***2025 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Official Season Thread***

[mdb1958]

I'm trying to picture that shoulder hit that he delivered. I wonder if it was a linebacker?

[__Chef__]

I have no idea about ESPN’s evaluation team or process. But I both watched the 9ers live and looked at some game tape. Charlie Heck was one of the worst OTs I’d ever seen attempt to block at the NFL level. It was particularly bad for the 9ers Outside Zone-centric scheme. So when we decided to part with Skule as our depth OT (who played competitively well in relief after his horrendous game 1) for Heck + $470 k…I was…staggered. Decision made zero sense then as it does now.

Heck has been this year what he was last year. PFF trivially has this one correct. ESPN’s evaluation team is consulting some deranged oracle for their grading.

Agreed.

Skule didn't sign a big money deal in Minn either. Continuity and decent play should have been an easy decision to resign him.

[Selmon Rules]

I imagine they thought they could get better than Skule and found out they were wrong, it could get worse

[Pirate Life]

After all of those years of offensive mediocrity, this feels so, so good:

[mdb1958]

How well our line goes is how well our RB's go.

[Doctor]

League ain't ready for when we get Luke, Mike, Jalen, and Bucky back.

[Pirate Life]

League ain't ready for when we get Luke, Mike, Jalen, and Bucky back.

They are lucky Mauch is out for the year honestly.

Now if we could get better play from the linebackers and the DBs holding onto interceptions.... I've given up hoping for better special teams play.

[Babeinbucland]

though I wouldn’t be mad about us taking a substantial lead and staying with that instead.

[Phantom]

After all of those years of offensive mediocrity, this feels so, so good:

15 by Liam Coen, 5 by Josh Grizz

[Xandtar]

After all of those years of offensive mediocrity, this feels so, so good:

It's been playing hell with my constant 13-10 predictions, for sure.

[Phantom]

We need to fix the defense first

[Pirate Life]

After all of those years of offensive mediocrity, this feels so, so good:

It's been playing hell with my constant 13-10 predictions, for sure.

The day you switch it up to 23-20 it'll end up 13-10.

[Sdbucs]

Current PFF rankings for starters… our secondary is good. Our QB is elite. Skill positions are good. Everyone else sucks.

[Babeinbucland]

For our Spanish speaking brother’s and sister’s on this board (it sounds even better in Spanish!)

[Sooner06]

Current PFF rankings for starters… our secondary is good. Our QB is elite. Skill positions are good. Everyone else sucks.

JC, Heck is really bad. I'm trying not to bag on him too much, because it's not like he asked for this, but dear God, he has no business being on the field in the NFL. It's nothing short of amazing that he's been our RT for weeks now and somehow Baker and the rest of the offense have been able to pull off 4 come-from-behind last-minute drives to win those games. It's pretty hard to run a 2-minute/hurryup offense even with healthy players, but to do it multiple times, even consecutive times across consecutive games with PS-level OTs is nothing short of incredible.

[Doooshnzl]

The biggest question in my mind is… how do we fix the pass rush? Or lack of same. Linebacker play is less than optimal, but getting to the qb is a far bigger issue. I have very little hope that our existing edge guys can improve significantly so do shop for better talent or stand pat and just count on outscoring teams? With this offense that might work.

[Sooner06]

The biggest question in my mind is… how do we fix the pass rush? Or lack of same. Linebacker play is less than optimal, but getting to the qb is a far bigger issue. I have very little hope that our existing edge guys can improve significantly so do shop for better talent or stand pat and just count on outscoring teams? With this offense that might work.

i'm just responding to your post for the simple reason that I never actually read your handle, until two minutes ago. Nearly spit my coffee all over the screen. Thx for the lol.


As for your question, I do think that once we get both Evans and Goedeke back, The Bucs will start scoring at least a TD more/gm. That should help out the defense a little.

But i think if Licht doesn't make a trade for Hendrickson (or someone similar), Bowles is going to have to become a wizard at situational football and probably make some calls that will be seen as very risky in microcosm, like run blitzing early and often vs. most NFC teams, and bring pass blitzes as often as possible once TB establishes anything like a two-score lead.

He's going to have to operate the way Spags did back in 2019 or 2022, when he didn't have a great secondary or LB crews, but he did have a great S and DT, plus a few specialists to work with. But the lack of talent across the unit required Spags to blitz a ton, because the Chiefs couldn't generate any consistent pressure with the DL, and the LBs were universally bad at coverage.

This strategy might lead to rotation issues vs. teams that are smart enough to pick up on it and have the ability to run hurryup/no-huddle for extended periods, but looking at the schedule, there's only 3 maybe 4 teams ahead that can probably execute like that, so it might be a viable option.

[Primeminister]

After all of those years of offensive mediocrity, this feels so, so good:

It's been playing hell with my constant 13-10 predictions, for sure.

I expect those predictions to continue. Don’t fuck it up now

[Primeminister]

For our Spanish speaking brother’s and sister’s on this board (it sounds even better in Spanish!)

I salsad.

Would recommend

[Sdbucs]

The biggest question in my mind is… how do we fix the pass rush? Or lack of same. Linebacker play is less than optimal, but getting to the qb is a far bigger issue. I have very little hope that our existing edge guys can improve significantly so do shop for better talent or stand pat and just count on outscoring teams? With this offense that might work.

i'm just responding to your post for the simple reason that I never actually read your handle, until two minutes ago. Nearly spit my coffee all over the screen. Thx for the lol.


