Five Things
October 2nd, 2023
Return of “The Gravediggers.”
What an awesome Victory Monday this is! Leaders of our various counties in the Tampa Bay area should grant workers a day off to celebrate whenever the Bucs beat the slimy Saints.
Even better, every employee should get an extra bonus whenever the Bucs take down the slimy Saints in New Orleans. Joe is stoked today as if the Bucs won a playoff game. Nothing makes Joe happier than to see Cam Jordan cry.
So, grab your java and let’s get going!
“Boo, Say The Fans.”
Old school baseball fans may recognize that quote was one of Jack Buck’s favorite calls. The father of the current voice of Monday Night Football, Joe Buck, would say that when fans didn’t agree with a close call and let the umps know their feelings.
“Boo, say the fans.”
Well, in Lincoln’s Tomb yesterday (that’s what Joe calls the Superdome because the darkness reminds Joe of Lincoln’s Tomb) the fans sure did say “Boo” loud and clear. Only they weren’t booing the Bucs.
No sir. Saints fans gave the slimy Saints a standing O of boos as they headed to the locker room after playing a first half of bad football.
Bad football forced upon them by the Bucs.
It was awesome. Slimy Saints fans fully turned on their team, wanted them run off the turf of Lincoln’s Tomb.
Here Derek Carr was playing with one arm due to his AC-joint shoulder injury, and he was thanked with jeers to get off the field and quit embarrassing the good people of New Orleans.
So hilarious.
“Boo, say the fans.”
Antoine Winfield Might Be All-Pro.
JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman wrote it last night. And it may be true. Bucs safety Antoine Winfield is having a monster season and should be rewarded for it justly this winter.
Winfield an All-Pro? Well, He’s playing like it through four games.
Winfield was simply all over the field making plays. Forcing fumbles. Recovering fumbles. Getting a sack. Knocking away would-be touchdown passes. A total bad ass.
Winfield has had quite a few games, important games, where he has made a major impact. But dang, Joe doesn’t know if Winfield has ever played a more complete game as he did yesterday.
An impact player. An All-Pro.
If there is a safety making a bigger impact now, Joe would like to know who that is.
The Crazy Deven Thompkins Play
Joe doesn’t know how he did it. It almost seemed gravity-defying.
The touchdown that put the Bucs over the top came with just under four minutes remaining. And returner and sometimes wide receiver Deven Thompkins left Joe sort of speechless.
Thompkins is a crazy good athlete. He often does foward flips from a standing position when he is on the field during a victory formation. And Joe once saw Thompkins sky so high for a catch in practice while Winfield was all over him that Joe wrote a post about that one catch. It was sick.
Against the Saints, Thompkins put that great athletic ability on display when he decided to play Superman, flying through the air going for a pass from Baker Mayfield with 3:44 remaining.
From where Joe was sitting, it appeared Thompkins came back to the ball too hard and then landed around the three-yard line. But no, Thompkins laid out and caught the ball as he was flying through the air, landing on the goal line. It was a touchdown and a tremendous play.
So now the Bucs are starting to get production from backup wide receivers. If those receivers can regularly make plays, it will help a great deal.
Luke Goedeke Holding Up Nicely
So many Bucs fans wanted Luke Goedeke launched last year. In the offseason, the Bucs decided to move him from left gurad to right tackle for his second NFL season. So far, so good. And Sunday may have been a turning point.
Goedeke took care of one of the better defensive ends in the league, Cam Jordan. Jordan did little in the game.
If Goedeke can put up a fight against a former All-Pro defensive end, a guy who has made the past six Pro Bowls, that should go a long way toward Goedeke gaining confidence.
Did It Finally Click For Rachaad White?
Early in yesterday’s game, it was the same ol’ shiite for the Bucs’ running game. There was one play that Rachaad White had grass right in front of him for a big gain. That was until someone touched his ankle and he hit the ground as if he was punched by Mike Tyson.
