“I Expect Us To Compete For The NFC South”
March 31st, 2015
Last year at this time, Lovie Smith and general manager Jason Licht publicly were saying it would be “unfair to ask the fans to be patient” with the Buccaneers. It was a win-now mindset with a pile of new free agents in the house.
Has the attitude been altered? Joe asked Licht at the NFL Owners Meetings last week.
The answer from Licht was simple, “No.” The Bucs aren’t backing off an expectation of fast success.
Licht acknowledged, “I’m sticking my neck out,” but also said he could never say his team is planning on a losing season as part of a rebuild. Regardless, per Licht, the Bucs showed enough on the field to have high goals in a wide-open NFC South.
“How could we not have high expectations when we saw a dramatic improvement with our defense last year,” Licht said. “And then now with the addition of Dirk Koetter, and another year under the belt of Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson. And we’ll have Austin [Seferian-Jenkins] back and Charles Sims showed flashes at the end. Doug Martin was running the ball late. How could our offense not be better? We were competing there all the way until Week, whatever it was, that we finally got eliminated. But we were right there in it, so, you know, I expect us to compete for the NFC South.”
Joe is pleased that Licht holding firm. It would be sad if he were backpedalling.
It would be a different situation if the Bucs had a powerhouse team in their division, but they don’t. Seven wins delivered a title last year.
A massive talent infusion at quarterback should go a long way toward putting the Bucs right into the mix.
March 31st, 2015 at 11:54 am
Meh, talk
March 31st, 2015 at 11:58 am
whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat
he didn’t mention the qb of the future as a reason for success and high expectations?
March 31st, 2015 at 11:59 am
It’s a fine line between optimism and delusional. Especially after no upgrades in free agency. Draft has to be a home run 3 starters minimum. I’m not confident Lovie will do the right thing
March 31st, 2015 at 12:02 pm
Why shouldn’t we compete? The NFC South Champ had 7 wins last year.
March 31st, 2015 at 12:03 pm
Division isn’t going to be as bad next year. Atlanta probably wins it easily with Quinn fixing the defense. Carolina still has a good defense if suspect offense. Can probably finish ahead of the Saints though…maybe.
March 31st, 2015 at 12:12 pm
How can the Bucs compete with the 4th best head coach in the division!!!
March 31st, 2015 at 12:14 pm
Tell me something good. I’ve always thought the Bucs were going to compete for the top spot in their division every year. It’s not unrealistic for a quick turn around. Before the draft and the roster is set, I feel that from worst to first vibe for the Bucs this year.
March 31st, 2015 at 12:15 pm
yah think……wow such high goals…..
March 31st, 2015 at 12:19 pm
The Bucs only play 4 teams nsxt year that had a winning record this past year, so if they don’t go at least 8-8 the coach and GM should be fired
March 31st, 2015 at 12:20 pm
I’m tired of seeing rebuild season. How long does a rebuild take? We are in year 6-7 of our rebuild? That isn’t a rebuild it is just a bad franchise. Also, by him pointing out people who didn’t really play last year as a reason why we will succeed is not a good sign. But But we did well in the last few games. Get out of here. Quit talking and do something.
March 31st, 2015 at 12:26 pm
The addition of Koetter will improve the Offense.
March 31st, 2015 at 12:26 pm
He is Delusional…
Why? The offensive line hadn’t been improved, Lovie Smith is still HC and their really isn’t a top NFL talent QB available… Their is a lot of hopeing and wishing but history shows otherwise…
I will admit the rumors of Brees or Rivers coming to the Bucs could have changed things but just rumors…
March 31st, 2015 at 12:32 pm
tell me anyone who read this that did not get a chuckle, or maybe hurl chunks
March 31st, 2015 at 12:32 pm
Why is Atlanta expected to be better defensively, because of Quinn, he had some real players on that D, ATL has some decent players, not the quality he had with the Hawks, nobody is hesitant to throw the ball at either of their corners
March 31st, 2015 at 12:35 pm
As long as Lovie is the coach the offense will be bad. It’s what he is known for. Let’s stop with the notion this defense was good at the end of the year. They still couldn’t protect a lead and Gmac still couldn’t make a play in the 4th quarter
March 31st, 2015 at 12:36 pm
Underdog Says:
March 31st, 2015 at 12:19 pm
The Bucs only play 4 teams nsxt year that had a winning record this past year, so if they don’t go at least 8-8 the coach and GM should be fired
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Funny story: They just did that in 2014. Literally. Only 4 teams with winning records (Carolina, New Orleans, Green Bay, Cincinnati), and they went 2-14. So no, expecting at least 8-8 is asking for waaaay too much.
