Excuses Are Over
October 1st, 2018
Enough.
Mike Smith or his secondary coaches will get Dirk Koetter canned if they aren’t careful.
Joe has tried his best to give the veteran Bucs defensive coordinator the benefit of the doubt. He didn’t have a pass rush (last year) and this year he is working with two rookies in the secondary and lost two starters.
But this year the Bucs have pass rushers. Jason Pierre-Paul is on pace for 16 sacks — yeah, you read that right. And even with a pass rush the pass defense is worse than the horrible defense last year.
Guess what, the Packers are breaking in two rookies in the secondary too and they aren’t letting quarterbacks like Mitch Trubisky go full-blown Dan Marino on them.
There are no more excuses for Mike Smith. Aside from five games two years ago his defenses have been bad. This year his pass defense is beyond embarrassing. And it is going to cost people their jobs including Koetter and maybe Jason Licht. Joe already is on the record calling for his head.
Joe would not be surprised if Team Glazer steps in. Maybe Jason Licht should?
Koetter is so tight and close to Smith, he may not want to make any changes even if the evidence is too overwhelming to ignore.
It’s that bad. Koetter should do the smart thing and re-assign Smith and hand the coordinator duties over to linebackers coach Mark Duffner, a former NFL defensive coordinator himself. Who is going to come off the street and coach these players up without having worked with them or even studied tape?
The Bucs are now 2-2. Something drastic has to be done, even if that means punting secondary coaches or promoting Duffner. If the Bucs don’t at least finish the rest of the season 6-6, all bets are off on Koetter returning knowing how Team Glazer has such an itchy trigger finger.
Joe has seen enough of this tripe, given Smith the benefit of the doubt, given him so many passes. Time has run out. There are no more excuses.
Smith may be the nicest guy in the NFL. But the NFL is a results-oriented league. And the results Smith has gotten over the course of 36 games, including this season with a lot of talent to work with, are simply unacceptable if not appalling.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:04 am
The defense might as well not have been on the field, they would have had the same result
October 1st, 2018 at 10:06 am
We might as well let all big money defenders walk.
I’d keep JPP right now but that’s it.
I’d get some cheap/draft picks/udfas to play. For the amount of money allocated to that side of the ball, it’s disgraceful. We might was well play a cheap defense and load up on offense if we are going to suck this bad. Pathetic defense. Trubisky looked like Marino.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:07 am
3 years and the same terrible results
The quarterback has to put the team on his back and score 30-40 points to win games cause the defense was so bad.
The bears ran the same few plays over and over again and we have some talented guys out there that looked like they have never taken a snap in their lives.
Unacceptable and embarrassing.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:08 am
But it WONT happen! Koetter is more stubborn than Dungy (if that’s even possible) and Licht makes Forest Gump look like a brain surgeon and the Glazers are thinking only about their real passion making money and also the soccer team (soccer sucks btw) across the pond. So we are stuck with what we have.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:10 am
It is on Smith, and it´s on players too!!!!, Sometimes I am really surprised with the attitude of some guys…..Some of them seem not giving 100%!!!!
October 1st, 2018 at 10:12 am
JOE,
Props to you guys for saying what publicly needs to be said. Didn’t want to see this happen, but now that it has, it’s good to see (some members of) the media doing their part. This cannot be allowed to continue.
NO EXCUSES!
October 1st, 2018 at 10:12 am
Good points Joe. I think you are spot on that the Glazers are going to have to force Koetter to get Mikey to turn in his headset. Perhaps this is something that should have been done in the off season but that is now water under the bridge. Perhaps Team Glazer should announce that Mike Smith has been promoted to the role of Senior Advisor in addition to his DC responsibilities and as a result of this he has chose to turn his play calling responsibilities to Buckner or Duffner…. To steal a quote from Richard Pryor: “When You Are Rock Bottom There Is Only One Way To Go!”.. But sometimes I wonder if the Glazers, Licht or anyone else at One Buc knows which way is up??????
October 1st, 2018 at 10:14 am
I honestly don’t think dirk has the stones to fire his BFF. If I were the glazers I would sit back and see how Licht handles it. If he doesn’t, it will be cleaning house time. My mom used to put mariachi music in the morning and that only meant one thing, clean the house. I think I can hear a very very low mariachi trumpet in the distance…
October 1st, 2018 at 10:14 am
absolutely Jason Licht should step in. I like Koetter as a coach decently enough, but its not like he has Gruden like control of the team. Licht is above him in power and Licht needs to do his damn job now. Mike Smith should be fired in the next couple of hours… I dont even know if it would help.. is the Dline going to get more pressure with someone else? will our corners not look lost with someone else? dont know.. but ultimately Mike Smith has to be held accountable for coaching the leagues most embarrassing defense for too long..
October 1st, 2018 at 10:15 am
Mike Smith doesn’t get fired, I’m tuning this team out, it’s embarrassing to call myself a Bucs fan, I’m going to have to get new friends
October 1st, 2018 at 10:15 am
Sorry Realist but there is no excuse at this point.
Chicago was the reality check. Any average defensive / defensive coordinator should have no issue holding a Trubisky offense to under 30 points for a game if not 20-25. We gave up 35 by half time.
And it wasn’t like Chicago had to do anything difficult. They were just passing to wide 4ss open players on completely busted coverages over and over again.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:16 am
Pablo says that hee can’t help but notice the usual suspects from the totally confident crowd are silent on articles on the coachimg staff.
Pablo has no confident as long as Mike Smith is a coach.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:17 am
It’s almost like the defense was distracted??
October 1st, 2018 at 10:17 am
Only one thing left to do, sell Bucs season tickets and become a Jacksonville Jaguars fan.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:17 am
was the Defense paying attention at practice this week?