Joe has a feeling someone had a sitdown talk with White. Because later in the game, White was much more physical. He became less indecisive. He showed a fire in his belly, or so it seemed watching from way above.
White looked like a totally different player.
White’s final line yesterday showed 15 carries and 3.7 yards per rush. But White and Ke’Shawn Vaughn combined to average only 3.0 yards per carry on 24 attempts. The Bucs’ four-game average of 3.0 yards per rush ranks last in the NFL. They’re one of only six teams without a run of 20 yards or more. (The Bucs’ longest run is 14 yards.)
If the Bucs can get the running game turned in the right direction, that would be a fantastic addition to the improving offense.
Cam Jordan on the NFC South “rivalries” pic.twitter.com/bjTV8DPaV8
— NOF (@nofnetwork) September 28, 2023
October 2nd, 2023 at 6:15 am
I seem to recall the Bucs being up 14-3 (I think) and the Saints D stopped a drive. TV cameras show Cam Jordan dancing and smiling in the sidelines, speaking volumes about his character and selfishness.
October 2nd, 2023 at 6:16 am
Rachaad White did turn a corner. But he hesitated and lost 3 yards.
He’s actually not that good.
This one is over. After the break, it’s Detroit. Every time those clowns have two wins in a row, the talking heads begin anointing them. They will be ready for a beat down. Let’s get them in town early, keep the Mons open late and get the Lions players a limo bus to it but not back to the hotel.
October 2nd, 2023 at 6:41 am
I’m proud of the team after putting the Saints out of their misery. Enjoy your mini vacation with the bye week and come back ready for a very good Lions team. But for today we win!!! hell yeah!!!!
October 2nd, 2023 at 7:19 am
Scam Jordan has a serious lack of bass in his voice
October 2nd, 2023 at 7:24 am
If you want some 20+ yard runs add ROJO to the roster and it would not be that hard to get that done.
October 2nd, 2023 at 7:25 am
Once the game was officially out of reach, we had a couple more series. Has anyone observed White’s production after? You figure the Saints would have been playing the run harder, so his numbers might have dipped during that stretch, I think we saw Vaughan during some of that stretch as well.
October 2nd, 2023 at 7:36 am
Let’s be honest. The NFC South was considered the weakest and pre season predictions had saints or falcons being the best of a bad batch. If we keep playing like this we will have a good shot at winning our division because the falcons and saints aren’t as good as believed by the prognosticators. The Bucs may end up with a 9/10 win record and secure the division or wild card spot but against better teams we have a ways to go or need a lot of luck to go with our skill. We play with more heart than the saints, Vikings, and the lowly bears. The Lions are a good team with heart. We have a chance but they have an edge over us. We play 49ers and Bills who are better teams and will show our ceiling. Jordan is still good but the saints are overrated.
October 2nd, 2023 at 7:39 am
White had one really big gain negated by a Palmer penalty.
You can’t omit Baker Mayfield’s ability to move the chains with his feet….and on one play got us in FG range.
We overcame 11 penalties…..
The youth of our team is showing…..we actually looked faster than the Saints.
Thompkins is a gamer.
‘
October 2nd, 2023 at 7:52 am
At least Cam Jordan was right about one thing. Not much of a rivalry when you’re getting your a$$ kicked. LMAO. God I love when we beat the Aints. I have to drive through Low ez anna today and I’ll be wearing my Bucs jersey loud and proud! LFG!
October 2nd, 2023 at 7:55 am
also it was super obvious winfield was beasting out there from beginning to end…he was moving and reading at a different pace than most…
but also…
zyon has really replaced smb almost seamlessly
October 2nd, 2023 at 8:13 am
Joe, just wanted to let you know your “Five Things” is the article I look forward to the most over the past few years.
October 2nd, 2023 at 8:28 am
White hasn’t turned any corners in my observations. He is what he is, a very good target coming out of the backfield, in the open field where he can play instinctively you can tell he has the physical attributes of a wide receiver.
