Next-Level Atmosphere
July 31st, 2024
So Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht said the team’s current culture is better than at any time he’s been in Tampa.
Yesterday, not only did Todd Bowles agree with that on the Ira Kaufman Podcast, so did a standout player of the Tom Brady era.
Joe point blank asked safety Jordan Whitehead if he thinks the team “culture, cameraderie and accountability” of the Bucs is better than when he left after the 2021 season.
“Yeah, I think it is,” Whitehead replied.
Joe finds it very intriguing that so many players and officials are talking about a more bonded and accountable Bucs team with Brady out of the building — and Bucco Bruce Arians.
Joe’s not pointing a finger at anyone, and it’s probably just Bowles and Licht doing a great job of setting the right standard in choosing players that fit Bowles’ approach. Still, it’s noteworthy given Brady being one of the game’s legendary leaders and Arians being a respected coach with a succesful history.
July 31st, 2024 at 1:07 pm
Sounds like a win-win.
Go Bucs
July 31st, 2024 at 1:09 pm
That’s great. Let’s hope it translates to a double digit win season and a Lombardi trophy at the end of the year
July 31st, 2024 at 1:10 pm
LESS EGO
July 31st, 2024 at 1:15 pm
We have transitioned back into an up and coming team which, I believe, is what you want to be. You get that hope and excitement for the future. In 21-22 we were old and did not have that youthful enthusiasm anymore. We do now. It’s a precious thing though, and can be lost more quickly than you gain it. Having a young successful QB has a lot to do with that in my opinion.
July 31st, 2024 at 1:17 pm
We went from the oldest team in football in 2022, to being the 8th youngest team in 2023. I think the injection of youth has something to do with it, and I think some of it is even effecting the staff because correct me if I’m wrong, but Bowles cracking jokes at pressers isn’t common place. I wouldn’t be shocked with Coen and alot of the new coaches(new blood) having some effect on the exuberance that seems to be emanating out of 1Buc and I’m here for all of it.
July 31st, 2024 at 1:22 pm
Results will speak for themselves.
Can this horrid pass defense and run game move up to the middle of the league? If not, it’s gonna be a long season
2023 was a fun season but I fear it just stuck us paying fans with Bowles for another season
July 31st, 2024 at 1:23 pm
Are we having fun yet?
I can feel “it” way up here in the Blue Ridge mtns 🤘🏼
July 31st, 2024 at 1:25 pm
A lot of meaningless talk…..not once during those playoff years with Brady was there any chatter about any lack of togetherness. That all sounds great but Bowles post another 9-8 season and he’s likely done.
July 31st, 2024 at 1:26 pm
IT’S NOT ONE VS ANOTHER. IT’S A NEW WORD YOU’VE NEVER HEARD …
HISTORY OF BUCS NEW CULTURE
2019 – JPP/Suh/Arians (-GMC) start the shift with the defense (this was Arians’ goal)
2020 – TB12/Gronk (-Winston) bring the shift to the offense
2023 – Wirfs/Vea/CDIII/AWJ very vocal about carrying the championship torch. Baker buys in.
2020-2023 – Licht drafts guys with work ethic, character, and loyalty. They buy into that culture started in 2019. This culture isn’t something new. It’s something that is perpetuating and building.
It’s called “Legacy”. It’s badass. Be proud.
July 31st, 2024 at 1:28 pm
It’s not hard to see that reality. After all let national media tell it Brady single handily won’t us a Super Bowl, everyone else was just along for the ride.
Hope he thanked Brate for that Lombardi saving catch
July 31st, 2024 at 1:38 pm
You can thank tb12 and Arians for starting the culture change. Lead by example and others will follow. Thank you is the only thing people should say instead there will be many posts bashing both
July 31st, 2024 at 1:43 pm
No Brown, no Fornette and no Brady. Pretty simple really. Less egos and less talent. Hopefully that translates to wins.
July 31st, 2024 at 1:51 pm
“not once during those playoff years with Brady was there any chatter about any lack of togetherness.”
Man what were you watching in 2022? A pre-planned vacation during mini camp? Bob Krafts wedding <48hrs before gameday? Players not named Tom Brady being asked about the Bradys' marriage status in-season? Those are distraction and 2 instances the "togetherness" couldn't be together because Tom was physically not around.
July 31st, 2024 at 1:54 pm
It was started before. It’s called EVOLUTION! We should still have new kinks to work out but pre-season should be a hoot. 🙂
July 31st, 2024 at 2:00 pm
@Bucsmarley, I 100% agree that Brady & Arians played instrumental roles in changing the culture. Licht and his staff as well. They are the ones bringing in the new players who are not just good football players but good people as well, some with great leadership qualities.
