Rapid response- Bucs win on the road over Seattle!

[bucarican]

People weren’t praising the defense for their performance so far this year or for a great second half last week leading up to this game? Okay no use arguing with someone blatantly lying just so they can be an asshole


Remember when your analysis of what was bad about the offensive play calling was ‘everything’? Talk about not watching

Anyone that was is proving they dont watch the games either. What "performance" exactly? Defense gives up 26 ppg, struggles getting to the QB, struggles generating turnovers. What exactly are we having about exactly? Playing well for 2 of 4 quarters against a bad offense? Yea, that's setting a high bar...

How many points did the Hawks score up until almost the end of the half?

[Bootz]

Anyone that was is proving they dont watch the games either. What "performance" exactly? Defense gives up 26 ppg, struggles getting to the QB, struggles generating turnovers. What exactly are we having about exactly? Playing well for 2 of 4 quarters against a bad offense? Yea, that's setting a high bar...

How many points did the Hawks score up until almost the end of the half?

7. Then they scored on their next 5 drives.

Are we really praising the defense for partially doing their job?

[Snake]

Not sure how Baker is doing it. If it’s dumb luck, design, or experience. those horrendous sacks from his past aren’t happening anymore. Now he’s turning those into decent gains or finding receivers.

[BucsNBills]

He's beginning to believe.

[Pirate Life]

How many points did the Hawks score up until almost the end of the half?

7. Then they scored on their next 5 drives.

Are we really praising the defense for partially doing their job?

Correction, next 4 drives.

[Bootz]

7. Then they scored on their next 5 drives.

Are we really praising the defense for partially doing their job?

Correction, next 4 drives.

Play semantics all you want but unless you're an idiot you knew what I meant.

The Seahawks scored TDs on straight drives today.

[Bootz]

Not sure how Baker is doing it. If it’s dumb luck, design, or experience. those horrendous sacks from his past aren’t happening anymore. Now he’s turning those into decent gains or finding receivers.

Dumb luck and experience. No chance this is by design. There is no design.

[Babeinbucland]

I’ve been told Baker Mayfield doesn’t elevate his teammates.

I forgot about that particular claim. I wonder who they would claim is raising the play of the team now.

It is my spells and chantings. I cannot believe how fucking dismissive you all are of my craft.

Well, that, and I wore my lucky rhinestone Buc’s shirt today.

haters.

[CamCam]

[Babeinbucland]

lol

[CamCam]

lol

[Pirate Life]

Correction, next 4 drives.

Play semantics all you want but unless you're an idiot you knew what I meant.

The Seahawks scored TDs on straight drives today.

Not semantics, just the facts of the matter. They scored on five drives, not six. Doesn't make the defense's play any better at all, but one more scoring drive and the outcome of the game may be different. In a game where inches matter, should get the numbers right.

[Central_Buc]

There he is!


How bout them Panthers today?

[CamCam]

There he is!


How bout them Panthers today?

[mdb1958]

Am I wrong? Our entire IDL got cancelled out - who did it?

[Central_Buc]

Looking at the standing, ooff our D bad. We've given up 132 points and 3 less than the Saints.

Ravens are a worst 177 points against

[Pirate Life]

Seahawks fan activated Mayfield’s superpowers:

[MRM]

That game could have and probably should have ended in a tie. Both teams were that close in the game. Best game of the day.

Special teams coverage was the biggest disappointment of the day. And the coverage on #11.

For those questioning the team for drafting Egbuka in April, you see now why they drafted him. What a talent. He's definitely Evans' heir apparent to WR1 on the team when he decides to hang it up.

[TonyLip]

Need to post that at the entrance to OPP or in the Observer, sub-captioned with an ROFL gif.

[Jonny]

Anyone that was is proving they dont watch the games either. What "performance" exactly? Defense gives up 26 ppg, struggles getting to the QB, struggles generating turnovers. What exactly are we having about exactly? Playing well for 2 of 4 quarters against a bad offense? Yea, that's setting a high bar...

