Dolphins @ Buccaneers Discussion

[CannonFire]

I'm hoping yesterday was a wake up call. This team has really been feeling themselves lately. I think this week will not be a close game. We were able to get the run game involved offensively so that should help us balance things out. I expect a convincing win this week.

Someone hoped that the Rams game was going to be a wake-up call. I think (humor) the team keeps hitting the snooze button. In reality, I think the defense is hurting due to injuries but they were not all that much better the first game.

Yeah, I know we're thin in the secondary right now, and I get it, but it's not just that. Receivers are open within 5 yards. Come on, the guys they have can't stick to their man for 5 yards? These guys can't be that bad. Bowles needs to do something to address that.

[AJPG]

It would be nice not to have to worry about Waddle and Fuller.

[13F11B]

Bingo. Half the board had this team going 17-0. Seriously, check the thread. As we know, this is very close to the same team that crushed KC in the Super Bowl after upending NO and GB. But this is also the same team that lost 3 out of 4 in the month of November, beginning with a 38-3 drubbing at home. Those are the clippings of your world champs.

We should beat the Dolphins, but we do have obvious problems going on. No need to rehash them, but they are not "want-to" problems. Regardless, I don't see how the Dolphins hold this offense under 30. I also don't see how we stop the Dolphins from dinking and dunking us to death. It might be a painful game to watch, but absent some turnovers, they'll do enough to keep it respectable - if not a decently close/one-score game. Just get the W and get healthier.

I am disappointed by the loss to the Rams but the Rams are a solid team. The games against the Falcons and the Cowboys worry me a bit but they are good passing teams so they were able to exploit the Buccaneers' weakness. It will be interesting to see how the team performs against the Dolphins. This game, more than the others, may give us a real insight into the quality of the team going forward. The injuries are a bit concerning since they are so concentrated.

[AJPG]

Bingo. Half the board had this team going 17-0. Seriously, check the thread. As we know, this is very close to the same team that crushed KC in the Super Bowl after upending NO and GB. But this is also the same team that lost 3 out of 4 in the month of November, beginning with a 38-3 drubbing at home. Those are the clippings of your world champs.

We should beat the Dolphins, but we do have obvious problems going on. No need to rehash them, but they are not "want-to" problems. Regardless, I don't see how the Dolphins hold this offense under 30. I also don't see how we stop the Dolphins from dinking and dunking us to death. It might be a painful game to watch, but absent some turnovers, they'll do enough to keep it respectable - if not a decently close/one-score game. Just get the W and get healthier.

I am disappointed by the loss to the Rams but the Rams are a solid team. The games against the Falcons and the Cowboys worry me a bit but they are good passing teams so they were able to exploit the Buccaneers' weakness. It will be interesting to see how the team performs against the Dolphins. This game, more than the others, may give us a real insight into the quality of the team going forward. The injuries are a bit concerning since they are so concentrated.

It won't matter. If they beat them by one score, the team is taking things for granted, they're not a contending team, blah, blah, blah. If it's a rout, MIA sucked, anyone can beat them, not a sign of anything, blah, blah, blah. You know who I'm talking about.

[nybf]

I heard some talkimg heads today, I want to say it was that "Undisputed" show with Shannon Sharpe and Skip something-or-other.

Not sure what's worse: admitting to watching that garbage or watching so many hot take shows that you forget whose hot take you're spreading.

[IronDog]

I heard some talkimg heads today, I want to say it was that "Undisputed" show with Shannon Sharpe and Skip something-or-other.

Not sure what's worse: admitting to watching that garbage or watching so many hot take shows that you forget whose hot take you're spreading.

A drive-by viewing.....yeah, that's it, drive-by.....

[Dread]

The nature of the NFL is that teams, even great teams, aren't their best version of themselves for all 17 games + the playoffs.

We see it every single year where teams peak at different times. Last year the Saints were the best team in the NFL in OCT-NOV imo while at the same time the Bucs were barely looking like a Wild Card contender.

The only issue I see with this Bucs team right now is the secondary, and given the injuries and how early it is in the season I think it's understandable. Perhaps if we all didn't see how our secondary played in DEC-JAN of last season I'd be more concerned in their ability to correct it. But as long as we can get our top 3 CBs back healthy I have confidence in the coaching and talent in the secondary to make the adjustments.

Other than that our defensive front 7 is dominating, Our Oline is protecting Brady, we have elite targets in the passing game, and if our OC would call more runs we'd likely run the ball alot better.

The standard/expectations have been raised for the Bucs, which I get comes from winning a Super Bowl. But just b/c this team doesn't look like how we did in the Super Bowl in first month of the season isn't a reason for the panic.

