September 13, 2025 • 39 mins
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers opened the season with fireworks, and this episode breaks it all down in detail. Rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka stole the show with two touchdowns in his NFL debut, including the clutch game-winner in the final minute. We dig into how his Ohio State pedigree, route running, and mental toughness translated instantly to the pros, and what it means for the Bucs offense moving forward. With Chris Godwin still rehabbing and Jalen McMillan sidelined, Egbuka’s emergence is more than just a feel-good story — it’s a glimpse at how Tampa Bay’s depth can keep the offense rolling. But it wasn’t just about the rookie. We dive deep into the offensive line adjustments after Tristan Wirfs’ absence, how Graham Barton, Ben Bredeson, and Michael Jordan reshuffled into new roles, and how Baker Mayfield managed the game under pressure. From coaching adjustments to defensive stands, we cover the full picture of Tampa Bay Buccaneers football. Looking ahead, we’ll explore how defenses will adjust to Egbuka, whether the O-line can maintain chemistry, and how Baker can continue building momentum. If you want insider-level analysis on the Bucs’ roster depth, injuries, and evolving strategy, this episode is for you.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
On today's show, the Bucks pick up a big twenty
three to twenty victory over the Falcons in Game one
of the regular season, a game they probably shouldn't have won.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
What to expect in Game number two against the Texans,
And Monday Night Football and roster concerns next don this edition.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Of The Bucks Reports. Let's get it well.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Hello Indo, Welcome into this edition of The Bucks Report,
part of the Bucks Report podcast network. I'm so glad
you decided to join me today. As always, this podcast
is free and available on all the major platforms. My
name is Dan Holmy. You can find me on Twitter.
It's at Dan Caps two and eight. You can find
the Bucks Report online It's at Boxreport dot com. And
(01:21):
the best way that you can help grow this show
is to subscribe or follow The Box Report on Apple, Spotify, YouTube,
or wherever you find your podcast. Give it a five
star rating, leave some comments, and to tell your friends.
I sure would appreciate it. This episode is also simulcast
on the Bucks Minutecast podcast feed, brought to you by
(01:43):
the Fans First Sports Network. So let's get into it.
The Buccaneers pick up a win in the first game
of the regular season, and what is the thing that
they always say the first game is always a liar.
I don't want to read too much into that. I mean,
the Buccaneers showed some resiliency the fact that they were
(02:03):
able to win this game. It was against great odds.
But the thing that I've noticed about Baker Mayfield in particular,
and well the Bucks, is that they seem to thrive
under pressure, right and you saw Baker Mayfield really come
out to shine. So let's break down the game. We'll
take a look at the box score just before we
get into it here. But as far as Baker Mayfield
(02:24):
is concerned, seventeen of thirty two, one hundred and sixty
seven yards three touchdowns, I'm here to tell you right
out of the gate that Ameccha Abuka is the guy.
This is not hyperbole. This isn't me being a homer
of the Buccaneers drinking the creamsicle kool aid two touchdowns
in one of the touchdowns, the last touchdown of the
(02:45):
game came at a clutch moment and is what helped
catapult the Buccaneers and push him over the top into
victory lane. Bucky Irving also came out to play with
a touchdown. All things considered, the Buccaneers game, I guess
what I'm talking about as far as like the running
back is concerned, definitely could use some more work. As
you saw a bucket a Baker Mayfield out there scrambling
(03:08):
quite a bit, and that's exciting, right to see him
rush and get a first down or you know, just
really kind of get the team into it. The cautionary
tale about all of that, however, is at some point
he's going to get injured.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Right.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
It's just a rule of odds. And when you take
a look at Baker Mayfield and quarterbacks in general, usually
they'll run with the football and then when they see
they're ready to get hit, the'll kind of dive and
slide a little bit. We've seen Baker Mayfield take full impact.
And despite you know what people are saying about the Buccaneers,
you know they're going to win the fifth straight NFC
self title, They're not going to do it with Baker
(03:44):
Mayfield not in the game. Listen, Teddy Bridgewater might get
you a game or two here, but I'm here to
tell you the Buccaneers will not win the NFC South
if it is teddyball. Now again, this is just me
being conspiratorial and maybe a little bit paranoid at the
end of the day. But in any event, we need
the run game to work better. We need, you know,
the receivers to do it to him, to hand the
football off. So he's not the guy that feels the
(04:05):
need to run it all the time. It is kind
of the way football is nowadays, right. It's not Tom
Brady football or Aaron Rodgers football where they kind of
sit in the pocket and wait for things to happen.
That these younger ish quarterbacks they feel the need to scramble.
But a cautionary tale is what I'm going to say about.
Let's dive into what happened here in the most recent game.
(04:25):
And like I said, to be clear here, Mecca Agbuca
is the man. I mean, you don't need to convince
me anymore what we saw in game number one sign
seal delivered. He's the guy. He's the guy to fill
in the void that Godwin's not in the mix, right,
and that Jalen McMillan is not in the mix. That Igbuka,
it's an Evan at Buka one two combo. I'm feeling
(04:48):
pretty confident about it.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Tenda.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
If you don't believe me, take a look at the
box score. He was the guy. So let's start with
Abuka rookie debut. Two touchdowns, clutch touchdowns with fifteen seconds
left that put the Bucks ahead for good. I don't
know if when you guys were watching this, but there
was a real feeling inside of me that I thought
Buccaneers are going to screw this up somehow in game
(05:12):
number one, that they're going to screw this up. But
they dug deep and got it done. But Abuka big thing.
He is the headline clutch touchdown at a clutch time.
Get to be clear here, if it wasn't for Baker
Mayfield and it wasn't for Buca, I mean, that's kind
of stayed in the obvious right, but it would not
have been a victory. So huge for those guys to
come up in a big moment. So there's a lot
(05:34):
to unpack in this whole picture here where he came
from and what he does and why this matters more
than just two scores on a box score. So first at,
Buka is not some random late bloomer. The kid walked
out of Ohio State as they're all time leading receiver.
(05:55):
And still I remember after the draft there was quite
a bit of talk from you know, different Bucks fans going,
what is the deal here? Why did they go with
this at Buka guy? They got enough wide receivers out there. Well,
as it turns out the perfect guy. So you just
take a look at the checklist and what you're looking
for for a good wide receiver. So college production, check
route tree, experienced, check handskills check. Now you get into
(06:18):
the NFL and everything is faster, and there were questions
is that going to translate to the National Football League.
Everything's tougher. He's standing across from dudes who have been
doing this for five, six, seven years. I'm here to
tell you he is the guy. I have no reluctancy.
I don't second guess their decision at all. He is
(06:40):
the future face at the wide receiver position, make no
mistake about it. And yet today or Sunday, rather he
makes a screen route or excuse me, a seam route
with defenders draped on him, and Baker threads it. Baker
Mayfield continues to shine, and still I still marvel at it.
He's been here a while. I get it, Dan. It
(07:01):
should soak in by now, but he continues to impress
and I'm glad. I'm glad that they went with Baker
Mayfield and he has done nothing but kill it and
later thirty yards right down the middle with the game
on the line, that shows two things. One his skill
set translates, we don't have to worry about that. To
his mental makeup translates, that's huge because so many college
(07:25):
stars hit a wall mentally when mistakes and speed jump.
Has not been the case with Abuka. But Baker said
he doesn't act like a rookie, and I think that
was a parent and you know, they were asking questions
of Baker like are you surprised He's like, no, I've
kind of told you guys the whole time that he's
the real deal. But that's the thing. He doesn't play
(07:46):
like a rookie, and he stays calm under pressure. Those
lights of the NFL can burn extra hot, and he
has been up for the challenge. And when you have
a veteran QB like Baker Mayfield throwing to a young
guy in crunch time, that tells you about trust. And
(08:07):
he's got the trust right. I think that you know
when you start batching plays you saw Brady do the
same thing when he was here. You drop the ball
when you should have catched it, when you should have
caught it. He's not gonna throw to you right away,
so trust wins the game. You heard Baker say it, right,
He called Egbuka the real deal, And that's not hype.
If it's said right after the game in front of
(08:27):
the whole world, that's an evaluation rooted in performance under pressure. Also,
it wasn't just him. It's not just this a relationship
between Baker and Abuka here, it was also Luka DECKI
said he does everything right, including blocking in the run game.
So this isn't just you know, a one trick pony.
He didn't get lucky here. This is a guy who
(08:49):
buys into team football and that multiplies his value. And
I think that you know, it's showing just like another
genius move by Jason Light and the Bucking years. And
let's be realistic for a second. Agbuka got his chance
because of injuries ahead of him on the depth chart.