October 1st, 2018 at 10:18 am
Kwon has become average at MLB. Lavonte has settled in to just above average at Will. Grimes looks finished. McCoy makes no one around him better. And all of these pending free agent offensive linemen are stinking up the field.
We have no cap problems next year. None of these guys have earned big money deals going into the future.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:18 am
Appreciate it JOE. NO EXCUSES. We the fan base are really sick&tired of them.
I just wish the Glazers would show us..They have a pair. Give us some hope.
Do the surgery today. FIRE MIKE SMITH.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:18 am
They need to take the Madden game champ and put him calling D plays
October 1st, 2018 at 10:19 am
The scores were going up so fast on the tv screen it looked like a cash register!
October 1st, 2018 at 10:19 am
meh, site’s just happy he can blame someone not named jameis.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:20 am
Add to injury how mediocre Vea looked compared to how brilliant Derwin James has been.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:20 am
I left at 1/2 time. be back when they put fitz back in. JW should get laid up in roughly 4 games.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:22 am
Mike Smith has to go… Koetter and the GM should go if the team doesn’t show any improvement for the rest of the season. This is were the Bucs vets need to setup and set the tone for the team. They all gave up yesterday
October 1st, 2018 at 10:23 am
It’s too late dirk and smith should get fired especially if the head coach won’t make the change. He never criticized smiths defense dirk always calls out the players. The great lie is communication but why does McCoy suck and the best player on your defense the new guy you traded for? Why was Justin Evans inserted as a starter after 3 games in his rookie year, same with Kwon beating out a vet. Don’t fire Mike Smith dirk because I want you outta here too.
I mean honestly the worst part is this is the first in the offense and defense for Chicago with an entirely new coaching staff
October 1st, 2018 at 10:25 am
We had many veteran and solid young players on that Defense yesterday.
GMC, Gholston, JPP, Curry
LVD, Kwon, Taylor
Grimes
Evans
That’s 9 of the starting 11 that are solid players…….it’s the coaching for sure.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:26 am
On one play Evans…one of our better db’s simply slipped on the turf and his man was wide open. Stuff happens…even to good players.
But the rest was just downright embarrassing. I don’t even know how you place defenders on the field and still leave that much wide open space for the WR’s to run through.
And the guys clearly did not understand their responsibilities…too often they were looking at each other in confusion…wasn’t that “your” man? No he was yours!
Far too much confusion. This defense was totally unprepared!!!
October 1st, 2018 at 10:26 am
Dirk doesn’t have the stones to fire his BFF, or in general to make a call like that. Licht is going to have to do it. If Licht doesn’t, you can guarantee they will all be gone.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:26 am
I would be very surprised if anything is done. However, if Licht does not step in, his draft picks, off-season acquisitions will be the nail in his coffin. No matter how good they may be in the long run, with Smith’s D they will look horrible.
I want to know who called the offensive plays for the game? Yesterday did not look like the same play calling as the previous 3 games.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:26 am
Need to give Monken the reigns and let them walk
October 1st, 2018 at 10:27 am
Damn
Joe is going to town on Msmith lol
October 1st, 2018 at 10:29 am
come defend your boy @realist….@bonzai……@defenserules
yall the same clowns that have been making excuse after excuse for smitty!!!!!!!
what the excuse going to be now?….
ive been saying for 2 going on 3years now….its not the talent and players…its the coaches and scheme!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!!
October 1st, 2018 at 10:31 am
When will the joes start blasting the incompetent jason licht who has been here since lovie and the team has stayed the same the one contsant building this mess is jason gump
October 1st, 2018 at 10:32 am
yeah smith should be fired. he must’ve pulled joe’s press pass lol
and no, it did not look like monken calling offense, this week or last week.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:32 am
There has to be change. Even with significant changes on the defensive side of the ball we are getting completely destroyed. That tells me it’s scheme and not personnel. Since I know Dirk doesn’t have the stones to pull the trigger and fire his BFF, I wonder who’ll be the coach and GM next year because these guys will all be done. We should start a thread on who we want as the next GM and coach because it’s coming in 3 months folks.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:33 am
FIRE KOETTER TOO!!!
October 1st, 2018 at 10:33 am
Dirk deserves to be canned for hanging on to Smith too long
October 1st, 2018 at 10:33 am
Hire Jack del Rio.
Now.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:34 am
I’m with Dusty Rhodes
No way man. We knew Msmith and his scheme was uttery Doo doo but Licht kept him and Licht shouldnt get a pass for that.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:34 am
Mike smith on hard knocks: “We couldn’t stop a marching band.”
October 1st, 2018 at 10:37 am
The time is NOW! RIGHT NOW!!!
Trotting this garbage defense out for even one more play is an affront to Buc fans everywhere.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:38 am
Is the job title “defensive coordinator”? Is random running round by the DBs coordinated?
October 1st, 2018 at 10:39 am
2-2 is very good for us, unless you look at how we got here. We have gotten worse every week and the defense looks like it is trying hard to be the worst in the league. I do not see how we can beat any teams in our division at this point, even with the stunning offensive weapons we possess. I had to quit watching yesterdays game at halftime, it was making me want to puke up the burger I ate at the sports bar.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:41 am
hire vanessa del rio
October 1st, 2018 at 10:42 am
oh wait…..jack del rio
October 1st, 2018 at 10:43 am
All teams have players. This is the NFL. All teams have very good players. Every team has Talent.Not every team has good coaches. We have as much talent as the Titans even carolina and the Saints. Why aren’t we getting maximum production from our talents??
