Category: Latest Team News

Buccaneers looking for their first shutout since 2010

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers took a commanding 25-0 lead into halftime of today’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Bucs were coming off a big road win in Week 12 over the Atlanta Falcons, a game that Bruce Arians said was the best complete …

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers took a commanding 25-0 lead into halftime of today’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Bucs were coming off a big road win in Week 12 over the Atlanta Falcons, a game that Bruce Arians said was the best complete game performance the team has put together all season.

Well, Arians may have to amend that statement after today given how well the Bucs have looked.

Things got off to a bang in the first quarter thanks to rookie and superhuman linebacker Devin White, who had an interception and fumble recovery that he took to the house for the touchdown. His big quarter put him in the Buccaneers’ history books.

While Tampa Bay will look to close out the Jags in the second half and earn their first back-to-back wins of the season, they’ll also try and achieve something they haven’t done since 2010 — shutout an opponent.

The last time they did so was against the San Francisco 49ers back in Week 11 of the 2010 season, when they went on the road and defeated the Niners 21-0. Josh Freeman was the team’s quarterback and Raheem Morris the head coach. The Bucs would finish the year 10-6, which was only good enough for third place in the NFC South.

This year’s Bucs team may not be able to get to 10 wins, but a shutout would go a long way in building up the confidence of this young defense.

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Rookie LB Devin White just made Buccaneers history

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie linebacker Devin White had a touchdown and interception in the first quarter against the Jaguars.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers ended the first quarter of today’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars with a 15-0 lead, and they can thank rookie linebacker Devin White for that.

White, the fifth overall pick in April’s NFL draft, intercepted Jags quarterback Nick Foles on Jacksonville’s opening drive, which eventually led to a touchdown by Bucs running back Peyton Barber. Then, on Jacksonville’s next possession, Foles fumbled the ball after being sacked by Shaq Barrett, and lo and behold, White was there to scoop up the ball and take it 14 yards to the house.

Not only did White’s big first quarter help Tampa Bay build a comfortable lead, but he also made a bit of history along the way.

Take a look.

White has come on strong the second half of the season after struggling through the first few weeks. He battled tonsillitis in the week leading up to the team’s opener against the San Francisco 49ers and then suffered a knee sprain in Week 2’s win over the Carolina Panthers, which kept him out for several weeks.

Over the last month, however, White has been a beast, tackling punters and chasing down running backs. Now, he can add this piece of history to his ever-growing NFL resume.

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Bucs O-line will have their work cut out for them against Jaguars

The Bucs did a good job protecting Jameis Winston last week, but they’ll need another strong performance against the Jaguars.

One of the biggest stats that stood out from the Buccaneers’ 35-22 win over the Atlanta Falcons last week was the big zero next to sacks given up. The offensive line played arguably their best game of the season, keeping quarterback Jameis Winston upright and allowing him to carve up the Falcons defense following his two first-quarter interceptions.

This week’s game, however, presents a tougher challenge for the Bucs’ line as the Jacksonville Jaguars’ defense currently ranks tied for seventh in the league with 34 sacks.

And, even though Winston didn’t take a sack against Atlanta, he still entered Week 13 as the most-sacked quarterback in the NFL (36). Fortunately, he now sits in second after Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan upped his season total to 38 following a nine-sack game against the New Orleans Saints on Thanksgiving night.

Protecting Winston has always been an issue for this line, but if they want to win back-to-back games for the first time all season, they’ll need another top-notch performance to stop guys like Calais Campbell and Josh Allen. It’ll be the key to walking away with another win.

Easier said than done, of course. But, as Winston showed last week, if given time, he can make some big plays.

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Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks selected to the NFL 100 All-Time Team

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Brooks found a spot on a very exclusive list.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneer selected LSU linebacker Devin White with the fifth overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, making him the first linebacker selected in the first round by the Bucs in over two decades.

The last linebacker they took in the first round? Just a guy named Derrick Brooks, who they took 28th overall in the 1995 draft.

White has a long way to go before he starts drawing comparisons to Brooks, whose Hall of Fame career included bringing a championship to Tampa Bay with a victory in Super Bowl XXXVII.

