“They Are An Understated Team”
April 1st, 2024
Why the disrespect?
The Bucs, publicly and privately, readily admit they are frustrated if not irked by how national NFL analysts dog the Bucs like they have returned to The Lost Decade.
The Bucs last year returned a big percentage of their roster that won a Super Bowl in 2020. They won the division (third year in a row), went out and stomped the Eagles and fought toe-to-toe with the Lions nearly getting to the NFC title game.
And folks mostly outside of Tampa give the Bucs no respect. Worse than Rodney Dangerfield.
Two guys who co-host the best damn football radio show in the land think they have it figured out. Speaking on “Movin’ the Chains,” heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio, co-hosts Jim Miller and Pat Kirwan politely said those who discount the Bucs simply are not sharp football minds.
Jim Miller: This should be a strong team with the ability to compete in what could be a tougher NFC South with the arrival of Kirk Cousins in Atlanta.
Pat Kirwan: Well, they are an understated team. People know they won the division. But people talk about them in ways that you think they don’t understand how good they are. So consequently there is always a debate about them. And the division is always perceived as tight and close and anyone can win it. They’ve done a nice job of keeping it together. They did get rid of one of their corners, we get that part of it. There is a lot to like with this football team.
Of course, Kirwan pointed out the Bucs have a significant hole, like most teams do. And until that hole is plugged it could sink the team.
It is also a hole that of late, whenever Joe mentions it, people go completely bananas as if Joe is the one who is constructing the roster. (Don’t people want the Bucs to win?)
Sit down and buckle up. What position did Kirwan name? Maybe take a few breaths or try a Valium before continuing to read.
“Where do they need to get better because everyone needs to get better?” Kirwan asked rhetorically. “We’ll see about the pass rush. That’s where I’m not so sure I think it’s great.”
That’s being polite.
Of course, Joe knows that Bucs hope (GGGGGGGRRRRRRR!!!! That word!) young YaYa Diaby continues to develop to be that missing link.
The Louisville product had a productive rookie season in 2023. In fact, the last Bucs rookie edge rusher to rack up 7.5 sacks was none other than Adrian Clayborn.
April 1st, 2024 at 4:24 am
I think Tom Brady leaving makes that unintelligent mind not really know who plays for the Bucs outside Evans Godwin and Mayfield who most simply don’t believe in still.
If they watched the playoff game against Detroit, they didn’t have a pass rush at all and Goff looked comfortable all game. It was close yes, but they never took the lead late, always catch up.
It’s simply amazing to me after rewatching that game, that they haven’t addressed OLB. I get the desire to save money but you get what you pay for. They must really believe in Kneeland or Isaac or someone they feel is a sleeper late. Unless they have resorted to Chop being the guy who I believe will be there.
Outside that, it HAS, to be Fiske or an Interior guy they believe will make the difference because it just doesn’t make sense.
April 1st, 2024 at 4:38 am
Need to get 1 of the top 9 edge rushers in the first or second rd of the draft. If Turner, Verse or Latu are all gone, the Bucs should trade back or draft IOL. The first pick needs to be a player who can start and make an impact. The remaining 6 edge players have potential, but I’m not sure if any can be impact players as a rookie.
Personally, I like Verse if we can get him in the 1st. If not, I like Isaac, Braswell and Kneeland in the 2nd. If you have to go Edge in the 2nd, then go with Barton, JPJ or Frazier in the 1st based on who’s available.
April 1st, 2024 at 4:38 am
Joe … ‘It is also a hole that of late, whenever Joe mentions it, people go completely bananas as if Joe is the one who is constructing the roster. (Don’t people want the Bucs to win?)’.
You’re hilarious Joe. You continue to paint yourself as the Rodney Dangerfield of MediaLand. Of course all JBFers want to see us improve our pass rush. Of course we’d love to have several of the premier pass rushers of our day on our roster. Most would probably also like to have unlimited money & pay zero taxes. But alas, the outside world keeps getting in the way and imposing ‘constraints’ on what we can & can’t do.
Easy to say ‘We NEED to sign a premier pass rusher’, but much harder to say ‘And here’s how we’re gonna pay for it & what we’ll have to give up to do it’. JL is walking a very narrow road right now, and has done an excellent job of ‘balancing the books’ to date IMO. And all the while keeping an eye it appears on 2025, 2026 & probably beyond that (no small task in itself).
We came close to selling our soul in 2020 – 2022 to go for the brass ring, and the chickens came home to roost in 2023 & 2024. Let’s be competitive of course, but let’s continue to primarily build through the draft like we’ve done for a couple years now. That seems to be the only real way to be competitive long-term.
April 1st, 2024 at 4:40 am
Bucs just traded for Khalil Mack.
April Fools day.
