Anthony Becht Pegs Bucs For 8-8
July 16th, 2014
“Count my fingers, Anthony.”
Bucs training camp might be nine days away, but prognostication season is just about in full swing.
A former Bucs coach says Tampa Bay is bound for the Super Bowl in February. A prominent ex-player says the Bucs will ride Lovie Smith to the division crown.
FOX Sports and ProFootballTalk.com recently placed the Bucs among the NFL’s bottom-feeders.
Joe thoroughly expects crystal-ball work on the Bucs’ season will bring a wide range of picks.
Former Buccaneers tight end Anthony Becht, who now works on the team’s radio network and for BSPN, dove into the mix this morning during an interview on WDAE-AM 620.
Becht sees a team on the rise but not necessarily a winning club.
“On paper, we should be able to make a push and be competitive in this division and try to get over the hump,” Becht said. “I pegged us for eight wins. I need to see some other things happen, especially to see how this offense is going to click, to get us over the hump. But I believe that, you know, they got the pieces in place to try to make that run and be competitive in the division.”
It’s worth noting that Becht predicted a 10-win season for the Bucs last year. Joe’s not trying to discredit Becht, not at all, just illustrating how tough it is to get a read on a team so early.
Of course, much of Becht’s optimism last year surrounded sleepy, leaky Josh Freeman returning to lead the NFL’s ninth-ranked offense. Who could have expected that epic mental meltdown?
July 16th, 2014 at 12:11 pm
Who could have expected that epic mental meltdown?
________________
Boomer Esiason.
July 16th, 2014 at 12:23 pm
Good point Lightning. I wonder how so many pundits missed on Free last year and Esiason knew what Free was up to. Pretty good on Boomer’s part
July 16th, 2014 at 12:30 pm
After having the wind sucked at of you from the last two regimes it hard to say that were going to have a great year. I’m kind of in a show me state because disappointed doesn’t even begin to describe how its been since the last 4 weeks of 2008. I do think we are in a better place now than when we were since 2009 now that we have a HC with some creditably. That said I think the Falcons still struggle this year and panthers get off to a bad start this year and struggle with their offense for a the majority of the season.
Saints
Bucs (close 2nd)
Falcons
Kittens
July 16th, 2014 at 12:48 pm
8-8 might be a stretch but 6-10 is certainly within reach. Predicting records is challenging especially on the team you’re rooting for.
July 16th, 2014 at 12:51 pm
Whether this team is 4-12 or 12-4 is all going to depend on O-line and QB play.
July 16th, 2014 at 12:57 pm
RCH Says
“After having the wind sucked out of you from the last two regimes it’s hard to say that we’re going to have a great year. I’m kind of in a “show me” state because disappointed doesn’t even begin to describe how its been…”
I get that. I’m mostly in the same spot. I disagree that the last regime was that bad, but I know what you mean. I think last year the circumstances and players played a huge role in things.
Year before last made us all excited, so both of the Schiano years were not so bad.
July 16th, 2014 at 12:58 pm
8-8, without a mentally screwy QB or MRSA – and not being the league tabloid equivalent to Lindsay Lohan?
That kind of 8-8 is ALMOST music to my ears. Compared to last year, it’s an incredible step up.
Considering their schedule I’m inclined to think Becht’s prediction is better than where they’re going to land. I’m guessing 7-9 or 6-10. In spite of the ‘win-now’ attitude, Rome wasn’t built in a day. They’ve got a lot of parts and pieces that need to be assembled and turned into a functioning football team. In spite of all the glowing offseason reviews, that usually doesn’t happen instantly.
All these rookies and new guys on offense need time to gel. Spend 2014 getting through the growing pains and learn to run the routes, pass protect, work in sync with the offense, etc. Make no mistake, we’re going to lose some games because someone missed an assignment here or there, zigged when they should’ve zagged – or ran an out when they were supposed to run a skinny post. One or two screw ups decids most games, and if they do it right they can get through them this year to make 2015 an expectation of making the playoffs.
We all want playoffs, but when looking at the murderer’s row of defenses they play (first 5 games feature 3 likely top 5 defenses) – you’ve got to be realistic that their weaknesses will be exposed pretty quickly.
July 16th, 2014 at 1:03 pm
I’ve decided I don’t want to make ANY predictions this year. I’m just going to do my best to enjoy the games and think positive once the season starts.
I do have some concerns:
Quarterback Play is always an issue in Tampa. In this case, we only have two and if both suck we are screwed, because I foresee the defense being good enough to force us into a mid-range draft pick. Trading up more than a couple spots would kill the following 1-2 drafts.
Free Agents are my biggest concern. Anytime you sign a free agent, you pretty much know there is increased injury risk because of their age. In our case, this year, we have a bunch of them. In a town where injuries occur so often? That could spell disaster.
Also, GMC will have a new contract. Will he ease up after that or continue to excel? I think he’ll keep getting better, but there is always a risk that once he gets money he won’t. He did have a good rookie deal though, so chances are good he’ll keep doing well.
July 16th, 2014 at 1:16 pm
I’m not predicting a Super Bowl here. I just wonder. How many of them had the wrong prediction on 2002? We had a brand new coach, half of the players in the offensive team and brand new offensive scheme. Hmmm????
And I can’t remember but I would be surprise if the schedule was easy in 2002 since the previous year we made the playoffs. Keep in mind everybody thought Philly had our number and rightly so. We didn’t know how the offense was going to be. But we new we had the right coach. Super Bowl contenders was not a way to see us then.
