Breaking Down the Offensive Strength in 2020 | Bucs Insider

I know we talked about the schedule and a special Insider Live that happened right as it was released last week, but we haven't in this form gotten a chance to talk about it yet. So now that you've had even more time, because that was like immediately after it was released, Now that you've had a little bit more time to digest it, look at all the ins and out and nuances of it. Are there any things that have stood out to you that are a little bit different or

unique since then? First of all, it's good to see again Casey. Uh. It's nice to have some outside contact at least once a week, right exactly, That's really all we're doing the show At this point, he was saying yeah, you know, um, I did a pros and cons article this week on the schedule, and obviously you're nitpicking a little bit when you try to bring up cons because having five prime time, nationally televised games is just incredible.

It's just an indication of how interesting this team has become through this offseason with additions like Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski and and you know, you've heard our players talk about how the the all that attention obviously maybe spurred by the addition of Tom Brady, but it's gonna bring some much deserved recognition for some of our players who probably have been undervalued for a long time. Vante

David's name has brought up a lot. I think Da Vita by I probably had a much better last year than a lot of fans realized guys like that. So that's good. But you know, if we're nitpicking, Uh, something that I wrote about and that you about before came on here the bucks because mostly because of those primetime games, there is a little bit bit of imbalance in terms of what you'd call um net days off I think

is probably the way to put it. So to make one example, to make the obvious example if you play, I guess a team who just came off a bye week. Obviously, that team had seven more days to to prepare and or rest up for that game. And that's a fact of life in the NFL. It generally happens to you from time to time. But the Buccaneers are really high this year. Uh In in games like that, in net days off, we play at least two teams coming up buys.

Even when we have the Thursday night game in Chicago, which is what we usually call mini by because you get that weekend off before the next game as a reward for that short week leading up to the Thursday game, even that is an advantage, is not an advantage because the next game is against Green Bay and they'll be coming off a real buy, So even that mini buy isn't an advantage that week. So yeah, we're nitpicking there,

but you know, there there are there's there's downsides. I guess you would say to having all this attention and all these uh national games and that's it. But it's a good problem to have, obviously, Yeah, I would agree with that, um And then I know this time of years also when we would be finding out about a lot of potential rule changes, things that are going to

be voted on. Um, I know because of COVID in the situation that we might not have all the clarity on that that we normally would because some of these owners meetings being pushed back and you know, the times that we would we find out. But what do we know as of now about that and what are we

still kind of waiting to find out? Yeah, I think the very first thing that you and I had canceled that we were supposed to go to was the owners meetings in late March, and uh, I think they call it the NFL Annual Meeting, but everybody calls it the owners meetings, and that's often where the first round of rule change discussions are made, and sometimes they do past

rules there. You remember a year ago we were at those meetings and uh, they went a little extra long to get that passe interferres replay rule installed, And like most rules, it was a one year trial, and most one year trials, say, for instance, the recent changes to the kickoff are then the following year renewed as a

permanent rule. And uh, I'm sure that's probably what they expected when they when they instituted that new rule for pastor and French replay last year, and yet this is the rare instance where it's already been stated by the Competition Committee that that rule is not going to be renewed, and we can talk about it here a little casey. But I think I I'm pleased by that, and I think it it follows what we've been saying all of last year and in the off season. Don't you think, yeah,

I would agree with that. I think that, Um, there were so many times it was so frustrating, even when it wasn't your team, like even outside of Buckingeer's games, you know, of course that's when we would be the most frustrated was when it affected the books. But it really did seem lead wide like this just caused more issue choose and more drama and more questioning than it did solve things. And um, so I really do have to commend them for being like, all right, well we

tried and it didn't seem like that worked out. Well yeah, and that's not just you saying that. Now. You've told me that before, and I think I've told you before maybe we've e been talked about it on one of these shows. To me, what it came down to, was that rule made me sort of change my mind a little bit on whether I thought replay overall was necessary in the game. And when it comes down to for me, is it's frustrating when you're watching a game and your team is hurt by what you think is a bad

call or non call on a past inference play. It sucks. You know, you hate it. It's frustrating. But I found it at least doubly frustrating, if not many magnitudes more last year. When you thought your team got messed with by a bad call or non call, and then it was challenged, and then you saw the replays and you thought, well, I'm right, this proves it right, and then they still didn't overturn it, it was way more frustrating. So I,

for one, I'm glad that this rule is gone. They're talking about trying to come up with ways to combat the problem, and basically the problem is that one play in the Rams Saints game in the playoffs two years ago. They're talking about ways to try to avoid that happening again. I don't know how they're gonna be able to do that, though, because it's a subjective thing, and I think you just

have to live with it. Yeah, I mean I think that sounds like the true answer is that you and I should be in charge of the replay and then everything is fixed, and then everything will be five judge if you know, I'll be that sky judge. Yeah, where the fans don't know who you are in case they're mad at you. Yeah. I probably shouldn't do Bucks games though.

