Monthly Archives: January 2021

Buccaneers

NFC Championship: Injury Report (Wednesday)

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The Buccaneers did not practice Wednesday. The Wednesday practice report is an estimation.
Practice Report
  DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
  Wednesday WR Antonio Brown (knee), LB Jason Pierre-Paul (knee, not injury related)
  LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
  Wednesday WR Mike Evans (knee), WR Chris Godwin (quadricep), RB Ronald Jones (quadricep, finger), CB Sean Murphy-Bunting (quadricep, ankle), S Jordan Whitehead (knee)
  FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
  Wednesday DT Jeremiah Ledbetter (calf), G Ali Marpet (pectoral)
 
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Practice Report
  LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
  Wednesday LB Krys Barnes (thumb), K Mason Crosby (shoulder), RB A.J. Dillon (quadricep), DE Kingsley Keke (concussion), WR Allen Lazard (wrist, back), TE Marcedes Lewis (knee), LB Za’Darius Smith (thumb), WR Equanimeous St. Brown (knee, ankle), G Rick Wagner (knee), RB Jamaal Williams (ankle)
  FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
  Wednesday S Will Redmond (knee)

Source: The National Football League

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Gronkowski plans on staying a Buccaneer

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Rob Gronkowski has already decided to forgo retirement at least one more season and remain a Buccaneer in 2021. Speaking with Willie McGinest of NFL Network, Gronkowski had this to say when asked about coming back next season.

  • “Yeah, you gotta, I feel like this team was built to win right now; it was put together this year to win right now. It always pops up in your mind; you’re thinking about the future a little bit. I can definitely see this team also having a lot of talent come back and have another successful run next year, as well with me.”- Per NFL Network

Tom Brady’s favorite tight end played in all 16 of the regular season games and two playoff games. Hopefully, he will have one more game after this weekend’s NFC Championship game in 2021. Gronkowski, plagued by injury his last few seasons in New England, played a full season for the first time since 2011. His stats, which are ongoing at this point, stand at 45 receptions for 623 yards and 7 touchdowns in the regular season and finishing up only four touchdowns off the regular-season leaders, with eleven. Where number eighty-seven really shined, though, was with his blocking in the passing and the running games. He’s multi-talented and gets the job done in all phases of the position. He’s a complete player, and a selfless player, leaving it all on the field in every game. He’s the type of player you want on the field in important post-season games. None any bigger so far than the Conference Championship

It’s going to be interesting with the Bucs and their salary cap situation and how it will all play out. One thing is a certainty, Jason Licht will do whatever it takes to accommodate the star veteran tight end in 2021. Who knows, we may see one of the current ends. Meanwhile, the Bucs season continues on and takes them to the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field in frigid Wisconsin. Here’s to having one more game to play after that in sunny Tampa, Florida; otherwise known as Home!!! Go Bucs!!!

 

Buccaneers

Cold Weather should not affect the Buccanneers

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After a 30-20 victory over the New Orleans Saints in the divisional round of the 2021 playoffs, the Buccaneers now set their sights to Green Bay to face MVP candidate Aaron Rodgers and a high chemistry Packers team. While Brady and the Bucs toppled the Green Bay Packers in a week 6 38-10 upset (arguable), the teams are wildly different, now.

The Packers finished their season 13-3, clinching the top seed in the NFC playoffs and the first-round bye going into the postseason, and it seems to have benefited them immensely. The Packers crushed the Rams 38-12 in Green Bay, securing another week of post-season home-field advantage. So here we look at what that term really means. To no one’s surprise, the weather in Green Bay at any point of the year is far more favorable than in Tampa Bay, where teams typically face hot temperatures even in September.

The Buccaneers won’t have a large enough freezer to practice in to simulate the cold weather projected in Green Bay, which is sitting at a high of 29 on Sunday with a chance of snow. The Buccaneers will practice in temps in the low 70’s until they fly out.