How many points did the Hawks score up until almost the end of the half?

The Hawks seemed to get in their own way in the first half. The missed FG, followed by a good drive that ended in a punt because of a holding penalty at Bucs 40 yd line, followed by that gimmicky stupid play and fumble.

I have been really high on our defense this year. But they were certified trash in this game. What saddens me the most is lack of any impactful pressure from our bookends. If there was ever any moment of discomfort, it seemed to have been because of some interior pressure which also was pretty disappointing compared to how well they have been up until this point.

I don't understand what this back and forth has been about regarding our defense. But my take is that another showing like this reminder of his season will result in a guaranteed loss.

[Cheb]

Seahawks fan activated Mayfield’s superpowers:

No kidding.

One day, the league at large will realize that praising the Bucs and Baker is the fastest way for them to fall apart, while talking shit is the fastest way for them to go Super Saiyan.

A smart person heckles Baker with compliments.

[mdb1958]

How many points did the Hawks score up until almost the end of the half?

The Hawks seemed to get in their own way in the first half. The missed FG, followed by a good drive that ended in a punt because of a holding penalty at Bucs 40 yd line, followed by that gimmicky stupid play and fumble.

I have been really high on our defense this year. But they were certified trash in this game. What saddens me the most is lack of any impactful pressure from our bookends. If there was ever any moment of discomfort, it seemed to have been because of some interior pressure which also was pretty disappointing compared to how well they have been up until this point.

I don't understand what this back and forth has been about regarding our defense. But my take is that another showing like this reminder of his season will result in a guaranteed loss.

I was bothered because our DB backfield was shorthanded and you would think that is when the IDL and OLB's go nuts helping them out.

Ehh, no matter cuz we got the fifth best record in the league and if we take out Frisco we will be the number 2 in the NFC if Philly can win.

[Doooshnzl]

The Hawks seemed to get in their own way in the first half. The missed FG, followed by a good drive that ended in a punt because of a holding penalty at Bucs 40 yd line, followed by that gimmicky stupid play and fumble.

I have been really high on our defense this year. But they were certified trash in this game. What saddens me the most is lack of any impactful pressure from our bookends. If there was ever any moment of discomfort, it seemed to have been because of some interior pressure which also was pretty disappointing compared to how well they have been up until this point.

I don't understand what this back and forth has been about regarding our defense. But my take is that another showing like this reminder of his season will result in a guaranteed loss.

I was bothered because our DB backfield was shorthanded and you would think that is when the IDL and OLB's go nuts helping them out.

Ehh, no matter cuz we got the fifth best record in the league and if we take out Frisco we will be the number 2 in the NFC if Philly can win.

5th best record? I’m pretty sure we’re tied with 5 other teams for the best record.

[Bootz]

I was bothered because our DB backfield was shorthanded and you would think that is when the IDL and OLB's go nuts helping them out.

Ehh, no matter cuz we got the fifth best record in the league and if we take out Frisco we will be the number 2 in the NFC if Philly can win.

5th best record? I’m pretty sure we’re tied with 5 other teams for the best record.

I think he means in terms of tiebreakers, which he'd be right here. 3rd in the NFC. If the Colts and Bills played in the NFC as well we would be behind them in tie breakers because they have better conference records.

[mdb1958]

Go Bucs
Go Giants

[Pirate Life]

Jon Ledyard write up on the game, don't think a subscription is required to read this one:

[Bootz]

Jon Ledyard write up on the game, don't think a subscription is required to read this one:

Thanks for posting. But Ledyard absolutely requires a subscription to read his articles. Always has.

[Pirate Life]

Jon Ledyard write up on the game, don't think a subscription is required to read this one:

Thanks for posting. But Ledyard absolutely requires a subscription to read his articles. Always has.

Wasn't sure, he does post an occasional one for free (usually Steelers related) and the way he worded the tweet made me think this was one of them.

Essentially, his thoughts without watching the tape yet just the game.

