Fans Are Watching. So Are The Glazers.
October 31st, 2024
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BY IRA KAUFMAN
Their record is pedestrian. Their offense is extraordinary.
With Buc fans focused on the travails of a porous defense, it’s easy to overlook the startling accomplishments on the other side of the ball. Tampa Bay’s offense is putting up historic numbers for a franchise approaching its 50th anniversary.
* The highest-scoring team in the league, the Ravens, have only seven more points than the Bucs.
* The Bucs rank second in first downs, second in passing yards and third in completion percentage.
* Baker Mayfield is No. 1 with 21 TD passes.
* Tampa Bay’s ground game is a model of efficiency. The Bucs rank 16th in rush attempts and ninth in rushing yards.
* The Bucs average 5.1 yards per carry, which would easily be the best mark in franchise history.
* The Bucs top the NFL with a third-down conversion rate of 52.5 percent. The team record is 47.1 percent in 2021, when Tom Brady was under center.
* Tampa Bay ranks third in red-zone efficiency, scoring touchdowns at a 67.7 percent clip.
* The Bucs are averaging 8.8 points in the opening quarter. That’s No. 2 in the NFL behind Minnesota. Last year, the Bucs averaged 2.9 points through the first 15 minutes. In 2022, the number was 2.8.
Much of the credit should go to an offensive line that has stayed relatively healthy. Featuring two new starters, this front has emerged as a dominant unit — whether Mayfield is throwing from a secure pocket or handing off for a nice gain.
The addition of rookie Bucky Irving has provided juice for a run game that finished last in the two previous years, Irving has quickly developed into a fan favorite and new coordinator Liam Coen needs to give him more touches at Kansas City in an effort to keep Patrick Mahomes off the field.
After last week’s loss to Atlanta, I asked Raheem Morris whether he was concerned the injuries to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin would cause the Falcon defense to underestimate the Buc attack.
““No, that 3-headed monster the Bucs have in the backfield is something to deal with,” Morris said. “And they showed that, whether they’re catching the ball or whether they’re running the football. They started off hot with the run. They were able to get the ball to those guys on some screens – they’re electric.”
Coen has been masterful in keeping defenses off balance. The Bucs are utilizing more motion in an effort to create favorable matchups and confuse defenders.
Bucs co-owner Joel Glazer.
“We were able to get away with the win today but they put up a lot of yards,” Morris said. “They’re going to move the ball. Baker is a baller. Let’s just call it what it is, right? He’s going to go out there and find ways to do it. And he thrives in those moments when his guys are gone. That’s just who he is. I mean I met him on a Thursday, and he came in and got a win for us in L.A. He walked in, met the guys, like, ‘Hey, how are you doing?’ and went out there and won a game. That’s outstanding. That’s who he is.”
It would be a shame for the 2024 Bucs to waste a dynamic attack that hardly slowed last week, even without Mayfield’s top two targets. A once-embarrassing ground game is now flourishing and those early-game scoring woes are history.
For the Bucs to go 6-3 the rest of the way and make a legitimate run at a fifth consecutive playoff berth, this defense must get on board and play its part.
This is a franchise that has usually been defined by strong defensive play during the good times … but times change. The Chiefs are now carried by their defense while Mahomes has thrown more picks (9) than TD passes (8).
It’s up to Todd Bowles to figure out how to complement a historic attack. Buc Nation is watching.
So are the Glazers.
October 31st, 2024 at 9:15 am
And we fans are looking to everyone even the Glazers.
Blamming Bowles for this situation is so incomplete….Of course he is part of the problem
Check out the roster…..absolut lack of depth and that is not on the coach….
Two star WR injured, what else you have on the position? NOthing….that´s not on the coach..
Why don´t we go after some WR or CB os pass rusher on free agency, because they dont wanna spend…That´s not on the coach….
Bowles can´t do magic, with JTS KJ Britt with some CB that have zero experience, with LVD who is not getting any younger.
What Bowles must do is change the way the defense is playing, that is on him 100%……..
But please, JL is somebody to blame too, same as the players……
Again Bucs present is a combination of things, is not just bad coaching…..
October 31st, 2024 at 9:22 am
If the defense continues to lose games, I see the Glazers firing Bowles and promoting Coen. If the offense continues to excel, Coen will be in demand as a head coach somewhere, so the Bucs will have no choice other than to make another bold move. And that is the the only logical move. Why would anyone keep the defensive minded coach whose defense now sucks, over the guy whose offense is record breaking?
