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Jump-starting the passing game.
Entering the season, the Bucs’ passing game was thought to be one of the best in the NFL.
Now? As we approach Thanksgiving, the Bucs’ passing game is one of the worst it has been in years the past few games.
Since the Bucs beat the Seahawks on the road and were in a shootout with Seattle where Baker Mayfield threw for 370 yards, only once have the Bucs passed for more than 250 yards in a game. That was against the Patriots (258) in the first game after the bye.
(The Bucs had 248 yards passing against San Francisco.)
Joe chalked it up to the injuries catching up to the Bucs. Chris Godwin went down in the Seattle win and it is no coincidence to Joe that the passing attack has sunk with Godwin off the field.
Yesterday Bucs coach Todd Bowles was asked why the passing game has gone into the dumpster. It apparently is more complex than just injuries.
> “I think it’s a little bit of everything,” Bowles said. “We definitely have to coach it better, and we’ve got to play it better.”
Ah, there’s Bowles’ favorite cliche. Gotta coach and play better. Ya’ think?
But Bowles went deeper than his favorite defensive reaction.
> “It’s not just one thing, it’s everything involved in that,” Bowles said.
Well, it would certainly help if receivers can get separation a little better. And it would help if Josh Grizzard forgets his wide receiver screens to nowhere.
Joe would love to see Grizzard scheme up a play that gets Rachaad White open in space for a catch in the flat. Hell, Dave Canales could even do that.
White is dangerous in open space. Not so much when two defenders are crawling up his arse the second he touches the ball.