The new Pewter Report Roundtable debuts every Tuesday during the Bucks’ regular season. Each week the pewter reporter tackles another difficult question. Prompt of the week: What are the Bucks record predictions for 2023?
Scott Reynolds: Bucks improved to 9-8
Bucks HC Todd Bowles and OC Dave Canales – Photo Credit: Cliff Welch/PR
I already posted the Bucks season record prediction last time. SR’s Fab 5 column on Friday, Along with the win/loss predictions I saw. For some reason, we in the media didn’t know much about this, but this team has been in the spotlight since last year’s training camp.
A surprise 2-0 start with road wins in Dallas and New Orleans made up for it to some extent, but a dark cloud has been hanging over Tampa Bay since last year’s training camp and preseason. Ryan Jensen’s late-season injury dented his offense a bit, and Tom Brady’s divorce was a major distraction for the 45-year-old quarterback.
Fast forward to 2023 and Brady is gone, but the arrival of new offensive coordinator Dave Canales has brought the entire team headquarters building to life. Despite having no play-calling experience, Canales has fulfilled his 13-year obligations in Seattle and is ready to go.
Canales has the credibility to actually open players up, rather than relying on Tampa Bay’s arsenal of outsmarting Tampa Bay’s talent in every corner of the competition, as Byron Leftwich asked them to do last year. Planning to put it in the field. The bet here is that Baker Mayfield and Dave Canales will improve their scoring from 18 points per game last year to 21 points per game this year.
On the defensive side, Todd Bowles’ defense should have a lot of rookie and inexperienced quarterbacks this year. The Bucks’ defense is concerned about its lack of experience, especially in the secondary. But Bowles hopes that the increased defense speed will not only put more pressure on quarterbacks, but also make more tackles against losses in the backfield, helping rebounds on the run defense. A possibly easier schedule with AFC South and NFC South games should help Tampa Bay win one more win this year than it did a year ago in the post-Brady era transition.
Matt Matera: Bucks reach 8-9 tie
Understanding the complexion of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023 requires looking at all the variables surrounding the team. For anyone with an outsider’s perspective, it’s easy to say that the Bucks’ quarterback replacement would doom them from the start. I see the idea, but there are many other parameters to consider. The move from Tom Brady to Baker Mayfield is a downgrade, but adding Dave Canales as offensive coordinator is a huge upgrade. Canales brings a bright personality and a new offense that brings movement, advantageous routes and unpredictability, just what Tampa Bay needs.
Bucks ILB Devin White and OLB Shaq Barrett – Photo Credit: Cliff Welch/PR
But defense will be key for the Bucks this season as a whole. At every level, there are still defensive players on the 2020 Super Bowl winning team. The Bucks have kept Ryan Neal safe and caught stealing in free agency, and are hyped about draft picks Kariya Kansi and Yaya Diaby. The defense, who missed nine games against Shaq Barrett last season, still allowed just 21 points per game. It was a struggling offense. The Bucks defense needs to get better at rushing passers this season so they can protect them every game.
A closer look at the schedule reveals a number of opponents that favor the Bucks this year. Let’s start with our NFC South opponents. This division is the center of attention, and it would be difficult to say who is a clear favorite.
I believe the Panthers are going to have a tough time getting Bryce Young this season, but that’s because there aren’t many talented players on the offense other than him. If the Bucks can overwhelm the Panthers and separate themselves from their rivals, they are already 4-2. The Bucks also have the advantage of playing against the AFC South, where there are plenty of other teams struggling in the division besides the Jaguars.
If Tampa Bay split with that division, it would be 6-4. Another division the Bucks will face this season is the NFC North. While many hold teams such as the Lions and Bears in high regard, questions still remain to be answered about what Chicago and the Green Bay Packers will do with their new quarterbacks.
With a 2-2 record, the Bucks are now 8-6 with three games left. It’s a bit far-fetched to say Tampa Bay can win double digits this year, but they could well have eight wins again, and depending on how the division goes, the Bucks could get back into the playoffs.
Josh Quapo: Call me Mr Negative as the Bucks go 7-10
Bucks WR Trey Palmer – Photo Credit: Cliff Welch/PR
If the Bucks promise to play a season off Madden’s injury slider, my predictions would be much different (maybe a 10-7 comeback). But the reality is that this year’s team will be plagued by injuries. They’ve already done so, with the team currently dealing with the loss of both starter center Ryan Jensen and number 3 wide receiver Russell Gage.
Backup center Robert Hansey is a capable starter in his own right, but he’s still overlooked by the plays he paid to re-sign Jensen in 2022 and what Hansey can offer. Likewise, Trey Palmer, Deven Tompkins and Rakim Jarrett could all outperform what Gage would have given. But that bet is no better than his 50% offer.
Any more injuries to the offensive line or receiver positions would expose the lack of depth the Bucks have. Similarly, if a team’s starter fell to the secondary or linebacker, there would be a clear hole in the group the team fielded at that point. These holes will cause the team to lose a few games that could have won other games (against Houston, Indianapolis).
