“Everything’s Lined Up”
October 20th, 2014
The Vikings have adapted quickly to the defense of first-year head coach Mike Zimmer
If Tampa Bay loses at home Sunday to a banged up and struggling Vikings team with a rookie quarterback, then there might not be a Bucs fan alive who will emerge with a good attitude.
Minnesota (2-4) is in rough shape.
This isn’t lost on former Bucs tight end Anthony Becht, now a college football analyst for BSPN and a voice on the Buccaneers Radio Network. Becht weighed in this morning on WDAE-AM 620.
“[The Vikings] are banged up. You know, their starting center, their starting guard, they left [Sunday’s] game with concussions and knees. They’re shorthanded. They’ve given up 12 sacks the last two games — 12 sacks. We’re looking for some of our guys to get some. So this would be a great week,” Becht said.
“And Teddy Bridgewater, you know, he’s been limping around. He’s got five interceptions the last two games. So everything’s lined up. This team coming in is not going to be feeling about themselves, and we’re coming off a bye. You gotta take advantage of the situation.”
Yes, the tea leaves are aligning for the Bucs, who are getting much healthier.
The Vikings, however, have played well defensively. For some reason, first-year head coach Mike Zimmer’s defense doesn’t have a massive learning curve like the Bucs’ defense. Minnesota ranks 14th in points allowed per game (22.9) and 14th in yards allowed per game.
Minnesota also is sixth in the NFL with 20 sacks. This game is no free ride, especially if the Bucs’ offense continues its first-half impotence.
October 20th, 2014 at 4:20 pm
Are you kidding me?
Backups thrive against our D. Why wouldn’t Bridgewater?
And I don’t care how many sacks they’ve given up this season. Our defense BLOWS.
October 20th, 2014 at 4:35 pm
It will be almost impossible to put a positive spin on a blowout by the Vikes. We’ll see.
October 20th, 2014 at 4:36 pm
Could not have said it better, Snook. The Bucs and Lovie are all all and no action. Shut up and just win for a change.
October 20th, 2014 at 4:37 pm
This game will be close, if the Bucs play hard they will win this game.
October 20th, 2014 at 4:38 pm
Don’t you think that everyone is Minnesota is saying, “Geez, the Bucs suck. We ought to be able to limp into Tampa and still get a win”?
October 20th, 2014 at 4:42 pm
Well were in worse shape at 1-5 with 3 of those losses to our division opponents and our division is the worse in the NFL! *sigh*
GooseFraba…… GooseFraba…… GooseFraba
October 20th, 2014 at 4:54 pm
And yet in spite of their defensive ranking (JOE!!!) they are still 2-4
October 20th, 2014 at 5:05 pm
A backup QB from Min. We will lose.
October 20th, 2014 at 5:08 pm
What is the home record the last 3 years ?
October 20th, 2014 at 5:11 pm
Umm……like the Rams game earlier this year? Our defense made that rookie QB look better than our journeyman veteran. Trap game.
October 20th, 2014 at 5:13 pm
How many chances must we get at this thing. The Saints, Panthers and Falcons all have a far tougher schedule the next 3 – 5 games. No reason for us to not fix or at least improve during this bye and win some games. hard to beleive that we are only TWO games out of first place. Imagine the possiblities?
October 20th, 2014 at 5:17 pm
Over the years I have been reluctant to dis a coach in his first year. In Lovie;s case it is different. The players were his selection, the GM was his selection, the OC and DC also. And what has he delivered, just the dumbest rhetoric from a head coach ever.
Sorry Charley, only the best Tuna get to be Starkist.
Time to go.
October 20th, 2014 at 5:22 pm
If they were the last football team on earth playing a scrimmage against nothing but air – they’d get blown away.
This team is historically bad!!! They are taking losing to new heights. Don’t drink the kool aid thinking they have a chance. Jeez people – did you even see the last few games on defense?
October 20th, 2014 at 5:32 pm
Somebody needs to step up, anybody, and put Bridgewater on his ass.
October 20th, 2014 at 5:36 pm
W or L
In Lovie I TRUST!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!
October 20th, 2014 at 5:37 pm
@ Passthebuc. I think your Charley. The Tuna comparison to Lovey is spot on. He Stinks As A Coach! Even with the by week and Frazer on board, we are in for one he’ll of a fight Sunday. Please stop using that dawn prevent defense. Oh ya….don’t forget to use the long ball.
October 20th, 2014 at 5:43 pm
Vikings new defense coach zimmer and defense
is ranked 14th overall and against the run
Bucs new defense coaches and the
defense is ranked-
Never mind!
October 20th, 2014 at 5:46 pm
If anyone here thinks the Bucs will outright WIN this game; you need to have your f**king head checked or you’ve only been a fan all of fifteen minutes.
This is a classic Bucs “close” loss. The Bucs’ defense will make the Vikings banged up offense look like world-beaters. Lil’ Teddy will look like the black Doug Flutie and ESPN/NFL Network will be all over his n*ts for the next week until he comes crashing down to earth. Not to mention what the Vikes defense will do to Glennon and the band of misfits.
Having faith or being an optimistic Bucs fan is like that poor old battered wife who thinks her wife beating husband has finally changed… He’s sorry, he’s come around, he wants to take you our to a nice meal…
…Then you order the wrong thing on the Applebees menu, he gives you “that” look, and you know you’re getting your a** kicked when you get home.