March 31st, 2015 at 12:38 pm
lurker Says:
March 31st, 2015 at 11:58 am
whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat
he didn’t mention the qb of the future as a reason for success and high expectations?
You noticed that too, huh.. Zero mention of Glennon.
Draft will definitely bring at least ONE starter.
Raymond Jameis Stadium
March 31st, 2015 at 12:39 pm
Great TV camera shot of Lovie, Licht, and Jimbo Fisher talking and smiling in the middle of the field in Tallahassee just prior to Winston’s Pro Day…..
March 31st, 2015 at 12:48 pm
We’ve been in a 7 year rebuild since our disastrous 9-7 season in 2008.
March 31st, 2015 at 12:56 pm
I hate to admit it, but Winston is having a very good pro day. And his treatment of the WRs is impressive too.
Interesting.
March 31st, 2015 at 12:56 pm
love the shot of licht bent over, bit in mouth with bilicheat riding bareback
March 31st, 2015 at 12:58 pm
can’t wait for for jameis christ to resurrect this franchise.
March 31st, 2015 at 1:00 pm
Oops, I spoke too soon. He fumbled a snap.
March 31st, 2015 at 1:01 pm
must have some butter fingers from those crab legs he been liftin’
March 31st, 2015 at 1:01 pm
Uh-oh his draft stock is going to plummet now. lol
March 31st, 2015 at 1:02 pm
between him leading the franchise and obama leading the nation……whats left to live for?
March 31st, 2015 at 1:03 pm
make the pick already so I can get back to work.
March 31st, 2015 at 1:07 pm
robert 9 Says:
March 31st, 2015 at 1:02 pm
between him leading the franchise and obama leading the nation……whats left to live for?
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Hopefully Winston can bring record profits for the Glazers due to winning like Obama did for US companies due to better economy.
March 31st, 2015 at 1:11 pm
LMAO, liberal BS…gotta love Florida.
March 31st, 2015 at 1:12 pm
Looking for any type of hope to hang on to for negativity, I see…
Good point. Might as well just kill yourself.
Seriously.
Do it.
March 31st, 2015 at 1:18 pm
and celly goes and totally gives me a reason to go on.
one more jabroni to irritate with intelligence and racially unbiased remarks.
March 31st, 2015 at 1:19 pm
Falcons lose a 5th round next year for their crowd noise. Really showed them.
March 31st, 2015 at 1:22 pm
Skyline Crew Says:
March 31st, 2015 at 1:19 pm
Falcons lose a 5th round next year for their crowd noise. Really showed them.
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Don’t forget the $300,000 fine! That’s like…..3 minutes worth of commercial revenue. That’ll show em!
March 31st, 2015 at 1:28 pm
winston looks retarded on the move throwing at his pro day right now.welcome to tampa marcus mariota
March 31st, 2015 at 1:30 pm
Heck, every team is a contender this time of year……
Harumph…..
March 31st, 2015 at 1:36 pm
robert 9 Says:
March 31st, 2015 at 1:18 pm
and celly goes and totally gives me a reason to go on.
one more jabroni to irritate with intelligence and racially unbiased remarks.
Yup, good thing my job entails me sitting in front of a computer all day, so I’m getting paid to irritate you.
But seriously, though. Kill yourself.
If you have nothing left to live for, might as well just do yourself a favor.
March 31st, 2015 at 1:38 pm
Draft JW now!!!
March 31st, 2015 at 1:43 pm
“between him leading the franchise and obama leading the nation……whats left to live for? ”
finally, the end of the kkk in your house. (i hope you are sterile.)
