Searching For Success

December 18th, 2018

When a team is barreling towards its eighth losing season in a decade, it’s 11th straight season without a playoff berth and is on the cusp of hiring its fifth head coach since January 2009, questions are all over the place.

One man searching for answers is a Harvard man, tight end Cam Brate. After the Sunday’s loss in Baltimore, he told Jenna Laine of ESPN that the Bucs simply make too many dumb stunts at critical times to be able to climb out of the losing rut.

“We can’t seem to get out of our own way almost,” tight end Cameron Brate said. “You can’t really pinpoint one thing or one play, one player or anything like that. Until we find a way to either not make those critical errors or find a way to get over them, we’re gonna continue to struggle to win games.”

Is losing as simple as a habit? Guys have a habit of making a few bad plays at the worst times?

Well, Joe knows one thing for sure and that is the answers aren’t coming in the next two weeks. Too little too late.

Maybe the next Bucs coach can figure out Brate’s puzzle?

54 Responses to “Searching For Success”

  1. Aceofaerospace Says:

    Just lose baby. Tank. Throw in the towel. Quit. Whatever you call it. Absolutely no benefits in winning any more this year. Or, better yet, just keep doing what you’re doing, the losses will be automatic.

  2. Wombat Says:

    FIRE LICHT HIRE BELICHICK!!! He is making around $7.5M a yr, pay him $20m and give him a master key to the building and have at it!!

  3. Jonathan Lipnicki Says:

    What a painful decade it’s been. Any fan is well within his/her rights to be disgusted and voice their displeasure. This is not being a “bad” or “bandwagon” fan. It’s simply being a passionate one. The opposite of love isn’t hate…it’s indifference.

  4. AlteredEgo Says:

    Last thing this team needs is a new HC….coaching is just fine…it is the talent …in all the obvious positions

  5. Rick Says:

    Defense resurgence came late, qb carousel, turn overs, lack of running game, right side of oline sucks, injures, strength of schedule, kicking, it’s harder to find what’s gone right.

  6. Joe Blahak Says:

    Culture change needed…new faces including the biggest common denominator in the losing seasons, softie my ice cream

  7. Bucsfanman Says:

    It’s a Bucs (fan) life!

  8. Not there yet Says:

    Nah only the coaches can change that culture and sometimes it’s as simple as purging the roster of veterans but this is the only team that refuses to do that and regardless of the losing I can’t understand why coach after coach comes in here and decides to put their careers in the hands of weak minded leaders, each one has gotten fired and the next one steps up and does the same as the last coach

    The team has a good defense now and much better pass rush, when rookies have more sacks than Geraldine it’s timw to go. Dotson injury should have been used as a trial to look at another player, he’s old so already slow and gets worse when injured because you heal slower.

    Someone is going to have to come in and say I want to build my team with my leaders.

  9. doolnutts Says:

    Starts at the top. Firing Koetter, Licht etc what change a thing… Glazers need to hire a VP of football ops. Someone that actually knows the game and then get out of that person’s way to hire the next GM and coaching staff. Enough is enough. (This will never happen) Even with a new staff, I have very little faith the owners will make the right choices. I think we would all agree their history or picking folks to lead the club is suspect at best.

  10. AlteredEgo Says:

    Womat…that is an excellent suggestion !….he won’t have Brady any longer and like
    Don Shula who looked like a genius coach..but behind the genius he had a run of Griese followed by Mariano….which ties in with my defense of Koetter as HC next year…got to have the talent

  11. Duthsty Rhothdes Says:

    Nick Saban to the rescue…give him total control and a stake in ownership, bucs in NFC championship in 2021

  12. donuts Says:

    Somebody thinks Belichick would leave the comfort of a class A owner/org and HOF QB environment for this dog and pony show???

    Thanks for the laugh. 🙂

  13. Not there yet Says:

    The players have to play but they still have to have a leader and they have nothing. It’s sad that Geraldine with as weak minded as he is to still be the leader in that locker room and it’s just the politics of the business that the only way to take it away is to cut him. Not good enough, we makes jokes about a young Noah Spence but I haven’t heard from from gholston in months and that’s worse because he got the big contract. It’s time for a purge of the coach’s and players like they did with Chucky

  14. Kobe Faker Says:

    “January 1, 2019, Jason Gump will still be the GM of the Tampa Bay Bucs…

    What say you Bucs Fans?”