And Arians set it up for Bowles to be his successor. It was a shaky transition but he and Licht seem to be building a great team now primarily through the draft.
July 31st, 2024 at 2:10 pm
Bring Suh back on Practice Squad ( player liaison coach) then you would really have something …… swapping McCoy and Suh was a huge mental upgrade to that team .
July 31st, 2024 at 2:22 pm
The argument could be made that the defense has improved in all areas and we reasonably can expect the same (or more) 48 sacks we had last year. Then Jason can stand pat if he chooses.
That leaves Chris Godwin as the focal point. Does Jason anticipate giving him a new contract next year or not ? I don’t envision C.G. being here next year. Therefore Jason seems to be compelled to get something in return for him now.
Could the delay in Wirfs contract hinge on what happens with C.G.?
Could it be that money isn’t the problem with Wirfs but the structural cap related aspects and those are being held off until whatever happens happens.
The longer the H.R. holdout goes the better for us
July 31st, 2024 at 2:25 pm
Dude is right, this team was built more through the draft. With Brady, and us chasing a championship, we brought in guys like Antonio Brown. Hired guns. Now we’re drafting the likes of J Mac, building mode to a title, rather than selling out character wise chasing the ring with Brady. Hey we got one, the next one will be home grown like the late 90s, 2000 team. Most of that team was through the draft.
July 31st, 2024 at 2:53 pm
It’s been a steady work in progress. Good post there SlyPirate. We aren’t where we are now without Arians and Tom and Suh… and we aren’t better because they are gone, we have just continued to build on what they and our top longtime vets like David and Evans started. Proper drafting the last 2 years has instantly shot us back into contention. If Evans, David, Vea have a couple more years in them… that next championship could happen sooner that later! Good luck and health permitting.
July 31st, 2024 at 3:09 pm
@Hodad
It’s partly how teams like Green Bay & Pittsburgh(SF too since Lynch has been picking talent) stay relevant and keep their shelves moderately stocked. 3 QBs in the last 30 years, I wish we find that success some day as a franchise.
July 31st, 2024 at 3:19 pm
Haters will never get it….Baker is an alpha, everywhere he goes
July 31st, 2024 at 3:33 pm
Culture is something that starts and is built on. Like a Foundation. First year or two can look promising with the best of materials being used and end up a Pile of garbage because money gets tight and skimping and mistakes get made.
Only time where Culture and the Draft cross paths in the choosing of quality people that you want in your building. Good Teams would rather have a Quality Human with lesser skills than a POS that’s the best at the Position.
When it comes to building teams thru the draft? News flash. Bucs did not get the 7 best players available. For every selection they made there was a better overall player taken before him. 31 other teams are building thru the draft so that aspect of team building is neutral where crappy teams might have a slight advantage. No guarantee that Calib Williams will become the Best Player in the league and go on to HOF just because he is #1 picked. Look at Mayfield, a number 1 pick, and average at best.
If Bucs are going to win it’s because the Core Players avoid Father Time, get better, play well and don’t get injured going for passes 5 feet over their heads. maybe someone blows out a shoulder showing his Moxie. A Rookie receiver from Washington might add some but won’t be the difference. Bears got a pretty good receiver from Washington in the Draft too. So did the Cardinals.
Most of the teams in the NFC got better this offseason and if the Bucs didn’t get proportionally better teams like Washington, Giants, Cardinals and Seahawks might not be the W’s half the people have penciled in. Not to mention the Broncos, Raiders, and Chargers from the AFC.
July 31st, 2024 at 4:41 pm
Suh.
July 31st, 2024 at 4:42 pm
I agree with the foundation theories and I’ll add that who’s not here anymore has a lot to do with it as well.
JayMiss
Gerald
Donnie
Devin
July 31st, 2024 at 4:54 pm
Put on the skids let the games begin,baker took over for a proven& fined cheater so no matter how u slice it we r way better off this team culture is not of a cheating caliber so in my option we r already miles ahead go bakerbucs
July 31st, 2024 at 4:57 pm
That’s a nice book Dewayne. Of course getting your usual knocks in against Baker and giving everyone else credit except him.You just can’t stand him being on this team can you? Tell us. Who do you really want to QB this team?
July 31st, 2024 at 6:00 pm
Losing will quickly change that. Hope Todd Bowles had this defense ready. Nothing but confidence with our offense, but our secondary scares me a lot. With a tough schedule I hope our OC has they guys ready to fight fire with fire!
July 31st, 2024 at 6:16 pm
Like so many fans here, the players are feeling “IT” !!! Many of the Vets have been there!! They want more! Many of the younger guys got their first taste of a post season W last year. They want more! The new guys can see how hard the vets are working to hone their craft .so they’re working hard to make the team and keep pace with the vets.
