Young Bucs
February 26th, 2024
TE Cade Otton hauls in a TD pass in the NFC divisional round.
Ya’ gotta feel good about this.
One the NFL’s foremost researchers, handicapper turned stathead Warren Sharp, went digging to see which NFL team has the best core of young players.
So Sharp was documenting the age of NFL offenses and crafted a list of teams with the most snaps from players who have three seasons or less of NFL experience.
And guess who has the second-most young players on offense logging snaps? That would be your Tampa Bay Buccaneers, baby. Only the Packers had more players with three seasons or less experience playing offense.
And remember, Bucs coach Todd Bowles led this young team to a heartbeat and a burp from the NFC title game. If Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht can somehow bring back his big four free agents, this Bucs squad has a bright future.
% of offensive snaps from players in their first 3 years in the NFL:
63% – GB
62%
61%
60%
59%
58%
57%
56%
55% – TB
54%
53% – PIT
52%
51% – NYJ, IND
50% – JAX
49%
48% – CAR, ATL
47%
46%
45% – CHI, LAC
44%
43% – TEN
42% – KC, DET
41% – WAS, LA, NE, SEA
40%
39%
38% – HOU
37%
36% -…— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) February 25, 2024
February 26th, 2024 at 12:12 am
The Saints have an old team.
February 26th, 2024 at 12:24 am
Winning, while rebuilding?
What a concept!
Now, sign Baker, Mike, Winfield, LVD, and McLaughlin!
February 26th, 2024 at 1:25 am
Let ME walk and get even younger.
February 26th, 2024 at 1:26 am
Well…….many believe that the team got to within a failed timeout anlong with inept defensive game planning and playcalling, but why quibble.
In spite of Todd, the team is better talent wise than most think. JL has a tough job. Todd managed to turn two of the better press man corners in the game into schlibs by playing a cowardly zone bust coverage scheme. He managed to coach Devin White into the gutter. He managed to give up 75 yards in 3 plays and 34 seconds to Houston, and let’s never forget the Rams playoff atrocity.
If JL can’t pull the rabbit out of the hat, and the prized Bucs FAs bolt because they know who Todd is as a head coach, the 2024 4-13 season will be Todd’s last as a professional coach.
I’d have a beer with him. But his record proves what kind of HC he is.
18-19 with Bucs. Far worse with Jets.
February 26th, 2024 at 2:46 am
^^^^^bro shutup, do you know how stupid you sound?!?!
February 26th, 2024 at 3:39 am
Dave Pear … ‘In spite of Todd, the team is better talent wise than most think. JL has a tough job.’
So the Bucs had the 2nd youngest team on offense in the NFL last year, PLUS a new inexperienced OC (handpicked by Todd Bowles), PLUS a career 31-38 QB (prior to last year) coming off his worst year, AND went 9-8 in the regular season plus 1-1 in the playoffs … and Todd Bowles is THE PROBLEM. Got it.
It seems fashionable nowadays to talk about HATERS. You know who they are Dave. We seem to have become a people who far too often align ourselves nowadays at one end of the spectrum of analysis or the other. How many times lately have you seen the term ‘Baker-haters’? (Almost always used by those who stick up for Baker of course).
Far fewer stick up for Todd Bowles, probably because it doesn’t appear to be fashionable to stick up for head coaches. Every HC has pluses & minuses. Every one of them makes decisions that we agree with & some that we don’t … just like every one of us. That’s why I think it’s important IMO to focus on RESULTS. And the RESULT of Todd Bowles being our HC last year was a division championship WHILE overseeing the 1st year of a major rebuilding, all WHILE being hog-tied by over $92 mil in Dead CAP & IR charges. That’s close to the most in the NFL just FYI; the 4-13 Cardinals look like they won that honor with $109 mil in Dead CAP & IR charges in 2023.
Just for kicks BTW Dave, take a look at the rest of Warren Sharp’s analysis. The teams who did well in the regular season & playoffs seem to have been those whose ‘youngsters’ (3 years or less) garnered about 30-40% of the offensive snaps, far less than our 55%. Teams like the Chiefs (42%), Lions (42%), Texans (38%), Eagles (31%), Ravens (30%), 49ers (29%). Apparently experience still counts for something.