October 31st, 2024 at 9:23 am
Ira you’re right that everyone is watching. It’s just the way the world is that we all seem to be seeing something different. Go Todd Bowles! Go defense! Let’s show Bucs Nation and the Glazers and everyone else wearing blinders the truth Monday night.
October 31st, 2024 at 9:23 am
Bucs have suffered from bad coaching with Todd Blows on defense since 2019
Routinely we’ve heard that there is communication issued in the secondary. That has not been fixed, like, ever.
Routinely WR’s are wide open throughout the season, has that been fixed?
Routinely QB’s have career days against this scheme then play a real competent coordinator and then come back down to earth the next week. Is this fixed? NOPE
Hopefully a few more nationally Televised embarrassments will rid us of the last of Arians friends and former players who only had a job because, he wanted to take care of them.
Chiefs by 17
Book it
October 31st, 2024 at 9:25 am
I would think ownership would always be watching. But how will they respond, if at all. Is there any NFL owners more aloof, non-transparent, and distant from the fans than the Glazers? Seriously. They seem to think they are too good to communicate with the fan base they pays them.
October 31st, 2024 at 9:33 am
Good column Ira! I agree the Glazers are watching. However, I hope while watching they’re already putting in an effort to evaluate who the potential replacement for Bowles would be just in case things goes bad and Bowles can’t live up to his title not only as a HC but a defensive minded talent. At this point Bowles is clearly aware of the scheme that is hurting this team. Fans and the Glazers are not buying that he doesn’t have enough talent or the players aren’t good it’s the scheme that’s hurting this defense. Remember Mike Smith era? Bowles has got to put his EGO to the side and come up with a scheme that benefits his players strengths. Only thing I have to say on the offensive side is BUCKY needs to START! White is better off the back we need to use to close out games in the 4th qtr let’s unleash Bucky and Tucker
October 31st, 2024 at 9:39 am
Chicken Rots from the Head Down.
Licht is 1st (no Edge Rusher and a LB crew that is very lacking)
Bowles is 2nd (His Defense schemes may be too complicated for the players to execute) and they can not do basic tackling
Mayfield 3rd… too many interceptions, just play and believe your eyes not what you think the defenders should be doing. I think he will clean this up.
4th… The whole team has a little bit of Loser Lament on them, thinking bad things are going to happen and we can’t stop anyone. That again comes down to the entire coaching staff and each individual player.
Will they turn it around, NOPE. Unless Licht makes a few trades but time is running out.
October 31st, 2024 at 9:45 am
I am OK with Todd as a head coach but we need a new defensive coordinator. Except for the last 3rd of the Super Bowl run, the number of times a receiver was running wide open in our secondary was unbelivable. Even in that season, they were torched by the Saints, Rams and Chiefs in November.
Either our system is too complicated or is not being coached properly. Todd, you need to let yourself go.
October 31st, 2024 at 9:47 am
Kirk cousins looks like a 36 year old injured qb vs any other team . When he plays the bucs there making him look like Tom brady in his prime. Bowles simply doesn’t make adjustments well. If his gamelan is on then the defense is on. If it’s not then they go the whole game doing the same.thing. I just don’t get it.
October 31st, 2024 at 9:52 am
Bucs need help stopping the run and sacking the QB. Ndamakong Suh has NOT retired and is in good shape as evidenced by his off season workouts with Vita Vea. Suh would immediately solidify the run stopping deficiency and wreak havoc going after the QB. Anyone that does not believe this is either uninformed or foolish.
October 31st, 2024 at 9:54 am
Super disappointing year for the defense. No reason to be putting this product out there.
October 31st, 2024 at 9:55 am
Spot on Ira, have seen this movie before – isn’t that right Lovie?
Good part is the current OC is for real and Dirk was just a retread
October 31st, 2024 at 9:55 am
When you are turning the ball over it is going to make the defense look bad by putting them in bad field position as they have done the past few games. Use 2019 as an example when Jameis was QB and Ariens was HC and the Bucs ended the season with a losing record. This isn’t all on the defense.