Most of the media say the Bucs Suck! That pisses the team off to the nth degree! The team knows better and are out to prove those dum A talking heads wrong! Just like last season! That requires total dedication and lots of hard work. So far so good!! This season should be fun!
July 31st, 2024 at 6:35 pm
Welp Opeta out for season with torn acl. Hope Bredeson is good as advertised
July 31st, 2024 at 7:31 pm
I think the vets who where here the have done well withe the young players. Licht continues to help with great character picks.
I don’t think is anyone’s fault. We need to give credit to the evolution happening in that building.
LFG!!!
July 31st, 2024 at 8:03 pm
Let’s just keep it going like that all year sounds good go Buccaneers
July 31st, 2024 at 8:04 pm
Dang. Losing Opeta hurts. I didn’t like Bredson. His play ranged from barely average to bad for the giants. Hope he steps up or someone else like Elijah Klein ascends during the preseason.
July 31st, 2024 at 9:45 pm
Can’t believe the Brady era is over
I think this the last year Lavonte David plays
Let’s make it count.
August 1st, 2024 at 1:23 am
The thing with the GOAT, he was never satisfied with the roster. He was always agitating for veterans. Of course Gronk was his best requirement. Some players who had contributing roles in the offense were demoted and/or offloaded, like J-Wat, Scotty M, Tyler Johnson – in lieu of AB who was the best 3rd WR ever in the league until he went cocopuffs, Julio Porcelain Jones, fargin Beasley, and Tom couldn’t play with Perriman or Grayson, who played pretty well in that Jets comeback win. He did get Lenny who was a stud for us, but he was a bit of a diva with his personnel demands.
August 1st, 2024 at 5:30 am
SlyPirate … ‘2020-2023 – Licht drafts guys with work ethic, character, and loyalty. They buy into that culture started in 2019. This culture isn’t something new. It’s something that is perpetuating and building. It’s called “Legacy”. It’s badass. Be proud.’
Great post SlyPirate. We’ve been building ‘this’ for 6 drafts now, starting in 2019 when Arians & Bowles arrived. And almost all have been stellar drafts. But just as importantly, maybe even more-so, has been the development of our draft picks. And that’s a huge credit to this coaching staff.
And especially on the defensive side of the ball, where we’ve had considerably more ‘stability’ in regards to the coaching staff. In that 2020-2023 period that you noted SlyPirate, Bucs’ defense has finished 8, 5, 13, 7 in Points Allowed, while our offense has finished 3, 2, 25, 20 in Points Scored. We’ve pretty much returned to our defensive heritage; just need our offense to hop into the Top-10 also & we’ll be a force to be reckoned with.
Obviously 2020 & 2021 set the ‘tone’ as far as the culture change, but 2022 was a major transition year in many ways (coaching change, loss of several key veterans, salary CAP issues, etc). Worth noting though that we did improve in 2023, and 2024 & beyond looks bright IMO.
August 1st, 2024 at 5:36 am
We were a team adrift until Brady arrived. A train wreck waiting to happen every week. Brady started and accelerated the culture shift leading by example and attracting players who knew how to win, and who would not have otherwise even considered coming to Tampa. Arians’ record and legacy would have been very much JAG within our undistinguished treadmill of coaches if not for the GOAT. Yet posters here are taking pot shots at him. UFB.
Giving credit where credit is due, after some horrendous picks and reaches in the early going Licht gradually figured things out and is now legitimately one of the best GMs in the biz. We are going to surprise a lot of people with our all around competitiveness. I think the D will put the team on its back 3-4 games that will be the difference and lift us into the playoffs once again. The OL remains a concern until we see if Mauch’s play is really improved, whether Barton can be a quality day 1 starter, and whether Klein can assume the starting role at LG sometime this season without being a liability while adjusting to the caliber of defenders he would face.
August 1st, 2024 at 8:51 am
“We were a team adrift until Brady arrived. A train wreck waiting to happen every week.”
*Bruce Arians changed the culture in Tampa
August 1st, 2024 at 4:42 pm
SteelStudBuc Says:
July 31st, 2024 at 1:10 pm
LESS EGO
_________________
Ding. Ding. Ding.
No AB, no DW, etc. (I think it’s more about those guys vs. Brady, tough the team is prob closer with Baker too. Brady seems like a weird dude. Super respected though.)
August 1st, 2024 at 7:27 pm
It’s Aug 1st. It is a long way to Christmas 2024 and we have already had a significant injury to LG Sua O. Like the potential of this team but have to avoid further injury because Bucs lack depth in most positions. Hope OL can protect Baker. He is poised to have a sensational season with new OC. Team will be less predictable and hopefully more explosive offensively. Coach Bowles will keep this team even keel.