Ian Beckles: Asking Bucs To Win Five More Games A Big Task
November 25th, 2023
Bucs at a crossroads.
Defense was on the mind of a former Bucs offensive lineman. And when he sees the Tampa Bay defense, he has the feeling he is seeing the beginning of the end for the Bucs in more ways than one.
Reitired guard Ian Beckles, speaking on his podcast In the Trenches, thinks the Bucs may be on a downward spiral and he points to the defense.
“I’m a little bit scared,” Beckles said.
“I don’t know why people say the Bucs are good on defense anymore,” Beckles said. “What do they do well?
“Carlton Davis, didn’t he used to be good? Jamel Dean, he’s always banged up. But before he got banged up, he wasn’t any good either.”
(This Dean remark is the opposite of recent podcasts where Beckles has hailed Dean as a talented corner who would make huge bank on the open market.)
Beckles is also about fed up with the play of former first-round pick linebacker Devin White, though he defended White for giving up a touchdown pass to Christian McCaffrey, which Beckles said was an insane playcall executed perfectly by one of the best offensive players in the game.
“I’m not going to blame Devin White for that play,” Beckles said. “But Devin White, you get blocked a lot. Great linebackers don’t get blocked a lot. … Devin White, a lot of times you watch touchdowns or runs, he is just getting washed.”
Right now Beckles doesn’t think White is any better than Kwon Alexander, and he’s beginning to think White is misused.
“I’m not sure we are using him the right way,” Beckles said. “Every time I see him blitzing, he’s a fantastic blitzer. Every time.”
While Beckles extended his views on White, in the same breath he launched into a diatribe about why Joe Tryon-Shoyinka is getting more snaps than YaYa Diaby.
“[White] should put his hand in the ground or put him in the A-gap every single passing down and take Joe Tryon-Shoyinka off the field,” Beckles said. “[JTS] should never be on the field anymore. Don’t put him on the field no more. YaYa Diaby should be on the field anyways.
“Don’t put JTS on the field no more, in a passing situation. Don’t do it. Why? Why? Give me a reason why you would do that, other than he’s a first-round pick and a good-looking athlete. I don’t give a crap no more.”
Beckles believes the Bucs must with five of their final seven games to have a prayer at the playoffs. And looking at the schedule, Beckles isn’t feeling it. Beckles noted not often in the NFL do teams go 1-5, as the Bucs have been their last six games, and then flip the switch and go 5-2.
Not targeting Mike Evans and Chris Godwin is a reason Beckles has lost confidence.
“Let’s be real with it,” Beckles began. “Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are just guys right now.”
Add to that Beckles hates the use of Rachaad White.
“Rachaad White, I don’t understand him,” Beckles confessed. “I don’t know why you would give him the ball in the backfield in between the tackles. [Beckles then shakes his head back and forth.] I don’t know. Maybe I have to go to the All-22 [and see].
“Because from a TV camera angle, every time Rachaad White gets the ball all he does is pitter-patter his feet. Hit the gosh darn hole! When you pitter-patter, the hole is closing. It’s nothing but pitter-patter. Nothing is good.
“As bad as he is running between the tackles, he is that good running in open space. But he don’t get open space ever. But as a raw runner, why are we giving him the ball? We would have been better off re-signing Leonard Fournette.”
Beckles had other thoughts:
* On Baker Mayfield: I don’t think [the poor offense] is Baker’s fault. But am I impressed? No! No. We had seven points at half. We ended the game with 14 points. It’s not Baker’s fault but our wide receiving corps is not helping Baker. There were a couple-three drops in that game that were key drops on third down plays. Key, key, key drops. Baker could have easily thrown three more picks easily. Easily.
* On right tackle Luke Goedeke: He’s growing up a little bit. I didn’t think he was going to be able to work for me. I really didn’t. I don’t know how you play tackle after you can’t play guard. That’s baffling to me.
* On left tackle Tristan Wirfs: I saw him locking up Nick Bosa. I mean locking up.