    Kobe Faker

  15. AlteredEgo Says:

    Kobe…I’ve been saying keep everything in place……BUT…if a move needs to be made it is at the GM position for 2019…

  16. Joe Says:

    Somebody thinks Belichick would leave the comfort of a class A owner/org and HOF QB environment for this dog and pony show???

    Thanks for the laugh.

    Not that crazy of a thought. Brady is starting to show his age and the Belicheats don’t have a successor for Brady (yet).

    If the Glazers decided they would offer up a chunk of the team (doesn’t have to be major) and give Belicheat total control, that would open eyes.

    Belicheat (like Saban) is getting up there. He’s 66 (Saban is 67). Those guys are likely looking forward to packing it in rather than taking on a major job that may take years.

    Personally, Joe would prefer the Bucs bring in Peyton Manning since people seem to have such a boner over a general manager president of football operations — which is just a fancy name for a general manager which the Bucs already have.

  17. Wombat Says:

    I can see Belichick wandering the sidelines in Tampa, no more hoody… He can wear a ratty old tank top lol enjoy early retirement with his own team in income tax free Florida.
    Think big or go home!!!! Make it happen!!!!!

  18. Duthsty Rhothdes Says:

    Peyton Manning is a really interesting choice there as GM or whateva you want to call it….his show on espn plus shows what a savant he is of the game and he knows what it takes to win at a high level…very interesting joe

  19. AlteredEgo Says:

    Wombat Says:
    December 18th, 2018 at 8:42 am
    I can see Belichick wandering the sidelines in Tampa, no more hoody… He can wear a ratty old tank top…
    Gawd…can’t shake the image of sagging man side boob

  20. MHBuc25 Says:

    Belichick isn’t coming to Tampa. Good lord the crazies here have lost their minds. His HOF QB is better than any QB to come through the doors even if Brady is playing in NE at age 55. You could combine all mental and physical skills of all QBs to enter One Buc and they couldn’t hold the jock of Brady.

  21. Buc believer Says:

    Questions ar indeed all over the place…. Such as why are the spoiled rotten trust fund kids allowed to destroy this team??? Get rid of the Glazers problem solved.

  22. Conte Piscatelli Says:

    @Dusthy

    Unfortunately we learned last year you can’t offer an ownership stake to hire a coach. The raiders tried this with Gruden, but all ownership in the league has to be approved by all the owners and they are not going to allow that precident to be set.

  23. MHBuc25 Says:

    They need to BleachBit One Buc Place completely. All players gone, new cheerleaders, new uniforms, new groundsmen, new flowers, and shut it down for 2 years and reorganize. The stains on that locker room have left the players room and infected every other room in building. Start over.

  24. Kobe Faker Says:

    “Black monday, this site is going to go bonkers because

    The Teflon Gump is staying”

    Kobe Faker

  25. Dr. Lob Says:

    Dirk is not the problem its Jason, we have had too many bad decisions with picks and free agents.

  26. TOM Says:

    If the Glazers don’t sell the team then how about Rich McKay as president of football operations. Then fire Licht, Koetter & Warhop & go from there. But in any case Licht has to be the first to go.

  27. Troy Says:

    Losing is a philosophy. Until the ownership figures that out and literally backs semi trailers up to the building a fires everyone, it will remain a problem. It’s like mrsa on steroids; the worst kind of infection because the cure is to cut it out. Sorry boys but this operation is going to hurt.

  28. AlteredEgo Says:

    It’s Gene Deckerhoff…..love the guy but he has always been difficult to listen to on the radio…every play is a TD…opps…every pass is complete..oppps….I’ll stop there but it goes on

  29. SOEbuc Says:

    Koetter was on the hot seat last year with a 5-11 record. We’re likely to get another top 10 pick this year. It does start at the top of management because the Glazer kids have no clue how to set up a team or scout coaches.

    Koetter has no clue about defense and we continue to be one of the worst in the league. How can he know how to bring in a good defensive staff. Pretty positive it was the Glazers that booted Mike Smith a week after Koetter said you can’t cut a DC in the middle of the season.

