Joe found this very, very frustrating but what can you do about it now?
Joe is convinced one reason why Bucs fans have had such a freakout like the team won the Super Bowl with the win over the Packers was how the Bucs beat the Packers.
Bucs fans have become accustomed over the years to embracing the pass beginning with Dirk Koetter and then Bucco Bruce Arians. And the Bucs had the weapons in the passing game to pull it off.
It was fun, exciting football and when Tom Brady came to town, that exciting football became winning football.
Brady (and Jameis) may be gone, but those weapons remain. This year began a new era, though. These new Bucs are about establishing the run.
The result, for the most part, left fans beyond frustrated to the point Bucs fans not too long ago this season were heard hollering at games “Quit running the ball!”
Then, against the Packers last Sunday, the offense blew up. Finally. It reached a level of execution Bucs fans were used and pined for a return to. It demonstrated what the Bucs offense could be and Bucs fans were so stoked they forgot the Bucs were just 7-7 and the Packers had a moldy Swiss cheese defense.
But here lies the double-edged sword. If the Bucs want to go pass-happy, it’s a minefield as pointed out by Jeremy Fowler of BSPN.
Tampa Bay is 0-4 when Mayfield attempts 35 or more passes this season.
And therein lies the pickle. If Mayfield averages nine (or more) passes a quarter through a game, the Bucs lose. So while the Bucs have all of these weapons in the pass game, they can’t be used (too much).
Otherwise, it’s an “L.” So Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales has no choice but to lean on the run.
Talk about a tease, man.