March 31st, 2015 at 1:45 pm
bucrightoff Says:
March 31st, 2015 at 1:22 pm
Skyline Crew Says:
March 31st, 2015 at 1:19 pm
Falcons lose a 5th round next year for their crowd noise. Really showed them.
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Don’t forget the $300,000 fine! That’s like…..3 minutes worth of commercial revenue. That’ll show em!
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I would say it was worth it to do it for 2 seasons if this is all the punishment is.
March 31st, 2015 at 1:50 pm
Celly to Robert
between him leading the franchise and obama leading the nation……whats left to live for?
Good point. Might as well just kill yourself.
Seriously.
Do it.
That’s funny! I agree…at least metaphorically.
I understand why Robert is incensed at Obama. He must be in the same situation as me.
When Obama took office our business was hanging by a thread…2-3 new partients a month. This month we have 35….damn Obama is working our assses off. When Obama took office our retirement portfolio had just dropped 40%…now the stock market is up 154%. Come one that means lazy slackers like me can finally afford to retire a the disgracefully young age of 67. What is wrong with that dude? Heck if we had voted for Romney he PROMISED to bring unemployment down to 6% and now it’s…..oops 5.5%
This is a football blog. Most of you should, in fact all of us should stick to football because it’s clear a certain number on this blog are total illiterates when it comes to politics. Hey at least Robert and 87 have something in common.
March 31st, 2015 at 1:52 pm
They took McKay off the competition committee too that was probably the biggest thing. I could never figure out why they let the falcons pipe in the noise. The Viking use to do it too and they finally stopped them.
March 31st, 2015 at 1:58 pm
yeah, lets tell everyone to stick to football, right after we put in our political comments. oh the irony
whats a partient?
March 31st, 2015 at 2:01 pm
I think it’s incredibly lame when a team in an indoor stadium has to pump in crowd noise. Really? Dixie Chick fans must be worse than us!
There is no reason we can’t compete for the division title. N.O. is in shambles.
Carolina is condemned to mediocrity. They’re just good enough to sacrifice draft position but not good enough to go far in the playoffs.
I do not believe Fameis is a savior nor does he walk on water. But he clearly has talent. I think MG8 also has talent to backup Fameis in case of injury. IE We’re going from a bad position at QB to one of strength.
If we really want we could combine picks and perhaps toss in a player to move from 34th up high enough in the first to land a franchise LT to go along with our franchise QB.
We’ll pick first off the waiver wire until at least September.
If we grabbed the LT we are only short an RG…Omameh didn’t impress last year perhaps he has improved…maybe Edwards will figure out the NFL.
If not we’ll have to use 3rd and 4th rounders trying to get the RG. Our secondary is solid and in fact good at the corners…our LB crew is also solid if not deep and our DL is starting to look good as well.
We need a punter and some edge rushing…hopefully Smith and Fatinkun and Gholston will continue to develop.
There is no reason we shoudn’t compete and if we get Fameis and an LT I bet some of the experts will give us a shot at the division.
BTW we still need a punter. Anybody worried we won’t find one?
March 31st, 2015 at 2:02 pm
Please don’t post that BS number of 5.5% or 6% for unemployment when you know it is false.
March 31st, 2015 at 2:04 pm
We signed Andrew Wilder as our punter. Where have you been StPete?
March 31st, 2015 at 2:07 pm
“They took McKay off the competition committee…”
mckay was just suspended.
via espn:
“Falcons president Rich McKay was not aware of White’s violations, according to the NFL, but will be suspended from the league’s competition committee from April 1 through at least June 30 for failing to ensure that the franchise complied with league rules.”
March 31st, 2015 at 2:09 pm
“I do not believe Fameis is a savior nor does he walk on water. But he clearly has talent.”
jameis and jesus have some things in common then!
#jameischrist
March 31st, 2015 at 2:13 pm
Hey Licht, I would like to see them be competitive this year, but really that comment did make me chuckle. Maybe what he means as competitive is that they will lose games this year by less than 7 points instead of more than 10. 8-8 would be good season this year.
March 31st, 2015 at 2:18 pm
“Please don’t post that BS number of 5.5% or 6% for unemployment when you know it is false.”