Injuries are the only thing that worry me and to this point even though the quantity of injuries have been high, all the players should return that are currently out.

We're 3-1 with a very favorable SoS remaining where only the Bills look to be a playoff team (Maybe the Panthers of Saints). So we're in great position to chase the #1 seed in the NFC.

We have the greatest leader and QB in NFL history on our team and the coaches and roster to get it done. Let's stop the overreaction b/c we're not our best in September.

Last I checked no trophies are handed out until February.

[Babeinbucland]

I really think we can win this game convincingly if we take things seriously. We're 3-1, absolutely. But it's clear and obvious that the team is still riding the high of winning the Super Bowl. You have to know that teams aren't going to lay down for you. Nothing is going to get handed to you. We have to play up to our competition for 4 quarters. Credit all 4 of our opponents for competing as hard as they did. Now the Bucs have to turn it up and get going.

Yeah, that is true of EVERY game

[Pirate Life]

Dolphins defense is very shaky, even with two of the better corners in the game. They're worse at getting off the field on third down than the Buc's D. Byron Jones dealing with a quad injury helps out our offense. Interestingly, Jones is one of the CBs some pundits think we should try to trade for. I don't think they have much to worry about with their front seven, but other than the occasional RedZone footage of other teams scoring on them I haven't seen much of their games.

[Tnbandwagoner]

Someone hoped that the Rams game was going to be a wake-up call. I think (humor) the team keeps hitting the snooze button. In reality, I think the defense is hurting due to injuries but they were not all that much better the first game.

Yeah, I know we're thin in the secondary right now, and I get it, but it's not just that. Receivers are open within 5 yards. Come on, the guys they have can't stick to their man for 5 yards? These guys can't be that bad. Bowles needs to do something to address that.

I saw a few days ago where we're 31st or 32nd in pass defense. To me, that's just a level that screams bad playcalling and scheming. Like insisting on single-covering Cooper Kupp for an entire game despite the fact he's catching another TD pass every thirty seconds. I get that we have a lot of guys out due to injury; but someone who supposedly is one of the best DCs in the league should be able to get better than last-in-the-league results even from guys off the bench. Have we dropped eight into coverage even once this year? He seems to take it as a personal affront that he might have to adjust his scheme during a game.

[Tnbandwagoner]

The nature of the NFL is that teams, even great teams, aren't their best version of themselves for all 17 games + the playoffs.

We see it every single year where teams peak at different times. Last year the Saints were the best team in the NFL in OCT-NOV imo while at the same time the Bucs were barely looking like a Wild Card contender.

The only issue I see with this Bucs team right now is the secondary, and given the injuries and how early it is in the season I think it's understandable. Perhaps if we all didn't see how our secondary played in DEC-JAN of last season I'd be more concerned in their ability to correct it. But as long as we can get our top 3 CBs back healthy I have confidence in the coaching and talent in the secondary to make the adjustments.

Other than that our defensive front 7 is dominating, Our Oline is protecting Brady, we have elite targets in the passing game, and if our OC would call more runs we'd likely run the ball alot better.

The standard/expectations have been raised for the Bucs, which I get comes from winning a Super Bowl. But just b/c this team doesn't look like how we did in the Super Bowl in first month of the season isn't a reason for the panic.

Injuries are the only thing that worry me and to this point even though the quantity of injuries have been high, all the players should return that are currently out.

We're 3-1 with a very favorable SoS remaining where only the Bills look to be a playoff team (Maybe the Panthers of Saints). So we're in great position to chase the #1 seed in the NFC.

We have the greatest leader and QB in NFL history on our team and the coaches and roster to get it done. Let's stop the overreaction b/c we're not our best in September.

Last I checked no trophies are handed out until February.

I was with you until you got to the front seven dominating part. I would remind you of the first three games. One sack in three games is not just bad, it's stealing-money bad.

There's a post somewhere in this thread belittling posts I (and perhaps others) have made suggesting we have players on the D that have been too busy reading their press clippings. I invite anyone to give me an example from any unit on any team in the history of the NFL that's a better example of that than our front seven in the first three games this season. They looked somewhat better Sunday; they got three sacks against a good OL, though the Pats' best and biggest lineman was out. But they looked awful the first three games. If they had shown up even a little against the Rams that game could have gone very differently. Stafford probably salted away the jersey from that game as the cleanest he's ever had after four quarters.

[acmillis]

This game should be similar to the Falcons game

[mdb1958]

I think we may be giving up far to many first downs thru the air on 1st and 2nd down.

27 first downs on 3rd down
41 first downs on 1st or 2nd down

Total 68

[mdb1958]

Espn power rankings - is this true?


