It’s time for PewterReport.com’s 2-Level Conversion post-game column, which options two statements, two questions and two predictions primarily based on the most recent Bucs recreation. Tampa Bay needed to overcome a heartbreaking time beyond regulation loss in Atlanta and being supplanted by Hurricane Milton to triumph in New Orleans, 51-27. In a wild recreation that noticed the Bucs lose a 17-0 lead and path at halftime, Tampa Bay battled again and outscored the Saints 27-0 within the second half.
The Bucs protection attacked rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler, sacking him 5 instances and choosing him off twice, whereas the bottom recreation exploded for 277 yards dashing led by Sean Tucker and Bucky Irving. Quarterback Baker Mayfield overcame three first-half interceptions to throw a season-high 4 touchdowns, together with two to Chris Godwin, because the Bucs improved to 4-2 and acquired their first NFC South win of the season.
2 BIG STATEMENTS
STATEMENT 1. Sean Tucker Bursts Onto The Scene For Bucs, Who Now Have A 3-Headed Monster At RB
Bucs RB Sean Tucker – Photograph by: USA Immediately
Tampa Bay’s Buck & Tuck Present debuted in New Orleans, and it seems like successful, doesn’t it?
I’m excited to see what’s in retailer for episode No. 2, aren’t you?
With Rachaad White out attributable to an ankle sprain, rookie Bucky Irving acquired his first begin at working again and had a career-high 81 yards and scored one other landing whereas averaging 5.8 yards per carry. Irving ripped off his third run of 30 yards or extra this season in New Orleans. And he topped 100 complete yards for the primary time in his younger, promising profession because of a pair of catches for twenty-four yards, together with a nifty, 18-yard reception that picked up a primary down on third-and-16 within the second half.
But as nice as Irving was, backup Sean Tucker was even higher. After beginning the season as RB3 behind White and Irving, Tucker moved up the depth chart to RB2 on Sunday. However after dashing for a game-high and career-best 136 yards on 14 carries (9.7 avg.) and his first dashing landing, and including three catches for 56 yards, together with a blinding 36-yard TD, Tucker needs to be within the combine for the position as RB1.
As I wrote in my Bucs Mailbag column, the Bucs can’t put the genie again within the bottle now. We’ve seen how simply explosive and productive Sean Tucker is.
He’s the quickest working again on the crew, and Tucker has loads of energy as he’s compactly constructed at 5-foot-10, 205 kilos. In a single recreation alone, he produced seven explosive performs, which offensive coordinator Liam Coen defines as runs of 10 yards or extra and receptions of 15 yards or longer. That’s greater than White has produced within the first 5 video games he’s performed on this season.
Bucs RB Bucky Irving – Photograph by: USA Immediately
If Tucker is by some means relegated to RB3 standing as soon as White returns from damage, that’s teaching malpractice. We have to see extra. Nobody is anticipating him to proceed to hurry for 9 yards per carry, however we have to see if Tucker is able to producing one other 100-yard recreation and if he needs to be the man to separate carries with Irving somewhat than White, who’s averaging simply 3.7 yards per carry this season.
Isn’t that what competitors is all about? Doesn’t iron sharpen iron? Even when it’s a three-headed monster at working again when White will get wholesome, Coen can’t make Tucker the forgotten man within the Bucs’ backfield.
The actual take a look at of a working again’s consistency comes while you take out the highest two longest runs of the season, as they will actually skew a median. Irving’s high two runs are a 32-yarder towards the Broncos and a 31-yarder, which he’s had towards each the Commanders and the Saints. So in the event you take away 63 yards from his complete, Irving nonetheless rushes for 4.7 yards per carry, which is kind of good.
Take away Tucker’s 36-yard jaunt and an 18-yard sprint at New Orleans and he’s left with 89 yards this season on 14 carries. Tucker nonetheless averages 6.3 yards per carry – even higher.
White had a 56-yard run at Atlanta and a 17-yarder versus Philadelphia. Take away 73 yards from his complete of 187 yards dashing and he’s left with 114 yards on 49 carries. That’s a 2.3-yard common and that tells you all you must know.
Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
It’s not like White doesn’t have a spot on this offense and shouldn’t have a job. It simply shouldn’t be because the beginning working again of this crew. He’s very efficient in go safety and he’s one of many higher receivers within the league. However in Tampa Bay he’s not the very best runner taking hand-offs. That’s Irving – and it would even be Tucker as soon as we see a bigger pattern dimension from No. 44.
The Saints couldn’t cease Tucker from amassing 192 yards of complete offense and two touchdowns on Sunday. He was completely electrical.
The one ones who would possibly have the ability to cease Tucker are Coen and head coach Todd Bowles in the event that they determine to cancel the Tuck & Buck Present after only one episode.
And it doesn’t sound like that’s going to occur.
“It’s undoubtedly worthy of him making it a three-headed monster,” Bowles stated in his Monday press convention. “He took benefit of his alternatives. He ran away from some tackles, some linebackers. He ran by the outlet, he reduce, he made some nice performs, he caught the ball properly out of the backfield. So that provides us a three-headed monster.”
