September 27th, 2026
Vikings talk.
For Ted Hurst, today is all about discipline.
The Bucs have the most must-win game you can imagine. Starting the season 0-3 and you can hear the bells of the death knell ringing loudly for the end of the 2026 season.
Unless you believe in miracles.
The Bucs host the Vikings today and the good news is that Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield is 2-0 against a Brian Flores-coached defense; once against Miami and the second time in Mayfield’s debut as a Bucs quarterback on the road in Minneapolis in 2023.
Flores and the Vikings like to blitz more than KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles, which is saying a lot. One would think with so many blitzes, the Bucs ought to get receivers open so long as they can stop or slow down the blitzes, preventing defenders from getting to Mayfield too quickly.
Bucs rookie receiver Ted Hursts thinks if everyone on offense stays disciplined, the Bucs should have opportunities.
“I feel our coaches developed a great gameplan,” Hurst said. “It’s all about having a clean operation (with disciplined alignment and assignments) and trusting that quarterback … to make the most out of a situation.”
And that means Bucs receivers need to make plays when they do have an opportunity.
“Get [the ball] into the playmaker’s hands,” Hurst said, sounding like Nick Saban. “We’re a brotherhood. We’re looking forward to someone going out there and making a play when you get an opportunity.”
Hurst also noted that when facing a blitzing defense, receivers have to be ready for the ball to come out of Mayfield’s hands quickly. Hurst dismissed any idea that is hard for receivers to look for passes right away.
“That’s our job is to catch the ball,” Hurst said. “We’ve been doing it our whole life.”
Joe hopes it is that easy to stay disciplined for the offense. Otherwise, should the Bucs target Colin Simmons, the urinating star defensive lineman for the top-ranked Longhorns?
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