* On tight end Cade Otton: I’ve been critical of Cade Otton. I still don’t know if he is the guy. I think he could be a great No. 2 tight end. Like a great one. I just don’t know if he is a No. 1 guy. Sad part is, he’s been our go-to guy the past two weeks.
* Beckles seems to think Todd Bowles not being aggressive late in the first half of games is because he doesn’t fully trust Mayfield: “It was 13-7 at half? You don’t think they are happy? They are elated. That’s a win! The last thing you want to do is have Baker put the ball up and get it intercepted and have it returned and the game is over.”
* Beckles thinks the Bucs will internally collapse if they lose to the Colts tomorrow: “That locker room is going to be funny. I have been in those locker rooms before. … Politics come into play. That stuff happens now. “
Beckles added he wouldn’t be surprised if the Bucs lose to the Colts, guys get benched and perhaps cut before the Bucs play the Stinking Panthers a week from tomorrow.
#FreeYaYa
November 25th, 2023 at 8:13 am
The defense wasn’t that great when everyone was healthy. It’s gonna be a tall task to get stop without LD out there. The offense can’t score either. It’s going to be a boring game tomorrow but we’ll see if the OC remembers he has 2 good #1 & #2 WRs.
November 25th, 2023 at 8:21 am
He got it right except for Otton. He’s a solid tight end with the skills to be great. He just needs to have a better team around him.
No comments on Dean? The guy is injured and out of the game after no contact plays! Just crazy.
November 25th, 2023 at 8:22 am
“Ya Ya- a-day” by proxie.
November 25th, 2023 at 8:37 am
Please lose out & get a NEW coaching staff and higher draft choice.
November 25th, 2023 at 8:50 am
I agree that White can improve at making people miss behind the line. But let’s be honest, that “pitter-patter” style is probably why he even has 3.3 YPC. His fellow RBs try to “hit the gosh darn hole” only to find that there isn’t a hole. Vaugn: 1.8 YPC, Edmonds: 2.1 YPC, Tucker: 1.5 YPC. Looks like White is making the most of his opportunities behind this line.
Agree with most of the other remarks from Beckles, though. Lots of problems with this team, but the biggest issues are on the sideline.
November 25th, 2023 at 8:57 am
Hate to say this, but Beckles nailed it. He didn’t write a single thing that I disagree with. Doesn’t bode well for tomorrow’s game.
November 25th, 2023 at 9:06 am
Defense Rules Says:
November 25th, 2023 at 8:57 am
Hate to say this, but Beckles nailed it. He didn’t write a single thing that I disagree with. Doesn’t bode well for tomorrow’s game.
^^^^^^^
You agree that Otton would be a “great” number 2 TE? What is Otton great at? Blocking? Hands? This is a ridiculous statement, Otton is just okay (or less than average) at every aspect of football.
November 25th, 2023 at 9:06 am
The first to be benched should be Bowles. Defensive guru my arse. If he is still head coach come February, I will have spent my last dime on anything Glazer related.
November 25th, 2023 at 9:14 am
Everyone that has watched a Bucs game can see Ya Ya is clearly the better player…except Bowles.
November 25th, 2023 at 9:59 am
He’s right as usual. He’s not a man trying to generate web traffic. Tell it like it is and nobody will even tune in let alone go to websites with Yucs content.
November 25th, 2023 at 10:18 am
Joe – please ask Bowles that if JTS “understands the scheme” better than Yaya yet still makes no plays, then how can Bowles justify JTS being on the field? Makes zero sense. Saying JTS “understands “ things better is a much greater sign that JTS is absolutely not getting the job done. Would love to hear that explanation.
November 25th, 2023 at 10:21 am
Beckles has his finger on what should be the pulse of the team but that pulse seems to be missing.
Hot Toddie just can’t motivate the team enough for it to have any pride. The defense has fallen to the level of the offense, which is pretty poor.
If Otton isn’t the guy play Kieft some more and push them both.
Jamel Dean has never really been a CB. He is a heat seeking missile that unloads on a receiver, he does not stop that receiver from catching the ball.
