A Physical Day 1
June 26th, 2023
To help fix the Buccaneers’ running game, Tampa Bay added a veteran running back who scampered for 245 yards and two touchdowns last season.
Ironically, the Vikings, the Bucs’ opening day opponent, will be passing the torch from Dalvin Cook to a running back who had 283 yards and five touchdowns last season.
Yes, teams around the NFL are turning to unproven running backs. And the Vikings and Bucs are two clubs going all-in.
The veteran the Bucs added was Chase Edmonds, who is known most for being a passing-game threat with the Cardinals (2018-2021). The Vikings re-signed their own free agent, 25-year-old Alexander Mattison, who didn’t prove to be special in four years of work.
Mattison was on CBS Sports Radio last week and responded this way when asked to describe his game as a 5-11, 215-pound running back.
“A downhill, fast and physical back. I play with violent knee drive and I bring physicality and sneaky elusiveness,” Mattison said. “And I think that when you see me step on that field and see me play, that’s exactly what you’ll see.”
The Buccaneers run defense of 2019, 2020 and 2021 would have eating a guy like Mattison for lunch, but the run defense fell off last season and the Bucs will be relying on a lot of new faces in September.
While Mattison will be crazy motivated to prove himself, Joe remains very grateful Cook and his opening-day fresh legs have a new team.
Mattison added that while the Vikings have lost a lot of talent, he says the new defense under Brian Flores already looks “scary” and the doubters need to “tune in” and “get ready for a great season.”
June 26th, 2023 at 4:43 pm
Meh, the bottom line will all depend on IF BAKER starts. How many Sacks and INTs will he take.
Bucs Win if Baker sits and The Franchise gets to start his reign.
Win or Lose, Kyle is the now plan if I am the coach. Baker is my hail marry if Kyle SUCKS.
Either way, we would have been better off bringing JW back to compete with Kyle as JW is by far better than Baker. Both in stats and personality.
Not saying that cause I wanted JW back or to stay. I just want the best for the Bucs!!!
June 26th, 2023 at 5:00 pm
The pic features our weak link…Plan 9 from Outer Space. He looks like a weenie arm.
June 26th, 2023 at 5:41 pm
Bowles ISN’T going to put the better qb on the bench, don’t be daft
June 26th, 2023 at 6:12 pm
I gotta say…I am finding nothing positive about this season. I watched every game for so long I can’t remember when the last one I missed was…last year was so bad I nearly skipped a game or two, but out of loyalty I watched them…and regretted it.
But this year? I got nothing. I’ll probably still watch…but the only thing exciting to me is when the season ends, the changed in staff that will come.
Beej Says
“Bowles ISN’T going to put the better qb on the bench, don’t be daft”
We’ll see by game 6. If he is forced to bench Mayfield, and IF Trask lights it up…that will cost him his job.
June 26th, 2023 at 6:15 pm
Heh…PFT has a new website. No more comments. Love it!
June 26th, 2023 at 6:58 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
“Heh…PFT has a new website. No more comments. Love it!”
.
.
Florio got killed on his anti hunting article. I guess he got tired of paying someone to manipulate the “likes.” They don’t want us to be able to see what people really think. Lots of news sites have killed their comment sections. Even the MLB and NHL sites had comments up until a couple years ago.
June 26th, 2023 at 7:48 pm
Who tf said JW is better than baker😂. JW is 🗑️
June 26th, 2023 at 8:55 pm
Bonzai I can sit through a cap reset season if things go bad, but let’s build towards the future.
If they start Mayfield and Bucs drop out of the playoffs race, there’s no reason to keep starting a guy who isn’t going to be here next season.
Rather see Trask start from day 1, but there is a belief that Mayfield is going to bring a playoff hunt. I don’t see it, but there are people that somehow believe less than 200 PYPG is going to get the Bucs a winning record. It is what it is.
June 26th, 2023 at 11:20 pm
I thought the Bucs would make a run at Zeke or Dalvin or resign Lasagna Lenny. I’m all for becoming a physical running team but where are the horses. White did not impress except for one game and Vaughn hasn’t been able to get on the field. We need to sign another running back or we are setting ourselves up for failure
June 27th, 2023 at 3:37 am
I think we may miss Gholston and Hicks by halftime.
Go Bucs!
June 27th, 2023 at 9:34 am
I don’t know who is better….Mayfield who brings in some of the worst stats in the NFL or Kyle Trask who brings in very few stats at all. Bowles and canales will be held responsible for who they choose. If Mayfield is as bad as his play so far has proven and trask can’t outplay him then maybe Licht is going to be responsible. Let’s hope they both perform well.