What Happened During The Bye Week?
November 12th, 2023
Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
In some seasons you can point to something happening at a certain point in the calendar that is a catalyst for a team either turning the corner toward dominance or falling off a cliff.
Joe remembers the 2011 Bucs beating the slimy Saints with Drew Brees at home in a close game. That left them with a 4-2 record. In a handful of hours, they flew overseas to play in London. They came back a totally different team.
That Saints win turned out to be the last victory of the season, and the last win of former Bucs coach Raheem Morris’ career in Tampa.
Joe has heard all kinds of stories about something weird going on in London — from players and cheerleaders being naughty in a random group gathering to helmet-wielding, cabbie-slugging, Adderrall-popping, coach-cussing, referee-charging, pistol-friendly, granny-hassling Aqib Talib getting into a loud hassle with Morris in the Bucs’ hotel lobby.
Whatever happened, the Bucs went from winners to losers immediately.
The way the 2023 Bucs have played since enjoying a bye week in early October has been a stark contrast to the team that jumped out to a 3-1 record with a convincing win over the slimy Saints in their crib.
The Bucs defense has gradually and steaily gotten worse until it fully imploded last week and is a complete sieve now, specifically the pass defense.
The Bucs offense, with the exception of last week’s 37-point outburst, also worsened.
Rich Hribar of Sharp Football Analysis has interesting tidbits of the Bucs before the bye and after.
Since their Week 5 bye, the Buccaneers have converted just 28.8% of their third downs, 30th in the NFL.
Before their bye, Tampa Bay had converted 47.4% of their third downs, fifth in the league.
Joe has no idea what happened at the bye. Was it that other teams figured out how to play the Bucs and every team since is just copycatting?
Or did some players decide it’s time to start worrying about themselves and their future earnings?
November 12th, 2023 at 12:30 am
We played the viking the bears and the saints with a 1 arm Carr the games we won. That’s what happened. The only other teams as bad as us
November 12th, 2023 at 12:43 am
Teams stopped letting Baker roll out. Have they run a naked boot since the saints ?
November 12th, 2023 at 12:49 am
IDK but just a few years ago, after a bye we didn’t lose any more games. Brady was here then and a few other great players, but still…how different!
November 12th, 2023 at 1:56 am
it’s true baker never gets a decent pocket…
and never can roll out anymore…
dude needs to roll out all game…that’s his style of play…
lately he’s always jammed up inside a tight collapsing pocket, with happy feet…
the only place a tight collapsing pocket is good would be in the sack 🙂
November 12th, 2023 at 2:16 am
Baker still rolls out some. I think he’s been told to to get himself creamed if he can avoid it.
November 12th, 2023 at 3:13 am
Joe … ‘The way the Bucs have played since enjoying a bye week in early October has been a stark contrast to the team that jumped out to a 3-1 record with a convincing win over the slimy Saints in their crib.’
I’m not sure that ‘stark contrast’ is even strong enough to really describe the difference between our 3-1 start & where we are now. In our 3 wins, our offense scored 24.3 PPG average while our defense gave up 14.3 PPG. In our 5 losses, the Bucs offense averaged 17 PPG while our defense gave up 24.8 PPG. That’s an almost total reversal … the offense fell off a cliff, and the defense jumped off after them in a show of empathy. I’d say this team must have Todd Bowles pulling out his hair, but that pirate ship has already sailed.
November 12th, 2023 at 5:54 am
What happened, teams have tape. Real NFL coaching staffs collect tape of opponents, then they break it down and look at ways to beat the upcoming opponent. We watch tape here in Tampa, but I don’t know that they game plan with it.
November 12th, 2023 at 5:55 am
Wait the offense was the issue they scored over 30 that’s a win in the NFL unless your defense lays down.
Bowles is a Raheem or a Lovie, Play Friend Coach.
No change in Defensive scheme
No adjustments
NO Demand to PLAY TOP LEVEL
Bowles was not a good Coach on NY
Bowles is not a defensive Guru as some say
Bowles is not a good Coach in Tampa period
November 12th, 2023 at 5:56 am
Wait On The Positive Size
TICKETS ARE CHEAP You can take the family to a game
THANK YOU TODD
November 12th, 2023 at 5:57 am
If this is their maximum effort, spare the fans and just forfeit the rest of the season. Fire the entire staff and rebuild. The product on the field is pathetic. If most of us put in half-hearted work we would be fired. Target those who made a business decision to go at loafing, end their season, let those who do care play. The results will be the same, but at least we would know they tried
November 12th, 2023 at 6:15 am
Soft coaching is what happened.
November 12th, 2023 at 6:16 am
……did some players decide its time to start worrying about themselves and their future earnings….
The answer is yes: Its called a busines decision. ( Neon Deon quote)
I honestly Thought the GM and Owners would move 1 or 2 players who we wouldnt be able to sign next year, before the tradeline that didnt happen, good teams do that?
The least management could do now is position for the draft and play all the rookies you can to evaluate talent. Its not like there selling tickets, and yes the season is over…….
November 12th, 2023 at 6:26 am
Does anyone play for of the love of the game anymore? I guess pulling in 7 figures a year makes losing easier to tolerate.
November 12th, 2023 at 6:28 am
I can’t believe some of the comments on this site. Sounds like a lot of you are just giving up. I guess that’s typical of the “fans” who contribute to sites like this one. My suggestion is that you stop wearing pajamas all day long, stop sucking your thumb, and grow a set!
