Tuesday, 4 a.m.
5 Thoughts
- Until Sunday, I would have fought you if you suggested that anyone other than John Lynch was the best safety the Bucs ever had. Antoine Winfield is making me reconsider that, however.
2. So Derek Carr is making, what, 10 times what Baker Mayfield is making? Mayfield is the early front-runner for Comeback Player of the Year and Biggest Bargain.
3. Should we put Cam Jordan's face on a milk carton? Has anyone seen him lately?
4. I don't care what the depth chart says. Chris Godwin is a No. 1 receiver.
5. Alvin Kamara gained 84 yards on Sunday, catching and receiving. But it took. him 24 touches to get it. That's about 10 feet a touch for his two dozen plays. A team can live with that.
5 Comments
(From Todd Bowles' day-after press conference)
(On the play of tackle Luke Goedeke): “Luke has played well the last four games, it wasn’t just this game. ‘Cam’ is a great player, obviously. Luke is a lot more comfortable at right tackle. He’s at home now, he understands it, he loves the scheme, [and] he works [as] hard as anybody. He and Tristan [Wirfs] worked out together all summer. He’s holding his own, he’s playing well, you don’t notice him because he’s not giving up many plays, and he’s doing a heck of a job for us.”
(On the array of different plays by Offensive Coordinator Dave Canales): “I love it. It’s important to keep teams off balance when you have them on the run. You don’t want to do the same things over and over again. It keeps everyone interested, [and] everybody can touch the ball on offense. Makes everybody want to play harder, play faster, and it’s motivational. He did a heck of a job calling it.”
(On how much fun the team is having being 3-1): “It hasn’t changed. We were having fun in the beginning. Again, we write our own narrative. It doesn’t make us any difference whether they say we are good or bad. We write our own narrative, [and] we create our own narrative. Everybody loves each other in this building. We play for each other, we coach for each other, and we’re having fun with it.”
(On QB Baker Mayfield’s toughness and durability): “Baker’s tough. I say it up here all the time. You don’t want him taking too many of those, but he’s tough, he’s gritty, [and] he’s a very smart football player. He’s a competitor, he’s been like that his whole life, it hasn’t changed. He has a lot to prove, he’s having fun out there, he understands the offense, he’s using every piece of [weaponry] that we give him, and he’s having a good time.”
(On how it helped keeping New Orleans Saints’ RB Alvin Kamara under control): “It helped out a lot. He’s a dangerous back, and with [Derek] Carr being a little banged up, we figured they’d try to get the ball out a little quicker. He caught a lot of balls, but to limit the YAC yards was important for us.”
Gameballs
Offense: This game was Baker Mayfield's, more for his grit than his arm.
Defense: Winfield is on his way to a second Pro Bowl season.
Special teams. Jake Camarda had a 63-yarder and averaged 47.5
Grades
Quarterback: Mayfield's interception was a sad throw, but it was his only one. Grade: A-.
Running back: He had just 56 yards, but Rachaad White ran hard. Grade: B.
Offensive line: The Bucs have given up only four sacks in four weeks. Grade: B.
Wide receiver: The Bucs didn't miss a beat when Mike Evans was hurt. Grade: B+.
Kickers: Chase McLaughlin was money. But the punt coverage team needs work. Grade: B.
5 Players Not to Give Up On
- Zyon McCollum.
2. Luke Goedeke.
3. Rachaad White.
4. Calijah Kancey.
5. Dee Delaney.
Power Rankings
- San Francisco
2. Philadelphia
3. Kansas City
4. Dallas.
5. Buffalo
8. Tampa Bay.
Bottom 5
32. Chicago.
31. Carolina.
30. Denver
29. N.Y. Jets
28. Las Vegas
NFL Stats
Quarterback Rating Baker Mayfield (101.5) 13
Rushing Yards Rachaad White (202) 22
Receiving Yards Mike Evans (337) 29
Tackles Antoine Winfield (31) 31
Punting Jake Camarda (52.2) 2
5 NFL Thoughts
- Exactly how much are the Broncos paying Sean Payton again? And why?
2. Nothing against Travis Kelce, but if I'm Taylor Swift, I want a boyfriend who can show me better games than against the Bears and the Jets.
3. How do you think Matt Rhule justifies just how little he got out of Baker Mayfield?
4.I'll say this for the Bucs. They're pretty bad at this tanking business.
5. Funny to see America comes to the realization that Belichick without Brady is like Garfunkel without Simon.