Previewing Tampa Bay: Strengths, Weaknesses and How we can win

[Verdict]

Horrible matchup for Dallas.

Only way we win is turnovers and Zeke feasting. We don’t have the QB or secondary to go toe for toe with them in a shootout.

Ball control and not making mistakes is our path to victory.

Dak is a better QB than Brady at this point. The question is how does our OL and DL play. If they match up well with TB we win. If the trenches get dominated, we are toast.

 

[Verdict]

This game is a coin flip. Take the Cowboys and the money line. Not the points.

 

[shabazz]

 

[quickccc]

KC did score 27 against TB in their regular season matchup and won the game 27-24. So there’s that.

..and then KC Chiefs lost their two starting OTs and couldn't keep JPP, Barrett and multi blitzers off Mahomes' back and outta his face ..the entire SB game !!

Now imagine our starting OTs who both have either current or past neck stingers issues ... and Collins doesn't appear to be whole and healthy,.. expect some
Steele and Knight at some point of the game

 

[Havic]

We have to win the turnover battle to have a chance.

 

[quickccc]

Any given Sunday and all that... Tampa could have some rust as well. They didn't start last season too hot, IIRC. Hopefully the DAL offense doesn't, "start slow," and the defense isn't ripped up the gut again. Parsons is encouraging but not what's in front of him.

how ? Brady has been playing in the preseason games ... Dak has not .

And now Brady is that much more adjusted to Arian's offense - and they are getting all of their defensive starters back
and just as Bucs secondary will have to defend all 3 WRs threat of the Cowboys, we'll have to do so with Bucs WRs ..and Gronk.

Good point on the slow start ... and the Bucs are the No.1 rush defense in NFL, so good luck to ZKE and Pollard in that note.

 

[quickccc]

Horrible matchup for Dallas.

Only way we win is turnovers and Zeke feasting. We don’t have the QB or secondary to go toe for toe with them in a shootout.

Ball control and not making mistakes is our path to victory.

Good luck with ball control and zeke ... Bucs were no. 1 team in NFL vs the run
but their secondary can be had ...and we have the 3 WR weapons that can wreck havoc on their deep patrol.

Frankly i dunno if Kellen will bring his A game On the Road ..Dak hasn't play in any ex-game yet, and i dunno how that new defense is gonna hold up.

 

[CATCH17]

Dak is a better QB than Brady at this point. The question is how does our OL and DL play. If they match up well with TB we win. If the trenches get dominated, we are toast.

Lmao Brady just threw 40 TD passes.

Dak hit 30 once and was lucky to do it.

 

[Parcells4Life]

Key is if Parsons can bulldoze the middle of the line like he lined up in preseason. A gap pressure is how you beat Brady. I hope DLaw goes inside a few times for Tampa to decide who they’re going to double. Then you have Gregory on the flank and the champ wrestler Osa tying up the blocks not letting them get to a double.

What scares me is Brady doing 5 yard pass after 5 yard pass vs Brown and Lewis.

Neal needs to hit anything that moves over the middle.

 

[MizzouCowboy4]

Key is if Parsons can bulldoze the middle of the line like he lined up in preseason. A gap pressure is how you beat Brady. I hope DLaw goes inside a few times for Tampa to decide who they’re going to double. Then you have Gregory on the flank and the champ wrestler Osa tying up the blocks not letting them get to a double.

Gregory seems like he been on team for years and has been a nobody. You have any faith in him.

 

[gimmesix]

Preseason garbage games are finally over and we’re just a little over a week from the beginning of finally getting some meaningful football.

So let’s look at our opponent on Sept 9th, the defending champ Buccaneers. Let’s look at their strengths, weaknesses, some intangibles and how we could pull off an upset.

TB STRENGTHS

• Front Office- Under GM Jason Licht, the Bucs became the first team in the NFL's salary cap era to have all 22 starters from their Super Bowl championship team re-signed or under contract for the upcoming season. Let that roll over you.
• QB- having the GOAT at QB is obviously an advantage. But I also think Father Time is closer to tapping on Tom B’s door. More on that later.
• Passing game- last year, the bucs were 3rd in total offense, mostly because of the passing game, where they were second only to the chiefs in total passing yards, and had a whopping 42 TDs passing.
  
• Receivers- Mike Evans is a load to cover. He had 70 receptions last year, which was actually below his average of 76 per season. But he had 13 TDs last year and is a nightmare to cover in the red zone because of his size. The once great Antonio Brown is not as good as he used to be but he’s still tough in the slot and Chris Godwin was a 2nd team All Pro in 2019, is underrated. Gronk is back at TE. We will have our hands full.
• OL- the Bucs resigned both of their starting Tackles to keep their entire OL in place from last year.
• LBs- Lavonte David and Shaq Barrett are two of the best LBs in the game, and the Bucs just re-signed them both to longer deals. Two time pro bowler Barrett had 4 sacks in the playoffs last year, and 3 time All Pro David is a monster.
• DL- Ndamukong Suh, William Goldston and Vita Vea make a pretty tough 3 man front. Along with their LBs, they racked up a ton of pressure during the playoffs last year, especially against Mahomes in SB.

