It’s Time To Quit Whining About Injuries
October 9th, 2024
Bucs feeling absence?
Joe got a lot of Bucs fans freaked out last week when Joe fingered the Bucs offense for the loss to Atlanta.
For as awful as the Bucs’ pass defense was last week — and it was truly horrid — the Bucs still had the lead in the game until the very bitter end of regulation.
No, it was the offense, specifically the final two drives when all the Bucs needed was one measly first down. In general, only scoring six points in a second half is going to be hard to overcome. Even Carolina could give the Bucs a game if the Bucs have but two field goals in the entire second half.
Joe refuses to blame injuries. Thomas Valentine of the PFF tribe seems to think injuries finally caught up with the Bucs last week.
Why the Buccaneers lost: The Buccaneers defense has been hit with injuries this season, and the secondary was picked apart by Cousins, who threw for a career-high 509 yards. The defense allowed 228 yards after the catch, while Lavonte David and slot cornerback Tykee Smith allowed 18 catches on 22 targets, with most of those catches coming over the middle of the field.
Here is why Joe doesn’t buy the injuries: The injuries sure didn’t help, but when the Bucs suffocated Detroit, they didn’t have Antoine Winfield, Calijah Kancey and for much of the second, didn’t have Vita Vea. Yet the Bucs played lights out on defense.
Against Philadelphia, Kancey and Winfield both missed that game, yet the Bucs clobbered the Eagles.
Joe would argue Detroit’s offense is better than Atlanta’s. And Philadelphia’s offense is on par with Atlanta. Remember, Bijan Robinson was nicked up, too.
Missing Kancey or Winfield didn’t help. But the Bucs have demonstrated in more than one game they can rise up and play good defense even without those two studs.
Joe has no earthly explanation for coughing up 509 yards passing to a guy who couldn’t step out of the pocket.
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October 9th, 2024 at 3:13 am
We don’t miss Kancey because you can’t miss what you never had. So far in his young career he is a spectacular bust. I will be happy to change that opinion, ecstatic rather, if and when he becomes a difference maker.
October 9th, 2024 at 3:19 am
Lavonte was part of that Greg Schiano defense that Eli Manning thrashed for 510 yards passing. One yard more than Kirk Cousins.
But this is the NFL, you have to have a short memory
And prepare for the next game
October 9th, 2024 at 4:39 am
Agreed, Joe. We beat two big bad teams without major contributors on both sides. Based on those two games, I wouldn’t have a hard time believing we could have been looking at a 5-0 team, but Denver we came out flat and Atlanta, we choked.
October 9th, 2024 at 5:34 am
Coulda, woulda, shouda. Sorry but this Bucs team is inconsistent. We’ve had 1 bad game offensively (Denver) plus a bad 2nd half against Atlanta. Defensively we’ve had several bad games. For the time being at least, that’s apparently who we are.
Whether we like it or not, injuries do play a part in that (unless you’re one who believes that Izien & Merriweather are just as talented as Winfield & Whitehead, or that Hall & JTS are just as talented as Suh & JPP who they replaced).
October 9th, 2024 at 5:57 am
The Bucs kept the Lions out of the endzone Joe, they never did stop the offense from moving the ball though. Sufficating, really? They were in the redzone 7 times, Goff threw 55 times for over 300 yards, receivers were wide open often. We rarely got a sack on 55 dropbacks. We just got lucky keeping them out of the endzone. Sufficating is what I want to do to myself watching this defense play!
October 9th, 2024 at 6:06 am
You’re forgetting about Sirvocea Joe. Bucs were compensating without Kancey and Winfield. Dennis, their best coverage linebacker, going out sunk the ship. Look no further than the middle of the field on Thursday.
October 9th, 2024 at 6:14 am
KJ Britt isn’t getting it done. He is a liability. And the fact that the injured guys can’t seem to recover has a big impact on the outcome of games. Too many players content with just cashing a paycheck.
October 9th, 2024 at 6:26 am
You do the best with what you got, but I just don’t understand the simple concept of when your best players don’t play you are not as good of a team.
If we are going to be apopleptic every time we loose a game with high impact starters missing, allow me to offer a different perspective. Excellent coaching performances allowed us to overachieve based off the talent we had on the field, and the loses were instances where it was too much to overcome.
Sorry to bring optimism to a comment section. Feel free to call me soft and scream FIRE TODD BOWLES every time a team picks up a 3rd and 8.
October 9th, 2024 at 6:38 am
Poor coaching and kancey is a bust. As soon its time for real action he is hurt. Not one word during preseason then right before the season hamstring so it’s one or the other . Bust or poor conditioning. Joe do they allow u go to the press conferences?
October 9th, 2024 at 6:38 am
I second your statement Drunk Bucs fan! Cheers
October 9th, 2024 at 6:58 am
agree, who is this Kancey ghost?
October 9th, 2024 at 7:24 am
Kancey has proven to be a wasted pick. Winfield’s vacation should be over. Although undersized, time to train Smith and IZien as LBs. Bowles better right he ship soon. Licht needs to trade for at least one LB.
October 9th, 2024 at 7:26 am
Jack Burton Mercer- Agree to a point i am not going to call him a bust but they guy is never available so we need to be thinking of DL again round 1. That and Vea is not a spring chicken so its a need no matter what IMO.
October 9th, 2024 at 7:44 am
How much latitude does Baker have to change plays at the line? He knows who his clutch players are – Evan and Godwin. When Coen called running plays on those last two drives, did Baker even consider throwing? Of course if he throws an interception when a running play is called, I’m sure his neck would have been on the line.
October 9th, 2024 at 8:53 am
LakelandBuc FTW!!!
“But this is the NFL, you have to have a short memory
And prepare for the next game”
October 9th, 2024 at 9:37 am
Mr. Beckles made a good point though, ATL played Sunday’s game in the AC and the Bucs played Sundays game in 108 degree heat. On a short week, in the fourth quarter, that could mean some tired legs in a track meet like that. And remember, Whitehead got injured too, I’m sure he was playing hurt before he left the game. So injuries do play a role when it comes to depth
October 9th, 2024 at 10:08 am
@ you’re being hyperbolic to say that Kancey is a bust. He’s had injuries his first couple years, but when he’s on the field he produces, those are the facts. Going forward Kancey has come with a regiment to prevent soft tissue injuries.
October 9th, 2024 at 12:01 pm
Bowles said Kancey and Winfield likely would’ve played against the Falcons if the game had been on Sunday…so we can fully assume they’ll be playing this week, right?
October 9th, 2024 at 12:06 pm
The fumble and the face mask non call doomed us stop nitpicking
October 9th, 2024 at 12:32 pm
We obviously over performed in Detroit