    Licht isn’t a bad as people think. He’s brought in some talented players in the draft almost every year. People think because he doesn’t hit a bombshell in the first round every year that he’s no good. Bucs fans have been so sad for so long the ignorance builds up. But I do want him gone because I want an entire new, good management crew from top to bottom that will give us nice jerseys. But Licht has much better chance than Koetter.

  30. Joe Says:

    If the Glazers don’t sell the team then how about Rich McKay as president of football operations.

    He was so good with the Falcons Artie Blank bumped him to the business side and hired Thomas Dimitroff.

    What is this sudden erection people have with a title? The Bucs already have one. His name is “Jason Licht.”

    And why in God’s name would anyone want to sell one of the biggest cash cows in the world, an NFL franchise?

  31. martinii Says:

    Searching for success is a bit anticlimactic. while good fortune can be a component of success, the key element to having success is creating it. Home grown want too developed on the backs of hard work, sacrifice, and intelligence. Hence you don’t find success you make it and as it dwindles you improve it. Finally it is not predicated on one element but the sum total of many small successful pieces each of which is capable of improvement, none of which is superior, all of which are compatible, and share the same desire.

  32. Knoxville Bucs Fan Says:

    Well it won’t be found this Sunday in Dallas. Not with the Cowboys needing the win to clinch.

  33. 813bucboi Says:

    yeah….we get bill from the pats, give him total control and part of the team then he forgets how to coach….lol….its a bucs life….

    #YOUFAILEDUNDERPRESSURE!!!…#WALKTHEPLANK!!!…GO BUCS!!!!

  34. D-Rome Says:

    Is losing as simple as a habit? Guys have a habit of making a few bad plays at the worst times?

    I heard an interesting discussion earlier this morning. Two years ago today the Buccaneers played the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. Bucs were on a five game winning streak and they needed that game to make it to the playoffs. The Bucs were seemingly on their way to turning the franchise around, yet the team failed to capitalize on that opportunity and it was the first time in five games we were reminded the Bucs weren’t there yet.

    They never got “there” thanks to Jason Licht, Dirk Koetter, and Jay-Miss WinsTOn.

  35. VdubVW Says:

    The G boys are too cheap to hire a VP of football ops. It would be nice but they don’t give a fk about this team. Hiring more personal would mean less money for tea and crumpets. (What the hell is a crumpet anyway). They only care about money and European culture. I really wish they would walk away from my beloved football team and really wish they read the comments on this site.
    I’ve been a fan since day one and when Malcolm died and his loser sons took over I saw this coming. What waste of talent, effort, and fan base.
    #pleasesellmyteam

  36. tmaxcon Says:

    Not that crazy of a thought. Brady is starting to show his age and the Belicheats don’t have a successor for Brady (yet).

    Now I am legitimately concerned for your mental health joe. NO ONE (worth a crap) will come to this small town sh&&t show of a franchise… the glazers are pathetic and their reputation for running a pathetic franchise spans two continents. Low standard bucfans are unintelligent and easily manipulated but man u fans hate them some glazers from the bottom of their hearts. They are not used to be the laughing stock of the league that being said buc fans don’t know any better.

    I read an article in the Irish Times that Glazers actually receive extra security from Manchester Police when in the area. They are hated more than ISIS….

    no hope with this family of fools calling the shots…

  37. Joe Says:

    Now I am legitimately concerned for your mental health joe. NO ONE (worth a crap) will come to this small town sh&&t show of a franchise…

    That’s a crock. You don’t think (if the Glazers would — but they won’t) that offering a piece of an NFL team and offering full and complete control wouldn’t at least get Belicheat’s attention??? Do you realize what kind of revenue you are talking about — revenue for life? Get real. Someone handing you a piece of an NFL team is rarer than finding a winning lottery ticket on the sidewalk.

  38. Not there yet Says:

    As usual the opinions are all over the place I mean to actually think that the coach is not the problem lol ok if we had a good gm we would be in the playoffs really someone actually Koetter being good enough to get this team over the hump?

