Buccaneers Observer

Free agency starts with a bang for the Bucs, who not only get the GOAT back in a surprise un-retiring, but also retained star Center Ryan Jensen AND CB Carlton Davis. Both players were highly sought-after in free agency for their positions.  The Buccaneers have not worked out a deal with S Jordan Whitehead, who is being eyed by Bucs fans as the next priority in free agency. Will Rob Gronkowski come back for one more season with Tom? He has reportedly been working out at the team facility every week. What will we do at running back? Leonard Fournette deleted a "goodbye, Tampa" Instagram post.  The Bucs interior offensive line is a big question, but will be anchored by Jensen in the middle. Retaining G Aaron Stinnie offers consistency, having played in Cappa's absence during the postseason in 2020. Stinnie is a lateral move from Cappa and could start in his place with little disruption. That lives one hole at guard for the Bucs to fill through free agency, the draft or by promoting existing players on the roster. Nick Leverett and Robert Hainsey are recent acquisitions through the draft class the team has been developing.

The deadline to franchise tag players is tomorrow. Who will the Bucs tag? Chris Godwin? Carlton Davis? Jordan Whitehead?  Buccaneers make some minor changes to their staff, including Larry Foote moving from OLB coach to ILB coach.  Tom Brady has made cryptic comments about his future in the NFL. SO YOU'RE TELLING US THERE'S STILL A CHANCE??? No. There isn't. Kyle Trask looks more and more likely as the Bucs next quarterback, especially with the current draft class and the small free agent market. Blaine Gabbert may also be an option, per Bruce Arians.  Bruce Arians and Jason Licht appeared at the combine last week. BA, when asked about the possibility of Jameis returning to the Bucs, said he wouldn't be opposed but it might not be the best place for Jameis. Jason Licht sang the praises of KJ Britt and Grant Stuard.

We have some sad personal news.  

The Buccaneers lose another key piece in Ali Marpet, who announced his retirement Sunday after seven years with the team. It makes it all the more vital we re-sign free agents Alex Cappa, Aaron Stinnie and Ryan Jensen to ensure continuity on the offensive line.  

Buccaneers staff writer and social media personality Carmen Vitali has announced her departure from the team. It is unclear where Carmen will head next, but we wish her the best.  

Is this a rebuild? Please, God. No.  

We discuss quarterback options going forward.  

The Buccaneers picked up Devin White's fifth year option.  

Tom Brady announces his next project: a movie starring himself, Jane Fonda, Sally Field and others.

The Super Bowl happened... That's about it. It was kind of boring. We expected a comeback by Joe Burrow, but the game ended on some bizarre penalties and then a 4 & out by Cincinnati.   Ralph recounts how we got to the modern halftime model.   We discuss the current questions surrounding race in the NFL.

And none of us are okay.

The Rams' final drive was a disappointing showing by the Buccaneers' defense (like we had to tell you that). However, it wasn't the 40+ yard bomb to Cooper Kupp, but the play before that sealed the Bucs' fate. SMB was covering Kupp and inexplicably fell down, leaving Mike Edwards to move up and tackle Kupp. It was Jamel Dean's effort, or lack thereof, that allowed Kupp to get out of bounds and stop the clock. Had Dean tackled Kupp in bounds, the clock would have continued to run. The Rams were out of timeouts at that point and time would not have been on their side.   

The next play was the bomb to Kupp. Bruce Arians said in his press conference that not everyone on the defense got the call to blitz. But the game film shows Lavonte David just standing there, hands on his hips, moving no more than three yards, while the Rams finished us off. He should have blitzed on that play, but took the time off, apparently. It was a terrible finish and uncharacteristic of Lavonte. Lavonte also took off the next play when the defensive line attempted to bat down the snap. It was like he had given up.  

Adam Schefter proves once again he's a hack. Perhaps he had better sourcing than when he insisted Aaron Rodgers was leaving Green Bay the day before the draft. But the Brady camp is emphatic no decision has been made. Nevertheless, the communists at ESPN stand by their reporting. I hope Brady comes back to spite-win another Super Bowl just because of this report.

What a heartbreaking rollercoaster that was. Until late in the third quarter, it seemed like the Buccaneers were doomed. But the defense kept us in it, and in it, and in it. The offense made plays when it needed them and put enough points on the board to tie us up. Then Matt Gay struck with an assist by Cooper Kupp.  

The team may have been defeated, but they went down swinging. Fans should be proud, and those guys should hold their heads high.  

Next season is gonna be fire.

We faced the Rams in week 3 and it wasn't pretty for the Buccaneers. The Rams were more physical, Bucs receivers couldn't hang onto the ball, and the defense couldn't stop the Rams offense.   

But the Rams haven't seen the Playoff Buccaneers. They haven't seen the defensive backs who nearly had five picks last week. They haven't seen Suh, Vita and Barrett firing on all cylinders. And most of all, they haven't seen playoff Tom Brady. Well... Sean McVay has. 😏  

It'll be a close game to be sure, but the Bucs are coming out with a victory.

Bucs are back to form. This game was really not even close. The Eagles managed some garbage time touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but in reality this was a trouncing by the Buccaneers. All the Bucs playoff opponents from last year experienced PTSD watching that game.  

With Dallas falling to the 49ers last night, the Bucs will face the winner of the Rams/Arizona game tonight. It will be a big matchup for the Bucs next week, and either team should be a formidable opponent.  

A concerning takeaway from the Eagles game was the injuries to the offensive line. Tristan Wirfs suffered a sprained ankle and is wearing a boot. Bruce Arians said he'd have a better idea whether Tristan will play on Friday. Same with Ryan Jensen (but he'll probably play IMO).

Veteran Buccaneer fans know the pain of losing to the Eagles in the playoffs. It happened in the years before the Bucs made their Super Bowl appearance in 2003. It cost the team Tony Dungy. Ronde Barber righted the ship with his pick six in the NFC Championship. The victory took the Bucs to the Super Bowl, where they came away with the Lombardi.  

We meet again nearly 20 years later. The teams are dead even in both regular seasons matchups and playoff wins. This game will be the tie breaker.  

Ralph is eager to see the defense step it up. Now that playoffs are here, the studs need to show their brass: Vita, Suh, JPP, Shaq, Lavonte. We're counting on them. The Buccaneers will play at home in the wind and rain against a young, gimmicky team led by Jalen Hurts. We will come out victorious as long as we don't beat ourselves.