“Sad” Bucs
June 21st, 2023
Clean slate to build.
Yesterday, Joe brought word Joe’s good friend Mike Tanier listed the Bucs as the least-fun team to watch for the upcoming season.
It seems a man who has a bigger forum than Tanier agrees. But this guy was referring to the Bucs of 2022.
The way the Bucs played down the stretch and were routed at home on “Monday Night Football” in the playoffs to end Tom Brady’s career was just “sad.” That’s the way Adam Rank saw it from his perch at NFL.com.
Losing to the Cowboys, 31-14, in the Super Wild Card Round. The home loss to Dallas was pretty embarrassing. Although, when you’re 8-9 and hosting a playoff game against a 12-win team, I don’t think chagrin is top of mind. But it was so sad watching Tom Brady walk off the field for the final time. I mean, at least we think that was it. …
And this is one reason why folks are so suspicious of the 2023 Bucs for 2023. The Bucs lost with Tom Brady, they say, so how are they supposed to win with Kyler Traskfield?
It’s a fair point.
The key will be Bucs new offensive coordinator Dave Canales. Can he put players in position to make key plays? Can he craft smart gameplans to take advantage of matchups? His predecessor would scoff at matchups and call them fantasy football.
The run game should be better. It better be better. After all, the Bucs had the worst run game in the NFL last season.
June 21st, 2023 at 4:48 am
Joe … ‘The Bucs lost with Tom Brady, they say, so how are they supposed to win with Kyler Traskfield?’
Kind of an unfair question without defining WHICH Tom Brady you’re talking about. TB12 version 2022 was not The GOAT of 2000-2021 renown. It was the classic story of the player who played 1 year too long. Brady was a shell of his former self once our 2021 OLine was torn apart with the retirement of Marpet, loss of Jensen & Stinnie for the season, and significant injuries to Donnie Smith & Tristan Wirfs costing them 4 games each. Not to mention the HC change, his divorce, etc, etc.
Bigger than the ‘Kyler Traskfield’ question is ‘How will the Bucs’ TEAM that surrounds each of them play this season?’ QB is surely THE most important position on today’s NFL teams, but the 2002 Bucs provide pretty good evidence that it’s the TEAM performance that can make all the difference. Even in today’s NFL. I don’t consider Jason Hurts, Brock Purdy or Kirk Cousins particularly elite QBs, yet their teams finished 14-3, 13-4 & 13-4 last season.
June 21st, 2023 at 5:16 am
All good points, Defense Rules.
June 21st, 2023 at 5:22 am
The bucs got better just by getting rid of Byron!
June 21st, 2023 at 6:54 am
Opposing teams knew what plays the Bucs were running every game. It’s a miracle they won as many games as they did in ‘22! Just an ounce of imagination on offense will make it better than last year.
June 21st, 2023 at 6:56 am
JOE: “The Bucs lost with Tom Brady, they say, so how are they supposed to win with Kyler Traskfield? It’s a fair point.”
I’ve been making that point for months and getting my comments deleted. Point being, that playing one-year Moxie Mayfield is another blunder from the Bucs.
June 21st, 2023 at 6:57 am
Think with the exception of QB the offense has the potential to be better. I like everything I am reading about Canales’ approach. To be honest Baker is going to be the limiting factor this season. I’d feel a lot better with veteran like Ryan or Wentz and think our chances to win each week would rise exponentially. Not sold on current QB situation and have a feeling Baker is just going to be Jameis 2.0.
June 21st, 2023 at 7:23 am
Mahommes, and Burrow I’d rank as the top two QB’s in the league. Still, without talent around them, and great coaching they wouldn’t be what they’ve become. My point is it takes more than just having a great QB. Football is a team game. We might not have Brady, but with scheme, better coaching, better players there’s no reason we can’t do better than last year. Let’s also tell it like it is. Brady was a shell of his 2020 self. Anyone who says different didn’t really follow the bucs last year. Hodad, what about those 4th quarter comebacks? I say, what about stinking for the first three quarters?
