Buccaneers Observer

The Buccaneer will face their first regular season opponent this week when they travel to Dallas to face the Cowboys. The Cowboys are a slightly weaker team than the one the Bucs faced in the 2021 season opener, having lost LT Tyron Smith to a devastating hamstring injury. Rookie OT Tyler Smith will start in his stead. In addition, the team released RT La'el Collins this offseason, opting instead...

We finally got a taste of what the Buccaneers will look like this upcoming season, with both the starting offense and defense making their debuts. It was a welcome relief from the sub-par football we've seen from the depth guys. The Buccaneers offense drove down the field, putting three points on the board. The defense was maybe more impressive, holding Matt Ryan and the Colts offense to punts the...

The Buccaneers performance against the Tennessee Titans in the second preseason game left something to desired. In contrast to the first game where the receivers and tight ends really shone, there was no player or position group that stood out in the second week. We saw some notable starters in this game, including Leonard Fournette, S Mike Edwards and second string CB Jamel Dean. We lost a potent...

The Dolphins barely squeaked out a win over the Buccaneers in Week 1 of preseason. Overall, the Bucs performance was satisfactory, with the exception of a few freak plays that put the Dolphins ahead. Kyle Trask fumbled the ball, which could have just as easily been called an incomplete pass. The Dolphins got a freak interception on a checkdown pass to a Bucs receiver: the two struggled on the grou...

The Buccaneers kicked off joint practices with the Dolphins today. Things got chippy quite a few times, a common occurrence in joint practices. The Bucs will face the Dolphins at home this Saturday. We probably won't see starters, but could get a peak at the offensive line prospects, as well as the new defensive line.  How will the Bucs fare this season with a completely new interior offensiv...

Happy birthday to Ralph! He can now buy that Julio Jones jersey he's always wanted. A mix of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, Jones can make an impact in a deep wide receiver room. His hamstring injury is healed and he's ready to chase a ring with Tom Brady. Other teams interested in signing Jones included the Packers, the Saints and the Colts. A call from Tom Brady sealed the deal.   Bucs also b...

Rob Gronkowski has officially announced his retirement. The legend put out a statement on social media. His absence leaves a huge hole in the Buccaneers offense that cannot be filled.  Ndamukong Suh said on an appearance on ESPNLive's NFL2 that it was unlikely he was returning to the Buccaneers: "It looks like the Bucs are out of the picture." He was a stud on defense next year, and like Gron...

The Buccaneers surprised the fanbase with the addition of free agent Akiem Hicks. The signing basically closes the door on the return of Ndamukong Suh as cap space was already limited. Bears fans are disappointed by the loss. Hicks' attitude may replace JPP's presence in the Bucs locker room. WR Travis Jonsen was arrested for DUI over the Memorial Day holiday weekend and subsequently released from...

The NFL released the schedule last week. The Buccaneers have five primetime games once again, although theirs is one of the toughest. The schedule includes a 9:30 a.m. game in Munich, Germany against the Seahawks. We'll match up against the NFC West and AFC North this year.  Ndamukong Suh may sign with another team this year. The Browns and Raiders are potential landing spots, but the Bucs ar...

The Buccaneers shocked Bucs nation by trading away their first-round pick in the NFL Draft to the Jacksonville Jaguars. They gained the first overall pick in the second round and selected DE Logan Hall. In another surprising move, they picked up G Luke Goedeke at with the 57th pick. In Round 3, they snagged RB Rachaad White. With the first pick in the 4th Round they selected TE Cade Otton. Jason L...

Jason Licht and Co. have done a phenomenal job in years past of building a team and acquiring depth that we are now, for the second year in a row, drafting the best available player rather than drafting for need. As you know, we do not follow college and therefore are ill equipped to evaluate players coming into the draft.    However, we can look at the Buccaneers roster and tell you whe...

Ralph is uneasy about the coaching change at One Buc Place. Between Todd Bowles' win-loss record and penchant for firing underlings, Ralph is hesitant about celebrating the move. Molly would agree but for the culture and staff installed under Bruce Arians being mostly in-tact. How much say will Bowles have in the day-to-day of the team, including the offense? What about personnel decisions? There...

