Bucs “On The Brink”
October 5th, 2015
Joe can hear the words ringing in his head.
“Playoffs? Playoffs! Playoffs?!
Those were the famous words uttered by former Colts coach Jim Mora in a postgame press conference when asked about his team’s playoff chances.
It’s what Joe was thinking reading the words typed by Andrew Astleford of BSPN, when he wrote about the Bucs being on the brink of another empty season.
3. This season could be lost in a hurry. It feels like the Bucs are on the brink just four games into the year. True, few envisioned them contending for an NFC South title. But it wasn’t unreasonable to expect them to pick off a few games early if they were in a position to do so. Wins against Houston and Carolina were there for the taking, but Tampa Bay found ways to lose. That continues a troublesome pattern of the Smith Era. This team desperately needs a victory over Jacksonville before its bye week.
“Playoffs? Playoffs! Playoffs?!
Joe just cannot imagine how the Bucs can turn things around to make a playoff run. In fact, the season is no longer about the playoffs but Lovie Watch. In sort of a cruel soap opera, the season now is all about seeing if Lovie can string enough wins together to save his job.
Yes, it is a Bucs season on the brink. And it’s also a reminder of Joe’s favorite book of all time, “Season on the Brink,” by John Feinstein.
October 5th, 2015 at 12:28 pm
Bye Bye Joe Philbin.
October 5th, 2015 at 12:35 pm
The bucs suck time to move onto hockey season that’s where my money is going…
October 5th, 2015 at 12:39 pm
Unless by some miracle the Bucs start winning game after game, Lovie is outta here. He has shown absolutely ZERO progress since being hired. In fact I would say the Bucs have regressed since firing Schiano.
October 5th, 2015 at 12:41 pm
On the brink of being part of the biggest riot/revolt known to man kind. LOL!
October 5th, 2015 at 12:42 pm
Schiano’s defense is better than lovies
October 5th, 2015 at 12:44 pm
The Jags game COULD be the dagger…if any fans show up to that game they are going to be a very hostile crowd coming into it. Underperform, lose this one and he MIGHT not make it through the season.
Yes I know the Glazers have never fired a coach mid-season.
There’s a first for everything.
October 5th, 2015 at 12:45 pm
@GHOSTOF
You beat me to it. I was just going to ask if it was possible to bring in Schiano as defensive coordinator. I mean he’s already getting paid right? He won’t have to sign a contract. 😀
October 5th, 2015 at 12:45 pm
If we had Mariota, we would probably be 4-0 right now. Just sayin
October 5th, 2015 at 12:48 pm
Overheard in a Tampa sports bar:
“Ain nothin the matter with this team that a new coach and a new GM (one that can evaluate talent) couldn’t fix.”
“Did the coach really say, ‘It’s only four games’?”
“Does JW understand the intentional grounding rule?” Seems not. Maybe someone could teach him.
October 5th, 2015 at 12:50 pm
I wonder if McCoy, David and Banks miss Schiano.
October 5th, 2015 at 12:52 pm
“This season could be lost in a hurry. It feels like the Bucs are on the brink just four games into the year.”
Save this Season Glazers! Fire Head Coach & Head of Player Personnel Lovie Smith!!
October 5th, 2015 at 12:53 pm
@Joe
I told you to post a spy by the Glazer’s Limo. Was there any report that they stormed out of the stadium???
October 5th, 2015 at 12:53 pm
Lovie didnt lose the lockerroom.. He never got them to buy in, in the 1st place!
October 5th, 2015 at 1:02 pm
First year HC Dan Quinn (Falcons) has more wins than Lovie has in 20 games.
That speaks volumes for his firing midseason.
@Realist..whatever happened to NOSBOS you Animosity Amigo you?
October 5th, 2015 at 1:06 pm
@Buc1987
I know, I think we lost a lot of people around here. they should have put a catch net below the skyway!
But lets fix this mess!!! I know you like making signs??? how are you at pie charts??? we need to make one, that will show the glazers that they will actually save money by firing lovie and hiring a new coach!!!
Just the saving alone from bad free agents will alone off-set Lovie’s salary!!!
October 5th, 2015 at 1:08 pm
Preseason I said something like, I don’t want the season over by week 5 again. The season is over barring a sudden Lovie firing. Even then, it’s still probably probably over. Lovie is not and has not been a good coach in a long time. The kick ball fan owners have not demonstrated an ability to choose a good coach. #jockyingfordraftpositionatweek5.
October 5th, 2015 at 1:08 pm
Ehh. Plenty of time left. At the half way point I was expecting 3 wins and 5 or 6 total. The Bucs werent going to be contenders for anything this year so I dont think anything is a lost season.
Lets looks back after the 16th game and see how things stack up.
October 5th, 2015 at 1:08 pm
I fully expected this when the Bucs drafted Winston and made him the starter. It was very very clear from his college tape that he was prone to throwing interceptions and not very accurate. And that was against ACC trash. Can he improve? YES, but please stop acting surprised with this start. The game yesterday squarely falls on the shoulder’s of Jaboo. It’s not a mystery.
October 5th, 2015 at 1:09 pm
LOL pie charts. We need to bring a pointer and a stand for the chart to present it to them properly.
October 5th, 2015 at 1:11 pm
@ Erik…..yeah nice try! Not with this coaching staff or losing organization for that matter.
October 5th, 2015 at 1:15 pm
Lose to the Jags and the Glazers may be forced to act during the bye week!
