A brand new Pewter Report Roundtable debuts each Tuesday on PewterReport.com. Every week, the Pewter Reporters sort out one other powerful query. This week’s immediate: What makes the Bucs so harmful heading in direction of the playoffs?
Scott Reynolds: If Todd Bowles’ Protection Retains Enjoying Like This – Look Out
Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
I’ve been Todd Bowles’ largest fan when the Bucs protection is taking part in nicely and his largest critic when the unit has given up too many 30-point video games. Simply when it appeared like Tampa Bay’s head coach and defensive play-caller had misplaced his contact, Bowles and the protection discovered its mojo throughout the bye week – simply in time for a playoff push. Because the bye, the Bucs protection is No. 1 within the league in scoring protection, permitting a median of simply 15 factors per recreation. That’s unbelievable contemplating that the unit was surrendering 25.7 factors per recreation within the first 10 weeks of the season when the Bucs’ report had slumped to 4-6.
Bowles’ unit has been coping with accidents since Week 1 when cornerback Bryce Corridor broke his leg and security Antoine Winfield Jr. suffered a foot damage that value him 4 video games. Accidents to the protection have come on a weekly foundation it appears, so there’s nothing new there. Maybe Bowles is solely getting higher utilizing tape, rubber cement and glue to carry collectively his secondary, which has been hardest hit, because the season has progressed.
It’s been an ensemble method that has helped the Bucs protection maintain scoring to a minimal over the past month of soccer. Generally it’s stars like Lavonte David, Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey making splash performs, and typically it’s the tremendous subs like Anthony Nelson, Kaevon Merriweather, Christian Izien and J.J. Russell who’re making well timed tackles or having a task in key takeaways. Bowles is getting the very best out of his defenders on the proper time. Sure, the Bucs beat up on some lesser offenses in opposition to the Giants, Panthers and Raiders. However Sunday’s win in opposition to the Chargers put the league on discover that the Bucs are fairly harmful – particularly if Bowles’ protection retains taking part in like this.
Matt Matera: Baker Mayfield Is Enjoying Like An MVP
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Picture by: USA In the present day
At instances it feels just like the Bucs offense can do absolutely anything and that’s as a result of Baker Mayfield is taking part in so nicely at quarterback. When Mayfield signed his large three-year, $100 million contract, I questioned how far more Mayfield may enhance after a Professional Bowl season and getting again on his ft as a starter within the NFL. The reply was he may enhance a ton. Baker Mayfield is taking part in the very best soccer of his profession.
Throwing 32 landing passes on the season has already given himself a profession excessive and he nonetheless has three video games to go. His 3,617 passing yards is sweet for fourth within the league and he’s completed all of it season lengthy with a distinct solid of ability place gamers. Let’s do not forget that Mayfield has gone by way of video games with out Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. He’s had video games the place Cade Otton and Sterling Shepard needed to be his prime targets. And but by way of all of it, Mayfield has come out the opposite aspect even higher.
Each week the Bucs are placing up factors, averaging 28.8 factors per recreation. They simply scored 40 on the highest scoring protection within the league. Mayfield has unbelievable consolation on this offense however nonetheless performs with the sting that obtained individuals enamored with him within the first place. He is aware of when to tuck it and run, he understands the place the ball must go and most significantly, he simply wins soccer video games. Mayfield evokes his teammates and fires them up on weekly foundation. It’s due to him that different groups don’t wish to play in opposition to the Bucs within the postseason this yr.
Bailey Adams: Bucs’ Run Sport Is Constructed For The Playoffs
Bucs RB Bucky Irving Picture by: USA In the present day
It’s nonetheless considerably onerous to imagine that such a press release may be true after the Bucs ranked useless final in speeding in 2022 and 2023, however this Tampa Bay run recreation is constructed to do harm within the playoffs. That speaks volumes in regards to the job that offensive coordinator Liam Coen and his O-line coaches Kevin Carberry and Brian Piccuci have completed, and it’s additionally a testomony to the play of the offensive line and the crew’s backfield trio of Bucky Irving, Rachaad White and Sean Tucker.