November 25th, 2023 at 10:29 am
Beckles is pretty much spot on. I truly hope next year, D.White, JTS, Davis and Dean are not in Bucs uniform. Their play and effort has been shameful. Bucs really miss Jensen on Oline so next year a stud center and guard is paramount. Realistically, it’s going to take 2-3 years to climb out of the cap mess and flush some of these players out of here. But most important is a completely new coaching staff.
November 25th, 2023 at 10:34 am
Ian is spot on – we will be lucky to go 3-4 down the stretch
This team has holes, but outside of maybe 5 teams everyone is pretty close in talent and it comes down to coaching
We are at the bottom of the list in coaching ability – Ron Rivera is a master compared to Todd….
November 25th, 2023 at 10:45 am
Craig: Keift is worse than Otton, and Otton isn’t good. I’d rather them just put an O-Lineman out there at TE most of the time. At least the O-Lineman can block.
November 25th, 2023 at 10:47 am
*Kieft
November 25th, 2023 at 11:28 am
He did comment on Dean. Joe documented in the post one comment.
November 25th, 2023 at 11:30 am
That’s like a 15-minute answer. To shorten it to one word, “apparently.”
November 25th, 2023 at 11:30 am
Joe in Michigan … I’d rather see Otton as a #2 than as a #1 like he is now.
November 25th, 2023 at 11:31 am
Beckles didn’t type a word. It’s a podcast.
November 25th, 2023 at 12:20 pm
We won cause Brady put up over 30 points a game…in Spite of the Bowzo Defense. Now no Brady so many Glorious losses. We can not come back in the 4th cause bad clock skills and lack of long ball accuracy.
November 25th, 2023 at 12:22 pm
The reason Ya Ya does so good is BECAUSE he does not understand Bowles schemes.
November 25th, 2023 at 12:30 pm
Yep. Wait till YaYa understands the “Bowles Scheme” we won’t know he’s out there.
November 25th, 2023 at 12:36 pm
Joe in Michigan, I don’t know what info you have about Kieft because he has only been on the bench since pre-season.
He is four or 5 times the blocker Otton is and in pre-season he showed better hands for catching balls in his range.
Our best runs of this season had Otton helping the line open holes. Since Kieft is the better blocker, he would hold a hole better than Otton.
Becoming known as a blocker he would have fewer defenders waiting for him if he went out on a route. He is also more of an animal in the open field. That would add some physicality to the offense that looks too soft for an NFL team.
November 25th, 2023 at 12:47 pm
(36-55) as HC
the ONLY THING Todd is a guru at is LOSING!
November 25th, 2023 at 12:51 pm
When Devin White was his best, he was accused of freelancing too much.
Not following the “Scheme” lol
November 25th, 2023 at 1:08 pm
Pretty accurate stuff by Heckles. There must be somewhat of a mandate by LichtWeight to play Joe Barely Tryon. He’s awful. There is zero chance he becomes a legitimate NFL starter. Bumblin’ Bowles has to make excuses & alibis for him each week. Sooner of later the ruse will end. Perhaps a fake injury a la “hurt feelings” will finally bench Keep Tryon.
November 25th, 2023 at 8:07 pm
Beckles is human and he’s not psychic and doesn’t have a crystal ball. Why can’t the Bucs win 5 games? My bitch is Canales’ play calling. I’m getting frustrated just like I did in Koetter’s final season. The offense is hamstrung by their coach. Mebbe tomorrow that might finally change, and mebbe not. And if the Bucs don’t make the playoffs, big deal. When you’ve been a fan as long as I have, a losing season is nothing to freak out over. At least, they aren’t bottom feeders this year.
November 25th, 2023 at 9:07 pm
Beckles is always invested in this team, and I love it!
He’ll never make a Ring of Honor, but he bleeds this team. Love that guy!
And his insight is almost always spot on. I can’t think of player or coach he’s been wrong about.
November 25th, 2023 at 10:08 pm
🤣😭😂😭🤣😭😂😭🤣😭😂5 more games with this defense and Olune! 😂😭🤣😭😂😭🤣😭😂😭🤣……you got to be sh*ting me Pyle!!!