Shocking Turnaround Predicted
September 2nd, 2024
Strength?
If this prediction happens, there should be many, many, many happy Bucs fans come January.
In Joe’s eyes, the strength of this Bucs team is a complete and total no-brainer: You have a Hall of Fame receiver, another Pro Bowl receiver, a rookie who appears to be the real deal and another receiver who is quicker getting off the line of scrimmage than Cheetah Hill.
Oh, and pulling the trigger on this passing attack is last year’s Pro Bowl MVP and a former No. 1 overall draft pick.
But then you have a run game that’s been the NFL’s worst two years running.
However, Jenna Laine of ESPN believes that will change this year in a major way. She thinks the strongest element of the Bucs this fall will be its run game.
Biggest strength: The ground game. After averaging 3.3 yards per carry in 2023, the Bucs’ 4.4 YPC average this preseason is tied for fourth best in the NFL. They invested a first-round draft pick in new starting center Graham Barton, a fourth-rounder in running back Bucky Irving and a sixth-rounder in guard Elijah Klein. They also signed left guard Ben Bredeson in free agency and have a better understanding of the blocking scheme and how to attack the holes.
Look, Joe is a burning bush kind of guy. Joe has to see evidence that something is good before Joe can declare it good. And Joe has learned the hard way this past summer, once again, that underwear football and practices and worthless preseason games are not real games.
So no, there is no way Joe can type on this Labor Day that the Bucs’ strength is a run game.
Should the run game be better? Yeah. The team’s strength? Joe cannot take that leap. Sorry.
Joe will type the following: If the Bucs’ run game really does turn in to be a strength of the team and the receivers are healthy, the Bucs ought to at least advance to the NFC title game.
Ira Kaufman’s Annual & Ultimate Bucs Season Predictions Episode, Plus Several NFL Calls
September 2nd, 2024 at 4:15 am
Ah yes, Labor Day weekend, when the world is new and everybody is a contender.
But damnit Joe, it is still defense that wins championships. Exactly how are we going to keep Detroit from scoring 31 again?
September 2nd, 2024 at 4:23 am
if that’s a recent rachaad pic, it looks like he slimmed back down to more like his rookie weight…
adding the extra bulk and poundage didn’t help him get through holes any better at the line of scrimmage
September 2nd, 2024 at 5:54 am
If the interior OLine is fixed – then everything starts working for the Bucs offense.
White is a high end talent when he gets a little space to work through. Not so much when he’s fending off tacklers in the backfield. Too much of the later and not enough of the former last year.
Bucs have a solid room of young, talented RBs this year.
White will get the lion’s share of carries and be very productive. 1500+ total yards – Again!
For once, I agree with Jenna – look for the Bucs ‘run game’ to vastly improve – which then makes it easier to open up the passing game and get more explosive plays.
September 2nd, 2024 at 5:57 am
The Bucs were 4-7 at one point last year and then won the next 6 out of 7. They got better last year and so did White. Mayfield got better and played with courage and toughness. The talking heads have wiped out last year and have gone back to their tired narrative that Mayfield is not a quality QB. Our players are better, our coaches seem to be better, my bet is we are going to surprise some people.
September 2nd, 2024 at 7:04 am
Dream big,
Excellent point, and is there any other team that was similar to that last year? Oh yeah, the Packers who based off a nice second half of the season and playoff win ( sound familiar? ) are the darlings of many to do great things this year. If I can only remember what team it was that went to Green Bay late last year and took a win from them while their qb had a perfect passer rating….
September 2nd, 2024 at 7:06 am
@Pickgrin. Well said.
Look, I’ve been at it with JBF, much like many of the fans on here in defense of White because we’ve seen the talent show up on the field, it just hasn’t been consistent, and why? Well, first, playing with a leads help, we didn’t score an opening TD in the opening drive in any game last season. And consider this, you have a young RB, who last year was getting his first start as the primary RB, new offensive play caller, new QB, retooled Oline. Can we give the kid an even break? JBF has written him off. When did RB become a position that you need to be great from day 1? The eye test tells me I think White didn’t trust his Oline and his gaps and tried to do too much in his role. He tried to create and found himself not playing to his strengths as a runner. Do I think White is “special” as a runner, I don’t think so, however I think he’s a starter, and I do expect a solid/improved season from him and all the other RBs we have on the roster.
Additionally, we get to see whether or not Canales’ playing calling was holding us back. I know we were all feeling it last season that it felt Canales playing calling was predictable, especially early in games. We’re talking about a guy who never called a play at any level in football, and now he’s at the elite level, scheming against complex defenses week in and week out, while understanding and using the weapons around him, while this offensive line wasn’t as good as it was in 2021, mind you, our running attack under Arians was still ranked I think 25th in the NFL. Not since we had Doug Martin have we even been top 10. This season, everyone is one more year experienced on this line going into 2024. Barton is the only rookie, and it won’t shock me that he’ll be a significant improvement over Hainsey.
