Buccaneers Observer

We are back! A lot of stuff to cover that has happened this offseason and we touch on as much of it as we can. The Bucs first preseason game against the Steelers is rated by Molly, we discuss transactions, and give our thoughts on all of the new gambling going on with the NFL. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/buccaneers-observer/support

We've got another draft under our belt. While Molly didn't get a single pick right, Ralph batted 1,000. The only player on his wishlist, OL Cody Mauch was scooped up by the Bucs in the second round. We moved up to acquire the NDSU tackle, who will likely play at guard for the Buccaneers. The Buccaneers went heavy defense this draft. Unsurprising given HC Todd Bowles is a defensive guy. Tragedy struck the Bucs family this weekend when Shaq Barrett's two-year-old daughter drowned in the family's pool. Our prayers go out to the Barretts. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/buccaneers-observer/support

The strategy is simple: the player must be from a southern school and projected to go near the Bucs pick. Molly likes OT Darnell Wright in the first round for his Jensen-like demeanor. OLB BJ Ojulari is Molly's pick in the second round. His high character was a major draw, in addition to his toolkit of moves. In the third round, Molly selects RB Kenny McIntosh. The rest of her picks are coin flips, or something a monkey would pick. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/buccaneers-observer/support

Ralph and Molly discuss the latest happenings with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Devin White wants to be traded. Re-signings, new kicker, new offensive lineman. Where are they now with the Bucs secondary. Should Gerald McCoy be in the Ring of Honor? And some of these contracts are getting out of hand across the league. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/buccaneers-observer/support

The NFL new year has started and we discuss all of the moves happening with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the NFC South, and touch on a few things of interest in the league. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/buccaneers-observer/support

Dan Canales joins the Buccaneers as offensive coordinator. Canales was the quarterback coach at Seattle this year, assisting Geno Smith in the rehab of his career. It's a promotion for Canales, and as such we have no clue what the Buccaneers offense will look like. The Buccaneers will also cut Leonard Fournette and Donovan Smith, adding to the uncertainty. Unfortunately, it's just the start of cuts to the Bucs roster as the front office pays the bill for the last three years of cap finangling. Many Bucs fans will agree with Smith's ouster after his performance in 2022 where he regressed markedly, particularly with penalties. Media is reporting he experienced personal 'tragedy', which perhaps explains the regression. A number of players experienced tragedy last year, and we posit it may have had an impact on the field. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/buccaneers-observer/support

Both of us agree that this Super Bowl was pretty boring. The penalty that basically gave the Chiefs the win really summed up this season as a whole. What could have been an exciting game fizzled out in a bad way. Ralph discusses his thoughts on the Damar Hamlin situation and how it is incentivizing injuries. And what is going on with the Bucs offensive coordinator search? It seems like a mess, as though they did not have any plan in place for after they fired Leftwich. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/buccaneers-observer/support

Tom Brady announced his retirement this week, sending the Buccaneers back to the basement. QB coach Clyde Christiansen revealed Brady received news of his divorce during training camp and subsequently lost 15 pounds, which explains a lot about the season. It's disappointing Brady couldn't go out on top with a Super Bowl win, but the retirement was probably came at the right time. It does not bode well for the Buccaneers offensive coordinator search, however. The prospect of Tom Brady at quarterback would be enough to lure a cream of the crop coordinator. Without Brady, the appeal drops significantly. The candidates we've interviewed reflect that reality, which mostly comprise of assistant coaches. The Championship games were nearly unwatchable with the number of flags thrown, some of which changed the trajectory of the games. The officiating has been so atrocious it raises questions about the impact of legalized gambling on the game. The NFL has never had a referee scandal. What is it doing to safeguard against refs throwing games now that gambling on NFL games has been legalized in a number of states? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/buccaneers-observer/support