February 26th, 2024 at 4:48 am
Dave posts this same crap on another Tampa site too.
Easily the worst commenter on both.
Watch how much better both CBs are with a valid pass rush.
You would see far less zone.
This team had a rough streak, but then the rookies got better which makes next year exciting. Need to have a stellar draft again. I would get Baker another weapon, even if Mike stays. Hopefully they hit on an unproven FA that they can afford at edge. 2nd round IOL for Licht sounds right. Could go edge or WR in the first. Bowels has had enough 1sr round D Lineman now IMO.
This team won’t go 4-13 that’s ridiculous.
February 26th, 2024 at 6:43 am
We do have a brutal schedule this upcoming season. They got their work cut out for them.
February 26th, 2024 at 9:00 am
The players love playing for Bowles. Not because he’s easy but because he’s honest and upfront with them. The results speak for themselves. We’re a super young team, salary strapped, in transition at QB and OC the last two seasons and they’ve been good enough. No reason to think they won’t get better? There must surely be a reason Bowles gets so much hate that I can’t quite my finger on… there’s one thing, but it’s 2024 and it couldn’t possibly be that…
February 26th, 2024 at 9:00 am
@DefenseRules – Well said, sir!
February 26th, 2024 at 10:41 am
I wasn’t a huge fan of bowles. But, doing what he did this past season with all the obstacles (dead $, new QB, OC, jensen, etc) needs to praised. Just like when I thought Licht was making questionable moves early in his tenure here, he learned, grew, evolved. And it shows. Yeah, mistakes still occur. Not one person is infallible. I get we want results. And perfection….. I just think he’s earned respect and patience from people….
And to Brandon’s last quote about why the hate toward bowles. I truly do not think its rooted in what you imply. I think hes just not a big name that has a gregarious voice or presence. But maybe I am naïve or just an idiot……
February 26th, 2024 at 10:55 am
Question – what is Todd Bowles’ head coaching record, in terms of wins/losses?
February 26th, 2024 at 11:34 am
Defense Rules “ So the Bucs had the 2nd youngest team on offense in the NFL last year, PLUS a new inexperienced OC (handpicked by Todd Bowles), PLUS a career 31-38 QB (prior to last year) coming off his worst year, AND went 9-8 in the regular season plus 1-1 in the playoffs … and Todd Bowles is THE PROBLEM. Got it.”
Annnnd they had very little salary room.
Bowles did a darned fine job!
Go Bucs!!
February 26th, 2024 at 11:36 am
Humans ability to learn and grow might be one of the most overlooked realities in fandom.
February 26th, 2024 at 4:14 pm
Todd Bowles is MEDIOCRE at best. He proved time and time again he cannot make tactical IN GAME decisions. He is a very serviceable Coach because of his experience on the defensive side of the ball and he is a STRONG communicator that garners respect of his players. But I’d rather have someone that can be a “Head” coach but ruffles feathers or better yet, a coach that can be well rounded and do BOTH. We are fortunately in a TOILET division otherwise we would be 6-11 or worse and he would have been gone. I’m not complaining about division titles but all the die hard fervent Bowles supporters look at his coaching through a vacuum. Wins and Losses. Or stated another way, with tunnel vision and blinders on and not considering the outside factors. It’s like the Bucs were Division champions of the Big Sky or Great West and when we got to the playoffs and played “SEC, Big Ten quality teams, we showed our true limitations.
February 26th, 2024 at 9:54 pm
Dave Pear– D White was going downhill the day the Superbowl ended unfortunately. He can blitz…. everything else is questionable. He will be gone.
Bowles is the reason they made the playoffs. He is one of the best DC’s in the league. He HAS to blitz nonstop because they did not have a 4-man consistent pass rush. They might just have on with YaYa and Kancey and a fully healthy Shaq or a replacement. If they have the freedom to blitz a little less they will be downright dangerous. They still managed top 8 in the NFL in points allowed.
February 26th, 2024 at 9:56 pm
Sign Evans, Baker, LVD…. get another edge, draft the Oregon center, add another DB
Ryan and D White are gone. Need to trade Dean OR Davis. Can’t afford 2 CBs that can’t stay healthy. The rookie and/or Zion are ready to step up