Answer>>>> COACHING
October 1st, 2018 at 10:44 am
Del Rio came to my mind. But how good is he? I don’t know enogh about him as a DC.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:44 am
we need to win all remaining games by shootout…with a cerebral qb…like having coach on the field — the answer is fitz…the defense can not be fixed over night…so just try to outscore opponents slinging the ball like fouts…it’s the best scenario for the rest of the season…jameis is hungry and hot headed and very reactive to things…not cerebral at all…he is simply not mentally built for success as an nfl qb…just listen to him at the podium…he barely digests a question before blurting out an answer…and his answers are the same dumb sheet over and over – with a very limited vocabulary as well…he might actually have attention deficit disorder or one of these new illnesses that everyone has a bit of
October 1st, 2018 at 10:45 am
this defense has been exposed like stormy daniels on a slow tuesday
October 1st, 2018 at 10:46 am
New uniforms needed. The current uniforms are putrid. Just like Mike (the voice for Chris on Family Guy) Smith’s defense.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:47 am
don’t get me wrong, i like jameis…i’m just getting less sold on the idea he is a top flight nfl qb…athletically he has a lot of tools…but mentally he does not…you gotta be deadpan af to be a good qb in the nfl…jameis gets rattled by every little thing – hotheaded dude…
aw man…my bucs got issues!
#NotEasyBeingAyeBucsFan
October 1st, 2018 at 10:48 am
And how did the Fitz at QB work yesterday? The line has been exposed!
October 1st, 2018 at 10:51 am
“Hey Klueless Koetter, we cant fire Smitty because if we get a new defensive coordinator and the defense still suks, their going to blame me”
Jason Gump
October 1st, 2018 at 10:52 am
Boot Licht, Koetter and Smith. Monken as interim HC and Duffner as DC. Derek Brooks for GM.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:53 am
Hell after an embarrassing game like that youd think they’d be upset but nope they go get on Instagram and couple hours before the game kickoff they’re all posting on Instagram smh no big deal to most of these guys especially Geraldine what a wimp!
October 1st, 2018 at 10:54 am
well, licht needs to do the same thing he did with lovie….wasn’t it said that licht told lovie to fire his defensive staff or hit the road….and when lovie refused, he was canned…..
licht needs to tell dirk, if you don’t fire smitty all 3 of us are gone…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!!
October 1st, 2018 at 10:54 am
More empty rhetoric. Are you asking Mike Smith and Dirk Koetter the hard questions?
October 1st, 2018 at 10:54 am
19 OF PAST 36 WITH 400 YARDS!!! THIS GUY SHOULD’VE BEEN GONE BEFORE THE YEAR STARTED!!! VERY STUPID ON THE PARTS OF ALL KOETTER, LICHT, AND THE GLAZERS.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:54 am
Tampa Bay Storm says enough about Brooks.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:54 am
Del Rio is known for stout defenses…he just wasn’t a great HC , but he was still ok.
I think he could step right in and we would improve…… how could we not?
Also, how about trying a 3-4 now?
Trade GMC, move Vea to NT, JPP and Curry at DE and with Beckwith being healthy soon we have all the LBs we need.
Trade Grimes and roll with our young DBs and start playing man/press coverage.
October 1st, 2018 at 10:55 am
they gotta focus on what they do well at this point and expand on it…forget the running game, more or less – use quiz and barber as an extra blocker – the line does pass protect very well – especially if it’s their only job – protect fitz at all costs – and sling that football like never before – we will have three 1,000 yard receivers and 2 te’s with 750 each…and a shot at the playoffs…this team is not built for a championship…but it is built to rack up yards and points…let it fly with fitzie
October 1st, 2018 at 10:57 am
can smitty and start retooling the defense week by week…thats all you can do…
#FollowTheseInstructionsDirk
October 1st, 2018 at 10:59 am
Look there’s The Buc Realist!!!!!!!
Oh wait….
October 1st, 2018 at 10:59 am
I fully expected to hear that he’d been fired by now. Today is the perfect day–new coach has an extra week to get acclimated and so some minimal install. If they don’t do it today, we’re stuck with him for the season. Four hundred yards in one half.
I thought it was sour grapes, but Ayers talked about how simplistic our defense scheme is. “We had basically two looks. We didn’t try to fool anybody”
I saw that Glanton/Taylor played a lot of snaps, like 44%. That’s because they had so few second and third down plays. They were averaging a first down a play in the first half.
I never realized how great a player Chris Conte is until this game. We’ve lost a lot of other guys, but he was pretty much the only starter out this game (Hargreaves was out last game and he’s not much of an upgrade over other guys we have in the slot).
October 1st, 2018 at 10:59 am
be real – beckwith is done for the year…we are looking at week 6 soon…and he is not in game shape – it takes time…he’s basically done for the year – or will be slow to the go – he will be balling hard next season
October 1st, 2018 at 10:59 am
If the Glazers were wise, they would get rid of this entire ” Good Ole Boy” Network.
Mike Smith
Dirk Koetter
Jason Licht
And the entire coaching staff
October 1st, 2018 at 11:00 am
del rio is a good move…he likes florida too…he’s good defensively
October 1st, 2018 at 11:01 am
im surprised at grimes. I never thought he’d mail it in…….
October 1st, 2018 at 11:02 am
They beefed up the line and where’s Gerald??????
Trade him!
IF some idiot team wants to pay him 16 million!
October 1st, 2018 at 11:02 am
Adam u do realize fitz was the qb for one n a half games that emwe lost n he didnt do shat the only reason he suddenly did against Pittsburgh was they played off like we do all the time except they did it cuz we couldn’t catch up smdh
October 1st, 2018 at 11:03 am
I’m afraid it’s too late, it isn’t just Smitty. Our
LBs are terrible, our Safeties are always out of postion and can’t tackle and our DB’s can’t cover or tackle. At the end of the season they all need to go. Pathetic, no excuses they are the worst of the worst.
