Joe Calls Baloney On Jason Licht

January 15th, 2018

Bucs GM Jason Licht

“And they’re only going to get better, better and better as the years go on. I think next year, the expectations are going to be set that we need to make the playoffs because we have the talent; we’re going to have the talent to do it.” — Bucs general manager Jason Licht, December 27, 2015.

The quote above from Licht was delivered on the Buccaneers Radio Network just before Tampa Bay’s Week 16 game against the Bears two seasons ago. Yes, 2015.

Licht was asked what it meant to play a full season with that young Bucs team and have some success.

Fast forward to the 2017 season, and Dirk Koetter and the Bucs were coming off a 9-7 season, played ball in free agency, were high-fiving madly after the NFL Draft, and everyone from Koetter to Licht and most fans expected to see an improved football team.

It was reasonable and just.

Those expectations came from inside and outside the football team. Koetter said repeatedly and publicly that the Bucs had more talent than they had ever had since he arrived — in 2015. (See Licht quote above). Koetter also said repeatedly that nobody has higher expectations for the team than he does.

Now, today, in a Tampa Bay Times interview, Licht said the following:

“The whole year, just the expectations were just, not set by us, it was just something I cringed at,” Licht said. “Of course, you want positive things written about us but when the expectations are that we’ve got these weapons now and we’re going to score 50 points a game, it’s just not that easy. I think these guys are going to learn a lot from this season. I know we only finished with five wins but there’s just nobody walking around here thinking anything but good things about next year. Everybody is excited about it.”

Jiminy Christmas! Joe punched a wall reading that Licht quote.

Those high expectations for 2017 certainly were set by the Bucs and fueled by the Bucs. Rightfully so.

Does Joe need to pull more Licht quotes from 2017? Joe will spare the embarrassment.

One thing Licht won’t have to worry much about next season is great expectations. The Bucs have a mountain to climb to get back to 9-7. If they can make it there, or even a reasonable and understandable journey to 8-8, that should represent enough growth to keep Licht and Dirk Koetter running the pirate ship.

86 Responses to “Joe Calls Baloney On Jason Licht”

  1. Shorttrooper Says:

    No way does anything less than the playoffs get these guys another year.
    Joe firmly disagrees. –Joe

  2. Bucitup Says:

    What else do you say when you just a season of regression and the owners were dumb enough to keep you around?

    He needs to go.

  3. Ndog Says:

    For me it’s playoffs AND a win in the playoffs or they are all gone. No more excuses, no more time, no more bull sh*t.

  4. MadMax Says:

    No coaching or staff changes? Last ranked D? Yeah, go F yourself Licht! Im already discounting next season and looking towards a top 10 draft pick for 2019…..waste of a year coming up!

  5. Ben Says:

    I think they need a president of football operations. Can’t blame these guys that were given jobs by owners who dont know what they are doing. Its easy to point the finger at the coach and gm, but the organization is general needs to step their game up. Good organizations know how to build successful football teams. It starts with the owners and the glazers need to find someone they can trust that knows what they are doing to help build this franchise. May also save them money long term as well.

  6. Dewey Selmon Says:

    We got caught up in a 9-7 season, DJax, Oj falling to us. We are still 2 drafts away from really being solid on all fronts. I know other teams did more in shorter time periods. the Saints had 3 7-9 seaons and finally hit the lottery on the defense in the draft and managed to grab Kamara. Shore up the DL, find a RB. and we might have a chance next year. Sprinkle in some bridge player and let the youngsters develop. Have a mentality of building a PROGRAM, and stop with the instant gratification mindset.

  7. mike10 Says:

    Ehh boy, this is starting to smell like the lack of accountability we were accustomed to during the Lovie era.

    Hopefully this is just GM talk but the one thing we love about Koetter is his accountability… hopefully that’s spreading throughout the building.

  8. mike10 Says:

    Ben, I agree.

    Question is will an acquisition like that happen?

  9. LakeLand Says:

    One thing I will give Jason Licht credit for. He’s a masterful salesman. How else has he been able to hold on to his job for 5 years?

  10. Architek Says:

    Man WTH…This is scary! How does the leader of football operations say this kind of stuff deflecting the failure???

