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The Bucs dropped their first sport of the season on Monday, shedding to the Eagles in a sport that was uncompetitive for almost all of the second half. There have been only a few brilliant spots for Tampa Bay by the top of the evening. The Eagles outplayed the Bucs at each place group potential.
Bucs Offensive Line
Somewhat than beginning in a conventional sense of quarterback, operating again, receiver, and many others. I assumed I’d order this week by affect on the sport. By that measurement the offensive line needs to be the start line. Whereas offensive tackles Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke greater than held their very own in opposition to an edge rush group that included professional bowler Haason Reddick, veteran Brandon Graham, Josh Sweat and Nolan Smith. The 2 bookends mixed to solely enable one strain on the evening.

Bucs LG Matt Feiler – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
The inside of the offensive line was one other story in cross safety. Dealing with a assassin’s row of gifted defensive tackles, heart Robert Hainsey and guards Cody Mauch and Matt Feiler weren’t in a position to rise to the problem. Jalen Carter, Fletcher Cox, Jordan Davis and Marlon Tuipolotu mixed for seven pressures and three sacks.
And that doesn’t embody the strain the inside allowed in opposition to linebacker blitzes and looping edge rushers. Quarterback Baker Mayfield was for the second week in a row left to scramble for his life in opposition to an onslaught of inside strain.
Within the run sport issues have been a multitude alongside the Bucs offensive line. Offensive coordinator Dave Canales opted to desert the bottom of his scheme, the mid zone idea in favor of duo, counters, inside zones and pin and pulls. This left the road having to contest with the Eagles behemoths within the center. The outcomes have been uninspired.
Bucs followers are starting to query whether or not second-year operating again Rachaad White is really the reply because the groups beginning rusher. However it’s arduous to offer him a good analysis when he will get the ball and has to run into this.
I imply what do ppl anticipate him to do… pic.twitter.com/sXhJLYvTZ6
— Joshua Queipo (@josh_queipo) September 27, 2023
This line can’t get out of its personal method relating to run blocking. I charted each run from the Bucs-Eagles sport. There wasn’t a single one the place each offensive lineman executed his project correctly. And whereas that isn’t mandatory on each run to have an efficient dashing assault, with competent run video games it occurs each few runs. Canales is looking for some system that this group can get comfy with and thru three weeks he nonetheless hasn’t discovered it.
Grade: D
Tampa Bay’s Defensive Line

Bucs NT Vita Vea and Eagles C Jason Kelce – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Trench play will take you far within the NFL. It’s a part of the explanation why the Eagles are defending NFC champs and why the Bucs acquired beat down on Monday evening. The distinction in expertise within the trenches when the Bucs have been on protection was huge and obvious. Outdoors linebackers Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Shaq Barrett, Anthony Nelson and Yaya Diaby all barely factored as cross rushers. Barrett led the best way with three pressures.
The very best that group was in a position to muster was self-discipline of their rush lanes to largely maintain Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts in verify as a runner. The sting rushers had hassle containing the Eagles operating sport. Philadelphia operating again De’Andre Swift was in a position to complete 69 yards on simply six carries operating off the correct sort out.
Very similar to on the offensive facet of the ball, the Bucs inside defenders have been labored over by the Eagles offensive line. Mike Greene was uncovered. Logan Corridor was washed out of quite a few performs. Even Vita Vea, who was nursing an damage simply couldn’t bodily impose himself. The consequence was extensive open dashing lanes for the Eagles’ run sport. And after I say extensive open holes I imply…
Dominant efficiency by Eagles OL. Holes like this all evening lengthy. #DealersChoice pic.twitter.com/MyT04p5Rry
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) September 26, 2023
The Bucs defensive position allowed 201 yards dashing whereas solely pressuring Hurts 12 instances on 40 dropbacks and a mean time to throw of two.95 seconds. Highschool seniors may take their SAT’s within the period of time the Eagles offensive line was in a position to maintain off the Bucs cross rush.
Grade: D
Bucs Large Receivers

Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photograph by: USA In the present day
The Bucs passing sport continues to closely function Mike Evans. Evans’ 10 targets have been double that of the subsequent closest participant (Chris Godwin with 5). Statistically, Evans had a stable sport with 5 catches for 60 yards and a landing. However his two drops have been monumental within the sport stream. The primary got here on the primary drive of the sport.
On third-and-8 from their very own 41, Baker Mayfield focused Evans on a deep curl. The throw was excessive, however Evans was in a position to get his fingers on the ball. It’s a catch he has made quite a few instances earlier than. Unable to corral this cross the Bucs drive stalled. The place they’d have been close to subject objective vary if Evans had corralled that cross with an opportunity to open the scoring within the sport they as an alternative punted.
The second drop was much more essential in nature. Within the second quarter the Bucs had pushed deep into Eagles territory. On third-and-9 from the Eagles 15, Mayfield lobbed a cross to Evans within the entrance proper nook of the top zone. Whereas Eagles rookie security Sydney Brown was in a position to ever-so-slightly disrupt the throws flight path it nonetheless fell into Evans’ lap as he fell backwards onto the bottom. The deflection was simply sufficient to trigger Evans to drop the cross.
The Bucs opted for a game-tying subject objective on the subsequent play. These two performs each prevented the Bucs from doubtlessly grabbing an early lead.
Godwin got here by way of with a few first downs when focused. The pattern of Bucs backup receivers not contributing a lot continued with Rakim Jarrett, Trey Palmer and Deven Thompkins combining for 3 catches and 14 yards on 5 targets.
Grade: B
Tampa Bay’s Safeties

Bucs S Ryan Neal and Eagles RB D’Andre Swift – Photograph by: USA In the present day
Ryan Neal and Antoine Winfield Jr. have been challenged to assist shut down the Eagles run sport. Sadly for the Bucs protection, they have been unable to rise to the event. Mixed, the 2 safeties missed eight tackles permitting Swift and Kenneth Gainwell to achieve 94 yards after contact.
The 2 backstops have been challenged to assist compensate in protection with accidents besetting the Bucs’ cornerback room. Whereas neither have been particularly focused a lot (the Bucs stayed in mushy zones because of the lack of expertise at nook for many of the sport) they have been unable to make performs on the ball as Eagles extensive receiver A.J. Brown ran rampant by way of the Bucs protection for 9 catches and 131 yards.
Grade: D
Bucs Tight Ends
Dave Canales and the Bucs de-emphasized their 12 personnel utilization in opposition to the Eagles as backup tight ends Ko Kieft and David Wells accounted for less than 10 offensive snaps mixed. That left the vast majority of the tight finish grade on the shoulders, or higher but, within the fingers of starter Cade Otton. Otton didn’t run together with his alternative although (are these puns getting out of hand?). Whereas his blocking improved over the listless effort he produced in weeks one and two.
I truthfully thought Otton had a significantly better sport as a run blocker than in weeks one and two. Right here he pulls properly and helps eradicate the LB to assist spring among the finest runs of the evening. pic.twitter.com/37Q0t8fCtm
— Joshua Queipo (@josh_queipo) September 27, 2023
However he additionally left a possible explosive play slip by way of his fingers on a superbly designed play-action display screen within the first half when the Bucs have been in plus territory.
Oh Cade, what may have been… pic.twitter.com/wIuLk3lVQF
— Joshua Queipo (@josh_queipo) September 26, 2023
Grade: D
Tampa Bay’s Cornerbacks

