Won’t “Overachieve,” But…
July 23rd, 2020
Skeptical
So what does “overachieve” mean in the NFL? FS1 and SiriusXM personality Nick Wright believes when it comes to the Bucs, he has an answer.
Wright took to the airwaves of FS1 yesterday in the hollering show “First Things First” with former Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings to react to the words of Bucs tight end O.J. Howard on “Good Morning Football.” There, Howard said the Bucs are one of the best teams in the league on paper.
Wright wasn’t sure he could buy Howard’s comments. Oh, Wright believes the Bucs will improve their 7-9 record from last year. And he believes the Bucs could have a winning record.
Anything more than that? Wright’s not willing to lay cash on that happening because he is convinced the NFC is loaded with good teams.
“The over-and-under for Bucs wins is at [10],” Wright began. “To me, unfortunately for Tom Brady fans and for Bucs fans, it’s far more likely they underachieve and fall short of that than overachieve. Because, what would “overachieve” mean? Win the division when you are in the same division as the Saints?
“[Would it mean] win a couple of playoff games and get to the conference championship game? … I don’t see it for Tampa.
“Now what Tampa has going for it is while I don’t know if Tom Brady is going to win all of those games late the way O.J. Howard talks about, he’s not going to kill you the way Jameis Winston did. … That will help the team immediately. Tom Brady is not going to be a turnover machine.”
Wright believes the hype for the Bucs is so over the top that to “overachieve,” the Bucs must at least play in the NFC title game.
“In a stacked NFC, I just don’t see that as a realistic possibility,” Wright said.
That’s a fair point. Obviously, people will cling to the fact the Bucs have a new quarterback learning a new offense and new teammates — with no offseason and an expected soft, underwear football-like training camp. It is understandable people are dubious.
Just look at teams with a shot at the NFC title game: Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Minnesota, Green Bay, Philadelphia, Dallas, Atlanta. The NFC is loaded. Even in a normal offseason with a 35-year-old Brady, it would be tough.
And Brady will no longer play in the cushy, six-game bye week that was the AFC East.
While Brady may be a new quarterback in a new system, don’t discount how Brady also has one of his favorite targets with him, foot-rubbing tight end Rob Gronkowski.
If Joe was drafting in fantasy football, Joe would make damn sure Gronk would be on his team, at least in the first month of the season.
Hat tip: @TSmitty3000.
July 23rd, 2020 at 6:08 am
Dallas…….?.Talk about Overrated
July 23rd, 2020 at 6:31 am
Nick Wright is the worst. He wouldn’t even have a show if it wasn’t for Chris Carter. Not sure what Joes obsession with this bum is.
July 23rd, 2020 at 6:32 am
I get folks being skeptical, but I love our chances of making it to the playoffs. Anything can happen after that and having the G.O.A.T., crazy good receiving weapons, a (hopefully still) up and coming defense, as well as solid coaching and we should be tough to beat. I’m excited and we’ll find out soon enough how good this team can be.
July 23rd, 2020 at 6:59 am
Two off seasons ago my number 1 wish was to get the Arians/Bowles coaching staff and see if they appeared to be a better set of coaching than what we had in the past.
Check.
This off season my number 1 wish was to resign Barrett, JPP, and Suh.
Check.
My number 2 off season wish this season was to sign Tom Brady.
Check.
I am ready to believe. Good changes have happened. Why not a highly successful season.
July 23rd, 2020 at 7:10 am
You achieve by subtraction. If we get rid of just 15 of Mr 3030’s turnovers then that right there helps you achieve wins. Plus with the addition of Brady who’s still light years ahead of him we achieve just from that alone. We have a chance to go over 10 wins
July 23rd, 2020 at 7:42 am
“The over-and-under for Bucs wins is at [10],” Seems about right.
July 23rd, 2020 at 8:41 am
Not “obsessed” with Nick Wright but am obsessed with the Bucs. So if someone is talking about the Bucs, Joe is interested.
Think this may be only the third time Joe has quoted Nick Wright.
July 23rd, 2020 at 10:11 am
With the pod and the site I feel like Wright has been quoted a handful of times just in the past couple months. I’m not a fan of his, but this site is the best so I guess I was a little concerned lol. Fair point though, the more Bucs info the better. I won’t argue with that.
July 23rd, 2020 at 10:41 am
Thanks Fan! And thanks for reading!
July 23rd, 2020 at 11:56 am
Pundits saying that NO has a distinct advantage because Brees and his offense have been together and know all the plays might be right, might be wrong. But what I’ve not heard is any pundit talking about our defense and it’s familiarity with the Saints. I guess people forget they we got our whole defense back from 2019. This is why I give the Bucs an advantage in the 1st Saints game because 1) NO has not seen our Brady led offense at all, 2) Our Defense is very familiar with Brees NO offense. and 3) No fans in the stands in NO when we play that 1st game.
July 23rd, 2020 at 7:55 pm
Who is Nick Wright?