    Man I was and have been on the fence for all of this season and previous seasons but it appears there’s clearly no accountability and standard set. Man I swear there is more CYA y’all coming from coaches and reports at One Buc than answers!

    I’m really growing bored with this team. It’s a losing environment.

  11. Perimeter Blocker Says:

    If they don’t make the playoffs the owners should look at coaches available and if they are an upgrade fire the staff and move forward. If the coaches available are not upgrades stay with them…

  12. Dusthty Rhothdes Says:

    I would expect nothing more but flim flam from licht, the guy has no vision which are squarely illustrated in those 2 quotes, i am banking on a 6-10 year and some head scratching off season moves, at the very least get rid of the SP coach, probably secondary coach as well but the bucs extended everyone, good money for leading a losing franchise

  13. JonBuc Says:

    You go Joe…you go! Ol’ Licht’s Out covering his tracks and preparing his alibis. The guy is a glorified scout. Meanwhile, Jon Robinson continues to insist that his Titans improve ( bye Mularky ). The much ballyhooed craft beer deal between Joe and Licht’s Out must have gone south much like the 2017 season. 🙂
    Calm down. Stop reading between lines inaccurately. Joe’s a Licht fan. You ever read here to fire the guy? Joe’s not about to play pretend, though, on anything. The Bucs stunk it up last year and made mistakes on the field and off. But this is a new year and Joe’s expectations are realistic as a new chapter is written. Loads of great things will be happening on the field if this team can find its way back to 9-7, or get to 8-8 with a good reason.–Joe

  14. Bproud Says:

    Omg. Did you guys actually read what joe wrote? I ,for one am not settling for 8-8 And giving these two thieves another year to wreck the ship. Mike Smith HAS to go for one. 90° of the d-line , gone.
    Trade VHIII . Get a draft pick or two for him. We can’t lure patricia here for a mike smith replacement and then the HC job next year? C’mon get creative, for once.

  15. Tom Edrington Says:

    I’m becoming a Jax Jaguars fan….

    Tom Coughlin would fire Licht in a heartbeat

  16. Lord Cornelius Says:

    I defend Licht a lot but he can go f himself regarding that quote. Complete and utter bull.

    Bucs fans are smarter than this for the most part. Yeah there’s a bunch of idiot trolls but most fans thought the offense would be scoring more PPG by a solid margin compared to 2016 which was an extremely reasonable expectation. If that wasn’t the expectation from the staff then wtf were you doing making all the moves you did and why was Koetter saying it was the most talented Bucs team he’s been a part of? Are you saying Bucs fans and media should have expected us to regress in scoring after the offseason? Go f*ck yourself dude.

    No one was expecting 50 PPG. Get out of here with that hyperbolic BS defense. You’re simply talking completely out your a4ss Licht at this point and insulting the fan base. This is literlaly the worst thing I’ve ever seen come out of his mouth. Keep patting yourself on the back. Great f*n job last year.

    Sorry that really made me mad for some reason lol

  17. doctor_berto Says:

    Im ok with keeping Licht as he’s been our best drafting GM in quite some time. I am torn on keeping Koetter but I can’t, for the life of me, understand how and why Smith was kept. If it wasn’t for Jameis, I wouldn’t even watch the Bucs next season.

  18. bucs_365 Says:

    I think, in context, these things aren’t really contradictions. Sure, there were goals and expectations set inside the organization. What I think Licht may have been referring to in the recent quote is about the media hype and promoting the Bucs as some kind of juggernaut on the rise. Calling Jameis a league MVP candidate before the season started, etc… That’s what he was referring to by the 50 points per game remark. It’s never that easy, and the excessive hype impacted the players’ preparation, I believe. Or their intensity, or something. I think humility is a good place to start from when preparing to win. Anyway, Jason Licht’s supposedly contradictory assessments are not a problem, as I said because of the context. What concerns me more is the acquisition of Swaggy Fatty. Those kinda moves might work if you’re the Patriots, where the guys on that team would not tolerate his B.S. In Tampa though, we don’t have the culture and leadership to keep a guy like that in line. That was bonehead signing.

