Albert Breer On Bucs: “People Aren’t Paying Attention”
August 19th, 2024
“You know Greenberg, this Albert Breer guy is alright in my book.”
A lot of Bucs fans, when they see national media members pile on the Dixie Chicks’ bandwagon largely because of Kirk Cousins, wonder what these media types are watching.
A prominent member of #NFLMedia suggests those Bucs fans are correct. The pro-Atlanta faction of the Fourth Estate is not paying attention.
That’s the conclusion of Albert Breer of SI.com when he was asked in a mailbag column to name the favorite is to win the NFC South.
The new team is the old team, Breer typed. It will be a four-peat for the Bucs.
The simple reason is in a division that’s relatively even, I think the Buccaneers check the most boxes. Their quarterback, Baker Mayfield, has grown into what the Cleveland Browns thought he’d be in 2018, even if people aren’t paying attention. The offensive line, anchored by franchise left tackle Tristan Wirfs and having added first-rounder Graham Barton should be good. The skill guys are proven. The defense has strength up the middle, with Vita Vea, Lavonte David and Antoine Winfield Jr. as anchors. The play-callers are really good.
Conversely, I’m not sure about the Atlanta Falcons’ pass rush, the New Orleans Saints’ offensive line, or a lot of things for the Carolina Panthers. So Tampa will win it for a fourth straight year.
Breer also picked the Bucs on an SI.com podcast co-hosted by the notorious Conor Orr, who picked the Bucs to win two games last season. He mocked Breer for what Orr believed was a poor chalk choice.
Joe will type it again: The main reason folks don’t take the Bucs serious is that they still think Baker Mayfield is the same quarterback who the Stinking Panthers kicked to the curb and Todd Bowles is still the same coach who couldn’t get out of his own way with the Jets.
Until Mayfield and/or Bowles (or both) succeed more, they won’t get that respect.
It’s all about the quarterback, even when it’s not about the quarterback. And the coach is often the high-profile face of a franchise because the coach gets more facetime than the quarterback during game weeks.
So when you say “Bucs” to those outside the Tampa Bay area, they don’t think Mike Evans or Antoine Winfield, they conjure up images of a quarterback who has bounced around the league and a failed retread coach.
Many of these same folks probably didn’t even watch the Bucs’ two playoff games last winter.
Fair or unfair, that’s the Red Zone/fantasy football culture we live in.
Only consistent winning builds and earns respect.
August 19th, 2024 at 9:25 am
Just Win Baby!! the rest will take care of itself.
August 19th, 2024 at 9:47 am
Joe will type it again: The main reason folks don’t take the Bucs serious is that they still think Baker Mayfield is the same quarterback who the Stinking Panthers kicked to the curb
Come on Joe. Call it like it is. Mayfield was benched for being ineffective both @ CLV and CAR. Both times he either asked to be traded or released and the teams gave him what he wanted.
Mayfield took himself to curb and if dirty laundry comes into play then he crapped himself.
Keep a good supply of Dude Wipes on hand and keep cleaning him up.
August 19th, 2024 at 9:48 am
They were 4-7 and on the verge of Bowles and Mayfield being run out of town. If not for the weak NFCS the Bucs wouldn’t even be in wildcard talks this year more less div champs. 10-7 and a 4th straight NFCS championship this year.
August 19th, 2024 at 9:49 am
True that Joe. It is unfair and is the red zone/fantasy football culture now. There are many of we fans that don’t play fantasy football. They forget about that.
The Bucs are always under-rated. I cannot wait to see and hear the media when the Bucs are right on top again this season!
August 19th, 2024 at 9:49 am
Todd Bowles Cover No One Pass Scheme will kill any chances of a successful season. Guy can scheme up a good run d but his inability to scheme up a competent pass d will KILL this team.
It’s a passing league and our defensive weakness is defending the pass
August 19th, 2024 at 9:58 am
Go Bucs
August 19th, 2024 at 10:05 am
To me the coaching staff is well above average.
I mean what coaching staff in the NFL South would you pick over the Bucs current coaching staff?
The constant knocking of Bowles, a Super Bowl winning defensive coordinator, seems just simple minded.
August 19th, 2024 at 10:10 am
If you actually look and or analyze, you must believe in the Bucs chances to quadrupeat in the NFC S. The odds aren’t 100%, but they’re greater than 50%! IMHO!
August 19th, 2024 at 10:23 am
Bucs will go 7-10 or 8-9 and miss the playoffs.
Baker will regress but not totally crater. He’ll be just good enough to allow the apologists to make arguments on why to keep him.
But it won’t matter Bowles won’t be extended. Without Bowles Baker has no anchor in the ground. His claim to the starting job evaporates, especially if a new coach comes in 2025. His contract is structured that way as well.
Glazers got what they wanted out of Bowles probably couldn’t ask for more, but at the end of this season they’ll have an out and the conventional thinking will switch – team is going in the wrong direction, etc…
That’s not to say there aren’t good players here. There are. That will attract a coaching name.
Bucs only added Whitehead (good), Hall (meh), Bredeson (meh+), Thomas (Neal 2.0) and draft picks.