I'm talking Godwin, I'm talking Jalen Nickmillan. Even though I
(09:11):
think that you know it's Evans Godwin and Igbuka. I mean,
I mean in my opinion, or you know, you could
flop Evans and god went around that. Jalen McMillan is good,
but I still think that Abuka would have been ahead
of him. Not to disparage Jalen McMillan, but I think
that what we saw on Sunday, if it's not a parent,
should be rather a parent right now. But what we
(09:33):
do know is Chris Godwin still sidelined from last season's
ankle issues and Jalen McMillan likely out for a while
with a next brain. So the exciting part as a
Buccaneers fan, as you can imagine, is what is this
team gonna look like? With Godwin in there, with Jalen McMillan,
with a Bukah, with Evans gotten all of them out there.
(09:54):
It is going to be a team to be feared.
So for him, you know what they say, it's always
the next man up, and it was the next man
up for a BUCA. Opportunities open, but opportunity doesn't equal production,
right that you can give opportunities to anyone. If you
don't take the opportunity that's given to you, then it's
(10:15):
squandered and it's nothing. You still have to make big
plays when the lights are on, and Buka did that.
And the way he handled himself on the sideline on
third downs on contested catches, it told you watching that
this is not a fluke, this is not a flash
in the pan. That this guy is ready for prime time.
So I guess the question is is what what kind
(10:38):
of production is he going to get when there's more
game film on him? Right that he played well right
under under the big lights in game one when there
still is wasn't a tremendous amount other than you know,
his college days and what we saw in the preseason.
It's going to be interesting to see how teams adjust.
Is he going to be press coverages? Can he work
(10:58):
against brackets? How does the Bucks scheme get him in space? Listen,
I think the kid is going to continue to gig
better and better. I don't think we really need to
worry about that. But an exciting game number one for ABUCA,
for Baker Mayfield and the Bucks. Buccaneers fans, you should
be holding your head up high. All right, So coming
(11:20):
up here at for the break, we'll talk about offensive
line rearrangements and deep dive straight ahead, all right, Welcome
back into this edition of The Bucks Report, part of
the Bucks Report podcast network, simulcast on the Bucks Minicast
(11:42):
podcast feed. So let's get into it. There were some
shake ups out there, right that Graham Barton going into
the season, he was the guy, right, he was the
center for your Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Well, Tristan wurks I
took the snow globe and shook everything all up, and
all of a sudden, you take a look at what
Todd Bowley had to do. He's like, you know, I'm
looking out there, and he looked at the options and
(12:04):
the lay of the land out there. He saw Barton,
he saw Bretisen, he remember Jordan how that all factored
in and he was able to envision and kind of
came out with this idea that it's about putting the
best players out on the field. It's about putting your
aces in their places, even though it's not where they
were sketched out. And what did we see? I think
(12:26):
we saw some good production to be clear here. Going
into this season, there was a lot of question about, hey,
the Buccaneers are really good, but now they're minus Tristan Worfs.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
What are they gonna do?
Speaker 2 (12:38):
That was the guy that you know, he was the
guy that saved Baker Mayfield, right, that protected him. So
it was interesting because see how they were going to adjust.
Let's dive into it in the second segment of today's
show talking about the rearrangement. Is we know Tristan Wurf's
is going to be out for a while. That's huge.
He's an all pro. He's the anchor on the blind side.
(12:59):
So losing him trigger there's a domino effect on the
offensive line. What did the Buccaneers do. Graham Barton, who
started at center last year as a rookie, is sliding
out to left tackle. Ben Brettison is moving inside to center.
And it's not just random. It's not like, hey, just
take the gum and throw it out the wall and
see if it sticks. These guys have a history in
(13:20):
those positions, and I'll dive into that here as well.
And Michael Jordan, no not the great Michael, a veteran
elevated from the practice squad, steps in at left guard.
And that's moving a lot of parts right out of
the gate, right, And so let's take each piece as
slowly as I can. I tend to speed up here
a little bit but I'm going to try to break
it down if you didn't see the game or if
(13:41):
you're wondering why things happened the way they did. Graham Barton,
first off, played three seasons at left tackle at Duke
before he came into the league. And guess what, did
a good job out there. Surprise, surprise. So we're not
slapping a center at tackle and you know, crossing our
fingers and toes and hoping for the best. This is
a player with college tackle experience. The Bucks drafted him
(14:03):
with that versatility in mind, right that it's good that
you don't get a player that like he can play
center and that's it. How about that position? Center?
Speaker 3 (14:12):
That's it?
Speaker 2 (14:13):
So Ben Brettison as well, is an interesting is it
not interesting? Because he played center before, so he's not,
you know, inventing a new role for the first time
and this season opener. That continuity matters. And Michael Jordan
is a veteran who played more than forty starts across
multiple teams. Ben Brettison who had some time at the
(14:33):
center position playing for the Giants. So depth, dudes like that,
you know how to set a line call and keep
rushers away from the qb are invaluable when you have
to mix and match, and there was the real feeling
going into this season with Charlie Heck. Charlie Heck, you know,
he was the guy like one you know, it hits
(14:56):
the fan, break the glass and pull him out, and
that's about all he's good for. And I think the
Buccaneers realized that and that is why the shakeup. So
why not Charlie Heck, who had some preseason reps that
left tackle Jason Light said it came down to how
the team thought Barton would handle the position and what
gave Baker the best chance to perform a great evaluation
(15:19):
and as it turns out, the right thing. The analytics
and film study and instick combined. So what happened on
game day? They faced a fast Falcons front. There were
moments where pressure got home. There were also enough pockets
where Baker could step up and deliver, and he did.
The key takeaway is this, if you can survive an
injury to a stud, if you have a smart personal personnel,
(15:41):
move and players who can fill multiple spots, do it.
Put your races in their places. I mean again, it
wasn't just them stuck in the Rays like well that
we had Barton penciled in at center and Brett. It worked,
and I applaud that they were able to have their vision,
a thirty thousand foot view of the team and might
(16:02):
make the right decision. So the line had to form
new chemistry and practice and then perform in a hostile
road environment as it was loud in Atlanta. That's hard.
They did enough to win. That bodes well for depth
and the coaching staff's ability to adapt when the season
inevitably throws more curveball. So that's the thing here. The
(16:25):
Buccaneers found a way to rise up and be victorious,
and I'm feeling confident. You know, Baker Mayfield says he
doesn't like playing night games too much. As we head
into Monday night football, as the Buccaneers prepare to take
on the Texans, it should be an interesting battle. I
think the Buccaneers have what it takes. Do they have
what it takes to go to and oh on the season,
(16:49):
I'll discuss straight ahead. All right, Welcome back in to
this edition of the Bucks Report podcast, part of the
Bucks Report podcast network, simle cast on the bucks Minecast
podcast feed. So let's dive into it. Baker Mayfield and
(17:10):
how he performed in a game that you know was difficult.
You know it wasn't a walk in the park. Shall
we say so, Let's take a minute to talk about
Baker in this game, because the quarterback's voice sets the
tone for the whole offense. Baker showed poise, he got
the ball out when he had to, He trusted his reads,
and he trusted his rookie receiver in the biggest moments.
(17:33):
Talking about Buka, I'm talking about Bucky Irving being able
to deliver touchdowns and big moments. Now, when the QB
is comfortable taking his big shot to a rookie in
the fourth quarter, that signals something deeper. I mean to
be clear here, I mean I hate to talk about
things under the scope of luck. Right that you know
a Buka got lucky that he was able to pull
(17:55):
it down and make the catch. It wasn't luck. It
was two skilled players, Baker and Buka delivering in a
clutch moment. That is what got the Buccaneers into victory lane.
Now it signals that the offense is not just scripted plays.
It signals the chemistry is forming. Baker's ability to manage
a game when the production is shuffled is underrated. In
(18:16):
this game, he had to move in the pocket differently.
He had to take fewer deep drops at times. He
had to trust quick timing and yards after the catch,
and that mental flexibility he kept the team calm on
the sideline. As a good quarterback, you got to stir
the drink in a lot of different regards. It's not
just about what you do on the field. It's about
being a leader big picture, and he's able to do that.
(18:38):
The two scoring throws to at Buka were not pure
wild heaves. They were timing, anticipation and accuracy. Now a
more critical lens, This was one game I don't want to,
you know, get crazy here and say it's going to
be smooth sailing here. We can't crown a season on
one Sunday. We can't say the fifth straight, let's drink it.
