The Buccaneers are in dire straits right now sitting at 0-3 and now without their starting quarterback for at least a few weeks. The start of the season has been an absolute nightmare in more ways than one for this team so what now? There are certainly more questions than answers so let’s take a look at them.
What are realistic expectations for Jalon Daniels?
With Baker Mayfield out a few weeks with a dislocated thumb, Tampa Bay will turn to undrafted rookie free agent quarterback Jalon Daniels. A star in the preseason, Daniels is now put in a position
to try and help right the ship and it will be a tall task. In terms of expectations for the young signal caller, I would be cautiously optimistic but also ready for anything. The fact is Daniels was an undrafted free agent for a reason and while you could make an argument he should have been a draft pick, it still would have been a late round pick at best.
This isn’t to say Daniels can’t provide a spark. He certainly could and the Packers have been struggling so far this season. However, if fans are expecting Daniels to come in and save the season and potentially keep Baker Mayfield on the bench even after he’s healthy, I wouldn’t hold your breath. Let’s see what he can bring to the table and keep an open mind about his success in these next few games.
What is going on with the Bucs offensive line?
I have no idea but it needs to be a lot better especially with an inexperienced rookie now behind them. Coming into this season, Tampa Bay’s offensive line was supposed to be a big strength of this team but instead it has been one of the biggest disappointments. Tampa Bay chalked up a lot of their offensive issues last season simply on the projected starting offensive line not playing a single snap together. This season so far, they have been completely healthy so what’s the issue? Perhaps it is taking guard Cody Mauch a bit longer to get back to normal after a major injury last season, maybe Ben Bredeson has come back down to earth a bit? Graham Barton continues to be hot and cold as he has had a solid season but is still taking way too many penalties. Tristan Wirfs has bounced back after a rough week one and Luke Goedeke has had his moments but it hasn’t been good enough.
There are many issues with this offense, but the Bucs certainly didn’t expect the offensive line to be one of them. They need to figure it out and do it fast.
How hot is Todd Bowles’ seat?
I think the answer is a little complicated. In a long-term sense, his seat is probably getting pretty hot. This isn’t just a 0-3 start; it’s an extension of the collapse last season that saw a 6-2 record end at 8-9 and missing the playoffs. For the short term, it is unlikely that Bowles would be fired mid-season. The Glazer family really like Bowles and they have never fired a head coach mid-season and I don’t see that starting with Bowles. Fans are frustrated and rightfully so, but they may have to wait until the end of the season to get their wish of change.
If the Bucs end up with a losing record and miss the playoffs for the second consecutive year, it is hard to imagine Bowles returning but I wouldn’t expect the Glazers to make any rash decisions before the year is over. Bucs fans may ultimately get what they want, but they’ll likely have to wait for it.
