Ira Kaufman Makes 20-Plus Predictions For The 2024 Bucs
September 5th, 2024
(This is a February photo from the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Don’t worry. Ira’s not wearing sweaters in the Florida summer.)
So JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman is in his 40th year covering the Buccaneers. That’s why he’s got the nickname, “The Sage of Tampa Bay Sports.”
On a recent Ira Kaufman Podcast, he made 20-plus predictions for the Bucs’ 2024 season.
Here they are:
Run game:
Rachaad White will lead the Buccaneers in rushing this season but will have less than 825 yards, which is the over/under line for his season rushing total at the local sportsbook that funds the Seminole tribe. (Sage believes rookie RB Bucky Irving will significantly eat into White’s carries).
Receivers:
Chris Godwin will lead the Bucs in receiving yards while Mike Evans will bust 1,000 yards for the 11th consecutive season. Ira says the streak is “a priority” at One Buc Palace and Godwin is capable of being among the top few NFL receivers in receiving yards per game. Put Godwin’s ceiling this season at 1,200 yards, says Ira.
Ira was asked, “Who will have more receiving yards, Jalen McMillan, Trey Palmer or Cade Otton (Otton had 455 last year; Palmer had 385)?” It’s Cade Otton, says Ira, due to Otton earning Mayfield’s trust and the third-year tight end’s expected snaps total.
Rushing Efficiency
What will be the Buccaneers’ yards-per-carry average, including Baker Mayfield? Ira says it jups to 4.0 yards from 3.4 last year. (For reference, in 2020, it was 4.1. In 2019, it was 3.7. In 2015, it was 4.8 and in 2002, it was 3.8.)
Baker Mayfield
Ira doesn’t think Baker Mayfield will have a better season statistically than in 2023 (28 touchdowns, 10 interceptions), but the Bucs offense will be better overall.
Kyle Trask
Ira predicts Trask will start at least one game because of an injury to Mayfield and his performance will be “mediocre, maybe good enough to pull out a game if the Bucs defense plays well.”
Top-2 Sacks Leaders
Yaya Diaby gets 10 and Calijah Kancey gets 7 1/2.
Top-2 Interceptions Leaders
Jodan Whitehead leads with 4 and rookie Tykee Smith gets 3.
Zyon McCollum
Expect him to get picked on, improve and “tick a level up” in his outside cornerback play with quality run support and a few flashes of playmaking.
Three Most Impressive Rookies (In Order)
- Tykee Smith
- Graham Barton
- Chris Braswell (“4 1/2 sacks”)
Lavonte David
Ira says David’s quality of play will fall back slightly but that’s mostly because of a sensational 2023 season, not because of overall decline.
Bucs’ Run Defense (which ranked 8th in yards-per-carry last year).
It will take a step backward to 13th, Ira says, citing rookie Chris Braswell struggling against the run and YaYa Diaby being “average” against the run, along with no expectations from the other Bucs outside linebackers.
Defensive MVP
Calijah Kancey
Bucs’ Final Record
9-8 … Ira can’t find a path to 10 wins but thinks the Bucs win the NFC South.
Records Of NFC South Teams
Bucs 9-8
Falcons 9-8 (Bucs win the tiebreaker)
Saints 7-10
Panthers 3-14
Surprise Good NFL Teams Of 2024 (Max 2)
Chargers & Commanders
Biggest Underachieving Teams Of 2024 (Max 2)
Chiefs & Cowboys
Enjoy the full episode below.
Ira Kaufman’s Annual & Ultimate Bucs Season Predictions Episode, Plus Several NFL Calls
September 5th, 2024 at 12:45 am
Ira for the Ring of Honor! Now!!!
September 5th, 2024 at 12:50 am
9-8. I agree. 4-6 at the break. 5 – 2 after break. 5-1 division play.
September 5th, 2024 at 1:27 am
Although I respect Ira’s knowledge of the game, I think that his predictions are a bit off. The Bucs will have 11 wins, Baker will surpass his numbers from last year (ending up 7th overall in the League) and our rushing average will be 4.2 per carry.
September 5th, 2024 at 1:39 am
I agree I think it will be hard to win 10. I think the Falcons could definitely get 10 with a healthy cousins. I’m already slightly concerned and if we lose week 1 I will be very concerned
September 5th, 2024 at 1:42 am
Forty years covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers! That’s alot of Experience for your readership to glean from. My respect, you and your team do a great job. I’m glad to hear you think Otten will have more yards than McMillan and Palmer. And that our rookie defenders and center will make a larger impact than McMillan and Irving. And of course Evans and Godwin surpassing 1000 yards each. And a better run game to boot. The only thing that doesn’t compute to me Ira is that – if all of those things come true – how does Baker (not ) have a better statistical year than last year ? And how do we not win more games than last year ?
