NFL
By: Jeff Barnes
The 2022 season was supposed to be the season of unfinished business for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. When Tom Brady returned from his brief retirement, he stated this season was about “unfinished business.” So far, they have made more of a case for breaking up the unit that once hoisted the Lombardi Trophy. After 9 games, the Bucs are 4-5 and sit tied with Atlanta Falcons in the NFC South. While their season is far from over, it does complicate their path to the playoffs. With the NFC East having three teams with a record of 6-2 or better, that can mean there is really going to be just one wild card spot available. There are several teams hovering just above or below the .500 mark including the Bucs. With 9 games left in the regular season, the NFC South title is the best chance for the Bucs to make the postseason. That is an uncertain path with their remaining schedule. Let’s look at the different areas of this team through 8 games and see how I graded them.
Coaching – D: Coach Todd Bowles has not had many answers for the Bucs struggles. Injuries have not helped this team get back on track either. While they are underperforming on offense, and having uncharacteristic struggles on defense, they are not being dominated. In fact, they have had the chance to win in the final minute in 3 of the 5 losses. The coaches have found ways to have them in a position to win games, but they have not found a way to get it done. When the team was slipping into mediocrity, the coaches have not found a way to get this team to respond. They don’t deserve a failing grade, but a barely passing grade also seems too high. Byron Leftwich has yet to figure out how to get this offense to produce anywhere near what it did in the past. The Bucs are bottom in the league in rushing offense and among the lowest in RedZone touchdown efficiency. That explains why kicker Ryan Succop is their highest scorer this season.
Offense – D: The offensive line was supposed to be the biggest concern coming into the season. While it has not been a strong point, it hasn’t been the ulcer that was predicted. The struggles to protect the interior of the pocket have impacted the play of Tom Brady. When Brady isn’t comfortable in the pocket, he looks like the Tom Brady that played his last season in New England. A veteran quarterback with limited movement and rushes throws to avoid getting hit. The Julio Jones signing has not lived up to expectations. He has missed a ¾ of the first 8 games. To make matters worse, it doesn’t look like his availability will be a constant. Mike Evans has been inconsistent just like the running game. After opening the season running all over the Dallas defense, the Bucs have struggled to find consistent success on the ground. This all leads to their biggest problem which is their RedZone offense. Ryan Succop is their biggest threat inside the 20. Their struggles in the RedZone and on 3rd down highlight the impact that Gronk had on this offense. Offensive Coordinator Byron Leftwich has been creative but has not been able to analyze and correct the RedZone problems.
Defense – C+: The strength of this team early in the season has become just another issue. For the past two seasons, the Bucs defense was one of the toughest defenses to run on. Now, they are struggling to stop the run and keep opponents off the field. While they are still creating turnovers at times, It is the run defense that has broken in key moments. Carolina was able to gash them for big runs at inopportune times. The secondary has been battered by injuries yet has not looked horrendous. The biggest issue when it comes to pass defense is that they struggle to consistently win with 4-man pressure. Bowles has to confuse offensive lines with different fronts and looks for their 4-man pressure to work. During their Super Bowl run, he was able to line up 4 rushers and win. The defense hasn’t broken and will get more players back. Akeem Hicks is close to returning but it is unknown when Antoine Winfield Jr. will return from his concussion.