October 31st, 2024 at 9:57 am
You can’t go 6-3 down the stretch with a historically bad defense. Funny we were in this exact same position last year losing games defense sucked and we couldn’t keep the division lead but at least we had Mike and Chris and we didn’t get swept by the current division leader. Once again calling for Todd Bowles head. Somehow they went into training camp thinking this roster would compete for a Super Bowl so it’s Bowles fault if he’s fired, he’s the one signed off on KJ Britt as starter. Atlanta has the same cupcake schedule too so unless they implode how do we catch up
October 31st, 2024 at 9:59 am
Hi Ira, yes indeed being a long time Bucs fan it is odd to see a top flight offense and an incredibly poor defense. WE the fans definately are not used to seeing this. However, agree that this can’t be entirely blamed on the coach. Yes we can blame Bowles for a unit that truely appears unmotivated!!!. However, they also don’t have the players needed in key positions, middle LB, not just Britt, also Lavonte can’t bail Britt out. He is having trouble carrying himself.The defensive line, no edge, therefore to much blitz, teams are handling Bowles’s skeme. At corner to much drop off when starters go out. Where are the safeties these days?
Light and Bowles knew these problems existed in training camp.Yes I like the GM, but if you are going to hold people accountable, you must include him. A coach can only get so much out of players. It is clear that , while the defense has a few really good ones, it is not enough to cover the huge weakness at other defensive positions. A defense has 11 players not 5, 6 , or 7. Yet, often it appers that the defense is playing without 11 people on the field.
However, yes change must start somewhere and it is usually the coach. Yes, I agree a defense that remains unmotivated probably should cost a coach his job. I think the only hope for this defense is that the starters return , they stay healthy and they get motivated. I think everyone including the Glazers are looking for that. One thing for sure this defense currently is really, really hard ,if not impossible to watch. That surely must change.
October 31st, 2024 at 10:12 am
Where in the HE!! is Chris Braswell??? An invisible 2nd Round draft pick who was hired to offer more QB sacks , but yet is mostly seeing action on special teams if at all. These are the questions Coach and GM should be asked.
October 31st, 2024 at 10:18 am
Teams that turn the ball over 3 fewer times win 88% of the time. 2 fewer turnovers and that team 76% of the time. Those numbers include teams with even great defenses.
Bucs Offense has turned the ball over 12 times so far this season and the defense has bailed them out 10 times and as a team sit at a -2 Differential.
3 more turnovers than Atlanta in the last game gave the team a a 12% chance of winning and the lose is squarely at the hands of Mayfield and White.
Had the defense not covered 7 of the additional turnovers the offense gave up so far the Bucs are probably sitting back in the pack closer to the Saints and not one car length behind the pace car.
Does not matter if you have the fastest car in the race and are setting one speed record after another if the driver keeps bouncing the car off the wall.
If Parnelli Jones has a few more crack ups the Bucs will be Black Flagged and have only the 2025 draft to look forward to.
October 31st, 2024 at 10:31 am
If you think the offense has equal blame to the defense and Todd Blows you are watching the wrong sport and team
October 31st, 2024 at 10:33 am
Thank you for those historic stats. Seeing them altogether is very impressive.
I am in the minority here because I don’t see Todd being fired after the season or before. Coen is new to the Bucs and hasn’t finished the season yet. Unsure about promoting him that quickly to HC. Maybe after a couple of seasons. However, if they do fire Todd whoever they bring in may not keep Coen and others, including players. They usually bring in their own choices. And we can see everything starting all over again.
October 31st, 2024 at 10:35 am
Depressing. Now that the offense is finally rolling the defense takes a total dump. Think Todd got rid of the wrong players on the defense. Todd needs to be gone. Have voted no confidence in Todd for a long time, so it isn’t just the latest failure. Jason shares in some of the blame with the Clowns 🤡 on defense.
October 31st, 2024 at 10:47 am
It could be time (this offseason) to “promote” Bowles into a FO Advisor/Ambassador/Mentor role with Bruce, & name Cohen new Head Coach. Not sure he’s ready, but is anyone, really!? I’d sure hate to lose him now, at this point. The players seem to love him… Hiring at strong DC with Head Coaching experience could workout well. Someone like Saleh, though he’s best ‘friends’ with LaFleur, & is already there with him in Green Bay… I guess, as long as he’s not eventually promoted to being THEIR future DC!?
October 31st, 2024 at 10:48 am
Licht built a team talented enough to beat Washington and Detroit despite several key injuries.
Later, the defense took a giant step backward despite the team being healthier. But how do you blame that on Licht?? It makes no sense.
It’s true the team lacks depth in some areas but they’re still digging themselves out of salary cap hell.