Praised White, Otton, Mayfield and Egbuka. Also felt the line played better than the week before, raved a bit about Wirfs play. Wirfs is putting guys on the ground more this season so far. Right side of the line is the weak link for the offense. Liked what he saw from Tez as well.

Initial impression on the defense was that Darnold was fitting the ball into very tight windows and Bucs defenders had good coverage, but couldn't make the play at the point of the catch. Held off commenting on the pass rush until he could watch the tape.

[Moozician]

Anyhow, Game Balls:

Baker - Piss off, BJJ34 Baker Mayfield IS God.
Egbuka
Cade fucking Otten.
McLaughlin

[Buc2]

Thanks for posting. But Ledyard absolutely requires a subscription to read his articles. Always has.

Wasn't sure, he does post an occasional one for free (usually Steelers related) and the way he worded the tweet made me think this was one of them.

Essentially, his thoughts without watching the tape yet just the game.

Praised White, Otton, Mayfield and Egbuka. Also felt the line played better than the week before, raved a bit about Wirfs play. Wirfs is putting guys on the ground more this season so far. Right side of the line is the weak link for the offense. Liked what he saw from Tez as well.

Initial impression on the defense was that Darnold was fitting the ball into very tight windows and Bucs defenders had good coverage, but couldn't make the play at the point of the catch. Held off commenting on the pass rush until he could watch the tape.

If you have a subscription, you could always copy/paste the article here.

[Pirate Life]

Seahawks fan activated Mayfield’s superpowers:

Mayfield made sure to chat with the guy after the game too:



Bold move to say he sucks after the day Mayfield has, maybe trying to get him pissed off to beat the 49ers next week to help the Seahawks.

[Pirate Life]

If you have a subscription, you could always copy/paste the article here.

Might also be able to read using the Reader function of your browser but here you go...

Quick Reactions To Bucs 38-35 Win Over Seahawks
Jon Ledyard
11–13 minutes

With the Steelers on a bye week, I could really lock in on the Bucs 38-35 victory over the Seahawks on Sunday. The game had so many layers and notable performances that I wanted to try and lay out some of my observations quickly for fans still processing the win.

Rachaad White, Mr. Little Things

Was this the most Rachaad White game of all Rachaad White games? Nothing flashy, pretty yawn-like box score outside of the touchdowns (18 touches, 71 yards). But turn on the tape and you see his contributions popping up everywhere.

On the first drive of the game, the Bucs made a mistake up front on 3rd-and-1 and two Seahawks defenders erupted through the line of scrimmage to blow up the play. White calmly saw the mistake and escaped out the backside, leaving both defenders dead in their tracks. He had seven blitz pickups during the game, and I didn’t see him miss a single assignment.

Perhaps the biggest play White made was for -8 yards! On 2nd-and-7 from the Seahawks 12, Baker Mayfield threw an ill-advised swing pass to White that turned out to be a backward pass. Seahawks edge defender Boye Mafe read the play the whole way, arriving to hit White as the ball arrived. Despite the contact, White pulled the ball in with a single hand and hung on while getting dropped. If the ball gets loose there, it could have been a scoop-and-score for Seattle the other way. But because White hung onto it, the Bucs retained possession and Mayfield hit Emeka Egbuka for a 20-yard TD on 3rd-and-15 on the next play.

Finally, White capped a stellar, 2-touchdown day with a 12-yard run to set the Bucs up for a 39-yard FG. Always alert, White slid down in bounds to ensure the Seahawks had to use their final timeout. He’s not the flashiest player, but White is one of the most consistent executors on the team. There might not be a more perfect true no. 2 type of back in the league.

Baker Mayfield, Lord Of The Clutch

With 3:14 left in the game, Mayfield got the ball with the Bucs down 7, and it felt like if they didn’t score, it wasn’t going to be his fault. That’s the kind of hope Mayfield has come to inspire in late-game situations. What followed was a typical showing - 25 yards to Egbuka over the middle of the field, 25 yards to Otton after breaking the pocket to create and then 11 yards to Sterling Shepard on what has become a patented scramble drill connection between the two Oklahoma teammates.

