Down On The Bucs
February 8th, 2018
A well-respected national NFL columnist thinks the Bucs are just about the dregs of the NFL.
One cool thing that has happened to Joe since launching this here website almost 10 years is meeting cool NFL folks while traveling to games and league events. One of these guys is Mike Tanier, who types for Bleacher Report and FootballOutsiders.com.
Tanier is a really cool guy, and an even better writer — which is saying something given his former profession was — ick! — a math teacher.
(Column intermission: To this day, whenever the word “math” crops up, Joe has a deep-rooted urge to punch a nun.)
(Column intermission II: Prior to becoming a national NFL columnist, Tanier’s greatest claim to fame was one of his high school math students made it to the NFL. You may have heard of this student: Some guy named Joe Flacco.)
Well, in his final NFL column of the season penned just after the Eagles won the Super Bowl, Tanier typed out in brief sentences what each team needs to make a run at a Super Bowl in 2018. In short, Tanier believes the Bucs rank as the No. 30 team in the NFL and his minces no words.
All they need to compete is a pair of pass-rushers. Oh yeah, and a coaching staff.
Joe won’t go there. Joe has faith in Dirk Koetter. Yeah, Joe does. Do you not remember the Bucs finished the season with the No. 4 passing offense? And that was with a quarterback who had a bum shoulder.
And when Koetter last had a running attack the Bucs had the No. 5 offense in the NFL — a franchise best. And that was with a rookie quarterback, even.
So, yeah, Joe has faith in Koetter provided the team can get a running back.
Now the defense? Joe’s in Tanier’s camp there. Joe’s seen enough in 32 games under Mike Smith to have a healthy dose of doubt with so many holes to fill.
February 8th, 2018 at 5:11 am
Zero faith in defensive coaching staff
February 8th, 2018 at 5:35 am
#30 is silly considering we were #26 last year with Jameis hurt and #13 the year before with Jameis healthy … Koetter’s gone if we don’t go at least 9-7 again though I think
February 8th, 2018 at 5:42 am
Joe’s statistics are the reason that I was in favor of a change at the top. Its easy and popular to pile everything on Winston, a third year QB, but when I watch film, I keep saying, “Wow, I didn’t remember that throw” over and over and over. I do remember the boneheaded ones but the great throws fade away in the memory with all of the negative noise surrounding him.
With that being said, he was making the wow throws his rookie year. While he is making incremental improvement in his throwing and decisions, Koetter does not appear to be adjusting to Winston’s strengths. In fact, it seems, he wants Jameis to frequently want to do things that don’t always play to Winston’s strengths.
Given that QB is the most important position on the field and the Glazers will be forced to make a big decision next year with Winston, what happens if the breaks go a little the Bucs way, Winston stays healthy, marginally improves again, and the team goes 9-7 and just misses the playoffs? By most accounts this would be a huge improvements for the Bucs but we keep hearing internally how they “should’ve been 11-5” and how “this is the most talented team they’ve had in a long time” (this was and in many ways still is the mantra) So at 9-7, the Bucs would have to make a decision on a QB that is probably one of the most talented at the position (Steve Young and Vinny are still at the top) and a coaching staff/front office that would now be trending up.
I guess my question is, given the stats Joe quoted, is Koetter an integral part of Winston having success or is Winston being successful in spite of Koetter. Before everyone’s knee-jerk reaction, please consider the last play of the season. Koetter’s response to Winston’s decision in choosing the Godwin option, 1v1 on a longish, intermediate pass was, “no, no, no” I can make honest arguments on both sides of this debate.
On the face of it, keeping the coaching staff was a conservative approach. Leaning for consistency, but I think this was one of the biggest gambles the Glazers have every made. If there is not high level success this season (IMO, a playoff win), with this group, the housecleaning that should come (and might should’ve started now) could be the biggest rebuild in the team’s uninspiring history.
There has been plenty of noise regarding Koetter not being the right guy. Skip Bayless, as much as I hate quoting something he seemed to be correct about, indicated that Koetter would be the main factor in holding the Bucs back. Next year is such a huge year.
