Homegrown And Healthy
November 30th, 2024
The excuses have run out for the Bucs defense.
Sure, the defense played well against a JV Giants offense on Sunday, but that’s no accomplishment.
Tomorrow against the Panthers, the opposing offense will be more legitimate — a decent offensive line, an established running back and a quarterback better than a third-stringer named Tommy DeVito.
So the Bucs will have to prove themselves, albeit against a very poor offense overall.
The Panthers have limited weapons — they traded top receiver Diontae Johnson — and now their top tight end is injured. But they do have veteran receivers in old man Adam Thielen (11 catches) and David Moore (19 catches). Those guys can find space in soft zone coverage, if the Bucs choose to continue the play-to-lose defense that’s hurt the team so badly this season.
Rookie reciever Xavier Legette leads the Panthers with 33 catches but he’s still a very raw prospect.
Joe sees a Bucs defense starting tomorrow that will be 100 percent homegrown and pretty darn healthy for December of an NFL season.
Calijah Kancey, Vita Vea, Anthony Nelson and YaYa Diaby are likely to start on the Bucs’ defensive front. Linebackers Lavonte David and K.J. Britt will be behind them, and the Todd Bowles-crafted secondary will have Nos. 1 and Nos. 2 cornerbacks Jamel Dean and Zyon McCollom on the field with star safety Antoine Winfield, Mike Edwards and Christian Izien likely at safety/nickel with them.
More draft picks like Logan Hall and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (if healthy) will get plenty of snaps.
That’s a healthy, experienced and completely homegrown bunch Bowles has molded. So few NFL teams can say that.
No room tomorrow for excuses like communication or injuries. That group is good enough to be average, which should be more than enough to support a strong Bucs offense.
In fact, average defense should be all that’s required to beat the sad Panthers (twice), Raiders, Saints and Cowboys, five of the six teams remaining on the Bucs’ schedule.
If Todd Bowles can’t deliver average defense consistently with this group, then Joe’s going to wave a white flag.
Ira Kaufman Talks Panthers Matchup & Predictions, Options/Non-Options For Todd Bowles And Defensive Benchmarks; Shares Fresh Pro Football Hall Of Fame Insight & More
November 30th, 2024 at 10:21 am
Joe any word on Dennis?
We need that guy back. I haven’t had time lately to follow like I normally do
November 30th, 2024 at 10:25 am
@SB it was reported that Dennis won’t return unless they make a deep playoff run.
November 30th, 2024 at 10:28 am
I’m happy that Nelly is starting instead of JTS. Nelly doesn’t have the same number of snaps, but when he’s on the field, he’s outplayed JTS. Nelly deserves to start, but Bowles needs to stop dropping the edge guys and rush them. Also, correcting for snap count, Will Gholston is outplaying Hall, so get Will in there!
November 30th, 2024 at 10:40 am
YaYa is bad football
November 30th, 2024 at 10:49 am
Joe, you can wave the white flag while I wave in the moving truck that will retrieve coach Bowles stuff from his office and off of Buc’s property.
November 30th, 2024 at 11:01 am
Oh what a difference a week makes. Last week we had players being compared to Sapp even if it was the Giants. Now it’s the JV Giants that was no big accomplishments. Ya. I didn’t think so either and I said so. It should have been a blowout. But anything can happen anytime. Players disappear most of the game and show up once or twice like the previous 2 games. That is why these Sapp type players get run over when you need them to help save a game.
November 30th, 2024 at 11:06 am
And don’t give me the coach had them in coverage. They were not. They played superior tallent and got their azz handed to them. Not a garbage team like the Giants.
November 30th, 2024 at 11:12 am
One two word excuse.
T_d_ B__l_s
November 30th, 2024 at 11:19 am
Watch this guy today in the Michigan/Ohio game
Mt dream draft pick next April
Mason Graham
November 30th, 2024 at 11:44 am
Thank you @ Bucs fan.
November 30th, 2024 at 11:52 am
Missing Whitehead and Dennis, allowed Detroit to sign Merriweather.
November 30th, 2024 at 12:29 pm
Trying to build a team to compete with Detroit (with a lot of debt) has not been an easy task but we’re getting there…. And we haven’t sold our future in the meantime.
November 30th, 2024 at 4:14 pm
We have a team that can compete with Detroit we’re just don’t have a coach. He actually told us Josh Hayes and Funderburke were better than the veteran Tavierre Thomas and never really gave him a chance bad coaching since he chooses the final roster
November 30th, 2024 at 4:14 pm
The Offense will put up points but, the defense will surrender the booty.
I have zero faith in Bowles at this point. If the Bucs lose, it better be bye bye Bowels.
November 30th, 2024 at 5:25 pm
And if the Bucs win? And the defense actually plays well, again?
Will Mr Bowles get any credit from you? Just wondering ✌🏼
December 1st, 2024 at 10:38 am
GoneGator, if we win a game *because* of Bowles’ coaching, I’ll eat my hat. I think it’s happened once in the past two years. Best case, he’s a non-factor, worst case, he loses us more games (he’s cost us 2-3 wins this year, depending on how harsh you want to be on him).