The OFFICIAL 2024 Bucs off-season thread

[Bootz]

I'm looking at the Saints trio there. All 3 of those teams were in the playoffs. Granted none of them reached the Championship game like our trio did but those are still some very good teams.

[Sdbucs]

I'm looking at the Saints trio there. All 3 of those teams were in the playoffs. Granted none of them reached the Championship game like our trio did but those are still some very good teams.

Yeah it's a tough one too. Panthers and Falcons got gifted pretty easy ones in comparison.

Personally more concerned with the Falcons than the Saints. Something has just felt off with NO since Sean Payton left and I think their roster will continue to be a 6-9 win team.

[CannonFire]

Take out everyone's division opponents, and you have a complete 180 (for the Bucs). The Bucs have the 5th hardest schedule in the NFL, among non-division opponents. Take notice of where the Falcons and Saints are. If you just look at the whole, the Bucs, Falcons, and the Saints are similar... but when you take each others records out of the equation (thanks to 2 games against a 2-win Panthers), the Bucs' schedule isn't quite so close.

RK TM PCT
1 Buffalo Bills 0.561
2 Dallas Cowboys 0.556
2 Houston Texans 0.556
4 Kansas City Chiefs 0.551
5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0.545
6 Detroit Lions 0.540
7 Green Bay Packers 0.535
7 Las Vegas Raiders 0.535
7 San Francisco 49ers 0.535
10 Jacksonville Jaguars 0.524
10 Philadelphia Eagles 0.524
12 Miami Dolphins 0.519
13 Los Angeles Rams 0.513
14 Denver Broncos 0.508
14 New Orleans Saints 0.508
14 New York Giants 0.508
17 Cleveland Browns 0.503
17 New York Jets 0.503
19 Indianapolis Colts 0.492
20 New England Patriots 0.487
21 Atlanta Falcons 0.476
21 Minnesota Vikings 0.476
21 Seattle Seahawks 0.476
24 Baltimore Ravens 0.471
24 Pittsburgh Steelers 0.471
26 Washington Commanders 0.465
27 Tennessee Titans 0.460
28 Carolina Panthers 0.455
29 Los Angeles Chargers 0.449
30 Arizona Cardinals 0.422
30 Chicago Bears 0.422
32 Cincinnati Bengals 0.412

It is literally not even close. I'll eliminate common opponents and division opponents. Here are the unique opponents for our division:

Falcons: SEA, PIT, MIN.
Bucs: SF, BAL, DET.
Saints: CLE, LAR, GB
Panthers: AZ, CIN, CHI.

We get three of the absolute best teams in football. Three teams that could all be considered superbowl contenders.

Falcons get a good SEA, a PIT with question marks, and a bottom of the barrel MIN.

Not even close.

Yeah, I considered posting that as well. I just wanted to give people a heads up on how things look at the conference level as well.
But, as @GreatTimes mentioned, it's early and we really don't know how good or bad our opponents will be, but at this moment in time, we have what is one of the hardest schedules in the league where the Saints are around the middle and the Falcons near the bottom third. Getting 9 wins like last year, isn't looking good.

[Cheb]

I'm looking at the Saints trio there. All 3 of those teams were in the playoffs. Granted none of them reached the Championship game like our trio did but those are still some very good teams.

Yeah it's a tough one too. Panthers and Falcons got gifted pretty easy ones in comparison.

Personally more concerned with the Falcons than the Saints. Something has just felt off with NO since Sean Payton left and I think their roster will continue to be a 6-9 win team.

I'd agree. Much as I loathe the Saints, I feel they've been playing on borrowed time since Payton left, and they aren't the threat they once were.

The Falcons by contrast could be a tough out. If Kirk Cousins looks competent (or Penix starts hot) with those offensive weapons, and Rah keeps their defense on an even keel, I think they're our toughest division foe by far.

As for the Panthers... yikes. Almost feel sorry for Cannales.

[CannonFire]

I'm looking at the Saints trio there. All 3 of those teams were in the playoffs. Granted none of them reached the Championship game like our trio did but those are still some very good teams.

Yeah it's a tough one too. Panthers and Falcons got gifted pretty easy ones in comparison.

Personally more concerned with the Falcons than the Saints. Something has just felt off with NO since Sean Payton left and I think their roster will continue to be a 6-9 win team.

I'd agree. Much as I loathe the Saints, I feel they've been playing on borrowed time since Payton left, and they aren't the threat they once were.

The Falcons by contrast could be a tough out. If Kirk Cousins looks competent (or Penix starts hot) with those offensive weapons, and Rah keeps their defense on an even keel, I think they're our toughest division foe by far.

As for the Panthers... yikes. Almost feel sorry for Cannales.

Yup.... across the board.

