Same Ol’ (Stuff)
August 12th, 2023
Remember me?
OK, Joe is to the point with Ryan Jensen that Joe is not expecting the Pro Bowl center to suit up and start the season opener in Minneapolis.
Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht was less than encouraging earlier this week when asked about Jensen’s status on SiriusXM NFL Radio. Licht said the Bucs are hoping to get Jensen’s destroyed knee strong enough that he can resume full-time practice.
So if Jensen cannot handle a full practice on grass less than a month before the season kicks off, how can he be expected to handle a full game on the turf in U.S. Bank Stadium?
Joe’s antennae went up when the likely Week 1 starters on the right side of the line, Robert Hainsey, Cody Mauch and Luke Goedeke, were getting their arses handed to them Friday night by the Steelers. Ordinarily, it’s no death wish when the Steelers bully another team’s offensive line. That a hallmark trait of a Mike Tomlin team.
Still, given how the Bucs couldn’t run the ball last year, last night’s debacle has Bucs fans freaking out.
Bobby Kownack of NFL.com was equally unnerved watching how the Bucs couldn’t block last night.
Bucs’ O-line doesn’t look sharp. Tampa Bay’s offensive line woes led to just 76.9 rushing yards per game last season. It would be unfair to say those issues carried over in the preseason considering Ryan Jensen, Matt Feiler and Tristan Wirfs sat out, but the product that did take the field looked harrowingly similar. Running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn, who started the contest, managed four yards on seven carries for 0.6 yards per attempt.
Running for barely half a yard a crack is appalling. Sure, the blocking wasn’t great, but goodness sake, you’re an NFL runner, dodge or bulldog a would-be tackler for more than a half-yard a crack.
What triggered Joe was the way the Bucs honored SpongeBob Leftwich on the first possession by running up the gut three times and then getting whistled for a false start on fourth down.
Seemed like someone replayed the loss at Carolina last season, didn’t it?
August 12th, 2023 at 10:07 am
Much more concerned about the short yardage situations than the yards per carry
August 12th, 2023 at 10:10 am
Mind games Joe. It’s all a charade. Once the real games begin, Canales will pull out his bag of tricks. I just hope is creative enough to deal with the deficiency on the right side of the line. Teams will be foaming at the mouth for a piece of T Rex, and the small school rookie.
August 12th, 2023 at 10:11 am
As long as we stop with the stupid BL references. They go into the preseason to work on situations and short yardage work is important so I understand why you’d do it if you’re gonna be a running team. my issue is they looked like trash doing it. Can’t have a run game with a trash o line. Tristan isn’t gonna improve the entire o line
August 12th, 2023 at 10:13 am
So if Dave Canales flames out and the play calling is the same as last year, would it be safe to say that it’s Bowles and Leftwich was hung out to dry.
August 12th, 2023 at 10:16 am
For a “worthless” preseason game, Joe seems to have gleaned a lot.
August 12th, 2023 at 10:18 am
I’m sorry but what I saw in Luke Goedeke last night is the same from last year. You can move him to right tackle, right guard, right field, left field, power forward, or center, he’s still the same bust, because a zebra don’t change its stripes. I watched him get beast mode last night. The jury is still out on Hainsey n I’ll give Mauch the benefit of the doubt.
August 12th, 2023 at 10:25 am
In a case such as this one must look for common denominators. Now, some things have changed but all in all the main common denominator to our problem is …HC/DC. These play calls are red penned in by HC/DC in his genius game plans worthy of Wile E Coyote and the Acme playbook he keeps in a safe at 1 Buc. Poor Canales and poor Lefty are stuck with them. His blunders are epic. But he will never give up or change. He is what he is. The Bowles Curse.
August 12th, 2023 at 10:27 am
It’s almost like having A joke of an o-line limits how you can call plays…..
August 12th, 2023 at 10:37 am
This team is going to be bad.
I have a hard time envisioning this team getting to 8-9 at it’s ceiling. The offense is going to be outright terrible. No way around it, The line can’t block, Quarterback play is going to be subpar at best. Our WR’s are old and banged up now. No TE’s (granted that’s most teams), and a rookie play caller and the same scared HC is still here.
hopefully if they suck they suck bad enough for Caleb.
August 12th, 2023 at 10:37 am
I’m not too worried about the play calling, however, the execution is concerning was horrible: no blocking in the run game and multiple penalties needs to improve, or else it will carry over into the regular season.
August 12th, 2023 at 10:50 am
Goedeke is going to get someone injured. Bucs need to decide his fate after the next game vs. Jets. Leverett or Feiler or anyone else please!