February 8th, 2018 at 6:29 am
I also have faith in Koetter, but Smith and the defense will be last in the league. It’s a coaching problem has been the entire time
February 8th, 2018 at 6:46 am
The Doug Martin decision and usage of DJAX on offense and Chris Baker/TJ Ward decisions on defense caused me to lose all faith in this staff. For me they have to earn it back as all of those situations were clear and thew blew each if them.
February 8th, 2018 at 6:51 am
Tanier appears to be a fan of John Lynch though, predicting him to be in the 2019 HOF class…..
February 8th, 2018 at 6:52 am
I must be one of a very few who believes this year’s Buccaneers will be a vastly improved team compared to the results of 2017.
9 or 10 wins is much more likely I believe than 4-5 wins. Don’t know if that will mean playoffs or not – but I expect the Bucs to be quite competitive in 2018.
February 8th, 2018 at 7:19 am
Meh. Bucs need to prove it this year or move on from coach K. TO be frank, he should have been fired based on performance. Some guys are just only coordinators (McDaniels)…and I think he (Koetter) is one of them.
If your saying 9-10 wins like Pickgrin, your not paying close enough attention to your Bucs. If Vegas has them at 6.5 wins, then lets say 7-8. Does this team keep coach K at 8-8? I say no.
None of this will change until the Glazers are changed. 2nd Worst owners in sports (behind Irsay)!
February 8th, 2018 at 7:21 am
I hope the Bucs surprise me next season. I just have..no faith in them. No faith in Koetters decision making and no faith in..pressbox Smitty. To win and win consistently in the NFL, you must have a great Organization that is committed to nothing but Winning. I don’t see that commitment from the Bucs. I still got us 8-8 next year. You guys act like the Saints/falcons/Panthers will be just..sitting around on their laurels. They won’t be. Tanier is probably right in his assessment.
February 8th, 2018 at 7:25 am
Joe remind me what having the 4th best passing offense gets you?? a 5-11 record thats what!!!! SO WHAT, only thing that matters is a WINS and LOSSES!!! Thats like that dumb stat you put up about the most first downs.
February 8th, 2018 at 7:33 am
There is no reason for faith or hope. Glazers have not figured it out in over a decade, there is ZERO evidence to suggest that this is the year that they magically get it. No free agent with a choice will pick bucs unless they drastically over pay not to mention the defense is handcuffed by captain blowout cancer93 and his SOFT career losing ways. Even the delusional optimists need to start accepting reality which is crystal clear, bucs under glazers are a complete embarrassment with ZERO hope. Get ready for the Browns to hang 40 plus on cancer93 and his SOFT arse defense. .. the real question is how many flat performances will gmc nuthuggers have to make excuses for next season. Over under is 5
February 8th, 2018 at 7:35 am
This organization and team – I have to admit, feels like a version of Cleveland. I hate it but the truth is there.
February 8th, 2018 at 7:37 am
The Dirk and Smith tandem could not win a SB in Atlanta. What makes anyone believe they can do it in Tampa?
February 8th, 2018 at 7:40 am
I do not care about any outside opinions on our Bucs!!!!!!!! This writer most likely pick the Bucs to win the division last year because they were on reality TV!!!!!!!!!
The growth of the offense is most likely just a year behind of expectations!!!!!!! But to be excited about the passing game ( ironically that is where all the first round picks have gone!!)
The Truth is that this team was a total rebuild from the talk show dominik!!!!!!! The NFL GM Licht first draft have not hit their second contracts yet!!!!!!!! Team is young and it showed last year!!!!!!! Their were holes where the organization had to gamble because it has been a total rebuild!!!!!!! And there will be positions that they have to gamble on for 2018 season!!!!!!!!!! That said, This team will be much better than the doom and gloom sheep that wanted to see loser lovie for a third year!!!!!!!!!
Fix the “real” problems, the “trenches”!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 8th, 2018 at 8:05 am
I believe we are suffering from unmet expectations….so there is far more negativity going forward.
Jameis is fine….he needs a running back and a defense. We have lots of pieces. I am comfortable with no coaching changes only because it’s a change from the past and the past didn’t work.