[Grahamburn]

Ramirez looked like he really worked on his body in the offseason, shedding some excess weight and looking more svelte than pudgy like he did a year ago. Both general manager Jason Licht and head coach Todd Bowles mentioned Ramirez as one of the young players who could vie for not only a roster spot this season, but also some playing time with a good showing in training camp and the preseason.

@Doctor

[13F11B]

[Backside]

oof...

[Bootz]

"Trask was in the lead according to multiple reports"

/thread

[13F11B]

[13F11B]

[13F11B]

[Miller4Prez64]

Bucs just made AWJ the highest paid defensive back in NFL history.

[Cheb]

Bucs just made AWJ the highest paid defensive back in NFL history.

Good.

Four years, $84 million in value, $45 million guaranteed.

Well deserved and well earned.

[Backside]

So we drafted the highest paid DB in NFL history and soon the highest paid offensive lineman in NFL history, in the same draft.

[Miller4Prez64]

So we drafted the highest paid DB in NFL history and soon the highest paid offensive lineman in NFL history, in the same draft.

In the same offseason as signing the GOAT. Might be one of the best offseasons in NFL history.

[GreatTimes]

The Bucs strength of schedule is only slightly harder than the schedules for the other teams in its division.
T-27 Buccaneers 138-151 .478
T-29 Panthers 135-154 .467
T-29 Bears 135-154 .467
T-31 Saints 131-158 .453
T-31 Falcons 131-158 .453

Of course this is based on the 2023 results. A true strength of schedule won't be known until the end of the 2024 season.

Take out everyone's division opponents, and you have a complete 180 (for the Bucs). The Bucs have the 5th hardest schedule in the NFL, among non-division opponents. Take notice of where the Falcons and Saints are. If you just look at the whole, the Bucs, Falcons, and the Saints are similar... but when you take each others records out of the equation (thanks to 2 games against a 2-win Panthers), the Bucs' schedule isn't quite so close.

RK TM PCT
1 Buffalo Bills 0.561
2 Dallas Cowboys 0.556
2 Houston Texans 0.556
4 Kansas City Chiefs 0.551
5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0.545
6 Detroit Lions 0.540
7 Green Bay Packers 0.535
7 Las Vegas Raiders 0.535
7 San Francisco 49ers 0.535
10 Jacksonville Jaguars 0.524
10 Philadelphia Eagles 0.524
12 Miami Dolphins 0.519
13 Los Angeles Rams 0.513
14 Denver Broncos 0.508
14 New Orleans Saints 0.508
14 New York Giants 0.508
17 Cleveland Browns 0.503
17 New York Jets 0.503
19 Indianapolis Colts 0.492
20 New England Patriots 0.487
21 Atlanta Falcons 0.476
21 Minnesota Vikings 0.476
21 Seattle Seahawks 0.476
24 Baltimore Ravens 0.471
24 Pittsburgh Steelers 0.471
26 Washington Commanders 0.465
27 Tennessee Titans 0.460
28 Carolina Panthers 0.455
29 Los Angeles Chargers 0.449
30 Arizona Cardinals 0.422
30 Chicago Bears 0.422
32 Cincinnati Bengals 0.412

Now take out the NFCS from other teams schedules to see how that affects the SOS for those teams.

[CannonFire]

Take out everyone's division opponents, and you have a complete 180 (for the Bucs). The Bucs have the 5th hardest schedule in the NFL, among non-division opponents. Take notice of where the Falcons and Saints are. If you just look at the whole, the Bucs, Falcons, and the Saints are similar... but when you take each others records out of the equation (thanks to 2 games against a 2-win Panthers), the Bucs' schedule isn't quite so close.

RK TM PCT
1 Buffalo Bills 0.561
2 Dallas Cowboys 0.556
2 Houston Texans 0.556
4 Kansas City Chiefs 0.551
5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0.545
6 Detroit Lions 0.540
7 Green Bay Packers 0.535
7 Las Vegas Raiders 0.535
7 San Francisco 49ers 0.535
10 Jacksonville Jaguars 0.524
10 Philadelphia Eagles 0.524
12 Miami Dolphins 0.519
13 Los Angeles Rams 0.513
14 Denver Broncos 0.508
14 New Orleans Saints 0.508
14 New York Giants 0.508
17 Cleveland Browns 0.503
17 New York Jets 0.503
19 Indianapolis Colts 0.492
20 New England Patriots 0.487
21 Atlanta Falcons 0.476
21 Minnesota Vikings 0.476
21 Seattle Seahawks 0.476
24 Baltimore Ravens 0.471
24 Pittsburgh Steelers 0.471
26 Washington Commanders 0.465
27 Tennessee Titans 0.460
28 Carolina Panthers 0.455
29 Los Angeles Chargers 0.449
30 Arizona Cardinals 0.422
30 Chicago Bears 0.422
32 Cincinnati Bengals 0.412

Now take out the NFCS from other teams schedules to see how that affects the SOS for those teams.

