Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter is coming off an amazing season in Atlanta
In these unsettled times of devastating Bucs losses, constant change and growing pains, Joe thought it would be wise to bring back THE OPTIMIST.
THE OPTIMIST is Nick Houllis, a Bucs fan and an accomplished writer whose steadfast allegiance to the Buccaneers goes back to the 1970s. Houllis is the founder, creator and guru of BucStop.com, a place Joe goes to get lost in time via Houllis’ stunning video collection.
THE OPTIMIST will shine that positive light in your eyes. Some will love it. Some won’t. … Of course, THE OPTIMIST’s opinions are his alone and are not influenced by Joe.
We’ve had our Lee Roy Selmon, our Warren Sapp, our Derrick Brooks.
We’ve had many linebackers and safeties and corners come through Tampa Bay, but other than Doug Williams, James Wilder, Jimmy Giles, and Mike Alstott, the Bucs have never had offensive sports heroes.
Enter the new age of Bucs football — Buccaneer Bizzaro World, if you will. Head Coach Lovie Smith has spent 13 of the last 14 draft picks on the offense, players like Mike Evans, who has amazing hands, and Austin Sefarian-Jenkins who is going to be a big time tight end with Jameis Winston, who loves to throw to his tight ends.
There is no need to worry about the offensive line, Ali Marpet may have come from a Division-III school, but he never took plays off there, he destroyed everyone he went up against. Donovan Smith came out early, had he stayed he may have come out as a top-5 O-lineman. We got him in the second round!
For a change, we have a bonafide offensive coordinator in Dirk Koetter. Last year in Atlanta, he went through four centers and four more starting linemen on injured reserve….by the BYE WEEK! Then after that, Atlanta actually INCREASED its average output to 380 yards per game.
So have faith in the offense. We even have not two, not three, but four starting-quality running backs, and Doug Martin is due to have a year like in 2012. Think about it, what else did Martin have in 2012? A QB, a 4,000-yard passer defenses had to respect. It may be a while before that happens, but if defenses plan to stack eight in the box, Vincent Jackson, Evans and ASJ may have something to say about that…and if those two can WRs could get 1,000 yards last year with Josh McCown …
Fire those Cannons!!
September 13th, 2015 at 6:21 am
Amen
September 13th, 2015 at 7:08 am
Sounds good. 31-14 Titans crush bucs at home
September 13th, 2015 at 7:12 am
Hopefully I’m wrong but it id to early to think about explosiveness. Let’s give Koetter a month before we put this offense in the same sentence with Matt Ryan and company.
Players of the game:
Martin 126 rushing yards; 1 TD rushing of 64 yds.
Alexander 2 sacks 2 caused fumbles
Brindza 3 field goals
Winston’s 1st TD pass is to ASJ
Bucs 16
Titans 9
In Lovie, Licht, Koetter & Wins-Ton I TRUST!!!
Go Bucs!!!
It’s Buccaneer Sunday BaBy!!!!!!
September 13th, 2015 at 7:17 am
^but I think is to early
September 13th, 2015 at 7:19 am
We need a victory today, even a shitty one, it will then really launch our season !
And Joe please, even it’s a defeat this afternoon, don’t start playing back in black right now!
Give the Bucs time after Week 3 then we can rerally start to be worried and complain !
September 13th, 2015 at 7:26 am
I think this is a replay of Browns game. JW gets blitzed and is ineffective. Titans dink and dunk their way down the field. MM scrambles for first downs and completes 65% of his passes on bootlegs and rollouts. This is a bad matchup for us.
September 13th, 2015 at 7:45 am
It’s gameday!! I’m ready for some football!! Lets go Jameis!! Prove me wrong Lovie!! GO BUCS!!!
September 13th, 2015 at 8:05 am
I can’t remember the last time I went into a bucs season so excited. No I don’t see 6 wins. But I see hope. If love gives the offense the true bucs treatment of old I think we will shock alot of people.
Bucs treatment of old is when grudgen was here and gruden stayed in his offense meetings and let MK run the defense. That’s when the bucs were at their best. Leave the other side of the ball alone love and focus on what you do “best”. If he can do that. I honestly can see 6 or 7 wins for us.
September 13th, 2015 at 8:35 am
Jump ship if u think the bucs will get blown out the 1st regular season game. Especially by the titans.
September 13th, 2015 at 8:44 am
Now I am excited!!!! GO Bucs!
September 13th, 2015 at 8:53 am
Nothing I can add to the “Optimist”. 🙂
September 13th, 2015 at 9:03 am
Sad that our lofty goals are six wins! When we drafted Winston it was 9, 10, even 11 wins. If we can’t beat the worst team in the NFL (on paper) at home on opening day in front on a sold out stadium then this team has made zero progress in the off season.
September 13th, 2015 at 9:22 am
The offense BETTER be better.
Today the Jameis Winston era begins for reals.
Today we WIN.
Tomorrow we conquer.
Go Bucs!!!!!!
September 13th, 2015 at 9:25 am
I think the Bucs come out running on all cylinders with nitro today! First game at home against a truly bad football team. Look for the defense to be pumped up by the crowd and thus creating great field position all game. This means lots of scoring chances for the bucs big targets and number 22. Bucs 45 Titans 10. Here’s to a much needed winning season for a change. Go Bucs!
September 13th, 2015 at 9:34 am
It’s game day!!!! $20 I get into a fight before the game with a Jameis hater.
September 13th, 2015 at 9:53 am
Jameis will prove all the haters wrong. But give him some time bucs fans. Remember he is a rookie.
September 13th, 2015 at 9:56 am
Welcome back optimist.
September 13th, 2015 at 10:59 am
Welcome back Nick,
Go Bucs!!!
September 13th, 2015 at 11:09 am
I’d like to the kid put up about 400 yds today in the air and Doug with 200 on the ground!!!
September 13th, 2015 at 11:25 am
FsuKing
No fights for you because there won’t be any Jameis haters “before” the game.
Now heaven forbid we lose…then you might have to engage. LOL
I suspect however that not only will there be no Jameis haters before the game, but after today’s victory they’ll continue to hide under their rocks.
September 13th, 2015 at 12:09 pm
Some Buc fans truely amaze me by their constant negativity. Can we at least have hope for 1 week? Wishful thinking I guess.