October 31st, 2024 at 10:53 am
Bucsfan Says:
Where in the HE!! is Chris Braswell??? An invisible 2nd Round draft pick who was hired to offer more QB sacks , but yet is mostly seeing action on special teams if at all. These are the questions Coach and GM should be asked.
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It’s pretty common for great pass rushers to not make much of an impact until their second year. Sapp only had 3 sacks his rookie season.
October 31st, 2024 at 11:00 am
if we won last sunday’s game everything would be fine…we’d be 5-3 and the birds would be 4-4…however that’s not the case…
there’s a tipping point with the one lousy game, last sunday…
that is reality…
only way to climb out of this mess with flying colors and to still be looking like one of the better teams in the nfl is to win in kc on monday, and then come home and defeat sf going into the bye…
i swear, it that happens, all media and pundits will be calling us the best 6-4 team in football…
oh how a week or two can change things in the nfl…
because we’ve beaten many good teams already this year…add to more to the list and we are back to contenders…
however, don’t get me wrong – these next 2 weeks are a very tall order…
-win both and we’re chillin’
-split and we are navigating through rough waters…
-lose both and sh!t is hitting da fan…..splat!
October 31st, 2024 at 11:01 am
Tom Brady throws three picks in the NFC championship game. The Bucs won. How? Points.
The Bucs were tied for third-most takeaways in 2012. The Bucs won four games. Why? Not enough points.
It is always about points. You can’t win a game if you don’t finish the game with more points than your opponent, not even if you have six takeaways.
It is, always has been, always will be about points.
October 31st, 2024 at 11:17 am
I was watching Bradwell a lot last Sunday, I can’t say it was every play in the game but every play I watched him he was getting man handled. Maybe with an off season he could get stronger but right now he’s flat out overmatched by every o lineman in the league. But hey, Bucky and Tykee are ballers and nobody hits on all their picks so it is what it is.
October 31st, 2024 at 11:17 am
adam from ny Says:
if we won last sunday’s game everything would be fine…we’d be 5-3 and the birds would be 4-4…however that’s not the case…
there’s a tipping point with the one lousy game, last sunday…
that is reality…
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That’s 100% true.
And it sucks when the officials give a touchdown to the Falcons when it’s not a TD.
The BUCS defense played shockingly horribly and some say the Bucs didn’t deserve to win. But I disagree. Winfield made a great play that could have turned the game around as he did on a couple occasions last season. The Falcons didn’t deserve to get 7 points.
October 31st, 2024 at 11:46 am
Keep blaming coach
He not going anywhere
Tell Baker not to force ball
7 int in last 3 games
Coach did not turn ball over 3 times Sunday
October 31st, 2024 at 11:49 am
Joe is good with turnovers now?
Points ? We had to red zone turnovers that’s minimal 6 pts
The arguments here are laughable
You all probably want Dungy to coach again
October 31st, 2024 at 11:51 am
The Bucs have the offensive fire power to make a run for the NFC championship game, but their defense is atrocious, and it does not appear there is any urgency to make any changes. I know Bowles has suggested some changes may happen soon, but they need personnel, which is why the lack of action on the trade market has been surprising. I’ve heard there are rumblings in SF about Bosa’s politics. I’d love to have him on the team regardless of his political views. I don’t care if he’ rocking a Che Guevara t-shirt of a black MAGA hat, if he can get sacks, he has my vote.
October 31st, 2024 at 12:02 pm
Historically great O + Historically bad D = no where
October 31st, 2024 at 12:02 pm
“We can’t turn it over…we’re doing great things on offense, if we can cut that part of it out we’ll be outstanding” – Bowles
October 31st, 2024 at 12:09 pm
The Packers also had 2 turnovers in the NFC Championship game – Bucs had 5 sacks in that game.
If you don’t have the Defense to stop the opponent, you better not make turnovers.
October 31st, 2024 at 12:25 pm
Barring a win vs KC, and a huge improvement from the defense, Bowles should be shipped out… enough… lack of improvement by D, lack of adjustments by D, lack of “communication “ by D… offense is wasting away…please make a smash move to right this mess….
October 31st, 2024 at 12:33 pm
Thanks for the insight, Ira. I am so tired of people who want to promote Liam to HC after looking like we finally got a decent OC.
Thanks to Todd for hiring him. I am so sick of these negative nellies who put down the Glazers who do so much for the community and players. SO much better than our last owner! I am really upset with all of these armchair HCs and couch potato GMs who post so much “intelligence” on here that I can barely read the comments anymore.
