Bucs Dropped Because Of The Draft
June 10th, 2024
Bucs coach Todd Bowles.
The Bucs are pretty much bringing back the same team that came within a few plays of an NFC title game. For that, they have been demoted.
Raymond Summerlin of Sharp Football Analysis mocks the Bucs for having the nerve to try to run it back with a team that nearly ran it to the NFC Championship game and completed a three-peat division title. And because the Bucs didn’t sell out to get Kirk Cousins or trade up to No. 7 in the draft to get Michael Penix, off to the dregs of the NFL you go!
Summerlin actually dropped the Bucs in his rankings because of their draft.
23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs brought back Mike Evans, Antoine Winfield, Baker Mayfield, and Lavonte David, and they drafted some much-needed offensive line help in the first round. That in itself is a pretty successful offseason, but they have the same problem as the Saints below. The Falcons are a lot better than they were in 2023, and the Bucs do not seem to be even without considering some possible regression for Mayfield.
Yeah, Summerlin has the slimy Saints at No. 24, largely because of their offensive line. He doesn’t like the Bucs’ offensive line either.
Did the Dixie Chicks get “a lot better” with Kirk Cousins? Joe isn’t sure about that.
Joe cannot remember when a team that came so close to a conference title game was so shat upon the following offseason for basically bringing back the same team, sans the draft. That’s a bad thing?
It’s not like the Bucs won because of a fluke. They’ve been in the playoffs four straight years, won a Super Bowl and are a defending three-peat NFC South champ.
Joe decided to look at all the teams that made the NFL division round of the playoffs last season. Here is where Summerlin ranked them after the draft.
1. San Francisco
2. Kansas City
3. Detroit
4. Baltimore
7. Houston
8. Buffalo
9. Green Bay
23. Tampa Bay
Every friggin’ one of those teams that advanced to the divisional round last winter Summerlin has in the top-10. Except the Bucs.
What’s the difference between those teams and the Bucs? Each has a star quarterback.
The Bucs have Mayfield.
See?
It’s all about the quarterback, both real and in perception.
June 10th, 2024 at 7:15 am
The Bucs are always treated this way. Who cares. Sports writers don’t win football games.
June 10th, 2024 at 7:17 am
The disrespect is good for the Bucs.
June 10th, 2024 at 7:21 am
We play the top four teams on the list. Beat those teams if you want the list to change. Green Bay lost to us, yet made his list he needs to explain that.
June 10th, 2024 at 7:26 am
Summerlin and the rest of them will be eating their words this season. I still can’t believe the hype on Cousins. The guy never won a Super Bowl but yet they are already saying the Falcons are better. On what proof? Penix hasn’t even played yet in the season. We don’t know how he will transition to the NFL yet. The Cowboys took Zeke back, that makes them better too? The Colts? The Browns, really?
June 10th, 2024 at 7:28 am
Green Bay made notable upgrades in roster and defensive coaching plus Jordan Love is viewed as a young up and coming QB!!
June 10th, 2024 at 7:32 am
I believe with Whitehead over Neal we win that Detroit game
June 10th, 2024 at 7:49 am
Bucs are winning the division.
June 10th, 2024 at 7:55 am
Just write down the names of all the naysayers Joe and when they are all WRONG again post an article with their emails after our successful season and let the Joe Bucs dogs loose on them all.
June 10th, 2024 at 8:05 am
Mack Jullins…you sir don’t know sh*t
June 10th, 2024 at 8:05 am
The Bucs were also a few plays away from not making the playoffs. If you’re not going to evaluate both the good and the bad from last season, then you’ll never understand these rankings.
June 10th, 2024 at 8:16 am
Just another receipt for Jason’s pocket.
June 10th, 2024 at 8:21 am
“I believe with Whitehead over Neal we win that Detroit game”
so better safety play would make up for our offense giving the lions 2 extra offensive possessions?
June 10th, 2024 at 8:22 am
Summerllin probably suffers from lead poisoning. That’s simply a deranged analysis. Didn’t the Bucs get more snaps from rookies last season than any other team?
Jason and Baker got this.
June 10th, 2024 at 8:35 am
13 teams that didn’t make the playoffs are ranked above the Bucs.
The Eagles are #6. Bucs beat them 31-9.
SMH
June 10th, 2024 at 8:39 am
If Cousins does happen to make to the regular season he’ll be just one nasty sack away from IR !
June 10th, 2024 at 8:42 am
Yeah that list of the other playoff teams is revealing. More cannon powder lets go.
