“They’re Not Convincing Themselves, Either.”
December 29th, 2022
Whatever fans and media think of the Bucs is far less important than how players collectively evaluate themselves.
A former Buccaneer made that resounding point this week.
Joe’s referring to blocking icon Michael Clayton, Tampa Bay’s first-round draft pick in 2004. He sort of said on WDAE radio that the Bucs know they stink — for now.
“They’re not convincing anybody; they’re not convincing themselves, either,” Clayton said. “The reality is you struggle against a team that’s only won four games, that’s really who you are. … We are also close to being a four-win team.”
Clayton talked about the challenge of “overcoming self,” and he firmly believes the Bucs will be a dangerous and confident postseason team — if they can beat Carolina and Atlanta to close the season with a winning record and a three-game winning streak.
“The physical aspect of the game, they have it. Ok. We’ve seen it. I know that it’s there,” Clayton said. “What they are experiencing is mental.”
Clayton is not delusional. He is not saying the Bucs’ available roster is the best in the business, only that their problems are less about talent and more about the mental side of the game.
In the playoffs, Clayton wouldn’t underestimate the Bucs. From an opponent’s perspective, he said, an inconsistent team like the Bucs can be very difficult to prepare for.
December 29th, 2022 at 6:32 pm
The common denominator is Todd Bowles.
This is who he is therefore that’s who we are.
A below average NFL team.
December 29th, 2022 at 6:40 pm
They’ve lost their mojo. Question is, will Bowles & Lefty get out of the way so they can find it?
December 29th, 2022 at 6:47 pm
Almost from Day 1 you could see that this Bucs team was off. When Evans dropped the 68 yard TD and stated he saw the life drain out of them, he was speaking truth. They believe the chips are stacked against them and they cannot catch a break. Penalties that bring back great sacs and TD’s confirms this in their minds. The reason Bowles must take the heat on this is because he is the one who solely responsible for getting them out of this thought process. He has not been able to do this. That is his biggest fail. Blaming the players for execution in a news system with new people only makes matters worse. The team has not history to rely on. The changes Bowles seem to have made created a cloistered mentality in this group; a mentality that started when Bruce resigned; a mentality that only compounded when Jensen went out for the season during a practice session without pads! When Bruce showed up he stated he did not believe in curses. He did not and that is why he was so great. Bowles… who knows.
December 29th, 2022 at 6:59 pm
They lost momentum losing to Carolina and Pittsburgh. They never got it back.
Poor leadership. Poor coaching.
If they bring back Bowles, the owners will be taking a sh:t on the fans.
December 29th, 2022 at 7:00 pm
bowles is suppressing the offense & thinks his great defense can win games if they’re not gassed !!!!! the man is consistent , a moron, and a rockhead–JUST like he was with the jets for 3 yrs.
the worst part is he;ll be around for at least 2 more yrs……
December 29th, 2022 at 7:18 pm
A dangerous playoff team? I’ll believe it when I see it. We keep waiting for this offensive explosion that’s never come. After 15 games, you are what you are. A good defensive team that can’t score. They do nothing well on offense. Relying on a 45 year old to save the day isn’t identity. Nothing has lead me to believe things will change. Carolina will be another dog fight.
December 29th, 2022 at 7:21 pm
mike needs about 80 for 1k
chris needs about 150 for 1k
it’ll be interesting to see how this plays out – because if they both play the final 2 games i see them both getting 1,000…
if they play one game and rest one game …
then it gets very very iffy
#WhatIfLikeAnEmptyJatOfJif
December 29th, 2022 at 7:22 pm
#WhatIfLikeAnEmptyJarOfJif
December 29th, 2022 at 7:25 pm
Mental, sure right. How about our Offensive Line sucks.
December 29th, 2022 at 7:52 pm
Yeah, OLine is pretty bad. They simply can’t execute and have no idea how to deal with stunts and delayed blitz’s. They often mess up their assignments and just get beat on the line. We can’t even make a third and one as the rb gets caught in the back field. Sad group of players. It’s more than just mental, poor play and poor coaching.
December 29th, 2022 at 7:58 pm
The best blocking receiver in Buc history LOL
Stone hands Clayton just STFU
December 29th, 2022 at 7:58 pm
If a player is motivated he can play above his talent level. We experienced it in the 2020 playoffs and SB. The secondary in 2020 was poor all season yet stepped it.up in the playoffs and SB. Bowles is not a leader or motivator. Carolina will have this advantage come Sunday.
December 29th, 2022 at 8:04 pm
Everybody relax Bradys talking about this being a championship level week of preparation. We all know what that means they’re gonna be up 21 to nothing at halftime or 21 to 7 at worst Brady will be impeccable. We’ll see the adjustments both teams make. We seen this year,the Buccaneers simply can’t do it so we know Carolina will get back into the game from that point on hopefully the goat takes over with some help from the defense and the D. Then the playoffs were absolutely nobody wants to face him
December 29th, 2022 at 8:25 pm
They suck this season.
