5 Thoughts
- I know it’s hard to get into the Hall of Fame as a wide receiver, but I find it amazing people still doubt Mike Evans. Heck, he’s close to making the roll call.
2. I still remember that one of Tony Dungy’s first big wins was over the Chargers. It was the sign of a team finally getting it. After seeing so much bad football, I told Tony after the game “I can’t believe what I’m thinking.” He grinned and said “I’m thinking the same thing.” And we were both right.
3. Hey, the Chargers did just fine. Five, maybe six more injuries to the defense, and maybe they could have scored in the second half.
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4. Two questions for the guy who orchestrated the Bucs’ draft. One) How proud does it make you to see Graham Barton, Bucky Irving, Tykee Smith and Jalen McMillian. Two) Can you explain Chris Braswell one more time?
5. How many Bucs fans would want to fire Todd Bowles even if he is coach of the year?
5 Comments
(From Todd Bowles’ Tuesday press conference)
On the complete-game effort from the team on Sunday): “It was definitely one of our most complete games. All three phases helped out in the victory. I thought those guys had great energy coming out [which was] something we talked about before the game. They really came out in the second half with even greater energy, and they finished the game on both sides of the ball so that was good.”
(On the importance of preparing the team for the ‘next-man-up’ mentality before the season): “As a coach, it’s huge. You know something’s going to happen, there’s going to be injuries, there’s going to be something that goes wrong, there’s going to be something off the field that goes wrong, but preparing for it, and then understanding it and taking the body blows is part of football. It’s something you have to do as an athlete and definitely as a coach. We prepare for it, we talk about it, we practice that way. We practice with guys that [are] one step away from playing and everybody understands the mission once they get in there. Those guys have done a great job of filling in when they got their chances.”
(On how he and the coaching staff go about preparing rookies to play specific roles in the lineup): “The way the league is going right now, coming out of college you don’t get the luxury of sitting everybody for a year or two behind somebody else. You have to kind of draft guys where if you’re drafting seven guys, at least four of them better be significant players right now, and the other three better have a skill set for the near future or something down the line. We start training them from day one – how to be professional, for their moment not to be too big for them during the season, put them in different situations at practice all day long. [It’s] nothing like playing in the games but they get those situations, they see the guys in front of them, and when you think about it – midseason, we went through some trials and tribulations the first couple weeks before our bye, and afterwards, they matured, they’re finishing plays, they’re doing everything the right way and it’s helping pay off. Our coaches do a great job of getting these guys ready.”
(On if the rookies being more prepared has a part in why the team plays better in December): “I wish it could say it does. I would like to think we learn from our mistakes. I think a lot of it’s from the mistakes we had in the first half of the season. I think they’ve matured and grown up. Through injury or otherwise, those guys got to play a lot more and their confidence has grown and they’re really fitting in and finding their roles within the team right now and they’re settling in playing good football.”
(On the play of LT Tristan Wirfs and RT Luke Goedeke against the Chargers pass rushers): “They’ve been doing a good job the past couple of weeks, especially Tristan. Luke’s been doing a great job all year. Ever since he’s come back from his injury, he’s been very stout for us on the right side of the line. It seems like Tristan plays better if he’s not healthy than he is when he is healthy [laughs]. Not that he’s played bad when he was healthy, but his concentration, his focus, his understanding of what’s getting ready to happen and what he has to do for his job. Those two guys have done a heck of a job for us.”
Game Balls
Offense: Baker Mayfield had a fine day, even with his interception. But this was Mike Evans’ day.
Defense: Lavonte David was all over the field…again.
Special teams: You take Chase McLaughlin for granted, but he had 16 points in a perfect game.
Grades
Quarterback: Mayfield threw an interception. He also threw for four touchdowns and for 288 yards despite shutting it down in the fourth quarter. Grade: A.
Running back: How many newborns are going to be named “Bucky” in the next year? Grade: A.
Wide receiver: Mike Evans was sensational. Grade: A+.
Offensive line: Were was Khalil Mack? Grade: A.
Defensive line: The Chargers couldn’t run at all. Grade: A.
Linebacker: The question isn’t whether Mike Evans gets in the Hall of Fame. It’s whether he brings Lavonte David with him. Grade: B.
Secondary: Justin Herbert looked as if he was going to have a career day early. Then the Bucs made plays. Grade: B.
Special teams: Chase McLaughlin was perfect, and Jack Browning had the day off. Grade: A.
Power Rankings
- Buffalo.
2. Kanas City.
3. Detroit.
4. Philadelphia.
5. Pittsburgh.
—
11. Tampa Bay.
Bottom 5
32. N.Y. Giants.
31. Las Vegas.
30. New England.
29. Tennessee.
28. Jacksonville.
Bucs’ Rookie Running backs
(And their average per carry)
- Doug Martin, 2012 1,154 4.6
2. Cadillac Williams, 2005 1,178 4.1
3. Errict Rhett, 1994 1,011 3.6
4. LeGarrette Blount, 2010 1,007 5.0
5. Warrick Dunn, 1997 978 4.4
6. Bucky Irving, 2024 852 5.6
5 Pro Bowl Bucs
- Mike Evans.
2. Lavonte David.
3. Tristan Wirfs.
4. Bucky Irving.
5. Vita Vea.
5 Mock Draft Pics
USA Today Luther Burden, WR Missouri
ESPN Nic Scourton, Edge Texas A&M
Fox Tetairoa McMillian, WR Arizona
CBS Shemar Stewart, DL, Texas A&M
Walterfootball Jalon Walker, Edge, Georgia
Player Stats
Passing yards Baker Mayfield 4
Rushing yards Bucky Irving 16
Receiving yards Cade Otton 32
Tackles Lavonte David 22
Field goals Chase McLaughlin 9
Most Wins as a Bucs’ quarterback
- Trent Dilfer 38
2. Doug Williams 33
3. Tom Brady 32
4. Jameis Winston 28
5. Brad Johnson 26
—
9. Baker Mayfield 17
Most 100-yard Receiving Games
Mike Evans* 38
Chris Godwin 22
Mark Carrier 15
Kevin House 14
Vincent Jackson 13
- Plus four in the post-season.