He isn’t a good running back. His start up speed is slow and he isn’t small enough to squeeze through the small openings the Buc offensive line provides.
Find another back that can get first downs in short yardage situations when one is available and use White out of the backfield on short passing situations.
I trust him more catching a 2 yard pass and getting 5 or 6 yards out of it than making a 1 yard run when the box is stacked. Unless you are Derrick Henry, there isn’t any tall running backs in the league for a reason.
October 2nd, 2023 at 8:30 am
I gotta give Todd props. He is now elevated from toilet bowl to water bowl.
Long way from Super Bowl though.
October 2nd, 2023 at 8:42 am
White is running like a good #2 back. Vaughn, and Tucker, don’t appear to be good enough back ups. Bucs need to find one stud R.B.. Currently we have none. Hope they didn’t pull the plug on Tucker, going back to Vaughn who’s had more then enough chances. Bringing in J.T. during the bye week could make the Bucs dangerous.
October 2nd, 2023 at 8:54 am
ModHairKen Says:
October 2nd, 2023 at 6:16 am
Rachaad White did turn a corner. But he hesitated and lost 3 yards.
Now that was a good one lol
The jury is still out for me, i have not seen enough from White to believe he is a good RB. He is better in space but not good inside the tackle box.
October 2nd, 2023 at 8:56 am
White seems to be unable to break tackles. He goes down quickly at first contact. Right now the running back position is the biggest weakness in the Bucs offense. 3 yards seems to be the max gain the majority of the time. Baker is a stronger runner than White. I like White for his versatility, but not as a 3 or 4 down back. And sadly nobody else on the Bucs are better.
October 2nd, 2023 at 8:56 am
Idk how these guys can turn into road graders but we need to. They do a fine job pass blocking but how many times does our RB have to get hit behind the LOS before they fix it. Also RW1 is deadly when a recieving back. Dude can make people miss in space so use him more in the passing game. Play to his strengths
October 2nd, 2023 at 8:59 am
HaHa The Boo Dats
October 2nd, 2023 at 9:05 am
WInfield looked like he was running 300 MPH in that one hit in the backfield on Kamara lol. He was 2X faster than anyone else on the field. I love that guy
October 2nd, 2023 at 9:11 am
Jason Licht and his staff have done an amazing job of putting a team on the field with this much talent when they’ve got 75 million in dead cap money. JL has got to be in contention for GM of the year!
October 2nd, 2023 at 9:20 am
Tampa Bay Bucs Fan says:
“If you want some 20+ yard runs add ROJO to the roster and it would not be that hard to get that done.”
Hasn’t he been cut by every team that has signed him? Believe it or not, there is a reason for that! Or perhaps 2 or 3!!!!!!
October 2nd, 2023 at 9:21 am
These guys have been fun to watch:
Trey Palmer
Deven Thompkins
Dee Delaney
Zyon McCollum
Christian Izien
October 2nd, 2023 at 9:28 am
Class of the division
October 2nd, 2023 at 9:33 am
I think our backs have not really adjusted to the new blocking scheme, last year was a more straight ahead run,,, now with the zone blocking you have to hit the holes at an angle not straight you have to flow with the zone or cut back against it as defenders over pursue. The White studder just gets him hit in the backfield… he needs to change his angle of approach and hit the hole with a little more urgency. He is more of a glider than a banger with low knee lift, so he is easily tripped up and doesn’t have drive in his initial attack. Hoping it will improve with more work together. But a win against the STINKING SAINTS always makes the day better.
October 2nd, 2023 at 9:47 am
It is so exciting to see Deven Thompkins, Trey Palmer, Christian Izien, Zion McCollum, Luke Goedeke, as well as Cade Otton, and Cody Mauch playing as well as they are. These recent draft picks are becoming a strong foundation to build from! Then you also have Calijah Kancey, who is still recovering from his injury, looking like a true impact player too. So far so good!!!