October 1st, 2018 at 11:04 am
Joe they started play man in the last qtr and the bears couldn’t score. WHY DOES MIKE SMITH INSIST WE PLAY OUT CBS 8+ YARDS OFF THE RECIEVER? I’m done with coach Smith. I want him gonna yesterday! As for our run game….GET BELL!!!!
October 1st, 2018 at 11:04 am
There is no need to get rid of Licht and he’s already signed an extension for 2019 so very unlikely. It’s more on the HC input to have him fired and Koetter’s b!tch a$$ has likely been pleading for Smith to stay. Licht is an amazing scout and is now realizing he needs to scout in FA (he did well). It’s more on him to scout and recruit the next DC that can make this team win.
October 1st, 2018 at 11:05 am
Grimes is not mailing it in Robert. He’s just old, tired, and banged up. HE
is no longer effective. He’s just holding on for the money.
October 1st, 2018 at 11:05 am
boot smitty and if koetter has his back out he goes too…monken to the rescue…lol…
smitty’s nfl days are over after this showing here in tampa…dirk has to be crazy to ride and die with him…maybe they’re war buddies or butt buddies…i don’t get it – the game has mos def passes ole smitty by…if you can’t take the heat, stay out the kitchen…that’s why he’s always up in the cushie booth in the sky with a/c drinking a cold brewski
October 1st, 2018 at 11:10 am
@mike
then grimes needs to be moved to nickel, or safety like barber did
October 1st, 2018 at 11:10 am
“You white boys are soo gullible! We told you we retired but you kept on shoving 8 milly in front of my gold digging eyes. Dont be a hater! You poor white peeps would have done the same exact thang”
Miko Grimes
“You go girl!”
Chris Baker
October 1st, 2018 at 11:10 am
Jason Licht draft picks are the worst in the NFL during the last 3 drafts.
October 1st, 2018 at 11:10 am
This is fun.
It’s the same ol story.
You simply can not compete in the nfl with castoffs and choir boys.
Case in point, for 3 games we’ve witness Caleb Benonoch completely suck yet he continues to start only to get benched mid-game. Help me understand the thinking there.
October 1st, 2018 at 11:12 am
Licht sucks, I blame him for not getting the talent that is needed.
October 1st, 2018 at 11:13 am
Buc Fans are sitting by their phones, tuning into Joe, their radio’s ..local Tv…anxiously waiting..Trying to see IF ..the Glazers have the Balls…to pull
he trigger. Will it happen? stay tuned..to this..bat channel!!!
October 1st, 2018 at 11:13 am
Kobe Faker
J.R ‘Easy Money” Sweezy pulled a Michael ” Ghost” Johnson on these fools. Took the Yucs to the cleaners ( Paid Florida Vacation), then went back and started for his original team.
October 1st, 2018 at 11:13 am
A little history perspective-Prior to Maryland, Duffner served as the head coach at the College of the Holy Cross where he compiled a 60–5–1 record. At Maryland, Duffner compiled a 20–35 record. His most important legacy at Maryland has been in the record books; most of the Terps’ longstanding single game, season, and career passing and receiving record were broken during his tenure. This was due to the implementation of his run and shoot offense and quarterbacks John Kaleo, Scott Milanovich, and Brian Cummings. However, his teams were notoriously weak on defense, frequently giving up points so fast that even his prolific offense couldn’t keep up. Duffner’s only winning season came in 1995 when the Terps finished with a 6–5 record an
d started with four consecutive wins.
October 1st, 2018 at 11:15 am
No one cares who in the media calls for someone’s head. Let’s not be ridiculous. Oh, well, Umptyfratz says Mike Smith should be canned. Umptyfratz has been fair. GTFOH. While many agree it’s past time for Smith to go, anyone with any knowledge of the Bucs also knows Team Glazer won’t be involved before season end. They will let Licht and Koetter make their own bed. The Glazers will will look at football operations results knowing they are not due to their own input mid-season. It’s how the Glazers have always rolled. The dysfunction with THIS season started late November 2017 with the QB debacle when their franchise guy turned out not to be worthy of being around the team for the start of the season (if at all) and they tried to quietly brush it aside…having that among other leadership issues. No team captains publicly dedicated to lead and no clear QB trustworthy leader, no clear D leader. And this team lacks leaders in coaches and players alike. Koetter needs to make some moves. He needs to also put some C’s on the chests of JPP, Curry, Jensen, and Brate. Don’t reassign Smith…boot him. Don’t rehash the leaders past who got losses, suspensions, and poor results all around making the fan base wane. You can’t keep guys around in faux leaders positions who have been fired and not part of a clear plan for the future. And that goes for everyone who has mucked this up over the last few years…including Winston. The core problem here is the dysfunction by lack of nads, lack of true dedication, lack of leadership. Clean house with those who were in positions to produce and haven’t.
October 1st, 2018 at 11:15 am
Its a conglomerate of failure, not just one man.
That’s just cherry picking to avoid holding other people responsible that are right in the middle of this disaster and have been for years.
If a fortune 500 company can’t keep up with the competition, there goes the CEO, no matter which branch office might be lagging.
12 games left. One more complete meltdown and looking like King High School during a down year then the house must be purged.
October 1st, 2018 at 11:16 am
If they don’t fire smith and make serious adjustments, they will go 2-14. What I saw yesterday was a complete embarrassment. Almost every single play, there was at least one player on each side of the ball that completely gave up. If I were the Glazers I wouldn’t have let Smith and a handful of others even ride back to Tampa with the team.
October 1st, 2018 at 11:16 am
They must be waiting to see who they can get to take the job.