They are now sitting on cap space but stood pat when there were moves out there to be made – moves other teams capitalized on.
They are probably eyeballing what is going to happen over the next 2 weeks to upgrade the depth here when teams reduce roster size. That usually is a bad sign.
August 19th, 2024 at 10:24 am
It will come down to two things. We need a dominant OL & a fierce pass rush. Yes we got Brady in the super bowl era but that OL was one of the best we ever had and that pass rush was relentless against KC in the super bowl. Not sure how our young OLB/DE’s will do but if they can generate a rush we will be very difficult to stop.
August 19th, 2024 at 10:26 am
NEED TO FIX 3RD AND LONG
I forgot how horrible the Bucs were at defending 3rd-long all last year until reared its ugly head in preseason.
August 19th, 2024 at 10:37 am
It’s the head coach who has compiled a losing record with two franchises and who gave Tom Brady the only losing season he ever suffered in his life, that is largely at the root of the negative perception.
I was all in on Todd evolving.Until the ham carvings of the last two preseason games.
When you let Mac Fargin Jones throw for 200 yards and 2 TDs, in like 20 minutes, it shows regression and devolution.
Of course maybe the genius is holding it all back and will unleash the New Defense against Washington. Yeah, that’s it.
August 19th, 2024 at 11:00 am
Do it know gentleman, bet the Bucs to win the Super Bowl, no one’s paying attention for sure!! +6500! nice payout. I love the mix of old and younger players along with a refreshed Bake! watch out. G Bucs
August 19th, 2024 at 11:33 am
So if Baker doesn’t improve it’s Bowels fault now lol 🤣🤣 the season is in 3 weeks and now people ready to start looking for excuses if Baker regress. Lol 😂😂 they already blaming Bowles lol 🤣🤣!! You guys are afraid because y’all talked that noise how Baker is such a good quarterback you insulted people because they disagree with you and now that the season is close you want to start blaming people for just in case Baker Mayfield sucks!! Lol 🤣
August 19th, 2024 at 11:37 am
For the Bucs to win the division, offense will need to average 29ppg minimum as long as Bowels refuses to fix his soft zone bust defense that gives up 3rd and long, 4th and long like free beer at a frat party.
That’s up from the 24ppg given lack of edge rush and DBs once again being confused and getting blamed for “lack of communication” by Mike Smith — I mean Todd Bowels.
Since the Toadster is too stubborn to teach them their assignments so the know them, or to adjust the defense to schemes that his guys can execute, why should anyone expect an improvement from the last two seasons?
August 19th, 2024 at 11:40 am
Virtually half of the posters were negative so far. Do not know that we represent the Buc fans in general. I see us fielding a good team against a strong schedule. A winning record will be significant.
Ever the optimist. Go Bucs!!
August 19th, 2024 at 12:08 pm
@Dave Pear
Is thst why the Bucs had the 7th best scoring defense last year? I get frustrated by the soft zones too but Todd Bowles has had a top 10 scoring defense in 3 of the last 4 seasons. It’s the offense that needs to step up. 20th in scoring isn’t going to be good enough. Hoping the improvents on the offensive line and a better running game can help elevate this offense to a top 10 scoring unit. The talent is there to get it done
August 19th, 2024 at 12:23 pm
Dom – giving up yards but not points is an anomaly. The correlation is too strong, it’s impossible to keep it up. It’s like hitting on 17 in blackjack. Last year we got a couple 4s. It’s not smart, nor sustainable.
Too many OCs and QBs, especially the good ones, have already rung up the points on Toad. Look no further than the Lions playoff game last year. That’s what to expect as long as Toad’s Cover Zero Receivers defense remains in place.
August 19th, 2024 at 12:25 pm
To me, the only uncertain spot is QB.
Bowles has mostly convinced me. Though the team is only 1 game over .500 since he became HC.
But Mayfield was a rollercoaster last year. I want to see him stabilize.
August 19th, 2024 at 12:26 pm
Oneilbuc Says:
August 19th, 2024 at 11:33 am
“So if Baker doesn’t improve it’s Bowels fault now lol 🤣🤣 the season is in 3 weeks and now people ready to start looking for excuses if Baker regress. Lol 😂😂 they already blaming Bowles lol 🤣🤣!! ”
More like Bowles tied his future to Mayfield.
August 19th, 2024 at 12:27 pm
Vita Vea, Lavonte David and Antoine Winfield Jr.
warren sapp derek brooks and ronde barber- we need leaders to take the next step
parody will be the rule this year lots of 8-9 and 9-8 anybody can beat anybody the year of parody
leaders will make the difference and qbs that can make plays at critical moments
August 19th, 2024 at 12:40 pm
Oneilbuc. Where do I begin? Just in case he sucks? He’s 29 years old. He’s thrown for 20000 yds. He’s thrown about 125 touchdowns. He’s probably started as many games the last 6 years as all but one or two NFL QBs. He just needed the right fit to flourish. Upstate NY BUC. Shh! Let’s let that be our little secret.
August 19th, 2024 at 1:07 pm
Kenton – logic and reason can be lost on some.
