Five Things To Watch Against The 49ers
September 8th, 2019
Yes, it’s all about scoring a “W” by any means possible against the 49ers today, but Joe’s looking for more than that to determine if the Bucs are on track for a winning season.
The Ndamukong Suh-Vita Vea tandem: Despite defenses completely keying on the 49ers running game last year and daring San Francisco’s backup quarterbacks to beat them, the 49ers still managed to have a solid rushing attack at 4.5 yards per carry. That tied for 12th best in the NFL. Now the 49ers added running Tevin Coleman and they have a real quarterback again. Joe wants to see Ndamukong Suh and Vita Vea plug up that running game. That’s why these guys are getting paid. Joe doesn’t care if Jimmy Garoppolo is still shaking off rust from a knee injury, if he’s looking at a bunch of 2nd-and-5 and 3rd-and-2 situations, it’s not going to be an easy day for the Bucs.
Culture change: Joe is sick and tired of the Bucs walking off the field and nobody saying, “Damn, what a physical, punishing football team that is on both sides of the ball. They got after it for 60 minutes.” That has to change before the wins are going to flow.
A couple of deep connections: Whatever the reason(s), America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston has not been a special deep ball thrower in his career. Joe wants to see that improve in Game 1. Why the hell shouldn’t it? Jameis has the the targets and four new quarterback coaches who have been grooming him, plus malcontent DeSean Jackson has left the building. San Francisco cornerback Akhello Witherspoon is not special opposite Richard Sherman. The opportunities will be there, and Joe thinks Mike Evans should own Richard Sherman, assuming Evans has recovered from his flu-like illness.
A no-blitz pass rush: Yeah, Joe knows Todd Bowles lovers are all hot in the pants for the Bucs to challenge for the NFL lead in blitzing, and these people think the Bucs subsequently are going to strike fear in the hearts of quarterbacks. Joe hopes they’re right. But the reality is the Bucs still must find ways to rush the quarterback without blitzing. Russell Wilson, Drew Brees, Cam Newton and Jared Goff are all fantastic quarterbacks against the blitz; the stats are there to read. The Bucs face those quarterbacks in five of their first eight games.
The “sports science” staff: Bucco Bruce Arians has raved over and over and over about his “sports science” team preparing players in the best possible way for the season. It’s going to a sunny scorcher at the Den of Depression today against a west coast team unaccustomed to humid and sweltering conditions. The Bucs better not be the only team sucking wind with hands on hips and cramping up in the fourth quarter. Man, if the 49ers look like the team in better condition — win or lose — Team Glazer should demand answers immediately.
September 8th, 2019 at 6:42 am
Regarding your last point:
this is news worthy and very questionable. Why in the h-ll did the Bucs choose to wear their dark red jerseys for a home game in which it will have a feel like temp of 100 degrees??? The San Fran coaching staff has even made comments about it…” they can’t change it now”! The niners are coming from low 70’s as a high. The darker jerseys to make a difference
September 8th, 2019 at 6:55 am
I don’t care if they use blitzes. Green bay played tight man coverage with lots of blitzes the other night after years of failed zone coverage just like the Bucs. I could give a crap how they get there….just get there.
I think the four o’clock time will help with the heat compared to a 1 o’clock start
September 8th, 2019 at 7:02 am
I was puzzled by the jersey choice also…
One more thing to watch is…..can we run the ball?
September 8th, 2019 at 7:15 am
4pm Sunny & 93 degrees. No thunderstorms.
Give our boys some IV’s pregame!
September 8th, 2019 at 7:28 am
Re: Joe(s)’ obsession with Jameis and the deep ball…c’mon bro – if he hasn’t figured out the deep ball by now, chances that he will suddenly figure it out are slim to none. I’d rather see Arians be smart and dink-n-dunk it down the field. Lets flay the 49ers with a thousand tiny papercuts.
September 8th, 2019 at 7:35 am
1. Deep ball acumen! Preach, Joe! Year 5- #1 overall pick- should be able to dial up some deep balls today. It will open up our offense. Harder to run the ball if the other team knows your deep ball game is nonexistent.
September 8th, 2019 at 7:43 am
run right at kwonton soup…he’ll be all hot and sour after the game…
jenna can ask him postgame questions like:
“hey kwon, looks like you got fried like rice in your homecoming…
what happened big boy?”
“hey kwon what happened, you kinda looked like chop suey out there old friend?”
“hey kwon, you kinda looked like sum dum guy running the offense today..what happened?”
September 8th, 2019 at 7:44 am
oops…
“sum dum guy running the defense”
September 8th, 2019 at 7:47 am
Agree with all your points here Joe. I’m not sure what our record will be this season but I’m 100% confident we win today.
September 8th, 2019 at 8:12 am
“Key is to stop
MATT BRIEDA”
Kobe Faker
September 8th, 2019 at 8:21 am
It doesn’t matter what color jerseys are worn, the better team will win. How many home games have we lost the last few years wearing white? Exactly, to many to count. On a side note I left a nasty message to Fox 35 for not showing the Buc game. I got a call back, unfortunately it went to voice mail so I didn’t get a chance to talk to the guy who called back. He said he was very sorry, and in the future Fox will be showing plenty of Buc games. I urge all Buc fans to call this # and complain,407 644 3535. Power of the people, and Joe Buc Fans, don’t let them jack us again, call!! We can make a difference. I’ll be at my favorite sports bar watching, F Fox 35.