In a move that shocked the football world, Bruce Arians announced he would step down as head coach of the Buccaneers, moving to a position in the front office. Todd Bowles will secede him as the new head coach. The Buccaneers made it official by giving Bowles a five-year contract. BA will stay within the organization as a Senior Football Consultant.  The Glazers announced during the press con...

Free agency continues and the Buccaneers have locked up two key free agents: Leonard Fournette and William Gholston. They've also signed OL Fred Johnson, a former Bengal, and T Josh Wells.  The Bucs have not yet reached agreements with Ndamukong Suh and Rob Gronkowski, although they are reportedly in talks with both. JPP still remains a free agent, as is Gio Bernard, Pat O'Connor, Steve McCle...

This free agency period is bananas. The Buccaneers re-sign stud C Ryan Jensen. They bring in Shaq Mason in a trade with the Patriots (an absolute steal, btw). The Bucs sign S Logan Ryan, a Tom Brady guy. They also bring in Russell Gage with a phone call from Tom. Breshad Perriman is back. Chris Godwin is now under contract. Shaq Barrett and Mike Evans restructure their contracts to give us some wi...

Free agency starts with a bang for the Bucs, who not only get the GOAT back in a surprise un-retiring, but also retained star Center Ryan Jensen AND CB Carlton Davis. Both players were highly sought-after in free agency for their positions.  The Buccaneers have not worked out a deal with S Jordan Whitehead, who is being eyed by Bucs fans as the next priority in free agency. Will Rob Gronkowsk...

The deadline to franchise tag players is tomorrow. Who will the Bucs tag? Chris Godwin? Carlton Davis? Jordan Whitehead?  Buccaneers make some minor changes to their staff, including Larry Foote moving from OLB coach to ILB coach.  Tom Brady has made cryptic comments about his future in the NFL. SO YOU'RE TELLING US THERE'S STILL A CHANCE??? No. There isn't. Kyle Trask looks more and mor...

We have some sad personal news.   The Buccaneers lose another key piece in Ali Marpet, who announced his retirement Sunday after seven years with the team. It makes it all the more vital we re-sign free agents Alex Cappa, Aaron Stinnie and Ryan Jensen to ensure continuity on the offensive line.   Buccaneers staff writer and social media personality Carmen Vitali has announced her departu...

The Super Bowl happened... That's about it. It was kind of boring. We expected a comeback by Joe Burrow, but the game ended on some bizarre penalties and then a 4 & out by Cincinnati.   Ralph recounts how we got to the modern halftime model.   We discuss the current questions surrounding race in the NFL.

And none of us are okay.

The Rams' final drive was a disappointing showing by the Buccaneers' defense (like we had to tell you that). However, it wasn't the 40+ yard bomb to Cooper Kupp, but the play before that sealed the Bucs' fate. SMB was covering Kupp and inexplicably fell down, leaving Mike Edwards to move up and tackle Kupp. It was Jamel Dean's effort, or lack thereof, that allowed Kupp to get out of bounds and sto...

What a heartbreaking rollercoaster that was. Until late in the third quarter, it seemed like the Buccaneers were doomed. But the defense kept us in it, and in it, and in it. The offense made plays when it needed them and put enough points on the board to tie us up. Then Matt Gay struck with an assist by Cooper Kupp.   The team may have been defeated, but they went down swinging. Fans should b...

We faced the Rams in week 3 and it wasn't pretty for the Buccaneers. The Rams were more physical, Bucs receivers couldn't hang onto the ball, and the defense couldn't stop the Rams offense.    But the Rams haven't seen the Playoff Buccaneers. They haven't seen the defensive backs who nearly had five picks last week. They haven't seen Suh, Vita and Barrett firing on all cylinders. And mos...

Bucs are back to form. This game was really not even close. The Eagles managed some garbage time touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but in reality this was a trouncing by the Buccaneers. All the Bucs playoff opponents from last year experienced PTSD watching that game.   With Dallas falling to the 49ers last night, the Bucs will face the winner of the Rams/Arizona game tonight. It will be a bi...

Veteran Buccaneer fans know the pain of losing to the Eagles in the playoffs. It happened in the years before the Bucs made their Super Bowl appearance in 2003. It cost the team Tony Dungy. Ronde Barber righted the ship with his pick six in the NFC Championship. The victory took the Bucs to the Super Bowl, where they came away with the Lombardi.   We meet again nearly 20 years later. The team...