Tuesday, 4 a.m.
5 Thoughts
- I'm not saying that the Bucs' cornerbacks are weak, but the team has the only injury tent in the NFL with a burn unit.
2. I think Baker Mayfield gives it all he has. I just don't think he has enough.
3. I know that a lot of people think Kyle Trask is a star waiting to happen. My question is whether he can play defensive end.
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4. Think of the season as a positive. Right now, the Bucs are keeping Atlanta from crushing Carolina in the standings.
5. The good news is that the Bucs are unlikely to have another game flexed. Unless they're moved to go with the rest of the Saturday morning cartoons.
5 Comments
(From Todd Bowles' Day-After Press Conference)
(On the inability to stop C.J. Stroud): “We didn’t play well – it’s really that simple. We didn’t play well. We’ve got to play it better, [and] we’ve got to coach it better.”
(On why the defense is struggling over the last four weeks after being a main reason for the team’s 3-1 start):“Nothing specifically. This game in particular, it really fell apart. The other games we were in, we had a shot to win, and holding it down pretty [well]. This game right here, especially in the second half, I think once the first play happened – the big play in the second half to Noah [Brown], I think – I think it kind of derailed a little bit… Then, calls we have been running since we’ve been here, everybody knows them, we’ve been through the situations a thousand times…We’ve got to coach it better, evidently, and we’ve got to play it better.”
(On why the defense is playing so much zone coverage): “The last series, you’re going to play zone when the game is on the line, so the clock can run out. You’re not going to sit there and play man to give them a chance to throw a fade. We played man within that game and we got beat at man coverage too, so right now we get beat at both. It really doesn’t matter which one we’re playing, we just have to coach it and play it better.”
(On the touchdown by the Houston Texans at the end of the game): “We were in [cover] two, and we were in quarters [coverage]. We were in [cover] two most of the way, and we were in quarters [coverage] down at the red zone. [It was] something we’ve done every day, a route we’ve seen every time, [and] we just didn’t make the play.”
(On the reason for communication problems on the field): “It’s really not all communication, some people are just busting, and it’s just as simple as that. We’re saying communication, and we’re putting a bow on it, but certain people [have] to play better. It’s really that simple. It’s not even really a communication issue for the most part, and it wasn’t yesterday. We just [have] to play better. We can say it’s communication all we want [but] some things don’t even require communication, it requires playing better. [It is] things they’ve done a million times, and they’ve just got to do it.”
Game Balls
Offense: Baker Mayfield gave the Bucs the lead on his last possession. Often, that's enough.
Defense: He's surrounded by inability but Lavonte David continues to be a treasure in the trash.
Special teams.Chase McLaughlin was perfect, including a 55-yarder.
Grades
Quarterback: Baker Mayfield is a pretty good quarterback who had a pretty good day. But at quarterback, "pretty good" doesn't cut it. Grade: B-.
Running back: Rachaad White had a good day, nut handing the ball to anyone else was a wste of time. Grade: B.
Offensive line: The Bucs are still heading uphill. Grade: C.
Wide receiver: Great players, but only good impact. Grade: D.
Defensive line: Ever heard of a pass rush? Grade: C.
Linebackers: David and Devin White had 20 tackles between them. Grade: B+.
Secondary: How did C.J. Stroud keep from laughing? Grade. F-.
5 Worst Players
- Carlton Davis III.
2. Ke’Shawn Vaughn.
3. Joe Tryon-Shoyinka.
4. Chase Edmonds
5. Ryan Neal.
Power Rankings
- Kansas City.
2, Philadelphia.
3. Baltimore.
4 Detroit.
5. Dallas.
Bottom 5
32. Arizona.
31. Carolina.
30. N.Y. Giants.
29. Chicago.
28. Tampa Bay.
NFL Stats
Passing Yards Baker Mayfield 16
Rushing Yards Rachaad White 27
Receiving Yards Mike Evans 25
Tackles Lavonte David 11
Punting Jake Camarda 1
5 More Thoughts
- If Burt Reynolds were still alive, he could do a sequel: "The 75 Shortest Yards:
2. Here's a dilemma. If the Bucs were to replace Todd Bowles, who gets the job? Isn't that a problem?
3. He's been gone a long time, but I still think Jason Pierre-Paul would be the Bucs' best pass rusher. Aside from Simeon Rice, of course.
5. So in the second half of the season, who exactly would the Bucs be favored over?
4. If I owned the Carolina Panthers, I'd fire someone for missing on C.J. Stroud.