And, Tmax….when you have no faith and no hope, you are lost and will wander in the wilderness of negativity…..you are the true definition of a loser troll. It is high time for you to pick another team….and I pity them.
February 8th, 2018 at 8:10 am
There goes Realist rewriting history again.
He says “Their were holes where the organization had to gamble because it has been a total rebuild!!!!!!! ”
So they had to draft a nickel, at best, corner with the 11th pick on the draft?
They had to sign Chris Baker and DJAX to destroy team chemistry?
They had to play 4-3 when they knew they had zero DEs?
They had to keep playing Doug Martin when he was clearly our worst back?
They had to keep rotating LG instead of playing one and getting a grove?
They had to rotate safeties and not even play the only one who earned playing time the previous year in Tandy?
The had to throw only deep to DJAX over and over and never getting the ball to him in space?
They had to play off the WR’s every play and give up 1st down like they were candy on Halloween?
Then ask yourself the most important question. Do you really believe that the players on this team did not see or question some or all of the above? Then based upon that lose all faith in this staff then play for reasons other than team?
Think about watching this team and did they play like they had full faith in this staff? Don’t get fooled by the end of the year please remember Minnesota, and Arizona that was the season and in both cases it was a complete crap fest.
February 8th, 2018 at 8:21 am
All they need to compete is a pair of pass-rushers. Oh yeah, and a coaching staff.
Joe won’t go there. Joe has faith in Dirk Koetter.
…………….
That’s because your delusional as well and your basis for saying dork is a good coach is we had the #4 ranked offense which means absolutely nothing if you want in the bottom of the league in points scored. Having a good passing offense doesn’t make someone a good coach it makes them a good coordinator expect he is a bad coordinator because he sucks calling plays in the redzone. But keep saying he’s a good coach because you’ll wear it all season from fans who keep telling you that your wrong.
And yes this guy is 100% correct this coaching staff is trash and any offensive coach can do better than he did with the weapons he had last year.
February 8th, 2018 at 8:32 am
Tampabaybucfan
I have earned the right to point out the FACTS that you delusional optimists conveniently choose to ignore…. I am far more accurate in my takes than yourself, munch, bonzi and the rest of the it will get better crowd. the problem is it has been 16 years and it has NOT GOTTEN BEETTER!!!!! Wake up….. whether you choose to accept the facts is your choice but the facts are very clear and that is tampa franchise led by glazers is a joke and there is NOT a single top tier coach, free agent or front office exec that would accept a job with this small market mickey mouse franchise without being way over compensated. those are facts and history proves it. glazers care about glazers and the balance sheet nothing more. They have no desire to field a competitive on field product that contends consistently. history proves it. 42 years and NOT A SINGLE CONSISTENT CONTENDER!!!! Dungy’s teams were pretenders. great defense on a horrible team led by an incompetent fool. I have spent 42 years supporting this team and will not lower my standards to please low standard delusional optimists like yourself and many others. You either win or you fail and the bucs have failed for 16 straight years thus no hope.
thankfully the results prove I am 100% accurate and you sir are just another delusional optimist.
February 8th, 2018 at 8:33 am
Unless it appears that NC State’s Bradley Chubb falls to the 7th pick, try to trade down and focus on DRAFTING DEFENSIVE PLAYERS ONLY …fill offensive holes through FA
February 8th, 2018 at 8:41 am
this time of the year means NOTHING, players will change with FA and the draft, then during the season you got injuries (unless you are the Eagles or Vikings with a back up QB) – what will not change is the coaches (you just hope they adjust their philosophies), but the Bucs could be 30 right now, 32 by the end of the September and 1st by January, ijs.
What were the Eagles last year at this time.
February 8th, 2018 at 8:46 am
@Tmax
I know the facts…..and they aren’t pleasing….and yes, I am an optimist…but not delusional….
I’m sure there were thousands of “delusional optimists” in Philadelphia after they one their first ever superbowl…..we beat them to it 15 years ago.
To say you have no faith and no hope…..what else is left.
I chose to have both….that doesn’t make me delusional….just a fan.
I’d like to see one positive post from you…..when you like a player….you always suggest they find another team.
