Bucs Offense Needs To Turn The Corner

Because the Bucs look to wrap up Sunday afternoon with an NFC South division title, they can even look to construct upon and work by means of the struggles of the offense failing to place factors up on the board. 

The struggles thus far have been well-documented, because the Bucs are solely averaging 17.7 factors per recreation. To place that into context amongst division leaders throughout the league, the Bucs are lucky to stay within the playoff image. By 15 video games, the crew has scored 266 factors. A division chief’s subsequent lowest level whole this season is 353 factors from the Jacksonville Jaguars within the AFC South. 

Whereas the ship has been in a position to keep afloat because of the protection maintaining them in video games and a few late fourth-quarter and additional time Christmas magic, the best way the Bucs have received this season is just not sustainable come playoff time. To have any likelihood to advance additional into January, they should recapture the flexibility to place factors up as they did in 2020 and 2021. 

Bucs WR Godwin: “I Actually Really feel Like It Might Be Any Second”

Depend large receiver Chris Godwin among the many believers that this alteration can nonetheless happen. Godwin, starting to see the fruits of his labor repay from his ACL harm, has been the featured choice for a Bucs offense that depends on screens and fast passes to maneuver the chains. 

Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photograph by: USA At the moment

He leads the crew in receptions by 21 over working again Leonard Fournette (89 to 68). He additionally paces the crew in targets (126) and ranks second in receiving yards (848). No matter these numbers, nevertheless, his focus stays on having an affect and being constant. 

“I attempt to not focus an excessive amount of on stats – I actually attempt to take a look at all the things as my affect on the crew and I attempt to take a look at the sport as an entire and see if I made a constructive affect or not,” Godwin stated. “If I didn’t, how can I be higher? I believe simply being as constant as I can is one thing I can attempt to cling my hat on. I need to be a dependable man for my crew in order that at any time when the ball is thrown my method, they count on that the performs are going to be made.”

Does Godwin nonetheless imagine that the offense is true across the nook from placing up 30 factors a recreation as they did in 2020 (30.8) and 2021 (30.1)? 

“I believe it nonetheless is [around the corner], I actually do,” Godwin added. “I actually really feel prefer it may very well be any second it clicks for us and no matter that lacking piece is… I believe it’s proper there. It’s not going to only occur, proper? We’ve acquired to make it occur, we’ve acquired to go on the market and work collectively.”

Bucs QB Brady: “I’ve Acquired To Make Higher Throws”

Speaking on Thursday, quarterback Tom Brady acknowledged the fact that the crew has not met expectations from the start of the season. Getting on the identical web page as receiver Mike Evans has become an unlikely season-long challenge, a problem he places on himself. 

Bucs QB Tom Brady – Photograph by: USA At the moment

“I believe all the things has been somewhat…this 12 months, it simply hasn’t been nearly as good as we’d have in all probability all hoped from the start of the 12 months, however that’s the fact of the place we’re at,” Brady stated. “I like Mike. I like taking part in with Mike, I like being on the market with him. He’s a fighter, he’s a warrior, he’s so powerful, he’s gifted, and I’ve acquired to make higher throws. On the finish of the day, I’ve acquired to do a greater job getting him the ball.”

Within the remaining two video games of the season, now’s the time to place the entire items collectively. Oftentimes, the offense has appeared like making an attempt to mash puzzle items the place they don’t belong within the greater image. To make use of a well-known idiom, it has been like making an attempt to place a sq. peg in a spherical gap. When the offense has accomplished (or executed) the puzzle correctly, it has proven to be a masterpiece. It is not going to simply line up completely, as Godwin alluded to.

It’s all about capitalizing on the chance to shut out the season with momentum and enter the playoffs scorching on the proper time. That begins at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday. 

“We’ve a possibility now to do one thing actually constructive, and that’s beat a crew that’s been taking part in properly,” Brady stated.

He added: “It’s a giant problem, it’s an important alternative and also you don’t take it with no consideration. You simply go on the market and you narrow it unfastened and also you play your greatest. That’s what this crew has a possibility to do.”