Bucs Are Only Challenger To Rams
April 16th, 2022
Returning or nah?
One guy who lives the NFL for a living sees only two NFC teams with realistic chances of getting to the next Super Bowl.
Marc Sessler of NFL.com tried to come up with a pre-draft NFL hierarchy after studying every roster.
It was hard, Sessler typed, and he found only the Rams and the Bucs are true contenders. Sessler believes the Rams are the kings of the NFC hill and the Bucs are clawing at the top.
It appeared Tampa’s ship had sailed into darkness with Tom Brady’s retirement, but then the greatest quarterback on terra firma grew tired of playing Connect Four with his offspring and returned to the role he was born to play. The surprising retirement of Bruce Arians would serve as a larger concern if Todd Bowles wasn’t such a rock-solid replacement. Even if there wasn’t a rift between Brady and Bruce, Tommy Boy and Byron Leftwich are undoubtedly thrilled to run the offense on their own. Losing center Ali Marpet to retirement and guard Alex Cappa to the Bengals is no fun, but Brady using the Force to ply Shaq Mason away from the Patriots for a bag of spoons was master-class territory. TB12 also lured in rising wideout Russell Gage with a phone call — another example of his dark magic. Even if Rob Gronkowski stays home, this loaded roster has the juice to topple anyone in the conference.
Today, Joe really has only two concerns.
The first is can the Bucs get enough of a pass rush without Jason Pierre-Paul? Joe doesn’t expect JPP back unless he works cheap. And if he does come back, will he be healthy after shoulder surgery? His history says yes, but that history was not when JPP was 33, which he is now.
The second issue is can the Bucs generate enough offense until Chris Godwin is 100 percent? Guys like the immortal Cyril Grayson and Breshad Perriman, in addition to Russell Gage, will have to step up. Maybe Scotty Miller, too.
April 16th, 2022 at 5:48 am
I don’t like this writing off of all the other NFC teams by the “experts” all since Brady came back. And prematurely crowning the Bucs and Rams. Anything can happen in a one game knockout format. So several more than those 2 can realistically get to and win the Superbowl out of the NFC. I’m tired of these “on paper” projections.
April 16th, 2022 at 6:11 am
Center ali marpet. Where do they find these people? Do they really watch all the games…prolly not
April 16th, 2022 at 6:15 am
If Qaron Rodgers is worth the farm and all the mvp, he should be in the postseason at the top of the heap even without davante. can’t write off the pack. now he likes to play then like it’s the chokeseason and that’s also fine by me.
April 16th, 2022 at 6:23 am
If the Bucs draft a Guard in 1st round, Gronk will likely play another year.
JPP is a force when healthy – hope he and Bucs work something out.
April 16th, 2022 at 6:41 am
Packers are a threat only because they are in a weak division so they could be the #1 seed and teams will have to play in GB. While it isn’t the homefield advantage it once was, extreme cold and snow can effect a lot of teams ability to run their O — including the Rams and Bucs.
April 16th, 2022 at 6:48 am
Yes, the Rams & Bucs are the likely contenders…..but you simply can’t write off all the other teams….every year some team rises out of nowhere….
We need to figure out a way to beat the Saints & the Rams….we do that & we are Champions again.
April 16th, 2022 at 6:48 am
Kansas City will probably step their game up
April 16th, 2022 at 7:14 am
I always enjoy national expert takes that don’t even get a player’s position correct. Really lends to their credibility….
April 16th, 2022 at 7:17 am
JPP is a great depth signing. We need all the horses we can get and I don’t care if he’s 33. If he’s healthy he can play.
If the Shaq Mason is the steal everyone says he is, then Belichick did Tom and/or Licht a solid. Maybe Bill loves Tommy after all
April 16th, 2022 at 7:20 am
Packers, Cowboys and a surprise team are all concerning challengers for the Rams.
We can’t beat the Rams.
Remember?
April 16th, 2022 at 7:23 am
I like how you wove JPP into this discussion Joe. Realistically though, the Bucs NEED a better pass rush; that’s it. IF JPP returns (at whatever price), he doesn’t just need to be a run-stopper; he needs to be pressuring the QB or he needs to be replaced. Hopefully Bucs draft his (potential) replacement in this draft regardless.
Your 2nd issue is more critical to having a successful season … ‘can the Bucs generate enough offense until Chris Godwin is 100 percent?’ Personally think that, with Todd Bowles as our HC, running the ball will take on added importance this year. We’re certainly more than capable; want-to is all that’s ever been at question. Under BA the answer was NO NO NO. Bowles will be different I have a feeling, but not tremendously so. Last season we rushed at a rate of 33.8% run-pass ratio. Back in 2020 it was 36.3%. I’d bet that this season the Bucs’ run-pass ratio will be closer to 38%-40% range.