The Buccaneers offense certainly took a step back this season, but was Byron Leftwich to blame? We know Todd Bowles wanted more of an emphasis on the run game. Leftwich's offense is a vertical offense, proficient at long shots down the field as we saw in 2020 and 2021. It was never a running offense. Was Bowles asking too much? The result, as we saw, was a neutered passing game and a running game that was worse than years past. Further, the team took a step back in other areas, including the defense and special teams. That was not on Leftwich. So, while we aren't devastated or surprised by Leftwich's firing, we don't think it will solve the Buccaneers' problems. The Buccaneers also fired Specialists coach Chris Boniol, WRs coach Kevin Garver, OQC Jeff Kastl, assistant DL coach Lori Locust and RBs coach Todd McNair. QBs coach Clyde Christensen, senior offensive assistant Rick Christophel and OLBs coach Bob Sanders have decided to retire. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/buccaneers-observer/support

For the third year in a row, the Buccaneers are playoff bound, and division champs for the second year in a row. The team that showed up against Carolina is a team we can proudly ride to the playoffs (and Super Bowl). The Bucs week 17 matchup against the Panthers was hard fought by both teams. Both looked like they wanted a win. The Buccaneers defense showed up when it mattered, as did punter Jake Camarda during the botched punt. There's been debate whether the Bucs should even play their starters Week 18 against the Atlanta Falcons, as Bucs clinched the division already and the Falcons are playing for draft position at this point. Is it worth the risk of injuries to our starters? The point will certainly be raised should a key player actually suffer injury during the game, but Todd Bowles does not seem concerned, and Ralph agrees. Bowles said in his press conference that injuries happen at all times during the season - practice, the preseason, the first game. You can't play scared of injury because it's part of the game. Some have argued this game is meaningless and not worth the risk. This game is not meaningless to the Bucs - we can earn a winning record with a win. Further, we've seen teams rest starters and come into the playoffs flat. It doesn't guarantee an advantage come playoff time. Speaking of playoffs - the Buccaneers will play either the Dallas Cowboys or the Philadelphia Eagles at home in the wildcard round. Who would you rather play? Comment below. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/buccaneers-observer/support

This is for all the marbles - the NFC South title, a playoff berth. While we wouldn't technically be out of the playoff running with a loss, our fate would no longer be in our hands. The Panthers are coming off a record-breaking win over the Lions, where they rushed for a franchise-record 320 yards. The team has gone from rebuild mode to playoff contender in the weeks since the Buccaneers last played them. How bad do the Buccaneers want it? Mike Evans needs just 83 yards to get yet another 1,000-yard season. Can he and Brady figure things out? We also have to remedy the bad tackling from the first matchup. Luke Goedeke was a huge liability during that game, which will hopefully not be a factor with Nick Leverett starting at left guard. And while the Bucs are banged up, no one player is ruled out yet. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/buccaneers-observer/support

The Buccaneers defeated the mighty Arizona Cardinals in overtime on Christmas. The Bucs once again struggled on third downs, wide receiver connections, and tackling. Tom Brady didn't have the best game, throwing two interceptions. Nevertheless, we persevered and got the W. This week the Buccaneers need a win against the Carolina Panthers to secure their playoff berth. A win would also serve as retribution for the Buccaneers earlier loss against their division opponent. A loss would not be fatal to the Bucs playoff chances, but in that case their playoff hopes would be out of their hands. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/buccaneers-observer/support

There's no other way to say it: The 49ers loss was a better team putting the beatdown on the Buccaneers. Our blocking is bad, the tackling not much better. Brady threw short, inaccurate passes. The playcalling involved way too many screens. Our receivers got no separation. The defense got no pressure. All-in-all, it felt like we showed up and that was it. We have four more games until playoffs. While we're leading the division at the moment, the Carolina Panthers hold their destiny in their hands. Winning out would means the Bucs' playoff hopes are dashed. Do any Bucs fans think we have a good shot during the playoffs with the way this team is playing? We host the Cincinnati Bengals tomorrow, who are still fighting for their division and are on a hot streak. They have a ton of weapons on both sides of the ball. We fear another performance like that against the 49ers. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/buccaneers-observer/support

