Time To Prepare

July 10th, 2024

Bucs coach Todd Bowles.

This surprised Joe. It seems NFL strongman Roger Goodell did the Bucs no favors in making out the 2024 schedule.

Yesterday, noted handicapper turned stathead Warren Sharp released his annual NFL preview, the Sharp Football Analysis 2024 Football Preview. It is absolutely loaded with all sorts of statistical data.

For example, this little nugget: Bucs opponents this season will have more than a week of preparation nearly 30 percent of the time (29.4 percent). That seems incredibly high.

Yes, Joe knows for example the Bucs host the 49ers right after San Francisco’s bye. Not good.

But five games the Bucs will face a team that has over a week to rest and prepare for the game? That does not sound good at all.

Joe thinks this could be a major disadvantage for the Bucs, who are just one of three teams to have only one game this fall with a rest advantage over an opponent.

The Bucs will face two opponents that will be on a short week.

19 Responses to “Time To Prepare”

  1. BucsFan55 Says:

    fix is in

  2. SteelStudBuc Says:

    Already making excuses huh

  3. Allen Lofton Says:

    If a fix is in, then it’s up to the Bucs to change the NFL’s prognosis of the Bucs. Go Bucs and kick some NFL butt.

  4. Permanently Moderated Says:

    This will only make their success this season even more impressive.

  5. Mort Says:

    Right, not a real problem.

  6. Fan of the South Says:

    Bucs have a net rest against opponents of -3 days. SF has net -21 and was net -20 last season for the most two seasons running.
    Can’t say the Bucs are being picked on (whah) because the Saints who finished second in the Division in 2023 have a net -7 days rest.

  7. Shane Callahan Says:

    Hopefully it simply becomes just another chip on their collective shoulder.

  8. unbelievable Says:

    Looks like we will have 4 games in which we have more than a week to prepare, but 3 of those come immediately after a short week where we have less than a week to prepare…

  9. BucsNoles Says:

    The schedule is the schedule.
    No excuses
    Play hard. . .be ready!
    I feel we will be better just by letting Dave walk
    Coen feels like a better fit after watching Connales continue to run up the middle on first down instead of scheming to get guys open.

  10. Defense Rules Says:

    ‘Joe thinks this could be a major disadvantage for the Bucs, who are just one of three teams to have only one game this fall with a rest advantage over an opponent. The Bucs will face two opponents that will be on a short week.’

    Got me curious Joe with the notion that NFL scheduling put the Bucs at a ‘major disadvantage’ this season, but on analyzing the schedule it looks to be a little worse than that even. Regardless though, no excuses.

    Agree that the Bucs have the ‘advantage’ in 1 game; against the Saints in Week 6 (we play on Sun the game prior; the Saints play the preceding Mon night).

    But it looks to me like we play 3 games, not just 2, where we’re at a rest disadvantage.

    o Week 8 against the Falcons: Sun game … Bucs play game prior on Mon night; Falcons play on Sun (advantage Falcons)

    o Week 10 against 49ers: Sun game … Bucs play game prior on Mon night; 49ers coming off BYE (advantage 49ers)

    o Week 14 against Raiders: Sun game … Bus play prior game on Sun; Raiders play prior game on Fri (advantage Raiders)

    Still, no one said life’s gonna be fair. You play the team that’s in front of you. Plenty of time to start preparing now. And if injuries happen, that’s why NFL teams have 53 players instead of 25 (and why depth is so important). No excuses.

    BTW, thought it was cool that we play the Giants coming off our BYE week, with the Giants coming off their BYE week also.

  11. David Says:

    Those saying Joe is making excuses…..

    He is simply pointing out a fact about the schedule.

  12. SlyPirate Says:

    MORE IS LESS
    Last year, the Bucs lost every game they had more than 7 days to prepare, but they went 1-1 in games with less than 7 days to prepare.

    NOT SO FUN FACT
    The Bye week started the Bucs 4 game losing streak last year. Bowles is 0-2 after the Bye week in two years as the Bucs HC.

    ASK A COACH
    While with the Bucs, Gruden advocated for less time between games. He said, it kept the team in a rhythm.

    The schedule sounds pretty optimal to me.

  13. Dave Pear Says:

    Mon Todd. You can coach them through it. Average 25ppg scoring. And notice that allowing opposing offenses to possess the ball for 14 plays and 7 minutes, throwing for 60 yards and kicking a FG should not be followed by 2 runs up the gut incomplete pass three and out. That’s not resting the defense.

    Your complaint about BA’s offense was scoring too fast. LOL.
    Try it.

  14. Stan says Says:

    Winning solves everything. Just play the schedule you are dealt and win. Barring injures we/the buc can win 10 of the games. The late Al Davis would say ( just win baby) I still hate the damn raiders. Finish the way I started. Winning solves everything.

  15. Boss Says:

    what, no cake schedule this year?

    It just aint fair!!!!!

    CONSPIRACY!!

  16. Defense Rules Says:

    Boss … The CONSPIRACY with the double !! was a very nice touch. Way to end strong.

  17. DCone Says:

    Historically when it comes to playing Thursday Night on short rest 17 teams play better with the best having a win rate 20%-25% higher than there normal win rate. !4 teams perform worse and the Chargers play the same.

    Also teams that play on Monday Night do not have a win/loss rate that points to the lack of rest making any difference

  18. Bucs And Them Says:

    We definitely have what seems like a tough schedule this year but, I think it’ll be good for us. Especially if we head into the last part of the schedule after our bye in good shape physically & record wise. Be nice to get on a run leading into the playoffs with some momentum as we did in 2020. If Coen can have Baker & the offense humming by that time, lookout.

  19. garro Says:

    Looks like as usual we will be playing the other teams, Roger, and the refs.

    LFG!

    Go Bucs!