Official Pre- Game Thread- Bucs @ Pats

[Tottie]

I don't read it as "hot shot" talk at all. I think it's a young kid who's being coached on how they want players to address the media in New England, and he's not very good at being subtle about it yet. Cut the kid some slack.

Excellent way to put it.

 

[Rob0729]

When you guys say this, do you have anything besides any give sunday to add to it? I can say the sun is going to explode tomorrow, does not mean its going to happen.

The Bucs have not been a perfect team thus far. They have been basically Brady and the passing game and not much else. They haven't been able to run the ball. They haven't been able to stop the pass.

Yes, the Patriots were a disaster last week and not worlds better the first two weeks. But Trent Brown should be back. So that might turn the o-line around. The Bucs can't cover any receiver at this point. So that means that even Agholor, Bourne, and Meyers could be open a lot. So we could see a night and day turn around of the passing offense when Jones has time to throw the ball and the receivers can get open. Put Jones in the shotgun (as some in the media have been saying today) where he is more comfortable.

And the Pats' defense, although completely breaking down at times, at points has been fairly solid for most of the games. So that means although may not be able to completely shut down Brady, but they may be able to slow him down enough to hold the Bucs to the low to mid 20s.

I am not betting on any of this to happen, but here is a realistic although not likely scenario where the Pats score the upset.

 

[Pats1971]

The Bucs have not been a perfect team thus far. They have been basically Brady and the passing game and not much else. They haven't been able to run the ball. They haven't been able to stop the pass.

Yes, the Patriots were a disaster last week and not worlds better the first two weeks. But Trent Brown should be back. So that might turn the o-line around. The Bucs can't cover any receiver at this point. So that means that even Agholor, Bourne, and Meyers could be open a lot. So we could see a night and day turn around of the passing offense when Jones has time to throw the ball and the receivers can get open. Put Jones in the shotgun (as some in the media have been saying today) where he is more comfortable.

And the Pats' defense, although completely breaking down at times, at points has been fairly solid for most of the games. So that means although may not be able to completely shut down Brady, but they may be able to slow him down enough to hold the Bucs to the low to mid 20s.

I am not betting on any of this to happen, but here is a realistic although not likely scenario where the Pats score the upset.

Tampa played 2 teams that will be in the playoffs, one of which will probably be in the NFC title game on the road. The pats have played a bottom feeder and two teams that are rebuilding. Tampa is a better team than the Patriots right now. So they keep the bucs to the 20's in scoring, what has lead you to believe that the pats can score 28? Their highest output was against the worst team in football and a QB that threw them 4 picks one being a pick 6. So basically you are saying that a team who cannot score or stop a mediocre Saints offense is going to score a lot and stop a team that is averaging over 30 ppg? Why?

 

[A Defiant Goose]

Patriots 31-13

 

[RobertWeathers]

I am just being positive.

Nothing wrong with being positive.

I wish more fans on this board were like you.

 

[Rob0729]

Tampa played 2 teams that will be in the playoffs, one of which will probably be in the NFC title game on the road. The pats have played a bottom feeder and two teams that are rebuilding. Tampa is a better team than the Patriots right now. So they keep the bucs to the 20's in scoring, what has lead you to believe that the pats can score 28?

You asked for a scenario where the Pats could score an upset beyond any given Sunday. I gave it to you. It is a realistic scenario. I didn't say it would happen. I didn't say it was likely to happen or even have more than a small chance of happening.

Personally, I think the Patriots are a much better team than they have been playing thus far. One one of the biggest reason why they haven't been playing up to what their potential is because of the disaster of the o-line. That could be fixed Sunday night. If they played to their potential, are they anywhere close to the quality of the Rams or Cowboys? The Rams, who I think are the best team in football right now, definitely not. Most likely not the Cowboys either. But I would say they could be better than the Falcons and by a bit.

 

[RobertWeathers]

oh sh*t...what'd we do him? where is Ernie currently?

BB sent him one of those edible fruit arrangements yesterday only it consisted of all avocado dipped in raw chicken juice.

