Burning Question For Bucs
May 28th, 2022
Eighth ring possible?
So when Tom Brady had his rapture, he didn’t just come back to collect a Bucs paycheck. Brady came back to win the GD Super Bowl. You know, “unfinished business?”
Over at CBS Sports, Patrik Walker wonders if that is possible. He look at each NFC South team and has a “burning question” for each one. For the Bucs, Walker simply asks if Brady can win his eighth ring by leading this season.
Can Tom Brady do it … again?
Feels like a silly question, I know. … … The Buccaneers have achieved yet another offseason feat of keeping most of their band together from 2022, but they nearly didn’t, seeing as Brady retired and then swiftly unretired; and they still don’t know if Rob Gronkowski will return. There is also a shift at head coach, with Bruce Arians moving into a front office role while former defensive coordinator Todd Bowles ascends to Arians’ former role, and it’s unknown if that new wrinkle will cause a hitch in the step of an offense mostly orchestrated by Byron Leftwich. Brady still has a bad taste in his mouth from how his postseason ended against the Rams, and Chris Godwin is set to return from injury as well, so it appears the NFC South is again Brady’s to lose … but can he land that eighth ring?
Joe’s big questions will only be answered when the season begins — or when the season is over.
* Will the Bucs miss former Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians?
* Will the Bucs keep their heads above water through the tough four games to open the season?
* Can the Bucs survive without Chris Godwin. And for how long? And when he returns will he be anything close to the Chris Godwin before blowing out his knee?
* Will the Munich trip zap the Bucs their energy when they need it most, at the end of the season (Tom Brady has never won a Super Bowl after playing a game on foreign soil)?
* Can the Bucs get as much production from Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Logan Hall as they got from Jason Pierre-Paul and Ndamukong Suh last year?
Those answers, among others, will determine if Brady can win an eighth Super Bowl.
May 28th, 2022 at 6:16 am
Mine would be rather or not our injury prone and inconsistent corners can stay healthy and become consistently good? Also will Licht and especally us regret not picking up (at least so far) another capable receiver to cover our butts in case Godwin is a shell of his former self?
May 28th, 2022 at 6:42 am
As bucz mentioned, we see how vulnerable we were last year when our dbacks were injured so staying healthy is 70% of success and that’s with a top tier team then you look at youth and the endurance. Let’s face it as Toby Kieth sang it “I’m not as good as I once was” but two equal teams both with confidence but one has youth usually youth wins but then again we showed Kansas City different in the SuperBowl but I don’t think anyone could of beat us on that run. God Bless the Children 🙏
May 28th, 2022 at 6:46 am
I think it is possible for Brady and us to win it all this year.
May 28th, 2022 at 6:57 am
‘Can the Bucs get as much production from Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Logan Hall as they got from Jason Pierre-Paul and Ndamukong Suh last year?’
Might be a tad more complicated than just that Joe. We’ve lost Suh, JPP & McLendon and only added Hall. JTS will surely get more snaps as will Gholston, Nelson & Nacho (providing they all stay healthy of course) and we’ll probably keep 1 of our UFAs for insurance. Hopefully Vea gets more snaps too, but in 4 yrs he’s given us 2072 def snaps (out of the 4,187 total def snaps Bucs had in that timeframe, for a 49.5% availability).
Without ‘someone’ to replace Suh AND McLendon in the interior (DT/NT) we’re in trouble as far as a pass rush goes. And MAYBE in our run defense also. Bring back Suh, or if not, at least grab Richardson before it’s too late.
May 28th, 2022 at 7:10 am
How many fricken games has Tom played on foreign soil. MAN you guys are scraping the bottom of the barrel for something to write about haha I’ve been a career Brady fan and i can only think of 1 time he’s even PLAYED on foreign soil and that was in Mx. I assume that he has played more than that but my senior brain can’t remember another one. You make it sound like he’s played 30 games on foreign soil. little help here guys?????????
May 28th, 2022 at 7:18 am
I can answer:
* Will the Bucs miss Arians? WHO?
* Will the Bucs keep their heads above water through the tough four games to open the season? WILL THEIR OPPONENTS?
* Can the Bucs survive without Chris Godwin? YOU MEAN LIKE LAST YEAR? And when he returns will he be anything close to the Chris Godwin before blowing out his knee? NO. HE WILL BE BETTER.
* Will the Munich trip zap the Bucs are energy when they need it most, at the end of the season (Brady has never won a Super Bowl after playing a game on foreign soil)? IT’S NO DIFFERENT THAN GOING TO SEATTLE. AND BRADY HAS ALSO WON A SUPER BOWL AFTER PLAYING A GAME ON THE MOON.
* Can the Bucs get as much production from Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Logan Hall as they got from Jason Pierre-Paul and Ndamukong Suh last year? NO. MORE.
May 28th, 2022 at 7:23 am
The offense will be way ahead of the defense. And no assurances Godwin will be back mid season let alone productive or “his old self”. Final roster coming out of preseason will be interesting.
May 28th, 2022 at 7:43 am
Agree that the O will be very impressive. Sans injury, as always, of course.
The D is less certain, but I suspect if will be very good. All bodes well for another SB run/win.
May 28th, 2022 at 7:50 am
We’ve got the roster but not the depth to survive multiple injuries……what happens to us if one or two of our Dlinemen go down?
So….our fate will be determined by injuries or the lack of them.
May 28th, 2022 at 8:34 am
My Question
What about the OLINE???
May 28th, 2022 at 9:04 am
Can the Bucs beat the Rams at home and at least split with the slime ball Saints?
May 28th, 2022 at 9:24 am
No, Yes, Yes, No, Yes
May 28th, 2022 at 9:58 am
What a stupid thought. Brady can’t win if he gets an in-season passport stamp? You’re drunk.