That's that's project quite unbiased. That's a good point, Okay. Um, we had a question from Mike who asked, do you think that there's a likely extension for Godwin or because we're up against the cap that might not work. No.

I would absolutely think that that's a priority. Um. When they talked about this earlier in the offseason, Bruce arians Jason made it clear that that's a priority, but also made it clear or that it's not something that had to get done right away, like tagging Shack Barry had to get done right away, and resigning and Dominican SU and JPP had to get done right away. Resigning Chris Godwin didn't have to be done. It could be done

in August, it could be done in September. I think if I recall wasn't your coin might have been September October of the year leading up to his free agency um and Lavante David might have been in August. I think, and you know, you priority you you identify guys that are priorities to keep, and you make an effort to keep him. And I think both sides here want that to happen. So I think it'll get done. And I know I sound like a broken record when it comes

to this up against the cap thing. If the Bucks need to create some cap space, they will find a way to make it happen. Yeah, if you look at the raw numbers, they're in the lower level now because of all the moves that we've made. But they'll find a way to make the money there. And you also have to consider that lots of times the cap hit isn't necessarily as terrible for that very year you're talking

about right then. In fact, sometimes an extension can relieve your cap hit from that year, depending on how it's structured. And we don't I don't have the numbers in front of me, but last year, I remember everybody talking about how bad our cap situation was and how are we going to be able to do stuff the following off season, this offseason, and I said, just go look at the cap numbers. For there's a lot of contracts potentially coming off the books, so your cap space for one, I

don't know what. Off the top of my head, I wish I was prepared with that, but I'm not. But it doesn't it's not necessarily as tight as it as it is right now. Yeah, that's a that's a great point. Um. And Everett asked, are we still eyeing any other potential free agents or do we think that we're done with that? You know, I kind of don't think so. And I guess this will sound a little contradictory to my last answer, but there isn't a lot of cap space at the moment.

You do have to sign all of your draft picks. You might be worried about Chris Godwin extension, and there's been so much done already, and there's not really huge glaring holes on the roster, and there's not a lot of great free agents left out there. So for all those reasons, I just don't think so. I know we've got in dominckin Sue at about this time last year, but I think that was kind of a special situation

because it was right after we had released Jeral McCoy. So, you know, I don't think there's a big sign There's always some signings, but there's not a lot of big signings between now and training camp, and I think this is a year where there won't be one. Yeah, and this is sort of related to that. But Jamir had asked, are we set at running back or do you see

a signing of that? No. I think we're set um, you know, because they do like Ronald Jones and obviously they drafted keyshaw On Vaughan with the UH with the idea of making him pretty prominent in the in the offense. I think you don't spend a third round pick on running back if you don't think he's gonna play that year. Some other positions you might wait a little bit, but running backs generally step right in if they're you know, top day one or Day two picks. And they really

liked what Ronald Jones did last year. I think that's a good complimentary group. And you know, when you hear Bruce arians talk about it, he always brings up Dario Goombaali and Taj Logan too. So I don't see a veteran addition there. And again, I think I've said it before when you've got basically a position that you don't necessarily a lot of teams don't want to put a whole lot of their cap space into because it's a fungible asset and there's a lot of turnover there, a

lot of shorter careers. You've got two guys that are on rookie contracts. I don't think there's a there's necessarily a good idea there to add a big contract for a veteran. Okay, And this is an interesting question from Jack. He said, how different will the Saints games be from Week one to Week nine? Mm? Hm, Well, I mean the thing we can't know there is which players might

be injured. Um between those two games just a couple of years ago, there's a big difference when we played New Orleans a Week one and later in the season because Jameis Winston was on the suspension. So you had Ryan Fitzpatrick in that first game, that forty forty shootout, and then Jameis Winston in the second one. Uh So you can't know for sure if you don't know for one reason or another, if a player is not available.

But I think in this particular case, the chances are higher that the Buccaneers will be look different between weeks one and nine than the Saints. The Saints come back mostly intact. I think they're gonna have one change on their offensive line. They added Emmanuel Standards, but that should phase in their pretty easily. Whereas the Buccaneers are introducing

a new quarterback. So you know, you, you know, we all think Tom Brady will step right in and be awesome, but it makes sense that he'll be more comfortable in the offense in week nine than week one. Yeah, that's very true. Um, And we talked a little bit about running back already, but Jericho had asked how likely or possible is it that Vaughan could end up getting the starting nod over Rojoe. I. I really don't think that's gonna happen, at least at the beginning of the season. Um.