We also need to watch Baker handles says stained pressure
(19:00):
across a month of games. Again, we do not underscore, underline,
boldface font do not want him running the football when
he's getting smacked and getting thrown down. It's a rule
of odds he's going to get injured. And I think
that the Buccaneers kind of smelled that a little bit.
That's why they brought Teddy in. They're like, you know,
hand contusion to start the season, and it's going to
(19:23):
be right off to Kyle Trask. We're bringing in a
more proven commodity. So if the pressure becomes chronic, the
passing game will suffer. So then arave I want to
follow is can the O line maintain just enough time
the window consistently and then Baker can avoid turning the
ball over under heavier heat. All things considered, I think
(19:43):
that he did a great job. But we're going to
need to see more from this young Buccaneers team that
is has a lot to prove. You know, they're not
so much the underdogs that we've seen in seasons past.
It seems that, you know, a lot of other sources
are kind of coming around on this team and having
a little bit more faith in them. And you know,
I think the Buccaneers in Baker Mayfield in general thrive
(20:05):
in an environment where they are the underdog that they
need to prove it. So I think that that is
crucial in all of this. So this is a long
season as we look at it. Injuries are going to happen.
That's football. The Bucks opening lineup has guys unavailable. Chris
Godwin's ankle issue carried over. Jalen McMillan's next brain will
likely shelve him for a bit. We know that that
(20:26):
creates the opportunity for a buka, opportunity force the offense
line into a reshuffle. They did that. They rolls to
the challenge depth. Players earn snaps, some will stick, some
will be a matchup dependent. Now the mental challenge for
coaches is to keep players confident because your depth steps in.
You can't have a panic swing of strategy. You got
(20:47):
to be calm under pressure. You need consistent schemes that
fit the roster, that plays to their strengths. It's not
a one size fits all. The Buccaneers are going to
look different with Godwin and Evans in there. Then say
it is with a Bukah and you know Jalen Nick Milliners.
Once Sterling Shepherd is in there. If Barton is at
tackle and lacks elite length against a top edge rusher,
(21:09):
game plan quicker throws in a chip. Help will need
to change. So when we take a look at what
we saw out there, it wasn't a perfect game by
no stretch, right that we saw a Buccaneers team that
played well in the latter part of the game, but
there were also parts where it felt like things could
get out of hand. When I take a look at
(21:31):
the game, all things considered, I want to concentrate on
the biggest thing. You know that you know, everyone says
game one is a liar. They were able to pick
up a win in game number one, and for me,
that is what is important. It's all about reassessing, readjusting,
and getting ready for game number two. All right, So
coming up here out for the break, we'll talk about
(21:52):
the very latest. Looking at all the different feeds from
the Buccaneers. What is the latest on the Buccaneers as
they perpase for Monday Night Football. I'll break it all
down next. All right, welcome back into this edition of
(22:15):
the Bucks Report podcast, part of the Bucks Report podcast
network and simulcast on the bucks Mintecast podcast feed. So
let's dive into it. What is the latest with the
Buccaneers as it is? What follow the bouncing ball here?
Todd Bowles said. Wide receiver Chris Godwin and Tristan Wurfs
have been ruled out for Monday's game in Houston, and
(22:38):
it should have been no surprise to anyone, right that
that was going to be the case. There was kind
of some odd comments by Todd Bowles that he's like,
we don't know, we don't know who's going to be in,
and they talked about Godwin and he wasn't committal about
saying he wasn't going to be in, and everyone was
kind of scratching their head thinking to themselves, well, wait,
he doesn't have any reps in there, So kind of
an odd comment. But Todd Bowles did come out and
(22:59):
inmphatically say an hour ago that Chris Godwin and Tristan
Wurfs will not be in the game. Bulls went on
to say that Luke Goodecki was limited in practice today,
but he had moved around. The key will be how
his foot feels after today's practice and they will probably
work him out before Monday's game. So again, right, the injuries,
(23:23):
they just get to be too much when you watch
these games and just you know, we have these games
sketched out in a certain way that you know these
players are going to be in and then all of
a sudden, injuries and it seemed it seems to me
like the injuries kind of just came at the Buccaneers fast,
in a frenzy way, right that. You saw all the
players were talking Worves McMillan. You know there was questions
(23:45):
about Rashad White there for a while there as well
in the preseason that we need a healthy Bucks team.
So let's dive into the latest with the Buccaneers here.
As we're done kind of recapping what happened in the
past game, we'll talk about practice. Ch Chris Godwin and
Tristan Works. Chris Godwin and Tristan Works were back at
(24:05):
practice this week. Both of them practice twice this week
as part of ramp up plans. That's the headline you
should feel it. This is good news for the offense
and for the line. So they will not be in
against Houston. When will they be in the mix, It
is still a bit up in the air. Quick background
on the timeline. Godwin hasn't played since October twenty first
(24:27):
of last season, so him being out on the field,
even in limited fashion, is a big step steps in
the right direction, right. It means the team is confident
enough in his rehab to get some football reps in
of course, the Buccaneers played better with Godwin in no
doubt about it. So why this matters tactically? Number one spacing.
(24:48):
When Godwin is on the field, defenses have to honor
his route running and crossing patterns. That loosens things up
for Mike Evans. So even if Godwin is not one
hundred percent, his presence affects coverage schemes, it affects how
safety's bracket, it affects how linebackers flow on intermediate routes.
That's huge, right And Number two play design flexibility. If
(25:11):
the Bucks can line up Godwin as a slot or outside,
they can scheme quick throws, pick plays, and move more
play action looks. Knowing there is another trustworthy target, it
makes third down and red zone play calling easier to execute.
So it's not just having Godwin in it is that
when he's in it kinda is a trickle down effect
(25:33):
on how the opponents take on the Buccaneers. Shall we
say Number three Baker's chemistry. Baker and Godwin have a history.
It is going to be plug and play. I have
no doubt practicing together gets timing back, and that's the
small stuff that matters in primetime when windows close fast. Now,
(25:54):
Tristan Wurfs he was spotted on the practice field as well.
Like I talked, he will not be in the game,
but a guy that was going to be out for
a substantial amount of time was the early take. To
see him on the practice field is huge in whatever
regard that is. He's a right tackle who stabilizes the
edge for the run and pass protection. Even limited reps
(26:17):
from him changes how the coaches plan. If he's in packages,
you get improved protection on third downs and more confidence
on dropacks versus speed rushers. But let's be real here
with expectations. Both players are on ramp up plans, and
even though you know Todd Bowles, it's a bit ambiguous.
Oddly earlier in the week, we do know that they
(26:39):
will not be in the mix. That usually means these
ramp up plans means controlled reps, no extended series as,
and an eye on reactivity. So obviously a surprise to
no one that these guys are not one hundred percent
ready to go. The team will likely use them strategically,
maybe on early downs, maybe on specific serieses when already
(27:00):
to go, maybe in snaps that are favorable in terms
of blocking matchups. Now, no one is going to throw
them into the deep end in day one and say
sink or swim, guys, I hope you brought a life fest.
I don't think that is going to be the case.
So how you talk about this is the big thing here.
When you call the game, tell listeners you know what
is changing, and you know that is the broadcasters out
(27:23):
there is trying to get everyone up to speed here
on what's going on with the Buccaneers. As listening to
the last game, there was a bit of you know what,
when I was talking about Stroud there earlier he was
he said that it looked like Barton was going to
be in the mix at center and he got a
note that said, hey, it's not the case. It's actually
(27:43):
Brettison in there. So it's interesting to see how all
these things shake out, and even in some case the
beat writers and the broadcasters as well. So that's where
we're at with the Bucks as far as that is concerned.
We are starting to see the players ramp up, and
you know, when we take a look at it, it
(28:04):
is going to be a good Buccaneers team. Like I said,
with Godwin in there, with Werfs in there, with all
these players in there, that this team is going to
be a team to be reckoned with. They were before,
but even more so in the future. All right, now,
let's pivot to another big story surrounding the Bucks, Jamal
Dean's pay cut and bigger picture. An interesting thing is
(28:28):
what do we know about Dean as he is prone
to being injured? Right that that is a known thing
about him, and why he was even willing to take
a pay cut, Now, this is a move that's more
about culture than cash. Dean agreed to restructure and take
a significant pay cut in order to remain with the Buccaneers,
as it was the feeling that if he wasn't that
(28:51):
he might be released. So he said, it's not about
the money anymore. He also will become an unrestricted free
agent in March, and this move seems like a buy
into stay in Tampa while giving the team more cap
flexibility possibly, right that, I think that the ball is
in Dean's court. Can he stay healthy? Right that it's
(29:11):
incentivized as well that if he can stay healthy, you know,
and sometimes that's in your control and sometimes it's not
in your control. That we need him dialed in, Right,
So why they should get fans nodding instead of panicking
When a veteran says he'd rather remain with a team
for less money. That's often about leadership, comfort and belief
in the scheme. It keeps continuity in the secondary. The
(29:34):
continuity helps the coaching staff run more complicated looks and
trust communication from the back end. Now that matters when
things get chaotic on the field, and you know he
plays a big role and when he's dialed in, I
think the Dean is a pretty good option for the Buccaneers.