I would suggest that your fixation on GMC is delusional at the very least. So….you can have your delusional thoughts and I’ll be happy to have mine.
February 8th, 2018 at 9:31 am
Tampabaybucfan
bucs super bowl victory expired week 1 of the following season therefore does not give ownership a lifetime free pass nor does it justify 16 years of failure since. That is the same line as thinking as just be better than Cleveland and we are not the worst so it’s OK.
February 8th, 2018 at 9:38 am
While the 4th ranked pass offense is a good accomplishment with a young QB, Dirk is the head coach over the entire team.
27th ranked rush offense, dead last in defense, disaster on special teams, first half scoring horrific.
The high passing ranking just means Dirk is an above average OC. To keep his gig he has to become a complete head coach and get way more from his team – in all phases.
February 8th, 2018 at 9:51 am
Keep hearing the same drum being beaten to death day-after-day: IT’S THE STAFF … THE STAFF SUCKS … IF WE HAD A NEW STAFF WE’D BE SB CHAMPS. A few dampen that a little with ‘Aah yes, we could use a tweak here or there in players, but still … IT’S THE STAFF.’
Newsflash: that’s a bunch of horsepuckey. A few have jumped on the ‘FIX THE TRENCHES’ bandwagon, and that’d be a great start, BUT … this Bucs’ team has more holes than a piece of Swiss cheese. If you look at there being 25 starting positions (to include 3 STers) PLUS at least 7 key rotational players (3 DLine, 1 CB, 1 RB, 1 WR, 1 TE who regularly rotate in with the starters), then we’d need 32 quality players PLUS DEPTH. Go down our roster from any game last year & figure out how many of those 32 need to be upgraded, like now. If you don’t come up with AT LEAST a dozen, you’re not looking hard enough.
JBFers (including Joe) keep pointing at the staff as being the bad guys, but as the old saying goes ‘It’s hard to soar with eagles if you work with turkeys.’ Ownership AND management needs to upgrade the quality of the roster in various position groups before Bucs can be competitive in the NFC South. They also need to focus much more of their effort to improve the on-the-field L-E-A-D-E-R-S-H-I-P . Too many players on this team have been ‘anointed’ as leaders without having earned the mantra of leadership. OK, rant over.
February 8th, 2018 at 10:03 am
things arent black or white most of the times and the bucs are no excpetion!
How much can you pretend ona team with no pass rush and no runnning game? Come on guys don´t blame just DK or justJW or just Light or just GMC….Its a combination of things. We need more talent on the team in specific positions and we will be very competitive on the most difficult division of the NFL……
lets get a good free agency where Light had goods and bads and a good draft where we had good and bads to……..Focus on the Runnung game and the defensive line, and we will be back, no doubt on my mind!!! What is non negotiable is locker room cancers like swaggy and TJ Ward
February 8th, 2018 at 10:08 am
I like this guy. But we also need a pair of CBs
February 8th, 2018 at 10:10 am
The 4th best offense that scored 19.2 PPG, the lowest in the NFC South.
February 8th, 2018 at 10:24 am
Please Buc Realist..Cut It Out and Knock It off!!! Its time for your..Diaper change!
February 8th, 2018 at 10:43 am
30 is about right.
No pass rush. Hegreaves in secondary
Same terrible coach that gave us the 32nd ranked defense this year.
Yup
Im sure he can deliver the 32nd ranked defense next year, as well.
I like Jameis. But his decision making, on and off the field, are convincing evidence that we have the worst QB in our division.
And if the prove hes a Uber gropper, bet he misses a few games.
And If Koetter is a competent coach- he wouldnt have kept Doug Martin- much less have started him.
Nope. This team sucks. 30 is about right. Im already looking at the 2020 draft.
High draft picks are the only good thing about being a Bucs fan
February 8th, 2018 at 10:51 am
faith in dirk…..BS….I have “0” faith in dirk…..
that #4 passing attack guided us to a 5-11 season…..
@joe says: when Koetter last had a running attack the Bucs had the No. 5 offense in the NFL — a franchise best. And that was with a rookie quarterback, even.
that was when lovie was running the show and forcing dirk to run the ball…..lovie was creating the game plan…..ever since lovie left the run game has been nonexistent…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
February 8th, 2018 at 11:06 am
Joe can promise you Lovie wasn’t creating any offensive gameplan. Sure, he told Koetter he wanted to run the ball. That was about it.