May 28th, 2022 at 10:40 am
All this worry about Hall and JTS is mind blowing to me. We won a Super Bowl starting 2 rookies already, Winfield and Wirfs, and these two guys are just as talented as those guys. Also, every good team has to start young guys. Their cheap contracts make it possible for teams to also keep the Star vets. It’s a balance. The Bucs are fine. Will they win the Super Bowl? Who knows. The NFL playoffs are as much about luck as talent.
May 28th, 2022 at 10:49 am
My #1 concern that cost this team dearly in 2021, and was a yuge boost for their SB in 2020: can the Bucs stay relatively injury-free?
If the injuries pile up, it’ll be a major uphill climb to the top.
IMO, injuries are more concerned than the others on Joe’s list.
Brady can’t do this by himself.
May 28th, 2022 at 10:51 am
If the Bucs don’t sign Gronk and/or Suh, then it is inexcusable they let Whitehead sign with Jets.
May 28th, 2022 at 11:03 am
Questions for The Joes:
Any juicy rumors of possible 6/1 cuts which come before mandatory OTA’s??
Are not the rosters pretty much set just past that date when the final FA pool is judged by teams?
So next week could come with a flurry of activity, maybe even Gronk, Suh, and more contract re-structuring at 1 Buc Palace.
May 28th, 2022 at 11:16 am
Not sure how to accurately answer that because not sure how you define “pretty much.” Think the Bucs have a very good idea who their starters are now outside of maybe left guard.
There will be guys available (still are) through the final cutdowns in September.
May 28th, 2022 at 11:36 am
The offense will be fine, though not as much of a risky biscuit, if the injury bug stays away.
Running game and play action will be up and long passes down a little.
The D-backfield is improved with additions they have made.
The D-line will have to prove itself, but should be quicker and stronger than last season. They will have learn to think for themselves, though. Suh and JPP both lost leverage and speed last season, but they had experience, which will be missed.
May 28th, 2022 at 11:38 am
Only a handful of teams run the ball that much not worried about the D line worried about our average oft injured D backs. I.E. Rams.
May 28th, 2022 at 11:49 am
Who’s going to step up and where? There’s roles/reps on the line all over the depth chart and these guys haven’t even put pads on yet. What do we have in the lesser heralded FAs like Fred Johnson and more importantly Deadrin Senat? There’s a dog fight from WR3 and back. We’ve got role guys like Nelson & Gholston potentially look to up their production with an opportunity at new playing time. Special teams, mainly our punt cover unit may look different? Will SMB be splitting time at the slot w/Delaney, McCollum, Or Ryan? Is Winfield going to take on Whiteheads role as thee box safety? What’s the battle between Vaughn & White going to look like, or gauged for that matter. Guys like Ponder, Gill, O’Connor, & Potoa’e are all looking at the same opportunity of being elevated role players and not just being special team guys. We’ve got the time to let “Wait & See” before the regular season even starts
May 28th, 2022 at 12:08 pm
Joe Says:
Not sure how to accurately answer that because not sure how you define “pretty much.” Think the Bucs have a very good idea who their starters are now outside of maybe left guard.
There will be guys available (still are) through the final cutdowns in September.
“Pretty Much” = “All but 1 or 2 positions set for veterans.”
Bucs still have some minor holes we discuss frequently, mainly depth. A few guys cut after 6/1 may have some gas left. Maybe not. Those questionable may be on the streets until after the first regular-season game when their entire salary is not guaranteed.
Others cut after 6/1 may look for vet minimum deals with incentives.
Certainly, many teams need more help than the Bucs. But for a vet toward the end of his career, chasing a ring in Tampa may be worth the vet minimum.
Would a solid vet CB, TE, or OL on the vet minimum be welcome in Tampa? LB? Edge?
May 28th, 2022 at 12:09 pm
^^^
<Joe Says
“Pretty Much” = “All but 1 or 2 positions set for veterans.”
Bucs still have some minor holes we discuss frequently, mainly depth. A few guys cut after 6/1 may have some gas left. Maybe not. Those questionable may be on the streets until after the first regular-season game when their entire salary is not guaranteed.
Others cut after 6/1 may look for vet minimum deals with incentives.
Certainly, many teams need more help than the Bucs. But for a vet toward the end of his career, chasing a ring in Tampa may be worth the vet minimum.
Would a solid vet CB, TE, or OL on the vet minimum be welcome in Tampa? LB? Edge?
May 28th, 2022 at 12:44 pm
I don’t think the bucs roster is entirely set. Always a surprise cut or two pre and post June 1. They still have the trade market and deadline too. Who wouldn’t want to play with Brady in perhaps his final season.
I believe they’ll rely more on the running game this year. If they do, the bucs will be able to do something most teams can’t. Matriculate down the field, score TDs and eat clock. That will help the defense in two ways. They won’t be on the field as much, and opposing offenses will have a smaller margin for era, because of fewer possessions.
If they’re in shootouts most weeks, like last year. It’s a bad sign. Health is key, but it is for every team. To win it all requires some luck. Good for you and bad for them. Defeating the Rams will require something different this year. Bowles must play more coverage and mix in more press man. It was too easy for Stafford last year.
May 28th, 2022 at 1:28 pm
ModHairKen…
You’ve answered all the questions to my satisfaction!
Nice, thoughtful consideration.
Love your style.
Zeroing in on all your comments from now on!
You have my kind of enthusiasm!
Awesome.
May 28th, 2022 at 4:38 pm
I have burning questions. Will this team add the necessary talent to field a defense with the best pass rush in the NFL? Or not? If not, why not?
Do they really assume they will even have a .500 record with the toughest schedule in the NFL, or even make the playoffs without it?