Official 2022 Tompa Bay Gronkaneers Thread

[Deus Irae]

Do it, jump far. We are still 3 days away from having a lot more to discuss

Ok, let me just put this notion out there, then, as a starter for a true/false discussion:


The banged up OL on this team is especially problematic because of the makeup of the WRs. For the first time in a long, long time, Brady doesn't have the Brown/Welker/Edelman type in the slot, or an AB type to take up that slack.

 

[Tunescribe]

It is really terrible what has happened. Can't have any real/honest discussions about the team without being accused of being a traitor/Bucs fan.

In YOUR case specifically the accusations are more legitimate than not.

 

[Deus Irae]

 

[gobesmug]

Ok, let me just put this notion out there, then, as a starter for a true/false discussion:


The banged up OL on this team is especially problematic because of the makeup of the WRs. For the first time in a long, long time, Brady doesn't have the Brown/Welker/Edelman type in the slot, or an AB type to take up that slack.

That's a valid point.

Brady has typically made up for poor pass blocking by getting the ball out fast.

Mike Evans and Julio Jones are definitely at their best when they are 20+ yards downfield. Godwin runs the slot but doesn't have the quick twitch where he can find in open seam and be open within 2 secs of the snap.

So the question comes down to Gage. I haven't watched or studied his game at all, so if he is a mid range specialist like Godwin is, then the offense might have its trouble.

With the weak oline Julio getting 600-700 yards is probably a more fair prediction.

 

[Deus Irae]

Another area to look at is the TE position with regards to blocking. With Gronk missing (at least for now), the team's top TEs are pass catchers. So, if the OL struggles early, we could see the rookie TE (Otton) on the field more than we might currently expect.

 

[RicoG]

Not to jump too far into this discussion, but just to note another factor:


With Gronk gone (at least for now), that will probably mean more targets for the WRs and, probably, more 3WR and 4WR sets.

I've never really liked the 4WR sets. If any of the 4 TEs end up being good, they won't use it that often.

I've heard good things about Otton and Kieft might be a solid blocker. Cam Brate is not a starting level TE, so it was disappointing that Rudolph didn't surpass him in the depth chart.

 

[RicoG]

That's a valid point.

Brady has typically made up for poor pass blocking by getting the ball out fast.

Mike Evans and Julio Jones are definitely at their best when they are 20+ yards downfield. Godwin runs the slot but doesn't have the quick twitch where he can find in open seam and be open within 2 secs of the snap.

So the question comes down to Gage. I haven't watched or studied his game at all, so if he is a mid range specialist like Godwin is, then the offense might have its trouble.

With the weak oline Julio getting 600-700 yards is probably a more fair prediction.

I think the RBs will make up for the lack of an Edelman/Welker type of slot receiver. Fournette and Bernard are good pass catching backs. Apparently Rachaad White can is dynamic pass catchers too.

 

[VectorPrime]

I think more and more that Gronk is gonna come back.

 

[VectorPrime]

Rams suck

 

[VectorPrime]

Rams might really suck.

 

[Guts]

Rams might really suck.

Just 1 game they'll be fine.

 

[Deus Irae]

Tom Brady on what sticks out to him about the Cowboys on film:

 

[sb1]

Judging by last night I don’t think Brady will be losing any sleep thinking about the Rams.

When healthy I don’t see anyone standing in the Bucs way of winning the conference.

 

[VectorPrime]

Stafford is gonna have questions around that elbow every week.

 

[Tottie]

Maybe I'm in the minority but I don't think what we saw last night has any bearing on how the Rams will play TB. The Rams have issues with mobile QBs but the gameplan will be tremendously different against TB12. On the other side of the field Stafford was pretty much the same thing last year. Throw the ball to Kupp, throw some INTs and hope you have more points at the end. He looked the same last year IMO, some bad games and some ok games with great clutch plays to Kupp or others at key moments.

 

[Guts]

Maybe I'm in the minority but I don't think what we saw last night has any bearing on how the Rams will play TB. The Rams have issues with mobile QBs but the gameplan will be tremendously different against TB12. On the other side of the field Stafford was pretty much the same thing last year. Throw the ball to Kupp, throw some INTs and hope you have more points at the end. He looked the same last year IMO, some bad games and some ok games with great clutch plays to Kupp or others at key moments.

Yeah Stafford did what he did all last year. The Rams defense just couldn't stop the Bills.

 

[RicoG]

Just 1 game they'll be fine.

I recall that they lost 3 maybe 4 games just after midway through the season and dropped out of a playoff spot. I was rooting for them to miss the playoffs as they seemed to be the most dangerous team. Unfortunately they pulled it together and the rest is history.

They are still a good team but not nearly as good as last year. No OBJ and especially no Von Miller who is still a top 5 pass rusher in the league. Couple him with the #1 guy in Donald and that was a very dangerous combination.

 

[VectorPrime]

So are people just unaware that the Cowboys are missing a ton of key players to injuries because all I hear about are the Bucs being a MASH unit which isn’t true. They lost Jensen in July and that sucks. But every other training camp injury resolved itself.

 

[RicoG]

NFL Power Rankings, Week 1: Eagles, Lions rising heading into 2022 season; Cowboys slipping

I understand the love for the Rams and to a degree the love for the Packers, but don't understand why many have the 49rs ranked so high. They are 3rd in this ranking.

Bucs are 4th. I think anywhere from 1 to 5 is fair.

Pats are 19th. From the 2nd half of 2019 to current, they seem to be a 10th to 20th type team. I don't see that changing for next year either. Has fans gotten use to them just fighting for a playoff instead of the top seed? It could be awhile.

 

[Guts]

So are people just unaware that the Cowboys are missing a ton of key players to injuries because all I hear about are the Bucs being a MASH unit which isn’t true. They lost Jensen in July and that sucks. But every other training camp injury resolved itself.

A rookie guard is pretty much the only worry.
LT - Smith- Solid
LG- Goedeke(rookie)
C- Hainsey
RG- Mason
RT- Wirfs

Hainsey was going to be the starting center because the Bucs thought Jensen was gone in FA before Brady announced his un retirement.

They're depth at the Oline is the concern however