Injuries Finally Caught Up With Receivers
November 11th, 2024
Really missed on Sunday.
Joe typed this moments after the Baltimore debacle when the Bucs lost future Hall of Famer Mike Evans and Pro Bowl receiver Chris Godwin, who appeared to be having a career year.
Joe couldn’t think of a team losing two guys like that, one for the season, and bouncing back.
(Now, maybe throw in an All-Pro tackle and that just about seals the doom for the offense for 2024.)
For the first two games, against the Dixie Chicks and the Chiefs since, Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen found ways to get the most out of what he had at receiver. But Joe figured it was only a matter of time before a team decided to take full advantage of the Bucs leaning on backup receivers.
That day was yesterday.
How will did the 49ers shut down Bucs receivers, consider that Baker Mayfield threw 29 passes. Only 11 were targeted to receivers and of those 11, only 4 were receptions by wide receivers.
Mayfield spoke about this yesterday after the game.
“We are going to have to go back and look at the tape just to see if the footwork and the depth of the route timed up,” Mayfield said. “But, a lot of that is just trust and timing.”
In theory, you’d expect the trust and timing to be better than it was three weeks ago because Mayfield has had three games to develop a greater rapport with these guys.
(Sterling Shepard and Mayfield go back to their Oklahoma days so Joe isn’t sure how foreign each of them are to each other.)
But this is what happens when one position is just decimated by injuries — injuries to some of the better players in the game.
Yesterday, that receiver void stuck out like a sore thumb.
November 11th, 2024 at 4:20 am
Todd pushed an already losing game too much with Godwin…knowing we had 3 huge games coming up….shouldve reeled it in. Its time to go Todd!
November 11th, 2024 at 4:55 am
Yesterday I saw a Bucs team playing their heart and souls out. Baker is right, “Trust and Timing.” Agree, Sterling and Baker have a past and present together. Major injuries plus two hurricanes with aftermaths have been factors too. The heat and sun aren’t our home advantage anymore either. Other teams seem to adjust to it.
Todd isn’t the only one to blame on the game either. There were other errors. We had this game won even with McCaffrey back. No Bucky in the end, no Tucker… I also think the 49ers did play dirty ball. And were called on some penalties, but not all. Their own players were fighting on the sideline. Not a good look at all.
November 11th, 2024 at 4:56 am
very true Joe…. but to put all the blame on todd bowles and fire him now is a knee jerk reaction- is it todd’s fault they got injured? maybe… chris was out for the season a couple years ago also, he could have been the difference in the 4th qt yesterday but the schedule has been brutal for the bucs… we’ve played 3 super bowl contenders in a month, our schedule is worse than any one in the league, even the chefs. we competed in all of those games except Baltimore really.. at least 2 of these teams are likely to be in the SB this year. The year has played out exactly as all the experts said it would with Atlanta out front. Our defense is just bad and not talented. We are missing the leaders we had on defense for both of our SB’s. There is no Sapp Brooks Barber or Lynch. Who’s fault is that? The D has to be revamped for next year and we need more depth. This season sucks and the worst is to have every weekend ruined by the Bucs…
November 11th, 2024 at 5:16 am
Joe … ‘This is what happens when one position isn’t just decimated by injuries, but injuries to some of the better players in the game. Yesterday, that void at receiver stuck out like a sore thumb’.
Injuries have hampered this team all season, on offense AND defense. Yes the Bucs were without Evans, Godwin & McMillan yesterday, but we were also without Wirfs (for the most part) and both Mayfield & Irving are hampered by bad toes. And yet they scored 20 points & had a great chance to win it in the late 4th qtr when we had 1st & goal at the SF 8-yard line with less than 1 minute to play. We had our chance to win it offensively, but had to settle for a FG to tie it. Less than stellar play-calling & execution on that series. Bummer.
Being without CB Dean and being void of real talent at MLB has hurt us defensively, but watching the DLine play yesterday was painful. Guys aren’t winning their 1-on-1’s & are leaving huge gaps at times & doing terrible at contain. We sold-out a bunch to stop the run, and that ate us alive in the short passing game. Bad tackling continues to be a major problem IMO, but I think that has a lot to do with guys getting blocked out of position & having to take bad angles (as well as lack of speed/talent). This defense needs a major infusion of talent.
I’ll say it again though: I wish that Todd Bowles would turn the DC responsibility over to George Edwards & let him run the defense as he sees fit. He’s the best qualified of all the defensive assistants & has a great background. MAYBE he can come up with a different approach to use the talent (I use the term loosely) that this defense has been stocked with.
November 11th, 2024 at 5:56 am
Defense Rules I agree with you. Tackling stood out to me as a liability while watching the game. But after a good sleep and some reflection- we knew a touchdown wins the game on first and goal at the eight yard line. A field goal only extends our misery. What the hel, 3 timeouts and we don’t call one to take a deep breath and get on the same page? I believe of all the mistakes we made that was the blunder that cost us the game.
November 11th, 2024 at 6:22 am
Would have been nice to have Mcmillan Bell on the field yesterday
November 11th, 2024 at 6:24 am
I had said go get Mike Williams for cheap,,, he only caught the Game winning TD for Pitt ,,, we will have that timing down in Mid Dec,
November 11th, 2024 at 6:26 am
DR – You are right on so much in your comment. Now we may be without Wirfs for weeks and will know more after his MRI. The hits keep coming.
