Tuesday, 4 am.
5 Thoughts
- So, we're nine games into the season, and I get the feeling half of the fan base is still waiting to see Kyle Trask warm up.
2. Just wondering . How deep into the season do you have to be before a defensive linean can line up insides?
3. In their four wins, the Bucs have faced three mediocre quarterbacks (plus Kurt Cousins). It's easy to figure it out.
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4. It's good that Rachaad White is playing better. He's up to a tie for 140th in average yards per rush.
5. I say we give Tristan Wirfs a few carries. Just to see what happens.
5 Comments
(From Todd Bowles' day-after press conference)
(On the team’s consistent pressure on Sunday) : “It’s about winning first down. Against those guys, they’re very tough on first and second down – keeping it third and manageable. Getting [Derrick] Henry going on first down makes it trouble the rest of the game. We got a few TFLs (tackles for loss) in there early [and] got them in some long-yard situations where we could pin our ears back a little bit. The guys got going early. We worked at it all week; we’re going to continue to work at it. They got us going early and just kept it up throughout the game.”
(On if this season feels similar to last season at all, considering the team has the same record through the first nine games and went on to win the division) : “It’s the same, but it’s different. We feel different because we’re a different team. Obviously, the record and everything is the same, but we feel like we’ll be in it right to the very end. We just have to take care of our business and get on a streak. Like you said, November and December football are very important. This is the third quarter for us – if we can do well in the third quarter and set up the fourth quarter, we feel like we can bring it home.”
(On what was going through his mind when LT Tristan Wirfs picked up the fumble and started running): “I was initially thinking, ‘What kind of touchdown dance is he going to do?’ After that, it was ‘Just make sure he holds onto the football.’
(On P Jake Camarda’s performance on Sunday): “The ones he shanked were really the pooch ones. He wasn’t trying to boom them. We were trying to get them inside the 20[-yard line] and they kind of went off the side of the foot – those knuckleball ones went kind of [poorly]. But we have full confidence in Jake and he’ll bounce back.”
(On CB Jamel Dean’s performance): “He did a heck of a job. [DeAndre] Hopkins has been playing better than anybody in the league. To hold him to 27 yards between him and Zyon [McCollum] was outstanding. They don’t get the credit because the balls weren’t thrown, but they did a heck of a job locking in.
Game Balls
Offense: It's always hard to see Mike Evans drop a pass, especially one that would have been a touchdown. But Evans bounced back.
Defense: Antonio Winfield led thet team with six tackles and had an interception. He even held onto it.
Special teams: Chase McLaughlin kicked both of his field goals.
Grades
Quarterback: Mayfield isn't a franchise guy, but he's played as well as can be expected. Grade: B+.
Running back: Rachaad White had a big catch, but he still can't get going as a runner. Grade: C.
Wide receivers: Mike Evans and Chris Godwin had 10 catches for 197 yards combined. Grade: B.
Offensive line: The Bucs can still run in a phone booth. Grade: D.
Defensive line: Vita Vea was a monster. The Bucs gave up 42 yards rushing. There was constant pressure on Will Levis. Grade: B.
Linebackers; Lavonte David and Devin White combined for just nine tackles . Credit the better play in ffront of them. Grade: B.
Defensive backs: The Bucs started slowly but they played one of their better games. Grade: A-.
Power Rankings
- Philadelphia
2. Kansas City
3. Detroit
4. San Francisco
5. Baltimore
16. Tampa Bay
Bottom 5
32. Carolina
31. N.Y Giants
30. Arizona
29.New England
28. Tennessee