  19. Not there yet Says:

    Shorttrooper Says:
    January 15th, 2018 at 3:37 pm
    No way does anything less than the playoffs get these guys another year.
    Joe firmly disagrees. –Joe

    I’ll back that statement that anything less than playoffs gets these guys fired. Yes you guys are Insiders but your not that much of an insider, your guessing at plans just like the fans. I’ll back shorttrooper but anything less SHOULD get everyone fired. Simply because it’s no fun rooting for perennial losers and being that I’m in my 40’s this age bracket had seen more losing than winning

    I want a golden State warriors type turnaround a franchise that has always been average but had a few good years where they had great players who retired or got teased them they went back into the talk and look at them now. Most of those fans came on after they started winning. Sooner or later you gotta win regardless of who’s drafted

    I don’t think anyone on this coaching staff or in the front office will be retained based on the fact that nothing has changed so the glazers would be foolish to pretend like last year was the actual fluke like the coach and GM are doing, start looking for a head coach for 2019 this year like right now

  20. AlteredEgo Says:

    The Peter Principle
    https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/peter-principle.asp

  21. Bucssuccs Says:

    Dirk Koetter and Jason Licht would be the last people to point the finger at themselves. It’s pathetic. These losers better leave come the end of the 2018 season

  22. firethecannons Says:

    JW3 out probably 4 games

    cannot see how this team gets better
    It needs almost a complete overhaul of the defense except for a few players, must have new coaches as the present ones are incapable of coaching up the young players (VH3) yet no coaching changes made–lets keep doing the same stupid things and expect different results even the Titans are making changes after making the playoffs and beating the Chiefs. Yet the Bucs are content, it is crazy and inexcusable

  23. JonBuc Says:

    JonBuc Says:
    January 15th, 2018 at 4:10 pm
    You go Joe…you go! Ol’ Licht’s Out covering his tracks and preparing his alibis. The guy is a glorified scout. Meanwhile, Jon Robinson continues to insist that his Titans improve ( bye Mularky ). The much ballyhooed craft beer deal between Joe and Licht’s Out must have gone south much like the 2017 season. 🙂
    Calm down. Stop reading between lines inaccurately. Joe’s a Licht fan. You ever read here to fire the guy? Joe’s not about to play pretend, though, on anything. The Bucs stunk it up last year and made mistakes on the field and off. But this is a new year and Joe’s expectations are realistic as a new chapter is written. Loads of great things will be happening on the field if this team can find its way back to 9-7, or get to 8-8 with a good reason.–Joe

    Calm down?! But Joe…you fired us up…in a good way! I know the Bucs are stuck with Licht…I didn’t suggest you were saying he should be fired. It was just very nice to see you call out the bullspit. Well done.

  24. TrueBuc1970 Says:

    And this is why the team will lose again in 2018. Poor Jason doesn’t like all the pressure! Give me a freakin break! Instead of embracing the pressure and demanding success, this wuss is complaining. I’m really starting to think he needs to go. Winners don’t act like this.

  25. TrueBuc1970 Says:

    I really think Bucs fans should go to the preseason workouts and ride everyone’s arses. I guess since they don’t like the hype giving them last year, a dose of the other side will make it better for Licht, the coaches, and the players.

  26. TouchDownTampaBay Says:

    Joe is correct. The Bucs won’t be sniffing the playoffs next year with all these holes. If they go 8-8 or 9-7 the Glazers will be pleased with the improvement. If any of you watched this team and think they’re headed for the playoffs next year you are crazy!

  27. LakeLand Says:

    Jason Licht is hoping for a playoff season. He want a new deal after the season. The Bucs has to meet expectations for him to get the new deal. That’s why he has lowered his expectations for the season. If he comes out and say “playoffs or bust” then he will be tossed if the Bucs don’t make the playoffs. Right now he’s only covering his behind. Jason Licht is not dumb, he knows this team is far away from a playoff team.

  28. The Buc Realist Says:

    The answer is easy!!!!!! Once they were signed up for the reality TV show, expectations changed!!!!!! It was not about winning, The owner made it about expanding the brand last year!!!!!!! That is why I and many others gave a pass to this year!!!!!!!!!!

    GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  29. TouchDownTampaBay Says:

    Right Realist now that they won’t be on Hard Knocks they will go 16-0 in 2018??? Put your name on it!

  30. BucEmUp Says:

    He better hope 8-8 is enough to keep both’s jobs next season because they won’t do any better than that with Mike Smith on staff

  31. lightningbuc Says:

    Joe’s Jason Licht Ale is getting a bit warm. Tasted bitter to me way back when it debuted.

