The Countdown: Worst 20 Buccaneers Of The Past 10 Years — No. 7
July 19th, 2014
Endless Top-Whatever lists across the Internet got Joe thinking of the Tampa Bay drought since their Super Bowl glory. Not a playoff victory since! And that motivated Joe to rank the 20 worst Buccaneers of the past 10 years.
Serious deliberations went into this at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters.
Beers bottles were thrown. Game film came out. Arguments ensued. Chants of Sabby from wild interns were quieted by Joe.
In the end, primary consideration was given to expectations combined with on-field performance. Off-field behavior was a factor, and players were not punished for injuries.
No. 7— quarterback Byron Leftwich (2009)
Regular readers here know Joe places extreme importance and expectation on the starting quarterback position. So while this selection might surprise many, Joe is thoroughly comfortable with it. As anointed leader of the Buccaneers in 2009, Byron Leftwich showed neither the tangibles or the intangibles needed to call oneself captain of an NFL offense.
Leftwich’s play got progressively worse after a solid Tampa Bay debut, and his third and final start yielded just 22 yards passing and got him booted. It might have been the most putrid effort in the history of Tampa Bay offense.
But Leftwich also was dreadful off the field.
Listen to fans and analysts talk over the years and you’ll constantly hear them say that Josh Freeman never had a veteran QB around him to learn from. That’s inaccurate. But it’s true, in part, because Leftwich was disinterested at best.
Think about it. The Bucs had one veteran in the quarterbacks room with a wide-eyed rookie, Freeman, and no-experience Josh Johnson, yet they buried Leftwich on injured reserve in November with a mysterious elbow injury.
Joe never heard how or where Leftwich allegedly hurt himself. Leftwich seemingly disappeared from all things Bucs but made a miraculous recovery and returned to Pittsburgh the following offseason to back up Ben Roethlisberger.
In Joe’s mind, Leftwich disgraced the Bucs jersey and the opportunity he was given.
No. 8 — Edell Shepherd No. 9 — Jerramy Stevens No. 10 — Jim Bates No. 11 — Gaines Adams No. 12 — Keydrick Vincent No. 13 — Dre Moore No. 14 — Kevin Ogletree No. 15 – Sean Mahan No. 16 — Da’Quan Bowers No. 17 — Daniel Te’o-Nesheim No. 18 — Kyle Moore No. 19 – Jeremy Trueblood No. 20 – Michael ClaytonThe Countdown: Worst 20 Buccaneers Of The Past 10 Years will run once or twice daily until No. 1 is revealed on Thursday, July 24.
July 19th, 2014 at 8:59 am
Would be nice read the article except the stupid new banner. On iPads it’s in the middle the article. It’s not worth the 2cents per view joe.
July 19th, 2014 at 8:59 am
Luke McCown should’ve been given the spot…the younger McCown was a far superior physical product and probably couldn’t have possibly been a worse mentor than Leftwich.
July 19th, 2014 at 9:12 am
JF5, in 2013, was worse than any other Buc QB in the last 10 years.
If Schiano makes this list, then Dominick and/or Freeman better be right there with him!
July 19th, 2014 at 9:31 am
Leftwich no accuracy and a statue in the pocket
July 19th, 2014 at 9:32 am
Oh yea and the slowest release in football history
July 19th, 2014 at 9:43 am
I was at that Giants game in 2009. We didn’t get a 1st down until the 4th q. True story. And it was because of this bozo. You are right Joe, it may have been the most disgraceful offensive showing in franchise history that day. And that’s saying something.
Having all those NYG fans there chanting like it was their home game didn’t help either.
July 19th, 2014 at 9:52 am
Justin,
Week 1 against the Keta last year was a horrible display of offense!
July 19th, 2014 at 10:20 am
I hope Joe doesn’t put Josh Freeman on this list. As much as he messed up last year, he still got us 10 wins with basically nobosy (except Mike Williams and K2).
Till this day, I still believe Greg Schiano messed up Freeman, I know everyone has their ownm opinion, that’s just mine.
When will we see Kregg Lumpkin on this list?!
July 19th, 2014 at 10:29 am
Schiano’s game plans and game adjustments (playing not to loose) should grant him No. 1 position in this list. And yes, he did some good things like finding talent (Wright, Gholston…etc.) He also miss read talent like Teo & Bowers at DE and Ogletree WR.
If Edell Shepherd made the list with just one critical drop on the playoff, Schiano is a run away winner with the horrific game plans and game adjustments alone. The NIGHTMARE of a season takes the TROPHY!!!
July 19th, 2014 at 10:35 am
@BucsFan47- Freeman and Schiano was a bad mix of personalities. Freeman would have done better with Lovie’s personality. Freeman’s personality is the type that will rebel against disrespect which is Schiano’s toy to feel empowered over others. Oh well… water under the bridge…
July 19th, 2014 at 11:22 am
Lol. Yeah he sucked
July 19th, 2014 at 11:22 am
@ toucdowntampa
Did you say he did good things like find talent in Eric Wright? I thought Wright played lousy the whole time he was here. Remember that “tackle” on a saints WR in 2012? Wright was so far off the receiver then takes the WORST angle to tackle him, the receiver flips eric wright in the air and walks in for a touchdown.
July 19th, 2014 at 11:30 am
@Buc89 – I remember that one. Yeah that fits right in line with Teo. Horrible!
July 19th, 2014 at 12:04 pm
@Buc89
I’m fairly certain touch_down_tampa_bay is talking about TIM Wright, not Eric Wright, where he discusses the talent Schiano found.
July 19th, 2014 at 12:14 pm
I echo what Sam says…I can’t use my ipad anymore for this site.