June 21st, 2023 at 7:46 am
Defense Rules
You are correct that Brady wasn’t the same for many of those reasons….But I submit that the loss of Gronk was the primary reason for his struggle…..both from a play standpoint and an emotional standpoint…
Not having Gronk for “tuddies” made a difference.
And, anyone who is “sad” for Brady needs to reconsider that.
June 21st, 2023 at 8:07 am
Joe I have a Question???
Has any other team had a losing season and fired many of the coach staff BUT NOT THE HC???
HC in a firing coaches to get better situation seems should be the FIRST TO GO???
June 21st, 2023 at 8:12 am
Russel Wilson played great in Seattle but failed miserably in Denver.
It’s not a leap of fate to conclude that Dave Canales can achieve the Seattle results vs Denver results with the Bucs Mayfield. Good coaches are critically important to team success.
Poor coaching sinks teams while good coaches get the most out of their players.
June 21st, 2023 at 8:22 am
It’s gonna be a long season. But we’re all used to this! It can be fun to have those surprise wins from time to time. Rebuilding is fun!
June 21st, 2023 at 8:34 am
TBBF … Agree with you 100% about Gronk’s significance to our offense & to TB12 himself. BTW, I feel similarly about Jensen’s significance to our OLine. Some players just seem to ‘set the tone’ for their position group & ultimately for the team.
Roc … Bowles’ promotion to HC last year was quite a bit different than most I surmise. Part of that would probably be due to the late notification, and part of it MIGHT be due to any ‘gentlemen agreements’ that Arians might have had with Licht & Bowles to retain HIS staff for 2022 at least (BA was a fanatic about loyalty it appears). I also think that Tom Brady really did intend to retire after 2021, but changed his mind for whatever reason (only he really knows). But my impression is that he didn’t really want to play for the Bucs, but seemingly had no choice because JL wouldn’t trade our 2022 ‘rights’ to him for anything less than a king’s ransom (wasn’t gonna happen). All in all, a crappy situation for everyone involved.
June 21st, 2023 at 8:54 am
You post the same, exact articles over and over and over again. It’s gotten to the point that I skip at least 1/3 of them.
June 21st, 2023 at 9:19 am
Roc Says:
June 21st, 2023 at 8:07 am
Joe I have a Question???
Has any other team had a losing season and fired many of the coach staff BUT NOT THE HC???
With a quick look, here is what I could find ROC:
2022 New England Patriots
2018 Detroit Lions
2017 Houston Texans
2017 Cleveland Browns
2016 Cleveland Brown
2015 San Diego Chargers
2013 Miami Dolphins (actually 8 and 8)
2012 New York Jets
June 21st, 2023 at 9:24 am
Bowles Curse
June 21st, 2023 at 9:44 am
Hey Joe. Show Me the TDs says that you post the exact articles over and over again.
They must be entertaining enough to read because he keeps on reading them.
He says that he skips at least 1/3 of the articles. But how would he know they are the same if he doesnt even read them?
I hope you all will be ok. He does seem rather upset.
June 21st, 2023 at 9:52 am
This is not the season the Bucs lost the GOAT. He was gone before last season started and that was depressing.
I think Trask has more upside as a future NFL QB, but if Mayfly can insert some life back into a Bucs team that was seriously dispirited last season I will bow to him.
Canales has an upbeat style that might get some CPR started, but it will take a player or 53 to bring joy to playing.
June 21st, 2023 at 10:14 am
The top 3 reasons for our decline last year were, in no particular order: Leftwich’s lack of scheming ability, Brady’s decline, Jensons and Smith injuries. I’m not going to cite Gronks absence because he wasn’t on the roster.
June 21st, 2023 at 10:26 am
In 2019 Brady threw a pick 6 against the Titans with 9 seconds left and many said Brady was a Shell of Himself. Even though he threw for 4057 yds with 24 TD’s and 8 Int’s. Finished 7th among QB’s with J.W being 1st with 5109 33 and 30.