I will say this, this offense will have to be better and score more points, because we need to be playing from ahead in order for this version of Bowles defense to thrive and allow us to win. What I do agree with JBF, and often, we need another edge rusher, badly. Besides Yaya, we have a slew of situational JAGs at DE/OLB.
September 2nd, 2024 at 7:08 am
Biggest place a running game helps is near the end zone –VERY hard to throw inside the 10, esp if the other team KNOWS you can’t run it in
September 2nd, 2024 at 7:14 am
Jenna’s input (verbatim) came from ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) dated 1 Sep 2024 that ranked every team from 1 to 32 based on how it projects the season to play out. In that eval, they rated the Bucs as #22 in the NFL, with minimal hope of doing much.
22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
FPI’s overall ranking: No. 22
Chances to win division: 21.9%
Chances to make the playoffs: 33.6%
Projected wins: 7.9
Strength of schedule: Fifth easiest
That ESPN eval had the 49ers, Chiefs, Ravens & Lions ranked #1-4 this year, with the Cowboys at #6 and the Eagles at #8. They even had the audacity to rank the Falcons at #15 and the Chargers at #18. So just playing their odds, that’d be 9 losses right there (they projected us with a 8-9 record BTW). Seems a bit strange since they rated us with the 5th easiest schedule in the NFL, given that we play 5 division champs from last year who are ranked in the Top-10 this year also. But hey, it is ESPN so no need to get our undies in a wad.
September 2nd, 2024 at 7:18 am
Agree with Zoocomics, Love the improvements on offensive line and back up running backs, but the biggest improvement will be the playcalling. Liam looks like he knows how to run an offense and is a pusher just like Gruden and Arins were and we won Superbowls with them. If Bucs stay healthy, it will be a great season!!
September 2nd, 2024 at 7:23 am
I have been saying all along that White will overtake McCaffery this season. As mentioned by Dreambig White averaged almost 5 ypc over the last 5 or 6 games last year. Mccaffery is a straight runner with few moves. If White ran behind his line and in Shannahans scheme his output would be better than CM because he has more wiggle
But this year he has the blocking and scheme and proved at the end of last season he could hit the hole at full speed. I am trying to trade Cheetah for him in my league.
September 2nd, 2024 at 7:31 am
Hey Joe’s, a “burning bush” is never a good thing to explore…
September 2nd, 2024 at 7:43 am
The burning bush reference went way over the heads of your audience. Even the ones that go to church.
September 2nd, 2024 at 8:22 am
Lunchmeat … ‘But damnit Joe, it is still defense that wins championships.’
While I agree Lunchmeat, that same Jenna Laine that Joe seems enamoured with (for having our run game as our biggest strength) also had our DEFENSE ranked as our biggest concern in her contribution to ESPN’s Football Power Index rankings. Here’s what she wrote …
‘Biggest concern: New pieces on defense. The Bucs parted ways with outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett, inside linebacker Devin White and cornerback Carlton Davis III. Did they do enough to fill those spots? While they drafted edge rusher Chris Braswell in the second round, he’s not slated to start — the unproven Joe Tryon-Shoyinka is. And they’re counting on Zyon McCollum to start at corner, but what about the depth behind him? — Laine’
Losing 3 starters from our 2020 SB team should be concerning, except that all 3 had down years in 2023. And as far as Secondary ‘DEPTH’ goes, that’s probably our greatest strength IMO; no idea where she’s coming from on that one. I’m convinced that our defense will continually improve throughout the season, and end up ranking in the Top-10, once again.
September 2nd, 2024 at 9:10 am
If we see the Rachaad White from the Seattle game his rookie year, every game, Bucs fans will be satisfied and happy. Anythibg less than that type of performance, is unacceptable from our RB1 starting this year.
September 2nd, 2024 at 10:02 am
Hey earth to Jenna White: You-Hoo, Jordan Whitehead is back playing in the secondary. Remember him? She has to say what the script dictates if she wants her paycheck. SMDH (snort.).
September 2nd, 2024 at 10:03 am
Run game doesn’t have to be the strength of the team… if it just improves from awful to average it will make a world of difference.