More significantly though, I could see the Bucs using the short passing game to Lenny, Gio & Gage much more this season. All 3 are outstanding weapons in the passing game. BA’s propensity of looking ‘deep then short’ however favored deeper passes. That’ll change somewhat this year IMO.
April 16th, 2022 at 8:08 am
“Losing center Ali Marpet to retirement” – Has Marpet played center consistently since 2017?
April 16th, 2022 at 8:32 am
Long long brutal season before the real season begins , the Playoffs and not the expanded “Wild Card”
The rest is just hamburger helper and a meat grinder for the players
April 16th, 2022 at 9:18 am
@AlabamaBucsFan says “Losing center Ali Marpet to retirement” – Has Marpet played center consistently since 2017?
LOL, I caught that too!
Seriously, if we are gonna win the NFC and get another Super Bowl, we need to find a real pass rush w/o blitzing all the time.
April 16th, 2022 at 9:58 am
Has anyone considered the Bills? It seems like they are throttle open this year. I like the BUCS chances, but will their chances hang in injuries? They have a lot of older players, besides TB12.
April 16th, 2022 at 9:59 am
JPP has a better odd of being healthy than Godwin. I would sure like to see the Bucs get Deebo from the Niners in a trade. I see the first 2 picks as OG-DL.
April 16th, 2022 at 11:03 am
Mark – the article is about the NFC contenders, so really it is just the Bucs and Rams on paper after the Packers lost Adams. I’d entertain arguments for the 49ers or Cards, but they’re in the 2nd tier for me with the Pack.
The Bills are surely one of the 1st tier AFC contenders, among many, including the Chiefs, Bengals, Chargers, Titans, Colts, and Ravens. There are other 2nd tier AFC teams that could surprise too, so really the AFC is wide open.
The NFC by comparison is not, which I suppose is the ultimate premise of this article.
April 16th, 2022 at 11:03 am
The offensive line has nor stopped the Rams in the last 2 times they played. In week 3 they had all 5, with Ali and could not keep Brady clean, then without Wirfs in the Playoff game it was a sh!t show, the Rams pass rush made mince meat out of the line. If the Bucs do not solve the Rams Pass Rush, nothing else matters. Yes you need Pass Rush, but if you cannot stop them, and they are beating up Brady, forget it. Our Back Qb is not going to beat the Rams. The Bucs had no answers for the Rams test, and that has to change.
GO BUCS!!!!
April 16th, 2022 at 11:33 am
Who is this tool? Brady didn’t bring in Shaq Mason. That was all Jason Licht. Brady didn’t sign Gage. Licht did. Brady’s presence may be an added incentive for a guy to sign, but Jason Licht is the GM. This exaltation of Brady is just old. I’m glad he wins games… beyond that I’m kinda sick of the nonsense.
April 16th, 2022 at 11:52 am
Problem with jpp is that injuries are cumulative and can get worse as you get older. If we bring him back he’s not going to want to come off the field half the time. May he almost as harmful as he is helpful at least at rushing thr passer. He’s always been a beast against the run
April 16th, 2022 at 11:58 am
I agree with D.R. and the others who suggest our offense will be different next year. IMHO the Bucs O will look more like those “classic Pat offenses” with ball control, move the chains in an almost unstoppable fashion.
We have 3 backs who are great out of the backfield, one of them exceptional, and that used to be Brady’s go to play in a crunch.
And of course if we can use the remodeled OL to maul a bit and become fearsome blockers for the run…”Playoff Lennie” will do the rest.
April 16th, 2022 at 12:16 pm
Red Sparrow is correct. This isn’t the early 1990s, when it was cowboys 9ers, then everyone else. The bucs and the Rams should be the favorites to win the NFC. But, the league is full of parity. Some team could easily come out of the woodwork.
I was surprised the bucs didn’t attempt to mitigate the Godwin injury, by signing a big name reciever. The bucs saw what can happen without a full compliment of pass catchers. The guys they have behind Godwin and Evans aren’t good enough. Miller can’t stay healthy, and is a one trick pony even when fully healthy. The other guys simply aren’t good enough to lift an offense. Sure the bucs need help at pass rusher and, DB. But, Godwin won’t be the old Godwin until this time next season. Steph Gilmore signed a very reasonable contract, and would’ve been an massive upgrade over what they have. Signing him could’ve killed two birds, vastly improving the secondary, and giving the bucs more draft options at pass rusher.