As a shell of himself he went on to Tampa, got a Super Bowl Ring and won 2 Division titles.
Brady left on his own terms. Perhaps he sucked by his own measure but certainly not by looking at his Stats.
Joe Namath had 6 knee Surgeries and continued to hobble out onto the field. His knees only hurt when he used them. That is a case of someone being a ‘Shell of Himself’ or ‘ Playing too Long’ and anyone that uses those terms to refer to Brady’s final season either has no recollection of the past or played when there was no concussion protocol.
June 21st, 2023 at 10:37 am
And you can catch Adam Rank at the Camden Yuk Yuk Comedy club in Camden NJ this weekend with opening act Freddie Martino singing all his hits!!
June 21st, 2023 at 10:42 am
Shank, right on point. Sending Mayfield out there is folly.
June 21st, 2023 at 11:49 am
How are the Bucs the least fun team to watch with Baker?
1. Love or hate Baker, he has more commercials than nearly every player. He’s probably the most recognizable guy in the league to the average American.
2. The Bucs lost TB12 but every media outlet keeps talking about the Bucs because of Baker.
3. If Baker succeeds, look out. The media stories will BLOW UP. The NFL wants Baker to succeed. He’s obviously very marketable.
June 21st, 2023 at 12:08 pm
shankasorous Says
“I’ve been making that point for months and getting my comments deleted.”
Your comments were not deleted. Sometimes some posts take a while to get through. Happens to everyone from time to time.
The system blocks posts that break the rules though…you know, tech rules. Or uses certain keywords (I think those are flagged from review and Joe is a busy man).
But don’t take it personal. Unless you actually bait Joe or accuse him of something silly, he is pretty tolerant. The system used for the website is one I used for years…it makes mistakes but is one of the best systems.
June 21st, 2023 at 12:11 pm
SlyPirate, I’ve actually never knowingly seen a Mayfield commercial…and honestly, I would not recognize him if I saw him in a lineup.
#3 won’t happen though. So no need for me to comment on that. You can ask me to eat crow at the end of the season if I’m wrong though. 😉
June 21st, 2023 at 12:19 pm
SlyPirate Says: “He’s probably the most recognizable guy in the league to the average American.”
Actually, he looks like your average Joe: short and tubby.
June 21st, 2023 at 12:19 pm
The Trask fan boys want the job handed to him.
June 21st, 2023 at 1:01 pm
Considering that most of our 10 losses can be chalked up directly to an impotent offense run by Brady… and he’s now gone… we should better this year.
June 21st, 2023 at 1:06 pm
Agreed, Brandon. The offense should be better, and IF some of the young defensive players step up, the defense could be special.
June 21st, 2023 at 1:15 pm
The obvious answer that these dumbass media talking heads don’t get is that a football team is a 22 man team, plus special teams and rotational players. A quarterback is potentially the most important player (but not always). But he is still just one player on a 53 man roster. If the offensive line is a dumpster fire as the Bucs line was last season, it’s going to be a mediocre offense at best, or possibly very bad.
Will the Bucs O line be significantly improved this season over last? Nobody knows, including 100% of the dumbass media talking heads. The Bucs won’t even know until the second half of the season.
June 21st, 2023 at 1:21 pm
new coordinator, new zone-blocking run attack, LT, LG, C, RG, RT all different from the ones last year, a QB who won’t be afraid to take a pressure… lots of reason to think it can be better
June 21st, 2023 at 3:51 pm
Thank you Geno!!!
