Bucs-Falcons Disbelief
June 29th, 2024
Mike Evans
Voices are emerging from the shadows to express their disbelief in all the Super Bowl-contender talk being thrown at the Bucs’ division rivals in Atlanta.
Yeah, yeah, Kirk Cousins will save the day of a franchise that hasn’t sniffed a playoff game in the past six seasons, a franchise that has a new head coach, a first-time NFL playcaller and a defense more suspect than the Bucs’ backup quarterback situation.
Lots of people believe that and Joe is exhausted by the nonsense.
It seems retired NFL guard Geoff Schwartz, who blocked for Alex Smith and Eli Manning when they had Pro Bowl seasons, also is over all the Falcons love.
“Everyone is going to pick them to win the South this year. Did we forget like Tampa won the South last year?” Schwartz ranted on SiriusXM NFL Radio this week.
“I feel like people are giving Atlanta the division pretty easily without sort of at least looking at Tampa Bay and being like, “That team won nine games last year and won the division and returns a lot of good football players.’ I feel like we’re giving the Falcons way too much love for the division and the opponents that they’re playing. … Like people are just kind of penciling in them, maybe Sharpie-ing in them to win the South. I feel like it’s going to be a little tougher than just giving them the Sharpie right now.”
Amen, brother.
Joe is glad Schwartz mentioned the Falcons opponents. Joe already wrote about how Atlanta is primed to start 0-3.
Still, don’t expect the Falcons hype to die. Schwartz’s co-host, former NFL defensive back Solomon Wilcots, quickly responded by lauding Cousins and his value to Atlanta while noting the Bucs may have won nine games last year but didn’t overly impress anyone.
June 29th, 2024 at 4:47 pm
Great image Joe.
Mike – I feel the same way hearing all these idiots crown the Falcons in summer and discount the Bucs chances to be a good team.
Bucs are much more likely to be a Super Bowl contender this year than the Falcons if you ask me.
But I’m a homer- so what do I know?
June 29th, 2024 at 4:47 pm
Poor Cousins has the worst receiving group he has ever had to deal with. Does anyone really think that Pitts or London all of a sudden will be studs?
Evans was a stud with whoever has been the QB.
June 29th, 2024 at 5:09 pm
Canales will over and over run up the gut for 1 yard.
June 29th, 2024 at 5:21 pm
N-A-T-I-O-N-A-L P-O-L-I-T-I-C-S
June 29th, 2024 at 5:21 pm
No Canales fan here. He will run his offensive without Tood bowels holding him back. That being said the bucs are better off with him gone. I think the bucs could win 11 games this season but hay I am a homer fan. FLG
June 29th, 2024 at 5:24 pm
Baker Mayfield IS our version of Drew Brees. The Bucs may have a shaky start but this is a first rate team and WILL surprise.
June 29th, 2024 at 5:43 pm
Stan says Says:
June 29th, 2024 at 5:21 pm
No Canales fan here. He will run his offensive without Tood bowels…
What a classless act you are.
June 29th, 2024 at 5:55 pm
Cousins is 34 with and has one more playoff win than I do. What a winner!
June 29th, 2024 at 6:15 pm
Actually Joe, the Falcons COULD be 0-4 by the time they play us in their 5th game on a Thursday night … and 0-5 when that game against us is over. And the bizarre thing is that they play 4 of their first 5 games at home; they were 2-7 on the road last season so it could be hard for them to dig themselves out of an early hole.
June 29th, 2024 at 6:20 pm
Would the Falcons been better than 7-9 last Season with better play from the QB? Probably. Will Cousins make them a better team in 2024? We will have to wait an see.
As far as the Bucs in 2023 they we just as good as the Saints @ 9-8 regardless off who won the Division.
Both won 9 games. Both were able to give the Lions a run late in the season. Although the Saints were at least able to put a drive together and move the ball into Lions territory.
If you take the Falcons out of the Equation Bucs have a slightly better chance than the Saints of winning the Division than the Saints but not much.
June 29th, 2024 at 6:21 pm
Cousins turns 36 in August.
He’s taken a lot of nasty hits over the years and is trying to come back and play at a high level less than a year removed from a serious and season ending Achilles injury.
Treatment for that injury has advanced by leaps and bounds over the last few decades. Back in the 70s – if you were an NFL player and ripped your Achilles tendon – your career was basically done.
Players tend to come back and play with surgically repaired Achilles within a year or so these days – but oftentimes – they are not able to perform at the same level for awhile – if ever. We saw that 1st hand with Shaq Barrett. Definitely saw that with OJ Howard who was out of football rather quickly for such a young man and high draft pick after suffering that injury
And the older you are – the longer it takes for injuries to fully heal.
