Jay Gruden: Bucs Will Win NFC South, “Don’t Overexaggerate How Great [Dave] Canales Was”
July 20th, 2024
Antoine Winfield, Jr.
Jay Gruden, the former Bucs assistant coach, Tampa Bay arena football quarterback legend and Washington Redskins head coach (2014-2019) has become quite a candid voice during his recent forays into media.
Gruden sat down on his Clean Pocket podcast and lectured about how sometimes it’s great to overpay a star safety and great leader like Antoine Winfield, Jr. because it sends a message in the locker room. “Let’s get that sh*t straight,” he added.
The Bucs are Gruden’s pick to win the NFC South, he said, because Tampa Bay has the most and best star players. And he thinks the Falcons are overrated and are missing too much talent on defense — and on offense.
Gruden says Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts is one of the most overrated players in the game, and he has concerns about the Falcons’ first-year, first-time playcaller.
The duo of Todd Bowles and Baker Mayfield gaining confidence provide tremendous leadership placing the Bucs far ahead of the rest of the NFC South, per Gruden. But he doesn’t want fans to get too high on the Bucs. He said he thinks they’re a successful product of a weak division and would be a third-place team in any other division in football.
When Gruden’s podcast panel threw love at the offense of departed offensive coordinator Dave Canales, Gruden was quick to turn on his cold water spray hose.
“Let’s not overexaggerate how great Canales was,” Gruden said, quoting some bad Bucs offensive statistics from 2023.
Joe wasn’t all-in on everything Gruden was saying, but Joe certainly is on the same train as Brother of Chucky when it comes to the national-darling Falcons. They’ve got more issues and question marks than the Bucs.
July 20th, 2024 at 11:12 pm
Bucs NFC South Champions is a given
But what about the Super Bowl
Have we done enough to get passed San Francisco or Detriot?
It’s a bucs life Super Bowl or bust
July 20th, 2024 at 11:30 pm
It’s all coming down to our young players from the last two years making a step forward. If they all step up then the Bucs are going to be good to very good. Going deep in the playoffs comes down to injuries and matchups.
July 20th, 2024 at 11:38 pm
It would be nice to have double digit wins. 8-9 and 9-8 is why the Bucs are viewed as a mixed bag. We got the potential and I think year 2 of Bowles + Mayfield will be better!
July 20th, 2024 at 11:38 pm
“Have we done enough to get passed San Francisco or Detriot?”
No Jarrett they have not done enough…yet.
July 20th, 2024 at 11:55 pm
This team is going to surprise everybody. Todd Bowles is gonna win coach of the year and they are going to win 13 games . Diaby is gonna have 14 sacks . Braswell 7 . Vea 10 . Kancy 8 . The Bucs are going lead the NFL in sacks . White is gonna have 1700 yards from scrimmage. This team is going to explode .
Go Bucs
July 21st, 2024 at 12:47 am
Canalwater deserves every spraying he gets. He proved again that doing the same ineffective thing over and over but expecting different results is, in fact, insanity. He only went aggressive with the pass when he had to and that’s when the Bucs O was at its best.
Good riddance to the spiritual healer or whatever TF he is. He’ll be working for Tony Robbin’s in two years.
July 21st, 2024 at 5:13 am
Finally, someone speaking up factual kudos about the Bucs and not the Falcons! Good to hear. Go Bucs!
July 21st, 2024 at 7:25 am
We’re a weak division, let’s look around the league. AFC East, Dolphins came on as of late, Bills always win the divison, but can never get to the big game. Jets are all talk, haven’t won a thing, and the Pats have been garbage since Brady left. NFC East. Dallas, and the Eagles made the playoffs, we killed the Eagles in the first round, and Dallas got whipped at home. Washington, and the Giants were just as bad as the Falcons. Some tough division. AFC West? Chiefs are the best, Raiders, Chargers, Broncos all sucked. Truth is, even the divisions with teams that have great records, have teams that are worse then .500. For the most part the NFL is balanced. Calling the NFC South the worst division is a myth.
July 21st, 2024 at 7:54 am
Bucs are like the Rams in NFC- underrated and talented and NFC Championship Game contenders
July 21st, 2024 at 8:17 am
You see he didn’t even mention the Saints that’s cus he don’t want to get embarrassed it’s our year like said at least 10 wins maybe 9 the most in the NFC south
July 21st, 2024 at 9:04 am
Canales great? That’s hilarious. The last Buccaneers coordinator that was in over his head more than him was Mike Sullivan under Greg Schiano. Canales leaving helps the team in two ways, strengthens us because Coen is better. Weakens Carolina with the worst OC in the division.
July 21st, 2024 at 9:40 am
I agree with you for a change Dave Pear, canal water is going to get hosed in a season or two by Tepper and he’ll be working for Tony Robbin’s 🤣 I spit my coffee on my I pad when I read that.
July 21st, 2024 at 10:27 am
Baker did well in spite of Dave. Liam will take the reins off.
July 21st, 2024 at 11:15 am
Niners trading ayiuk would be great for Tampa bay. Bucs will be better this season than last; fingers crossed some of the other nfc teams aren’t as good.
July 21st, 2024 at 5:26 pm
Anyone have any G2 on how Sterling Shephard looked in the padless gatherings?