I hope Baker has the best year of his career. No one seems to think that is possible for some reason.
What if the OC is an upgrade over Canales? That seems extremely possible. I love Dave but it was only his first year even calling plays and there were some obvious growing pains.
We brought back the entire offense, and added upgrades at OL, WR, and RB.
There are more reasons to expect improvement IMO, than expect regression.
June 10th, 2024 at 9:05 am
FUEL…be sure to keep receipts.
June 10th, 2024 at 9:06 am
This doesn’t surprise me. Goes back to the disrespect when we were given a game in Philly after winning the Super Bowl. We should have had a home game that year but disrespected as usual.
Only 3 Super Bowls in this division and we have 2 of them. That’s all I care about.
June 10th, 2024 at 9:14 am
It’s been for us to be this way. We always suck when we are hyped. We usually have good seasons when they are looked at as contenders. I remember back in the late 90s and early 2000s they would always pick Bucs to win it and every year they were wrong. The year they won it they were all slobbering over another team by then.
June 10th, 2024 at 9:15 am
Jack Mullins,
No, but Baker has won more than 1 playoff game in his much shorter career
June 10th, 2024 at 9:17 am
the difference we played an igles team that had already mailed it in. on top of that the kitties got a new coach who knows our game, atl finally got a qb and the saints usually own us at least 60%
so, yeah… good luck repeating last year doing the same thing the bucs always do.
June 10th, 2024 at 9:25 am
It’s not about Mayfield. They were only 9-8 in a very weak division and have an extremely tough schedule this year. If they play at the same level as last year they will end up with a losing record because of the schedule. You keep comparing them to the other divisional round teams but those other teams were all made the playoffs with significantly better records.
June 10th, 2024 at 9:32 am
Yes, Cousins does make the Falcons significantly better. People like to dump on him for lack of playoff success but he is a top 10 quarterback that produces consistently year after year. He was having an MVP type year last year before getting injured. However his weapons in Atlanta are not as good as what he had in Minnesota.
June 10th, 2024 at 9:50 am
Kirk and Dak are the same. All hype and very little success during the playoffs.
June 10th, 2024 at 10:04 am
Let me help you out here Joe…
Yes the Falcons got better by signing Cousins.
A lot better.
Plus for those that say Atlanta doesn’t have weapons are kidding themselves.
They have weapons. They were 17th in scoring with hideous QB play.
They are going to be a top 10 scoring offense comfortably.
They had some issues defensively, but ranked 11th in ypg.
The NFC South as a whole should be improved. I wouldn’t be shocked if one team jumped into the 11+ win range. I’m thinking that is what it’s going to take to win the the division. 9 wins isn’t going to do it this year.
June 10th, 2024 at 10:13 am
Let me continue to help you Joe.
Bucs are ranked 23rd because they stumbled into the playoffs at 9-8 (after being 4-7) and beat a free falling Eagles team.
They haven’t had a running game since 2020 and the franchise QB hasn’t put all doubts to rest just yet.
On the defensive side pass rush is an issue. The best edge rusher is a 3rd round value pick who was drafted there because of his combine metrics.
June 10th, 2024 at 10:22 am
Media bias is a very real thing in this ciuntry
June 10th, 2024 at 10:27 am
Tampa needs to put the offensive power outages firmly in the past. Consistency on offense will make or break this team.
Last season Baker was garbage when he tried to be a dink and dunk Captain Check down. The percentages looked nice (sometimes) but the total yards sucked
Then when his back was against the wall at 4-7 and Trask looked inevitable he started pushing the ball down field and the Bucs started winning games.
Baker got hot – I’m thinking because he got comfortable with the playbook and his receivers. Also getting benched there would have ended his run as a starter in the NFL. It was ish or get off the pot. Some caution had to be thrown to the wind. The biggest way a QB shows bravado is by making throws.
We need a top 10 offense in Tampa to solve a lot of ills – including winning the division and getting the respect. Crying about it on jb dot com won’t do it.
You need to be a double digit win team to get respect.
June 10th, 2024 at 10:44 am
The help that Barton and Whitehead will bring us will trump the help that Cousins will supposedly bring the falcons. National nfl media is qb obsessed.
June 10th, 2024 at 10:55 am
“Bucs are ranked 23rd because they stumbled into the playoffs at 9-8 (after being 4-7) and beat a free falling Eagles team.”
A team most pundits were projecting to win just a handful of games making it to the playoffs isn’t stumbling
Your name says it all
June 10th, 2024 at 11:03 am
@Mostly Peaceful
the exact opposite was true of Mayfield.