So assuming that 36 year old Cousins (or 40 year old Rodgers) will be able to be just as effective as they were in the past to start the 2024 season seems like a bad assumption….
June 29th, 2024 at 6:33 pm
I’m curious. What is the media saying about the Dolphins and Jaguars ?
June 29th, 2024 at 7:31 pm
I have no problem with all the Falcons love.
They are my least fav division rival and I love seeing their fans disappointed.
Also, how many times did the Bucs get hyped up during the last decade? The media tried a few times and we disappointed. We’re beyond that now, but the Falcons are experiencing it.
Cousins will likely get injured at some point, and that will be the end for them.
June 29th, 2024 at 7:32 pm
Saints will take out Cousins.
June 29th, 2024 at 7:37 pm
Stan says Says:
“No Canales fan here. He will run his offensive without Todd Bowels holding him back. That being said the Bucs are better off with him gone.”
That is an odd statement. I agree that Todd Bowels was holding him back, making him more conservative.
It was probably the smart thing last year, since the oline was all messed up.
But I do not understand why you think we are better off without him. I mean, we might be, or we might not be.
I personally think he is in over his head…reminds me of the Bucs with Dirk Koetter…not a horrible OC, but was not ready for being a head coach. May never be.
But the truth is, I could be wrong about Canales. We don’t know how he’ll do when he’s not policed by Bowels. No one does…yet.
June 29th, 2024 at 8:17 pm
Their situation isn’t far from where the Bucs were in 2020
June 29th, 2024 at 8:33 pm
What evidence do we have that Bowles held Canales back? Or might try to do so with Coen?
I see this narrative from some, concerning Todd’s coaching style but I’m curious what evidence there is for that the being the case. Not trying to start an argument, genuinely curious where it comes from.
Just because he’s a DC 1st and defensive minded? Have any players or coach’s said something about it? I’m kinda new here but what I’ve heard from him doesn’t seem to indicate he wants to, or has, “pumped the brakes” on the offense last year or will this year.
The offense we saw last year belonged to Canales IMO and I think he gets the credit (lol) for
the 1/2 yard and a cloud of dust running game not Todd.
June 29th, 2024 at 11:17 pm
I like being the dog vs being the favorite because we get better odds to win more dinero. Bucs superbowl is 7500 right now. $10 gets you $750. Send it
June 29th, 2024 at 11:18 pm
Cheaper than a beer at the stadium.
June 30th, 2024 at 1:05 am
The nfl always has its bs storylines in the offseason. This team seems to get pissed off at the slight. With that being the case I hope the media continues to crap all over them.
June 30th, 2024 at 6:11 am
GoneGator, I like Bowles, but the conservative approach comes from statements he’s made comparing his style to Arians. You could see the difference first in Leftwich then when we picked up Canales. I think some of the problem was transforming an offensive line that excelled in pass blocking to one built for running the ball. Takes time!
June 30th, 2024 at 6:16 am
That picture of Evans is great for this, love it! Also pretty much displays our frustration having to hear all the hype about Cousins from every sports media analyst. And it won’t end. Schwartz is a breath of fresh air. He calls it out. What will all these analysts do when Penix starts and Cousins is on the bench…
GoneGator Says: “What evidence do we have that Bowles held Canales back? Or might try to do so with Coen?”
Agreed. Listening to Ira’s latest podcast that came up and the conversation was that Bowles probably gave Canales free reign and will probably do the same with Coen.
June 30th, 2024 at 1:31 pm
Thx @Bucnjim
Been wondering about this.
I think that’s pretty slim evidence that Todd wants to run, or see run, an old school grind it offense. I saw him in an interview (not sure which one exactly but from this year) where he’s said he wants explosiveness and to be up 3 touchdowns in the 4th
I’m sure he wants to protect the D via some time of possession but that’s every coach’s approach to some degree ain’t it?
Falcos should improve. Saints might even surprise. BUT the Bucs will improve more!
I like @DavePear’s
#asToddeEolves
June 30th, 2024 at 2:31 pm
HeyJude, in a way I am more worried about Penix starting than I am Kirk playing. Watching Bucky’s highlights one could not ignore how good Penix was. If Cousins is not mad and will help him adjust to the NFL, Atlanta may have another Stroud.
I agree with you re: Bowles being hands-off on the offense. He doesn’t seem to think offensively at all, most times.
July 1st, 2024 at 4:39 am
Crickett Baker, I am right with you on that too. My fear is Penix playing very well and being their number one. We never know how a rookie will do depending on if it is a good fit. This is going to be interesting.