OK if you disagreee with the methodology to calculate the rate than that also means it was artificially lower when he took office and that the rate Romney promised would have been equally as false. Apples to apples or oranges to oranges but you can’t have it both ways.
Out to lunch Skyline or spending too much time on political blogs. LOL
Is Wilder definitely pencilled in as a starter or just another leg to bring to camp?
March 31st, 2015 at 2:22 pm
@Buctebow
8-8 would be good season this year.
Agree Buctebow. Good with a rookie QB but not great. I expect 10 wins.
And of course 8-8 would have won the division last year! Would we acccept 8-8 and a division title?
Again I think we can win the division but then it’s one and done in the playoffs. STill need more depth.
March 31st, 2015 at 2:22 pm
I knew I actually liked you, SPBF
keep up the good fight
March 31st, 2015 at 2:23 pm
As a Bucs fan living in Atlanta since ’98, I can tell you that statement is very true.
Falcon fans are only fans when their team is doing well.
March 31st, 2015 at 2:23 pm
How about rather than just refute his claim as false, you provide some evidence to your argument…
Or is that asking too much?
March 31st, 2015 at 2:26 pm
I’m not expecting he’ll be the savior immediately, but I do predict Winston, in year one, will win more games than Glennon has won in his entire Buc career.
March 31st, 2015 at 2:27 pm
I would reply to your obama/gubment posts st pete, but you told me enough when you said your biz was hanging by a thread if not for him.
mine was great before, during and after the recession. some people adapt, others make excuses.
March 31st, 2015 at 2:28 pm
That number is derived from people currently looking. It doesn’t take in to account all the people who are working part-time and can’t find full time work and it doesn’t count people who stopped looking for work. So yes, the number is artificially low. Otherwise, you could say Bush had us at 4.4% in 2007. A better number to use is around 7-9%.
Forbes has a pretty good article that just came out about it, but it has been known for a few years now.
And no I’m not out to lunch, just work a lot with numbers.
Also, I couldn’t say the number Romney provided is false, because he didn’t become POTUS and I don’t know what his policies would have been an don’t know how they would impact the job market.
March 31st, 2015 at 2:31 pm
So, Winston just stated that his desire to stay home for the draft was due to his grandmother being ill and not able to travel.
But i’m sure he’s lying about that too, right?
March 31st, 2015 at 2:33 pm
Hilarious!
March 31st, 2015 at 2:33 pm
since celly jumped in I will reply.
many people have dropped out of the job market entirely and have opted to stay home. why not the get more benefits under obama.
how many here pay their own insurance? the rates are through the friggin roof!!! I happily pay for others people benefits. thats sarcasm.
who would believe anything that comes out of this office? they have had more scandals than anyone in my memory. you can’t believe a word of it, clinton is just as bad if not worse. hell, he would not even be president if not for the cover up in benghazi! and I am supposed to believe their numbers? pfft….
you people are so damned stupid it’s amazing. reminds me of the joke about someone trying to fix their computer only to be told to unplug it and throw it out the window. whats next LGBT equality?
March 31st, 2015 at 2:36 pm
My healthcare has gotten worse because my employer didn’t want to pay as much and it was all dumped on the employees so now we have sub-par health insurance versus the great insurance we had before.
March 31st, 2015 at 2:43 pm
I would use the U-6 for the rate. As of February the U-3 was 5.5%, however, if you use the U-6 it is 11%.
March 31st, 2015 at 2:50 pm
5-11 if you are lucky. You need a whole new o line a pass rusher i could go on and on. rookie qb. you wont sniff at the division until 2017 IF you draft well. If
March 31st, 2015 at 3:02 pm
@robert
You are EXCEPTIONAL. You may have had one of the ONLY businesses not sucking for air in 2008.
Are you also ignorant of history as well? Do you understand what negative GDP means? Look at the 2008 recession.
Take a look at Q3, and you’ll see the recession was much, much worse than we knew at the time. The BEA revised estimate shows the economy contracted 8.3%, much worse than the 5.4% contraction in the original estimate. It is also worse than any quarterly contraction in any recession since The Great Depression.