August 12th, 2023 at 10:51 am
Yeah Joe,
I kept on thinking the same thing last night too…..until is hit me “wait a minute, didn’t we get a new Offensive Coordinator?????”
The offense really did look like Byron Leftwich was calling the plays with Mayfield playing QB.
I sure hope this team is just playing some serious poker face football and keeping everything 100% Vanilla.
August 12th, 2023 at 10:51 am
One preseason game and the sky is falling. Typical here on jbf
August 12th, 2023 at 10:53 am
dmatt tells it like it is. Maybe Goedeke could be right turnstile outside of the Stadium.
August 12th, 2023 at 10:55 am
^^^^ This team has been historically abysmal. We were treated to Brady for a few years but I’m not a dummy, I know this is a badly coached team with no QB.
August 12th, 2023 at 10:55 am
@ tampabuscsbro
Bro! If this team wins more than 5 games this year….then I’ll be really impressed.
This a rebuilding hold over year…..in 2024, the Bucs will select or trade for a Franchise QB.
People need to understand that for Bucs Organization in 2023….this is a hold over year for 2024.
August 12th, 2023 at 10:57 am
Bucs should ‘rest’ all their starters until the playoffs.
August 12th, 2023 at 11:02 am
When other teams waive experienced Olinemen- Jason Licht has to do his FREAKING JOB and get some new olinemen with experience-Licht blew it last year by not bringing in more talent on the Oline and if he blows it again-FIRE HIS ARSE
August 12th, 2023 at 11:05 am
It must be pointed out that the bucs aren’t trying to win these games, they’re trying out people, plays, formations, etc
August 12th, 2023 at 11:10 am
If last night’s game was a traffic light it would be yellow.
August 12th, 2023 at 11:11 am
As far as the right side of the line goes.
August 12th, 2023 at 11:14 am
“What triggered Joe was the way the Bucs honored SpongeBob Leftwich on the first possession by running up the gut three times and then getting whistled for a false start on fourth down.”
I openly dog cussed Canales for that first play. What an insult to us all.
August 12th, 2023 at 11:37 am
It’s almost as if the GM and HC don’t communicate with each other at all. Toad wants to be a run first, smash mouth team, yet Licht keeps drafting thin-legged, weak, ‘mobile’ olinemen that are completely 1-dimensional pass blockers. They don’t seem to be on the same page strategically at all.
August 12th, 2023 at 11:37 am
Hainsley & Stinnie played in the SB and Goedeke most of all last season. Experience isn’t the problem, coaching is. Baker taken out in a stretcher by game 4. If the GOAT can’t win under Blows, NO ONE can. Brady owned Dallas, the D in the playoff game was one of the worst I’ve ever seen. How can you not cover CC Lamb? Nevermind the same coach didn’t cover Kupp.
August 12th, 2023 at 11:39 am
Honestly Joe WHY DO YOU EXPECT DIFFERENT??????
Bowles had a losing season with the GOAT QB then talked to Bucs into firing the OC
Every Other team in the league would have cleaned house
Last night was preseason BUT THE BUCS LOOKED TERRIBLE
LONG SEASON with a lot of excuses
August 12th, 2023 at 11:59 am
GOT TO WONDER? …
Same horrible plays. Different OC. Same HC. Is this Todd’s influence?
Joe! You have to ask.
August 12th, 2023 at 12:31 pm
Sly Pirate,
I’ve got a bad feeling that You’re on to something! Looks like, Talks like, Walks like…. I mean, it could be a Goose “BUT” it SURE IS One He!! of an coincidence!
And Bucfan Since 76…… Couldn’t agree more! And I like Licht. HOWEVER!
August 12th, 2023 at 12:52 pm
The ole’ Jets reboot with Todd in charge!!!!!!!!
August 12th, 2023 at 12:54 pm
Lol 🤣🤣🤣 I thought BL was the reason why the offense sucked?? Lol 🤣🤣
August 12th, 2023 at 12:54 pm
Since Jensen went down, there is no push from the middle of the line. Since that is a liability, forget about developing a young guard. We likely should have drafted Ryan’s replacement this past season. Hainsey does not take up enough space there. Leverette is likely the better option. Remember how tough we had it at center before we got Jensen? We never had it so good.
August 12th, 2023 at 1:23 pm
If Leftwich was any good he’d have a job somewhere right now…
He does not.