4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1)
Previous ranking: 2


Biggest surprise: The large number of injuries

Why it's a surprise: After making it all the way to the Super Bowl and winning, the Buccaneers had a terrific training camp in terms of injuries. That luck has changed quickly, with all three starting cornerbacks potentially out now after Carlton Davis left their Week 4 win against the Patriots with a quad injury. In addition, Jason Pierre-Paul has missed multiple games with rib fractures, and Antoine Winfield Jr. has entered the concussion protocol. The once-strong defense has taken a big hit four weeks in. -- Jenna Laine

[nybf]

Stop paying attention to espn.

Stop paying attention to power rankings.

[Cheb]

Yeah, I know we're thin in the secondary right now, and I get it, but it's not just that. Receivers are open within 5 yards. Come on, the guys they have can't stick to their man for 5 yards? These guys can't be that bad. Bowles needs to do something to address that.

I saw a few days ago where we're 31st or 32nd in pass defense. To me, that's just a level that screams bad playcalling and scheming. Like insisting on single-covering Cooper Kupp for an entire game despite the fact he's catching another TD pass every thirty seconds. I get that we have a lot of guys out due to injury; but someone who supposedly is one of the best DCs in the league should be able to get better than last-in-the-league results even from guys off the bench. Have we dropped eight into coverage even once this year? He seems to take it as a personal affront that he might have to adjust his scheme during a game.

All three of our opening day and Superbowl champion starting cornerbacks are injured, and we have the best run defense for the third year in a row.

Of course teams are going to throw it on us. The only team to even somewhat try is the Rams, and they had little success until the game was iced away.

Until we get our cornerback room into some balance of normal, our passing defense is going to be our Achilles' heel. And it probably will be even then, because no one wants to waste a down running into Vea and his friends.

The sky isn't falling. It ain't perfect, but we will be okay.

[Grahamburn]

Thrilled they’ll be at home. The offense has performed much more efficiently in Raymond James. The majority of road games last year were played in front of empty seats. Fans and weather have certainly impacted that efficiency in the last two contests.

[MJW]

Thrilled they’ll be at home. The offense has performed much more efficiently in Raymond James. The majority of road games last year were played in front of empty seats. Fans and weather have certainly impacted that efficiency in the last two contests.

2 of the next 3, with a trip to Chicago (and hopefully decent weather) in-between.

Entirely possible we go into the big Saints game 6-1.

[King Bootz]

Thrilled they’ll be at home. The offense has performed much more efficiently in Raymond James. The majority of road games last year were played in front of empty seats. Fans and weather have certainly impacted that efficiency in the last two contests.

Our last 2 opponents also have 2 of the top defenses in football. They probably play better at home as well. No coincidence there IMO.

[Dread]

We have to get better on defense at getting off the field on 3rd down. That's what killed us in the Rams game when they went 10/15 on 3rd down.

The Bucs defense is still near the bottom of the NFL on opponents 3rd down conversion %, even with holding the Pats to 2/9 Sunday night.

The ranking for passing yards against doesn't really bother me since teams abandon their run game and almost voluntarily make themselves one dimensional on offense against us. Thus we have by far the most passing attempts against us.

So a better stat imo for those concerned about our pass defense would be what the opponents Yards Per Attempt is, and how that ranks. Which for the Bucs is 17th out of 32, which is league average.

Bowles has the philosophy to make teams one dimensional and in doing so banking on getting drive killing sacks or holding penalties and ideally some INTs or Sack fumbles.

Making team one-dimensional also makes it very difficult for them to convert normally high % short yardage situations as well as makes it difficult for them to salt the games away in the 4th quarter if they have the lead buy running it down our throat and keep the clock running.

With the talent and leadership on the roster this Bucs team can go toe to toe with any opponent, so winning games just comes down to what most NFL games do which is

Turnover ratio
Red Zone efficiency
3rd down %

Right now our 3rd down defense thru 4 games is an area we need to improve on. I've never seen a good defense that wasn't good on 3rd down.

[Tnbandwagoner]

I saw a few days ago where we're 31st or 32nd in pass defense. To me, that's just a level that screams bad playcalling and scheming. Like insisting on single-covering Cooper Kupp for an entire game despite the fact he's catching another TD pass every thirty seconds. I get that we have a lot of guys out due to injury; but someone who supposedly is one of the best DCs in the league should be able to get better than last-in-the-league results even from guys off the bench. Have we dropped eight into coverage even once this year? He seems to take it as a personal affront that he might have to adjust his scheme during a game.

All three of our opening day and Superbowl champion starting cornerbacks are injured, and we have the best run defense for the third year in a row.