But all hope is not lost. With Tampa Bay off to a quick 2-0 start, fans and analysts alike will have ratings suspended for the rest of the season, especially in the sluggish NFC South. Wins at home against Atlanta and Tennessee take the team to 4-5 through Week 10. However, the season ended with two straight losses against San Francisco and Indianapolis. As for the NFC South’s downturn, I see the Bucks struggling hard outside the division while going 4-2 in the division.
Bailey Adams: Bucks finish 9-8 on aggregate one-up wins from last year
Bucks OC Dave Canales – Photo Credit: Cliff Welch/PR
With Tom Brady retiring and a flurry of veteran players being released this offseason, the Bucks appear ready to take a step back in 2023. After all, the greatest quarterback of all time is no longer their center, and their once-proven offensive line is suddenly at center as well, sophomore starter, rookie right guard, right tackle and sophomore player (when he was a rookie). was left guard) entered. Tristan Wirfs, a one-time All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler, is also taking on a new role.
Tampa Bay is betting on a youngster following Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, and its deep chart includes double-digit rookies, many of whom are undrafted free agents. So how can the Bucks surpass his eight-win total from a year ago?That path involves both improving offensive efficiency and the standards they set on defense under Todd Bowles. maintain (if not improve).
The firing of Byron Leftwich and the subsequent hiring of former Seahawks quarterback coach Dave Canales should go a long way in Tampa Bay’s offense. Even if Baker Mayfield took the snap instead of Brady, the scheme introduced by Canales and the offensive talent of Evans, Godwin, Rashard White, Cade Otton and Trey Palmer would make 18.4 per game. You may get more points than that. Last year’s team average.
Scored more points and remained with a talented defense that included Vita Baer, Shaq Barrett, Labonte David, Devin White, Carlton Davis, Jamel Dean, Antoine Winfield Jr. and Ryan Neal. Leave that part to Tampa Bay, and they could be close to a three-point lead. Weak NFC southern peat. The schedule should help the Bucks, too, as they’ll be facing a lot of unproven quarterbacks.
Wins against Chicago, Houston, Tennessee, Indianapolis, Minnesota and Detroit will add up to five wins. This means that if you wipe out one of your division opponents (probably the Panthers or Falcons) and split with the other two, you’re 9-8. It may be lofty and half-glass-filled for me, but I like their chances on this track.
Adam Sribon: Bucks go on the offensive and finish 9-8
Bucks RB Rachard White – Photo Credit: Cliff Welch/PR
With Tom Brady in retirement, many outsiders expect the Bucks to have a losing season. vie for first place nomination instead of a playoff spot.
I don’t think that will happen.
With plenty of established talent and Pro Bowl-level players still on the roster, there’s reason to believe the Bucks will actually do better than they did last season. Playing in the top NFC and weak NFC South, plus playing against at least a few rookie quarterbacks in the AFC South, adds a few more Ws to the win/loss column.
The atmosphere around the team has changed this offseason, much of it starting with the offense evolving and feeling different under new offensive coordinator Dave Canales. While his attack has struggled under Byron Leftwich, his ball surface should improve under a more creative and energetic Canales. He averaged just 18.4 points per game last season, but a few more points would give him more appearances.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield has the arsenal and support staff to get his career back on track, and sophomore running back Rashard White as the starter will energize the final onslaught. It will definitely blow. The statistical predictions I have for them are Mayfield setting career-high passing yards (over 3,827 in 2019) and White playing a more efficient running scheme to reach 1,000. Breaking through the yardage threshold.
The offensive line has some question marks, with players moving positions (Tristan Wirfs, Luke Goedeke) and new players (Matt Feiler, Cody Mauch), but at least the average Wilfs holds at left tackle. It should be a unique unit.
In theory, the defense looks like a solid unit under head coach and defensive playcaller Todd Bowles. Front 7 are led by familiar faces Vita Baer, Devin White and Labonte David and will gain momentum with the return of Shaq Barrett. Leveraging the potential of Joe Tryon-Soyinka, Logan Hall and Kariya Kansi, the Bucks have filled the pass rush basket with plenty of young eggs in the hope that they will hatch.
In the secondary, cornerbacks Carlton Davis III and Jamel Dean are one of the best duos in the NFL. With Antoine Winfield Jr. back in free safety and Ryan Neal a possible free-agent steal candidate, the secondary looks set to increase turnovers. And overall, the defense is at least in the top half of the league overall, with a potential top 10 finish.
Looking at the schedule, my guess is that the Bucks will start 3-2 and above .500, with their only losses being a loss to the Saints on the road and a loss to the powerhouse Eagles on Monday Night Football.
The Lions are a tough opponent in Week 6, but how can the Bucks lose against the Creamsicles?
After that game, the team hit the ground running, losing four of their next five games to the Falcons, Bills, Titans and 49ers, dropping to 4-6. They hit the ground running against the Colts, winning three in a row, but then lost to the Packers and Jaguars.
With a 7-8 record and needing a win, they beat the Saints and Panthers to finish the season at 9-8 and turn to the three-peat as district champions. By any measure, if that happens, it will be a successful season and one of the biggest surprise teams in the league.