So the cap and roster angle. This kind of restructure
does the practical thing. It frees up space for other moves.
(29:57):
Maybe the Bucks spend the space on depth, maybe on
a specialist, maybe keep a rotational defender. Either way, Dean
staying means the team doesn't have to accelerate a rookie
into a high pressure role earlier than planned, and that's ideal.
You don't need to shake things up too much. Now
that stability tactical angle on the field that Dean has
(30:17):
starting experience he lines up outside. His presence allows for
coaches to mix more than coverage and be aggressive with blitzes.
Knowing the backhend as a veteran who can handle responsibility. Again,
if you can stay healthy. That's the thing that I
really want to underline here. So it's not just about
the contract, It's about how the contract translates to on
field and player development. So again, if you're a fan here,
(30:42):
a fan takeaway could be don't treat it as a
pay cut as a negative headline. This is often how
winning teams keep their identity intact. Dean gets to stay,
the team gets breathing room, players get continuity. Everybody should
be able to live with that. So if you want
a line here to take from this second is is
that the Buccaneers have Dean a pay cut. You know,
(31:03):
it has to be a bit of a humbling experience
for Dean as well. But at the end of the day,
I think that these guys are well taken care of
as far as monetarily is concerned. But has to be
a humbling experience for Dean nonetheless. All right, Next, let's
talk about Baker Mayfield's read on the Texans. This is
a fun one. A Mecca Buka, the rookie scored a
(31:25):
touchdown in his NFL debut. He look confident in Week
one and the coverage on him is that he has
the savvy and the contested catch quality you want from
a rookie contributor. Now let's talk about traits here. Egbuka
is quick as the stem. He's got the route nuance.
He can separate on short to intermediate routes, those routes
(31:45):
on crucial takeaways against teams that try to rush the
quarterback or play aggressive coverage. Now, when you have a
rookie who can win short and still have be a
vertical threat, it forces defenses into uncomfortable situations. And like
I say, it'll be interesting to see how teams a
pivot and adjust to having a Buka out there. I mean,
(32:09):
are they going to plan to cover him more? Is
Evans going to be like more of a decoy at
this point? It's going to be interesting to see how
it all shakes out. But practical matchup value, if Houston
decides to bracket Mike Evans or follow him across the field,
Abuka becomes the safety valve if they try to match
the speed with linebackers mismatch. So the immediate question is
(32:30):
how the Bucks run schematically use him and excuse me
a bunch sets use him on motion bring him into
screen packages. Those are always to relieve pressure and force
the defense to respect the entry level. Now, Baker mayfield
this is the big thing. He had the quote that matters.
Baker called the Texans defense the biggest threat heading into primetime.
(32:54):
So if you thought things were going to get easier
in game number two, you better think again. He's specifically
referenced their swarming nature in the leadership under their coaching staff.
This is how a show of respect and tells you
what the Bucks expect to face. As you know, historically
sometimes the Buccaneers have struggled in these night games. If
(33:15):
you think back on it, I think that I don't
have the numbers in front of me. It seems to
me that they fare better in daytime activity. So how
do you beat a swarming defense? You go short and
you go fast. Quick game screen slants and timing are
outs that take advantage of aggressive pass rush lane. So
you know, the Bucks do have the book on how
what kind of you know plan the Texans try to
(33:38):
roll out. Can they actually execute those plans? That is
a question as well. You keep the chains moving with
high percentage throws and then you flip the field with
occasional shots when the coverage bends. Now the rule of
the Buka in that plan, he is the kind of
rookie who can thrive in quick game concepts. Back shoulder
fade on the third down, a shallow cross to pick
(33:59):
up five to eight yards. Those plays and good versus
an overeager front is going to be part of their success.
So if the Bucks execute the game plan, will and
I think that they will at Buka snaps could a
directly influence the game script, mental prep, and pressure. This
is Monday night. The lights burn extra warm on these
(34:21):
primetime events. Now the Texans play with aggressive nature. Baker
and the Vets have to maintain their composure right, and
having Baker Mayfield at the helm will help keep some
of the young players that are in there like, okay,
cooler heads will prevail even if they're you know, playing
from a deficit right. So that's why practice reps from
(34:42):
Godwin and reps from Worfs are relevant. Not in this game,
but you know, just getting them ramped up like I
was talking about. If Baker can get to the quick
game reads off with trustworthy targets, the Bucks stand a
very solid chance of controlling the tempo and that's of
paramount importance here. Let the Buccaneers control the rate, don't
play panicked. Even though, like I said, sometimes I think
(35:04):
the Buccaneers play better when they're under duress, I don't
think that that is something that you want to do
game after game after game. I don't think it's sustainable here.
So Atguka's touching and timing our immediate X factor. If
he's running those quick outs with conviction in the first
two drives, Houston's linebackers will have to cheat and that
opens up the rest of the offense. And I know
(35:27):
that it's going to be an interesting thing for Bulls
and his coaches there on how they're going to adapt
and overcome. I think that they have what it takes.
I guess time will only tell, all right, So coming
up here after the bury, we'll talk about numbers and
trends and what the statue is saying. Straight ahead, all right,
(35:50):
Welcome back into this edition of the Bucks Report podcast,
part of the Bucks Report podcast network, simulcast on the
Bucks minute Cast podcast feeds. So let's dive into it here.
As we're getting ready to wrap up here, we're talking
about numbers and trends and what the stat sheet is saying.
So let's take a look into the numbers, because you
know you can have convictions of I like this player
(36:12):
and I like that player. For me, it's all about numbers.
Is it quantifiable? Can I prove it? I pulled the
official team stats page to make sure, so we're grounded
in facts heading into week two. Quick framing note here
we are, you know, moving into things here. We are
just done with game one here and preparing for game
number two. Early season. Numbers can bounce around one drive
(36:34):
on a defensive takeaway, can skew coverage? Use numbers for
directional reading, not as gospel. If you see a pattern,
the pattern is interesting. If you see an outlider, treat
it with caution. Three metrics I watch every week. First
conversion on third down. If you can stay above forty
on third down, you're generally going to sustain drives and
(36:55):
keep the opponent's offense off the secondary. Second, red zone efficiency.
Moving the ball is one thing. Scoring when you get
close is everything. We want to get the We don't
want to have it to come into a field goal, right,
I mean, we will if we have to, But let's
go for the gold when it comes to points. If
drive stalls at the ten yard line, the scored, but
(37:15):
scoreboard doesn't reflect the yardage. So third turnover margin. As
we know that Baker Mayfield struggled last season with interceptions turnovers,
So if it is a game where that factors in,
that flips the game. One takeaway changes win a probability
in an NFL game in a big way. So you
got to maintain possession and don't throw it to risky areas.
(37:39):
I think the Baker Mayfield is growing and working on that,
but it's one of the things for him to consider.
So that is one of the things to consider here
is just the numbers, make smart, tactful plays, control the
rate of play, and don't play panicked.
Speaker 3 (37:55):
Right.
Speaker 2 (37:55):
I talked about off the top of the show that
the Buccaneers seemed to thrive in those high press for situations.
Baker Mayfield does here to tell you that's not sustainable.
Things could wobble, the will could wobble a little bit
left and right here, and then it could all be
for not. So we don't want to keep leaning into
those kind of things. I think that the Buccaneers are
in a good position heading into this as like I
(38:17):
talked about Worfs and Godwin are in the ramping up
process and that the depth on the team, you know,
and I'm putting a book in that mix sort of.
I mean, I wouldn't really reference him as depth. I'm
only putting him in that life given the fact that
Godwin and McMillan aren't in the mix, that I think
they fared well. And then you take a look at,
you know, the mix and match with Barton and Brettison
(38:38):
and Jordan there that I think that it worked well. Again,
it's not a one size fits all, it's not a
carbon copy. It's not going to necessarily work against all
the schemes against all the different teams in the National
Football League. However, the one thing I know about Bulls
and his crew, you know, despite all the heat that
he gets year over year over year about you know,
(38:59):
class claws, mismanagement and not going for it in certain moments,
I think that when you take a look at his record,
the record speaks for itself. I'm optimistic hitting into week
number two. It's not going to be an easy game.