Impossible to ever have any faith in this team… Always been, always will be.
Go Sucs!
October 20th, 2014 at 6:27 pm
LOL ^^
October 20th, 2014 at 6:48 pm
I liked what commish justin said today…Frasier seems soft. No screaming or getting excited just no emotion. Bridgewater is going to light us up. We suck again!!!!!
October 20th, 2014 at 6:49 pm
Their record reflects them as a better team. Are there and winless teams left to play?
October 20th, 2014 at 7:06 pm
You know, it IS possible that the players could have a moment much like Sapp, Brooks and Lynch did. They got so tired of losing that they decided to force a change. We have the players to do it.
Coming off a bye-week…would not be the first time a horrible team turned things around over a bye. A winning streak could change things dramatically. Unlikely, but it is slightly possible.
One the defense clicks, the rest could fall into place. And we have the players on defense, if they step up.
October 20th, 2014 at 7:07 pm
I HOPE the defense starts clicking do Lovie doesn’t pick defense in round one next year.
October 20th, 2014 at 7:29 pm
@BuccaneerBonzai
I hope Lovie works for the Atlanta Falcons next year.
October 20th, 2014 at 7:31 pm
“then there might not be a Bucs fan alive who will emerge with a good attitude.”
Me me me me. Me right here. I’m counting the losses now. Tanketh for….well you know the rest!
October 20th, 2014 at 7:33 pm
I don’t know why but I have a good feeling we will win the coin toss. That is all I feel good about.
October 20th, 2014 at 7:35 pm
Teddy 300+ yards 4 td’s. Bucs D no sacks. Teddy talk of NFL for entire week. The only thing worse is Ponder steps in and leads them to victory.
October 20th, 2014 at 7:41 pm
Bonzai,
I’m with you, we need to see the D start clicking.
But in round 1, I want a stud O or D lineman. Someone who can protect the blind side or a guy who can create his own sacks.
Bring back the D!
October 20th, 2014 at 7:41 pm
ElioT …by far the funniest post I’ve ever read on JBF. Hilarious stuff!
October 20th, 2014 at 7:54 pm
Sorry but Becht thinks we are going to get right on Minny? I think they are looking at us with our 1 win (barely) and two colossal blowout losses and saying hey we can get right on this terrible Bucs team. What freaking arrogance!
October 20th, 2014 at 9:36 pm
So the Bucs are favored (which is amazing in itself) and the following will likely happen: the damned Bucs D lets Bridgewater, Corradelle Patterson, and whoever is running the ball for the Vikes (Asiata or McKinnon) look like the Cowboy triplets circa 1993 and Lovie will stubbornly start McNown who stinks it up before getting benched at halftime down by at least 21 and the Bucs get embarrassed yet again even if MG has a good second half only lose by 10 points or so! I hope I am wrong but being a lifelong Buc fan; I simply can not be optimistic about the Bucs winning any game they are favored in right now; Lovie already threw away a win vs the Lambs and I suspect he will do the same again on Sunday… The Vikes are probably circling this game as one of the few potential wins they are gonna have this year and you can not blame them…
October 20th, 2014 at 10:01 pm
JJV: yeah I agree with your prediction! The Bucs will win the coin toss and then defer like they did vs Baltimore so that Bridgwater can go 80+ yards down the field in 4 plays or less and put the Bucs down 7 early….
October 20th, 2014 at 10:05 pm
I picked up bucs to win this game in the preseason so I’mma roll with that. Lord help us all
October 20th, 2014 at 10:06 pm
*up=the
October 20th, 2014 at 10:19 pm
Whatever, we will annihilate our Nordic pirate brethren!
October 20th, 2014 at 10:33 pm
I’m just going to keep telling myself they’re tanking the season….It’s so much easier than trying to figure out wtf is going wrong after every game.
Join in with me. It’s so much easier thinking that they are trying to lose.
October 20th, 2014 at 10:41 pm
great qb matchup: a rookie vs a cookie
you decide which is whom.
October 21st, 2014 at 6:51 am
How does winning a game help us get Jameis Winston?
October 21st, 2014 at 12:01 pm
anybody that goes to that game other than those that have to(media) is a sad clown….look outside and tell me that team is worth days like this in Florida….
October 21st, 2014 at 1:29 pm
Bridgewater, 3 TD’s in first half
McCown, 1 pick 6, 4 sacks in first half
halftime score 28-0 Vikes
I think I’ll start watching in the 2nd half, when the bucs put up 2 useless TD’s and find some running room against the prevent d…
and then we’ll say… look at all that spark of potential….
October 21st, 2014 at 4:09 pm
@Phil. U still think we need famous JW? He is definitely talented but again, i don’t think he is the perfect Bucc Qb. I could be wrong. I just dont know.
October 21st, 2014 at 4:44 pm
Bucc Fans, i know it’s easy to fault head coach Lovie Smith for our dismal season. But he does deserves his share of the blame. But it’s not his fault that.Josh McClown Sucks, or Michael johnson even worse. Not to mention A verner / major wrong. But he is not out there every week stinking the place up with game play. It took Pat Riley more than 1year to build the right team. No matter which season u look at. I STILL BELIEVE IN LOVIE. not much but i do know u can’t change horses in the middle of the race.
October 22nd, 2014 at 2:41 pm
They also have dynamic playmakers in McKinnon and Patterson, who are both very explosive in the open field. No game is a gimme, and this one won’t be an exception.