Let's talk about the Buccaneers

[Megatron96]

Direckshun actually makes some good points. A big part of the reason TB's defense has been so bad for most of the season has been injury related. Kancy their other starting DT got hurt in TC, and they only got him back a couple games ago.

They lost B. Hall in Week 1 to a broken leg/ankle, and he was their third-best CB, and he was also their NB, iirc.

Then a couple weeks later, they were without both Winfield and Whitehead and were forced to put Izzy (can't remember his real name), who is a good DB, but had never played S before.

Vea sprained his MCL vs. DET, and missed the DEN game, but returned after that, but has been playing in that dinged up wheel since. He does seem to be trending towards being fully healthy though.

The worst issues coverage-wise for them have been the loss of a couple LBs, Denis and another guy I can't remember his name. But those two were balling until they got hurt vs. DEN and DET. And now they can't cover TEs, except LVD, but he's lost a step, and they're asking him to try and defend the run as well as blitz on occasion. It hasn't worked very well so far.


In short, the defense hasn't been together almost the entire season. And if we're honest, no NFC teams do well vs. BAL, so you almost throw that game out.

But in the couple games they were relatively healthy, they were good against the run. And last season, with almost the exact same group, they were 7th vs. the run.

I think it's a real long shot, but if they play anything like they did vs. DET for example, where they played like it was a playoff game, our offense will have real trouble running. And they could get real pressure on Mahomes. I don't they they'll be able to pull it off, but it's possible.

And if Baker deals like he did in the DET game, he'll put up 20+ pts. I still think that was probably his best game of the season, not stats-wise, but his command of the offense and his pocket manipulation was Drew Brees-like, and when he plays like that, it doesn't really matter who he's throwing to. And for those that think he folds under pressure, go watch that game. He got sacked 5 times and got hit 12 or more times; it didn't faze him in the least. He threw dots and bombs all day.

Again, I don't expect it to happen, but it's not outside probability either.


As for his weapons, right now his best target is going to be Otton. Who isn't great, but he's reliable. Then it would have to be McMillan, a rook, but he can run some great routes. Sometimes he runs the wrong routes though, and one of those cost Baker an INT when he drew his defender right into the passing lane. He cost Baker another INT when he pulled a KT and let a perfect pass bounce through his hands and into a DB's stomach. And he's had a couple other drops. So he's got inconsistent hands. But when he's good, he's a tough cover.

After that, I'd guess it's Trey Palmer, who's their Worthy. A smallish burner that we'll have to cover deep. If he catches one in stride, we aren't catching him.

Shepard's been inconsistent. Don't think he'll be a big threat. Tucker and Irving are both good runners and good receivers. Irving is twitchy and has good vision, but Tucker is another burner. He can take it to the house from almost anywhere. But he's a rook, and not nearly as developed as Irving, so we won't see that much of him. He's kind of their gadget guy right now.