It was obvious in preseason, that they were gonna suck.
Its kind of embarrassing that wr are still competing for a playoff spot.
And at this point- its not the players. It is straight up the coaches.
Gonna be hard to win, when your leadership is the problem
December 29th, 2022 at 8:25 pm
One and done! Bucs suck. Brady can’t win when he can’t cheat or have the NFL help him. Face it Yucs fans, your #12 baby jeebus is toast.
December 29th, 2022 at 8:39 pm
Bucs14, cheater? Know your NFL history. Brad Johnson did the exact same thing prior to our Super Bowl in terms of deflating balls and tons of other qb’s did it too. Wouldnt have really called that cheating.
December 29th, 2022 at 8:43 pm
Bucs14 – ummmm, stfu dude. Did he cheat when he won a Super Bowl here in Tampa? You are no bucs fan.
December 29th, 2022 at 8:55 pm
Buc14, BA cheated soliciting Brady prior to him signing with Tampa. QB’s put balls in microwaves, dryers, Roger’s admitted he inflates them over the approved limit. That was a set up by the Colts and it was 1 ball out of 12 or 14. Get your facts straight, HATER!!
December 29th, 2022 at 9:21 pm
We play our BEST football in the 4th quarter
In the playoffs the whole game has the intensity of the 4th quarter
Hopefully we keep that energy when playoffs get here
December 29th, 2022 at 9:24 pm
Umm, Brady won the superbowl after deflategate. He lead one of the greatest comebacks in superbowl history with probably overinflated balls. BTW, against the best defense in recent memory. Idiot. The league let that stuff go on forever. However the QB liked the balls, they really didn’t care. The only reason it came to light was because the colts were sore losers. IMO pumping in crowd noise and cranking up the heat in a dome are far worse.
December 29th, 2022 at 9:43 pm
If the Bucs lose, Bowles has to be fired.
I mean the very next day.
You cannot take over a team that won the Super Bowl in 2020, NFCS Champs/Best Record in NFC in 2021, to under .500 and No Playoffs.
There is absolutely no excuse for it. It’s not TB12 or Leftwich. It’s the HC.
December 29th, 2022 at 9:53 pm
This team had to go in OT to beat the Cards. Yeah, they suck…
December 29th, 2022 at 10:05 pm
Just beat the panthers and lets get ready to play in the playoffs
December 29th, 2022 at 10:06 pm
I sec8bd what SlyPirate said…. and I’ve been saying that exact same thing all season!
December 29th, 2022 at 10:07 pm
I second what SlyPirate said. Been saying the same thing all year…
December 29th, 2022 at 10:09 pm
^^^^^^^
Oh, you mean the easy way?
Nah…….we don’t do that around here.
December 29th, 2022 at 11:26 pm
Bucs players have absolutely no confidence in the Bucs coaching.
The players see how the coaching has destroyed their season.
Bowles has to go or it will be exactly the same thing next year
December 29th, 2022 at 11:54 pm
Amazing season. They can lose this game and still win the division.
December 30th, 2022 at 2:14 am
How about some pass dropping lessons, Clayhands.
December 30th, 2022 at 2:56 am
Dont absolve the players for where the team is at this point.
I agree tha Bowles and Leftwitch have done worst that i could ever imagine no doubt about that. But when what we re seeing is this bad is not only the Coaching it is also the Playing.
Yes the playcalling is mindboggling and i dont know what they re doing in gameplanning but this is only a part of the problem. A big part but not the only one.
Too many drop passes, too many missed throws, too many miss blocks, too many missed tackles. These things are not about coaching its the players fault. And i dont want to hear the argument that the players need to be motivated and inspired by the Coaches. That is malarkey. When you step on the field for a physical game you go out there and give it all, you dont need a guy to give you motication. Either you are a competitor or you are not.
December 30th, 2022 at 6:57 am
It’s all mental. Bowles and Leftwich
December 30th, 2022 at 9:36 am
Brady needs to air it out and let his receivers make a play on the ball. Evans should be getting 50/50 balls that he has a chance to catch. Godwin needs to keep running choice routes as he can almost always beat his man inside and get open. Bucs need to prove to themselves that they can push the ball down the field.
December 30th, 2022 at 9:48 am
It’s hard to keep a positive attitude when your head coach “plays to not lose” instead of “playing to win”!!! Bowles carries with him so much negativity!! He never rallys the troops!!! Never!! During the game, you never see him go up to TB12 to offer support after a bad series! You never see him go up to TB12, right before an important drive, to pump him up!!! Never!!! Thus the losing season record!!
Great head coaches INSPIRE their team!! Prior to the game, during the game, after the game, they provide Inspiration!!! Bowles .. not so much!! Thus the losing season record!!!!
December 30th, 2022 at 10:58 am
Michael Clayton and Ian Beckles… never won anything in the NFL. Why do we continually hear from these guys?