So to the topic at hand: Will it affect the Bucs? Probably not. Leaders and veterans Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski both have prominent careers thriving in cold-weather football. Brady, unsurprisingly, has a reputation of being one of the best cold weather quarterbacks in football. No doubt these guys will gladly share the info they’ve needed to thrive in January football. While the initial chill will be a shock when they step out of the locker room, the warm-ups, layering, and preparation will be there to prepare the Buccaneers for a showdown. There will be significant challenges, but the cold weather won’t be one.

Players and Rumors

Opening the Toolbox

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While some media sources have classified Coach Arians comments as “shots fired” or “a subtle jab at Bill Belichick”,  these should be acknowledged as a simple admission of reality.

By now, many will have seen or heard the comments made by Buccaneers head coach, Bruce Arians, in relation to allowing Brady to coach in Tampa. The drawing of a comparison between the approach of the Bucs and the Patriots has certainly drawn plenty of comments across social media also.

But why is this becoming a story?

Fans are no stranger to the “coach on the field” trope, so often forced out by networks. Every time a veteran player speaks to a rookie or young player, the line is repeated. Fans have seen it with Payton Manning, Drew Brees, Brian Urlacher, etc. Many veteran players are given the title “coach on the field” whether deserved or not. Young players gravitate towards experienced players, and some veterans have the ability to help these younger guys.

Tom Brady has often been the exception, with his head coach Belichick holding firm on the line that Brady is a player and that the coaches coach. That reality is no longer the reality in Tampa, as the coaches have fully embraced their new QB and ALL of the knowledge and experience that he has. Let us be honest for a brief moment. Tom Brady has been a fixture of the league for a long, long time. Many of the players playing in today’s NFL have no concept of an NFL without Tom Brady. The guy is a larger than life celebrity, and when he talks, people listen.

This isn’t to take anything away from the fine job the coaches are doing. It just makes sense!

Brady has been in the league longer than some coaches and has certainly learned a few things over that time. The fact that Arians and the coaches have realized that they have this unique tool at their disposal and use it. Shows just how committed to the team everyone is.

Players grow up around coaches as soon as they step onto a field. But, playing and learning from one of the true celebrities and GOATs of the game?

That’s not firing shots; that’s just being smart.

Buccaneers

Two More!

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Great victory over our stubborn division rivals! Respect to Drew Brees for sure, but give the Buccaneers credit for a solid team effort!

Devin White. My game MVP! What a difference-maker for our defense! White was all over the field, making key plays in the game, which turned the tide!

I’m so glad that we rose above the poor calls by the refs and made the plays that made the bad calls a non-factor! Looking forward to the Frozen Tundra, Brady knows how to handle the elements, and his style of offense is perfect for it!

My keys to Victory: First and foremost… get Rodgers very uncomfortable! Second? Protect Brady! I feel if we win these two areas of the matchup, we’ll win!

My bold prediction is… Bucs 24 Packers 17 Playoffs!

With (2) wins and a regular-season record of (11-5), this has surely been a great season! As always, Go Bucs!

Opinion Editorial

Hats off to Bruce Arians for the win in NOLA

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The lights of the Superdome have barely begun to dim as I write this piece. The defense showed up and set up the offense time after time. Devin White showed up and proved many in the fan base wrong about his demise. Murphy-Bunting and Carlton Davis played lights out as well. There isn’t enough room in this article to laud the defensive stars that contributed. The best way to describe it, they showed up big time as a unit. They turned their weakness into a strength, keeping Brees limited to short passes all game. The lone deep ball, coming from none other than Jameis Winston using a play stolen from the Bears game the week before. It was really the only play where the defense was badly beaten. Todd Bowles had this unit well-prepared for this one; that there is no doubt.

Patting the entire defensive unit and staff for this win is the obvious reaction. Not so fast; there is another back slap needed from this game on the offensive side; coach Bruce Arians and Byron Leftwich for not abandoning the run game, even when we fell behind by seven. All season long, we watched as the offense seemingly left the run game in the dust as the game went on, but not in this one, though. They made the run an actual part of the game plan and not an afterthought in the second half. The Saints effectively took away our deep ball connections save the one ball to Scotty Miller. Taking what the defense gives you has never really been something that Bruce Arians has been accustomed to doing. He’s used to dictating what’s what when we have the ball. So my game ball goes to Bruce Arians for going against his own tendencies and continuing to pound the rock. Fournette again showed he’s capable of picking up small chunks of yardage consistently. Jones, still somewhat hampered by injury, came in and contributed mightily, showing he is still the number one guy in the run game. Capable of busting it to the house at any moment. When his contract is up in 2022, the Bucs should do whatever it takes to keep him a Buccaneer for a long time.

