Better be better.
The past week or two for the Bucs, one senses a singular message or focus seeping from One Bucs Palace by way of player interviews with various outlets.
The Bucs are downright peeved they let the Commandos slip into The Licht House and race off with a wild card round win.
So if one is to believe the Bucs had their season ended in a disappointing manner, then that means those same folks out to be outraged if the Bucs do not advanced further this coming winter.
Gauging the 2024 Bucs and the 2025 Bucs, veteran NFL reporter Dan Pompei sees a [better Bucs team](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6388467/2025/05/29/nfl-offseason-draft-free-agency-2025/) this fall, at least on paper. So anything less than a division title should be an outrage and maybe so too would be coming short of a win or two in the postseason.
> If the 2025 Bucs played the 2024 Bucs, the 2025 Bucs would win, assuming talent decided the game. The new Bucs are better equipped to affect quarterbacks because they have more pass rush and better coverage, thanks to additions such as Haason Reddick, David Walker, Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish. It isn’t difficult to envision a career year for Baker Mayfield, seeing he should benefit from a healthy Chris Godwin and rookie Emeka Egbuka. The unknown with the Bucs is how much, if at all, they will miss offensive coordinator Liam Coen. They need Josh Grizzard to push the right buttons as Coen’s replacement.
Yes, Josh Grizzard is very much an unknown. He could be fantastic. He could be awful. He could be just OK. Grizzard has a ton of pressure on him right off the bat because the weapons he has to play with are the envy of just about every team outside of Cincinnati.
But Pompei is right on the money when it comes to grading the roster. Who has more weapons than Baker Mayfield? Who has a deeper backfield and receiver room? Shoot, Sean Tucker is the Bucs’ No. 3 back and he might start for other teams.
Adding Haason Reddick, Joe will say the Jets’ version of Reddick may have been better than any edge rusher the Bucs had last year. Reddick started two games and had one sack. That stretches out to 8.5 sacks in 17 games.
Calijah Kancey had 7.5 sacks to lead the Bucs last year and he is a tackle.
And, the Bucs have depth at corner for a change. Bucs coach Todd Bowles has even said rookie Jacob Parrish could start.
So yeah, the Bucs, on paper, are better than last year. So it’s time to make a postseason run boys.