October 2nd, 2023 at 9:48 am
Aaron Says:
October 2nd, 2023 at 9:21 am
These guys have been fun to watch:
Trey Palmer
Deven Thompkins
Dee Delaney
Zyon McCollum
Christian Izien
——————————–
They’re getting more and more attention on Bucs Radio where I follow the games. Good on Mr. Licht! Now, go beat the kittehs in 2 weeks!
October 2nd, 2023 at 9:52 am
I think Rachaad turned a corner as he sat on a bench and watched Sneak.
Yes Vaughn had a few negative runs, but he had fire in even those.
After he sat Rachaad started to put some effort into his runs. Might not be enough.
I am still impressed by Goedecke pulling to the other side, he looks so much better on that side and with a year behind him.
October 2nd, 2023 at 10:17 am
shutting cam jordan up and that dirty team feels good. this guy is such an idiot. he continues to yap and in that video chirped every nfc south team. does he not realize that since he has been in the league, he has never played in a super bowl while every other nfc south team has, with the best and only one winning it! we also knocked him out.
cam “ringless” jordan
October 2nd, 2023 at 11:00 am
Definitely need to get the running game going. That will not bode well going forward and it probably was a leading cause of the loss to Philly. Great defensive effort and timely offense. The cheery was Jamoist completing a pass to a Buc player, on the defense. LFG!!!
October 2nd, 2023 at 11:16 am
At this point, it is asinine to not sign Rojo for peanuts.
He’s one of the best pure RB’s in the entire NFL.
October 2nd, 2023 at 11:27 am
Besides having alot of players that shined i felt like the biggest difference was one team liked playing for their coach and qb while the other team didnt
October 2nd, 2023 at 12:32 pm
Again…the right side of the line has FOUR games NFL experience at their position and one of them is a raw meat rookie. Hainsey is not as powerful but he pass blocks well enough and so far handles the snaps well, in addition he the “smart” one who calls out presnap blocking assignments. This line has a TON of room to grow…8 games experience with the right side combined.
Just checked out some of the new power rankings…saw the Bucs at 9 in one…Lions were at 7…and the Bucs at 13 in the other with the Lions again ranked above them.
In two weeks the Lions Bucs game should be a thriller!
October 2nd, 2023 at 12:53 pm
Goedeke is fine, Hainsey is the problem. He’s too small and weak.
October 2nd, 2023 at 12:58 pm
It seems like no one wants to talk about one of my favorite plays. It was the final play by the Saints. It was the last INT. I laughed louder than I did when the halftime boos came. I just loved it.
October 2nd, 2023 at 1:57 pm
Jameis Winston 1 pass, 1 interception.
Now that was GREAT!!!
October 2nd, 2023 at 4:03 pm
“(ROJO) He’s one of the best pure RB’s in the entire NFL.”
HA! Thanks for the laugh today. ROJO is a straight line runner, terrible with cuts and a guy who couldn’t sniff the field in Dallas or KC
October 2nd, 2023 at 4:32 pm
Bucsfan1988 Says:
“Joe, you forgetting the White run that was for 15 yards or so that was brought back by a BS penalty on Palmer when he pancaked Lattimore. Watched that play several times and it was NOT holding…”
.
.
I also thought that call was BS. I will say, the refs seemed a lot more fair after the Bucs put it out of reach. At that point I guess they decided it was pointless to try to influence the outcome (or point spread).
October 2nd, 2023 at 7:39 pm
Rojo has been released by 3 teams. Not traded, released. Either he can’t run, block, learn a playbook, or is a clown – but it’s something.
October 2nd, 2023 at 8:24 pm
First, y’all are celebrating beating a mediocre team that had a bad day. Second, we’re not slimy, not sure how that came about. Third we’ll see you guys later in the year and open up a can of who dat on y’all!!
October 3rd, 2023 at 5:15 am
Running game looked better despite the stat line to me. I do think someone had a pep talk with White. I hope he realizes that slow to the line and not seeing the field is not gonna cut it. O line did a better job as well but still needs work. Whiffing on blocks is still and issue.
Go Bucs!