Tuesday, 4 a.m.
5 Thoughts
1. So far, Liam Coen is off to a solid start as the Bucs’ offensive coordinator. But he’d be gangbusters if he got to compete against the Bucs’ defense.
2. Everyone seems to agree that Kyle Pitts fumbled away a touchdown Sunday. In a world of instant replay and challenges, why in the world couldn’t the official's get it right?
3. Baker Mayfield isn’t always perfect. But if Kyle Trask ever takes over for him, it means the other team has scored about 40.
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4. Cade Otton isn’t one of the best tight ends in the league. But he’ll do.
5. Can the Bucs at least rent a pass rush?
5 Comments
(From Todd Bowles’ Tuesday press conference(
(On specifically what’s not happening on defense and if he would consider another defensive play caller other than himself): “What’s not happening is we have about four or five plays a game where we either miss a tackle or we’re not dropping where we’re supposed to and we give up a big play. I’ll continue to call plays.”
(On how he plans to change things if the personnel and play calling stays the same): “We look at personnel changes every week and see what’s best for us. Sometimes we can’t do anything but we’re doing everything this week to try to put the guys out on the field that will hopefully help us get better and kind of go from there. If we don’t have them, we don’t have them, but if we have them on the team, we’ll definitely try to put them in there.”
(On why he hasn’t tried another inside linebacker on passing downs): “There’s probably only one [player] that can do it and he has to get caught up to speed. At the time, he wasn’t caught up to speed. Everybody else was more of a MIKE linebacker or pretty much the same from an athletic standpoint and K.J. [Britt] was the smartest of the bunch.
(On what needs to happen in order for the opposing team’s offense to feel pressure from Tampa Bay’s defensive front): “I think our edge guys have to be better at getting chipped and still understanding how to pressure the quarterback other than letting the chips knock them off their game a little bit and getting a little frustrated trying to force things. We have to do a better job of gaining it, we have to better job of learning when to get off the chip blocks.”
(On what QB Baker Mayfield has to do to produce fewer turnovers):
“Just understand when we’re in scoring position and try not to force every ball. You know, sometimes it’s not there, sometimes you can make a great throw but not force every ball and just get it to the guy that’s open. Sometimes three points is better than a turnover.”
(On why the offense didn’t run the ball as much as the game progressed on Sunday): “Some of the things they started doing kind of got us away from it a little bit and we started altering to some of the passing game.”
Game Balls
Offense: Cade Otten: In his last two games, Otten has 17 catches for 191 yards, He’s better than pretty good.
Defense: Antonio Winfield had eight tackles and a forced a fumble that should have counted.
Special teams: Chase McLaughlin was good for six points.
Grades
Quarterback: The more you throw, the more likely you are to give up a pick. Still, Baker Mayfield needs to cut down on the interceptions. Grade: B.
Running back: The Bucs are better at running the ball, bult no one got 50. Grade: C-/
Wide receivers: The afterthoughts held up their end. Still, someone needs to get deep. Grade: C.
Offensive line: The Bucs need to run block better. Grade: C.
Defensive line: The Bucs gave up 129 yards rushing. Grade: C.
Linebackers: The Falcons won too many battles at the line of scrimmage. Grade: D.
Secondary: Are these guys blind-folded?
Power Rankings
- Kansas City
2. Detroit
3. Buffalo
4. Houston
5. Atlanta
——-
18. Tampa Bay
Bottom 5
32. Carolina
31. N.Y. Giants
30. Tennessee
29. N.Y. Jets
28. N.E. Patriots