Underdogs Or Posers?
October 25th, 2016
Critical next two weeks.
All is right with the world when the Bucs win.
The Bucs are 3-3, a half-game out of first place with 10 to play. Yes, a long season ahead still. It’s not even Halloween.
So which Bucs team did we see Sunday? Was it the same team that beat the Dixie Chicks on the road to start the season? Was it the team that couldn’t get out of its way at Arizona and simply took advantage of arguably the worst team in the NFL?
Tampa Bay Times humorist Martin Fennelly pondered this notion.
This team has shown some fight. It won on the road on a Monday night. It won on the West Coast from 14 points down.
Jameis Winston has found his game. Mike Evans, who caught three touchdowns all of last season, already has six. The defense is creating takeaways. And Jacquizz Rodgers, season saver, needs to stand and take a bow.
It’s an underdog’s world at the moment.
Sure, Rodgers is the savior thus far. It is clear America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, isn’t quite ready to put the team on his back and throw the ball 50 times a game. But without a running attack, there really was no other choice. With Rodgers, the Bucs now have a ground game taking pressure off Jameis. Win/win.
But are we getting ahead of ourselves here? Yes, the Bucs showed grit in the past two games against cellar dwellers. Then again, those are the teams the Bucs are supposed to beat.
What happens the next two games — home games Sunday against Oakland and a week from Thursday against Atlanta — should determine what kind of team this Bucs squad is.
Underdogs or posers?
October 25th, 2016 at 9:04 am
How many years have we had to suffer through losing to cellar dwellers? I’m not going to discount the fact that we’re finally starting to win those games regularly. That, in itself, represents progress that I don’t think we’re giving enough credit to. Simply winning the games that we’re supposed to win is a huge step forward for this team and would go a long way toward building good will with the fan base.
October 25th, 2016 at 9:09 am
We have Ben cellar dwellers longer and ha either of those teams, and vegas had us losing both. I say we beat two teams that we were supposed to lose to. These type teams have fixed their issues against the Bucs in the past. Car was in the super bowl last year. If ATL goes on their typical fast start than crash after Tampa beats them, will they be a team we should have beat again? How about if the Raiders cannot keep it up? Any given Sunday, Monday, or Thursday, any NFL team can win.
October 25th, 2016 at 9:11 am
Patrick. Exactly. My post awaiting moderation basically says the same thing…
October 25th, 2016 at 9:31 am
With a good ground game, Winston and Evans can beat a lot of teams right now.
October 25th, 2016 at 9:41 am
Man what is up with the panthers? Like it’s nice seeing them tank and all but gosh darn going from the SB to stinkin out loud has gotta hurt. At least us Bucks fans are used to sucking 😛
October 25th, 2016 at 9:48 am
The Bucs are one of those teams who can beat garbage teams but crap all over themselves when there are expectations
October 25th, 2016 at 9:52 am
@Tony – you clearly haven’t been watching the games much. How many games have we lost to garbage teams in the last 10 years? We were a garbage team that was losing to other garbage teams. At least now we’ve gotten to a point where we can consistently beat the garbage teams. That’s not nothing.
October 25th, 2016 at 9:58 am
Stick with the same formula this week also because Mack and Irvin’s speed off the edge is going to be a problem. So run it right at them and wear them down.
On another note who is in charge of kickoffs?? What’s up with all these touchbacks?? The NFL gave teams 5 yards a couple years back we know every kicker can reach the end zone. Take a little bit off some of those kicks. Touchbacks start at the 25 now. The damn kicker was a 2nd round pick plus a 4th rounder. We better get some type of use out of him because the field goal thingy hasn’t worked out yet. Just saying if the defense gives up 15 to 20 yards and force a punt our offense is pinned back deep.
October 25th, 2016 at 9:58 am
As a die hard bucs fan the only loss that makes me sick is that home loss to the Rams. They came in only scoring 9 points in two games and we give up 37 to them smh.
October 25th, 2016 at 10:01 am
Wow no mention of Russel Shepard replacing old damaged VJax?