And so Robert we have to bow to your economic genius because you were a true outlier!!! The ENTIRE economy shrank by 8.3%!!! That means the wife and I were not losers as you suggest but merely like every other company in the U.S. with of course the exception of you!
Perhaps you’re a drug dealer. They did well throughout the recession! LOL
March 31st, 2015 at 3:14 pm
lol….like I said. excuses. cry me a river. don’t think i ever called you a loser.
your just the average joe with his hand out. please tell me your not one of those with a rich mommy and let the bank have your house, only to keep your lexus and have mommy co-sign on the new home.
it’s called a bubble numbnuts.
March 31st, 2015 at 3:22 pm
robert
You didn’t post a SINGLE FACT. I give you facts and you come back with ad hom. You’re a waste of time. If you can’t debate properly why should I waste my time on you. How do I even respond? Your momma wears combat boots?
That is the level of discourse you seem to prefer.
Good luck and glad you’ve never struggled in your life. My father had a 7th grade education, my mother a 10th, I was the first kid in my extended family of more than a dozen cousins to finally get a HS diploma much less a college degree.
You clearly have never known hard working people who weren’t blessed to be as lucky as you. Instead of being so negative and frightened that some of your tax money may go to the less fortunate you can take solace that at least thousands of Floridians are dying from lack of health insurance. That should warm your heart. And hey more than 16 million children live in poverty in our nation…imagine all those lazy little buggers!
To those who are given a lot a lot is expected.
Stop being a whiner and be grateful for your obvious gifts if you were one of the very few who made it through a horrible recession without any effect at all.
Just remember a lot is expected.
March 31st, 2015 at 3:31 pm
we’ll just call a truce then. I come off as an a$$ because nothing was handed to me. I started with nothing and always surrounded myself with people better than me and worked harder than anyone else. So, to this day, when people say luck, or “you didn’t build that” or ask for a handout. sorry man, it’s just not in my heart, because I slaved while others sat with their hand out. I’m not a complete A hole. I did hand 500$ to a family member that was struggling who has a child just recently. I’m just that guy who killed himself to make something of himself while others got jealous or said it was luck. makes some people jaded i guess. I don’t care to post stats and figures, because 70% of that stuff is made up. I just don’t do the long posts with facts and figures because they can be used either way you like. so, yeah debating….probably not my strong suite. unless it comes to closing a deal, then I come well armed. 🙂
March 31st, 2015 at 3:57 pm
robert 9… “between him leading the franchise and obama leading the nation… what’s left to live for”? That’s easy, a people’s revolution in America.
March 31st, 2015 at 4:35 pm
Bucs fans are so annoying and childish always complaining. Of course he expects to complete for the nfc south, maybe you whiners should look up the definition of compete…… Every team expects to win the division
April 1st, 2015 at 1:36 am
I can imagine when Winston is drafted we will fill RJS up. Fans will have there foam crab claws on doing the FSU chant…………If Mariota was drafted ppl would have there hands in their pockets.
April 1st, 2015 at 6:03 am
robert 9 Says:
March 31st, 2015 at 3:31 pm
we’ll just call a truce then. I come off as an a$$ because nothing was handed to me. I started with nothing and always surrounded myself with people better than me and worked harder than anyone else. So, to this day, when people say luck, or “you didn’t build that” or ask for a handout. sorry man, it’s just not in my heart, because I slaved while others sat with their hand out. I’m not a complete A hole. I did hand 500$ to a family member that was struggling who has a child just recently. I’m just that guy who killed himself to make something of himself while others got jealous or said it was luck. makes some people jaded i guess. I don’t care to post stats and figures, because 70% of that stuff is made up. I just don’t do the long posts with facts and figures because they can be used either way you like. so, yeah debating….probably not my strong suite. unless it comes to closing a deal, then I come well armed. 🙂
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did you always have to walk 9 miles in the snow to school every morning? lots of people have the same story, had nothing and had to earn everything they got, such as life such as the nfl, that 5% of the world have things handed to them like colts with manning then luck. that’s like bragging about being a good father to your kids lol.