OT: Official 2020 Tompa Bay Gronkaneers Thread

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Yeah...I like TBs chances against the Washington Football Team. Jesus, what a steaming pile of crap this game is. Would Bowles actually play that soft Cover 2 against the biggest dink and dunker of the modern era? Proabably.

 

[upstater1]

So Antonio Brown finally had a monster breakout game.

Was hoping to see the same from Gronk. I don't know if he still has it to go from being a very good TE to peak Gronk with 100+ yards and 2TD? Is it the Arians system? Is it all the talent? Or they just don't need him to be the #1 receiver?

Did you see the screen pass to Gronk? He picked up speed really quickly and was flying, and then he just slammed into 3 defenders and carried them. Physically, he seems to have gotten back to a really good place.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Gronk is never going to be the 2017 version or greater again, but this year he has shown he can still be that 2018 version who ramped it up in the postseason and was still a big matchup problem even if not explosive. I am surprised be still has as much left as he does.

I’m guessing he’s been on a pitch count this year and probably has nagging injuries prop up all the time from all those surgeries.

He has actually been targeted much more frequently than most TEs under Arians, at least when he’s been part of the gameplan.

This is a great role for him as a great blocker (especially with Smith needing help) and three stud receivers who can carry the pass catching load.

Postseason will be interesting with how much and how they use Gronk.

 

[Tony2046]

Gronk is never going to be the 2017 version or greater again, but this year he has shown he can still be that 2018 version who ramped it up in the postseason and was still a big matchup problem even if not explosive. I am surprised be still has as much left as he does.

I’m guessing he’s been on a pitch count this year and probably has nagging injuries prop up all the time from all those surgeries.

He has actually been targeted much more frequently than most TEs under Arians, at least when he’s been part of the gameplan.

This is a great role for him as a great blocker (especially with Smith needing help) and three stud receivers who can carry the pass catching load.

Postseason will be interesting with how much and how they use Gronk.

I agree but think Gronk has looked better than 2018.

 

[NYCPATS4LIFE]

Looks like it will be Washington. That OL will have its work cut out for them. Just hope the Bucs don’t embarrassed themselves against washington.

 

[upstater1]

Gronk is never going to be the 2017 version or greater again, but this year he has shown he can still be that 2018 version who ramped it up in the postseason and was still a big matchup problem even if not explosive. I am surprised be still has as much left as he does.

I’m guessing he’s been on a pitch count this year and probably has nagging injuries prop up all the time from all those surgeries.

He has actually been targeted much more frequently than most TEs under Arians, at least when he’s been part of the gameplan.

This is a great role for him as a great blocker (especially with Smith needing help) and three stud receivers who can carry the pass catching load.

Postseason will be interesting with how much and how they use Gronk.

I think he's much much better than 2018.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

WFT is an easy win for Tampa...I didn't see anything from Alex Smith tonight that makes me think he can win that game.

 

[Biffins]

I would love to see Tom win #7 this year. But I just don't think Tampa has a SuperBowl caliber defense. Maybe if they can fix the secondary in the offseason and get a real HC.

Brees won in NO with no defense.
Eagles beat us with no defense (Tom threw for 500 in thaf SB)

so it can be done.

 

[Biffins]

Brady was really whipping around the ball with accuracy today. He looked great. That throw in the 2nd qtr to Antonio Brown on the right sideline was thrown with great velocity and accuracy. Impressive.

So many people at the beginning of this thread said that Brady had lost it.

NO!!!!!!!!!

Brady was on fire last 3 games. They are clicking and peaking at right time.

 

[Biffins]

I agree but think Gronk has looked better than 2018.

He definitely has.

 

[TB12TheGoat]

Brees won in NO with no defense.
Eagles beat us with no defense (Tom threw for 500 in thaf SB)

so it can be done.

Saints defense was actually pretty darn good that playoffs. Held Warner to 14 (headhunting but still), Vikings held to 28 but the Saints forced 4 or 5 turnovers including an interception in the waning moments, and the defense held Peyton to 17. So they held Warner, Favre, Manning to 59 combined points

I’d be thrilled if the Buccaneers defense could play like that these playoffs because if they do they’re winning it all

 

[Lagaffe_07]

Washington will be a good first opponent for TB. Wash has a great defense with a great pass rush but a suspect offense.

It’s the perfect opportunity for TB to test their new philosophy they seemed to have put in place since the bye with a lot more motion and short to intermediate stuff against a good defense without having really the pressure to keep scoring to match the opponent production.

If they manage to handle the Washington pass rush and get away from this game with a good overall offensive production they will be hard to stop offensively. They need confidence in themselves that they can handle a very good pass rush which has been their Achille heel all year.

If they prove they can handle a good pass rush, the only thing that can stop them is their pass defense.

 

[sb1]

Alex Smith shouldn’t be a problem for the Bucs defense but their OL will have their hands full.

 

[amfootball]

Bucs got the Saturday night game just like Pats always used to. Of course ours was the divisional round every year.

 

[RIpats88]

I think he's much much better than 2018.

I think he has, but also he was a #1 focus in 2018 and this year he is more of an afterthought with the great receivers tampa has.

I don't think Gronk will ever be prime gronk again. But he still is a VERY good tight end.

 

[PP2]

Call me superstitious, but I'd rather Brady not face the giants a 3rd time in the playoffs.

It's not just superstition but also Joe Judge who knows Brady inside out. He is the one coach who will scheme specifically to stop Brady.

As it is, Bucs won't face them. Bucs will face a Washington team who you can count on to bring a generic scheme.

 

[1960Pats]

Guessing Boston FOX decided not to run the Brady game against the Pats game. Boston tv market ratings thing. They put the Bucs on people in Boston are gonna watch that game over a Pats team playing with a bunch of backups against the 2nd worst team in football. But Pats fans are more likely to watch a bunch of backups vs the jest over a f**king giants game.

Just my guess

Great guess.

 

[1960Pats]

Being 43 and playing at an elite level is historic and should be counted as an automatic pro bowl. Manning would have gotten it if he had 10 less TD, 1000 less yards, and was 5 years younger.

 

[1960Pats]

I am not comparing NE to Tampa like so many here. What Brady did is impressive but I was just stating the facts that they haven't beaten many good teams this year. Let's see if they can change that in the playoffs . Why do some fans think that it's not okay to say anything negative about the Bucs but yet you will constantly bash Bill !

The teams with the 7 easiest schedules in the NYFL, and 9 of the easiest 11, are all playoff teams. Tampa Bay is NOT one of those.

 

[1960Pats]

Already been a long football season for you and will be a long basketball season too. I think the Lakers repeat easily.

BDM