The replacement of Shep with Vjax was the key to San fran victory. The game would have been close and a dogfight to the end with Vjax. 3 explosive plays by Shep that Vjax could do, was the key to the game
Shep being used fulltime as the wr2 and opening the offense for Jameis and the other receivers is the NUMBER 1 reason if we are going to be playoff bound or not. It would force defensive coordinators not to clog Evans and stack the box.
BUT!!!!…
kOETTER THE CLOWN IS SLOWWWW
*Just like using Vjax too much while he was not being productive beginning of the year
*Just like not using Quizz earlier like 2nd half of the Denver game and running iside instead of Sims
*Just like using Sims running inside the tackles when the whole world knows that it wouldnt work
***Just like that, Koetter is going to use Shep partime with limited snaps!!!
How do you know Kobe?
Just watch. Koetter the Clown is Slowwww
He is behind the curve He cant make adjustments if it hit his bifocals off
Just Watch and say “Where the hell is Shep and why isnt he playing more”
Kobe is furious because we do have the team to be playoffbound and drastically further Jameis development. With Shep as fulltime starter and equal snaps as Evans, We do have the players to be in the playoffs this year.
We will not go to the playoffs because of Koetter
October 25th, 2016 at 10:13 am
Here’s what I think…
…any win, whether it is ugly or pretty…is a win and it helps build confidence within the team. Confidence is an important element if you want to lose the losing attitudes.
And with time, the wins will become better and better, until suddenly we have a competing team…and then, hopefully, and unstoppable team.
I have no doubt that we are at least one draft away from completing the puzzle, but that doesn’t mean we cannot become good competition over the next few weeks and beyond.
Best of all, as of next year, we won’t have to rely so much on free agency, which is obviously Jason Licht’s weakness, to fill nearly so many holes. We’ll have most of them filled through drafting…and he is actually good at that.
Our kicker will be better by then too.
October 25th, 2016 at 10:14 am
Cecil Shorts is a complete waste too.
October 25th, 2016 at 10:40 am
Kobe Faker, I get the feeling you’re trying to say something about Koetter, lol.
The Bucs aren’t likely going to be going to the playoffs as their inferior talent and sometimes awful play from Jameis is going to keep them out. Not sure how much you can lay that on Koetter. He doesn’t pick the roster or the players, but seems to be catching on about using players the right way. 6 games in and you’re ready to fire the guy?
October 25th, 2016 at 10:42 am
Bonzai – Shorts was laying on the scrap heap and could get up to speed quickly. In light of Shep’s performance on Sunday we’ll probably see more of him. But we really need Humphries to get open just as much. Seems like he’s gone into a funk lately, not sure why.
October 25th, 2016 at 11:15 am
Kobe I don’t agree with you often but I will say I agree 100% that he is to slow in giving other guys a chance when a player is struggling repeatedly. Maybe he is just trying to feel his way through it as it is his 1st time being a head coach so I will cut him some slack but it does have to improve cause I am of the belief that we win that Denver game with Quizz and Shep both getting the majority of the snaps. Those two on the field would have changed that game dramatically.
October 25th, 2016 at 11:22 am
“We will not go to the playoffs because of Koetter”
Yeah f*ck the guy whose offense has produced 3 games in the last 1.5 seasons of 500+ yards of offense; something the team only did 3 times in 39 prior years.
He obviously has no idea wtf he is doing and we should fire him because he didn’t immediately start a RB who was signed off the street. We should fire him right now because he was trying to use Vincent Jackson instead of benching him or forcing him to retire week 1.
lmao @ kobe world
Kobe – still think the cap is $125 million? Got any more expert bullsh1tt to throw against the wall?
October 25th, 2016 at 11:49 am
shep really opened things for everybody on offense…evans continued to ball and hump started to make plays…..
i’ll admit I was very hard and critical of dirk but it looks like he has found the formula to success which is simple….play to the players strength….all of our lineman are road graders….running the ball….
it seems the defense has played better but its hard to judge do to the fact they we’ve played 3 straight teams with little offense….smitty has shown the ability to create/generate some pressure by blitzing david which also gets him into the flow of the game….recently he’s been starting very slow and missing a lot of tackles….the raiders will be a big test….
the only thing dirk has to get better at is getting jameis into a better flow early in the game….instead of his first throw being a 10-15yard out to evans try a few simple dump offs/screens…high percentage throws….then open things open as the game wears on….cant wait to see them in action….GO BUCS!!!!