STATEMENT 2. Bucs Protection Rattled Spencer Rattler
Bucs DT Calijah Kancey and Saints QB Spencer Rattler – Photograph by: USA Immediately
Whereas the Bucs offense stole the present in New Orleans, scoring 44 of the crew’s 51 factors with a franchise-best 594 yards of complete yards, Tampa Bay’s protection got here to play – and performed properly. There have been loads of followers fretting the considered Todd Bowles and his protection permitting one other rookie quarterback to beat the Bucs the way in which that Denver’s Bo Nix did in Week 3 this yr and Houston’s C.J. Stroud did final season. I even did a Pewter Pulse video for our PewterReportTV YouTube channel previous to the sport on this premise.
It regarded grim after the Bucs blew a 17-0 lead within the first quarter and trailed at halftime, 27-24. However one of many Saints’ three touchdowns got here on a punt return rating by Rashid Shaheed, after which Tampa Bay surrendered 10 factors whereas having to defend quick fields attributable to a pair of Baker Mayfield interceptions. The Bucs solely allowed one scoring drive longer than 56 yards, which led to a landing after the Saints gained 70 yards on seven performs.
Bowles’ unit hunkered down like a lot of the Tampa Bay space residents did throughout Hurricane Milton and confirmed loads of resolve within the second half. Not solely did the Bucs shut out the Saints offense within the second half, however the protection sacked Rattler 5 instances and picked him off twice. And Tampa Bay’s protection even acquired its first landing of the season on a 58-yard scoop-and-score by Antoine Winfield Jr. within the first quarter to present the crew an early 14-0 lead.
Rattler accomplished simply 22-of-40 passes (55%) for 243 yards with one landing and two picks. Tampa Bay bottled up Alvin Kamara, holding him to only 40 yards and a landing on 13 carries (3.1 avg.) and 5 catches for twenty-four yards. Chris Olave, the Saints’ No. 1 receiver, was knocked out of the sport within the first quarter after a giant hit from cornerback Zyon McCollum. Rookie nickelback Tykee Smith punched the ball out earlier than he hit the bottom and that led to Winfield’s TD.
McCollum and Smith every had large second half interceptions and Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans’ deep risk, was restricted to only one catch for 11 yards on seven targets. Exterior of his punt return for a landing, Shaheed wasn’t an element.
Mission achieved for Bowles, who’s now 4-1 towards the Saints as Tampa Bay’s head coach, together with successful three straight in New Orleans. His protection solely allowed 20 factors and made Rattler seem like the rookie he’s. Bowles and the Bucs at the moment are 4-2 towards rookie quarterbacks over the previous two seasons.
2 PROBING QUESTIONS
QUESTION 1. At 4-2, Are The Bucs Discovering Their Identification On Offense And Protection?
Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photograph from Buccaneers X
Sure, and Hurricane Milton will get an help, sadly. After escaping the Tampa Bay space for New Orleans on Tuesday previous to the hurricane hitting the Gulf Coast of Florida on late Wednesday night, the Bucs discovered loads of resolve at kickoff. The crew got here out quick and centered, and raced out to an early 17-0 lead.
Then adversity struck with a slew of self-inflicted penalties, surrendering a punt return for a landing to speedster Rashid Shaheed, and a trio of premature Baker Mayfield interceptions – solely two had been the quarterback’s fault – that led to 10 extra Saints factors. Hastily, the Bucs trailed at halftime, 27-24, and what regarded like a simple win early was in severe jeopardy.
However in contrast to the earlier recreation at Atlanta, a 36-30 loss in time beyond regulation, the Bucs didn’t fold after surrendering the lead. As a substitute, they confirmed lots of resiliency.
“Proper now it’s simply resiliency,” Bucs head coach Todd Bowles stated. “Us coming again and forming toughness within the second half and studying off our errors. If we are able to eradicate penalties and eradicate us taking pictures ourselves within the foot, which we’re reducing down an increasing number of, I feel we’ve an opportunity to be an excellent crew.”
Bucs DT Vita Vea and Saints QB Spencer Rattler – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Tampa Bay confirmed loads of resiliency within the second half, outscoring New Orleans 27-0. The Bucs identification on offense is one which encompasses a quarterback taking part in at or close to an MVP stage in Baker Mayfield, who has 15 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Tampa Bay’s offensive line is turning into a fairly dominant group and the offense is turning into extra balanced, evidenced by the league’s eighth-best dashing assault.
That’s proper. It’s not a typo.
Below offensive coordinator Liam Coen, the Bucs are averaging 136.8 yards per recreation. On the bottom.
Defensively, the crew’s identification is one that’s getting higher at stopping the run and getting after the quarterback. Tampa Bay’s run protection ranks tied for eleventh, permitting 113.3 yards per recreation. However over the past three video games, Bowles’ unit is permitting a median of simply 89 yards per contest.
