Defense, Run Game Closed Out “W”
September 20th, 2020
Leonard Fournette
A home victory is super sweet for Joe, but this one got sour after Tampa Bay opened a 21-0 lead and had a chance to put the game away before halftime.
Where was the Bucs’ run game to eat up the clock and close out the win?
It didn’t show up — and then it did.
It seemed Bucco Bruce Arians and Bryon Leftwich didn’t trust the run game when they had Tom Brady throwing on first down early in the third quarter from the Panthers’ 27 yard line. Brady threw a pick and the Bucs collectively fell apart before the defense saved the day.
This was a game against a weak Carolina defense that the Bucs should have been able to close out moving the chains with Ronald Jones and Leonard Fournette, and a little play-action. But it didn’t happen — and then it did.
Fournette and Jones struggled in the third quarter and it felt like Leftwich/Arians game up on the run before it exploded with a fury in the fourth behind Fournette’s rumbles of 25 and 46 yards.
Closing out games was a huge problem last year, but now the Bucs have big-fix Fournette, as well as a capable defense.
September 20th, 2020 at 4:16 pm
BRADY IS OLD
September 20th, 2020 at 4:17 pm
BRADY looked sloppy again
September 20th, 2020 at 4:19 pm
Bucs still won
September 20th, 2020 at 4:20 pm
Wasn’t pretty on offense. Need to get tight ends involved. But defense was impressive. Good to see Fournette do well.
September 20th, 2020 at 4:20 pm
How Pathetic……………….the run game saved Brady’s sloppy passing game
September 20th, 2020 at 4:20 pm
Fournette was in there with the game on the line. He is the money back. Still sloppy moments, but a win is a win. GO BUCS!!!
September 20th, 2020 at 4:20 pm
I’m calling it right now….sign Fournette to an extension now.
September 20th, 2020 at 4:21 pm
The Defense kept the stench off of Brady and the poopy offense
September 20th, 2020 at 4:21 pm
I would throw more with Brady when possible.
The Bucs actually looked better now instead of trying to go back to the running back to get a run game going.
September 20th, 2020 at 4:21 pm
Brady has 3 TD’s without the drops, he will be fine
September 20th, 2020 at 4:22 pm
The D gives up too many passes. Got to improve coverage.
September 20th, 2020 at 4:23 pm
As Aaron Rodgers once said
WE HAVE A DEFENSE
GO BUCS
September 20th, 2020 at 4:23 pm
This is the exact type of game we lose last year. We’ve seen it many a time the last few years.
September 20th, 2020 at 4:24 pm
Bucco Brucie better tighten up that offense and Tell Brady to take some steroids or something to strengthen his weanie arm.
ALL GAME LONG Brady’s throws were either behind the receivers or completey off target.
This team is a .500 team all season long if Brady continues to play like he did today.
September 20th, 2020 at 4:25 pm
We found a running back!!!
September 20th, 2020 at 4:26 pm
we don’t need spectacular at the QB position. Just protect the ball and we will win
September 20th, 2020 at 4:26 pm
Shady dropping the TD – the Cyril guy letting the ball bounce of his head – Gronkowski not looking for the ball, Miller dropped a TD too / let’s not say TB looked anything but rock Solid – and guess we know who starts at RB next week
September 20th, 2020 at 4:27 pm
@thebucsanthem
Are you insane Brady looked great.
September 20th, 2020 at 4:28 pm
the fast start quickly turned into a potential dud in the second half…
but fournette and the d got something going late to add some sweet to the sour sauce…
a lot of questions…
a couple dropped tds…
brady not sharp at all…age might be the culprit…
a lot of questions…
but a win is a win…
suh played really well too…
white and winfield also
September 20th, 2020 at 4:28 pm
@anthem damn bro, we just won. You realize that right. Change your handle 🤡
Go Bucs
September 20th, 2020 at 4:32 pm
Its not going to be pretty, the offense has had no time to gel….its that simple. BUT….we did look improved on offense which didn’t have Godwin and also dropped 3-4 clutch passes that would have been huge first downs or a touchdown.
The defense looked better as well….but they still have these jeckyl and hyde series. They created 3 turnovers, multiple sacks, beat up McCaffrey and ultimately got the W.
My anticipation is this will be a bit of the norm up through week 4, maybe even week 6 so we have to find ways to win ugly. Today we did….and a win is a win.
September 20th, 2020 at 4:37 pm
Brady looked pretty damn good imo.. dropped two dimes that shoulda been TDs. Had some balls right on the money. Shame his pass to Watson was a bit short. Just needed some misdirection in run game, keep Howard and Evans involved.. get bratr gromks targets .
On d stopped rattling bridge water for much of 3rd
September 20th, 2020 at 4:46 pm
The Falcons just choked away a sure win against the “Boy’s”. We trail the Saints by one and lead Falcons and Panthers by a game.
Fournette looked great! That doesn’t mean RO sucked. It does mean Fournette is the better back but RO still has talent and he and Fournette will make a formidable tandem. Shady dropped the TD and everyone wants to hate on him….he did pick up two first downs however.
It all looks more than promising to me…I’m still not certain about ST’s but at leas Succop looks like the real deal.
September 20th, 2020 at 4:46 pm
Brady came alive in the 4th Qtr there were some bad drops in the end zone…
The O is still a work in progress they will get better every week… 28 is a BEAST!!!! He won us the game…
September 20th, 2020 at 4:55 pm
brady was a combo of sharp and inaccurate…
a lot of drops on brady tho…
brady doesn’t look like the patriots brady tho…
2 tds dropped in the end zone on brady…
starting to wonder what ronald jones actually does really well…
shady looked good in the short passing game at times, but the end zone drop was really bad…
scotty miller disappointed…
watson looked more like the 3rd receiver today…
front 7 looked relly good at times…a lot of pressure on bridgewater all day…
secondary looked good, but still gives up some big plays…less big plays would be nice…
September 20th, 2020 at 5:31 pm
Takeaways: Brady was perfect at times and errant at others. Receivers need to catch the damn ball (both Miller and McCoy dropped perfect TD passes). The Bucs had better start getting their tight ends involved in the passing game. The Bucs now have a run game with Fournette. The defense is balling. Bridgewater is very good and he made some perfect throws today, but the D kept him off balance most of the time. Lastly, BL needs to step up the play calling. It is so predictable. Not nearly enough RPOs.
September 20th, 2020 at 5:32 pm
bucsanthem if you can’t find any positives why are you here?
September 20th, 2020 at 5:33 pm
I think Brady looked great, the flea flicker he had no laces, two dropped TDs
September 20th, 2020 at 5:50 pm
Man look Brady did enough to help the team win . Brady doesn’t have to throw 45 times a game . I don’t care about his interceptions as long as we win . I think we have a running game now so we can finally close out games . The last 4 years I’ve been saying this so I love how we played today . I don’t care about if a quarterback throw for 3 or 4 hundred yards . You see this is what I’ve been talking about when comes to the quarterback position . You can win with a average quarterback and a good running game and a good defense and we can win a championship that way . If anyone mad about this win you are stupid and don’t know nothing about football . Go Bucs….
September 20th, 2020 at 6:21 pm
The defense needs to get better. They need to stop drives beyond getting turnovers. Turnovers are nice, of course. But great defenses get a lot more three and outs, especially when your offense is giving you a 21-0 lead at halftime.
September 20th, 2020 at 6:26 pm
BoJim
“bucsanthem if you can’t find any positives why are you here?”
Did you see the movie Something About Mary? He’s here for the same reason as Mary….to just eff with us. His takes are so wild and full of hyperbole I’m actually starting to enjoy him. He makes up some funny stuff.