February 8th, 2018 at 11:07 am
@JOE….you should know better…..tanier has been right about the bucs many of times….
remember when he said about the bucs RB’s….”This group could torpedo the bucs”…..
and here’s what he predicted regarding that #4 passing attack….
The offense should be high-flying and Tanier predicts big stats for Jameis. However, Tanier believes Jameis’ passing numbers will be a result of having to play catch-up because the running game will drag down the offense early in games.
he’s 2 for 2 in my book…..those numbers don’t mean squat….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
February 8th, 2018 at 11:10 am
Joe can promise you Lovie wasn’t creating any offensive gameplan. Sure, he told Koetter he wanted to run the ball. That was about it.
I wish lovie was here to tell dirk to run the ball now….lol….
if the HC tell the OC he wants to run the ball and the OC complies, I think that’s called following the game plan…..
and when lovie told dirk to run the ball, good things happened…..funny how dirk needed his hand held then, and he needs it held now….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
February 8th, 2018 at 11:11 am
DoNuts: Vegas had the Bucs at an o/u of 8 to open and it moved to 8.5 wins via all the hype of last summer so the wise guys in Vegas were caught with their pants down on setting the line but likely made coin as the uptick in the o/u indicates that more money found its way to the over than the under. This year expect the o/u to be somewhere in the 6.0 range along with other struggling franchises like Miami, the Jets,, Denver and Bungles while perennial playoff contenders like the Patriots as well as teams that impressed last season such as the Saints, Vikes, Eagles will be in double digits, possibly even 11 to 12 depending on how the rosters set. On the low side it is likely that teams like the Giants and Browns could be in the 4 to 5 range (love how some of the Brown faithful love Cleveland to contend just because they have 6 picks in the top 66 or so in the draft; like all the top picks in the past decade of futility has really stocked their roster but then again the Jets won 5 this year and went over by 1.5 wins so anything is possible)…….. Watch San Fran to be the team that gets a lot of love this offseason thanks to a ’96 Tampa like surge in the second half of 2017 and the fact that the Cards and Seahawks look to be in severe regress mode. So say the Bucs are set at 6.0, is there any reason with a Mike Smith defense and Koetter calling his vanilla, play for FGs game plan to get the Bucs better than 6-10 or 7-9 especially when you have a kicker who will likely jake any key late game kick like Murray did in the ATL MNF game????? Tough to bet the over on that tack record but as a fan I hope for the best unlike some of the pessimists who seriously seem happier when the Bucs lose….
February 8th, 2018 at 11:19 am
DR…..you were 1 of the many poster that thought the defensewould be better…you liked our depth…..you thought the defense would improve….instead of holding smitty accountable you make excuses……
DefenseRules Says:
July 22nd, 2017 at 9:32 am
TBBF … Agree 100%. Personally think that the defense will gel much faster than the offense. Plus I like our defensive depth much better this year than last.
so what happened?……both coaches failed….smitty failed and dirk failed….simple as that…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
February 8th, 2018 at 11:41 am
Can’t respect Joe bcuz Joe is a HOMER!! This guy was correct, this staff is trash I don’t care what the offensivevranks were/are. I trust my eyes not stats
February 8th, 2018 at 12:06 pm
813bucboi … Yes I did think that the defense would gel much faster than the offense, based on how they finished 2016. Several changes in defensive players certainly changed that in a hurry. Baker for one. Noah Spence getting hurt early on for another, as well as some of the other injuries that happened early last season (Grimes, etc). Plus VHIII taking such a step backwards still has me shaking my head.
Were all those Smitty’s fault? Some undoubtedly were … no coach is perfect. But the 2017 defense had a lot more ‘new parts’ than I’d personally anticipated (Baker, Ward, Ryan Smith, Beckwith, Evans, 2 DEs, etc) & they just neve seemed to gel IMO. Part of that has to be on Smitty & the position coaches, but an even larger share IMO has to be on the on-the-field leadership … or lack thereof.