  32. mtbucsfan Says:

    Hey but we accomplished something most teams haven’t. We haven’t lost a playoff game since 06. That’s pretty dam good!

  33. JimmyJack Says:

    Hey Joe I hate to burst your bubble but I think you punched a wall for no good reason. From what I read you seemed to have jumped to conclusions about what Licht was talking about. Correct me if I’m wrong but he wasn’t talking about playoff expectations he was talking about the silly expectation(many commenters here had) that this team would score 50 points a game.

    Now or course they fell short of an actual realistic(not 50 ppg) expectation. But I shared his cringe factor with these silly fans thinking this offense would score at that high of a rate. I did expect us to have a very high score in a few games based on matchups but not consistently, that’s just not realistic in the NFL.

  34. Lord Cornelius Says:

    “It was not about winning, The owner made it about expanding the brand last year!!!!!!!”

    Winning expands a brand more than anything – especially in Tampa. If the owners really thought Hard Knocks would be a bigger marketing benefit than winning they’re idiots. I’m guessing they thought they could do both.

  35. jeff Says:

    I have never been so depressed by the upcoming season since 77

  36. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    Licht & the Asst. Coaches contracts were picked up for one more year.
    It’s Playoffs or Bust. Don’t let these dudes off the hook.

  37. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    *

  38. Dom is gone Says:

    Hey Jason the 4 remaining teams all had top 5 defenses ….. so let’s draft another WR a TE and RB in first 3 rounds …. weapons for Winston!!! How did that work out.

  39. Bobby M. Says:

    The solution for Buc fans is simple…..dont watch any games until they are in the playoff hunt that last 4 weeks of the season. The fans need to send the owners a clear message of our expectations. Produce a consistent winner or lose your fan base. Football isn’t life….its entertainment and the Bucs need to put a product on the field that entertains the fans. Losing for the last decade isn’t entertaining. Watching Winston build stats in late game surges….not entertaining. Knowing your season is done by week 8….not entertaining.

    IMO….Buc fans should get used to mediocre. Since the Glazier boys took over, there’s been no emphasis on producing a winner. They’ve figured out selling hope is enough in the Bay area and it keeps them paid. The dad wanted to win a Super Bowl before he died….he was driven to accomplish that task, not make the most money he could. The boys aren’t concerned with owning a winner….they just want to make money. They aren’t trying to win Super Bowls like a Pittsburgh or New England….Its not their focus.

  40. LUVMYBUCS Says:

    Comparison Jags vs Bucs (2016-2017)

    2016 Jacksonville Jaguars
    • Record: 3-13-0, 4th | AFC South Division
    • Points For: 318 (19.9/g) 25th of 32 ←
    • Points Against: 400 (25.0/g) 25th of 32 ←

    Fired Gus Bradley (2-12-0) | Promoted Doug Marrone (1-1-0)
    • Jaguars hire ex-Giants coach Tom Coughlin as Vice President

    2017 Jacksonville Jaguars
    • Record: 10-6-0, 1st | AFC South Division
    • Points For: 417 (26.1/g) 5th of 32 ←
    • Points Against: 268 (16.8/g) 2nd of 32←

    2016 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
    • Record: 9-7-0, 2nd | NFC South Division
    • Points For: 354 (22.1/g) 18th of 32
    • Points Against: 369 (23.1/g) 15th of 32

    2017 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
    • Record: 5-11-0, 4th | NFC South Division
    • Points For: 335 (20.9/g) 18th of 32
    • Points Against: 382 (23.9/g) 22nd of 32

    With an easier schedule & healthy Jameis – we’re suppose revert back to 2016 Bucs

    Yea!

  41. Defense Rules Says:

    Joe, you may like Licht as you said, but as Lakeland so aptly said … “One thing I will give Jason Licht credit for. He’s a masterful salesman.” How else do you explain the first line in his quote in today’s paper: ““The whole year, just the expectations were just, not set by us, it was just something I cringed at.”

    Expectations not set by us? Really? Licht’s Dec 2015 quote that you started with clearly points to that being BS: “I think next year, the expectations are going to be set that we need to make the playoffs because we have the talent; we’re going to have the talent to do it.”

