Tag Archives: nfl 2020

Fan Feature

Buccaholics Takeover: Coming to an NFL city near you

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Last week, teams around the league released their schedules for the upcoming season. For some fans, it’s just a time to put up their predictions, other fans begin planning out tailgates, but for Bucs fans, it’s scheduling what is simply known as “Takeover”. With home game hospitality from groups like WhatTheBuc, Buccaneer Invasion/Leatherheads, along with others.

Every season, the Buccaholics greet Buccaneers fans from all over with such great hospitality. The yearly trips to Carolina, Atlanta, and New Orleans are always a must for fans to attend at least once, but there’s nothing like a Buccaholics Takeover. Last season witnessed a Takeover like no other as fans traveled with the team to places like Los Angeles, London, Seattle and Jacksonville within a 7-week road trip to cheer on their beloved Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Fans from all over gathered to create some memories as what is known as “Fan Family“.

This season will be quite different though due to the pandemic, as teams and fans could witness a season with no fans or fans to a limited capacity as there will probably continue to be a “social-distance” as fans could still be forced to abide by the six-foot rule. But that’s not stopping Buc fans and Buccaholics Matt Grisham(Colorado) and Mike “Mooky Bucs’ Tiss(Nevada) from planning “Takeovers” in their respected states as the Bucs travel to Denver on September 27th and Las Vegas October 25th to the brand new state of the art Allegiant Stadium.

Regardless of how things happen, you can still rest assured that the Takeovers will be well documented as the Buccaneers have recently garnered the spotlight since the signing of Tom Brady and trade for Rob Gronkowski while generating five Primetime games this upcoming season.

For more information on the Buccaholics or the upcoming Takeovers, follow the Buccaholics on Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat (Buccaholicsfam).

Buccaneers

Buccaneers Defense 2020: There’s a new dog on the porch

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After the 2019 Bucs defense found themselves towards the end of last year, there may not have been a better defense in the NFL. The Bucs showed early on in the season that they would be a stingy unit against the run. They held the rank of #1 run defense for most of last season. The only thing that was missing was the defensive backfield getting it together and playing to their potential for most of the season.

However, there is no denying that after Vernon Hargreaves III was let go for week 9’s lackluster performance against the Cardinals that the pass coverage began to come together. The emergence of Jamel Dean; played a big part in that turnaround, and Carlton Davis and Murphy-Bunting’s play also was inspiring, leading me to a feeling that this coverage unit is going to be special just like the rest of the Bucs 2020 unit. The Safety position; which includes Jordan Whitehead and Mike Edwards also seems to continually improve during last season’s campaign.

Last season was by far General Manager Jason Licht’s best draft since coming to Tampa. I will carry that thought several steps forward like I have before and venture to say that not only was this Jason Licht’s best draft but possibly the very best draft the Bucs have ever pulled off, even eclipsing the 1995 NFL Draft that saw Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks getting their eye patches. We all know that the 1995 draft yielded the aforementioned Bucs their tickets to Canton after their careers ended. I don’t think I’m going out on much of a limb in saying that Devin White – if he is able to avoid career-killing injuries – will, in my opinion, join them in the Hall of Fame. The other player from that draft that I think could join Devin White – if injuries don’t derail him as well – is Jamel Dean. If this information is surprising to you, then you are in store for some fantastic football this season.

From what I saw last season, especially from the rookies, this is a defense that will rank as a top 3-4 unit. This will be a defense that can help pave the road to a Super Bowl. They are every going to be every bit as good as needed to be. Shhhhhhhh, I actually believe the Bucs will be tops in the NFL in defense next season. Making claims like that can bring you ridicule if you are wrong, but the flip side to that is if they are tops next season, or right there near it, it will back me up as knowing what I’m talking about. Don’t be afraid to talk up the Bucs.

Buccaneers

New QB, New Threads, New Era

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The 2019 season was definitely a roller coaster for Bruce Arians and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers going 7-9 and missing the post-season for a 12th straight season. Former Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston set franchise records (passing yards and touchdowns) along with being only the 8th player in NFL history to throw for 5,000+ yards in a season while being the founder of the 30/30 club. Along with that, OLB Shaq Barrett is the new franchise leader in sacks after posting 19.5 sacks (breaking Warren Sapp’s 16.5 set back in 2000). On offense, Chris Godwin became one of the best break out receivers in the league, posting 1,333 yards and 9 touchdowns in only 14 games, while Mike Evans posted his 6th straight 1,000-yard season amassing 1,157 yards and 8 TD’s in 13 games.

I’ll admit that when the news broke of Tom Brady and the Patriots parting ways after 20 seasons, it was a huge surprise. But the fact that the Bucs and Winston were parting ways made it clear that the 5th-year player was indeed “ballin” his way to free-agency.

 Exit Jameis Winston, Enter Tom Brady

Five years after selecting Winston first overall in 2015, the Bucs have never finished better than 9-7(2015), which is sandwiched between a 6-10 season and two 5-11 seasons before Bruce Arians entered and were only able to muster a 7-9 record. In that time frame, Winston has been one of Tampa Bay’s most loved and hated players due to his lack of consistency and abundance of turnovers. 

Fast forward to March 20, 2020 and the Bucs made an announcement that they signed the 20-year veteran and 6-time Super Bowl Champion quarterback Tom Brady. Now, personal feelings aside, you can’t argue that having the man that was dubbed “Operation Shoeless Joe Jackson” or as others tend to call him: “The G.O.A.T.”, teaming up with Top-5 receivers; Mike Evans and Chris Godwin along with guys like Scotty Miller, OJ Howard, and Cam Brate, that this offense would be dangerous knowing the man; who once lead the Patriots back from a 28-3 deficit in the Super Bowl against the Falcons, is going to do it at least twice a year for the next couple seasons, and possibly have a playoff run

.New unis bring back the glory days 

The long-awaited uniform release has finally happened. The powers that be seem to have heard the fans cry to fix the hideous things we called uniforms. They seem to have tapped into the Super Bowl era just as they teased and what many fans asked for the return. The white has minor modifications to it as the nameplate is going to be with a black font instead of the red as of the past. In both uniforms, they thankfully kept the hint of orange that many fans were hoping stayed.

As for the alternate, the Bucs ditched the ketchup red and pewter alarm clock numbers for an all pewter version with white numbers outlined in red. The helmet even went under modifications as they have returned to the black facemasks and seem to have matched the pewter with the alternate jersey. The flag has shrunk very minimally as now the entire flag fits on the side of the helmet.

A New Era Begins in Tampa Bay

So new quarterback, new uniforms, now to only keep our fingers crossed that this pandemic passes in time for the regular season. The 2020 NFL season should have Bucs fans excited, and if it doesn’t, then they should walk the plank.

Things are looking brighter for the Bucs as they hope to ride this momentum wave and turn the corner completely. It’s been a long time coming, and it’s time the Lombardi comes back to Tampa to enjoy the beach and sunshine. It’s a new era in Tampa Bay!