Are The Bucs “Mentally Tough?”
November 4th, 2024
So the Bucs head to face the undefeated but vulnerable Super Bowl champs tonight in what Tampa Bay players should feel is a must-win, break-our-losing streak matchup.
Joe tuned into Gruden Loves Football to hear what the Super Bowl-winning coach and ousted Buccaneers Ring of Honor member had to say about the game in rainy Kansas City.
Gruden did a long breakdown but Joe kept coming back to something Gruden said with authority that the Bucs are “mentally tough” under Todd Bowles.
Are they?
Joe thinks so, but Joe can’t pronounce with the authority Gruden did and Chucky’s comment made Joe take pause. Joe thought about takes this season from Bucs players about needing to get more focused, and the whole dinner thing as it relates to the Bucs defense feeling disconnected from each other.
On the flip side, Joe sees Baker Mayfield as a mentally tough quarterback and the offense showed a ton of toughness producing without Chris Godwin and Mike Evans last week.
Again, Joe thinks the Bucs are a resilient and tough group, but that will be put to the test tonight. The Chiefs haven’t put up 30 points all season and they’ve had a bunch on injuries.
If the Bucs defense is mentally tough, from coaches on down the roster, they won’t embarrass Bucs fans by what some could say is the fifth consecutive week of horror-show defense.
November 4th, 2024 at 11:20 am
Run the ball
Baker please no turnovers and stop trying for the big play take a check down
November 4th, 2024 at 11:32 am
Chiefs are -9.5 to win the game. It’s going to take divine intervention for the Bucs to win.
I haven’t seen any terrestrial lights in the sky shining down on the Bucs. I would say it’s a safe bet to say that the Bucs will lose.
Whether it’s by a score or a point there are no moral victories.
November 4th, 2024 at 11:37 am
resilient? yes. mentally tough? no!
If they were mentally tough, they wouldn’t play like crap after a big win or good start to the season. If they were mentally tough, Evans going down with a hammy wouldn’t have derailed a game or the season like it did.
November 4th, 2024 at 12:04 pm
No, not especially. When the going gets tough, Bucs fold more often than not. The defense seems to get exponentially worse after they get scored on. We see very few clutch drives in the 4th Q when we’re down. (We mainly put up points in the 4th when we’re down big and the game’s already out of reach.)
November 4th, 2024 at 12:12 pm
Mental toughness starts at the top and Bowles does nothing to inspire this team. He’s soft with his players and coaches and it shows up with the up and down performance of the team. No accountability for himself, his players, his coaches. He needs to listen and watch Dan Campbell.
November 4th, 2024 at 12:14 pm
Mentally tough defense? Not a chance. Mentally tough defenses consistently rise to the occasion and make BIG PLAYS when they’re needed. Bucs’ defense has been consistently GIVING UP BIG PLAYS instead of making them.
What makes matters worse is that this defense is constantly dinged up. Guys are either missing games or they’re playing at less than 100% … in some cases much less than 100%. This defense is not good at playing smashmouth football with the big dogs.
Of course, it’d help if the Bucs’ offense would stop treating the football like it has ebola. NINE turnovers in the last 4 games hasn’t helped the Bucs’ defense one bit.
November 4th, 2024 at 12:16 pm
So true, in clutch situations none of the Buc players have stopped an important third down defensive stops and vs Atlanta Bucs had plays to win either game and failed to come up with them.
Watching some of yesterday highlights you see receivers making contested one hand catches while treading the end zone boundaries and getting both feet down. Why is it no Buc players except Otton can make a big play when we need it.
I also see coaches like Campbell and Morris not even considering punting or field goals once they cross midfield and have a 4th down. Our guy will always kick the field goal or punt. Get with the modern game, the stats show using all 4 downs are favorable in short yardage situations on the other teams side of the field.
KC is the Bucs last stand if they want to be in a position to compete for a playoff spot later.
November 4th, 2024 at 12:29 pm
Mentally , No !! Whitehead hasn’t been the boost the D needed . The
Biggest problem is outside of V Vea the defense may be the the most un physically tough defense in the league . …….. But the d s got a little talent and playmakers, and if they can play with the lead, they can make some plays , but if the other team gets ahead and starts grinding on them, they fold like a flower In the heat without water…….. Very, very un physical defense……… Opposing O lines when dealing with the linebackers or ends, have to think it’s a vacation.
