5 Thoughts
- The Bucs haven’t looked quite like this since, well, last year. But one way they’re different is that they can win in more ways than one. Last year, it was Baker or bust. This year, a running game gives you a chance against a bad team.
2. If there isn’t room for Lavonte David in the Ring of Honor, someone else needs to go.
3. After listening to Sunday’s broadcast that talked about all the Raiders who were having fine seasons, it’s a mystery why the team is only two-and-miserable.
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4. One more incompletion on Sunday by Baker Mayfield, and the Kyle Trask fans would have woken up.
5. The Bucs may be without two inside linebackers and two safeties on Sunday. When you refuse to count the two edge rushers, that’s a lot of holes.
5 Comments
From Todd Bowles’ Monday press conference)
(On Lavonte David’s importance to the team): “His leadership, his intelligence – obviously he plays the way he talks, and he talks the talk, he walks the walk and those guys…To be that old, playing 13 years in the league and then seeing guys two or three years in the league, shows them what they have to do going forward to remain in this league.”
(On the key to playing with one linebacker on the field as Tampa Bay did against the Raiders): “Smoke and mirrors [laughs], smoke and mirrors. We have a couple packages that were kind of unorthodox that we’ve been practicing. The safeties do a good job filling in at linebacker. [The Raiders] had a very good tight end as well, so we had to cover him and then we had to try to stop the run with that same package and I thought between ‘Izzy’ (Christian Izien), [Kaevon] Merriweather, Tykee [Smith], Tavierre [Thomas] – they did a very good job covering up and making those plays. When Vi [Jones] came in, he played well as well.”
(On S Tykee Smith’s playmaking ability and his versatility as a defender): “[He has] very good mental awareness. You know, the mental part is one thing you don’t worry about with him but you worry about the physical part, see how he [holds] up but once he got rolling, it was pretty good for us. He’s one of the few guys over there with the mental capacity to see the game even when he’s not practicing and that takes a lot, especially for a rookie. He plays it well, but ‘Izzy’ (Christian Izien) had to learn a lot of spots, Tykee had to learn some spots, and [Kaevon] Merriweather had to learn some different spots as well as Tavierre [Thomas] so it’s good to have the versatility because we need it all.”
(On how the team can limit their penalties down the final stretch of the season): “We just have to focus and concentrate. Some things are inevitable. They can happen. Some calls don’t go your way. Sometimes you just have to make those plays anyway. We can’t false start, we can’t jump offsides, we can’t give up penalties down the field defensively, and we can’t shoot ourselves in the foot offensively. We have to keep focusing on that.”
(On the inability to keep momentum for all four quarters of a game): “Just being focused and being consistent. Everything is on the line in the last couple of games of the year. We know that. It’s going to be a league-wide whirlwind tournament right now so we have to put our best foot forward. We have to focus. We have to make sure we’re locked in, and we can’t make the mistakes that we made and expect to win every game.”
Game Balls
Offense: Rachaad White has seen Bucky Irving take most of the love, and most of the accolades. He got his on Sunday.
Defense: Lavonte David had seven tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery. The old man still plays like a kid.
Special teams: Jack Browning had a 49-yard punt and averaged almost 43 yards per kick. Not bad for a third option.
Grades
Quarterback: Baker Mayfield threw for 295 yards and three scores, but he had a miserable day with turnovers (3) and sacks (4). Grade: C.
Running back: Rachaad White showed he would have made the Bucs’ better even without Irving. But it’s good to have both.
Receivers: Not enough separation as a group, dinged up as they are. Grade: B-.
Offensive line: Gave up too much pressure, but the team ran the ball for 152 yards. Grade: B.
Defensive line: The Bucs have moments when they are gapped. Grade: B-.
Linebackers: David was solid, but the rest of the unit was invisible. Grade: C.
Secondary: If only the Bucs’ defensive backs could hold onto the ball. Grade: C-.
Power Rankings
- Detroit.
2. Buffalo.
3. Kansas City.
4. Philadelphia.
5. Minnesota.
—-
13. Tampa Bay.
Bottom 5
32. N.Y. Giants.
31. Las Vegas.
30. New England.
29. Jacksonville.
28. Tennessee.
5 Random Stats
Opp. QB Rating 101.4 26th
Opp. Passing Yards 3,334 28th
Passing Yards 3,530 7th
Rushing Yards 1,497 7th
Scoring 27.9 5th