We drop to 9th, both Atlanta and New Orleans drop 2 spots, Carolina 1.

[Grahamburn]

I know it's May and we don't have anything else to talk about, but isn't strength of schedule pretty irrelevant in general? You win your division you face other division winners. Things look tough now on paper, but who knows once the season starts?

[Cheb]

I know it's May and we don't have anything else to talk about, but isn't strength of schedule pretty irrelevant in general? You win your division you face other division winners. Things look tough now on paper, but who knows once the season starts?

Agreed.

[Grahamburn]

Overall we have a crazy easy schedule, but Atlanta should be tougher. Could be that any one of the good teams we're supposed to play won't be on their game though. Eagles in September versus Eagles in January for instance. It all balances out. If we're playing well the schedule won't matter.

[Doctor]

Strength of schedule is way overblown. This isn't European soccer, you don't win off what you do in the regular season. You have to go through a playoff, best on best.

The Pats had it right, outside of securing the now singular bye week, the regular season is a glorified preseason. It's all about becoming the best version of yourself for winter. Staying as healthy as you can. Playing the long game. Because winter football is all that matters.

[Grahamburn]

Strength of schedule is way overblown. This isn't European soccer, you don't win off what you do in the regular season. You have to go through a playoff, best on best.

The Pats had it right, outside of securing the now singular bye week, the regular season is a glorified preseason. It's all about becoming the best version of yourself for winter. Staying as healthy as you can. Playing the long game. Because winter football is all that matters.

Regular season wins and certain victories or losses are definitely important.

I don’t quite think we’re the Patriots yet where we’re so much better than our divisional opponents that it’s a foregone conclusion.

Just pointing out that we really have no clue yet how tough this schedule is.

[Buc2]

I know it's May and we don't have anything else to talk about, but isn't strength of schedule pretty irrelevant in general? You win your division you face other division winners. Things look tough now on paper, but who knows once the season starts?

Agreed.

Yes. But it's still something fun to talk about in a loooong offseason.

[Doctor]

We didn't win the division the last time we won the SB. It's all about making the playoffs and then being the team no one wants to face. Like the Heat. Then its one foot in front of the other until you're out.

[Snake]

Regular season success correlates with Super Bowl success. To pretend otherwise is odd to me.

[Bootz]

We didn't win the division the last time we won the SB. It's all about making the playoffs and then being the team no one wants to face. Like the Heat. Then its one foot in front of the other until you're out.

Nice of you to continue ignoring context and making dishonest takes. We won more games that season than we did the last 2 times we won the division. Major difference is the other teams in the division were better back then.

[kaimaru]

We didn't win the division the last time we won the SB. It's all about making the playoffs and then being the team no one wants to face. Like the Heat. Then its one foot in front of the other until you're out.

Nice of you to continue ignoring context and making dishonest takes. We won more games that season than we did the last 2 times we won the division. Major difference is the other teams in the division were better back then.

Nah, @Doctor has it right. We can go 5-7 the first twelve games but if we get on a five game hot streak against Panthers, Giants, New Orleans, Commanders, Panthers. Man, no one will want to play us

[Phantom]

Interesting history


Tampa Bay Sailors?

Tampa Bay Crackers?

1974/5/18: On this day in pro football history: Just by a few minutes, Dr. Richard Molloy won two season tickets for the 1976 NFL season and a color TV by submitting the name Buccaneers. The Buccaneers won over the Sailors.

The judges selected the Buccaneers over the Sailors. The idea for the nickname was to come up with a name reflective of the area, its history and culture.

WFLA program boss, Rod Weller said, “We can only recommend it. It was the choice of about 600 different names submitted. I had no idea we would get such a variety.”

Some of the names that were submitted included: 76ers, Bayways, Buzzards, Crabs, Crackers, Echos, Garbonzos, Levy’s Leggins, Man-O-Wars, Mob, Mockingbirds, Mullet, Sailors, Tripling Trampling Trompers, Whitecaps. The list of names was gathered during a month-long competition then a day-long review to select the winning nickname.

The Tampa franchise cost $16,000,000 in 1974. While Tampa was considered the 27th franchise, if the defunct NFL teams are included, Tampa Bay was actually the 90th franchise in NFL history to date.

[mdb1958]

I wish we could of somehow got Myles Cole.

[Bootz]

I wish we could of somehow got Myles Cole.

He's a 7th round pick. Not exactly a lock to make the Jags roster. Could be this year's Jose Ramirez.