One of the coolest things about Mayfield’s performance was how he got a couple throws off. His second and last throws of the day were two of his best. Mayfield hit Cade Otton for 27 yards on the third play of the game, rolling out to his left off play-action before twisting on the move and firing a dart downfield. When he scrambled to his left to hit Shepard for the game-winner on the Bucs final drive, he again showed the ability to twist and fire into an expiring window while on the move to his left.

That’s a difficult throw for right-handed quarterbacks to make, which is why you don’t see as many rollouts or escapes to that side of the field. Mayfield having that capability because of the torque and elasticity of his throwing motion is pretty unique and another indication that he has one of the better arms in the NFL. His willingness and ability to throw to all areas of the field is probably the thing that has developed the most in Tampa Bay, and it makes the Bucs a nightmare to game plan for each week. There is just so much on the menu for this offense due to Mayfield’s skill set.

Emeka Egbuka, Separation King

I was slightly critical of Egbuka’s hands/consistency catching the football and his blocking this past week on the podcast. One thing I for sure don’t care about is his “separation score” over a 4-game sample size, which has buzzed around social media this past week.

Think about how many different factors there are on every play against various defenses/coverages/players that he might have faced that others haven’t over just one month of football. Think about how he is dictating how other teams defend him in a way that most wide receivers in the game are not capable of doing, and Egbuka is doing it by his fourth game. Come on.

Egbuka is not a joystick mover. How many wide receivers are? But he is a nuanced route runner with outstanding footwork and understanding of coverages, and he has plenty of quickness to create separation at the top of routes against man coverage. The NFL features much more zone coverage than man, and Egbuka has shown ability on tape to get open against both. Against Seattle’s zone-heavy approach, Egbuka was unstoppable, reeling in all seven targets for 163 yards and scoring his fifth touchdown of the season.

The craziest part is that Egbuka has been a dynamite vertical threat more than he has been underneath. He’s now caught 7 of 12 deep (20+ air yards) targets this season, including on four of his five touchdowns. I wrote pre-draft about how he won down the field plenty at Ohio State, and I didn’t see any reason why he couldn’t do that in the NFL. But even I didn’t see this type of usage and production just five games in. What a draft pick by Jason Licht.

Offensive Line, Protection Gurus

It wasn’t a perfect performance by the Bucs offensive line, but it was much better than a week ago. Graham Barton bounced back with a solid day, and the right side of the offensive line managed to survive and hang in there against a stout Seattle pass rush.

I have a lot to check as I get to the tape, but off live viewing I thought Luke Haggard played better than I thought was possible for him, while Charlie Heck struggled against power/inside rushes, but hung on just long enough for Mayfield to rip a few completions. The one sack looked like it was on Heck, although I will double-check the tape before officially proclaiming that.

But the big story was Tristan Wirfs continuing to look like the best tackle in the league despite just coming back from injury. He was beaten one time last week and I didn’t see any losses live in Week 5. Wirfs continues to heavily utilize a snatch-and-trap (Tyron Smith, Trent Williams, Dion Dawkins have been heavy advocates of this over the years), swatting defenders hands down when they attempt to bull rush him, often putting them on the ground.

Wirfs bag was already really deep as a pass protector, but his ability to get rushers on the ground frequently this season is allowing Mayfield more space to avoid rushes from the opposite side of the field, where Heck is giving ground to power rushers with regularity. Don’t discount that impact. It has given Mayfield littles half-seconds here and there to get throws out or escape pockets he otherwise might not have. Wirfs also has been instrumental in the few successful runs the team has had, which is huge since they are getting nothing off of the right side right now. It might get lost in all the other topics, but he’s been totally dominant since returning to the lineup.

Tez Johnson, Quiet Killer

It got lost in the shuffle, but Tez Johnson had a mini-breakout game in his fifth NFL contest. Not bad for a 7th-round receiver. He caught all four of his targets for 59 yards, including a 27-yarder to help set up a Bucs touchdown. Johnson’s best play was a 6-yard catch, but he eluded two defenders to turn a short loss into a positive play. I love the intensity and speed with which he plays the game, the only question will be how much his size inhibits him moving forward.