We lost to Atlanta, made a few mistakes (like every team does) but that was a great, exciting game and we fought until the end.
October 31st, 2024 at 1:50 pm
Joe says:
Tom Brady throws three picks in the NFC championship game. The Bucs won. How? Points.
The Bucs were tied for third-most takeaways in 2012. The Bucs won four games. Why? Not enough points.
It is always about points. You can’t win a game if you don’t finish the game with more points than your opponent, not even if you have six takeaways.
It is, always has been, always will be about points.
Yes it does come down to points and turn the ball 2 times more than the opponent as in the NFC Championship you will finish with ‘less points’ than the opponent 76% of the time. Brady defied odds time and again and a 24% chance and the Ball in His hands I would take anytime. 2020 defense secured the win with a goal line stand led by Devin White.
Now maybe Joe believes Mayfield is as good Brady because of yards and points but between the ears is not even a close race.
Shouldn’t have to fact check a Joe:
2012 takeaways was 26 tied with Saints. Six teams with more and Bucs were 5th as far as quantity but actually tied for 7th as 4th 5th and 6th would have went to the 3 tied at 31.
Season Differential was + 3 so Bucs turned it over 23 times in 2012
Close game losses within one score with a positive or negative of one TO either way came down to opposing QB’s like Ryan, Brees, Manning, and even Romo.
In 2012
Bucs blew out Vikings Bucs +3 TO
Saints blew out Bucs Bucs -5 TO
Rams blew out Bucs Bucs -3 TO
You can add up all the points you want but if Boy Wonder turns it over twice and RB looses a fumble against KC it’s 12% Bucs get to 5 and 4 if Maholmes has a Player of the Week performance like Cousins Week 8. Only hope would be Mayfield has a Brady moment or Maholmes has a really off night. Both of those equally unlikely.
October 31st, 2024 at 2:47 pm
Love how people want to trash the GM for the top 2 WR going down with injuries, that is a killer for ANY team smh
October 31st, 2024 at 3:32 pm
Licht is not the problem – when it comes to drafting the HC has incredible influence over who gets picked and then who stays on the team.
Bowles hand is in all of this: picking the player then failing to coach him up.
The failure here is Todd Bowles and his record illustrates his years of ineptitude.
October 31st, 2024 at 4:05 pm
I love the guy whose line “nothing behind your two star receivers!!!” Most te as Most teams don’t have to highly paid star receivers.
Anyway, Bruce chose Gus successor, it just turned out to be Liam Coen.
October 31st, 2024 at 4:20 pm
Joe … ‘It is, always has been, always will be about points’.
It is soooo good to see someone, anyone, admit that. Yardage gained and yardage allowed doesn’t mean diddly-squat. It’s about POINTS SCORED and POINTS ALLOWED, that is all.
October 31st, 2024 at 4:22 pm
Really getting tired of the “It’s Lichts fault for drafting the edge rusher that suck” gimmick! He drafts talented ER that Bowles sends into coverage repeatedly! You can’t rush the edge if you’re in coverage! It’s really not that hard to see that…
October 31st, 2024 at 4:55 pm
Davenport … ‘Bowles hand is in all of this: picking the player then failing to coach him up.’
Funderburk … Undrafted rookie started at Outside CB Sunday. Izien … Undrafted 2nd player year started at Nickel Sunday. Just out of curiosity Davenport, IF you were the Bucs’ DC, would you have started either of those 2 Undrafted guys Sunday? Would you have started 5th Rnd pick Britt Sunday? Or rookie Braswell Sunday?
Bowles is playing the hand he was dealt. This isn’t sandlot football. You need Clydesdales to pull the wagon, not ponies. Bucs have a lot more Clydesdales on offense than we do on defense.
October 31st, 2024 at 7:46 pm
Have 2 agree with first name greatest avout uf u fhunk offense is as much 2 blame as defense n bowles, U r watching wrong game!!!!!!!!!
Also agree licht is a big orobkem 4 bowles n bucs since he refuses 2 go out n add talent offensively n edge rusgers n ilb etc, we Could b as smart as, oh, chiefz, ravens, falcons, etc etc
Alsk, yeah, the gkazers Do seem 2 act Above fans
October 31st, 2024 at 9:43 pm
Watch it click for us and we go out and shock the league by upsetting the chiefs and niners b2b