Eagles WR DeVonta Smith and Bucs CB Jamel Dean – Photograph by: USA In the present day
It’s troublesome to precisely assess a gaggle that by the top of the sport had rookie undrafted free agent Derek Pitts Jr. lined up on A.J. Brown. The unit was beset by damage earlier than the sport with Carlton Davis III lacking his second consecutive sport. The pattern continued as Jamel Dean and Dee Delaney each left the sport as a result of damage as properly.
This left Zyon McCollum out on the sphere because the veteran of the group making his fourth profession begin. McCollum was focused 5 instances, forcing one incompletion whereas permitting 4 catches for 49 yards. Delaney was in a position to intercept Hurts on a nifty observe and path the place he jumped in entrance of Brown on the far sidelines for an interception on the Bucs one-yard line. Pitts was picked on late within the sport by Brown.
The group struggled, however the expectations shouldn’t have been excessive. The group opted to go younger and inexperienced with their depth within the secondary, hoping their starters may keep wholesome. The starters are harm and the depth regarded … properly … younger and inexperienced. Poor tackling led to loads of YAC for the Eagles.
Grade: D
Bucs Particular Groups
Bucs kicker Chase McLaughlin nailed his lone subject objective strive on the evening, a 33-yard chip shot within the second quarter. Punter Jake Camarda continued his quest to see if his leg is really sturdy sufficient to launch a ball into the stratosphere. He averaged 57.5 yards per punt on his 4 makes an attempt, together with a 74-yard bomb. Camarda was in a position to efficiently pin the Eagles inside their very own 20 twice.
There was an excellent likelihood his two different punts may have carried out the identical as one was fielded on the Eagles’ 11-yard line whereas the opposite was fielded at their very own 4. Sadly for the Bucs, the excellent play of the protection items from week one has eroded as they allowed returns of 14 and 52 yards to assist Philadelphia set up extra advantageous subject place.
Grade: C+
Tampa Bay’s Linebackers

Bucs ILB Devin White – Photograph by: Cliff Welch P/R
Regardless of coping with a groin damage Devin White tried to play by way of ache. He regarded sluggish and with out energy in his decrease half, which was to be anticipated. Sadly, that prompted him to let off attempting to deal with an interception deep in his personal zone, opting to as an alternative retreat out of bounds. It additionally had a substantial affect on White’s capability to fill gaps within the run sport.
Neither White nor Lavonte David regarded wherever near the extent of play they’d exhibited the prior two weeks. Particularly, neither participant was coming downhill with authority to assist fill gaps and sluggish the Eagles run sport.
In cross safety the Eagles receivers have been capable of finding daylight behind David and White and beneath the secondary to personal the intermediate space of the sphere. When concentrating on the intermediate portion of the sphere Hurts was 5-of-7 for 94 yards.
Grade: D
Bucs Quarterback
After two extremely environment friendly video games the place he went beast mode on third down, Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield was struck by the regression bug. Regardless of enjoying moderately properly by way of many of the first half, Mayfield started to succumb to the struggles his supporting forged was inserting on him. Between receiver drops, a lagging operating sport and an offensive line that was permitting strain in his face Mayfield made his second huge mistake of the 2023 season.
PHI enjoying quarters to Evans’ facet permits Blankenship to simply learn Baker the entire method. Drove to the MOF as quickly as Baker got here again to the sphere facet together with his eyes. pic.twitter.com/fQZRGzNDJ2
— Joshua Queipo (@josh_queipo) September 27, 2023
Mayfield would end the sport 15-of-25 for 146 yards, a landing and that interception. Put in troublesome third down conditions as a result of questionable play-calling Mayfield would battle with processing and choice making whereas inserting balls in troublesome to catch areas on receivers.
Grade: C
Tampa Bay’s Working Backs

Bucs RB Rachaad White – Photograph by: USA In the present day
I discussed earlier that White is receiving some criticism for a season-long stat line that now appears like this: 48 carries, 150 yards, one landing, one fumble. And it could be simple to put these underwhelming totals at White’s ft. Whereas that will have been warranted criticism in Week 1, it was hardly the case on Monday evening.
White made lemonade out of a whole lot of lemons as a ball provider with 22 of his 38 yards coming after contact, as he averaged simply over one yard per carry earlier than contact. He additionally pressured 4 missed tackles. Take one other have a look at the clip I included for the offensive linemen. White took a two-yard loss and turned it right into a two-yard achieve.
If that have been the top of the story, he would possibly warrant an honest grade. However White had an enormous play within the passing sport. And never in a great way.
With lower than a minute left within the first half White took a checkdown from Mayfield and rotated to try to earn some further yards. Within the course of he allowed the ball to be punched out of his fingers leading to a turnover. 5 performs later the Eagles would rating a subject objective to go up 16-3 and by no means look again.
White completed with 52 yards on 17 touches whereas backup Sean Tucker was merely an afterthought within the offense, notching only one yard on two carries.
Grade: D
As you may see, many of the Bucs performed D-level ball on Monday. They might want to increase that degree of play in the event that they need to have an actual shot at beating the Saints subsequent week.
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