Like I said, Monday night, the lights burn extra hot.
Baker himself doesn't like playing in these kind of night games.
Hopefully the Buccaneers can dig deep and pick up a
(39:21):
big win and make it two and zero on the season.
All right. Once again, I want to thank you for
joining me on this edition of the Bucks Report Podcast,
part of the Bucks Report Podcast network and the Bucks
Minute Cast, brought to you by the Fans for Sports Network.
And I'll talk to you again next time.
On today's show, the Bucks pick up a big twenty
three to twenty victory over the Falcons in Game one
of the regular season, a game they probably shouldn't have won.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
What to expect in Game number two against the Texans,
And Monday Night Football and roster concerns next don this edition.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Of The Bucks Reports. Let's get it well.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Hello Indo, Welcome into this edition of The Bucks Report,
part of the Bucks Report podcast network. I'm so glad
you decided to join me today. As always, this podcast
is free and available on all the major platforms. My
name is Dan Holmy. You can find me on Twitter.
It's at Dan Caps two and eight. You can find
the Bucks Report online It's at Boxreport dot com. And
(01:21):
the best way that you can help grow this show
is to subscribe or follow The Box Report on Apple, Spotify, YouTube,
or wherever you find your podcast. Give it a five
star rating, leave some comments, and to tell your friends.
I sure would appreciate it. This episode is also simulcast
on the Bucks Minutecast podcast feed, brought to you by
(01:43):
the Fans First Sports Network. So let's get into it.
The Buccaneers pick up a win in the first game
of the regular season, and what is the thing that
they always say the first game is always a liar.
I don't want to read too much into that. I mean,
the Buccaneers showed some resiliency the fact that they were
(02:03):
able to win this game. It was against great odds.
But the thing that I've noticed about Baker Mayfield in particular,
and well the Bucks, is that they seem to thrive
under pressure, right and you saw Baker Mayfield really come
out to shine. So let's break down the game. We'll
take a look at the box score just before we
get into it here. But as far as Baker Mayfield
(02:24):
is concerned, seventeen of thirty two, one hundred and sixty
seven yards three touchdowns, I'm here to tell you right
out of the gate that Ameccha Abuka is the guy.
This is not hyperbole. This isn't me being a homer
of the Buccaneers drinking the creamsicle kool aid two touchdowns
in one of the touchdowns, the last touchdown of the
(02:45):
game came at a clutch moment and is what helped
catapult the Buccaneers and push him over the top into
victory lane. Bucky Irving also came out to play with
a touchdown. All things considered, the Buccaneers game, I guess
what I'm talking about as far as like the running
back is concerned, definitely could use some more work. As
you saw a bucket a Baker Mayfield out there scrambling
(03:08):
quite a bit, and that's exciting, right to see him
rush and get a first down or you know, just
really kind of get the team into it. The cautionary
tale about all of that, however, is at some point
he's going to get injured.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
Right.
Speaker 2 (03:21):
It's just a rule of odds. And when you take
a look at Baker Mayfield and quarterbacks in general, usually
they'll run with the football and then when they see
they're ready to get hit, the'll kind of dive and
slide a little bit. We've seen Baker Mayfield take full impact.
And despite you know what people are saying about the Buccaneers,
you know they're going to win the fifth straight NFC
self title, They're not going to do it with Baker
(03:44):
Mayfield not in the game. Listen, Teddy Bridgewater might get
you a game or two here, but I'm here to
tell you the Buccaneers will not win the NFC South
if it is teddyball. Now again, this is just me
being conspiratorial and maybe a little bit paranoid at the
end of the day. But in any event, we need
the run game to work better. We need, you know,
the receivers to do it to him, to hand the
football off. So he's not the guy that feels the
(04:05):
need to run it all the time. It is kind
of the way football is nowadays, right. It's not Tom
Brady football or Aaron Rodgers football where they kind of
sit in the pocket and wait for things to happen.
That these younger ish quarterbacks they feel the need to scramble.
But a cautionary tale is what I'm going to say about.
Let's dive into what happened here in the most recent game.
(04:25):
And like I said, to be clear here, Mecca Agbuca
is the man. I mean, you don't need to convince
me anymore what we saw in game number one sign
seal delivered. He's the guy. He's the guy to fill
in the void that Godwin's not in the mix, right,
and that Jalen McMillan is not in the mix. That Igbuka,
it's an Evan at Buka one two combo. I'm feeling
(04:48):
pretty confident about it.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Tenda.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
If you don't believe me, take a look at the
box score. He was the guy. So let's start with
Abuka rookie debut. Two touchdowns, clutch touchdowns with fifteen seconds
left that put the Bucks ahead for good. I don't
know if when you guys were watching this, but there
was a real feeling inside of me that I thought
Buccaneers are going to screw this up somehow in game
(05:12):
number one, that they're going to screw this up. But
they dug deep and got it done. But Abuka big thing.
He is the headline clutch touchdown at a clutch time.
Get to be clear here, if it wasn't for Baker
Mayfield and it wasn't for Buca, I mean, that's kind
of stayed in the obvious right, but it would not
have been a victory. So huge for those guys to
come up in a big moment. So there's a lot
(05:34):
to unpack in this whole picture here where he came
from and what he does and why this matters more
than just two scores on a box score. So first at,
Buka is not some random late bloomer. The kid walked
out of Ohio State as they're all time leading receiver.
(05:55):
And still I remember after the draft there was quite
a bit of talk from you know, different Bucks fans going,
what is the deal here? Why did they go with
this at Buka guy? They got enough wide receivers out there. Well,
as it turns out the perfect guy. So you just
take a look at the checklist and what you're looking
for for a good wide receiver. So college production, check
route tree, experienced, check handskills check. Now you get into
(06:18):
the NFL and everything is faster, and there were questions
is that going to translate to the National Football League.
Everything's tougher. He's standing across from dudes who have been
doing this for five, six, seven years. I'm here to
tell you he is the guy. I have no reluctancy.
I don't second guess their decision at all. He is
(06:40):
the future face at the wide receiver position, make no
mistake about it. And yet today or Sunday, rather he
makes a screen route or excuse me, a seam route
with defenders draped on him, and Baker threads it. Baker
Mayfield continues to shine, and still I still marvel at it.
He's been here a while. I get it, Dan. It
(07:01):
should soak in by now, but he continues to impress
and I'm glad. I'm glad that they went with Baker
Mayfield and he has done nothing but kill it and
later thirty yards right down the middle with the game
on the line, that shows two things. One his skill
set translates, we don't have to worry about that. To
his mental makeup translates, that's huge because so many college
(07:25):
stars hit a wall mentally when mistakes and speed jump.
Has not been the case with Abuka. But Baker said
he doesn't act like a rookie, and I think that
was a parent and you know, they were asking questions
of Baker like are you surprised He's like, no, I've
kind of told you guys the whole time that he's
the real deal. But that's the thing. He doesn't play
(07:46):
like a rookie, and he stays calm under pressure. Those
lights of the NFL can burn extra hot, and he
has been up for the challenge. And when you have
a veteran QB like Baker Mayfield throwing to a young
guy in crunch time, that tells you about trust. And
(08:07):
he's got the trust right. I think that you know
when you start batching plays you saw Brady do the
same thing when he was here. You drop the ball
when you should have catched it, when you should have
caught it. He's not gonna throw to you right away,
so trust wins the game. You heard Baker say it, right,
He called Egbuka the real deal, And that's not hype.
If it's said right after the game in front of
(08:27):
the whole world, that's an evaluation rooted in performance under pressure. Also,
it wasn't just him. It's not just this a relationship
between Baker and Abuka here, it was also Luka DECKI
said he does everything right, including blocking in the run game.
So this isn't just you know, a one trick pony.
He didn't get lucky here. This is a guy who
(08:49):
buys into team football and that multiplies his value. And
I think that you know, it's showing just like another
genius move by Jason Light and the Bucking years. And
let's be realistic for a second. Agbuka got his chance
because of injuries ahead of him on the depth chart.
I'm talking Godwin, I'm talking Jalen Nickmillan. Even though I
(09:11):
think that you know it's Evans Godwin and Igbuka. I mean,
I mean in my opinion, or you know, you could
flop Evans and god went around that. Jalen McMillan is good,
but I still think that Abuka would have been ahead
of him. Not to disparage Jalen McMillan, but I think
that what we saw on Sunday, if it's not a parent,
should be rather a parent right now. But what we
(09:33):
do know is Chris Godwin still sidelined from last season's
ankle issues and Jalen McMillan likely out for a while
with a next brain. So the exciting part as a
Buccaneers fan, as you can imagine, is what is this
team gonna look like? With Godwin in there, with Jalen McMillan,
with a Bukah, with Evans gotten all of them out there.