WEAKNESSES

• Running Game- last year, the Bucs only averaged a little over 90 yards a game. Their running game improved after mid year when they acquired Leonard Fournette. But compared to their passing game, the running game isn’t great.
  
• Passing Defense/Secondary- believe it or not, the TB passing defense gave up more yards last year than the Cowboys! What saves them has been their ability to get pressure from their front 7.
  
• Brady when pressured- like any QB- even the GOAT- if you can at least make TB uncomfortable, he’s not nearly as effective. (Remember both giants SB wins against NE?)
• Brady’s arm- He’s still great, but at 43, Brady does not have the arm strength he once did. He can occasionally throw a good deep route but not as consistently as he once did.

KEYS TO AN UPSET (yes we can win this game if…)

• Win the TO battle- in every game TB lost last year, they lost the TO battle. Not rocket science, but we know how much it kills any team to turn it over multiple times.
  
• We need to score 27 or more. Last year, of the the Bucs 5 losses, they were 0-4 in games where they gave up 27 or more.
• Force some FGs- They averaged 30 points a game last year so if we can hold them to a bunch of FGs, we have chance. If the Bucs score 4 TDs or more last year, they were 12-1 including playoff games. Got to hold them to 3 TDs or less.
• Don’t fall two scores behind- especially early- their defense will kill you when they know you have to pass. If we can keep it close and get some TOs, and can stay with them, it forces them to play more honest with their D.
• Pressure Brady- if he has all day, we will get crushed.

So those are some thoughts on this big opening game. If we can score 27 or more, we have a chance.
What do yo think?

I think it's a tough way to start the season. Tampa Bay pretty much returns its Super Bowl lineups and had to make no major changes.

In the past few years, we have not fared well against top defenses. Even last year when we were scoring a bunch of points, we only had 17 against the Rams in the opener. Even if we get to 20, I'm not sure that will be enough since this is our first game on defense with a new coordinator and a bunch of new faces.

I hope I'm wrong.

I do have hopes for the season even if we lose the first game. I think there's a chance for this team to settle in and get on a roll as the season progresses. Of course, health will be a big factor in that. If the offensive linemen don't hold up better than they did last year, it could be tough sledding.

 

[Bobhaze]

I think it's a tough way to start the season. Tampa Bay pretty much returns its Super Bowl lineups and had to make no major changes.

In the past few years, we have not fared well against top defenses. Even last year when we were scoring a bunch of points, we only had 17 against the Rams in the opener. Even if we get to 20, I'm not sure that will be enough since this is our first game on defense with a new coordinator and a bunch of new faces.

I hope I'm wrong.

I do have hopes for the season even if we lose the first game. I think there's a chance for this team to settle in and get on a roll as the season progresses. Of course, health will be a big factor in that. If the offensive linemen don't hold up better than they did last year, it could be tough sledding.

I still can’t believe TB GM Jason Licht made the Bucs the first team in the NFL's salary cap era to have all 22 starters from their Super Bowl championship team re-signed or under contract for the upcoming season. That’s unbelievable in the cap era. Doesn’t guarantee anything but they’re going to be tough on opening night- the same night I think they get their rings.

I will say this on a hopeful note- last year, 3 of the Bucs 5 losses were at home. They were better on the road last year than at home. They were 4-0 in the playoffs as a WC team- all on the road except for the SB game which was coincidentally played at their home stadium.

 

[plasticman]

We will find out about the Cowboy front seven defenders in this game. They are the key.

 

[bonafidebanter]

If we can block their inside backers, we may have a shot.

 

[TheSkaven]

Lmao Brady just threw 40 TD passes.

Dak hit 30 once and was lucky to do it.

You make a good point and let me just say that it’s ludicrous to say that Dak is a better QB than Brady right now or ever. But don’t discount those 6 TDs per year running the football that Dak does bring in that Brady never will.

I wanted Brady in free agency last year so obviously I think he’s better. But the difference isn’t astronomical.

 

[Bobhaze]

You make a good point and let me just say that it’s ludicrous to say that Dak is a better QB than Brady right now or ever. But don’t discount those 6 TDs per year running the football that Dak does bring in that Brady never will.

I wanted Brady in free agency last year so obviously I think he’s better. But the difference isn’t astronomical.

Brady would have never agreed to come here. TB is very picky about coaching and FO.

 

[Whirlwin]

Horrible matchup for Dallas.

Only way we win is turnovers and Zeke feasting. We don’t have the QB or secondary to go toe for toe with them in a shootout.

Ball control and not making mistakes is our path to victory.

I totally disagree. We definitely have the quarterback capable

 

[nalam]

..and then KC Chiefs lost their two starting OTs and couldn't keep JPP, Barrett and multi blitzers off Mahomes' back and outta his face ..the entire SB game !!

Now imagine our starting OTs who both have either current or past neck stingers issues ... and Collins doesn't appear to be whole and healthy,.. expect some Steele and Knight at some point of the game

that is recipie for disaster !
as I have been harping if our OL doesnt play good or decent, we wont have any chance for the season.

 

[nalam]

We can win if Tampa forfeits.

How to engineer that?
Kidnap their QB, WRs and DL - front 7?

Even then the stubborn Arians wont forfeit!

 

[Xeven]

Only way we win is if Dak is hitting deep. We have to get TD. If you see us start kicking FG in first half, it’s over.