Of course teams are going to throw it on us. The only team to even somewhat try is the Rams, and they had little success until the game was iced away.

Until we get our cornerback room into some balance of normal, our passing defense is going to be our Achilles' heel. And it probably will be even then, because no one wants to waste a down running into Vea and his friends.

The sky isn't falling. It ain't perfect, but we will be okay.

I get that our CBs are a MASH unit. Hopefully Santa Claus brings us somebody named Gilmore in the next few days.

It just seems to me that between Barrett and White and David, all of whom are supposed to be some of the elite players at their positions in the league, we should've been able to get some semblance of a pass rush every now and then. It was better Sunday; hopefully it continues to be better.

[CannonFire]

I saw a few days ago where we're 31st or 32nd in pass defense. To me, that's just a level that screams bad playcalling and scheming. Like insisting on single-covering Cooper Kupp for an entire game despite the fact he's catching another TD pass every thirty seconds. I get that we have a lot of guys out due to injury; but someone who supposedly is one of the best DCs in the league should be able to get better than last-in-the-league results even from guys off the bench. Have we dropped eight into coverage even once this year? He seems to take it as a personal affront that he might have to adjust his scheme during a game.

All three of our opening day and Superbowl champion starting cornerbacks are injured, and we have the best run defense for the third year in a row.

Of course teams are going to throw it on us. The only team to even somewhat try is the Rams, and they had little success until the game was iced away.

Until we get our cornerback room into some balance of normal, our passing defense is going to be our Achilles' heel. And it probably will be even then, because no one wants to waste a down running into Vea and his friends.

The sky isn't falling. It ain't perfect, but we will be okay.

I don't think that the sky is falling, but I think there's room for Bowles (and Leftwich), to improve. Even with our injuries, our defense is still mediocre, but their production is below average.

On offense, there has to be plays in the playbook that doesn't involve everyone who's going out for a pass to be over 20 yards downfield. Leftwich needs to do better at calling plays. Brady isn't perfect, but he's like a kid in a candy store with a bunch of hundred dollar bills. You give him Evans, Godwin, Brown, and Gronk and tell him to throw it to whomever he wants, he's going to bust a nut because he's never had that. He'll get greedy. We become predictable with defenses just dropping back because no one is within 10 yards of the L.O.S.

Brady is #1 in the NFL in IAY and 18th in YAC (for his WR's). This is a complete 180 from his career. Brady is a surgeon. He's precise, he's quicks, and he's efficient. That's NOT what's happening early on. Too many guys are going downfield too much. Gotta start calling plays where there's only one deep option and not 3. It's also going to put added pressure on the OLine to hold blocks longer which increases the likelihood of injuries. Fortunately, we're not seeing a lot of that because the opponent DLines haven't been that good, but that's going to change in the coming weeks. While the Dolphins can't stop the run, they can pressure the QB. While the Eagles secondary and LB's stink, their line is pretty strong. Then it's the Bears and Saints who have good lines as well. Play calling needs to improve.

Right now, we're winning based on pure talent, not scheme or efficiency. That'll be fine against the Falcons, Pats, Dolphins, Eagles, etc, but against the good teams... LA, GB, SEA, KC, BUF? Not so much. We're fortunate to not have many good teams on our schedule, but come playoff time, there won't be any pushovers and these issues need to be addressed for them to have a legit shot at repeating.

[Dread]

I don't know that our pass rush hasn't been good. In watching the games I don't get the sense that QBs are sitting in the pocket for over 3 seconds with regularity.

If a QB can get rid of the ball in less that 3 seconds then that is on the coverage. If he's able to sit in the pocket for over 3 seconds reading the defense and letting his receivers work themselves open then that is on the pass rush.

Imo the issue for the Bucs defense has been coverage related.

So imo we need to play tighter in the secondary. The risk of doing so is getting the ball thrown over your head if the pass rush can't get to the QB quick enough. But at this point I think we need to take those chances and have faith in the guys in the front 7.

We'll see.. I just think we're giving too much room for receivers to run in the secondary instead of getting in their face at the LoS.

[Grahamburn]

Thrilled they’ll be at home. The offense has performed much more efficiently in Raymond James. The majority of road games last year were played in front of empty seats. Fans and weather have certainly impacted that efficiency in the last two contests.

2 of the next 3, with a trip to Chicago (and hopefully decent weather) in-between.

Entirely possible we go into the big Saints game 6-1.

Chicago is at home. They go to Philly on Thursday night after the game against the Dolphins.

[Grahamburn]

I don't know that our pass rush hasn't been good. In watching the games I don't get the sense that QBs are sitting in the pocket for over 3 seconds with regularity.