September 5th, 2024 at 1:51 am
Kenton Smith – the answer would be “points allowed.”
September 5th, 2024 at 2:01 am
Fun article – I always like when people make predictions, it puts something on the record, unlike most dullards who just run their mouths and claim victory no matter what.
So, with that said, I’ll make my predictions about your predictions…
White – Over 825 yards. Bucky will get carries, but the run game will be much more efficient overall, so yards for everyone. So disagree on that one.
Evans will get over 1000 yards, agreed.
Godwin will lead team in yardage? I’ll stick with Evans – at 1200 yards and Godwin at 1100.
Who will have more yards, Otton, Palmer or McMillan… That again is tough. The Bucs really don’t throw the ball enough to support a bunch of guys with yards, but I’ll take McMillan at around 600 yards, and Otton perhaps falling back a bit. I think Palmer might see a big fall off.
“Ira says it jumps to 4.0 yards from 3.4 last year.” – I agree, 4.0 or slightly over.
“Ira doesn’t think Baker Mayfield will have a better season statistically than in 2023 (28 touchdowns, 10 interceptions), but the Bucs offense will be better overall.” – Agreed.
“Ira predicts Trask will start at least one game because of an injury” – History says this will happen, agreed.
“Yaya Diaby gets 10 and Calijah Kancey gets 7 1/2.” – I disagree. I think Kancey gets 9 1/2 and YaYa is at 8.
“Jordan Whitehead leads with 4 (ints) and rookie Tykee Smith gets 3.” – I like it, I agree.
Agree that Zyon McCollum will get picked on, and will improve and look like a solid starter by the end of the year.
“Three Most Impressive Rookies (In Order) – Tykee Smith Graham Barton Chris Braswell (“4 1/2 sacks”)” — Disagree. I think it’s Barton, McMillan, Bucky.
“David’s quality of play will fall back slightly but that’s mostly because of a sensational 2023 season, not because of overall decline.” – Agreed.
“Bucs’ Run Defense (which ranked 8th in yards-per-carry last year). It will take a step backward to 13th” – Disagree, I think passing against Bowles soft zone is going to be so easy that teams don’t bother to run the ball much. I think because of that this will be a top 5 run defense in yards and average.
“Defensive MVP – Calijah Kancey” – I think it’s one year too early, and the MVP will be the slimmed down Vita who will play more snaps – might only end up around 7 sacks, but will make a ton of TFL’s in the running game.
“Records Of NFC South Teams — Bucs 9-8 | Falcons 9-8 (Bucs win the tiebreaker) | Saints 7-10 | Panthers 3-14” — Disagree, I think it’s Falcons, 9-8, Bucs 8-9, Saints 7-10, Panthers 7-10
“Surprise Good NFL Teams Of 2024 (Max 2) – Chargers & Commanders”
I’ll go with the Colts and Panthers.
“Biggest Underachieving Teams Of 2024 (Max 2) – Chiefs & Cowboys”
I’ll go with the Bills and Eagles.
September 5th, 2024 at 2:52 am
13 and 4 is my prediction. White will have over a 1000 yards. Evans leads on recieving. Best rookie Barton. Kancey leads with 13 sacks Diaby 12. Mayfield will have 38 tds 8 ints and be in the mvp race. David plays outstanding again no fall off at all. Dean gets picked on while Zyon gets 7 ints Winfield gets 6. Bowles coach of the year. Falqueens cousins gets hurt first game. Penix starts rest I’d way and falqueens records is 7 and 10. Panthers fo 3 and 14 Saints go 8 and 9.
September 5th, 2024 at 4:56 am
Forty years – Congratulations! That is a lifetime of covering the Bucs and so much respect for your hard work.
Great podcast and overview. Don’t want any surprises from the Commanders this weekend. Absolutely agree about the Cowboys and Chiefs. Go Bucs!
September 5th, 2024 at 5:49 am
I think McCollum leads the team in ints and Winfield is right behind him. I also think White gets his 1000 but not much more while Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker push him for carries I don’t think tykee get 3 ints but plays decent. I think we finish 11-6 Mayfield plays every game and has a better season than last. YaYa leads the team with 11 sacks and Kancey gets 9.1/2 I agree with Ira on Lavonte David. The Bucs have a good season and win the South again
September 5th, 2024 at 5:51 am
Good stuff….agree. Would take 9-8 right now. Average team….hopefully.
September 5th, 2024 at 6:08 am
Any chance there could be article reviewing his predications from last year!
September 5th, 2024 at 7:45 am
There is definitely a path for 10+ wins. There’s no excuse not to go 5-1 in this weak division. Anything less than that should be viewed as a disappointment. Wins vs Commanders, Broncos, Raiders, and Giants plus the 5 wins vs the NFC South puts you 9 wins right there. Your telling me they can’t go at least 1-6 with the rest of the schedule?
