It’s Not Just The Starters
August 27th, 2021
Roster-building.
Joe has noticed in the comments on this here website that folks are starting to grumble, based on a pair of worthless preseason games, the Bucs have no depth.
Raw data suggests that’s misleading if not downright wrong.
Sheil Kapadia of The Athletic did some number crunching, and as it turns out it isn’t just the 22+1 starters returning that is wild A good chunk of the second-string guys are back as well.
You know, backups from a Super Bowl winner?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have unprecedented continuity.
Last year, they had 31 players log at least 200 snaps. All 31 are back on the roster in 2021. … … Defensively, the Bucs added high-upside pass rusher Joe Tryon in the first round, and he could make an immediate impact. In many ways, their chances for a repeat will come down to depth and injury luck. Last year, Tampa was the NFL’s healthiest team, according to Football Outsiders’ Adjusted Games Lost metric. The Bucs should be able to withstand injuries in several areas. As long as Tom Brady and the offensive line stay relatively healthy, they should again be in the Super Bowl mix.
Joe is trying to think of areas where depth may be a concern. Offensive tackle might be. Interior linebacker possibly after you get past Kevin Minter.
Other than that, the Bucs depth is almost as wild as the 22+1 starters who return.
August 27th, 2021 at 7:42 am
If more than 1 safety or CB goes down we could be in trouble
August 27th, 2021 at 7:43 am
The Bucs will be fine. Bring on the Cowgirls!
August 27th, 2021 at 7:46 am
We are wanted now. Need to step up.
August 27th, 2021 at 8:23 am
Irishmist Says:
August 27th, 2021 at 7:42 am
If more than 1 safety or CB goes down we could be in trouble
Any team that loses 2 or more players from a position is at trouble with that position….
You can only afford so much depth…..we’ve done a good job and that will show up next week with the roster cuts.
August 27th, 2021 at 8:43 am
What you have Joe, are a ton of new fans to Tampa (and JBF) that have no context when commenting. If they’d been a fan for a minimum of 5 years, then they would possibly(?)know what they’re talking about.
August 27th, 2021 at 8:55 am
Irishmist is right, one CB down and this team could be in serious trouble. I’m a bit concerned about OLine depth too as one the primary backups has already been injured a lot and its only the preseason. You don’t guard the Hope Diamond with a picket fence.
But I see your point Joe: Why should people discuss football on a football site?
August 27th, 2021 at 9:04 am
I remember going 4-0 during the Ray Perkins era… didn’t seem to carry over
August 27th, 2021 at 9:06 am
Beeej…..those were some really dark days as bucs fans, leeman bennett, richard williamson…fun times……great seats to see walter payton come in and run all over the bucs
August 27th, 2021 at 9:26 am
“Joe is trying to think of areas where depth may be a concern.”
So apparently QB depth isn’t a concern Joe? And since we rely on our TEs so heavily for blocking, maybe we’d better hope that Gronk stays healthy also? Oh and glad that you mentioned ILB depth. Minter is a great backup IMO, but he’s no LVD or White. And beyond him, I’m just seeing question marks right now. Our ILBs are critical to our defense, especially when it comes to their speed.
August 27th, 2021 at 9:29 am
I still say the league should have added 2 or 3 more roster spots per team considering they added another game to the schedule. Player development should be more of a priority for the league.
August 27th, 2021 at 9:32 am
I remember a lot of preseasons where the Pats went 0-4, and still won superbowls. Buc fans would find fault going undefeated.
August 27th, 2021 at 9:44 am
lol lol lol This team will be just fine, forward march lol lol
GO BUCS!!!!!
August 27th, 2021 at 9:45 am
It isn’t just the preseason record Hodad, you could see the emphasis on depth during the preseason plus the Bill’s desire to throw his playrs into situational football mode. Belichick (with the likely guidance of Ernie Adams) emphasized depth rather than star players, that was their recipe and how they spent their money.
August 27th, 2021 at 9:58 am
CB is the weakest position, need better depth. Maybe we sign a vet when final roster cuts come around.