October 1st, 2018 at 11:18 am
Fire Smith already!
October 1st, 2018 at 11:18 am
Exactly Mike.
October 1st, 2018 at 11:20 am
The trenches still need fixing. Next entire draft OL/DL only. Address secondary in free agency. Make a trade for RB while unloading some bloated salaries. This should be the plan for the new GM and coach next year.
October 1st, 2018 at 11:20 am
rodney we didn’t lose those games because of fitz…
all we do well is sling the football…that’s it…
jameis is decent to good in short and intermediate routes…but can’t throw the deep ball…
fitz is good at intermediate and deep routes…and ok with short passes…
stay with fitz, protect the sheet out of him, like game one and two, and sling like never before…we have the talent to outscore teams…5k yards passing and 40-50 td’s…we are not winning a superbowl with this d and no running back…so let’s sling it like no one has before…this has become a passing league and we are a passing team with no defense…potentially shootouts can get us to 9-7 or 10-6
October 1st, 2018 at 11:21 am
Do not promote Duffner
October 1st, 2018 at 11:24 am
Even with the new additions the defense is much worse than last year. Somebody may pick up an occasional sack but there is still basically no pash rush, which makes it hard on the young corners.
Mike Smith is no defensive genius, but he can only work with what he has.
To me, this is totally on Jason Licht. He’s been the GM here for this long now and his roster is still full of holes. He brought in some overhyped and overpaid players that look good on paper but don’t produce. He concentrated very hard on his Weapons For Winston campaign to try to make him successful and justify taking him #1 overall that he badly neglected the defense and now it is showing.
Hopefully Licht can find some help during the bye week or it’s going to be a long season with some shootouts and whippings like the Bucs took yesterday
October 1st, 2018 at 11:24 am
hell i’m not opposed to doing what shula did back in the day in miami, pre- marino…when he used 2 qb’s…david woodley and don strock…we could use a 2 qb master mix and teams really won’t know what’s coming at them…just like when chicago had their 2 qb’s in at once, yesterday…the bucs d looked shook…shula could handle the complexities of a 2 qb juggling act…i’m not so sure dirk can…it would be cool tho…
*i’m not saying play them both at the same time tho*
October 1st, 2018 at 11:25 am
“Im seeing alot of Tony Dungy in the sports networks asking for his input concerning the Tampa Bay Bucs disarray and future. …
Kobe thinks that the Glazer boys do what they always do…
Try to rehash the past
*Dungy in means definitely Jameis out”
Kobe Faker
October 1st, 2018 at 11:25 am
I’ve already checked the site four times this morning to see if Smith has been fired yet. What’s taking so long?
October 1st, 2018 at 11:27 am
Fire Jason Licht and end this dumpster fire. The Bucs have a powerful offense that is being wasted because of selfish Koetter, lightbulb never pops over his head Licht, and just plain sorry Mike Smith. Can them and energize the fanbase!
October 1st, 2018 at 11:29 am
Adam from NY. You are insane man. It doesn’t matter who is QBing this team right now. They can’t stop anyone. The Glazers need to see what they have in Jameis to see if they want to pay him or move on.
October 1st, 2018 at 11:30 am
I’m with Mike J and Poppa. Can’t stand the wait. Tell us he’s fired, so we can get some work done.
October 1st, 2018 at 11:31 am
Jameis plays as long as he is healthy. Get over it Jameis haters…
October 1st, 2018 at 11:32 am
BigPoppaBuc….it better be today.
I’m not in that locker room…..but imo players are going to start to turn if he’s not gone today. Atlanta might score 60 just for spite and our D’s going to let them.
FIRE MIKE SMITH NOW!
October 1st, 2018 at 11:33 am
Too much talent on paper to suck this much on Defense. With a bye week and still early in the season, now is the time to fire Smith. Obviously Smith is not going to right out and quit as he has guaranteed money. The Bucs just need to buy out his contract and move on with a temporary Defensive coach.
October 1st, 2018 at 11:33 am
Pass catching RB’s are killing Kwon and LVD.
Kamara 9 catches
Clement 5 catches
Conner 5 catches
Cohen 7 catches
These are easy pitch and catch high % plays that keep the chains moving. Either these two guys have just lost it or this scheme doesn’t think RB’s should be covered. Something has to give because in todays NFL a lot of RB’s catch passes. Well not the Bucs RB’s. Those #’s are a telling stat that says to the Bucs your LB’s can’t cover our RB’s.
#Get After It!
October 1st, 2018 at 11:33 am
A couple of observations:
Bench Bennenoch in favor of Evan Smith full time.
Pray that Beau Allen’s foot injury heals.
Pray that Vita Vea develops quickly.
Pray that Jameis limits his turnovers/bonehead plays.
Ah, heck. Just PRAY, because Mike Smih’s not going anywhere and a season that started with such promise is quickly circling the drain.
Amen…
October 1st, 2018 at 11:34 am
gene dekerhoof the hero –
insane thats me…but you know what — we already know what we have in jameis — as dirk said…jameis has played a lot of football these past few years — a lot!
October 1st, 2018 at 11:36 am
bennenoch is a waste and detriment to the line…play evan detrich smith full time – good call!
October 1st, 2018 at 11:36 am
zero chance Koetter fires Mike Smith.
When the opposing QB throws six tds our QB controversy ceases to be relevant.
October 1st, 2018 at 11:38 am
Gene…you can’t take the haters serious anymore.
It’s beyond silly.
Some would say….er derp…I’d start Fitzpatrick the rest of the way the hell with Jameis Winston the crotch grabber….he sucks anyways. Dumb. DUMB. It’s like they’re are trolls only they’re not…..they’re serious….or DUMB.
Like infantile dumb.