July 16th, 2014 at 1:22 pm
Vegas over-under is 7, I believe, so Anthony is betting the “over”……so very hard to make a call this early, best to wait until after the “exhibition” season so you at least know who is on the roster….and hopefully no “exhibition” injuries……
July 16th, 2014 at 1:23 pm
@touchdown -curb your enthusiasim a little. we are coming off 4-12 2 of the last 3 years and in 02 we were coming off 5 years of at least 9 wins. i would say 02 is dreamland… think 97 as best case scinario
July 16th, 2014 at 1:24 pm
Lightning Buc FTW!!! Great call! LMAO
July 16th, 2014 at 1:25 pm
Lovies holding up eight fingers and two thumbs….so that leads me to believe we will have a 9-7 season. No brainer!!!
July 16th, 2014 at 1:26 pm
@touchdown – the ’02 defense was completely intact from the previous year. And the acquisitions on offense were completely veteran in nature. No rookie starters on that 2002 team. Your comparison is apples and oranges to this year.
July 16th, 2014 at 1:28 pm
“Year before last made us all excited, so both of the Schiano years were not so bad,” says Buc Bonzai
Hillarious!!!! I guess last year you were not sober prior to the games. You probably were out cold during the games. WOW… Are you kidding me??? Put down the Saki before it puts you down…
…AGAIN! lol
July 16th, 2014 at 1:30 pm
@Buccaneer Bonzai – Usually with FA injuries you’re talking about old guys who are one step removed from being out of the league. This year’s crop of FA’s are pretty young, without much injury history to any of them.
GMC is a freak of nature in that he seems completely unaffected by the massive amount of money he’s already made. I don’t know if there’s much difference between a guy who’s worth $50 million versus a guy worth $150 million. Anyone on here worth that much who can answer it, lol?
July 16th, 2014 at 1:36 pm
To me…
7-9 or lower – Not a happy camper
8-8 is bare minimum and those loses cant be blow outs. We have to be competitive.
9-7 Happy – winning season
10 wins or more – I will have to pinch myself
July 16th, 2014 at 1:36 pm
0-16
This way I can only be pleasantly surprised during the season
July 16th, 2014 at 1:37 pm
@mike- I do. I meant what I said. I’m not thinking Super Bowl… For me it looks like 8-8 also or 9-7. Its hard to say without knowing how Tedford will execute this offense.
@Louis- I’m not comparing them. You are right. I’m with you. I just wonder how those making predictions saw us in 2002. The offense was brand new so to speak. Although you are right many veterans in players and Coach Gruden.
July 16th, 2014 at 1:57 pm
I’ve said it before, I would be thrilled with 8-8. You just don’t erase the stench of the Teflon Dom overnight.
July 16th, 2014 at 2:22 pm
Anyone that thinks they can predict what this team will do this year right now is NUTS! Our “D” will probably be very competitive…..BUT on our first series on “O” and we are 3rd and five we could possible have 9-10 players on the field that didn’t start for us last year!….9-10! INCLUDING 4 ROOKIES…..SIMS
HERRON ASJ ME..and who knows maybe even a rookie at GUARD….Not saying they won’t be good BUT WHO KNOWS right now
July 16th, 2014 at 2:43 pm
8-8 is unacceptable
July 16th, 2014 at 3:15 pm
The key word Becht used was click. So much is new. Sooner 9-7, later and we may see 6-10.
July 16th, 2014 at 3:20 pm
LightningBuc,
Epic comment, two days in a row.
Joe and Joe,
What do you ya’ll know about Boomer’s comments? What about the NFLPA investigation? Is Freeman and his Agent (also Johnny Boy’s agent) responsible for the leak?
Schiano deserves to have his name absolved from the leak-gate schenanigans.
July 16th, 2014 at 3:45 pm
@Barry
Might want to be prepared for unacceptable then.
July 16th, 2014 at 3:46 pm
@biff barker
Completely agreed. But I think later is more likely. If we were playing a weak early schedule it might be different. But the cards are stacked against them right off the bat.
July 16th, 2014 at 3:50 pm
@brandon barker
Nobody can read the future, but we can make educated guesses based on the history of offenses implementing new systems with a plethora of rookies. You seem like a smart guy, so I doubt you have any illusions about how often that works right away.
July 16th, 2014 at 4:44 pm
@Touch_Down_Tampa_Bay
Just so you understand, “year before last” is two years ago, not last year. Think things thru next time.
July 16th, 2014 at 4:48 pm
Just wondering…other than 2010 (think that was the year Morris won 10), I don’t recall the Bucs ever getting an easy schedule in the last 15 years or so. Anyone else?
The yen win season under morris was considered easy…none before or after that as I can recall.
July 16th, 2014 at 5:30 pm
11-5
Division a Title.
Don’t run him out of town please.
July 16th, 2014 at 5:56 pm
The schedule is hard when you are a bad team.
All I can say is that lovie better not win 7 or under. After all Coach Schiano went 7-9 his first year, and he was supposed to be the worst coach ever, according to some.
July 16th, 2014 at 6:23 pm
Ain’t that the truth!
July 16th, 2014 at 7:12 pm
@Buc Realist
That’s the best comment I’ve read all day!
July 17th, 2014 at 3:50 pm
‘Word’ to that Louis! Well said Realist.