February 8th, 2018 at 1:28 pm
DR SAYS: Several changes in defensive players certainly changed that in a hurry. Baker for one. Noah Spence getting hurt early on for another, as well as some of the other injuries that happened early last season
that’s BS….you said our depth was better than the year before…..so what happened….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
February 8th, 2018 at 1:31 pm
32nd ranked D with 27th rated Running game…5 and 11
yeah I’d say 4th in passing sounds about right…
February 8th, 2018 at 1:52 pm
I think we all agree that Doug Martin was a huge mistake. We still can’t be sure what we have in Payton Barber because we wasted all those carries on Martin.
OK so RB was a problem but that can be fixed and again with Barber and Simms we may not be that far off. We need a solid running game we don’t necessarily need a superstar like Barkley although I’d certainly be happy to have one.
It’s our pass rush that sucks!!! We all know that. And so Noah Spence who had 5.5 sacks his rookie year…Sapp had 3 gets hurt at the start of the year and he was our last best chance at a disruptive pass rusher.
Now I get that some folks are tired of me bringing up Noah because he’s been lacking in the most essential ability….availability. We better hope he gets healthy or we’re hosed.
D lineman rarely explode as rookies…see Sapps numbers…he blew up his second year with 9 sacks. If we’re depending on rookies out of the draft good luck for us…in addition draft picks bust at a 50% rate…we’ve just been really spoiled by Licht’s track record.
And so to recap a few FACTS. We lost our very best pass rusher at the start of the season on a team that had NO depth at pass rushing.
Our star QB hurt his arm in the 3rd game of the season…played poorly and eventually missed three games before finishing the season strong in those final four games.
These are NOT excuses. They are FACTS! If you wish to ignore the facts and simply keep whining…NO EXCUSES….fine. But if you make decisions going forward on your hurt fee fees and ignore FACTS and then make changes for 2018 that’s just not prudent.
I agree totally with Pickgin. There is no reason that we cannot become competitive next year.
So Lakeland couldn’t wait to post this years 2018 power rankings because they make the Bucs look bad which is what he enjoys. Of course the 2017 pre season power rankings had the Bucs 11th…behind only Atlanta…they also had Philadelphia ranked 28th in one ranking and 15th in another.
Bottom line…the late great Chris Thomas had it right when he said that
NFL stood for No Freaking Logic.
February 8th, 2018 at 3:10 pm
STPETE
that’s a BS excuse…..every team has injuries…..packer lost their qb and their best pass rusher was injured most of the season and played out of position(MLB) multiple games this year…..they still managed to win 7 games….not because of talent but because of coaching…..
only an incompetent coach would rely on 1 player with a bum shoulder to have success on defense…..
I guess the entire team has to be healthy from start to finish in order for this staff to be successful…..lol….its football….after the first week of TC every not 1 player is 100%…..
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stpetebucsfan Says:
July 23rd, 2017 at 9:29 am
OK here is my best guess….I think this year is going to be different.
We are so used to pigeonholing players by position and the defense they are playing in. Are we going to run a 4-3 again…a 3-4…both…what %?
Bottom line…we have two very creative coaches running our Offense and Defense. I’m not sure looking at our players in traditional roles is exactly what will happen.
Bottom line for me is…I have a LOT of faith in this coaching staff on both sides of the ball and not just DK and Smitty…. one thing we do not discuss much with the influx of player talent is just what a great job Koetter has done building an EXCELLENT staff.
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so what happened to those creative coaches?……1 player, noah spence cause smitty to throw his creative play book out the window?….1 PLAYER……what happened to dirk and his creative playbook?…..remember luke calling out the offensive plays as soon as the offense lined up….too predictable…..
injuries will happen that’s a fact….injuries are not an excuse!!!!!!….hold these coaches accountable!!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!…..GO BUCS!!!!!
February 8th, 2018 at 3:27 pm
813
You may wish to reconsider your post. Noah IMHO was the critical injury on defense but hardly the only injury. Who was our best CB? How many games did he miss due to injury. Who are our star LB’s. How many games did LVD and Kwon miss due to injury. It was hardly ONE player that’s just serves your negative narrative.