    Sorry JimmyJack, Licht’s trying to have it both ways. Bucs’ fans have gotten smart to his double-speak however.

  42. gambelero Says:

    I’m wondering why the One Buc’s crew thinks Evans, Winston and Alexander will stay if we stay in ostrich mode the next two years. I look up and see a team going 1-15, then 0-16 in 21-22. No way the next CBA lets teams repeatedly franchise a guy and the Glazers aren’t going to pay the second year rate anyway.

    If the Bucs’ ownership continues with the current miserly approach, no way any of our stars will stay. And I’m convinced there’s no other explanation than they didn’t want to pay the going rate for new better coaches. It looks all the worse now that LeBeau’s boss is gone and he is presumably free to go elsewhere. The Tennessee defense was really outstanding this year, despite all of the emphasis placed on the offense. Last Monday I said I was really disappointed in the Titans win because it would have been great for us to bring LeBeau in as coordinator or if that wasn’t possible as “consultant, defensive guru, co-head coach, Shrive of Shrampa, whatever title he wants.”

  43. Kansas95Buc Says:

    My expectations is the Super Bowl EVERY year, what the eff would you be playing for if you’re trying to build a winning franchise?!?!

  44. 911bucs Says:

    That quote is a garbled mess.

  45. chickster Says:

    I try being non negative but i cant get over the season i might take the advise and just watch the games next year bucs do not deserve my money

  46. chickster Says:

    Licht can say what ever he wants now he was a big bragger last year in the off season until reality hits during the season . i have no expectation for next year bucs will have to prove it to me i liked are coach until the losing started he went from cocky to a sheepish little boy in his pressers and looked the part of a beaten man

  47. Pelbuc Says:

    Con artist Licht is selling us another con job and the Glazers approve. This is rock bottom Bucs fans. Nobody in this organization is competent let alone interested in winning. Everyone is in CYA mode. Our Dline and CBs are so bad it will take a total start from scratch approach. So what do they have to lose by pursuing Peppers, Bennett, Ansah and whoever else is available in FA.

  48. Buccfan37 Says:

    I can’t gripe about next season for the Bucs. I remain optimistic for improvement like always. The past season is over, no need to gnash and wail about the past. Comfortable anticipation works for me.

  49. Lucious Selmon Says:

    There’s no point arguing about why Licht and Koetter were retained. It is simple. Nobody wants to go to a team where the starting QB is under threat of a suspension to start the season.

    Without a commitment to spend some of that salary cap room, not many are wanting to jump onboard.

  50. USFBUC Says:

    The Bucs have work to do but with as many close games as they had this season they aren’t that far off from being a playoff team.

    Multiple losses to teams by a score or less, with several of those games being wins for the other team because of single play.

    They need to address CB and RB in FA and go all Dline and Oline in the draft

  51. SB Says:

    Love you Joe! As Always……….However, what an antagonistic article without a way out?

  52. Issic Haggins Says:

    Listen People they went into the season with the worst collective corner group for a full season of success ( not game 1) of any team , how and I mean how can you do this unless your are just 100 percent delusional !! I clearly called it before the season !!

    Just as I clearly said Peyton Barber will Avg well above what Martin averages last Oct ( 2016) and this staff took a year plus of failures and losses until they just had no where else to duck . Are these guys professionals ? I say yes they are situationally but it is clear Koetter and Licht are defensively stubborn and lack overall vision and experience at the top . They have made some absolutely delusional decisions and not all have reared there heads like the o line they went into Winston’s rookie season with , Licht had the cap room and every chance just as he did with the corners and D ends this year but got very lucky that that you go Line didn’t get Winston Killed !!!

    Make no mistake Parcells , belicheat and several other top notch coaches and GM s would never allow their number 1 pick ( qb) to get hit the way these clowns have turned Winston to the Wolves !! This is also a very delusional world because they are taking years off the QB s career , These Guys lack the ability to correct themselves and leadership and experience from the Top it takes to lead and Succeed !!!

    The stuff they are bad at is Pretty Easy Stuff and it’s not X’s and O’s !!! Koetter is pretty good there besides the fact his down field game requires a better RB on first down and better o line so the QB can sit ,set and throw but then again this isn’t the X’s and o’s !!!