October 1st, 2018 at 11:40 am
Dirk Koetter is in his first stint as an NFL head coach, and he’d better learn quickly that loyalty only goes so far or it could be his last. There should have been a change at D coordinator after the end of last season, but no excuses at this point. Mike Smith has to go! Period! Drop the mike! Make no mistake about it, the NFL is a business, and production is all that matters. Any repeat of this mess the Bucs put on the field yesterday, and the stadium will be empty. We’re 2-2 at this point and I think we all would have been happy with that outcome prior to the start of the season. However, defensive play like yesterday and we’ll soon be staring at another losing season. Change has got to come soon. Like right now!
October 1st, 2018 at 11:41 am
They know what they have in Jameis…that’s WHY they started loading up on offense just last season…..
October 1st, 2018 at 11:43 am
Eric, why do you have to pick on King High School????? Haha…yup. My Alma Mater. Funny is we were mediocre in 1980s when I played and I went to game a few years back and they looked the same!
The Bucs have had at least one meltdown a year and I thought they turned a corner with what started as one with PIT and they nearly pulled it off. Totally agree, this is a conglomerate problem. As I wrote above, the core problem is lack of leadership. Coaches, players, locker room, between the white lines. It’s killing the fan base, and hoping problems fade is not a strategy.
If the Bucs continue with the same D strategy/philosophy…not TEAM strategy, AND they can score 36 points each game (which we know won’t happen), they will end the season 8-8. At his rate, 4-12 here they come. Fixing the “tactical problems” (or pretending to) won’t help.
October 1st, 2018 at 11:45 am
at this point I say let this regime guide us to the #1pick, clean house on black Monday, hire jim schwarts or jim harbaugh Tuesday, pick little bosa or ed oliver and watch this team win 10games with competent coaching!!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!…PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!!
October 1st, 2018 at 11:46 am
Was it Weapons for Glennon?
Weapons for Fitzy?
Nope….Weapons for Winston and it started last season…bringing in DeSean in which he played ONE season with Jameis and skipped OTA’s if i remember right. Got OJ as a rookie LAST season. Godwin too. ONE season.
Jameis played a 1/2 of 1 game THIS season with all the weapons in the middle of a blowout. The logic is not insane…..it’s DUMB.
October 1st, 2018 at 11:47 am
smitty was just spotted at denny’s on dale mabry eating his last breakfast slam everrrrr!!!
October 1st, 2018 at 11:48 am
813bucboi Says
“come defend your boy @bonzai”
First, when he was hired, I voiced objections. Second, all I have said since is that it was not fair to judge him without giving him the weapons to succeed.
He has the weapons this year. Not so much the last two years.
And, as I have already stated, after 4 bad showings with the talent, he needs to go.
HOWEVER, I have also said that promoting from within would be a huge mistake. Anyone within the organization would use the same playbook, and nothing would change. We need change THIS season.
So they need to bring in someone new.
October 1st, 2018 at 11:49 am
FIRE MIKE SMITH!!!
It’s painful to watch as we’ve seen one of the greatest D’s to ever play the game and now we have to watch this.
I won’t do it. I’ll leave the room when the D steps on the field. It’s not good for my BP.
October 1st, 2018 at 11:49 am
The right play is Buckner not Duffner IMO, I think the players respect him and will work their asses off for the former D-Line Stud. Arizona fans were pissed when he was let go, we are fortunate to have him, I think he is one of the up and coming stars- STOP HIRING RE-TREADS!!
October 1st, 2018 at 11:54 am
Dapostman- Great stat- It is the scheme, it has always been the scheme. We barely blitz. The offensive lineman are as big, agile and fast as many of the d-lineman. It is very difficult to beat these guys one-on-one anymore unless you are one of the elite guys, but there are only a handful of those guys. You have to run stunts, blitzes disguise what you are playing. Not Mike Smith- still thinks this is the early 2000’s and that the game has not evolved.
October 1st, 2018 at 11:58 am
smitty just spotted at walmart buying a bucs sweatshirt off the clearance racks…i wonder what that means
???
October 1st, 2018 at 11:59 am
It’s inconceivable to me that Mike Smith still has a job. His play calling is horrendous. Missed assignments everywhere and a total lack of awareness. We get no pressure on the QB and hardly ever blitz. I don’t care how good your secondary is, if you give a pro QB 5 seconds in a clean pocket…you’re getting picked apart, plain and simple. What game film are they watching week in and week out?! Anybody with half a brain can see this!!!
October 1st, 2018 at 12:00 pm
BTW I think this should finally shut up the people who make the argument that Jameis is garbarge cause he doesn’t win, as please tell me the QB than can (has?) won consistently won with a defense/running game like this? Everyone that had that take can just go bye bye now once and for all. He isn’t perfect by a long shot but to hold his record with this franchise against him is flat ridiculous.
October 1st, 2018 at 12:03 pm
Seen this rerun before we are in the Twilight Zone, what can’t be explained keeps happening over and over. It really appears to me when the Bucs play a hard-nosed team that has good offensive and defensive lines they just go to pieces and get punched in the face. They don’t hit back, they let their opponents stomp all over them. Besides being a mentally weak team we are also a physically weak team. The strength and conditioning on this team is bottom of the league. All the hamstring and other muscle injuries are proof
If Winston doesn’t light it up he’s going to be looking for a new team and when you see him in his 4th year being outplayed by most of the other QBs drafted in and around same time as him, it’s really pathetic that he still can’t lead a receiver or show any improvement as far as reading defenses
October 1st, 2018 at 12:04 pm
bonzai
well, i’ll take your word for it….glad you cleared that up…..
i agree with you about not promoting within with the exception of buckner…..he’s new to the staff and could possibly connect more with the players and figure out whats going on….he is a former player that just hung them up recently…..let his fresh pair of eyes analyze things…..cant be any worse….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
October 1st, 2018 at 12:06 pm
Dooshlarue Says:
October 1st, 2018 at 10:33 am
Hire Jack del Rio.
