Did The Bucs Win The Cappa-Mason Swap?
December 18th, 2022
“Sorry, Tom. I’d do it again.”
One of the more interesting nuggets of the Buccaneers’ offseason was young Super Bowl right guard Alex Cappa turning down Tom Brady’s pleas for his return.
That doesn’t happen every day.
It also makes cynical Joe wonder what Cappa knew or thought he knew.
Cappa, 27, landed with the AFC champion Bengals and locked down $13.5 million for this season and he’s set to pull in another $6.5 million next season.
To replace Cappa, the Bucs coughed up a fifth-round pick to the Belicheats for Shaq Mason, who has been a rock on the right side of Tampa Bay’s offensive line. But for some unknown reason the Bucs can’t run the ball right too well.
So could one say the Bucs won the swap?
Joe hasn’t broken down the film of Mason and Cappa to give an intelligent answer. But they do love Cappa in Cincinnati and think he’s a Pro Bowler.
Here’s a snippet from the Bengals’ official website this week in a feature on Cappa:
Bengals all-time left guard Dave Lapham, the club’s long-time radio analyst, says Cappa is playing at an elite level and compares his pass-blocking prowess to his Super Bowl teammate and multiple Pro Bowl right guard Max Montoya.
“He’s added new tools to his game during the offseason in pass protection,” Boggs says. “He’s playing pass pro a little differently. He’s always been a monster in the run game. He plays the pass a little more aggressively than he did in Tampa.”
Joe wonders whether the Bucs’ deep knowledge of Cappa’s weaknesses is something that can be capitalized on in today’s Bucs-Bengals game. Yeah, there’s film on every player, but it’s a little different when your coaches spent years around a guy.
Maybe, just maybe, Todd Bowles can take advantage.
December 18th, 2022 at 12:36 pm
Sounds like good coaching in Cincy coaxed more out of Cappa. My, how refreshing!
Mason has been a very, very solid addition. Just think if we hadn’t landed him and stood pat even further on this O-line?
December 18th, 2022 at 12:42 pm
Can’t run right if u always run left…A La Lefty.
December 18th, 2022 at 12:43 pm
Cappa looked like crap earlier this season. Apparently he got coached up.
December 18th, 2022 at 12:46 pm
Over paid Davis Donnie Shaq Godwin Vea. Then expected Gronk to come back for JAG money. Cappa wasn’t worth what the Bengals paid. Didn’t want to pay JPP or Suh. Piss poor personnel decisions to add to the incompetence. Didn’t spend Shlt on the Oline other than Jensen.
December 18th, 2022 at 12:47 pm
IMO Mason is the better player. He hasn’t given up a sack last I checked. He’s at his best when pulling. Bucs Haven’t done much of that, minus Dallas and Seattle. One LG can’t fix our broken running game. It would look the same or worse with Cappa, as Mason is the better run blocker.
December 18th, 2022 at 12:48 pm
RG
December 18th, 2022 at 12:55 pm
No
December 18th, 2022 at 12:58 pm
We let a little good young player go and signed old garbage players, Jones, Hick, Rudolf, etc. Same with Whitehead. And we have Gage who has done nothing. If we keep Capa do we move him or Mason to the left side. We developed two good young players,let them go and then Over pay older FA’s that don’t produce and always seem to be injured so that they can collect a paycheck without the work. Nice.
December 18th, 2022 at 12:58 pm
D-Rok Says:
December 18th, 2022 at 12:36 pm
Sounds like good coaching in Cincy coaxed more out of Cappa
^^^ See this is what I’m talking about you people on this site. Who coached Cappa to be a “young Super Bowl right guard”???? Smh
December 18th, 2022 at 1:09 pm
No because the Bucs can’t even run the damn ball. Run blocking has been awful.
December 18th, 2022 at 1:11 pm
We lost some physicality when we lost Cappa who has a real attitude problem.
He is one naturally mean dude, but as far as actual play goes Mason does not seem to be as good a run blocker. Cappa could be a real road grader as a run blocker.
I could not blame Cappa for taking the big money Cincinnati offered. No way the Bucs were gonna pay him anywhere near that.
December 18th, 2022 at 1:13 pm
It’s embarrassing how bad this division is and the bucs haven’t taken advantage of it.
December 18th, 2022 at 1:16 pm
Well, Jack Clark, according to the article above, WHO coached Cappa to be better than he was last year? Not the Bucs coaches.
For a second there, I thought you were actually defending these coaches, but I know better. I hope you have a great day, and win or lose, I hope you enjoy this game. I know I will.
December 18th, 2022 at 1:16 pm
They weren’t going to pay two guards that kind of money. Licht just whiffed on the pick. This has more to do with Jensen than anything. the communication up front has been abysmal.