Not surprisingly, Brooks was recently named to the NFL 100 All-Time Team, and he took a moment on Twitter to thank all his supporters.

 

Congrats to Brooks on a well-deserved honor.

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Jameis Winston is on pace to obliterate his season high in passing yards

Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston is on pace to throw for close to 5,000 yards this season. But, is that enough to save his job?

When Bruce Arians was hired in the offseason to replace Dirk Koetter, who had been the only offensive coach Jameis Winston had ever played for in the NFL, everyone assumed that the former number one overall pick would put up big passing numbers, but what he’s been doing this season deserves some notice.

Winston currently ranks second in the NFL in passing yards, behind only Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys, whose numbers already account for Thursday’s Thanksgiving loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Winston is projected to put up 4,932 passing yards this season, which would obliterate his previous season high of 4,090 yards (2016). It’s not a stretch to say he has a legitimate shot at throwing for 5,000.

Winston already has eight games this year with 300-plus passing yards, by far the most in his career. To put it another way, he’s only had three games this season where he hasn’t eclipsed the 300-yard mark.

Even more impressive? He’s had four games over 350 yards.

The issue, of course, has been the interceptions, of which Winston has 20, most in the NFL. In the four games where he threw for over 350 yards he had nine touchdowns and nine interceptions, so as great as the passing numbers are on paper, they haven’t translated into big wins.

But that right there might be why some would argue Winston deserves at least one more season in Tampa Bay. It’s his first time playing in a non-Koetter system, so there are sure to be bumps along the way. He can put up big passing numbers as well as any quarterback in the league. But, his turnovers have him looking like Jay Cutler 2.0 to some.

Ultimately, the franchise will likely rely on Arians to make the call about whether or not Winston can correct his mistakes and truly flourish in this offense.

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Bucs WR Chris Godwin proudly sports that Snickers bling

Check out Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin sporting an iced-out Snickers chain because, why not?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin had a huge performance last week in the team’s 35-22 win over the Atlanta Falcons, catching seven passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns.

Godwin’s big day not only gave him the first 1,000-yard season of his young career, but it also earned him the coveted Snickers chain.

For those wondering what that is, it’s an “iced-out chain created by famed jeweler Ben Baller.” Each week, the chain goes to a player “who has not only shown hunger for more with a huge game or play on the field, but who is also driven to do more off the field.”

Check out Godwin sporting the iced-out chain below.

This is cool and all, but I wish we could’ve seen former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch sporting an iced-out Skittles chain during his career, his favorite candy.

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via GIPHY

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OC Byron Leftwich said Vita Vea’s TD play was a ‘reward’

See why Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich called Vita Vea’s touchdown play against the Atlanta Falcons a ‘reward.’

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may be just 4-7, but they are perhaps one of the more entertaining teams to watch in the NFL.

Sure, they may not have a Lamar Jackson-esque speedster at quarterback, or a running back that rolls through defenders like the Juggernaut, but they can put up points with the best of them and have plenty of stars on offense to make each snap an exciting one to watch.

And, of course, one of the biggest offensive stars on the roster is big man Vita Vea!

The nose tackle and former high school running back had his first career touchdown reception in the Bucs’ Week 12 win over the Atlanta Falcons. But, it wasn’t the first time he’s lined up on offense this season, and it turns out, his offensive performance against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 10 earned him the chance to catch that touchdown against Atlanta.

Take a look.

Vea became the heaviest player in NFL history to score an offensive touchdown, and here’s hoping it won’t be his last.

For those wondering what it would look like to see Vea run through an NFL O-line, here’s a sneak peek.

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via GIPHY

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Shaq Barrett tops NFL.com’s list of free agents who have made themselves money this year

See why Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com thinks Bucs LB Shaq Barrett has earned himself a big payday this year.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense held Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan in check in Week 12 as the Bucs downed the red-hot Falcons on the road, 35-22.

And, once again, at the center of all the defensive action was Bucs linebacker Shaq Barrett, who finished the day with a sack and five quarterback hits. Barrett, who signed a one-year deal in the offseason with the Bucs, now has 12.5 sacks on the year, tied with Chandler Jones of the Arizona Cardinals for the league lead.