With 5 extra sacks on Sunday in New Orleans, the Bucs now have 15 sacks within the final three video games, because the go rush is coming to life. An enormous a part of that’s having an offense that may mild up the scoreboard and provides Bowles a result in work with. Then he can dial up much more unique seems and stress packages and disguised coverages that may create sacks and interceptions.
“It undoubtedly helps,” Bowles stated. “If you may get a lead and make a crew one-dimensional, the health club bag is open. You’ll be able to form of attain in and pull out something you need to pull out. Guys begin flying round and making performs and you’ll see the outcomes.”
QUESTION 2. The place Are Yaya Diaby’s Sacks This 12 months?
Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby – Photograph by: USA Immediately
They’re coming. Whereas Yaya Diaby, final yr’s main sacker with 7.5, solely has one sack this yr, he’s been the highest stress producer in Tampa Bay – by a mile.
Diaby had two extra pressures in New Orleans and has 26 on the season, which ranks within the Prime 10 throughout the NFL. In actual fact, he’s tied for seventh with Houston’s Will Anderson Jr., Cleveland’s Myles Garrett, and Cincinnati’s Trey Hendrickson. And Diaby has 13 extra pressures than the closest Bucs defender – defensive deal with Vita Vea, who has 13 together with three sacks.
It didn’t assist that Diaby was being held on nearly each different snap – with no calls coming from the blind officiating crew that labored Sunday’s recreation.
It’s fascinating to notice that a lot of the harm is coming from the inside the place Vea and fellow defensive deal with Logan Corridor lead the crew with three sacks together with inside linebacker Lavonte David. Of the Bucs’ 17 sacks this yr, eight of them have come from defensive tackles with Will Gholston and Calijah Kancey every getting their first sacks of the season towards the Saints on Sunday.
The skin linebackers have solely totaled 4.5 sacks this season, with Anthony Nelson’s two main the way in which. However do not forget that Diaby didn’t document his first NFL sack till Week 8 final yr versus Buffalo’s Josh Allen. Then he racked up 6.5 extra down the stretch. Diaby is definitely forward of final yr’s tempo because the Bucs enter their seventh recreation of the season subsequent Monday night time towards Baltimore.
Lamar Jackson is without doubt one of the most cellular, elusive quarterbacks within the NFL. He’s solely been sacked seven instances, so it is going to be a giant problem for Diaby to get his second sack of the season and for the Bucs’ sack practice to maintain churning down the tracks. I’d be extra apprehensive about Diaby if he wasn’t piling up the pressures, however he’s. The sacks will come.
2 BOLD PREDICTIONS
PREDICTION 1. Ravens Would possibly Show To Be Too A lot For The Bucs – Proper Now
Bucs NT Vita Vea and Ravens QB Lamar Jackson – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
I’m not able to say that the Bucs will lose to the Ravens at residence on Monday Night time Soccer simply but. I have to dive deeper into my Ravens analysis earlier than I could make that form of prediction. It’s not simply Professional Bowl quarterback Lamar Jackson and Professional Bowl working again Derrick Henry whoare scary. Or the truth that with vast receiver Zay Flowers and tight finish Isaiah Seemingly serving to out, the Ravens are averaging 29.5 factors per recreation – simply behind the Bucs, who’re averaging 29.7 factors per recreation.
And naturally the Ravens have the league’s top-ranked dashing assault, averaging 205 yards per recreation. I’m simply undecided that the Bucs have sufficient pace at inside linebacker to successfully include and corral Jackson from attending to the second stage and performing some harm scrambling.
However Baltimore has the league’s high run protection within the league, holding opponents to only 59 yards dashing per recreation. The Bucs have operated higher offensively when the crew has stability aided by its resurgent floor recreation. Maybe Baker Mayfield and vast receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans can benefit from Baltimore’s passing protection, which is the second-worst within the league, surrendering 275.7 yards per recreation by the air.
This recreation can be determined within the trenches, and proper now I’d give the Ravens the sting. They’re a extra veteran, skilled crew and I feel the Bucs want a bit extra seasoning this yr earlier than they will beat Baltimore.
PREDICTION 2. The Bucs Will End The Season Averaging 30 Factors Per Recreation (Or Extra)
Bucs OC Liam Coen – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
I’m bought. I’m satisfied. Liam Coen’s offense is legit. It’s for actual.
The Bucs have scored 30 factors or extra in 4 of the crew’s six video games this season. I search for this development to proceed and Tampa Bay will end the season averaging 30 factors per recreation underneath the primary yr of Coen when it’s all stated and accomplished.
Baker Mayfield has an enviable 3:1 TD-to-INT ratio. Chris Godwin is a person on a mission in a contract yr, and each he and Mike Evans are tied for the league lead in landing catches with 5 this season. Irrespective of whether or not it’s Justin Skule at proper deal with or Robert Hainsey at middle, the Bucs’ rebuilt offensive line underneath O-line coaches Kevin Carberry and Brian Picucci is getting the job accomplished.
And now the Bucs have a three-headed monster to take care of at working again. All three can run it. All three can catch it. All three could make large performs and discover the tip zone. Tampa Bay’s offense is again.
