Warning!
March 16th, 2021
Opposing offenses better look the hell out. It’s going to be rough on them.
The same defense that locked down Drew Brees, contained Aaron Rodgers and suffocated Pat Mahomes in three straight games to close the season with a Super Bowl win just may return all 11 starters.
With Monday now in the books with the Bucs re-signing Bucs sack king Shaq Barrett, the only defensive starter left to bring back is Ndamukong Suh.
And the Bucs defense is already feeling it for the upcoming season. Cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting, who had three picks in the playoffs, took to Twitter to offer a warning to Bucs opponents on offense.
You better ice up, SMB basically said.
Y’all dudes in trouble lol, the gang back 🤣
— Sean Murphy-Bunting (@MrSeanyB1) March 16, 2021
Joe honestly doesn’t think folks have grasped how strong the Bucs defense was in the playoffs. Aside from that fluke game from Washington’s XFL backup quarterback, it’s was a Who’s Who of NFL quarterbacks, and the Bucs made them each look mortal.
Joe almost can’t wait until the season begins — and we’re not done with free agency yet much less the draft.
NFL Free Agency Day 1 recap:
(By @TylerSully)Winners: Patriots, Buccaneers, Patrick Mahomes
Losers: Ravens, Seahawks, Ryan TannehillThoughts? pic.twitter.com/dTr4vPim7W
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) March 16, 2021
March 16th, 2021 at 12:03 am
L..F..G!!!
March 16th, 2021 at 12:05 am
The defense was great in the playoffs – and was pretty average for most of the year. Hopefully they can put it all together for an entire year. I think they can, but it will take more than Bowles just sitting back in a soft zone. Then again playing soft zone for most of the year worked out in the end, maybe they lulled teams into thinking they were that soft defense they were in the regular season. In any case who am I too complain if they can just turn it on again.
March 16th, 2021 at 12:06 am
Licht is doing what many hoped. Backload those contracts and we will pay the piper years down the road. The voidable years are even making that reality not so bad. We gotta keep the band together while the music still thumps.
March 16th, 2021 at 12:06 am
More brews turned upside down. GLUG GLUG GLUG BURRRPPP
Repeat.
Go Bucs!
March 16th, 2021 at 12:09 am
14 – 2 i says
March 16th, 2021 at 12:12 am
I’m ecstatic. Sign Suh and Succop and then use the drat for depth. If we could add an offensive tackle, defensive tackle, edge land cornerback in the draft in addition to last year’s starters, this team is going to be better than last year. Go Bucs!!! And thank you Jason Licht and our team first players.
March 16th, 2021 at 12:16 am
Bucs have to be under the cap by Wednesday afternoon I believe — and I think they’re right at the cap. So they’re going to have to redo some more deals to get anyone else resigned, and to do stuff like sign their draft picks.
I’m hoping they do a longterm deal with Godwin, that would free up some cash. Plus Smith should be extended, he’s proven himself to be a perfectly average LT who never misses time, that’s a very valuable commodity. Can also extend Jensen by a year, and with Gronk resigned almost certainly either Brate or OJ is gone.
Finally Gholston might be out, but he’s only making $5.5m, that’s not a ton of money for a starting d-lineman, but they might need that money to bring Suh back — but that will mean no depth on the d-line, and that’s an issue, you don’t want rookies playing there.
Even heavily working the cap it’s going to not be easy to get everything done, but if the Glazers are OK with fronting a ton of money up front with these signing bonuses and void years, they should be able to get everyone else back on board.
March 16th, 2021 at 12:23 am
What concerns me about the defense is playing a team in the playoffs who bucs didnt face during the season on 1 weeks notice.
March 16th, 2021 at 12:33 am
Maybe. the opponents we facing.
Our defense was inconsistent most of the year. Shaq went missing too. Let’s build depth , that’s were I grade a GM. It’s easy to sign big FA but to assemble rotational players is where it counts.
Look at this past season …
vea out- Nunez
White – minter
Cappa- stinnie
Safeties – edwards. Adams
Rojo – Lenny
Evans/Godwin- aB
Oj- gronk.