Cade Otton, Selfless Hero

It’s been a season of selflessness for Otton, who continually puts his body on the line for the team as a key blocker in the Bucs eclectic run scheme. Otton had just six catches for 34 yards on the season going into Sunday, but snatching four of five targets for 81 yards in Week 5, including an impressive downfield grab over his head on the Bucs opening drive.

Otton’s best play was a 3rd-and-14 screen that he made work with an excellent individual effort. The Bucs missed the key block and a defender came flying in to take out Otton’s legs for what would have been a short gain. But Otton managed to step over the tackle and regain his balance before getting behind his blockers for a huge first down. Three plays later, the Bucs took a 13-0 lead on Rachaad White’s 7-yard touchdown run. The key block? Otton taking Tariq Woolen for a ride to the sideline.

Tape watchers know how awesome Otton has been this season, but the Bucs were wise to get back to including him in the passing game too.

Bucs Defense

I’m going to get into the tape and have a more thorough breakdown on the podcast, so I won’t write much here. I have been trying to not be too critical of negative play until I see the tape so I can be fair and balanced.

However, two things stood out to me when watching live on Sunday.

First - Sam Darnold and the Seahawks offense is one of the better units in football. Darnold has played as well as any quarterback this season, and the Seahawks offensive line + Jaxon Smith-Njigba is making a huge leap. Their offensive pieces are all perfectly slotted into roles, and the group is really healthy.

Tampa Bay’s defenders contested a bunch of throws on Sunday, but couldn’t get finishes. How many throws did Darnold rip into a tight window that Bucs defenders had a legit shot at? Jacob Parrish was all over a couple of those throws. The 3rd-and-6 slant to Cooper Kupp on the Seahawks first scoring drive before the half? No idea how that ball got through. The 36-yarder to Dareke Young that hung up in the air and ended up being Young’s third career catch in his fourth season? Parrish was all over it, yet got out-worked for it at the catch point.

How about Antoine Winfield, who flipped his hips to run with JSN down the field, but couldn’t finish at the catch point or through the receiving pocket of the Seahawks star as he came down with the contested catch for 53 yards. Then Winfield had an actual interception taken off the board due to a phantom call on Zyon McCollum too.

So I didn’t think the guys were getting carved up one-on-one or blowing coverages for the most part. The simple reality is that Darnold attempted a ton of throws most quarterbacks can’t or won’t, and the Bucs defensive backs didn’t make enough plays. That was a big part of their struggle.

The other big observation was the pass rush struggles. The Seahawks play less from 11 personnel than any other team in the league, which means a lot of 12 personnel, a lot of max protections and a lot of play action passes with 2-3 routes. So when your guys aren’t making plays on the ball despite having some numbers advantages in coverage without Todd Bowles blitzing a ton, that can hurt a lot, because the front is at a disadvantage.

To my live-viewing eye, Bowles didn’t seem to blitz quite as much as he normally does, probably because Seattle plays with the numbers in protection to pick stuff up. But the Seahawks did seem to go to more 11 personnel at certain points of the game, and I thought the Bucs really missed Calijah Kancey in those spots. Seahawks right guard Anthony Bradford is someone Kancey really could have worked over due to the lineman’s lack of mobility. But the Bucs really don’t have that explosive inside player to create those mismatches.

I’ll have more observations on the podcast, but it seemed like the Bucs needed coverage to win the day given Seattle’s proclivity for heavier protection, and those guys struggled to finish on the ball too often.

[Phantom]

Jesus Christ! Long ass paragraph

[Grahamburn]

Looking at the standing, ooff our D bad. We've given up 132 points and 3 less than the Saints.

Ravens are a worst 177 points against

Lot of points due to really bad special teams play. Seattle started near mid-field multiple times yesterday from poor kick coverage. Two blocked kicks for TDs and another block that led to points.

[Babeinbucland]

I love this man like I have never loved one of our QB’s before