November 4th, 2024 at 12:33 pm
Toughness requires discipline. I don’t remember seeing a lot of that with guys not in position and over- running plays. It also requires playing smart. I’m quite sure I haven’t seen a lot of that. Not sure what team Gruden is watching.
November 4th, 2024 at 12:52 pm
Peter Says:
November 4th, 2024 at 11:20 am
Run the ball
Baker please no turnovers and stop trying for the big play take a check down
……
LOL…. haven’t you been watching….that is all they do is check down. They need to stretch the field.
November 4th, 2024 at 12:55 pm
As far as Baker goes, you’re confusing cocky and arrogant with mental toughness. Mental toughness does not include choking away a playoff game or making the same mistake 7 times in the past two games. Mental toughness is also a reflection on the coach. Arians was definitely mentally tough, as was McKay. Bowles is definitely not.
November 4th, 2024 at 12:58 pm
I think we saw a mentally tough vibe in the beginning of the season and throughout until some dynamics changed. Injuries, bad calls, missing calls by the refs, starters out, two hurricanes, and other things that we may not even know about. I think the way that Godwin went out was a big hit on the players along with Mike’s hamstring earlier in that game. We all felt shook up over it. Players go through hardships like the rest of us and they mostly seem to be toughing it all out. Like Joe said, they are showing us resiliency. And no, we don’t want to see a horror movie. Halloween is over. Hoping tonight for a win. Go Bucs!
November 4th, 2024 at 1:45 pm
Mentally tough? I just want execution and production, start with that please. Go bucs!!
November 4th, 2024 at 2:17 pm
No.
No they are not mentally tough.
November 4th, 2024 at 2:19 pm
Yes we are….we got this… f u todd….we’ll do it on our own….watch us win tonight as long as the refs mind their business!!
November 4th, 2024 at 2:23 pm
As long as Todd Blows is in charge they won’t win against well coached teams
November 4th, 2024 at 2:34 pm
Unless Bucs can get a few turnovers early, it will be a long evening with Bucs offensive defense.
November 4th, 2024 at 2:45 pm
Mayfield is decidedly NOT mentally tough if a good second quarter lead induces him to get lazy and throw boneheaded picks.
November 4th, 2024 at 3:01 pm
The defense emulates their Lovie2
Soft as feather pillow
November 4th, 2024 at 4:39 pm
Mentally tough teams/players don’t come out flat for games. The Bucs have done that at least 2 games a year since bowles was anointed HC. You can just feel it from the first quarter. It’s like they got told spur of the moment they had a ballgame in a few hours and had to get off the sofa, put down their beer, and begrudgingly go play.
Mentally tough teams/players find a way to excel at SOMETHING. Name one single thing this defense excels at. Don’t strain yourselves, it’s a trick question, there is none. Not pass D, run D, yards, points, covering the middle, covering the outside, short plays, long plays, sacks, pressures, tackling, turnovers, passes defensed. Am I missing anything? If I am, I’m sure the Bucs aren’t good at that either. Outside of a very few select guys (Zyon is one), this defense plays with NO HEART. Whitehead is lucky our DB room is so injured & young, otherwise I’d have him riding pine with his effort lately. I’ve even seen some slippage from studs like AWJ. And I think the reason is because they know they’re not being set up to be successful.
If you ask me, bowles is responsible for many of these traits. I don’t think he is mentally tough or agile, and I don’t think he holds coaches or players accountable. Somebody pointed out in an earlier post that the former OLine coaches weren’t getting results, yet they were offered contract extensions. Makes no sense. A fish rots from the head & a team takes on the mentality of its coach. That being said, #FIREbowles
November 4th, 2024 at 4:51 pm
They’d be a bit more mentally tough if Bucco Bruce was in charge.
November 4th, 2024 at 4:54 pm
You so called fans are trash.
Bucs with injuries beat 4 playoff teams and lost 4 games to playoff teams.. toughest schedule by far in the NFL..
Wish we could fire the fans
November 4th, 2024 at 5:47 pm
Have you not watched them enough to already no this answer?
Of course they’re not mentally tough. How is this even a question?
November 4th, 2024 at 7:40 pm
You’ve got the mental part right.