Dick LeBeau flummoxed Andrew Luck last year, Luck’s first look at LeBeau’s defense.

Joe is wildly intrigued by the Buccaneers’ opening day matchup. Forget Marcus Mariota and the Titans facing Tampa Bay, it’s America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, squaring off against legendary defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau. (more…)

Are the Bucs better off (yet) than they were under former commander Greg Schiano?

Joe used to be in newspapers. Got out of it because, well, there is zero job security unless you are willing to pack up and move to places you have no desire to live. (more…)

Best known by Bucs fans for being a virgin center, understandably ill-suited to start a game, Garrett Gilkey is known nationally for another reason. (more…)

A popular local sports radio host seems to have found a new high-profile Bucs player to gripe about.

In the mind of former Bucs guard Ian Beckles, apparently NFL players should be tied up in straight jackets, muzzled and locked in cages during their whole career, and the only time they should be seen is on Sunday afternoons — and they are not allowed to talk at all unless they get a radio gig after their careers.

Beckles has long had a thorn in his side because Bucs stud defensive tackle Gerald McCoy has a personality and enjoys answering questions. Now, Beckles is turning his ire about players having the nerve to talk and the gall of having a personality to “America’s Quarterback,” Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston. (more…)

Joe sure thinks there’s a lot of overselling when it comes to new Bucs defensive tackle Henry Melton. (more…)

Influential.

Rare is it for a rookie quarterback to be thought of as one of the 100 most influential people in the NFL.

Then again, if a nobody like Rachel Nichols is in the same list, then Joe guesses a rookie quarterback very well should be. (more…)

To all of Joe’s readers, happy Fourth of July!

This is by far Joe’s favorite holiday. It’s Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s all rolled into one. What can Joe say about a holiday that is all about having fun, hitting the beaches, hitting the water, drinking like a fish, grilling meat and, at the end of the day, watching people blowing up stuff (which drives howling dogs throughout [oh, no] Pasco County running for pillows to shred). (more…)

Ronde Barber has studied more quarterbacks than most cornerbacks in NFL history, and Barber spent a huge chunk of the spring, including significant time on the sidelines of Bucs practices, studying Jameis Winston. (more…)

So what is Lovieball and how does it apply to the 2015 Buccaneers head coach after he absorbed a brutal punishment last season?

(more…)

Joe remembers Ronde Barber talking about Josh Freeman in 2012 or 2013, acknowledging that the leaky, sleepy former franchise quarterback worked very long hours at One Buc Palace but Barber was unsure whether he was working smart. (more…)

Could “America’s Quarterback” reach lofty goals this season? Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.

Yes, the Bucs drafted “America’s Quarterback,” Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston first overall. That generally signals the man has rare ability.

And just in his short time in college, Jameis did rare things on the field. (more…)

Statheads love GMC

Rarely do three of the game’s best at a position leave college at the same time.

But damn, Joe is glad one of those, Gerald McCoy, is on the Bucs, thanks to former rock star general manager Mark Dominik.

McCoy is in an elite group with fellow 43 defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh and Geno Atkins — the best defensive tackles the statgeeks at Pro Football Focus have ever seen. (more…)

National columnist goes all in on “America’s Quarterback.”

Most NFL observers cannot imagine the Seahawks walking away from Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson, who already is making noise he should be one of the top-paid quarterbacks in the NFL. (more…)

Those starving for football — the way Joe aches for the backyard and neighborhood-wide smells of grilled beef on Independence Day — will enjoy a new Xs and Os look at the last glory day of Tampa Bay Buccaneers football. (more…)

Get this man help!

Oh, those spreadsheeters are wearing out their keyboards this summer.

It really is something. As good guy Mike Tanier of Football Outsiders Twittered yesterday, when there is no NFL news, it’s time for research. (more…)

Defensive end Jacquies Smith’s story is much like Joe’s experiences with women. (more…)

Could the Bucs point C Evan Smith to the exit in a further purge of offensive players?

Yes, the Bucs were able to draft “America’s Quarterback,” Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston. And yes, the Bucs were able to beef up the offensive line with Donovan Smith and Ali Marpet. (more…)

More insight into the Evans-Moss marriage

Tom Pelissero, the USA Today writer who had dinner with Mike Evans and wrote about it recently, was a fill-in host on SiriusXM NFL Radio yesterday and talked a little more about his time with Evans. (more…)

Hardcore JoeBucsFan.com readers, and those who listen to Joe on the radio with Steve Duemig on WDAE-AM 620, know there are two “Joes,” the guys who pound the keyboard here and cover the Bucs all over the country.

Rarely is there significant disagreement in the ranks, but a giant divide has developed. (more…)