 

[Sicilian]

Tampa played 2 teams that will be in the playoffs, one of which will probably be in the NFC title game on the road. The pats have played a bottom feeder and two teams that are rebuilding. Tampa is a better team than the Patriots right now. So they keep the bucs to the 20's in scoring, what has lead you to believe that the pats can score 28? Their highest output was against the worst team in football and a QB that threw them 4 picks one being a pick 6. So basically you are saying that a team who cannot score or stop a mediocre Saints offense is going to score a lot and stop a team that is averaging over 30 ppg? Why?

To nitpick (no pun intended), none of Wilson's INT's were a pick 6.

I'm not sure why it's hard to imagine them winning this game? The Saints have a better defense than the Bucs right now, and there were open receivers for the Pats if they can shore up the protection (and if Smith can remember to bring his actual human hands next time). The defense, while not facing the elite offenses, is top five in yards allowed and top five in points allowed (with 7 of those coming on an actual pick 6). They've a competent D that's done what they're "supposed" to do against their competition.

I'm not betting money on a Pats win by any means, but this doom and gloom goes a bit too far IMO. It's still two professional football teams. The Bucs aren't playing Oklahoma State.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

I'm not at all I thought it was funny last week when he said that the previous QB all these years was "did a good job". Then I thought it was a bit lame that BB had to drag him off the bench after the latest loss. Now I check the interviews and he's again just refusing to even use Brady's name. Nothing major I Just don't like the passive aggressive way he's dealing with it. Just be quiet and take care of business.

I think you're the one reading way too into this.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

I'm not at all I thought it was funny last week when he said that the previous QB all these years was "did a good job". Then I thought it was a bit lame that BB had to drag him off the bench after the latest loss. Now I check the interviews and he's again just refusing to even use Brady's name. Nothing major I Just don't like the passive aggressive way he's dealing with it. Just be quiet and take care of business.

Why, because he won't bow down to Brady? As another poster said, he's just making his own legacy. I don't think he's worried about anyone else.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

The Bucs have not been a perfect team thus far. They have been basically Brady and the passing game and not much else. They haven't been able to run the ball. They haven't been able to stop the pass.

Tampa should be 1-2 right now...

 

[Tottie]

Why, because he won't bow down to Brady? As another poster said, he's just making his own legacy. I don't think he's worried about anyone else.

Nah I think it's like one of the posters above said about him trying to give out the company line and it's coming across a bit weird. You guys can talk about 'legacy' if you want but I won't even touch that word yet. He'll be fine. I'm sure its annoying for everyone to be asked about one guy the whole time, even the players on the other team.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Of course the Patriots can win this…

• Tampa Bay often gets into a dumbass run-run-pass pattern and gives away drives by not being disguised enough.
• If Bernard doesn’t play, expect at least one turnover worthy play from Fournette or Jones, usually by batting a pass. Jones is terrible. Patriots will likely force Tampa to rely on their running backs in the passing game, especially if Bernard is out.
• Tampa has not tackled well and been super aggressive on defensive, despite banging their heads on the wall with blitzes. I could definitely see a handful of misdirection plays and perhaps another flea flicker variation.
• Evans gets shut down often by a good CB. If JC Jackson can cover him one on one, it changes the complexion. May come down to how tight the refs are with Jackson being aggressive and Evans always trying to draw a PI.

I think this game will be close. Patriots will win if they can hit a few big plays…either deep passes, breakaway screens, punt returns, etc. The biggest challenge for Bill on defense is Tampa in the red zone. With three good tight ends, Evans, Godwin, Brown, and RBs who are actually better suited for that area, they have a very, very good red zone offense. That’s where scheme ingenuity is needed.

 

[Sicilian]

Nah I think it's like one of the posters above said about him trying to give out the company line and it's coming across a bit weird. You guys can talk about 'legacy' if you want but I won't even touch that word yet. He'll be fine. I'm sure its annoying for everyone to be asked about one guy the whole time, even the players on the other team.

To be honest, I feel like I would be annoyed as a player with how much they get asked about Mac Jones too. Every interview, whether it's a coach, other QB on the team, offensive player, defensive player, ball boy, grounds crew, former assistant to the official team food blogger, you name it. Every one gets asked what they think of Mac so far. At some point these players probably feel like they never get to talk about their own game.

 

[203Pat]

Tampa should be 1-2 right now...