As for your question, I do think that once we get both Evans and Goedeke back, The Bucs will start scoring at least a TD more/gm. That should help out the defense a little.

But i think if Licht doesn't make a trade for Hendrickson (or someone similar), Bowles is going to have to become a wizard at situational football and probably make some calls that will be seen as very risky in microcosm, like run blitzing early and often vs. most NFC teams, and bring pass blitzes as often as possible once TB establishes anything like a two-score lead.

He's going to have to operate the way Spags did back in 2019 or 2022, when he didn't have a great secondary or LB crews, but he did have a great S and DT, plus a few specialists to work with. But the lack of talent across the unit required Spags to blitz a ton, because the Chiefs couldn't generate any consistent pressure with the DL, and the LBs were universally bad at coverage.

This strategy might lead to rotation issues vs. teams that are smart enough to pick up on it and have the ability to run hurryup/no-huddle for extended periods, but looking at the schedule, there's only 3 maybe 4 teams ahead that can probably execute like that, so it might be a viable option.

Here are PFF ranked pass rushers through week 5 in order. Edge defenders:

Micah Parsons
Aidan Hutchinson
Myles Garrett
Joey Bosa
Joshua Uche
Danielle Hunter
Will Anderson Jr.
Jared Verse
Trey Hendrickson
------------------------------------------------------90 overall (Elite)-------------------------------------------------
Al-Quadin Muhammad
Nik Bonitto
Bryce Huff
Byron Young
Abdul Carter
Will McDonald IV
Nick Bosa
James Houston
--------------------------80 overall (Great)-----------------------------------------
Josh Hines-Allen
Brian Burns
Za'Darius Smith
Josh Sweat
Lailai Latu
George Karlaftis
Montez Sweat
Jaelan Phillips
Jonathan Greenard
Jonathan Cooper
Jack Herbig
Uchenna Nwosu
Maxx Crosby
Dante Fowler Jr.
Dorance Armstrong
Odafe Oweh
DeMarcus Barnett
Travon Walker
T.J. Watt
Jermaine Johnson
-----------------------------------------------------------70 overall (Above Average)---------------------------------------------------
Jacob Martin
Baron Browning
Alex Wright
Lukas Van Ness
Derick Hall
Samson Ebukam
Nolan Smith
Harold Landry III
Yaya Diaby - 66.7 overall
Zach Collins
Jihad Ward
Arnold Ebiketie
...
...
Haason Reddick - 59.3 overall

Who can we grab?

[Grahamburn]

Joey Bosa way up there is surprising.

Hendrickson is the obvious target. Where’s Thibodeaux? Could call the Giants on him too.

[Grahamburn]

Diaby and Reddick both whiffing Darnold on that 4th down play was obnoxious.

[Sooner06]

Neither Bosa can stay healthy. otherwise, yeah.

[Sooner06]

Diaby and Reddick both whiffing Darnold on that 4th down play was obnoxious.

That play nearly made me puke.

[Bootz]

Licht doesn't do in season trades. But the performances from our edges, while disappointing isn't really surprising.

[Babeinbucland]

Diaby and Reddick both whiffing Darnold on that 4th down play was obnoxious.

They modeled it so well that LVD picked up what they were putting down.




But then he got the INT so I am less mad about it lol

[Sooner06]

Some of those guys are obviously ungett-able, like Myles. And Karlaftis is a complementary EDGE, not good enough (Pass Rush Win Rate, for example) to be a wise choice for us. Plus, he just got paid, so really doubtful he's going to be on the block anyway.


I doubt it'd be doable, but I'd try to get Maxx, if he's available. And he might be by the time the deadline arrives, if LVR keeps losing. i mean, maybe?

[mdb1958]

Licht doesn't do in season trades. But the performances from our edges, while disappointing isn't really surprising.

When the IDL and the OLB's don't compliment each other you have what we have. (For sixty minutes)

[Babeinbucland]

Agree with all of this. Change your name Baker lol

[Doctor]

I could see the Jets moving Will McDonald

[Buc2]

Current PFF rankings for starters… our secondary is good. Our QB is elite. Skill positions are good. Everyone else sucks.

Not sure I agree with the Otten score. He did everything he was supposed to do and did it very well...from blocking in the pass & run game to catching and running with the ball. Should have gotten at least into the light green territory, imo.

[Bootz]

Current PFF rankings for starters… our secondary is good. Our QB is elite. Skill positions are good. Everyone else sucks.

Not sure I agree with the Otten score. He did everything he was supposed to do and did it very well...from blocking in the pass & run game to catching and running with the ball. Should have gotten at least into the light green territory, imo.

He had an illegal formation penalty. I believe they include those in their grading.

[Buc2]

Not sure I agree with the Otten score. He did everything he was supposed to do and did it very well...from blocking in the pass & run game to catching and running with the ball. Should have gotten at least into the light green territory, imo.

He had an illegal formation penalty. I believe they include those in their grading.

That may be. I had forgotten about that. However, iirc, the booth guys both disagreed that it should have been called.

[Grahamburn]

Licht doesn't do in season trades. But the performances from our edges, while disappointing isn't really surprising.

First time for everything.

[Grahamburn]

Diaby and Reddick both whiffing Darnold on that 4th down play was obnoxious.

That play nearly made me puke.

Puke. That's a funny word. Puke.