Wirfs rookie
Cap right now is -$1.2 m a lot of work needs to happen quick. Positive is one year exp everyone playing together. And most important Bruce steeping aside in offense. So we won’t have struggles in offense like last year.
So right now I’ll say nobody can beat us in nfc if we add good depth.
Chris Thomas from Heaven Says:
March 16th, 2021 at 12:09 am
14 – 2 i says
March 16th, 2021 at 1:16 am
They started playing up in the playoffs and were lock down against QBs that so many say are better than Brady. Davis and Dean are man CB. Bucs have eight picks with two seventh rounds. We need to trade our first round and some more moves to rack up picks. Licht is a great scout all around but he’s really good finding talent after the first round. Im down to add a
“Build through the draft.”- Jason Licht
They really need to focus on C, OT, DT, Edge, CB for the future. People won’t Shut up about James White or a RB in the first like Brady showed he can’t win a Super Bowl without a receiver RB. WE ALREADY HAVE A RB WILL SUPERSTAR POTENTIAL AND THEY DONT USE HIM. Vaughn is a solid pass catcher and was most efficient pass blocking RB in 2020 via PFF.We’ve brought back four superstars already and bring in good picks. You can use early picks not necessarily to start cus we have multiple FHOF for them to learn from.
March 16th, 2021 at 1:55 am
That Washington QB made 7 million dollars off that one playoff game. Now he’s projected back up QB now. Get it Fitzy!
March 16th, 2021 at 3:24 am
Warning – During the playoffs, Saints had a 7 point lead late in 3rd quarter and were driving when Bucs’ D came up with 2 turnovers that turned game around.
And Packers were at 8 yard line with chance to tie game late in 4th quarter thanks to 3 Brady turnovers
Bucs had a great run at end of last season, but beware of being cocky- every game is a dogfight and Bucs will have to prove themselves winners as a new 2021 season plays out.
And they still need to re-sign Suh and Gronk or they won’t be as talented.
March 16th, 2021 at 3:33 am
Just saw they signed Gronk- great!
March 16th, 2021 at 5:59 am
It amazes me the people who keep saying the bucs got lucky last year and there was this anomaly that happened which wont happen again
You know how many years the ball bounced the wrong way for the bucs
You do realize how much better this team can be. Brady even said they would have been better a month after the super bowl
2 main areas.
Sure the offense was good. But brady even got mad at himself for missing throws throughout the year. Timing got better throughout the year. When they have more of an offseason…look out for better efficiency. Look for bucs to grab a receiving back to complete this offense cause stone hands rojo and playoff lenny did not have great hands. Plus brady and leftwich helped each other out as season went on. Their game plans got better…how simple was the gameplan in the superbowl. You could see some plays that were called in and brady said no (shaking his head) or even td before half of superbowl where he demanded leftwich keep same play. That will be better
Where did bucs struggle on defense ? Secondary no question. Cant wait to see them next year. Look how much smb got better in playoffs. Carlton davis had a horrible packers game . But played some of best ball against saints and chiefs. But they got confidence and experience from last season playoffs. Remember brian kelly it took year 3. Oh and winfield in year 2 of his amazing young career coming up. Jpp with a healthier knee. Vea to stay healthy?
March 16th, 2021 at 6:18 am
How was the defense average most of the year? They were 1 of the best all year every gm is not a shut out smh.
March 16th, 2021 at 7:15 am
The team alnost is in good shape. I still say find a way to bring Lenny back. Suh returns I feel for a few more. Hope the draft goes good for the Bucs as well. I feel they should be looking to trade up or back for d line help. I hope they bring Nacho back on as well. This draft has to go toward the future of the defense.
March 16th, 2021 at 7:55 am
The defense was at best mediocre until Vita Vea hit the field. Got to keep him healthy and resign Suh.
March 16th, 2021 at 11:55 am
I have a feeling that Suh will be back and that two of our first three picks will go to aiding the pass rush… DT and OLB… and that depth will be scary. RB in pick one is starting look like a definite reality. Good idea…. Harris or the UNC RB… a guy that can play on 3rd down and spell Rojo the Magnificent… plus a five year contract. RB in round 1 makes way too much sense with the band being back together.
March 16th, 2021 at 12:24 pm
That pic totally made me say WARNING like Kevin from the office