October 25th, 2016 at 12:21 pm
Let’s wait until the beat a decent team.
October 25th, 2016 at 12:41 pm
@Ndog
Yes, agreed Bro. We do have the roster and players to make the playoffs …this year!
But the frustrating part is Koetters decision making/use of the players we already have
Why DD, Shorts,Martino ? We have Shep and his legitimate skills compliment ME13 strengths and weaknesses perfectly. Shep has very good speed, route running skills, great hands and tremendous runnning after catch ability…isnt the hard part, finding these players and can do these things? We have him in our lockerroom
LC, What up?
You think just because a person is a coach, he doesnt make mistakes or is incompetent? You those type that think Charlie Weise is a great coach because he won the superbowl as coordinator with Brady? You think Jim Mora Jr is a great coach because his father was a head coach and he has the same DNA?
We disagree but as Head coach, he should know more.
im over the Vjax catastrophe. You know that successful teams would have absolutely cut him last year
dude, Koetter and Gump is here this year
October 25th, 2016 at 1:20 pm
WE have the pieces in place to BECOME a good team. NOt there yet but we can get there. Koetter is also learning….remember folks this is his first year as the Head Cheese. Not as easy as everyone seems to think. Let’s please give him some time to get his feet under him and learn the players strengths. We have what we have….now he just has to become the orchestra director and get all he instruments playing off the same page. The music is really good when that happens even with just good players.
If we keep the KEY penalties down, stop turning the ball over at the most inopportune time, and make the key defensive plays (we have done more of that this year than in past years) we can BECOME a team to respect and recon with.
If we can play well this week and next and somehow (I don’t care how) come out with a W then we can look at what comes next. Big issue is not to have a let down once we string a few wins together. We will lose more games this year….but if we play well even in a loss we can build on that and maybe, just maybe be around for an important game in December. And as a spoiler but at least as a pretender.
GO BUCS!!!! Been on the wagon since 76 even when it’s really hard to stay on.
October 25th, 2016 at 4:28 pm
I just wanna give props to Koetter for his improved use of TOs. Last Sunday we were sliding fast incomplete pass, next play almost a sack, next play almost got a delay of game. Koetter called TO settled everything down and drove 90(?) yards for a TD. I like that!!!
October 25th, 2016 at 5:54 pm
The glaring hole on this team is on the passrush. I like Golston a lot but he camt get to the QB at alland neither can his third down replacement. Spence is not ready yet………I dont see us being able to handle any good offenses this year with such a poor passrush………..Maybe Ayers can bring some help at some point or maybe we can run some well timed blitzes and get by. Im unsure what the answer is but hope they figure it out cause we could be a contender.
October 25th, 2016 at 6:02 pm
This truly is a pick em game for me. Could go either way.
October 25th, 2016 at 6:31 pm
Fakes or for realers…Bucs gotta start winning at home. Now is as good a time as any. Raiders are playing physically, hard and fast. And their field goal kicker kicks’em past the 50 like its no big deal. If we show up and match their physicality and Jameis is on…A win is quite possible. Gonna be a dogfight though.
October 25th, 2016 at 7:34 pm
Mike Johnson “Fakes or for realers…Bucs gotta start winning at home. Now is as good a time as any.”
Right with you on this! It will be a dogfight, It needs to be! In every home game, and every away game.
October 25th, 2016 at 8:10 pm
Oak is a legitimate team
We will know where we stand on sunday 4pm
I think this game is the game of the year
The players and city of tampa will all know if we are playoff caliber or not
Other than the pats, there is no superteam. Everyone has holes and weaknesses
We are going to the the damn playoffs
*only if koetter gives shep +40 snaps per game