October 5th, 2015 at 1:16 pm
Joe Philbin was 24-28 during his tenure and just got fired
Lovie Smith would have to go 21-11 just to reach that market.
Right on the brink
October 5th, 2015 at 1:17 pm
Wait. We were told as long as Lovie did not start Glennon and started Winston ” Joes Quarterback”, That would by Lovie an extra year because he had a rookie. You mean the savior may not be able to save Lovie? What a shame!
October 5th, 2015 at 1:18 pm
^buy
October 5th, 2015 at 1:18 pm
If we lose to Jax, and the Glazers DONT fire HC/DC/Head of Personnel Lovie Smith??
Then I’m going to question their motives… They may be looking to solidify their draft place before heading out to L.A/London…
October 5th, 2015 at 1:19 pm
SPBF…some fans say they won’t fire him midseason if they lose to the Jags.
I say it depends on the performance and outcome of the score. If they look like total crap and lose to the Jags by 20, he might BE gone. I don’t know though they gave Schiano to the end and he started 0-8.
October 5th, 2015 at 1:21 pm
“Wait. We were told as long as Lovie did not start Glennon and started Winston ” Joes Quarterback”, That would by Lovie an extra year because he had a rookie. You mean the savior may not be able to save Lovie? What a shame!”
It actually would have bought him another year… But as soon as Lovie took over as DC?? He threw that safety net out the window!
Fire HC/DC/Head of Personnel Lovie!
Keep Licht!
Dirk for Interim HC!
Leslie back to DC!
Save the Season Glazers!!!
October 5th, 2015 at 1:25 pm
I don’t know though they gave Schiano to the end and he started 0-8
**********
Those loses in many cases were by 3-6 points or less. Not the blow outs that the defensive guru has put up.
October 5th, 2015 at 1:26 pm
DB55…truth.
October 5th, 2015 at 1:27 pm
Might want to watch more tape.
October 5th, 2015 at 1:29 pm
Look closer. What defense do you see? Same as last year. No change is no change. That is the HC.
October 5th, 2015 at 1:29 pm
Lovie should be told that if he loses to Jags…..he is finished. If that doesn’t motivate him to make some changes…..he deserves it.
October 5th, 2015 at 1:30 pm
Ding!
Joe honestly thought Jameis bought Lovie another year so long as there wasn’t another 2014-like implosion.
Lovie, by taking over the defense, essentially has walked out on a tight rope with no safety net. He could have used Frazier as a scapegoat. Then, Lovie’s defense gets blown out of the stadium by a garbage team in the first game with four months to prepare.
It was the worst storm for Lovie.
October 5th, 2015 at 1:40 pm
Unfortunately I think the Glazer boys are so spineless they’ll let Lovie fire Frazier during the bye and that gets him another year. The problem with bringing Lovie back for another year is the entire season becomes about the first 2-3 weeks. Another 0-2 or 0-3 start and everyone is gone and wants him fired anyway. He has less confidence with the fans than Schiano did, Schiano wasn’t great but I think many of us understand Freeman imploded that season by not being ready and then trying to tar the Bucs. Lovie is in this position solely because of Lovie.
October 5th, 2015 at 2:00 pm
Here’s a silly idea. Fire Lovie, promote Koetter, bring Schiano in as DC. Our defense needs discipline.
October 5th, 2015 at 2:14 pm
Joe told me to watch more tape when I claimed Winston was inaccurate last year.
Winston stats 11/29/15 FSU vs Florida
12 of 24 for 125yrs; 4INTs and 2 TDs
These stats sound familiar. I used Florida because they had a quality defense which more closely represents what he would face in the NFL. But you’re right Joe..he’s accurate.
October 5th, 2015 at 2:17 pm
If we get our doors blown off again at home next week vs the Jags it may force the Glazers to consider doing what they so clearly do not want to do.
October 5th, 2015 at 2:21 pm
BFFL…in 2013 JW completed 67% of his passes. In 2014 he completed 65.3%. Which shakes out to a 66% completion percentage. Looks accurate enough for me.
October 5th, 2015 at 2:33 pm
@BFFL, After 4 games as a pro, wayyyyy to early to bring up JW’s numbers… We knew he’d have games like this..
Lovie on the other hand??? 170 games as an NFL HC… 3-17 in last 20 games.
October 5th, 2015 at 2:36 pm
Bring in Schwartz to fix the D. He had Buffalos D one of the best in the league last year.
October 5th, 2015 at 2:45 pm
Hey,sounds about right!……Koetter as HC, Schiano as DC! I’ll bet my SS check we will be a force to be recon with as a football team! Not the pathetic bunch Lovie has make it to be, and that will continue to be under his tenure. I repeat , again….. #firelovienow…..Glaciers will save themselves any more embaracement, and also the fan base!
October 5th, 2015 at 2:54 pm
It’s one thing to lose but show improvement. It’s entirely different set of circumstances to lose the way they lose time and again. There’s a problem with the culture within the organization. It’s a terrible sign when one of your defensive stars says the team essentially gave up after being penalized on the first play of the first game.
October 5th, 2015 at 4:18 pm
how in the hell did Quinn turn the falcon around so damn fast??!!!…GO BUCS!!!
October 5th, 2015 at 5:26 pm
“how in the hell did Quinn turn the falcon around so damn fast??!!!”
He studied everything Lovie did last year, and then did the complete opposite..
October 5th, 2015 at 8:45 pm
Not sure what’s more painful:
a. This season of just poop football
b. Last year Lovie talking about being in the hunt for the NFC South title at 2-7.
fml