April 1st, 2024 at 5:57 am
No one knows how Kirk Cousin will do this upcoming season. It is like everyone is on the bandwagon that the Falcons are the only NFC team. We fans take notes and keep receipts too. The Bucs came a long way last season when everyone else counted us out. We will be back! Go Bucs.
BillyBucco – Thank you for a good laugh this morning. April Fools Day indeed.
April 1st, 2024 at 6:31 am
Yep we’re nothing….and that’s exactly how i like my opponents to see us….easy pickings….come get some.
April 1st, 2024 at 6:48 am
The doubt is because we have taken steps backward.
We resigned our free agents. That is a great accomplishment.
We have lost our starting rush linebacker( shaq), our starting Left Guard and his backup(Stennie,Feiler- both needed to go), our starting CB( Davi).
Davis played less snaps than Zyon last Season. Unlike many, I think we are set at CB. We signed two good CBs, and I still think Josh Hayes will surprise.
Guard and Pass rushing Linebacker have not been addressed.
Also we had inferior Center play from Backup Hainsey.
These are obvious issues.
I hope that Jason Licht is reworking the contracts of Tristan Wirfs and Antonio Winfield Jr. That would free up alot of money.
There are two Free agents i still like. Center Connor Williams and Guard Dalton Risner. That would address alot of our OLine issues.
Pass rush isnt going to be solved by a rookie.
There are some unaddressed issues that are natural concerns. But they can be resolved with a few moves.
I think underestimating the Bucs is a big mistake. But we do still have work to do
April 1st, 2024 at 7:14 am
Taking a guy with serious potential medical issues is a terrible stretch.
April 1st, 2024 at 7:20 am
Wow, I hadn’t heard about the neck thing
April 1st, 2024 at 7:31 am
People count out the BUCS every year. We were so bad for so long, we are still under 500 as a franchise that it is just automatic for media to doubt us. It is our job to ignore it and prove them wrong. GO BUCS!!!!!!
April 1st, 2024 at 7:55 am
Hard to read at this point
April 1st, 2024 at 7:57 am
It’s mostly still the perception that they weren’t much before Brady and now he is gone. Plus Baker doesn’t move many needles for the common fan. If they continue to draft well, they will get the respect they deserve and that’s how it should work.
I’m sure KC will be the early favorites again, even if Rashee Rice gets arrested. They have a QB and that’s what most fans look at.
April 1st, 2024 at 8:04 am
It’s a good thing to be underrated, next
April 1st, 2024 at 9:29 am
It is also a hole that of late, whenever Joe mentions it, people go completely bananas as if Joe is the one who is constructing the roster. (Don’t people want the Bucs to win?)
***
Don’t blame the readers. You guys are the ones that mention it every day, several times a day. I’m sure they’re sick of reading it.
April 1st, 2024 at 10:20 am
Cobra makes an excellent point. Injuries are always a factor in the NFL and if you start off behind the 8 ball it’s hard to recover.
Jamel Dean is a prime example. Injuries not talent level are what diminished his college career and surprise, surprise, surprise that injury history followed him to the NFL.
The extreme of course is the sad tale of poor Gaines Adams who passed far too young at 26. A truly sad story, and may he RIP.
April 1st, 2024 at 12:22 pm
The writers and mouth flappers need a job. So what if they are wrong again? I believe in the Bucs. The players are going for the Lombardi with the intent to win. A third trophy would be really nice to have. Who doesn’t love a boat parade? #Go Bucs!
April 1st, 2024 at 12:25 pm
We got rid of one of our corners who couldn’t stay healthy and couldn’t get interceptions. People act like we lost an all pro corner or some crap, losing Shaq Barrett is more of a blow than losing Davis. Either way Licht will get it done in the draft just don’t get people that keep downing Tampa
April 1st, 2024 at 1:37 pm
I absolutely love the Bucs and am probably more optimistic about them than most.
But the reason they don’t get respect is that they barely went 500 last year and didn’t the year before. Beating the Eagles was huge, and it’s why everyone who is coming back should. But we really shouldn’t be whining so much. We aren’t that good yet
April 1st, 2024 at 3:01 pm
Exactly.
Nothing like a ridiculous premise to get lively, heated comments flowing there Joes.
Bravo
^^mtn^^
Since ’76
April 1st, 2024 at 3:10 pm
Agree.
Since Bowels is playing more zone than press man, think the Bucs will be fine at CB, especially if they bring Dee Delaney back for depth.
As far a Shaq goes, too bad they could no longer afford him, was looking forward to see if he bounced back in year 2 after his achilles
^^mtn^^
Since ’76
April 1st, 2024 at 6:39 pm
They really needed to address the edge in the draft AND free agency, IMO.
You need 3 pass rushers. Bucs currently have 1.5