Not to be forgotten, a few atta-boys

Aaron Stinnie getting the start for an injured Alex Cappa save for one play was never an issue in protection. Tyler Johnson for a superhuman grab when we needed it. The rest of the offensive line for their usual greatness. Donovan Smith has officially won me over to his side. I hope we can bring back everyone on the o-line for next season. Finally to Scotty Miller for a great catch for a first down when we needed that as well. It was a team win, with players showing up left and right to contribute to one of the greatest wins in team history. Make no mistake about it, no matter what happens on the frozen tundra next week in Green Bay. This was one for the books and should always be counted as one of the very best wins in team history. After all, it was against those dancing Saints, our biggest rival and division nemesis. Who Dat? Indeed! Go Bucs

Buccaneers

How hard is it to beat the same team three times in one season?

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Since the NFL merged in 1970, there have been 21 instances where a division rival has swept a team in the regular season and then met that same team in the playoffs for the third showdown. Drum roll, please. And your answer is 14 out of 21 times – The sweeping team beat the other in the playoffs. So I guess it’s actually not very hard to whip a team three times in a season. We will still have the Brady factor in play, and he hasn’t lost three times to the same team in the same season ever. So let’s latch onto that and claim that truth. This is going to be one heck of a game. It will all be left on the field tonight. I’m sure of it! Go Bucs!!

Buccaneers

Bucs @ Saints: Divisional Playoff Injury Report

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TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Status Report
OUT DT Jeremiah Ledbetter (calf)
QUESTIONABLE: S Andrew Adams (not injury related), RB Ronald Jones (quadricep, finger), S Jordan Whitehead (knee)
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday G Alex Cappa (ankle), RB Ronald Jones (quadricep, finger), DT Jeremiah Ledbetter (calf), LB Jason Pierre-Paul (knee)
Thursday S Andrew Adams (not injury related), G Alex Cappa (ankle), DT Jeremiah Ledbetter (calf), LB Jason Pierre-Paul (knee)
Friday S Andrew Adams (not injury related), WR Chris Godwin (hip, quadricep), DT Jeremiah Ledbetter (calf), LB Jason Pierre-Paul (knee), DT Ndamukong Suh (not injury related)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday CB Carlton Davis (groin), WR Mike Evans (knee), WR Chris Godwin (hip, quadricep)
Thursday CB Carlton Davis (groin), WR Mike Evans (knee), WR Chris Godwin (hip, quadricep), RB Ronald Jones (quadricep, finger)
Friday WR Mike Evans (knee), RB Ronald Jones (quadricep, finger), S Jordan Whitehead (knee)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday RB LeSean McCoy (illness)
Thursday RB LeSean McCoy (illness)
Friday CB Carlton Davis (groin), G Ali Marpet (pectoral), RB LeSean McCoy (illness)
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Status Report
OUT CB Patrick Robinson (hamstring)
QUESTIONABLE: OL Will Clapp (not injury related), ​QB Taysom Hill (knee), RB Latavius Murray (quadricep)
Practice Report
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Wednesday QB Taysom Hill (knee), RB Latavius Murray (quadricep), CB Patrick Robinson (hamstring)
Thursday QB Taysom Hill (knee), RB Latavius Murray (quadricep), CB Patrick Robinson (hamstring)
Friday OL Will Clapp (not injury related), CB Patrick Robinson (hamstring)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday T Terron Armstead (elbow), TE Jared Cook (back), DE Trey Hendrickson (neck)
Thursday T Terron Armstead (elbow), TE Jared Cook (back), DE Trey Hendrickson (neck)
Friday QB Taysom Hill (knee), RB Latavius Murray (quadricep)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Friday T Terron Armstead (elbow), TE Jared Cook (back), DE Trey Hendrickson (neck)

Source: The National Football League

Buccaneers

Bucs should have the edge this time around.