The way in which the Bucs are working the ball, it’s onerous to think about opposing defenses lining as much as wish to play this crew when the climate will get chilly and the playoff grind begins. Coen and his workers have fully revitalized the Tampa Bay speeding assault, which is averaging 144.4 yards per recreation heading into Week 16. That’s tied with the Packers for the fourth-best speeding offense within the league, and it’s that sort of manufacturing that may drive a deep playoff run.
Irving is main the way in which for the Bucs backfield with 852 yards and 6 touchdowns on 152 carries, whereas White has 573 yards and three scores on 135 carries. The rookie is averaging 5.6 yards per carry, whereas the veteran is averaging a profession excessive 4.2 yards per try. After which there’s Tucker, who has solely 40 carries however is averaging 6.3 yards per carry, which has translated to 253 yards and two touchdowns.
Having three working backs to feed can assist the Bucs put on opposing defenses down within the playoffs, and that may be increasingly necessary because the postseason carries on. Physicality reigns supreme in January soccer, and Tampa Bay is exceling in that division lately. Not solely is it the trio of backs – the offensive line is dominating within the trenches. Not solely can that carry the offense ahead, however it might make life simpler for quarterback Baker Mayfield and get the entire unit firing on all cylinders.
Josh Queipo: Assist Is On The Means For The Bucs
Bucs safeties Jordan Whitehead and Antoine Winfield Jr. – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
When contemplating high quality of opponent, what the Bucs did within the second half this previous Sunday on protection in opposition to the Chargers was really spectacular. Tampa Bay held Los Angeles to lower than 50 yards and nil factors. What’s most spectacular is that head coach Todd Bowles and his protection did this with out their prime three safeties and two of their prime three linebackers. For a number of performs the Bucs rolled out Ryan Neal and Kaevon Merriweather as their security tandem.
However Bowles has grow to be fairly inventive within the face of adversity. Every week after using a 5-1-5 entrance, Bowles rolled out a 6-1-4 look to fight the Charger’s heavy packages. He’s marrying his coverages to his strain packages higher. And his gamers are executing his system higher. And the very best half is that reinforcements are on the way in which. Mike Edwards might return as early as this week. Antoine Winfield Jr. and Jordan Whitehead each have estimated timetables to return that will have them prepared for the playoffs.
Are you able to think about Bowles’ protection with all three of these safeties accessible alongside with Christian Izien and Tykee Smith? Bowles will lastly have the ability to get to true nickel and dime appears to be like together with his most well-liked gamers. Bettering the expertise stage executing his improved designs and programs can solely bode nicely for the Bucs’ prospects going ahead. And could also be simply the increase they should flip a possible playoff look into a possible deep playoff run.
Adam Slivon: Bucs Will Proceed Placing Up Factors Thanks To Liam Coen’s Play-Calling
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield and OC Liam Coen – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
The Bucs offense has been scoring with flying colours this season because of Liam Coen’s wizardry. Don’t count on that to cease anytime quickly. A 40-point outburst in opposition to the NFL’s No. 1 scoring protection this previous Sunday and the general consistency on that aspect of the ball makes Tampa Bay a harmful playoff crew. Put apart a midseason lull the place the crew misplaced 4 straight, and this a bunch that now has a four-game win streak and beat among the league’s finest groups earlier within the season.
A lot of that may be owed to Coen’s play-calling. Not solely has Baker Mayfield had a good higher yr below middle, however he has completed so regardless of shedding Chris Godwin for the season and Mike Evans for a stretch of video games. The offense has been in a position to hum alongside due to the weekly offensive gameplans which have put whoever is in in positions to succeed. One can level to the run recreation evolving from zone to extra of a spot scheme. The Pony package deal. Permitting Baker Mayfield to get right into a rhythm with environment friendly throws to start video games.
The Bucs’ win over the Chargers was a press release bigger than another recreation this yr. Tampa Bay has the power to take over any recreation. The offense is nearly as good as ever and has adjusted to the personnel it has at its disposal. Liam Coen has elevated the crew’s ceiling because of an offense that scores at will below his course. That makes them a harmful crew to face the remainder of the way in which.