The Buccaneers loss to the 3-7 Browns is a tough pill to swallow. The team played well, only to break down by the 4th quarter, giving the Browns the opportunity to tie the game and take us to overtime. By then, the momentum was in their favor and they came out victorious. There is a plethora of targets to blame, including the coaches, players, management, injuries - take your pick. We're still over here scratching our heads. What in the world is going on?? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/buccaneers-observer/support

We first delve into Raph's all-22 analysis of the Seattle Seahawks victory. Many of the Buccaneers' troubles through the early part of the season were rectified this game - the poor tackling, the dropped passes, the lack of physicality, uncalled penalties working in the Bucs' favor. The Seahawks didn't just lay there and take it by any stretch of the imagination. They played hard too, and Geno Smith played well. Field conditions in Munich were terrible. The Buccaneers will face the 3-7 Browns coming off their bye week. Jacoby Brissett has led the team against some tough opponents, but their record speaks for itself. The Browns have some studs on defense, to be sure, although it is not translating into wins. The team has had to sign a center off the street as starting center Ethan Pocic heads to IR. Vita Vea, if he plays (dealing with a foot injury himself), could have a good game. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/buccaneers-observer/support

Germany was going off for the Buccaneers as they overtook the Seattle Seahawks abroad. The Buccaneers put a complete game together and stayed strong throughout. The Seahawks, on the other hand, looked flat. The Bucs dominated the Seahawks in nearly every metric except penalties. The Bucs will go into the bye week with a W. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/buccaneers-observer/support

Ralph's knee jerk reaction to the Ravens game fell apart after review of the all-22. While everyone, including Ralph, piled on the defense and Devin White, the tape showed them fighting to the very end. The Ravens offense, and Lamar Jackson in particular, just bested us. But it was a fight. The offense is a different story. It seems everyone is in a fog, and it starts from leadership. We hate to see Tom Brady in the fallout from his divorce - you can tell the man is in a fog and it's contagious. We need someone on the offense to step up and be a leader. The Buccaneers face the Rams tomorrow. The Rams appear to be in a similar spot to the Bucs, coming to Tampa with a 3-4 record. Their woes include their offensive line, run game, and injury to Cooper Kupp. Is it a Super Bowl hangover? Both teams need to right the ship. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/buccaneers-observer/support

The loss to Carolina is a HEAD SCRATCHER. What is our problem on 3rd/4th and short? Why can't we score? Why are our receivers dropping balls? Where are our leaders? Why can't our defense generate turnovers or stop the run? Fans, we have no answers. We're just as perplexed as you are. It's early enough in the season that it could get resolved, but that takes the coaching staff and team identifying the issue and being able to fix it. It's a tall order. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/buccaneers-observer/support

The Carolina Panthers are a dumpster fire and present the perfect opportunity for the Bucs to get the awful taste of the Steelers loss out of their mouths. Not only are the Panthers dealing with an interim coaching staff, they've jettisoned their best player RB Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers. The most challenging part of this matchup for the Bucs will be the unanswered question: Will the Panthers be tanking their season, or will Steve Wilks and Co. be looking for redemption? Ralph analyzed the game film of the Steelers loss, and it was worse than expected. The Buccaneers were plagued by miscommunication, miscues and overall poor performance by nearly everyone. There are a lot of issues that stood out on the all-22, and it remains to be seen whether the team will correct them. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/buccaneers-observer/support

What a disappointing loss. The Buccaneers should have taken this victory easily, but the Steelers, simply put, wanted it more. Bucs couldn't convert on short yardage situations, and on the other side of the ball couldn't get stops when needed. It was a game of inches where every play mattered. The boo birds are out in full force after having been retired for three years. They're blaming coaching, Tom Brady, offensive line play, the run game - you name it, they're blaming them. In truth, there's probably some blame to go around. The team lacks passion and drive, it feels like, and that's a problem not easily solved. Luckily it's only October, we're 3-3, the rest of the NFC isn't doing that great either and we're still in a good position for playoffs. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/buccaneers-observer/support