Unsure if Todd would give up the DC responsibilities unless he is forced to. I thought Saleh may be good to come in as a consultant too. But really don’t think any of that will happen.
November 11th, 2024 at 6:30 am
Hmmmm….I was thinking that our new WR coach from the Georgia Bulldogs was not earning his keep with coaching up the receivers not named Evans or Goodwin.
But what do I know.
November 11th, 2024 at 6:49 am
heyjude … ‘Unsure if Todd would give up the DC responsibilities unless he is forced to. I thought Saleh may be good to come in as a consultant too.’
Bringing in a defensive coach from outside mid-season to replace Bowles I doubt would work. Selah’s Jets ran a 4-3 scheme and for him to make that work here not knowing the players’ strengths & weaknesses would be a lot to ask. George Edwards also has an excellent 4-3 background, knows the players, and MIGHT be able to get better performance out of this particular group of defensive guys.
And if using a 4-3 more shows any promise, that’d give us a better idea of which way to go in next year’s draft (I’m convinced we’ll be going heavy defense next Spring in both free agency and the draft).
November 11th, 2024 at 6:54 am
You can grab a top 10 cfl receiver for almost nothing after this Sundays Grey Cup.
November 11th, 2024 at 6:54 am
Bucs probably have to win 6 out of 7 down the stretch to get in. Most would say good luck , however there are some positives working in their favor.
1.The Bye week-Bucs need the time off to heal-mental and physical.
2. Schedule gets much easier
3. Evans will get back at some point.
4. Falcons could fold-showing signs.
5. NFC not strong-Maybe even 9-8 gets in.
6. Coen gets 2 weeks to game plan.
7. Bucs have a history of getting hot at the latter stages of the season.
I am not worried yet , Bucs still have some gas in the tank.
November 11th, 2024 at 6:55 am
Can they at least try a play action with a go route to Palmer? The threat of it should keep the intermediate routes a little more open
November 11th, 2024 at 6:58 am
Debo Williams….sc
November 11th, 2024 at 7:05 am
DR – “I’m convinced we’ll be going heavy defense next Spring in both free agency and the draft.” Hope you are right!
November 11th, 2024 at 7:28 am
Had it been anyone but Bosa having hold of Mayfield’s arm chances are he would have been lost too.
Had Bosa simply dropped to the ground Mayfield would have followed or at least his arm would have. Doubt anyone on the Saints would have extended the courtesy.
When all a team has to do is get some pressure and defend the first 10 yards down field and dunk on Mayfeld’d dink’s you end up with 116 yards passing.
Special Teams tried to give the Bucs the and good teams take advantage of it.
Upside is ATL lost and Bucs are still just 2 games back and have a shot at the only Playoff Spot going to the NFCS.
As it stands right now I am not confident that the race right now is for the NFCS Title. Today the Bucs are only one game in front of the Panthers and Saints for 2nd.
November 11th, 2024 at 8:30 am
You could have all our wide receivers back but it won’t make a difference if the offensive line doesn’t give Mayfield more than 2 seconds to throw.
November 11th, 2024 at 8:56 am
Whoever is responsible for the personnel decision to keep Tucker on the bench the entire game is responsible for this loss. 💯
Any game that Tucker gets less than 10 touches, we deserve to lose the hand based on sheer stupidity alone.
Any game he gets ZERO touches is an automatic loss in my mind.
Stupid coaches, stupid personnel decisions.
November 11th, 2024 at 9:15 am
We don’t have any receiver strong or physical enough to outmuscle anyone right now.
November 11th, 2024 at 10:12 am
When you only have 2 seconds to get ride of the ball you aren’t going to take a lot of deep shots down the field and what does it matter if you do if the refs are going to let the DB’s maul the WR’s before it gets there.
November 11th, 2024 at 10:14 am
The only reason they threw all those flags on the final drive was the 49ers were literally ripping the helmets off of Bucs players and it was so apparent the refs couldn’t ignore it or DraftKings would put in a protest with the commissioner.
November 11th, 2024 at 12:35 pm
Hey @Joe why isn’t Jason Licht receiving more blame, the roster he has put together sucks. It’s not all Bowles fault.
November 11th, 2024 at 1:00 pm
Well, he also picked the players on offense. Liam Coen and his crew aren’t the problem.
As for the defense, Joe will just say this: when has Todd Bowles ever developed an edge rusher? Go back through his days in Arizona, the Jets and here. Name one edge rusher he has developed. Then look how awful this defense is playing.
Joe tends to believe the defensive coaching staff isn’t developing/using these guys right.
Now if you want to talk not going out and getting a replacement for Chris Godwin or SirVocea Dennis, that’s very fair. And Joe thinks he’s been fairly critical of the Bucs’ indifference to improving their roster like other good teams/contenders did before the trade deadline.
Besides, Licht built a Super Bowl-winning roster and recruited a Super Bowl-winning coach. For that, Joe gives the man a lot of street cred.
November 11th, 2024 at 4:24 pm
BucsFan: 100% on the money correct.
We have a bye.
Evans coming back.
2 weeks to game plan.
7 winnable games coming up.
WE CAN DO THIS.
This team is really close.
The salary cap situation is far better next year, after 2 really bad Post- Brady cap deficits.
We are only 4 players away from being a Top 5 team.
We’re very, very close.
I love this team. Coaches included.
November 11th, 2024 at 6:04 pm
Only perspective I’d like to add, Shep and Bake haven’t played together in like 8 years.