking a step backward in 2021 following historic dominance in 2019 and 2020.
Look at that Bucs schedule, damn. Those first four games prior to the bye week will be about stopping the run in a huge way.
First up is the Vikings and Dalvin Cook, assuming he and the Vikings figure out their contract disagreement. Cook is due a shade over $10 million this season. Cook may be declining, but he’s still a beast and certainly will fresh in Week 1.
Then comes the Bears with running quarterback Justin Fields, who bolted for 1,153 yards on the ground last season in Chicago’s run-first offense. After that, it’s the ground-and-pound Eagles followed by the Saints.
The re-tooled Bucs run defense with veteran defensive tackle Greg Gabriel and rookie Calijah Kancey will be put the test, and Bucs fans will learn in a hurry whether Joe Tyron-Shoyinka has found the discipline he needs against the run.
May 11th, 2023 at 9:06 pm
HC knows what’s needed in his stable. All about health of our coverage guys. Not just DB’s but using our OLB’s as being really, really sneaky.
Can our HC do that?
May 11th, 2023 at 9:12 pm
Bucs defense has to find a way to stop the run or else the season can go south in a hurry.
May 11th, 2023 at 9:28 pm
People were mad Bucs didn’t go OT with the first pick now we know why. You already knew opponents and Licht went defense heavy probably for this reason which was smart kudos Licht.
Now if we can just keep devin white from getting bored during the game we should be able to hold our own
May 11th, 2023 at 9:28 pm
I think it’s Greg Gaines.
May 11th, 2023 at 9:36 pm
Do you guys think Brady will ever come back to the Bucs?
May 11th, 2023 at 9:46 pm
It’s like having your supermodel wife leave you and then all you’re left with is hookers (i.e. losing Brady and being left w Traskfield)
Oh the irony runs deep
May 11th, 2023 at 9:47 pm
@Lovelorn, No he is not. It’s Trask or Mayfield time baby!
May 11th, 2023 at 9:51 pm
I think I’m going to cry again
May 11th, 2023 at 10:04 pm
I either hope one of them surprises us and does real well, or they do absolutely horrible and we land a great QB for 24. Obviously I’m hoping for the former!
May 11th, 2023 at 10:32 pm
I don’t see their first win until they see the Lions at home 😳 Wow they have a tough schedule and doesn’t help most of the team went to Kansas City, but just watch it will buy another year for Licht and Bowel Movment and will leverage the schedule of why they aren’t achieving 1-7 .. Yuck
May 11th, 2023 at 10:39 pm
right about now, tommy b is looking thru the bucs schedule thinking 13-4 if he gets his game right…lol
#LeavingTheLightOnForTommyBee
May 11th, 2023 at 10:45 pm
Brady’s done. He’s become a total recluse since retirement. How you become a recluse while living in Miami is beyond me. The QB competition should be interesting. We haven’t had one in years. I hate making any early proclamations. I still have PTSD from Jensen’s injury last year. Also, this team isn’t known for being healthy. We also have to consider the health of our opponents. Allen and Fields might not be available when we play them.
This might be a controversial question: Is Mayfield any better than Winston. They’re both Alphas and turnover machines. Mayfield is a little less cringey since he stopped those commercials
May 11th, 2023 at 10:50 pm
adam from ny Says:
right about now, tommy b is looking thru the bucs schedule thinking 13-4 if he gets his game right…lol
——-
When I was writing up my doom and gloom schedule, I almost put an asterisk next to it, saying, without Tom Brady. With Tom Brady, you’re not far off, I think 11-6, and perhaps even better.
But sadly, with a new OC, and no Arians, and Brady literally having Bowles take the ball out of his hands at the end of the Browns game, there’s no way Brady would come back to play for a loser like Todd. Last year Brady had just unretired when Arians retired, so he couldn’t take back his retirement. But had Arians retired first, I’m not so sure that Brady comes back. Also, yes, I know that reports say Arians told Brady he was retiring before he came back – but I don’t believe that’s true, because there’s no way Brady would willingly put his w/l record in the hands of Bowles, who ended up giving Brady two loses vs teams he had never lost to before, including the Cowboys and Falcons.
May 11th, 2023 at 11:14 pm
Who the hell is Greg Gabriel?
May 11th, 2023 at 11:23 pm
Who is Gabriel?
May 11th, 2023 at 11:23 pm
The feminine hygiene product wearing number 45 won’t be stopping anything but his paycheck when the diva holds out.
May 11th, 2023 at 11:48 pm
@rod:
yeah i said it half heartedly…
one can only wish brady had a 5 year stint with the bucs…
i really don’t see him joining bowles again…and i bet bowles doesn’t really want him in the building either…
if tom returned it would be all about tom, not about bowles…tommy b is simply “that guy”…
if brady came back to the bucs, bowles would just have to handle it, but i don’t see him wanting tommy b…
personally i think coach wants to just run his defensive system and try to just scrape out maybe 9 or 10 tight wins in an offensive league…he might not realize that philosophy has passed him by, until his swipe cards no longer work at one buc entry points…
i’m still excited for the upcoming season – because you never really know how a team gels or fortune falls in their lap – remember the rah/freeman bucs…
the schedule isn’t all that tough…it’s mediocre imho…if we had a rodgers or a lamar we’d win 10+……….or a tb12
gotta hope baker is in the running for comeback player of the year
May 11th, 2023 at 11:51 pm
I think Kraft bought Brady off. That is the only way this could be happening so fast. I thought Brady was going to be around Bucs not pats. I still cant forgive Belichick for benching Butler. Kraft offered him deal like Fox offered Brady a deal. Something he couldnt say no 2.
I know Bucs fans have moved on but I dont like what Kraft did. I am biggest Brady fan but Kraft made sure Brady will never be a part of Bucs in any way. Divorced Brady is bad decisions Brady. I still wanted him to play this upcoming season
May 12th, 2023 at 1:26 am
Bradys not coming back at 46. Spend your money in good health, Tom.
May 12th, 2023 at 1:32 am
I can’t believe any of you are still bringing up Br**y. He’s not here, and we’ve moved on. Not looking back. I have no interest in what he’s doing or what his future plans are.
May 12th, 2023 at 3:54 am
Joe TRYON
Greg GAINES
May 12th, 2023 at 5:09 am
This years Buc team will get plenty of practice stopping the run since our new offense is run heavy. I think you’re going to see a much tougher Buc team.
May 12th, 2023 at 6:43 am
Unless our tackling improves a bunch. Those games could be trouble.
Last seson the only guy who looked like he even knew what a form tackle was was David.