April 16th, 2022 at 12:26 pm
Coburn … ‘If we bring him (JPP) back he’s not going to want to come off the field half the time’.
If Todd Bowles lets his players decide how much & when THEY will play, he won’t last as DC or HC for very long. Elite players especially seem to be warrior-types who’ll fight to the bitter end. Unfortunately the bitter end sometimes results in the team losing if the elite players are too self-focused instead of team-focused.
That’s what appears to have happened last year with JPP averaging 50 snaps/game (roughly 75% of the defensive snaps in the 12 games that he played in). His productivity (2.5 sacks, 31 tackles (20 solo), 3 TFL, 5 QB Hits & allowing 13 completions when targeted 13 times) was WAAAY BELOW his 2020 stats. Obviously he had no business being on the field most of the games that he played in. THAT’S on the coaches for allowing it, even though they obviously felt that he was their best option.
April 16th, 2022 at 12:38 pm
The guy had a lot more wrong than Ali at center. The Mason deal was done bf Brady knew anything about it to name just one other. But he’s not wrong that the Bucs and the Rams sure appear to be the top dogs in the NFC.
April 16th, 2022 at 12:56 pm
sasquatch ….Brady is a football God.
April 16th, 2022 at 2:00 pm
Buc1987 Says:
April 16th, 2022 at 12:56 pm
Brady is a human. He’s a great QB, probably the greatest of all time, but I think he jerked Bucs fans around this offseason and I’m kinda pissed he hasn’t done anything to quell the rumor mill. He’s also not the GM… and I also think he’s personally too invested in all the goat nonsense. He wins games, he changed the team culture, and he gets credit for that.
April 16th, 2022 at 2:31 pm
……and JayMiss was a keeper too right 87?
April 16th, 2022 at 2:47 pm
He must only be talking about the NFC, right? Obviously there are contenders in the AFC.
Also- what about Green Bay, San Fran?
This seems like hubris.
We def need a pass rush tho. Hell, we need JPP and someone else if we’re being truly honest with ourselves.
April 16th, 2022 at 2:57 pm
Green Bay won’t be as good this year. San Fran depends on the QB. Arizona hasn’t done much to improve. Saints will be better than people think but they aren’t contenders. NFC is pretty weak right now outside the Bucs and Rams.
AFC is a different story. That conference is a gauntlet. But only one team can come out of that.
April 16th, 2022 at 4:36 pm
I think we’ll be better off WITHOUT JPP.
He was never 100% and had some terrible games mixed in with some good games.
I think we’re better off giving his spot to a rotation of players that are 100%. Like getting JTS more experience and drafting a solid DE to add to the rotation.
April 16th, 2022 at 4:49 pm
Agree BradyBucs.
JPP is a warrior but I think expecting him to beat the odds one more season isn’t very realistic.
Love his spirit and appreciate all he did for us but we need to be younger and healthier on our DL.
April 17th, 2022 at 1:15 am
@sasquatch,
He only jerked around the fans in the offseason because he unretired. I’ll take that.
April 17th, 2022 at 1:24 am
The only QB that jerked(jerking) their fanbase is that little man Kyler Murray. What has he done to demand a new contract or sit out? Go deep in the playoffs if you want the bag. Don’t just be entitled to it.
April 17th, 2022 at 4:43 am
JPP isn’t coming back & neither is SuH. Draft as many rookie starters we can find then resign Gronkowski. Not hard to figure out 6-5 300+ guys who can man the trenches. Find em scout em draft em. Stronger the better.
April 17th, 2022 at 6:02 am
I think 49ers beat Rams 6 out of the last 7 times they played. Last season the 49ers loss to the rams was their 4th consecutive road game. Bucs need a stud TE who can both block and catch passes even with Gronk. The Saints front seven have devoured the Bucs offensive line of late . Gronk misses games now every year. The Harvard TE dropped more balls last year than the year before and that’s his strength.
April 17th, 2022 at 10:33 am
sasquash, Brady is making your boy Licht look good. He DID call Mason, Gage, Gronk, AB, Lenny, Bernard, Bell & Sherman. ALL that may not have been or are on the team thanks to him. I guess BA, Bowles & BL ALL jerked you around two trying to get jobs and BA saying how excited he was to come back, yet he QUITS! You must be pissed at Suh & Gronk to because they see the game as a business the same as Licht & the Glazers. Grow up Jamais ain’t coming back. You can relay that message to Oneilbucyall, he lives in the same world of denial as you do.