Out of 35 QBs, he ranked:
#2 in completion rate (87%) (career high)
#4 in EPA/att (+0.15)
#6 in YPA (6.8)
#10 in success rate (44%)
When not targeting RBs, he ranked:
#17 in EPA/att
#21 in success rate
#22 in YPA
#30 in completion rate
per Sharp Football Analysis.
The total yards sucked because you have to account for the air travel of the ball, when you’re throwing it horizontally there’s no/negative yardage to account for and it’s why Rachaad grossed 611 receiving yards but only gained 549 net yards because some of his receptions were essentially long handoffs.
June 10th, 2024 at 11:09 am
Dude that confirms my point.
You can’t fall in love with the RB check down. You have to push the ball to the WRs on this team.
Are there game by game splits on WR success rates after the 4-7 mark?
Those would be a better tell on whether or not I’m right.
June 10th, 2024 at 11:16 am
Joe … ‘The Bucs are pretty much bringing back the same team that came within a few plays of an NFC title game.’
I realize Joe that’s not YOUR position, but rather Summerlin’s. And NOTHING could be further from the truth. LAZY analysis.
Bucs will sport a rebuilt OLine with the addition of Barton & a new (presumably better) LG. Goedeke, Mauch & Wirfs were in their FIRST year at those OLine positions, and have a whole year of experience working together now (as do Mayfield, White, Palmer, Otton & several others) … and time playing together is HUGE in the NFL. We’ve also added Irving at RB and McMillan at WR, 2 rookies I expect will get quite a bit of field time. Not to mention that the addition of Liam Coen promises to add a whole new dimension to our offense (maybe even a bonafide running game?).
On defense lots has also changed IMO, starting with adding Whitehead at Safety (presumably we now have the best Safety combo in the NFL?). Davis is gone, but that gives the opportunity for McCollum & Bryce Hall to shine (and 1 of them will IMO). Can see rookie CB Tykee Smith getting lots of playing time, as well as rookie DE/OLB Chris Braswell. Personally looking for Vea to be ‘rejuvenated’ and DT Kancey & DE/OLB Diaby to take giant steps forward this season. It’ll be interesting to see how well KJ Britt replaces Devin White this season (personally think he’ll be used more the traditional MLB role). And who knows, maybe guys like Dennis, Watts, Hall, JTS, etc will also take giant leaps forward.
Like I said, lazy analysis IMO on Summerlin’s part to ASSUME that the Bucs are pretty much bringing back the same team as last year. My biggest HOPE is that we start reasonably well (at least 3-3) and end strong (5-2 after the BYE). That’d put us in range to finish around 10-7 or maybe even 11-6, with a fairly good chance to make the playoffs.
June 10th, 2024 at 11:39 am
Bucs brought back pretty much the entire 2020 Super Bowl Roster and were bounced by a Rams team that had gotten better. Same is the same and necessarily better.
Winning a Division @ 9-8 by ousting the Saints on a tie breaker and finishing 2 games above the Falcons led by Desmond Ridder is not saying much. Bucs could have had ten extra timeouts in the Divisional round and were not beating the Lions. Lions will be better in 2024 because they tended to needs in the secondary via the draft and free agency. They also have two second year guys that made the Pro Bowl as rookies. In their second year they will be better.
Bucs have a few second year guys that will make a difference for the better but the Core is basically the Same.
Carr will be Carr and he just might surprise teams. Only 2 decent seasons in his career so you really can’t expect much from him.
As far as Cousins making Atlanta better perhaps someone should ask McVey what kind of difference having a seasoned QB behind center made in the 2021 season.
Certainly the Bucs won’t be 10-0 going into the Bye. If they are #23 as this guy suggests they could be 2-8 and have to run the table after the Bye to get 9-8. Same 9-8 they finished with in 2023 and the Same 9-8 that the Bucs would have probably finished in 2022 had Brady and the majority of the Starters played in the final game.
June 10th, 2024 at 11:42 am
What the hell did Buffalo do other than ship out their NUMBER-1 Receiver!? And, WHO wouldn’t bring back MIKE Evans!? WHO wouldn’t bring back Lavonte DAVID, & WHO wouldn’t extend Antoine Winfield JUNIOR… Especially, with what they signed for!? So, Just Please. Get the you know what outta here.
June 10th, 2024 at 12:01 pm
Love the comments (about the subject ) so far.