September 5th, 2024 at 8:55 am
My bold prediction is Bucs will beat Chiefs. Mayfield will go toe to toe with Mahomes and will be in position to win in late 4th quarter.
September 5th, 2024 at 8:59 am
shrages has yaya getting 15 sack as a breakout player this year !
September 5th, 2024 at 9:08 am
Everybody has their own version of realistic. In my mind Ira skews a little negative. I think a 9-8 season is a semi failure. I like where Drunkinybor is coming from, though he definitely skews positive. I hope he is right, tho!
10-11 wins if injury bug doesn’t decimate the Bucs is possible.
September 5th, 2024 at 9:10 am
I like most of these. In preseason Barton was on a different level than any other rookie IMO, so if Smith ends up being the more impressive rookie he must be balling this year.
I don’t think the run D will be worse because of Braswell. All camp all we’ve heard is that he’s great setting the edge in the run game and he did that in preseason as well. If anything the run D may improve because we’ve moved on from White and brought in Whitehead and Smith who can both tackle in the box well.
September 5th, 2024 at 9:10 am
I love IRA Kaufman takes he tell’s the truth about the players and the bucs. He was the one who let us know it was never a competition last year. I trust IRA Kaufman takes more than any bucs meadi. Good job IRA Kaufman!!
September 5th, 2024 at 9:11 am
Ira has 40 years on him following the Bus. I beat him by 5. Penix is the better QB over Cousins. Whitehead will get a few picks cos he’s still in his prime, and he’s a heat seeking missile. Hope Coen shows imagination, and our kicker and punter get back to their best. I don’t see why Bucs can’t win the division unless Buc Luck (injuries) bites them badly.
September 5th, 2024 at 9:12 am
Bucs
September 5th, 2024 at 9:34 am
Predicting 8 losses means Ira doesn’t think the Bucs can beat ANY top tier teams. I think beating Detroit or Dallas is certainly within our reach
September 5th, 2024 at 11:06 am
LOVE that you gave us a transcript of the podcast, Joes. I find it hard to find time to listen to the podcasts although I have enjoyed them in the past.
This transcript allows me to receive the content while at work – thank you!!! 🙂
Appreciate it. Not really a transcript, but Joe gets it. –Joe
September 5th, 2024 at 12:35 pm
Made a nice chunk on bucs last year. Got them at 9 to 1. My most overachieving team will be the titans. Got them at 10 to 1 to-win afc south. Yes, a stretch. I think Levis breaks out this year. Sam darnold cpoy. Bet baker and Rogers mvp
September 5th, 2024 at 2:03 pm
D-Rok Says:
September 5th, 2024 at 11:06 am
LOVE that you gave us a transcript of the podcast, Joes. I find it hard to find time to listen to the podcasts although I have enjoyed them in the past.
This transcript allows me to receive the content while at work – thank you!!! 🙂’
———-
BTW, Apple Podcasts now auto generates transcripts.
Also, Joe, there’s services out there like Otter.ai, which will do a full transcript, automatically – and let you host clips easily, etc. Might be worth checking out, it’s very cheap as well. Also once you post a show, you just tell it who is speaking, and in the future it will auto tag who says what. Everything is searchable and synced to the audio, so it’s really easy to find stuff. Might be worth checking out, if for no other reason than making it easy to find stuff for articles.
Thank you. Aware of some transcribing options. Did a trial once. Not something we would publish at this point.–Joe
September 5th, 2024 at 6:09 pm
Predicting a winning season or a losing season (“up or down”) is about as accurate as you can I think with these things (whole-season-predictions).
If the Buccaneers can go 9 & 8, they can go 11- 6 or better if they’re actually a “winning-season team.”
If you believe that it’s a significantly improved year-over-year team this year, then what’s the problem with predicting an 11 game winning season.
Just look at the “re-matches” with the Lions and Eagles (assuming these games aren’t part of the 9 games-won in the 9-8 predictions):
Buccaneers v. Eagles: are 1-1 in reg. + Playoff
games and could have won the regular season game.
Buccaneers v. Lions: are a deceptive 0-2 in reg + Playoff game and should have won the reg season game and could have won the playoff game.
Are the Buccaneers an improved team this year?
Yes!, definitely.
Do you foresee any “funny” games, like a loss to the Panthers? No!
A sweep of the “bad teams.” Blow-outs are good for morale.
An “11 wins or better” prediction is as plausible as an “9-8” prediction all day, imo.
.
September 7th, 2024 at 12:40 pm
Joe
Why you let this guy post this trash is beyond me.
Ira is a good dude. –Joe