Tuesday, 4 a.m.
5 Thoughts
- No, the problem with Baker Mayfield's injury isn't that the Bucs cut Kyle Trask in favor of Teddy Bridgewater. It's that someone didn't think to get a backup quarterback far better than either of them.
2. How come any quarterback who plays against the Bucs becomes an MVP candidate?
3. Hey, didn't you used to be Emeka Egbuka?
4. Here's a challenge: Name one Buc player who was better than mediocre against the Rams. Just one.
5. Are we sure the Bucs are playing the maximum number of defensive backs on most downs?
5 Comments
(From Todd Bowles' Tuesday press conference)
(On his confidence that Baker Mayfield will play Sunday): "I’ll wait for the MRIs. Again, I’ll make all my assessments then.”
(On the recent struggles in the passing game): “I think it’s a little bit of everything. We definitely have to coach it better, and we’ve got to play it better. I think all of us as a whole, as a collective, we have to do our jobs better. That kind of covers the whole scope of it – it’s not just one thing, it’s everything involved in that.”
(On how preparation would be different if QB Teddy Bridgewater has to start): “He’s a different quarterback, so schematically, we’ll have to do some different things for him to make him feel comfortable within the offense and do a lot of things he likes to do. There are some similar things, but there are also some differences to make him more comfortable. He’s been here long enough to where if he had to go, we can tweak it the right way for him to be successful.”
(On whether RB Bucky Irving could return this week):“He’s going to practice all this week, and if he’s well by Friday, he’ll play on Sunday.”
(On the team’s mindset after four losses in five games, and if things ‘aren’t as bleak as they seem’): “It’s always bleak on the Monday after a loss – whether you were undefeated or whether you hadn’t won a game. Comfort may not be the word, but we understand that most of us have been here the last two years and understand where we are and understand what we’ve got to do going forward. Everything is right in front of us, but we definitely have to correct a lot of things. It’s definitely in the locker room with us – coaches and players. We’re our problem, but we’re also our solution.”
(On what needs to happen for the team to fix some of the defensive issues): “Just for them to continually hold each other accountable on the field. The coaches can say it, and our leaders can say it, but you’ve got to do it consistently – play in and play out. It’s getting done for the most part, but we talk about it all the time – we’ve got to coach it better, and they’ve got to play it better. At the same time, the accountability on the field and the trust…You can just talk. You don’t know who you’re trying to help out there – that has to be better. It’s gotten a lot better over the past few weeks. It’s been a guy here or there, but if one guy is out of whack, the other ten don’t matter.”
Game Balls
(Does anyone deserve them?)
Offense: The real question is whether this awful unit is worse than the defense. A 42-yard running back? A 32-yard receiver? A 41-yard starting quarterback? Give it to Tez Johnson, who at least scored.
Defense: Lavonte David had eight tackles, at least.
Special teams: Riley Dixon averaged more than 42 yards a punt.
Grades
Quarterback: Baker Mayfield's two interceptions were flukes, but he still had a miserable night. Grade: D-.
Running back: Sean Tucker averaged just 3.5 yards per carry. Grade: C.
Offensive line: Gave up four sacks on the night. Grade: F.
Defensive line: The Bucs had one sack. One. Grade: F.
Secondary: Matthew Stafford should be ashamed of throwing 10 incompletions. Grade: F.
5 Toughest Bucs' games Remaining
- at Panthers
2. Falcons
3. Panthers
4. Cardinals
5. Saints
Singed Secondary
Mac Jones 49ers 347
Sam Darnold Seahakws 341
Josh Allen Bills 317
Michael Penix Falcons 298
Matthew Stafford Rams 273
Power Rankings
- New England
2. L.A. Rams
3. Denver
4. Philadelphia
5. Chicago
13. Tampa Bay
Bottom 5
32. Tennessee
31. N.Y. Jets
30. N.Y. Giants
29. Las Vegas
28. New Orleans
5 NFL Stars
- Jahmyr Gibbs
2. Dak Prescott
3. Patrick Mahomes
4. Jameis Winston
5. Sheduer Sanders
5 NFL Flops
- Baker Mayfield
2. Jonathan Taylor
3. J.J. McCarthy
4. Taysom Hill
5. Saquon Barkley
Rookie Wide Receivers
Tetairoa McMillian 56 786 5
Emeka Egbuka 48 749 6
Elic Ayomanor 28 334 2
Travis Hunter 28 298 1
Matthew Golden 24 286 0
Baker Stats
Passing Yards 2405 15
Touchdowns 18 9
Rating * 93.2 18
Interceptions 5 t-18
Rushing Yards 216 11
- 100 attempts
NFL Stats
Rushing Yards Sean Tucker 277 55
Receiving Yards Emeka Egbuka 749 32
Tackles Tykee Smith 85 21
Field Goals Chase McLaughlin 20 t-8
Punts Inside 20 Riley Dixon 27 t-9