  53. Rod Munch Says:

    That entire interview is terrible, he’s really nearly a fireable offense it’s so bad. All he does is whine about injuries in it and then say he’s not making excuses, yet spent the entire time making excuses. Injuries certainly happen, but when your “plan” for a pass rush are two injured players who have a history of injuries, and your plan for the secondary is resigning Chris Conte and not worrying about getting a 3rd corner, ugh. Licht comes off the worst I’ve ever heard him in this interview.

  54. Eric Says:

    Given that four years is enough time to develop an expansion team to make the playoffs, I find it curious another whiff year will suffice.

    But then again these Glazer boys are schizophrenic. Who knows?

    Personally, I didn’t like the way he stabbed Lovie in the back. I’d fire him for that.

  55. Lamarcus Says:

    Jason Licht

    You are supposed to set expectations for yourself and your team. Not the media. You supposed to expect Superbowl from yourself and your team

  56. BrianBucs Says:

    So getting back to 9-7 would save Licht’s and Koetter’s jobs by showing improvement? I remember the days not too long ago when 9-7 Got coaches fired. Boy have things ever changed in Tampa Bay

  57. Eric Says:

    I’ll bet Chucky ain’t thinking about no 8-8……

    But that is the holy grail around here. “Showing improvement” too.

    It’s almost too pathetic to even discuss.

  58. AceofAerospace Says:

    The only thing about next season I look forward to is it being over. We have a coaching staff that would be high fiving over 8-8 next season. Pathetic.

  59. Lamarcus Says:

    And you I’m a fan of Licht. On hard knocks the Bucs made the Jags look like wussies and now Jags are a game away from a SB appearance. I CRINGE!!!!

    And if you had any “5-11” ideas u could came out and told us and put away any high expectations talk. But you didn’t? Now we are here

  60. BringBucsBack Says:

    Thanks AlterEgo. That read was astute. However, this is my favorite part:

    “Dr. Peter further argued that employees tend to remain in positions for which they are incompetent because mere incompetence is rarely sufficient to cause the employee to be fired from the position. Ordinarily, only extreme incompetence causes dismissal.”

    1. It’s debatable but, I guess Licht has been good enough to avoid being accused of “extreme incompetence”.

    2. The Glazers are still turning a massive profit. (This allows incompetence to seem a bit less visible.)

    Finally, who fires the Glazers?

  61. Capt.Tim Says:

    No matter what kind of Excuses or Paint job they put on it, this team is a long way from the playoffs
    What do you need to be a playoff contender

    1) a great QB. More questions about Jameis’ decision making now, than at the beginning of the season. I think the Jury is still out
    2) a pass rush. This team is a joke. At least 2 years from building a good Defensive line. Whats insane, is that they havent even tried to build on yet.
    3) A running game capable of controlling the game. Another joke- and even worse- outright stupidity. Doug Martin should have been released when his suspension ended. Hes sucked for a long time. Peyton Barber looked good, but since they wasted time on Martin- we dont know if Barber can be the Man.
    4) a Secondary. No. Hargreaves is a waste.

    The Bucs are several years from being a legit contender

  62. SCBucsFan Says:

    More than anybody, I want Licht gone. Followed closely by Mike Smith.

  63. VegasBuc Says:

    It’s just when you’re about to quit that you find gold folks. When we have high expectation in the past, we always take a friggin dump. When there are no expectations, and the whole fanbase has rightfully so lost interest and confidence, is when things miraculously turn around and spank us in the arse.

  64. Owlykat Says:

    I warned everyone right after the 2017 draft that all three of the other teams in our conference outdrafted Licht. That resulted in the other three teams in our conference making the playoffs, and Licht’s incompetence dropped us to the bottom of our conference. If we don’t develop a great OL and DL we are not going to make the playoffs. Licht doesn’t have a clue when it comes to Linemen period, and he has a smug arrogance that only he can get us there. With no prior GM experience Coughlin knew exactly how to turn losing Jags into
    a Juggernaught powerful enough to defeat Pittsburg with their 3 B’s in their home field in 17 degree weather. The Glazer boys have been flim flammed by Licht who should have been fired; not given an extension. They also need to command Koetter to fire his DC and hire LaBeau! If not fire Licht and let LaBeau become President of Operations and let him make all the GM decisions.