If a QB can get rid of the ball in less that 3 seconds then that is on the coverage. If he's able to sit in the pocket for over 3 seconds reading the defense and letting his receivers work themselves open then that is on the pass rush.

Imo the issue for the Bucs defense has been coverage related.

So imo we need to play tighter in the secondary. The risk of doing so is getting the ball thrown over your head if the pass rush can't get to the QB quick enough. But at this point I think we need to take those chances and have faith in the guys in the front 7.

We'll see.. I just think we're giving too much room for receivers to run in the secondary instead of getting in their face at the LoS.

Exactly this. Rush can't get home when receivers are uncovering immediately off the line of scrimmage.

[Grahamburn]

Play the corners tighter with safety and LB help in coverage. Rush 4. Especially with the QB's we're about to face. Make them throw into tighter windows down the field instead of giving them so many easy quick throws.

[King Bootz]

Watch the A22. I fear the day we play an offense that can beat you deep. Our deep coverage is bad. Way too often it's safeties matched up 1 on 1 with WRs. Big armed QBs can beat this defense. We saw Stafford do it.

[Caradoc]

https://nextgenstats.nfl.com/charts/lis ... 021/3/pass

[CannonFire]

https://nextgenstats.nfl.com/charts/lis ... 021/3/pass

I think this proves my point exactly. Of Stafford's 27 completions, 20 of them were within 7 yards of the LOS. Looks at Dak's from Week 1, it's more of the same. Same with Ryan and Jones.

Dak: https://nextgenstats.nfl.com/charts/lis ... 021/1/pass
Ryan: https://nextgenstats.nfl.com/charts/lis ... 021/2/pass
Jones: https://nextgenstats.nfl.com/charts/lis ... 021/1/pass

Jones completed 27 passes, of which, 23 were within 7 yards. Seriously? That's a lot of first and second read's open really early. That's a scheme/coaching issue, not a talent/execution issue.

[Sdbucs]

Watch the A22. I fear the day we play an offense that can beat you deep. Our deep coverage is bad. Way too often it's safeties matched up 1 on 1 with WRs. Big armed QBs can beat this defense. We saw Stafford do it.

Felt like every pass Stafford completed vs us was a little 3-5 yarder.

Was he truly beating us deep?

[King Bootz]

Watch the A22. I fear the day we play an offense that can beat you deep. Our deep coverage is bad. Way too often it's safeties matched up 1 on 1 with WRs. Big armed QBs can beat this defense. We saw Stafford do it.

Felt like every pass Stafford completed vs us was a little 3-5 yarder.

Was he truly beating us deep?

4-6 for 138 yards and a TD on passes that traveled 20 yards+ in the air.

[CannonFire]

Felt like every pass Stafford completed vs us was a little 3-5 yarder.

Was he truly beating us deep?

4-6 for 138 yards and a TD on passes that traveled 20 yards+ in the air.

... and 20-23 with 3 TD's on passes that traveled 7 yards or less in the air. So yeah, he was killing us with the little stuff.

[King Bootz]

Someone stated in the Gilmore thread that BA said SMB and CD3 were no where near returning. I think that was some posturing by BA to maybe make a play for Gilmore. SMB is already on I.R. but CD3 is not. If he truly were "no where near returning" he would be put on I.R. as well. The new rules allow for an unlimited number of players to return from I.R.

[acmillis]

Someone stated in the Gilmore thread that BA said SMB and CD3 were no where near returning. I think that was some posturing by BA to maybe make a play for Gilmore. SMB is already on I.R. but CD3 is not. If he truly were "no where near returning" he would be put on I.R. as well. The new rules allow for an unlimited number of players to return from I.R.

As long as CD3 is on IR by Saturday, it doesn’t matter if we put him on IR last Sunday or this coming Saturday, he can come back at the same time… no need to put him on IR before Saturday

[MJW]

Someone stated in the Gilmore thread that BA said SMB and CD3 were no where near returning. I think that was some posturing by BA to maybe make a play for Gilmore. SMB is already on I.R. but CD3 is not. If he truly were "no where near returning" he would be put on I.R. as well. The new rules allow for an unlimited number of players to return from I.R.

As long as CD3 is on IR by Saturday, it doesn’t matter if we put him on IR last Sunday or this coming Saturday, he can come back at the same time… no need to put him on IR before Saturday

Yeah, they're probably going to wait to make that call.

I honestly wish, given the nature of the injury, that they'd rest him as long as reasonable. I'd be fine with letting him miss the next four games plus the bye, if it means this isn't going to be a lingering issue in the second half.