(09:54):
It is going to be a team to be feared.
So for him, you know what they say, it's always
the next man up, and it was the next man
up for a BUCA. Opportunities open, but opportunity doesn't equal production,
right that you can give opportunities to anyone. If you
don't take the opportunity that's given to you, then it's
(10:15):
squandered and it's nothing. You still have to make big
plays when the lights are on, and Buka did that.
And the way he handled himself on the sideline on
third downs on contested catches, it told you watching that
this is not a fluke, this is not a flash
in the pan. That this guy is ready for prime time.
So I guess the question is is what what kind
(10:38):
of production is he going to get when there's more
game film on him? Right that he played well right
under under the big lights in game one when there
still is wasn't a tremendous amount other than you know,
his college days and what we saw in the preseason.
It's going to be interesting to see how teams adjust.
Is he going to be press coverages? Can he work
(10:58):
against brackets? How does the Bucks scheme get him in space? Listen,
I think the kid is going to continue to gig
better and better. I don't think we really need to
worry about that. But an exciting game number one for ABUCA,
for Baker Mayfield and the Bucks. Buccaneers fans, you should
be holding your head up high. All right, So coming
(11:20):
up here at for the break, we'll talk about offensive
line rearrangements and deep dive straight ahead, all right, Welcome
back into this edition of The Bucks Report, part of
the Bucks Report podcast network, simulcast on the Bucks Minicast
(11:42):
podcast feed. So let's get into it. There were some
shake ups out there, right that Graham Barton going into
the season, he was the guy, right, he was the
center for your Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Well, Tristan wurks I
took the snow globe and shook everything all up, and
all of a sudden, you take a look at what
Todd Bowley had to do. He's like, you know, I'm
looking out there, and he looked at the options and
(12:04):
the lay of the land out there. He saw Barton,
he saw Bretisen, he remember Jordan how that all factored
in and he was able to envision and kind of
came out with this idea that it's about putting the
best players out on the field. It's about putting your
aces in their places, even though it's not where they
were sketched out. And what did we see? I think
(12:26):
we saw some good production to be clear here. Going
into this season, there was a lot of question about, hey,
the Buccaneers are really good, but now they're minus Tristan Worfs.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
What are they gonna do?
Speaker 2 (12:38):
That was the guy that you know, he was the
guy that saved Baker Mayfield, right, that protected him. So
it was interesting because see how they were going to adjust.
Let's dive into it in the second segment of today's
show talking about the rearrangement. Is we know Tristan Wurf's
is going to be out for a while. That's huge.
He's an all pro. He's the anchor on the blind side.
(12:59):
So losing him trigger there's a domino effect on the
offensive line. What did the Buccaneers do. Graham Barton, who
started at center last year as a rookie, is sliding
out to left tackle. Ben Brettison is moving inside to center.
And it's not just random. It's not like, hey, just
take the gum and throw it out the wall and
see if it sticks. These guys have a history in
(13:20):
those positions, and I'll dive into that here as well.
And Michael Jordan, no not the great Michael, a veteran
elevated from the practice squad, steps in at left guard.
And that's moving a lot of parts right out of
the gate, right, And so let's take each piece as
slowly as I can. I tend to speed up here
a little bit but I'm going to try to break
it down if you didn't see the game or if
(13:41):
you're wondering why things happened the way they did. Graham Barton,
first off, played three seasons at left tackle at Duke
before he came into the league. And guess what, did
a good job out there. Surprise, surprise. So we're not
slapping a center at tackle and you know, crossing our
fingers and toes and hoping for the best. This is
a player with college tackle experience. The Bucks drafted him
(14:03):
with that versatility in mind, right that it's good that
you don't get a player that like he can play
center and that's it. How about that position? Center?
Speaker 3 (14:12):
That's it?
Speaker 2 (14:13):
So Ben Brettison as well, is an interesting is it
not interesting? Because he played center before, so he's not,
you know, inventing a new role for the first time
and this season opener. That continuity matters. And Michael Jordan
is a veteran who played more than forty starts across
multiple teams. Ben Brettison who had some time at the
(14:33):
center position playing for the Giants. So depth, dudes like that,
you know how to set a line call and keep
rushers away from the qb are invaluable when you have
to mix and match, and there was the real feeling
going into this season with Charlie Heck. Charlie Heck, you know,
he was the guy like one you know, it hits
(14:56):
the fan, break the glass and pull him out, and
that's about all he's good for. And I think the
Buccaneers realized that and that is why the shakeup. So
why not Charlie Heck, who had some preseason reps that
left tackle Jason Light said it came down to how
the team thought Barton would handle the position and what
gave Baker the best chance to perform a great evaluation
(15:19):
and as it turns out, the right thing. The analytics
and film study and instick combined. So what happened on
game day? They faced a fast Falcons front. There were
moments where pressure got home. There were also enough pockets
where Baker could step up and deliver, and he did.
The key takeaway is this, if you can survive an
injury to a stud, if you have a smart personal personnel,
(15:41):
move and players who can fill multiple spots, do it.
Put your races in their places. I mean again, it
wasn't just them stuck in the Rays like well that
we had Barton penciled in at center and Brett. It worked,
and I applaud that they were able to have their vision,
a thirty thousand foot view of the team and might
(16:02):
make the right decision. So the line had to form
new chemistry and practice and then perform in a hostile
road environment as it was loud in Atlanta. That's hard.
They did enough to win. That bodes well for depth
and the coaching staff's ability to adapt when the season
inevitably throws more curveball. So that's the thing here. The
(16:25):
Buccaneers found a way to rise up and be victorious,
and I'm feeling confident. You know, Baker Mayfield says he
doesn't like playing night games too much. As we head
into Monday night football, as the Buccaneers prepare to take
on the Texans, it should be an interesting battle. I
think the Buccaneers have what it takes. Do they have
what it takes to go to and oh on the season,
(16:49):
I'll discuss straight ahead. All right, Welcome back in to
this edition of the Bucks Report podcast, part of the
Bucks Report podcast network, simle cast on the bucks Minecast
podcast feed. So let's dive into it. Baker Mayfield and
(17:10):
how he performed in a game that you know was difficult.
You know it wasn't a walk in the park. Shall
we say so, Let's take a minute to talk about
Baker in this game, because the quarterback's voice sets the
tone for the whole offense. Baker showed poise, he got
the ball out when he had to, He trusted his reads,
and he trusted his rookie receiver in the biggest moments.
(17:33):
Talking about Buka, I'm talking about Bucky Irving being able
to deliver touchdowns and big moments. Now, when the QB
is comfortable taking his big shot to a rookie in
the fourth quarter, that signals something deeper. I mean to
be clear here, I mean I hate to talk about
things under the scope of luck. Right that you know
a Buka got lucky that he was able to pull
(17:55):
it down and make the catch. It wasn't luck. It
was two skilled players, Baker and Buka delivering in a
clutch moment. That is what got the Buccaneers into victory lane.
Now it signals that the offense is not just scripted plays.
It signals the chemistry is forming. Baker's ability to manage
a game when the production is shuffled is underrated. In
(18:16):
this game, he had to move in the pocket differently.
He had to take fewer deep drops at times. He
had to trust quick timing and yards after the catch,
and that mental flexibility he kept the team calm on
the sideline. As a good quarterback, you got to stir
the drink in a lot of different regards. It's not
just about what you do on the field. It's about
being a leader big picture, and he's able to do that.
(18:38):
The two scoring throws to at Buka were not pure
wild heaves. They were timing, anticipation and accuracy. Now a
more critical lens, This was one game I don't want to,
you know, get crazy here and say it's going to
be smooth sailing here. We can't crown a season on
one Sunday. We can't say the fifth straight, let's drink it.
We also need to watch Baker handles says stained pressure
(19:00):
across a month of games. Again, we do not underscore, underline,
boldface font do not want him running the football when
he's getting smacked and getting thrown down. It's a rule
of odds he's going to get injured. And I think
that the Buccaneers kind of smelled that a little bit.
That's why they brought Teddy in. They're like, you know,
hand contusion to start the season, and it's going to
(19:23):
be right off to Kyle Trask. We're bringing in a
more proven commodity. So if the pressure becomes chronic, the
passing game will suffer. So then arave I want to
follow is can the O line maintain just enough time
the window consistently and then Baker can avoid turning the
ball over under heavier heat. All things considered, I think
(19:43):
that he did a great job. But we're going to
need to see more from this young Buccaneers team that
is has a lot to prove. You know, they're not
so much the underdogs that we've seen in seasons past.