August 19th, 2024 at 1:29 pm
Fan of the South: Baker was never benched in Cleveland. He took a team that went 0-30 to a playoff win, then got hurt. They were on about their 4th regime in his tenure when they stupidly went after DeShaun. Then he got to Carolina super-late, it wasn’t going well, he asked for his release. What, a month later the coach was fired? The point is, those are 2 of the worst run teams in sports & Baker got caught up in it.
August 19th, 2024 at 1:36 pm
Dave Pear is barking up the wrong tree. Todd Bowles has turned the Bucs defense from Swiss cheese into something that actually stops a few things.
Let’s rewind to 2019—Bucs defense was 29th in scoring. But that’s after Jameis Winston handed out 30 interceptions like they were Halloween candy, threw in 12 fumbles just for kicks, and wrapped it all up with 7 pick-sixes. That’s not a defense problem; that’s a quarterback doing his best Santa Claus impression.
Here are the other seasons in Tampa for Bucs.
2020. 8th in Points allowed. 21st in pass yards allowed.
2021. 5th in Points allowed. 21st in pass yards allowed.
2022. 13th in Points allowed. 9th in pass yards allowed.
2023. 7th in Points allowed. 29th in pass yards allowed.
Notice a trend? Better than most teams in scoring defense. Not so great on passing yard defense. Not an anomaly. Just how the Bowles defense works.
You know what else works. Stopping teams from rushing TDs.
Since Bowles has been with the Bucs, the team has never allowed more than 11 rushing TDs in a season. No other NFL team can match that, not SF, not Ravens, not KC, no one.
In fact, at least 16 teams (half the league) every year are letting 15 rushing TDs or more slip by like it’s a fire sale.
Lots of ways to win in the NFL. Todd Bowles defensive scheme is one of the ways to win. I love the Joe articles that appreciate the stop the run first philosophy and the ultimate success that it brings the team.
Yet, some on this site just continue to ignore that. Logic and reason lost on the simpletons.
August 19th, 2024 at 2:11 pm
The trend of note is 2023.
The last game played Goff carved Todd like a cooked goose. The lost in space defense has been on full display all of this preseason and against Trevor Lawrence in the Jax cover zero receivers experience. Anyone good slices and dices this soft as a pillow defense.
I had hoped this season would be different. I still do but now the disbelief is on hi alert.
I enjoy the taste of crow or tree bark, however it is served. Let me be wrong. Please.
August 19th, 2024 at 2:57 pm
A man talks anomaly and then picks out one game.
If looking at the Detroit game than Raschad White is a heck of a runner and a poor pass protector. He averaged 6 yards per carry but also gave up two sacks.
By the way, how many snaps did Dean, Winfield, McCollum, and Whitehead have against Jacksonville during Saturday’s game. I am also guessing that you personally were not at any of the Jacksonville practices so can’t even speak to what the defense might have been working on during those practices.
The biggest problem with Detroit is we do not match up well with their offensive line. That is a problem about 28 teams in the NFL have. It is not as much Goff as is their superior OL. To me, it has the ability to be as good as the Cowboys offensive line in their heyday.
So, Goff will continue to look good. Especially on his turf home field.
By the way, anyone good slices and dices every defense except historically great defenses when given time.
Who is better – Goff or Baker? Goff will continue to be as he has the best OL going forward for the next 5 years.
If your position is that we are not good enough to get past Detroit, so be it.
If your position is that we are not as good as Jacksonville, Carolina, Atlanta, or New Orleans. Bull.
August 19th, 2024 at 3:06 pm
Geno, be right. I hope you are, for real. Your points are solid and noted.
I’ll maintain that if you keep yielding passing yards so easily, you are bound to suffer in the points category. The recent 3rd and long failures are not new. Let’s see what if any corrective action is taken.
If it’s not a mirage, then Todd should just agree to let opponents start drives on the Bucs’ 25 yard line every series. Then the defense wouldn’t be as gassed in the 4th quarter. Facetious, obviously.
August 19th, 2024 at 3:06 pm
@Dave Pear
Are you seriously evaluating a HC on the basis of preaseason games? Mac Jones wasn’t much as a starter but he should be easily capable of carving up 2nd and 3rd string defenses giving vanilla looks. It’s not like they put in the end zone every drive in the first half either.
It’s just not credible criticism.
August 19th, 2024 at 4:08 pm
Exactly Joe, 100% nailed it.
August 19th, 2024 at 4:58 pm
Wonder why he spoke so sweetly about the raiders and Gardner Minshew. seems he just hates baker and the Bucs it’s that simple and it was be so much easier if he would just admit it instead of making a fool of himself every year
August 19th, 2024 at 10:02 pm
I understand why the media doubts Bowles given his time with the Jets in the NY media, but Baker actually played pretty good for the Browns and the Rams. His year with the panthers is the anomaly
August 20th, 2024 at 1:10 am
The same defects that have been the Bucs Achilles heel on defense are still glaring at us. The other guys are playing vanilla, too. The other guys vanilla is Bryers with real vanilla bean. Ours is Dollar General store brand made with 109% artificial ingredients.