And you should log off and never come back but here we are.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Tampa should be 1-2 right now...

Unfortunately that's not how it works.

 

[Ross12]

Of course the Patriots can win this…

• Tampa Bay often gets into a dumbass run-run-pass pattern and gives away drives by not being disguised enough.
• If Bernard doesn’t play, expect at least one turnover worthy play from Fournette or Jones, usually by batting a pass. Jones is terrible. Patriots will likely force Tampa to rely on their running backs in the passing game, especially if Bernard is out.
• Tampa has not tackled well and been super aggressive on defensive, despite banging their heads on the wall with blitzes. I could definitely see a handful of misdirection plays and perhaps another flea flicker variation.
• Evans gets shut down often by a good CB. If JC Jackson can cover him one on one, it changes the complexion. May come down to how tight the refs are with Jackson being aggressive and Evans always trying to draw a PI.

I think this game will be close. Patriots will win if they can hit a few big plays…either deep passes, breakaway screens, punt returns, etc. The biggest challenge for Bill on defense is Tampa in the red zone. With three good tight ends, Evans, Godwin, Brown, and RBs who are actually better suited for that area, they have a very, very good red zone offense. That’s where scheme ingenuity is needed.

NE has barely used motion pre-snap or misdirection at all this season and it's felt very strange. I wouldn't be surprised to see them break a lot of that out this week.

 

[Ross12]

The Bucs have not been a perfect team thus far. They have been basically Brady and the passing game and not much else. They haven't been able to run the ball. They haven't been able to stop the pass.

Yes, the Patriots were a disaster last week and not worlds better the first two weeks. But Trent Brown should be back. So that might turn the o-line around. The Bucs can't cover any receiver at this point. So that means that even Agholor, Bourne, and Meyers could be open a lot. So we could see a night and day turn around of the passing offense when Jones has time to throw the ball and the receivers can get open. Put Jones in the shotgun (as some in the media have been saying today) where he is more comfortable.

And the Pats' defense, although completely breaking down at times, at points has been fairly solid for most of the games. So that means although may not be able to completely shut down Brady, but they may be able to slow him down enough to hold the Bucs to the low to mid 20s.

I am not betting on any of this to happen, but here is a realistic although not likely scenario where the Pats score the upset.

It's actually fairly simple IMO - the only thing that needs to happen to make the upset within reach is just for the OL to be good. Get Brown back and hold up against the pressure for most plays. Keep Mac mostly clean. The receivers HAVE been getting open, Mac just has not had the time or space to find them. The Bucs secondary is pretty bad. Give Mac time in the pocket and he'll find the big plays. Then all you need on the other side is for the rush to get home against Brady with some frequency, which is not unreasonable, and for the secondary to take away Evans and hold up against everyone else long enough for the pass rush to have an effect. TB's run game isn't very good.

I agree that this is unlikely (that's why it's an upset) but it doesn't take some big complex combination of crazy things happening to occur, and it's not just an "any given Sunday" line. It really just comes down to "OL plays well, Mac has time, pass rush gets home, secondary doesn't suck" and it's a ball game.

 

[Pats1971]

It's actually fairly simple IMO - the only thing that needs to happen to make the upset within reach is just for the OL to be good. Get Brown back and hold up against the pressure for most plays. Keep Mac mostly clean. The receivers HAVE been getting open, Mac just has not had the time or space to find them. The Bucs secondary is pretty bad. Give Mac time in the pocket and he'll find the big plays. Then all you need on the other side is for the rush to get home against Brady with some frequency, which is not unreasonable, and for the secondary to take away Evans and hold up against everyone else long enough for the pass rush to have an effect. TB's run game isn't very good.

I agree that this is unlikely (that's why it's an upset) but it doesn't take some big complex combination of crazy things happening to occur, and it's not just an "any given Sunday" line. It really just comes down to "OL plays well, Mac has time, pass rush gets home, secondary doesn't suck" and it's a ball game.

So. Not give up any pressure, run the ball well, get constant pressure on Brady shut down evans and then hold up against Gronk, brate, Godwin, AB...yeah sounds simple....Man how does Tampa ever win a game? Sounds so easy to beat them.

 

[Pats1971]

Tampa should be 1-2 right now...

Based on what? Them winning 2?