November 12th, 2023 at 6:34 am
Canales is a first year playcaller. A distinct advantage early in the season, as there is no tape to study for opposing coaches. Once teams had enough tape to watch, the tendencies were exposed. Once teams looked at the tape they have been able to gameplan and the Bucs then simplified their offense making it even easier for the opposition. Lack of good coaching and game planning will continue for the Bucs and while they may be competitive today, I don’t see many more victories for the Bucs this season.
November 12th, 2023 at 6:50 am
It is a Hex put in New Orleans.
November 12th, 2023 at 7:23 am
Here here, WyomingJoe!!!!
November 12th, 2023 at 8:07 am
Win the two games that you are supposed to win with Falcons and Texans
November 12th, 2023 at 8:18 am
rickyM@ hit the nail on the head. You have seasoned DC’s game planning against basically a rookie OC. I was scratching my head when I would read how many of you were thinking Canales was the next coming of Andy Reid. A team that struggled in 2022 to put points on the board let’s their HC bring in a OC with ZERO experience calling an offense. Clearly Bowles was setting up his next scapegoat, that is until his D dropped a huge turd on him last week. Today’s game may not be a good one but it will sure be interesting to see how the players react.
November 12th, 2023 at 8:23 am
Wyoming Joe, I applaud your optimism. You remind me of the punk in school that everyone would beat on and as he lay beaten & bruised on the ground as you’re walking away he had to get the last word, “That the best you got!” In reality Joe, this team is not good and have obviously quit on their coach.
November 12th, 2023 at 8:47 am
I will not be at all surprised if the D continues their downward slide into Bowles coaching oblivion.
In fact, I will be pleasantly surprised if this team rebounds against the Ti-Tans (as the immortal Chris Thomas used to pronounce them.)
November 12th, 2023 at 8:49 am
Wyoming. We haven’t quit. It appears the players are starting to. We’ve seen this before. I hope that’s not the case.
November 12th, 2023 at 8:55 am
Not all defensive players have quit on their coach. I’d say the captains on defense have not quit. All of them. Now the cornerbacks have long taken off as evidenced by their lack of interest, effort, and results. Members of the d-line have quit as lack of interest, effort, and results. But not all of them.
But we’ll know when the whole thing collapses. It’s 63-3 and it’s all she wrote for this team this year.
The offense looked good last week to me, and mayfield balled out in crunch time. No quit there.
Again, the cornerbacks, stick a fork in em. They watched far too many rod toast jones reruns.
November 12th, 2023 at 8:59 am
NE FAN: Who’s the real punk here? Because it isn’t me. Time for you and a handful of the other quitters to look in the mirror.
November 12th, 2023 at 9:17 am
Don’t worry folks. 3-6 will be ours in a few hours.
TB = Losing
November 12th, 2023 at 9:37 am
It was the creamsicles.
November 12th, 2023 at 9:42 am
Bring Back the lawn chairs@ Devin White is a D captain. It pretty apparent he quit or close to it.
November 12th, 2023 at 9:43 am
Jeeze this coaching staff. Everything on the extreme. Seems we’re top 5 or bottom 5 in every stat. We’re the best at being the worst. Or the worst at being the best. At least we’re not the worst at being the worst. Yet.
November 12th, 2023 at 9:48 am
Simple, Bowles and company can’t make adjustments. They come up with a plan and stick to it. Having a game plan is necessary, but making adjustments during the game is critical. I hear, “they’ll make adjustents at half time” every game. That is BS, great coaches make adjustments every play.
November 12th, 2023 at 11:10 am
@Ultra Clodhopper: “At least we’re not the worst at being the worst. Yet.”
Wouldn’t that make us the best? Some Boolean logic. If I am bad at being bad, then I good at what?… being good.
While your logic is compromised, I feel your confusion. This hamster wheel of a season has all of our heads spinning
November 12th, 2023 at 11:29 am
The Bucs bought into the hype ..! The Detroit beat down was bad but getting their arse handed to them by the Falcons was a turning point for the worse ! Piss poor leadership ! This season is toast no matter a division title in the balance !!! Total rebuild time for coaching and players !! Thanks for the ride Brady , get to work Licht !
November 12th, 2023 at 12:38 pm
First 3-4 games are essentially an extension of preseason with the limited practices and games. We’re seeing teams for who they are now and Tampa is an average team.
November 12th, 2023 at 12:39 pm
The Falcons game was close. 1 or 2 more turnovers would have tipped the scales in the Bucs favor.
“Football is a game of turnovers”…. Todd Bowles
November 12th, 2023 at 12:51 pm
The Beer Whisperer…who quotes Todd Bowles to make a point?
November 12th, 2023 at 1:03 pm
NFL teams scout each other, is what happened. It didn’t take long for the DC’s in this league to figure out this JV offense and its all-too-predictable play calling.
I think about it like this – I only watch the games on TV, and never watch game film of any sort. No Youtube breakdowns or anythin like that.
That said, I can tell you with I’d say greater than 70% accuracy, base on formation and body language of the RB’s and offensive linemen, whether it’s going to be a run or pass AND what side of the feild the focus is on. If I can do that, don’t you think DCs are salivating when they play this team?
It’s pathetic coaching. It just is.