  65. Owlykat Says:

    As to Offense Koetter needs to realize that Jameis needs to put back on all the weight he lost last year, hopefully in muscle. That weight loss led to his first injury to his shoulder that hurt our team this year. Koetter should have known better. He needs to order Jameis to put that weight back on this year!

  66. Buc believer Says:

    Other than that “little” incident Mrs. Lincoln how did you enjoy the past?

  67. Buc believer Says:

    Play

  68. Guzzie Says:

    Pretty obvious Buc upper management really don’t care how us stupid fans feel, just sheep to them

  69. grafikdetail Says:

    of course Licht had high expectation… this is why you have to be precise with your word choices when speaking publicly because it leads to miscommunication especially when people are too lazy to put everything you said into context…he should’ve said the expectations from the media & fanbase were unrealistic. Except the media and fan expectations largely were realistic.–Joe

  70. D-Rome Says:

    Totally confident, right guys?

    No one expected the Bucs to score 50 points per game. Talk about setting up the straw man. I think a reasonable expectation would be more than 21 ppg.

    What else infuriated me about the article was Licht banking on Noah Spence. This has been the issue with this GM and GM’s in the past. They bank on guys to have certain years and then do nothing to try to improve the position.

    From the article:

    From the results, you could say that but it’s not like…we do a lot of work on the defensive linemen every year,” Licht said. “There’s been a lot of defensive linemen that I liked and hoped to get, it just didn’t work out…

    Hoping on things working out and throwing hands up in the air when they don’t are not qualities that make a good GM.

  71. pewterpirate99 Says:

    Tom Edrington Says:
    January 15th, 2018 at 4:10 pm
    I’m becoming a Jax Jaguars fan….

    Tom Coughlin would fire Licht in a heartbeat

    I’m starting to agree with you on this Tom. In spite of Bortles, I’m really liking what the Jaguars have done and are doing. They need to go get a real quarter and they will be even better. I’m becoming a fan of there’s too. I love that they have a REAL football mind like Tom Coughlin in charge. Hey Glazer f@$ktards take note, the Jaguars that have been perennial losers since Tom Coughlin left and it took him coming back to right the ship. GET YOURSELVES A LEGITIMATE FOOTBALL MIND instead of the ass clowns you have running your team and watch how fast this team turns around. It would be a breath of fresh football air, because the stench you guys have had linger around here since firing Jon is repugnant!!

  72. pewterpirate99 Says:

    I’m sorry but anything less than the playoffs is unacceptable to me. I’ve had enough of mediocrity and to me not making the playoffs is mediocrity. I now a lot of you out there think that 9-7 is a winning year…….it’s not. In my opinion if a team doesn’t make the playoffs, it’s a losing year. Everyone plays to make the playoffs and advance as much as possible. No team starts the year saying, ” well guys if we go 8-8 or 9-7, we’ve had a successful year!” The goal is always to make the playoffs and go as deep as possible. I’m sorry but those are my standards and the fact that you Joe think 8-8 is an improvement and grounds for these bums to keep their jobs, is a big problem. We HAVE TO have higher standards then that brother. If the Glazer clowns won’t hold them to those standards, then it’s our job as Buc fans to do so. Again to me anything less than the playoffs is a losing year.

  73. grafikdetail Says:

    @joe if you say so buddy… i saw a bunch of Super Bowl and 50 points per game type
    expectation… if that’s realistic to you then so be it 😂😂😂😂

  74. FireJasonLicht Says:

    Joe said 8-8 and they stay? No playoffs and the while team needs to go and take Joe with them for saying such a stupid comment.

  75. FireJasonLicht Says:

    Whole*

  76. FireJasonLicht Says:

    Everything @PewterPirate has said is spot on. Better than the hot garbage spewing out of Joe’s mouth. 8-8 and they stay. Smdh

  77. Nick2 Says:

    Licht should have never done this interview to put such garbage out there.
    Who believes the trash he is spewing. So the Titans now have higher expectations AFTER reaching the playoffs and winning a playoff game?? Are you kidding me???
    Wow it is playoffs or bust maybe not for the head in the sand “Chucky cost too much” Glazers but a huge part of the fanbase Joe. That you cannot deny!!!!!!!
    By the way being a Bucfan I get ill every time i hear the Glazers applauded for not giving up too much money for a player or coach. Do you think Saints fans get upset when they will resign Drew Breeze for some crazy possible $90 million over 3 or 4 years???????No because you have to pay dearly to have great team. Jerry Jones knows this just not the freakin Glazers!!!!!!!