August 12th, 2023 at 1:53 pm
Jensen seems like he may not play most of this season. No Jensen for this season and then he will be a free agent in offseason and probably sign elsewhere. Sucks, Ryan Jensen is one of my favorite players on the team
August 12th, 2023 at 2:09 pm
Leftwich doesn’t have a job prolly by choice I’m not saying he’s any good but coach contracts are different than players. When coaches get fired the firing organization keeps paying the contract so Leftwich is sitting back collecting free money
August 12th, 2023 at 2:09 pm
HC Grover … ‘These play calls are red penned in by HC/DC in his genius game plans worthy of Wile E Coyote and the Acme playbook he keeps in a safe at 1 Buc. Poor Canales and poor Lefty are stuck with them.’
It’s fine to dislike Bowles; you’ve obviously got a lot of company. But to just make crap up for the sake of denigrating someone, even someone you don’t like, without any basis in FACT is horsepuckey. We see enough of that garbage every day in politics; keep it out of sports. There are surely plenty of valid REASONS why fans don’t like Bowles as our HC. Stick to FACTS
August 12th, 2023 at 2:23 pm
Todd is the worst head coach in the NFL, lose and start the rebuild
August 12th, 2023 at 2:26 pm
Showing wrong pic
Need to have Jason’s pic
August 12th, 2023 at 5:53 pm
Let’s see? Only 3 preseason games now. 25% of evaluation time gone. Numbers ones should be playing at least 1/3 of the game. Start them, evaluate them, bring the number 2 guys, evaluate them too. Last 1/3 of the game throw in the scrubs and look for the best of them. Start cutting the weakest before week two. Focus on who is left. Coach them up intensely. Week two repeat the process. Play the ones a little longer. Play the 2’s. Pull any 2’s that look week and plug in 3’s. By week three you will know what ya got. Play the 1’s first quarter then sit them. Play the 2’s the next 2 quarters. Last quarter play some of the bottom players who have shown some potential. In the meantime watch the waiver wires for upgrades daily. With only 2 weeks of preseason left, dump the obvious weak ones now. Focus on the best of what you got. No longer have the luxury of 4 preseason games.
August 12th, 2023 at 6:01 pm
A lot depended on Jensen being 100%. Now that it looks like he is far from it, can’t even practice full out, and isn’t going to suit up for a significant chunk of the season, good night.
Put Wirfs and Feiler in there, you still have a patchwork mess like last season. Back to soft Hainsey at C, Goedeke a turnstile no matter where he is….
Exactly what is Rah Rah Canales’ plan B and C? How is he going to establish his zone blocking scheme and smashmouth? He’s familiar with an unstable OL from Seattle, which required a mobile Russell Wilson. So you have a mobile Mayfield, but the OL is worse than anything from the Seahawks glory years.
August 12th, 2023 at 6:02 pm
Ps. Wishful thinking. The Bucs organization is lousy at preseason evaluations. Why waste time with the bottom players. Get the best 2 or 3 at each position ready and let the goon squad practice together with assistant coaches on the back lot. If any stand out, promote them to the real practice squad.
August 12th, 2023 at 7:23 pm
Mr. Editor says: “Much more concerned about the short yardage situations than the yards per carry”
It is very troubling!! You need to be able to make 1 or 2 yards at critical times during games! On 4th down it’s a drive ender. In the red zone it’s the difference between 7 points and 3 points. At the end of the game it’s the difference between a win and a loss!! Ect.
Last season this was an on going problem that the coaches couldn’t fix! This year?
August 12th, 2023 at 7:34 pm
I’m hoping for creative play action passes out of heavy sets at the 1 yard line and on 3 rd and 4th and 1 yard situations! Not smash mouth! Maybe if 3 or 4 of these plays were called you can run up the middle easier.
August 12th, 2023 at 9:09 pm
Very obvious that Bowles does not know how to prepare a team to be ready to play!
August 12th, 2023 at 10:49 pm
Thad Lewis wears his brim pretty flat, it looked like.
August 13th, 2023 at 1:38 am
Come back brother. We’ve missed you!
@Lefty. @ByronCallsRunsUpTheGut. @BAsHandPickedSuccessor
August 13th, 2023 at 6:41 am
Yeah Joe, it’s pretty apparent they are not counting on Jensen for the opener at least. They even had third string guys in at one point.
Can Dzansi play Right tackle? Pre camp he had some buzz. How has he looked?
Go Bucs!
August 13th, 2023 at 8:55 am
Gee, where did the Steelers have the most success running the ball? I believe they ran wide rather than up the middle. Where do the Bucs insist on running? Up the middle and look at the yards gained!!