July 19th, 2014 at 12:31 pm
Freeman’s personality is the type that will rebel against disrespect which is Schiano’s toy to feel empowered over others.
————
please stop with the garbage made up excuses. You have no idea whether or not Schiano “disrespected” freeman. And he didn’t rebel… he flat out quit like a puss.
July 19th, 2014 at 12:46 pm
I know Dexter Jackson has to be at one or two.
July 19th, 2014 at 12:57 pm
Freeman won’t be on this list… And he shouldn’t be. He nearly became the face of the phrase “fake it till’ you make it”. At least he was able to pull some wins out of his arse, while Leftwich was just absolutely putrid.
July 19th, 2014 at 1:05 pm
@^^^^^ Joe said thIs is not the complaint department. See, I thought it was too, but I was wrong. Joe likes ads more then he like visitors I guess.
July 19th, 2014 at 1:11 pm
@Drew. Dexter Jackson on the list? Are you nuts? Dude was Super Bowl MVP. Sure, he didn’t pan out after that but that doesn’t get him on this list. Freeman absolutely needs to be on this list. I’ve been saying it since this countdown started and he needs to be in the top 5. No way could you ignore all his drama, sleeping through “alarms”, lousy work ethic, and extreme regression. Freeman is unemployed and he’s still young. That tells you he needs to be on this list.
July 19th, 2014 at 1:26 pm
Soooo many cry babies about Joe’s web site. Maybe Joe should give you your money back….oh wait….its free. “Oh, clicking this read me button is too hard for me”……Talk about needing some cheese with that whine. Give it a rest Francis.
Go Bucs and Go JoeBucsFan.
July 19th, 2014 at 1:33 pm
I don’t think Freeman or Schiano need to be on the list. Leftwich does, the castoff flaky big goof. He had that one good year in Pittsburgh. The Bucs must of been desperate to bring him in. Unlike the other longtime Steeler backup Charlie Batch, who always seemed to beat the Bucs with Detriot, Leftwich earned his rightful spot on this list.
July 19th, 2014 at 1:44 pm
He earned this spot.
He was bad in Jacksonville and much, much worse in Tampa.
July 19th, 2014 at 2:38 pm
I’m going to have to second this banner thing.Joe real bad idea.Its horrible on IPad.Makes scrolling real tough ,very annoying.I would rather pay to read then deal with this.
July 19th, 2014 at 2:41 pm
Oh and Seanymac,this isn’t the read more thing,we ok with that.This is a banner mid story that follows you as you try to read.Our input has always been what Joes has asked for and sometimes we have to let them know.
July 19th, 2014 at 3:40 pm
Touch_Down_Tampa_Bay Says
“Schiano’s game plans and game adjustments (playing not to loose) should grant him No. 1 position in this list.”
Not even close. First, if you don’t think Raheem Morris was the worse coach for this franchise in the last decade, there is something wrong with you.
Name one thing Morris did good for the organization after he became head coach. One thing.
GMC doesn’t count, because that was him and Dominick combined. Even if you do count him, it is only one thing.
Schiano did a lot more good than you people give him credit for. A head coach relies on his coordinators to call plays. His job is mostly about personnel and vision…and setting a standard.
Dungy was never give up, play a full 60 minutes.
Gruden was go after the enemy and prove you are better.
Morris was…well…let’s all be friends and hope things work out.
Schiano was all discipline and accountability, which was needed at the time.
I realize Schiano is fresh in your mind, but if you are a true fan you’ll think of all that has gone before, and try to use common sense. Schiano did exactly what he was hired to do, and give 1-2 more years, he would have fielded the best team in the NFL, simple because of his drafting ability.
Lovie was just too good a thing to pass by after the Freeman spectacle (which was forced on Schiano).
Second, it is a players-only list.
July 19th, 2014 at 3:41 pm
And make no mistake…even though I felt Freeman could have a future if he gets his head screwed on straight, the downfall of the Buccaneers last year was ALL on him.
Blame stunts all you want. Schiano was not the coordinator.
July 19th, 2014 at 3:42 pm
Joe, looking over this list so far…I cannot disagree with it.
Although I do believe there were others that could be considered in the last ten years, can’t fit them all on a list of 20.
July 19th, 2014 at 3:44 pm
@cmurda he means Dexter Jackson the WR, not the safety.
July 19th, 2014 at 3:47 pm
Six days to training camp! So glad I got my vacation out of the way last week!
So, I like rummaging through images and finding player numbers to coincide with the start of TC. Sorry, guys, this is the best I could come up with, but it covers tomorrow as well 😉
http://www2.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Dan+Orlovsky+Tampa+Bay+Buccaneers+v+New+York+2joxQ1k12Kpl.jpg
July 19th, 2014 at 3:54 pm
“First, if you don’t think Raheem Morris was the worse coach for this franchise in the last decade, there is something wrong with you.”
Agree 100% Bonzai, 10-6 mirage but set the franchise back years.
As for the list there is still room for Benn, Lewis, Ward, Sabby, Libdell, and Haynesworth…6 of the most deserving
July 19th, 2014 at 4:38 pm
Schiano looked like a chunky meatball in that pic.
July 19th, 2014 at 8:58 pm
This guy played some of the ugliest football i’ve ever seen for a quarterback, i’ll boo him anytime I see him.
July 19th, 2014 at 11:04 pm
Leftwich for #7?
It should’ve been #7 Josh Freeman
I still smell a Sabby in the wings…..
July 20th, 2014 at 8:14 am
leftwich was a bum and never should have been signed in the first place. another epic fail by the rock star gm