September 2nd, 2024 at 10:06 am
Both Byron left which is good & canalas were absolutely Charles Barkley TURRABLE At designing run plays and play calling in general . One of the biggest things for me was how in the hell can I tell what they are going to run before the ball is snapped ? If I can , then best believe opponents can . Scheme plays properly , mix n match & have plays that set up other plays to where it looks like Ying but hit’em with yang is what Rashad white and this run game needs ! White is a hell of a pass catching RB as we all have seen and know . Joe can even see that after pounding BIG STORM BREWSKIS ! IF YOU GET RASHAD WHITE a good line with power run blocking where they are pushing the defence off the line , I feel confident saying he just may put up CMAC numbers ! Yeah I said it ..what he also should do is watch old Marshall faulk tape . I will always put the name on the front of the jersey 1st , NOT the back of it but I dont understand all the hate towards white..both bucky and tucker are going to be nice additions to this run game but make no mistake , barring injury white is the best back for this season and I’m telling you guys , he has the talent to be a part or the 2,000 club ..1,200 rushing & 800 receiving
September 2nd, 2024 at 10:18 am
I won’t be surprised if White has a slammin’ season.
September 2nd, 2024 at 10:37 am
“And as far as Secondary ‘DEPTH’ goes, that’s probably our greatest strength IMO”…Defense Rules
How can you say that? I haven’t seen that even the starters are a strength of our team. Until I see big time improvement I predict we will get burned by any team with a decent passing attack. Once again, is it the talent or is it Bowels?
September 2nd, 2024 at 10:51 am
Jenna Laine is right about the improvement opportunity. When you’ve been worst for 32 straight games, it should be easy for the run game to show up as “most improved.” But don’t buy where she says that the run game would be the strength of the offense. That’s just plain ignorant.
Throw the damn ball, use the pass to set up the run, and score a lot more points. All indications are that Todd is content running the bend don’t break defense that was 4th worst defending the pass last season. Points allowed will ultimately correlate.
Offense will necessarily need to score at least 25ppg for 10 wins.
September 2nd, 2024 at 10:58 am
BucsfaninOregon … I can’t see how anyone could NOT see that our Secondary has the best depth on our defense. ILB has very little depth. Our OLBs give me a lot of HOPE, but none of them have set the world on fire yet. I love Vea & Kancey, but our interior depth is average at best.
Bowles kept 11 guys in the Secondary for a reason IMO: anyone we released would be snatched up immediately. Look at our depth there …
o Safety: Winfield, Whitehead (starters) with Merriweather as backup (he did quite well as a rookie last year BTW … and got into 16 games, starting 2 of them).
o Outside Corner: Dean, McCollum (starters) with Bryce Hall & Tavierre Thomas as backups (both have several years of decent experience). Tyrek Thunderburk is also in there, and I love what I saw of him in preseason.
o Nickel: Tykee Smith & Christian Izien will probably both get a lot of snaps at nickel (even though both are listed as Safeties). Admittedly they’re both young, but they’ve both got great instincts. Not sure where Josh Hayes will fit into all this, but I’m convinced that Bowles will find a role for him.
September 2nd, 2024 at 11:22 am
a “burning bush” will set the world on fire !
September 2nd, 2024 at 11:48 am
White will make it better because he’s hearing footsteps coming from someone wearing a big uniform. You took fournette job so you know what it is. Bucky has no fear, why is too fancy a runner
September 2nd, 2024 at 11:52 am
D.R.
I fear the same lack of depth in precisely the positions you mentioned, which is to say not that many spots when you think about it.
One thing that we as fans hate to say about the team and it’s players because we root for them is that it wasn’t just Brady who went into the tank after the SB.
“Losing 3 starters from our 2020 SB team should be concerning, except that all 3 had down years in 2023.”
Yes they were physically over the hill. Although Carlton Davis played LESS than 70% of the games after the SB so that was already 30% of the snaps we had to fill. Shaq was a shadow of his former self and DW45’s head no longer fit in his helmet.
But here is an area I think the Bucs will be vastly improved.
I’m not going to mention names, yes I am at least one, Vita Vea. For whatever reason, simple human nature, typical SB letdown, MANY of the Bucs lost focus, fire, they simply did not play as they had before.
I mention Vea because I like to be positive in the end. He’s the glaring example who let himself get overweight and out of shape. BUT he’s found renewed committment and he’s ready to play. I think CG is due for a giant year as well now that his health has had a longer chance to improve and he’s back at his best position.
Point is until last year this team had lost the fire in it’s belly. This is perhaps the greatest thing Baker brought, some more fire.
This season the Bucs have recaptured that fire and barring too many injuries I think they’re going to make the pundits look like morons.
Losing 3 starters from our 2020 SB team should be concerning, except that all 3 had down years in 2023.
September 2nd, 2024 at 12:18 pm
Middle of the pack in rushing production would be a Godsend for this team.
September 2nd, 2024 at 12:32 pm
No way to know for sure how high or low the Bucs will go but they surely have enough talent at all positions to be legitimate contenders for a playoff spot this season. Especially if they avoid serious injuries to their best players. Let the games begin!!!!!
September 2nd, 2024 at 10:21 pm
If he can get past the first level and see the open field White knows how do the rest. I am ready to see what this online can do We got some Beef up there now!!!