Like I said, they liked what Rojo did. Um, there were a number of plays last year, as long as plays that were called back, that would have made the stats look even better. Um. I'm sure a lot of players can say that, but still that's the way they feel about him. Uh. I think there there really is no reason why you would take the rookie third rounder and making the starter right away over your your incoming

third year back unless you didn't like that guy. And I think they do like that guy, So you know, I again, this is the second time I'm gonna say it. I sound like a broken record here, but I think it's all that critical which guy's name the starter. Ronald Jones wasn't the starter for the first seven games last year, but you're certainly playing at least as much as right. Yeah,

that's true. This is an interesting question, Mike said, with teams not really paying running backs, are most teams just planning a draft one every year in the second or third round and not planned to pay a second contract? And do you see other positions that teams might use this philosophy. Well, that is a really good question. And I don't know about every year, but maybe every couple

of years. That's certainly what the Buccaneers have just done. Um. And you sometimes find guys that help you out even in undrafted free agency, like Peyton barber Um. And really the history of the last maybe five six years of running backs getting second big contracts like for instance, Carolina

just gave Christian McCaffrey a huge contract. I think that's pretty understandable given how important he is to their offense, and he's sort of like the new face to the franchise now that um Cam Newton and Luke Keikley are gone. It's kind of understandable there. But Todd Gurley, Derek McKinnon, Davante Freeman, Uh, these guys getting these second contracts, it just seems to more often than not not really pay

off in the long run. So I don't think that the Buccaneers draft a key shan Von thinking he's gonna be gone in five years. Certainly not. They hope he's awesome and they have a reason to pay him again in five years. Uh. But I think there probably is a realization that that is more commonly a position that doesn't get a big second contract. So that concept makes a lot of sense to me. Doesn't apply to any other positions, not off the top of my head now,

I don't think so. It's just that running back in particular, their their careers are generally so short and they're replaced a lot. And you know, I don't want to say that in in you know, to make any anyone feel bad about Ronald Jones Rakisha on vain again, we hope those guys around for a long time. Just history suggest that if you're talking about the league as a whole, there is so much turnover there. Yeah. Yeah, it's such a unique position in that way. Um, yes it was.

I thought that was very unique. Um Todd asked, are they talking to Barrett still about a long term contract or do we think they're just going to do the one year deal in the franchise TAG? Yeah, and that's the kind of thing that both sides are obviously keeping quiet. I would guess that they're talking about to them about a long term contract. Um, doesn't mean it's gonna happen.

I did a story like several months it's hard to keep track of time these days, but weeks and weeks ago about what has happened to all the people that have been franchised TAG, and it's about fifty fifty whether they end up remaining with the team or a past that first year. So there's certainly reason to question whether or not it will be more than a one term, one year deal. But I think given the guy, I love the guy, they think they got him at the

perfect time that you know, they put him in. They took him from a spot whereas a rotational player, I thought he could do more as a as a starter and a you know a guy that gets like seventies sevent That's exactly what happened. That's exactly what you're trying to do in free agency. And uh and unfortunately it was only a one year contract, so now you have to pay up. But I think they liked the guy and they believe that this was not, in any case a flash in the pan. So I think it would

like to get a long term deal done. It doesn't mean it will happen, but that would be my guess. John asked how many Titans do you think we'll keep? Well, I think we'll probably have four on the roster. Um a fifth one could force his way on there. It just depends, obviously on positional needs and other spots. Uh. You know, they we always we always talk about Rob Gronkowski and O. J. Howard and Cam Brave for obvious reasons. Those are the guys that between them are gonna put

up the pass catching numbers. But Anton Claire is a great blocker. They love his blocking in and most teams have at least one tight end that they consider a guy that's there for his great blocking, so I don't see him going anywhere. So that looks like at least forward to me. And we haven't even talked about Tayner Hudson, who's a young guy with a lot of potential, So it's gonna be tight. If I had to guess, I would say four, and sort of relate to that, I

think it's Rebin maybe. I asked, do you believe that Evans and Godwin could hit a thousand plus yards again each this year? Since we also have three great tight ends? And he's watching from Denmark? So that's fun Denmark, all right? Um, yeah, I'm actually funny. I'm answering a mail back question about that right now. I had to stop to do this

awesome show instead. But um, you wonder people wonder about there's only one football to go around, and we talked about how this offense is so loaded with pass catchers

can all of them be satisfied? And UM, I won't spoil my answer completely in the mail bag you have to go read it, but I think there's room for both Evans and Godwin to pass a hundred yards and still have um, I mean a thousand yards and still have good numbers for Rob Gronkowski and at least or O. J. Howard and at least one other guy, whether it be the other tight end or a third receiver or running back, which is something obviously that's featured prominently in Tom Brady

offenses recently. So, uh, do you think both those guys made it easily past the thousand yards last year? And that's with Mike Evans missing the last three games and most of the fourth game and Chris Godwin missing the last two games and a portion of a third game, So they may not both end up they were both on pace to get close to fifteen hundred yards. I wouldn't expect that to happen, but I do think they can both top a thousand and still have two or

maybe three other guys with a significant pasket. Okay, well for us on this edition of Buccaneers Insider Life presented by Miller Life, Thanks for all of those awesome questions, and we will be right back here next week, so we'll see it then, he prefer m. M.