If we beat the likes of SF, KC, Houston and a couple of others and then make the playoffs we will get SOME respect.
The Bucs’ bad rap was built over the life of the franchise. Just as the Cowboys became “America’s Team” way back in the 70s.
June 10th, 2024 at 12:46 pm
Summerland should have his man card revoked, and then relegated to The View where he can join his peer group of clucking hens.
June 10th, 2024 at 1:24 pm
The Bucs aren’t given any credit for improving the team because drafting offensive linemen doesn’t usually have much impact in the first year but I remember when Quentin Nelson did worlds for the Indianapolis Colts in one year and Tristan Wirfs probably helped us on our Super Bowl run. I think Graham Barton will improve this run game immediately Make us a better team than Atlanta Falcons!!! Book it!!
June 10th, 2024 at 1:28 pm
Confused by your post Mostly Peaceful Trask Fan.
I show last year that the Bucs scored 348 points. 20th out of 32 teams.
Atlanta scored 321 points. 26th out of 32 teams. 26th is a long, long way from 17th. Weapons they still do not have as receivers. Didn’t you actually watch the poor receiver work in Atlanta?
I will bet you right here and now that they do not have a top 10 offense in scoring next year. Bad take.
FYI Atlanta had the 7th easiest schedule last year and the Bucs had the 18th easiest schedule last year. So, you can’t blame it on schedule.
June 10th, 2024 at 2:44 pm
Geno you are correct Atl wasn’t 17th in scoring. They were 17th in YPG (334)
For context Bucs were 23rd with 313 YPG
Scoring is as you say with Atl having 18.9 PPG
Bucs had 20.5 PPG.
Atl had 17 TDs and 17 INTs.
Bucs got 28 TDs and 10 INTs
I think my point still stands.
Better QB play will make a difference in Atlanta.
June 10th, 2024 at 3:03 pm
For my money this pervasive attitude that the road is easy because the division is weak is dangerous.
The rest of this division will not be as such where the Bucs can sleepwalk to 9-8 and get a home field playoff year in and year out.
There is going to be a team in this division that jumps above 10 wins. It’s going to happen – you have to assume that it’s going to be this year. That’s what you have to grade against.
June 10th, 2024 at 5:42 pm
Bucs have the toughest schedule of any NFC South team, although all 4 teams in the NFC South play pretty much the same schedule (14 of the 17 opponents are the same). We each play 2 games against each NFC South team, then we all play the Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, Commanders, Broncos, Raiders, Chiefs, Chargers.
In addition, each NFC South team this year plays 3 other teams based on where we finished 2023:
o Bucs: Lions, 49ers, Ravens (3 toughies).
o Saints: Packers, Rams, Browns (also 3 toughies).
o Falcons: Seahawks, Steelers, Vikings (easier, but not pushovers).
o Panthers: Cardinals, Bengals, Bears (I’d gladly switch with them if they’d take the Lions, 49ers & Ravens).
I still think that the NFC South champion will be the one who does best WITHIN the NFC South itself. We need to go 4-2 or better.
June 10th, 2024 at 7:14 pm
I was thinking this EXACT same thing today. Why does everyone one love GB?? They didn’t do any better than TB and we destroyed them head-to-head. Jordan Love is better than Mayfield?? Really? Both teams trounced the NFC East opponents in the playoffs. I don’t get it. We played DET tough. And ATL is relying on an old QB coming off a significant injury and has been beat up A LOT the last few seasons in MIN. How good will he be?! SMH
June 10th, 2024 at 9:41 pm
I’d still say a very weak take Mostly Peaceful Trask Fan,
Atlanta will not comfortably finish in the top 10 of scoring this season.
June 10th, 2024 at 9:45 pm
Joe, I didn’t know Jordan Love was a star QB. I may have missed that memo. Mayfield and Love’s stats are very similar minus touchdowns. Love’s 32 TD’s to Mayfield’s 28. Other than that, very close. We just get no respect. QB or not (unless it’s TB12).
June 11th, 2024 at 12:33 am
Didn’t the Bucs destroy GB, lol
June 11th, 2024 at 6:38 am
dirk fuzzins might not fit in as well as everybody predicts in atlanta…
we shall see
June 11th, 2024 at 6:41 am
^^^
yes we destroyed gb…or at least beat them pretty well up there…
and baker was like a baseball pitcher who threw a perfect game…
(perfect qb rating of 158.3)
June 11th, 2024 at 2:34 pm
Old ass Kirk coming off torn Achilles…….
.Baker will be wayyyyyy better
……book it