It seems that, you know, a lot of other sources
are kind of coming around on this team and having
a little bit more faith in them. And you know,
I think the Buccaneers in Baker Mayfield in general thrive
(20:05):
in an environment where they are the underdog that they
need to prove it. So I think that that is
crucial in all of this. So this is a long
season as we look at it. Injuries are going to happen.
That's football. The Bucks opening lineup has guys unavailable. Chris
Godwin's ankle issue carried over. Jalen McMillan's next brain will
likely shelve him for a bit. We know that that
(20:26):
creates the opportunity for a buka, opportunity force the offense
line into a reshuffle. They did that. They rolls to
the challenge depth. Players earn snaps, some will stick, some
will be a matchup dependent. Now the mental challenge for
coaches is to keep players confident because your depth steps in.
You can't have a panic swing of strategy. You got
(20:47):
to be calm under pressure. You need consistent schemes that
fit the roster, that plays to their strengths. It's not
a one size fits all. The Buccaneers are going to
look different with Godwin and Evans in there. Then say
it is with a Bukah and you know Jalen Nick Milliners.
Once Sterling Shepherd is in there. If Barton is at
tackle and lacks elite length against a top edge rusher,
(21:09):
game plan quicker throws in a chip. Help will need
to change. So when we take a look at what
we saw out there, it wasn't a perfect game by
no stretch, right that we saw a Buccaneers team that
played well in the latter part of the game, but
there were also parts where it felt like things could
get out of hand. When I take a look at
(21:31):
the game, all things considered, I want to concentrate on
the biggest thing. You know that you know, everyone says
game one is a liar. They were able to pick
up a win in game number one, and for me,
that is what is important. It's all about reassessing, readjusting,
and getting ready for game number two. All right, So
coming up here out for the break, we'll talk about
(21:52):
the very latest. Looking at all the different feeds from
the Buccaneers. What is the latest on the Buccaneers as
they perpase for Monday Night Football. I'll break it all
down next. All right, welcome back into this edition of
(22:15):
the Bucks Report podcast, part of the Bucks Report podcast
network and simulcast on the bucks Mintecast podcast feed. So
let's dive into it. What is the latest with the
Buccaneers as it is? What follow the bouncing ball here?
Todd Bowles said. Wide receiver Chris Godwin and Tristan Wurfs
have been ruled out for Monday's game in Houston, and
(22:38):
it should have been no surprise to anyone, right that
that was going to be the case. There was kind
of some odd comments by Todd Bowles that he's like,
we don't know, we don't know who's going to be in,
and they talked about Godwin and he wasn't committal about
saying he wasn't going to be in, and everyone was
kind of scratching their head thinking to themselves, well, wait,
he doesn't have any reps in there, So kind of
an odd comment. But Todd Bowles did come out and
(22:59):
inmphatically say an hour ago that Chris Godwin and Tristan
Wurfs will not be in the game. Bulls went on
to say that Luke Goodecki was limited in practice today,
but he had moved around. The key will be how
his foot feels after today's practice and they will probably
work him out before Monday's game. So again, right, the injuries,
(23:23):
they just get to be too much when you watch
these games and just you know, we have these games
sketched out in a certain way that you know these
players are going to be in and then all of
a sudden, injuries and it seemed it seems to me
like the injuries kind of just came at the Buccaneers fast,
in a frenzy way, right that. You saw all the
players were talking Worves McMillan. You know there was questions
(23:45):
about Rashad White there for a while there as well
in the preseason that we need a healthy Bucks team.
So let's dive into the latest with the Buccaneers here.
As we're done kind of recapping what happened in the
past game, we'll talk about practice. Ch Chris Godwin and
Tristan Works. Chris Godwin and Tristan Works were back at
(24:05):
practice this week. Both of them practice twice this week
as part of ramp up plans. That's the headline you
should feel it. This is good news for the offense
and for the line. So they will not be in
against Houston. When will they be in the mix, It
is still a bit up in the air. Quick background
on the timeline. Godwin hasn't played since October twenty first
(24:27):
of last season, so him being out on the field,
even in limited fashion, is a big step steps in
the right direction, right. It means the team is confident
enough in his rehab to get some football reps in
of course, the Buccaneers played better with Godwin in no
doubt about it. So why this matters tactically? Number one spacing.
(24:48):
When Godwin is on the field, defenses have to honor
his route running and crossing patterns. That loosens things up
for Mike Evans. So even if Godwin is not one
hundred percent, his presence affects coverage schemes, it affects how
safety's bracket, it affects how linebackers flow on intermediate routes.
That's huge, right And Number two play design flexibility. If
(25:11):
the Bucks can line up Godwin as a slot or outside,
they can scheme quick throws, pick plays, and move more
play action looks. Knowing there is another trustworthy target, it
makes third down and red zone play calling easier to execute.
So it's not just having Godwin in it is that
when he's in it kinda is a trickle down effect
(25:33):
on how the opponents take on the Buccaneers. Shall we
say Number three Baker's chemistry. Baker and Godwin have a history.
It is going to be plug and play. I have
no doubt practicing together gets timing back, and that's the
small stuff that matters in primetime when windows close fast. Now,
(25:54):
Tristan Wurfs he was spotted on the practice field as well.
Like I talked, he will not be in the game,
but a guy that was going to be out for
a substantial amount of time was the early take. To
see him on the practice field is huge in whatever
regard that is. He's a right tackle who stabilizes the
edge for the run and pass protection. Even limited reps
(26:17):
from him changes how the coaches plan. If he's in packages,
you get improved protection on third downs and more confidence
on dropacks versus speed rushers. But let's be real here
with expectations. Both players are on ramp up plans, and
even though you know Todd Bowles, it's a bit ambiguous.
Oddly earlier in the week, we do know that they
(26:39):
will not be in the mix. That usually means these
ramp up plans means controlled reps, no extended series as,
and an eye on reactivity. So obviously a surprise to
no one that these guys are not one hundred percent
ready to go. The team will likely use them strategically,
maybe on early downs, maybe on specific serieses when already
(27:00):
to go, maybe in snaps that are favorable in terms
of blocking matchups. Now, no one is going to throw
them into the deep end in day one and say
sink or swim, guys, I hope you brought a life fest.
I don't think that is going to be the case.
So how you talk about this is the big thing here.
When you call the game, tell listeners you know what
is changing, and you know that is the broadcasters out
(27:23):
there is trying to get everyone up to speed here
on what's going on with the Buccaneers. As listening to
the last game, there was a bit of you know what,
when I was talking about Stroud there earlier he was
he said that it looked like Barton was going to
be in the mix at center and he got a
note that said, hey, it's not the case. It's actually
(27:43):
Brettison in there. So it's interesting to see how all
these things shake out, and even in some case the
beat writers and the broadcasters as well. So that's where
we're at with the Bucks as far as that is concerned.
We are starting to see the players ramp up, and
you know, when we take a look at it, it
(28:04):
is going to be a good Buccaneers team. Like I said,
with Godwin in there, with Werfs in there, with all
these players in there, that this team is going to
be a team to be reckoned with. They were before,
but even more so in the future. All right, now,
let's pivot to another big story surrounding the Bucks, Jamal
Dean's pay cut and bigger picture. An interesting thing is
(28:28):
what do we know about Dean as he is prone
to being injured? Right that that is a known thing
about him, and why he was even willing to take
a pay cut, Now, this is a move that's more
about culture than cash. Dean agreed to restructure and take
a significant pay cut in order to remain with the Buccaneers,
as it was the feeling that if he wasn't that
(28:51):
he might be released. So he said, it's not about
the money anymore. He also will become an unrestricted free
agent in March, and this move seems like a buy
into stay in Tampa while giving the team more cap
flexibility possibly, right that, I think that the ball is
in Dean's court. Can he stay healthy? Right that it's
(29:11):
incentivized as well that if he can stay healthy, you know,
and sometimes that's in your control and sometimes it's not
in your control. That we need him dialed in, Right,
So why they should get fans nodding instead of panicking
When a veteran says he'd rather remain with a team
for less money. That's often about leadership, comfort and belief
in the scheme. It keeps continuity in the secondary. The
(29:34):
continuity helps the coaching staff run more complicated looks and
trust communication from the back end. Now that matters when
things get chaotic on the field, and you know he
plays a big role and when he's dialed in, I
think the Dean is a pretty good option for the Buccaneers.