Now.
Yes sir !
October 1st, 2018 at 12:06 pm
What good defensive coordinator would put his good name on the line and jump into this disaster?
Winston showed great improvement last season after the shoulder injury healed.
People are really going to judge him after coming in with score 35-3?
Seriously?
October 1st, 2018 at 12:07 pm
ndog
I have been preaching this for years. You will not win in the NFL with a pass-happy, one dimensional offense. You need an balanced attack on the offense. The Bucs had 60 rushing yards Sunday. And the Bears pass rushers had a field day.
One dimensional = instant failure
October 1st, 2018 at 12:09 pm
has anyone else notice how players continue to regress under this staff?….physically and mentally……kwon’s play has dropped off….marpet was getting tossed around…..mike evans still has concentration issues….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
October 1st, 2018 at 12:15 pm
I was watching the game last night between the Steelers and Ravens. Big Ben look lost without Le’Veon Bell. And all of these so-called football experts are pointing fingers at Mike Tomlin. The Steelers should have locked Bell up last season. The Rams got the memo, they know what it takes to win in the NFL. They locked up DT Aaron Donald and RB Todd Gurley. They realizes the importance of those guys. You have to be able to run the football, pressure the QB, everything else will fall in place.
October 1st, 2018 at 12:17 pm
Yup I said this yesterday.
If Koetter won’t fire him, then Licht needs to step in and do it.
If neither of them have the stones, they both deserve to get fired. This is simply unacceptable.
#ShowSomeStones
#FireMikeSmith
October 1st, 2018 at 12:22 pm
The Steelers had a pathetic 19 yards rushing last night
Le’veon Bell averages over 86 yards rushing per game
He averages another 43 yards receiving per game
26 years old and in his prime
And you’re not going to lock him up
lol it’s a joke
October 1st, 2018 at 12:24 pm
Vinny Curry made a comment when he started practicing with Tampa that made me question the coaching. He said something along the lines of “ I’m use to playing under a attack style defense. The defense that Tampa is running is not”. 🤔
October 1st, 2018 at 12:29 pm
Bucworld
It’s the exact same defense that Lovie was running
Mark Barron said the same thing after he was traded to the Rams
October 1st, 2018 at 12:30 pm
Two weeks to simmer in this crock pot seems like too much. Stir it around a bit and pour it in a bowl. Tastes like mush.
October 1st, 2018 at 12:31 pm
Must fire Mike Smith today
Buckner interim DC
October 1st, 2018 at 12:36 pm
Excellent reasoning and solutions here Joe ! This HAS to happen ! This season had to much promise just a week ago and then this sh*t bomb yesterday …… please for the sake of sanity Glazers … put your foot down and make an example of Smith . To much to lose here by being passive till seasons end !
October 1st, 2018 at 12:44 pm
If you don’t hold the Glazers accountable for the mess of the last 10 years then you’re a coward. Frightened of the potential reaction of these insecure billionaires to well-deserved criticism
October 1st, 2018 at 12:45 pm
He’s still not fired!?!?…. Smh. If I was that bad at my job I wouldn’t have a job. I’ve been on the fence about Koetter and Licht. If they continue to employ this rotten coordinator then I’m done with them too.
October 1st, 2018 at 12:53 pm
Nice “copy and paste” from wiki, Ghost.
October 1st, 2018 at 12:57 pm
The most alarming thing about our D is how predictable we are- from stunts, to blitzes and coverages- we don’t seem to confound any QB or OC, ever.
When it’s Brees, we use the excuse that he’s a HOFer. When it’s Matt Ryan or Cam Newton, we claim it’s their other-worldly talent. When it’s Case Keenum, Nick Foles or a developing QB, like Mitchey T, it’s because they were getting the ball out fast and played white hot.
Week after week it’s some variation of this same excuse, coupled with the…wait for it…WE JUST NEED BETTER COMMUNICATION mantra. Once in a great while we hear about IMPROVING EXECUTION (which is coach-speak for, “it’s the players’ fault.”) What we never-ever get under this regime is SUSTAINED IMPROVEMENT. I think everyone not named Dirk or Smitty can agree that the Xs and Os have been historically bad. The execution too.
How did we get here? Let’s hold on the Dominick and Lovie impact for a moment and talk about the current triumvirate of Licht, Smitty and Dirk. For starters, the complete and utter failure of our 2016 draft (including the miscalculation on Aguayo vs other need positions on the board) has badly hurt this team. To get nothing out of VHIII or Spence is a real travesty.
Second, the continual misevaluation of the RB position has put the onus on the QB to near-flawlessly execute a passing game when everyone knows we are passing. How does this hurt the D? Just watch the last two games- 3 & outs abound b/c no one respects our ground game. We also can’t chew clock when it matters most. Both contribute to putting an outmatched D back on the field.
Third, it should be completely unacceptable to ownership to get TROUNCED like that in today’s NFL. Yet, not even showing up has become an annual rite of passage for us. That’s as much a cultural issue as it is an Xs & Os or talent thing…the culture simply stinks, outside of JJP and even DJax trying to lift this woefully soft and weak-minded team out of a first quarter implosion, there’s not much real grit and leadership.
