Tampa Bay
is now a few years removed from their magical run in 2020 when Mr. Brady came
to save the day and brought these Buccaneers only their second Lombardi in the franchise’s
history. Tampa Bay is looking more and
more like a playoff team this season. I
know they have only played four games so far and there are still three-quarters of the season to go, but they are off to a very hot start. Head Coach Todd Bowles along with Tampa’s Offensive
Coordinator Liam Coen (Coen served as Kentucky’s OC 2023) still have a lot of
work to do as the Bucs are putting up 319 yards per game which is ranked 16th
in the league so far this season. For the Defense, Tampa Bay took a unique approach by employing a co-Defensive Coordinator plan. Both Kacy
Rodgers and Larry Foote are listed as the teams' DCs, in any matter they need
to do a better job going forward regardless of the team's 3-1 record as their defense
is allowing 335.3 yards per game which ranks 19th among the 32 teams.
With a
closer look at the Buccaneers who are off to a great start, their overall offense
may be middle of the pack and their defense may be worse than their personnel say
they should be though they are currently 3-1.
Winning seems to cure everything in the sports world, right? Through the first 4 weeks quarterback Baker
Mayfield looks more poised than ever as he has now thrown for a total of 984
yards on the season and ranks fourth in passing yards. Mayfield has also thrown for eight touchdowns
and ran for two more, while only throwing two interceptions. Wide receiver Chris Godwin is currently third
in the league with 27 receptions, sixth in receiving yards (322 yards), and tied with fellow receiver & teammate Mike Evans for second in touchdowns
(3 TDs). Baker is currently in
fourth place of all QBs with an overall QB rating of 106.9 on the season,
having produced a rating of 90 or better in three of his first four starts. His only game where he did not achieve this came
in week three against the Denver Broncos' top-five defensive unit. In week one Tampa topped the Washington
Commanders 37-20. In week two Baker got
his playoff revenge against Detroit winning 20-16 on Ford Field. Week three marked their first loss of the
season, at home to the Denver Broncos 26-7, then yesterday the Buccaneers got
back on track beating the banged-up Philadelphia Eagles in Tampa 33-16.
My early prediction for this Todd Bowles-led team is that
the Bucs will find themselves in the postseason, yet again behind great
quarterback play and a pair of unbelievably talented wideouts. They will certainly have a lot of work to do
with the rush offense and a full-time switch to the rookie running back Buck
Irving may be the answer. Rachaad White
has proven to be inefficient as their number-one running back through four games
and is averaging a measly 2.8 yards per carry on 41 attempts which is why the
switch will inevitably come soon.
The other main thing to work on for this team is their defensive play as
they have been pedestrian in both rush & pass defense. Tampa is giving up 131.5 yards per game on
the ground (22nd) and 203.8 yards through the air (16th). Three of the Bucs' next four games are against
divisional opponents while the other game will be a home matchup where they will
host none other than last year’s regular season MVP Lamar Jackson and the
Baltimore Ravens.
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