August 27th, 2021 at 10:09 am
How important is CB depth?
When the CB Jonathan Jones went down during the 2017 AFCCG, the Patriots were doomed. In the Super Bowl that followed a third-rate QB (Foles) sliced and diced the NE defensive secondary, all because of the loss of one CB and razor thin DB depth. Not even Brady’s 505 yards passing could save them.
In the salary cap era you cannot have everything in football. But prior to the draft I thought CB depth would be a priority on the shopping list.
August 27th, 2021 at 10:19 am
Worrying about injuries is like worrying about the future. You can do your best to prepare for it but you can’t control it. Stay ready and roll with the punches. The Bucs are the best and deepest team in football. Any articles to the contrary are just superfluous click-bate. Go Bucs!!
August 27th, 2021 at 10:23 am
The first two preseason games were hard to watch because it really wasn’t our real team playing and the mish mash of wannabes just did not play well. It was frustrating but if it helped the coaching staff evaluate backups and new draft players then it made sense. It totally sucked though!
August 27th, 2021 at 10:39 am
Licht has shown a very good ability in keeping the team filled out,i.e. McClendon.
There are always guys that can be found to fill in, the question is who they are. Licht seems to have a good idea, he will be sure the 16 Covid reserves are capable of filling in for a week or two.
The defense missed a few runs, but didn’t play badly in pre-season; pre-season offenses are always a team of a different stripe. Bring the regular season in and the Bucs will live up to their #1 power ranking.
August 27th, 2021 at 10:48 am
QUARTERBACK! If they lose Brady their not winning the Super Bowl. They’ll be good but not good enough to win it all. Unfortunately he can’t be replaced. GO BUCS! And stay healthy!
August 27th, 2021 at 11:03 am
When people are bitchin over the backups you’ve got good problems. And shows ya they gota bitch about something. The third string blows boys!! Enjoy watching them once more then its on
August 27th, 2021 at 11:33 am
We definitely need some more depth at CB. Otherwise, yeah, very solid throughout.
August 27th, 2021 at 11:38 am
I think its human nature to watch your team get beat 38-0 and not lose a little confidence. Preseason or not. I think I can speak for most Bucs fans to say watching our starters dominate the 1st half tomorrow will get us right back as confindent as ever.
GO BUCS!!!
Would be nice to see Trask get one into the endzone too. I dont care if hes gotta underarm it in. Just score baby.
August 27th, 2021 at 1:20 pm
The good news about the Bucs nowadays is that if someone were to get hurt, they’d go get somebody else with talent, instead of riding with the bottom-of-the-roster types as starters. A couple names come to mind: George Hegamin (who had a hard time blocking anybody, let alone Hugh Douglas), and Tim Wansley (I think it was Brian Kelly who got hurt and we played this guy instead of signing a CB who could cover).
August 27th, 2021 at 2:29 pm
Biggest and most obvious: QB.
After that, I’d say OL, followed by CB, then DL, then safeties.
August 27th, 2021 at 2:43 pm
For those slamming the Bucs secondary, The Sage himself rated them a 8.0 in Lindy’s Pro Football magazine, tied for 6th best in the NFL. When I read the player comments in the magazine, it’s Ira Kaufman’s voice in my head.
August 27th, 2021 at 2:53 pm
Tom Brady, if he goes down for a length of time we are toast (like many other teams)
Gabbert is terrible and the rookie isn’t ready yet
August 27th, 2021 at 3:44 pm
Bucs were down two starting safeties against the Packers and still won the NFC title. And that’s going against Aaron Rodgers.
August 27th, 2021 at 4:57 pm
Yes Joe, and remember how Rogers carved us up in the 2nd half after Whitehead went down? We were lucky the game didn’t last 5 more minutes.
August 27th, 2021 at 5:50 pm
It’s simple preseason is for seeing every players potential if you don’t play every player you don’t know if they have potential or not so sure you’re gonna lose some games but you’re going to evaluate every player. Hell I grumble to I want to win every game I’m a fan