September 8th, 2019 at 8:27 am
Not sure about some of your keys to the game Joe. You basically aimed 2 of them at the defense (stuff the run & no blitz pass rush), 1 at the offense (deep connections) and 2 at the overall team (punishing football & better conditioning). Definitely agree with stopping the run (it all starts there IMO), but pressure on the QB is pressure on the QB REGARDLESS of how our defense makes it happen. And yes, I know the old saying ‘Live by the blitz, die by the blitz’ but knowing WHEN & WHERE to blitz are the keys IMO.
Bucs offense should be a lot less concerned with the deep ball and a lot more concerned with just (1) not turning the ball over; and (2) controlling the clock; and (3) scoring points. Deep ball opportunities will come if Bucs control the tempo of the game, and especially if we can get ahead and stay ahead. I much prefer to see us run the ball reasonably effectively and pick the defense apart with short to medium passes that keep us marching down the field (and keep Jameis under control).
I am with you 100% on the play punishing football & being the team in better condition. But at this level, that shouldn’t be a key to a game. Those should be the starting expectations for EVERY game. Smash-mouth football, gang-tackling and playing past the whistle should be givens. If they aren’t, people need to be fired and replaced. Bucs 20-16 in a dogfight.
September 8th, 2019 at 8:32 am
Hodad: why would they air a game that no me would watch. It’s all about ratings/as space.
September 8th, 2019 at 8:35 am
On another note. Spend the hundy on the NFL game pass. They show the game at 7 without commercials. Your return on investment (ROI) should be at 1.5 bar tabs. It also allows you to do something more productive during the day.
September 8th, 2019 at 9:04 am
“A no-blitz pass rush”
Sorry, but I’ll take ANY successful pass rush.
September 8th, 2019 at 9:07 am
Pittsshore Says
“On another note. Spend the hundy on the NFL game pass. They show the game at 7 without commercials.”
I didn’t know that. I might decide to subscribe myself.
But I do watch the games live, because, as we all know, the players can hear us yelling at the tv and cheering them on. 😉
September 8th, 2019 at 9:08 am
Remember, if we are losing, we are not yelling at our TVs loud enough!
September 8th, 2019 at 9:12 am
LOL! It all makes sense now. Pittsshore is definitely not a real fan! No diehard Bucs fan is going to wait until 7:00 to watch the game on tape delay…..Especially not on opening day. Why don’t you do something more productive today and pick another site to post on from this point forward. I will be at the game like a real fan. If I wasn’t though I sure as F$%& would’t be waiting three hours to watch it! Us real fans have been counting the days for the Bucs to play again.
September 8th, 2019 at 9:19 am
Pittsshore, if you don’t care about watching Buc games, why the hell are you on this website? As of right now every team is 0-0, so how can you say what games are worth watching? Maybe you should change your log in name to Nostradamus.
September 8th, 2019 at 9:22 am
“The key to the 2019 bucs season is
OJ HOWARD
What is BAs plan to use the talents of the most gifted TE in the NFL
How philly use Ertz
Kc use of Kelce
Niners 100 catches for kittles
We need the offense to go thru OJ HOWARD
OJ needs to be JW go to guy taking Humps receptions
We need the defense to focus on OJ and then take to our other recievers
What is BAs plan for the ultimate weapon in the NFL
Kobe will go ballistic if he gets 4 targets and blocks the whole game
BA dont do Kobe dirty”
Kobe Faker
September 8th, 2019 at 10:19 am
For years we have touted our so called advantage with the weather, but it seems like the Bucs were as often as not the team sucking wind. First it was blamed on Schiano being too tough on them, then it was the fact that the passive Smith D was on the field too long. We should own the weather advantage, especially vs a Northern Cal team. Go Bucs, lets get it!
September 8th, 2019 at 10:36 am
Defense Rules Says:
September 8th, 2019 at 8:27 am
—————————
I agree with every word in your comment. It will be a Hell Bowl day at RJS with the weather. I will be listening to the defense especially the LBs and DBs, and the kicking game. C’mon Tampa Bay!!
September 8th, 2019 at 11:51 am
I just want to know why didn’t Joe have those same expectations for McCoy? You know the guy who only had 17 total tackles in 16 games. Another thing, why should the offense spend downs trying to hit on a long ball just to satisfy Joe’s curiosity? How many wasted overthrows does it take? Why is it imperative to Joe for the Bucs only to rush their front four. Does Joe have some agenda to prove? Joe wants to see if Suh and Vea can have lots of tackles and sacks? I agree about stamina but to be totally honest and fair the Bucs are in this heat all the time and it takes a toll.
September 8th, 2019 at 11:58 am
Why are the Bucs wearing their red jerseys in today’s heat at home?
Because this organization has been completely incompetent since Malcom passed away. This is just par for the course.
September 8th, 2019 at 12:07 pm
@touchdown and Hodad: I own a large boat and live in South Florida. There will be many attractive ladies on my boat. Football can take a back seat to live ARSE. Life is short, live one.
September 8th, 2019 at 12:08 pm
Also tell HOmom I said wassup.
September 8th, 2019 at 1:36 pm
@touchdowntampabay
I agree. Some people NEVER have one positive thing to say about any aspect of the team, yet they want us to think they’re die hard fans since the 70’s. What a joke.
September 8th, 2019 at 2:24 pm
Pittsshore, that’s a good one, on your boat with ladies, lol. That’s why your busy posting on Joes site. I bet you’re really in your parents basement trying to un stick the pages of your dad’s Playboy!