Guess there was others
But don’t think this team can win with Bowles
June 21st, 2023 at 6:17 pm
TOM BRADY DID A AWESOME JOB GETTING LAST YEARS POOR TEAM TO WIN THE DIVISION & HOST A PLAYOFF GAME ( LEADING AMAZING COMEBACKS AGAINST THE SAINTS & RAMS & PINPOINTING MIKE EVANS IN THAT WINNER TAKES THE DIVISION TITLE & SECURES A HOME PLATOFF GAME.( UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES HE PLAYED LIKE ATRUE CHAMPION DURING HIS FINAL SEASON ) THAT BEING SAID, THIS YOUNG TEAM LOOKS VERY TALENTED & HUNGRY TO PROVE BRADY’S FINAL YEAR WAS INSPIRING TO THEM, CONSIDERING THE BANGED UP SURROUNDING CAST HE HAD TO WORK WITH LAST SEASON..HIS POSITIVE WINNING AT WILL STSY IN THAT LOCKER ROOM & WILL CONTINUE TO REMAIN THAT WAY WITH BAKER MAYFIELD UNDER CENTER ( WITH HIS MOXIE & LEADERSHIP SKILLS..TRASK WILL MAKE FOR A GREAT 2ND OPTION, BUT IT’S OBVIOUS TO ME ,IT’S BAKER’S JOB TO LOSE AT THIS POINT IN THE COMPETITION….WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE TWO QUARTERBACK’S WHO COULD START FOR ANY TEAM IN THE LEAGUE I KNOW KYLE TRASK WILL NOW EVENTUALLY GET HIS CHANCE JUST NOT THIS SEASON ( BARRING INJURY ..LORD WILLING, NO ! ) I LOVE THIS YOUNG TEAM & FEEL THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE THE MEDIA CRINGE WHEN THEY WITNESS HOW UNDERATED THEY THEY HAD US FROM THE BEGINNING THIS YEAR..THEY WILL BE EATING ALOT OF CROW AS OUR SEASON PROGRESSES ( MAKING THEM LOOK LIKE A BUNCH OF “DUMBASSES” !
June 21st, 2023 at 6:25 pm
TOMMY MORDUE now that’s a CAPITAL idea!
June 21st, 2023 at 7:34 pm
DR, Hobag, in 2021 no Wirf, No Cappa, NO Stinni, broken Jensen, Limping replacement left tackle, NO Godwin, Gronk out for 5 games, useless JPP, Lenny out for a few games, depleted secondary and still if NOT for Blows, Bucs return to the SB. 2022 was sabotaged by Bowles & BA, Brady was the Bucs scape GOAT for a incompetent coaching staff and GM that made NO strategic pick ups to help the team. 2022 Bucs were a undiscipline cluster puck Mahomes, Allen, Jackson, Montana and the best ever couldn’t save. Playing NOT to LOSE is a coaching crime.
June 21st, 2023 at 9:09 pm
Sad, but true- we suck until proven otherwise
June 21st, 2023 at 10:35 pm
I will support any QB that can breath life into last season
s moribund offense.
I think Trask has more upside in the long run, but if Baker can bring out a spark of life, I will support him, till he out balers himself.
A spark on offense now will help both the defense and special teams too. They were also bad last season
There were many reasons the Bucs were horrid last season, the worst was habits from a zombie movie.
June 21st, 2023 at 11:31 pm
Yes the Bucs were 8-9 but it wasn’t all on the offense. For example the Ravens game. They came in here and ran the ball down our throats. It was a pathetic display of defensive football. So, once again if the defense doesn’t show up and plays well the entire year we may only win a handful of games. Also, if the so called Bucs Savior linebacker Devin White is seen loafing, or continually running himself out of a play or better yet getting blocked 15 yards downfield by an O-lineman then the world will finally see that he is indeed a one hit wonder. He got his Super Bowl ring and is just collecting a check.
June 22nd, 2023 at 12:24 am
Thats ok all the Tampa Bay fans more remember when Brady won it tossing the trophy…so does everyone else ……they just hate to give props r mention. AT LEAST SAY ITS BITTER SWEET OR SOMETHING LOL
June 22nd, 2023 at 10:44 am
Gonna be hilarious after 4 games in when everyone turns on this new OC. The guy is completely unproven and he hasn’t found a half decent QB.