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I wonder how many times we have heard, or read “It’s tough to beat a team three times in a season” over the last few days? Probably enough to pull your hair out I’m guessing. As aggravating as this phrase is, there is some truth in it. Odds wise I believe it probably doesn’t happen a bunch, although it’s not uncommon. There is another factoid that adds strength to it as well. Tom Brady has never lost to a team three times in a season during his illustrious career. That means neither has Gronk. The fact it’s been so long since we last made the playoffs, the players that were drafted here haven’t lost three times to the same team either. One of the things that have to happen is the same for each team. You have to rattle the other team’s quarterback. You have to get some penetration and pop Brees as often as possible. Force him into throws he doesn’t want to make. It was really the same formula that was used to body slam the Packers in the early going of this season. It all starts upfront, and missing Vea is no excuse for not making some things happen. Whichever team can get into the other’s backfield the most and disrupt and harass should take this one. Brady and Brees are both good at getting the ball out quick, so it’s going to be a challenge for both sides. It doesn’t hurt that our offense has seemingly found its groove since the bye week. Our skill position players have settled into their roles, and we are better on that side of the ball than we were the last time we faced the Saints.

I also believe that the Saints are going to be overconfident, and will take us somewhat lightly. How could they not, really. They have had their way with us, and they have disrespected us. That fact also gives us a boost in “Want to”. Every player on this team remembers the juvenile dance party that the Saints put on after blowing us out the last time. This is our chance to shove it down their throat, and I would like to think that’s going to give us a boost as well. I have no misgivings about how tough it’s going to be to get this win. If we do pull it out, it will do wonders for our confidence moving forward; and would be just what this team needs in a season that has seen losses to playoff-caliber teams throughout the schedule. When playing almost any sport, the mental edge cannot be discounted. It’s often the difference in matchups when both teams are loaded with talent. This is certainly the case here.

To go along with that mental advantage, they need to give the Saints a heavy dose of Jones and Fournette and not abandon those efforts, even if some of those touches are of the passing sort. Getting the ball in the hands of the running backs, I believe, will make a big difference if we can produce any kind of success on that front. So, if they don’t shy from the run, and Brady is Brady, and we can get pressure on Brees, the Bucs will leave New Orleans as winners. We have a chip on our shoulder going into this one, and I believe that gives us the advantage and the win. Bucs in a shootout, 38-34. Go Bucs!!

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Eagles Requested Todd Bowles Interview For Head Coach

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The NFL is, always has been, and always will be a copycat league. When someone has something nice and shiny, the other 31 teams start coveting it.

Right now, Tampa has that shiny thing in the shape of defensive coordinator, Todd Bowles. With the playing season over for 18 franchises, the time has come to make changes to try and rectify that issue for the next year.

Among the teams that have made serious enquires about the interest of Bowles are, the Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions, and Philadelphia Eagles, who Bowles has a history with as interim defensive coordinator in 2012 after being promoted from secondary coach. The interest in Todd Bowles shouldn’t be surprising to anyone associated with the Buccaneers, the new look Bucs defense has been dominant in plenty of statistics, as well as showing the ability to make decisive plays. It is fair to say that Bowles has been successful where he has been as a coordinator and this pedigree is certainly going to turn heads around the league.

But what of Bowles head coaching pedigree?

Back in 2011, Bowles was thrust into action as the Miami Dolphins interim head coach, finishing with a record of 2-1. It wouldn’t be until 2015 that Bowles would get another shot at the big job, when Rex Ryan was fired by the New York Jets. That first season was full of promise as the Jets thought they had their head coach sorted, finishing 10-6 and agonizingly out of the playoffs.

Sadly, that was the high point as the Jets would finish 24-40 during Bowles tenure. Despite the total head coaching record of 26-41 as a head coach, Bowles ability to scheme a terrifying defense is without question and teams, such as the Eagles, will be hoping that Todd Bowles can make the transition from defensive coordinator extraordinaire, to the next great head coach.