October 1st, 2018 at 1:35 pm
Just because a guy is on pace for 16 sacks doesn’t mean we have a pass rush. It’s about consistency and we are consistently not pressuring qbs and haven’t been for a long time now. Even when we blitz we can’t get in. It’s ridiculous. I think the problem is the supposed “talent” we have on D is is not actually that. Kwon isn’t very good consistently out of place taking bad angles. Lavonte has looked average for a few years now and our biggest supposed “talent” 93 Mr. pro bowl is very soft. I know a lot of people will defend Gerald till the end and I’m not even gonna bash his lack of production but when you’re thought of as the best player on a team you can’t be soft you can’t be talking about having fun. Who has fun losing? I don’t even think that’s possible to do. Because of his achievements and superstar status players look to him and honestly you can’t be leading players with that soft attitude, you gotta hold players accountable, you gotta get mad you gotta be mean. It’s just not good for the “best” player on your team to have the mentality that Mccoy has and that’s just the truth.
October 1st, 2018 at 1:38 pm
Don’t, don’t you want me?
You know I can’t believe it when I hear that you won’t see me
Don’t, don’t you want me?
You know I don’t believe you when you say that you don’t need me
It’s much too late to find
You think you’ve changed your mind
You’d better change it back or we will both be sorry
Don’t you want me, baby?
Don’t you want me, ohh?
Don’t you want me, baby?
Don’t you want me, ohh?
— The Human League
No Smitty we don’t want you ANYMORE!
October 1st, 2018 at 1:43 pm
Hey Joe can we do a Smitty poll? I want to see how high that get rid of him number actually will be.
Realist and Defense Rules will of course have 2 votes for no.
October 1st, 2018 at 1:52 pm
I’m sure it was in mike smiths play calls to leave people wide open. Eventually you gonna have to look at the people actually on the field.
October 1st, 2018 at 2:09 pm
John…careful now Tmax got bashed and trash for saying such things.
DB55 too. Lamarcus figured it out a little while back.
Some of us can’t put it on one player or another……but when you get down to it you guys are right.
It’s like having a talented DT with a Mr. Rogers personality.
So let’s make the most of this beautiful day,
Since we’re together, we might as well say,
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?
Won’t you be my neighbor?
Won’t you please,
Won’t you please,
Please won’t you be my neighbor?
— Geraldine McCoy
October 1st, 2018 at 2:16 pm
’87- A Human League reference?!!!! Living up to your ’80s moniker eh?!
Used to love that song! Yea, I said it!
October 1st, 2018 at 2:27 pm
John- I think you hit the nail on the head. Some of these guys just aren’t that good. GMC’s woes are well-documented and LVD and Kwon to me are just way overhyped. If the Bears play a 7 man front, that’s 2 less players in a route. How were their WRs wide open all game?!
GMC will need to be replaced soon enough. I hope they have a plan that involves getting some nasty on that d-line.
I think we all had hoped to see much more from GMC with the supposed “upgrades.” He’s consistent is about all I can say to that.
October 1st, 2018 at 2:49 pm
@813bucboi … “ive been saying for 2 going on 3years now….its not the talent and players…its the coaches and scheme!!!!!” It’s humorous to me that you use the word “scheme” BucBoi as if you really know what you’re talking about (which is clear from past threads that you don’t). If anyone asked you to detail Mike Smith’s defensive philosophy you’d do nothing but hem & haw. My bet is that you have no idea what happened yesterday. You just hop on some band-wagon that Joe’s pulling called “Fire Mike Smith’ and that’s as far as you’ll ever get.
Don’t throw out this lazy “It’s not the talent & players … it’s the coaches & scheme” pablum unless you can back it up. How about a few FACTS to support your contention instead of just riding on everyone else’s bandwagon. You know, maybe the number of tackles that your “talented players” made yesterday? Or perhaps the number of defensive snaps that they got BECAUSE they were obviously SOOO TALENTED? And just for kicks BucBoi, throw in some of the protection schemes that the Bears were using to neutralize our HIGHLY TALENTED DLine. Nah, you’re right of course, too much work. Just jump back on the bandwagon because whoever is driving that wagon obviously knows a LOT more than any of these supposedly experienced coaches.
And BTW, I commented earlier that Mike Smith needs to go. For one thing, no one deserves this kind of abuse. But for another, that’s the ONLY WAY it now appears that all you ‘true’ Bucs fans will come to understand that coaches are only as good as the resources and support they’re given. Zero support and too many bottom-of-the-barrel resources (provided by you-know-who) will yield predictable results. When this team goes 4-12 or something like that this year, then everyone will be pointing the finger where it REALLY belongs.
October 1st, 2018 at 3:11 pm
If Dirk Diggler hasn’t fired a$$clown by now, a$$clown will be here until they both are given their walking papers at the end of the season.
October 1st, 2018 at 3:36 pm
DR
I had no idea what happened yesterday?…..lol….I saw dirk and smitty fail to have this team prepared to play…..
1 important fact about your staff is that they failed to get creative or make any adjustments…..
face it, you’ve been wrong about this staff and especially smitty…..if you aint man enough to admit your wrong, the “REAL FANS” are going to call you out on it every time!!!!!
how about you state some facts that suggest this defense has gotten better under smitty…..that’s right you cant because it has been ranked at the bottom of the league going on 3years in a row now…..
as it unfolding now, ive been right regarding players & talent vs coaches and scheme…..we have players that are very talented but the coaches aren’t putting them in position to be success and are forcing a predictable, passive and noncreative scheme upon them……
and dirk needs to haul a$$ right along with smitty if dirk doesn’t have the balls to tell smitty switch things up……
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
October 1st, 2018 at 9:14 pm
That game will haunt this team for the rest of the season……much like the Minnesota game did last season……JPP’s performance has provided us with some insight into the ingrained dysfunction of the management in Tampa…..It’s pretty simple…..JPP still plays like Tom Coughlin was coaching his team in NY…..I hope reality doesn’t set in too soon