So the cap and roster angle. This kind of restructure
does the practical thing. It frees up space for other moves.
(29:57):
Maybe the Bucks spend the space on depth, maybe on
a specialist, maybe keep a rotational defender. Either way, Dean
staying means the team doesn't have to accelerate a rookie
into a high pressure role earlier than planned, and that's ideal.
You don't need to shake things up too much. Now
that stability tactical angle on the field that Dean has
(30:17):
starting experience he lines up outside. His presence allows for
coaches to mix more than coverage and be aggressive with blitzes.
Knowing the backhend as a veteran who can handle responsibility. Again,
if you can stay healthy. That's the thing that I
really want to underline here. So it's not just about
the contract, It's about how the contract translates to on
field and player development. So again, if you're a fan here,
(30:42):
a fan takeaway could be don't treat it as a
pay cut as a negative headline. This is often how
winning teams keep their identity intact. Dean gets to stay,
the team gets breathing room, players get continuity. Everybody should
be able to live with that. So if you want
a line here to take from this second is is
that the Buccaneers have Dean a pay cut. You know,
(31:03):
it has to be a bit of a humbling experience
for Dean as well. But at the end of the day,
I think that these guys are well taken care of
as far as monetarily is concerned. But has to be
a humbling experience for Dean nonetheless. All right, Next, let's
talk about Baker Mayfield's read on the Texans. This is
a fun one. A Mecca Buka, the rookie scored a
(31:25):
touchdown in his NFL debut. He look confident in Week
one and the coverage on him is that he has
the savvy and the contested catch quality you want from
a rookie contributor. Now let's talk about traits here. Egbuka
is quick as the stem. He's got the route nuance.
He can separate on short to intermediate routes, those routes
(31:45):
on crucial takeaways against teams that try to rush the
quarterback or play aggressive coverage. Now, when you have a
rookie who can win short and still have be a
vertical threat, it forces defenses into uncomfortable situations. And like
I say, it'll be interesting to see how teams a
pivot and adjust to having a Buka out there. I mean,
(32:09):
are they going to plan to cover him more? Is
Evans going to be like more of a decoy at
this point? It's going to be interesting to see how
it all shakes out. But practical matchup value, if Houston
decides to bracket Mike Evans or follow him across the field,
Abuka becomes the safety valve if they try to match
the speed with linebackers mismatch. So the immediate question is
(32:30):
how the Bucks run schematically use him and excuse me
a bunch sets use him on motion bring him into
screen packages. Those are always to relieve pressure and force
the defense to respect the entry level. Now, Baker mayfield
this is the big thing. He had the quote that matters.
Baker called the Texans defense the biggest threat heading into primetime.
(32:54):
So if you thought things were going to get easier
in game number two, you better think again. He's specifically
referenced their swarming nature in the leadership under their coaching staff.
This is how a show of respect and tells you
what the Bucks expect to face. As you know, historically
sometimes the Buccaneers have struggled in these night games. If
(33:15):
you think back on it, I think that I don't
have the numbers in front of me. It seems to
me that they fare better in daytime activity. So how
do you beat a swarming defense? You go short and
you go fast. Quick game screen slants and timing are
outs that take advantage of aggressive pass rush lane. So
you know, the Bucks do have the book on how
what kind of you know plan the Texans try to
(33:38):
roll out. Can they actually execute those plans? That is
a question as well. You keep the chains moving with
high percentage throws and then you flip the field with
occasional shots when the coverage bends. Now the rule of
the Buka in that plan, he is the kind of
rookie who can thrive in quick game concepts. Back shoulder
fade on the third down, a shallow cross to pick
(33:59):
up five to eight yards. Those plays and good versus
an overeager front is going to be part of their success.
So if the Bucks execute the game plan, will and
I think that they will at Buka snaps could a
directly influence the game script, mental prep, and pressure. This
is Monday night. The lights burn extra warm on these
(34:21):
primetime events. Now the Texans play with aggressive nature. Baker
and the Vets have to maintain their composure right, and
having Baker Mayfield at the helm will help keep some
of the young players that are in there like, okay,
cooler heads will prevail even if they're you know, playing
from a deficit right. So that's why practice reps from
(34:42):
Godwin and reps from Worfs are relevant. Not in this game,
but you know, just getting them ramped up like I
was talking about. If Baker can get to the quick
game reads off with trustworthy targets, the Bucks stand a
very solid chance of controlling the tempo and that's of
paramount importance here. Let the Buccaneers control the rate, don't
play panicked. Even though, like I said, sometimes I think
(35:04):
the Buccaneers play better when they're under duress, I don't
think that that is something that you want to do
game after game after game. I don't think it's sustainable here.
So Atguka's touching and timing our immediate X factor. If
he's running those quick outs with conviction in the first
two drives, Houston's linebackers will have to cheat and that
opens up the rest of the offense. And I know
(35:27):
that it's going to be an interesting thing for Bulls
and his coaches there on how they're going to adapt
and overcome. I think that they have what it takes.
I guess time will only tell, all right, So coming
up here after the bury, we'll talk about numbers and
trends and what the statue is saying. Straight ahead, all right,
(35:50):
Welcome back into this edition of the Bucks Report podcast,
part of the Bucks Report podcast network, simulcast on the
Bucks minute Cast podcast feeds. So let's dive into it here.
As we're getting ready to wrap up here, we're talking
about numbers and trends and what the stat sheet is saying.
So let's take a look into the numbers, because you
know you can have convictions of I like this player
(36:12):
and I like that player. For me, it's all about numbers.
Is it quantifiable? Can I prove it? I pulled the
official team stats page to make sure, so we're grounded
in facts heading into week two. Quick framing note here
we are, you know, moving into things here. We are
just done with game one here and preparing for game
number two. Early season. Numbers can bounce around one drive
(36:34):
on a defensive takeaway, can skew coverage? Use numbers for
directional reading, not as gospel. If you see a pattern,
the pattern is interesting. If you see an outlider, treat
it with caution. Three metrics I watch every week. First
conversion on third down. If you can stay above forty
on third down, you're generally going to sustain drives and
(36:55):
keep the opponent's offense off the secondary. Second, red zone efficiency.
Moving the ball is one thing. Scoring when you get
close is everything. We want to get the We don't
want to have it to come into a field goal, right,
I mean, we will if we have to, But let's
go for the gold when it comes to points. If
drive stalls at the ten yard line, the scored, but
(37:15):
scoreboard doesn't reflect the yardage. So third turnover margin. As
we know that Baker Mayfield struggled last season with interceptions turnovers,
So if it is a game where that factors in,
that flips the game. One takeaway changes win a probability
in an NFL game in a big way. So you
got to maintain possession and don't throw it to risky areas.
(37:39):
I think the Baker Mayfield is growing and working on that,
but it's one of the things for him to consider.
So that is one of the things to consider here
is just the numbers, make smart, tactful plays, control the
rate of play, and don't play panicked.
Speaker 3 (37:55):
Right.
Speaker 2 (37:55):
I talked about off the top of the show that
the Buccaneers seemed to thrive in those high press for situations.
Baker Mayfield does here to tell you that's not sustainable.
Things could wobble, the will could wobble a little bit
left and right here, and then it could all be
for not. So we don't want to keep leaning into
those kind of things. I think that the Buccaneers are
in a good position heading into this as like I
(38:17):
talked about Worfs and Godwin are in the ramping up
process and that the depth on the team, you know,
and I'm putting a book in that mix sort of.
I mean, I wouldn't really reference him as depth. I'm
only putting him in that life given the fact that
Godwin and McMillan aren't in the mix, that I think
they fared well. And then you take a look at,
you know, the mix and match with Barton and Brettison
(38:38):
and Jordan there that I think that it worked well. Again,
it's not a one size fits all, it's not a
carbon copy. It's not going to necessarily work against all
the schemes against all the different teams in the National
Football League. However, the one thing I know about Bulls
and his crew, you know, despite all the heat that
he gets year over year over year about you know,
(38:59):
class claws, mismanagement and not going for it in certain moments,
I think that when you take a look at his record,
the record speaks for itself. I'm optimistic hitting into week
number two. It's not going to be an easy game.
Like I said, Monday night, the lights burn extra hot.
Baker himself doesn't like playing in these kind of night games.
Hopefully the Buccaneers can dig deep and pick up a
(39:21):
big win and make it two and zero on the season.
All right. Once again, I want to thank you for
joining me on this edition of the Bucks Report Podcast,
part of the Bucks Report Podcast network and the Bucks
Minute Cast, brought to you by the Fans for Sports Network.
And I'll talk to you again next time.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com