December 18th, 2022 at 1:17 pm
I agree with others saying that they didn’t win the swap.
REMEMBER this O-Line compliment each other the others are playing well around him……and Cappa is benefitting from that.
Shaq Mason has been a reliable consistent player on that line…..second best to Wirfs. That others haven’t been consistent at all……and Donovan Smith is straight trash….most penalized player in the league…..yet alone the tackle position.
December 18th, 2022 at 1:23 pm
“Joe wonders whether the Bucs’ deep knowledge of Cappa’s weaknesses is something that can be capitalized on in today’s Bucs-Bengals game.”
With who, Roaches? Vernon Gholston? You gotta have somebody to take advantage with to TAKE advantage.
December 18th, 2022 at 1:24 pm
LOL Stanks are stankin and Panters Pantin so far. What a division.
December 18th, 2022 at 1:26 pm
Slimy saints up 14-0 on the falcons.
December 18th, 2022 at 1:27 pm
HC Grover what does it say about the bucs? Christ this coaching staff is a joke.
December 18th, 2022 at 1:41 pm
overall Mason has been a better player for cheaper. So we definitely won this.
Granted the line as a whole is worse and our big brained OC loves to not run behind the strong side of the line so it may not look like it much.
December 18th, 2022 at 1:46 pm
How bad will the Yucs lose today boys? GO BENGALS!!!!
December 18th, 2022 at 1:51 pm
Start chirping at Cappa early, and bait him into a personal foul. They always throw the flag on the guy who retaliates. He loses his head sometimes
December 18th, 2022 at 1:52 pm
How bad will the Bucs loss be today? GO BENGALS!!!
December 18th, 2022 at 1:55 pm
This Oline was looking solid on paper this off-season before Jensen’s injury. Lt Smith, LG Hainsey/Stinnie/Leverret, C Jensen, RG Mason, RT Wirfs. We lost Cappa and Marpet during the off-season. Licht stole RG Mason from the Pat’s. So the only question mark was LG. At LG we had two solid backups that played well when asked to in the past. Licht even drafted a LG that can play a variety of Oline positions in Leverret. I truly believe without Jensen’s injury this Oline would have played solid all year. Jensen would have been able to help Mason with blocking assignments. Jensen would have also been able to help the LG if he was struggling against a superior opponent. This oline will be much improved and a solid unit next year. With a healthy Jensen this Oline looks a lot different.
December 18th, 2022 at 2:01 pm
Bucs14 troll alert.
December 18th, 2022 at 2:02 pm
@ Bucs14
I predict the Bucs will lose by 3 scores this afternoon.
December 18th, 2022 at 2:06 pm
What choice did they have?
December 18th, 2022 at 2:07 pm
Anthem@ if they lose by 3, that’s a win for Leftnut & Joe.
December 18th, 2022 at 2:08 pm
Watching these other nfc south teams and it’s amazing they hav score more total points than the bucs lol. What an embarrassing stat. Anway if they destroyed today nobody will be fired which is a sham. Any other franchise and these guys would be finishing and wouldn’t make the season.
December 18th, 2022 at 2:10 pm
FYI, Pittsburgh has beaten all the NFC South teams except Carolina, they are playing today.
December 18th, 2022 at 2:12 pm
@ NEfan
A loss is a loss regardless of the score…..but you’re right.
The bar is set extra low for Byron Suckwich….
THERE are rumors and rumblings that Brady is fed up with the offense Suckwich is calling 📞……but obviously, sports politics won’t allow Brady to call out his own OC for it.
December 18th, 2022 at 2:13 pm
NEfan the nfc south stinks though. Joke to a division. The bucs stink much mroe that it could come down to the final two games.
December 18th, 2022 at 2:16 pm
havent heard masons name all year, forgot he was on the team.. I think thats a great thing for a guard! Beckles always says that.
December 18th, 2022 at 2:19 pm
I’d hire Ian Beckles instantly to coach the offensive line….atleast he’d recommend getting rid of Donovan Smith!
December 18th, 2022 at 2:20 pm
Cappa is the winner
Bucs are losers this year
December 18th, 2022 at 3:08 pm
NFC South Clown Show on display today, Bucs can back in to the playoffs with a nice loss to the Bengals unless the Stanks make a run.
December 18th, 2022 at 3:09 pm
How can you ask this with Jensen and Wirfs out?
December 18th, 2022 at 3:18 pm
The Bucs doesn’t deserve to be in the playoffs cause they’re playing like a 3 win team.
December 18th, 2022 at 4:05 pm
The Bucs won the swap in that they aren’t stuck overpaying for a guy on a long term deal. Otherwise the play seems about the same, meaning both have been very solid.
December 18th, 2022 at 7:18 pm
It was 4th and 1 again a few minutes ago, and again the Bucs choose to punt !