  78. Nick2 Says:

    By the way Grudens salary wouldnt have hit the salary cap and the rumor of his gettnig stake in ownership was a farce. So basically the Glazers were just too cheap to bring Gruden in. Why do the Bucs still languish??? Well, Raheem, Greg Schiano, Lovey these guys came at a bargain Gruden deserved a kings ransom.
    So lets see who made the best decision at the end of 2018. I am betting on the freakin Raiders. Its making me sick that the Glazers have cheaped out of another coach. They are always in the running for coaches like Parcells and Cower but they never close the deal so tell me they are offering what needs to be offered and I will laugh at you.

  79. Tampa Bay Tailgater Says:

    Comments like these are why I did not renew my season tickets. Cringing at higher expectations? Have fun playing with a lethargic home crowd bucko.

    Actual footage of Jason Licht’s interview this morning right here:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtaCF0A5wWw

  80. StPeteBucsFan Says:

    Wow this is a tough crowd!!! LMAO

    So if the Bucs go 9-7 and make the playoffs we’re fine but if we have another Raheem year and win 10 but miss the playoffs fire Koetter?

    And all of this without any consideration to extenuating circumstances versus just lame excuses?

    So if #3 misses 4 games to start the season…or worse 6…do we hold Koetter to the same standard in terms of wins? What if #3 goes down for the season will that make a difference?

    Next year we expect N.E….N.O….Seattle to field good competitive team. Notice one common denominator…how long have their coaches been in place?

    The league has gone crazy with impatience. I’m stunned but because of his poor playoff record in recent years the Steelers…the freaking Steelers are suggesting Mike Tomlin is on the hot seat and MAYBE gone. WOW!

    Over the past 4 years Tomlin has gone 45-19…winning 70% of his games!!!
    Last season he won 13. He’s coached for 11 years and is 116-60…66% winning! He’s won one SB and two Conference titles.

    Tomlin is 7-3 in the playoffs and that’s what apparently has warmed his seat.

    Yeah and so who do they think will show up and produce a better record?
    Do they plan on stealing Belicheat so their nemisis in N.E. stops eliminating them. That is the ONLY change I could see!

  81. StPeteBucsFan Says:

    Oops…Tomlin is 7-3 the past three years…hence the impatience

    In his 11 year career without a single losing season Tomlin is 15-8 winning 53% in the playoffs.

  82. Tampa Bay Tailgater Says:

    The Bucs had a winning record when JW3 was on the bench so your point is moot.

    We are not the Steelers and they have different goals and accountability.

    Comparing us, a team just trying to get a playoff birth for the last decade to the Steelers is foolish.

    It’s a not a once size fits all league. Every team has different goals and the point of the article was outlining Jason Lichts comfort with mediocrity.

  83. GhostofSchiano Says:

    It’s like Movie all over again.

    “We’re almost there”

    “We’re about to turn the corner”

    “Getting better every week”.

    NOT FALLING FOR IT ANYMORE!!!!!

  84. GhostofSchiano Says:

    movie. not movie. auto correct

  85. GhostofSchiano Says:

    Lovie

  86. pewterpirate99 Says:

    StPeteBucsFan Says:
    January 16th, 2018 at 3:02 pm
    Wow this is a tough crowd!!! LMAO

    So if the Bucs go 9-7 and make the playoffs we’re fine but if we have another Raheem year and win 10 but miss the playoffs fire Koetter?

    And what exactly did the 10-6 season under Radio Morris get us? Did we win our division, did we make the playoffs, did we do anything meaningful other than pat the stat sheet with mental midget Josh Freeman’s stats? A resounding NOTHING, that’s what it got us. Again, if we don’t make the playoffs it’s losing season. “Hello……. you play to win the game” or in this case to make the playoffs. You don’t play it to have a winning RECORD and then stay home and watch the real contenders in the playoffs. STOP EXCEPTING MEDIOCRITY!!!!!!!!!