Barrett has already matched Jason Pierre-Paul’s sack total from last season, when he became the first Buccaneer since Simeon Rice in 2005 to record double-digit sacks in a single season.

The stellar play of Barrett has not only earned him the respect and admiration of his teammates and Bucs fans everywhere, but, according to Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com, it’s earned the soon-to-be free agent a big day, too. Rosenthal listed Barrett at No. 1 on his list of free agents who have made themselves money this season.

Here’s his explanation:

“Bucs outside linebacker Shaq Barrett’s monster performance against the Falcons’ Jake Matthews on Sunday was a reminder that Barrett has mostly maintained his scorching start to the season. Barrett had a sack, a pass defensed, a forced fumble, four more quarterback hits and five hurries, according to Pro Football Focus, in addition to forcing a few backbreaking penalties by Matthews. Signed to a one-year contract worth up to $5 million before this season, Barrett will be a strong candidate for the franchise tag.”

The Bucs have a lot of big question marks they’ll have to face at the end of the season, namely, what to do with quarterback Jameis Winston. Retaining Barrett’s services, though, whether through a long-term contract or the franchise tag, should be their top priority.

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Bucs NT Vita Vea was a beast as a high school running back

Take a look back at some highlights from Vita Vea’s time at Milpitas High School, when he was utilized as a running back.

The biggest highlight from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 35-22 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday was arguably the touchdown reception by nose tackle Vita Vea.

Vea, the Bucs 2018 first-round pick out of Washington, has been a force on defense this season for the Bucs’ stellar rush defense, but he’s also shown his versatility by lining up on a few offensive plays.

Don’t be fooled, Vea is no stranger to scoring on offense. Despite the fact that his touchdown reception against the Falcons made him the heaviest player to score an offensive touchdown in NFL history, Vea was actually used as a running back in high school.

(No joke.)

Take a look back now at some highlights from Vea’s time at Milpitas High School in California, when he used his size and strength to roll through defenses.

Ronald Jones and Peyton Barber have plenty to worry about now that Vea’s gotten a taste for the end zone. It’d be a travesty if Byron Leftwich didn’t call another goal-line play for Vea again this season. Handing the ball off to the big man and letting him punch it in seems like a no-brainer.

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ESPN’s Bill Barnwell names Vita Vea to his 2019 All-Underrated team

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell named Tampa Bay Buccaneers nose tackle Vita Vea to his 2019 All-Underrated team.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers took down the Atlanta Falcons yesterday 35-22 for their fourth win of the season (their third on the road).

The star of the game was no doubt Bucs wide receiver Chris Godwin, who finished the day with seven receptions for 184 yards and two touchdowns, bringing his season total to 1,071 yards. It’s the first 1,000-yard season of Godwin’s young career.

But, let’s not forget about the stellar day from nose tackle Vita Vea, who finished with a sack and touchdown reception in the win.

Today, Bill Barnwell of ESPN named Vea to his 2019 All-Underrated team, and in part of his assessment of the big man, Barnwell points out how one old school coach would’ve loved the nose tackle.

Take a look.

“Vea made headlines Sunday for catching a touchdown pass during Tampa’s 35-22 win in Atlanta, but there’s more to the former first-round pick than a soft set of hands… The former Washington standout added a sack and two passes defensed to his totals against the Falcons, although he’s admittedly still a work in progress as a pass-rusher, where his limited wingspan may play against him. Vea is more realistically an example of the old George Young/Bill Parcells “Planet Theory” approach to the draft, where you recognize that there are only so many 300-plus pound human beings with truly elite athleticism on the planet and draft them when you see them. Vea, who was a change-of-pace running back in high school, is the sort of player Parcells would have loved. He’s quickly growing into a rare difference-maker for the Bucs’ defense.”

Vea has been a beast for the Bucs this season, and his pairing with Ndamukong Suh has made the Bucs’ rush defense one of the best in the NFL.

Tampa Bay will take to the road again in Week 13, this time staying in-state as they travel to Jacksonville to face the 4-7 Jaguars. Despite their big win against the Falcons, the Buccaneers currently find themselves as underdogs against the Jags.

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