Which is the most important position on any team. As you pointed out with the Pack when they lost Aaron Rodgers they were out of it…seven wins…two more than we had gets you excited? Cmon man you know as well as me if we won seven last year the fan base would still be up in arms.
We played those final four games with a patchwork Oline…a QB just coming back from a bum arm…and a new RB who was finally getting his touches and we were very competitive. Losing sucks I get that. But you really need to look at why we sucked and not advocate for knee jerk solutions…fire the coaches…trade GMC…some here want to dump ME13 for heaven’s sake.
Change for the sake of change rarely works.
February 8th, 2018 at 4:43 pm
grimes missed 2 games…. that’s 14 games left……
kwon missed 4 games….that’s 12games left
LVD missed 3 games….13 games left
those weren’t “critical” injuries…..they all came back with over half the season to play…..
Winston missed 3 games…we went 2-1….once we got blown out(yet again) by the falcons after thanksgiving the season was over…..
my point was even with a “rash” of injuries good coaching can still get you at or close to .500……not this staff…..by the time the last 4 games came around, the season was over so I don’t know why you bring that up…..
we sucked because the coaches didn’t do their job….simple as that…..if dirk doesn’t get us to the playoffs change will happen……that’s a fact….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
February 8th, 2018 at 4:53 pm
stpete
so what happened to those “creative coaches”?…..spence screwed up smitty’s and dirk’s creative plan?……
and what happened to that “influx” of talent?
see, no one said a peep about a lack of talent until we started having 5game losing streaks…..everyone thought we had enough talent….myself included and I stand by that….derrick brooks and others agree…..we have talent…its the coaching that’s holding us back….
joe says: Obviously, Brooks thinks Tampa Bay has the talent, coaching and chemistry to win. Now it’s about execution.
Brooks added that he’ll be very focused on the coaching staff, particularly on defense, to see if the defense again can be the “special group” they were down the stretch of 2016.
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in other words brooks wanted to see if that 9-7 season was a fluke and if this staff was the real deal…..looks like the 9-7 season and coaches are a fluke indeed….
hold the coaches accountable……
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
February 8th, 2018 at 5:05 pm
stpete says: We played those final four games with a patchwork Oline
those are excuses!!!!!!…every team has injuries!!!!!!….
LakeLand Says:
February 8th, 2018 at 4:03 pm
The New Orleans Saints O-Line graded out as the 2nd best in the NFL.This despite starting a rookie RT and multiple injuries. Could it be that that playcalling had some effect on the results.
its about good coaches making adjustments and fighting thru adversity…..good teams find a way to win….sorry teams find excuses…..and so do their fans….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
February 8th, 2018 at 5:10 pm
It was not the “fluke” that some of the sheep claim!!!!! It was a bad roster with good coaches covering up the holes and issues that are on this roster that is being rebuilt!!!!!!!!!!! I have been calling the roster garbage since the talk show host dominik days!!!!!!
Now, they just need a little talent and the coaches will once again cover up the holes that were blatantly exposed when loser lovie was running the team into the ground!!!!!!!!!
The great thing is we get to see what we actually have in year 3 of this regime!!!!!!!!
Fix the “real” issue, the “trenches”!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mount Vea coming to Tampa with their 1st round pick!!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 8th, 2018 at 5:33 pm
@realist
great thing is we only have 2018 with this staff!!!!!!….they are on the hot seat!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
February 8th, 2018 at 5:56 pm
When it comes to Koetter and a RB, if we get Nelson I doubt Doug is leaving and we don’t get a RB till at least the fifth.
February 8th, 2018 at 7:46 pm
SOE…..That doesn’t make any sense. Have you had your head in the sand while MARtin was rushing the ball for the last two seasons?
I mean if you advocating for him to take a near league minimum payout to be our RB #4 behind Barber maybe I can see your point.
February 9th, 2018 at 2:44 am
zero faith in this coaching staff… give me coaches that do more with less, that coaches guys up and builds around his current players strength… of course if they get all the pieces they need they will look like geniuses till they don’t have those pieces anymore then it’s back to the blame game… “we don’t have the players to run our system”