    Ok then explain why the team went 9-7 with less talent. Someone is actually using the excuse that there is not enough talent on this roster to win

    Ok well fine keep blaming the general manager but I look at it this way. Two years in a row Koetter has said this is by far the best roster he’s had while here and it’s stupid to think otherwise. That statement seals his fate. He benched Winston for Fitz but had to go back to Winston so the fans can complain but it was Koetters choice to go back to Winston so this losing season is on the coach because he gave it a shot and with Fitz and still failed

  39. Bucsfanman Says:

    Not there yet- Everyone has to go. Too many swings and misses on players and substandard coaching.
    Clean house!

  40. Owlykat Says:

    I wouldn’t be surprised if the Glazer Brothers have already decided to fire Koetter and called in Licht and told him so and ordered him to try and hire Arians out of retirement and work out the details so they can make the announcement immediately after the firing of Koetter and Warhop. It would be attractive to Arians because he is comfortable with both Licht and our Defensive Line Coach. Licht could suggest Logan Mankins as the replacement for Warhop and if OK could work out that hire for the new Coach. Arians would decide on whether to keep our OC and our DC or rather he can bring in someone better. He could already start watching film and evaluating what to tell Licht he wants in the draft and who to cut and who to give long contracts and what free agents he needs. We could do a lot worse!

  41. Mike Johnson Says:

    IF..Licht could convince Arians to come out of retirement? He would keep his job. But Arians really does not want to coach anymore. There is that sayin though..Everyman has his price..right?

  42. tmaxcon Says:

    Joe…. easy my man…. easy…. a piece of a small market team is still huge I get that but we were talking coaching hire not giving the farm away to get him. Of course, if you toss that kind of money around you can attract anyone. hell, disney family might thaw out walt for a 3-year run. you must admit it’s pretty damn sad that they would have to go to such extremes to get a quality coach. no one wants bucs to succeed more than I do but I am not falling for this bs with glazers any longer. amen.

  43. tmaxcon Says:

    arians has made many of public statements that it would be Cleveland or nothing. and for the jameis haters be careful what you wish for arians likes jameis just like the Harbaugh’s do…

  44. Tampa Bay Demon Says:

    JOE says
    “Personally, Joe would prefer the Bucs bring in Peyton Manning”

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    That would actually be killer, JOE.
    I like it.

  45. Tampa Bay Demon Says:

    By the way, 2 thumbs up on the picture art today. 🙂

  46. stpetebucsfan Says:

    Belichek is not that far fetched. First off forget all the distractions…Which city is cooler? Money is not critical BB already has more money than he can spend the rest of his life.

    What is left? His legacy!!! The Brady era is drawing to an end perhaps the Pats era with it. BB is already in any GOAT discussions no matter what happens here on out in Boston.

    If however he came to Tampa and turned the franchise around…wouldn’t require another SB would need to be consistently in the playoffs then BB just adds to his legacy.

    What interests him these days? Is it still FOOTBALL? Perhaps the idea of a fresh start is intriguing. The Bucs have some talent.

  47. Mr Lucky Says:

    Joe, Who really cares?

    Where did you get that model for the little topic?

    Also thanks for the Victoria Secrets ads – I like them the MOST!

  48. tmaxcon Says:

    stpetebucsfan

    tampa is a small market retirement community well suited for those over 65 not championship coaches and elite athletes. tampa nightlife can barely compete with green bay, wis much less any major market. i love the area too but let’s not get stupid by calling tampa a desirable location for young, elite athletes…. retirees yes champions no

  49. T REX Says:

    Wow. JBF has gone off the rails. The chance of Bill coming here is zero. None. Lol. This is the least desirable opening. Contrary to JBF and the winstonites…no one wants to eat w’s here. We need a total house cleaning.

  50. Tampa Bay Demon Says:

    ^^ a lot of Tampa Bay Lightning players would disagree with ya on that one tmaxcon. They are very happy to be in Tampa Bay, and hopefully another championship is forthcoming.

  51. Tampa Bay Demon Says:

    Oh sorry, nothing else to say at the moment..

    Just cruised by to take another look at the picture art… haha

    A nice distraction from a very long day today here at work battling debit/credit card fraud.

  52. tmaxcon Says:

    Tampa Bay Demon

    nfl is on a differnt level than the nhl the NHL is closer to the WNBA than the nfl

  53. D-Rome Says:

    tampa is a small market retirement community well suited for those over 65 not championship coaches and elite athletes.

    I don’t know what measure you are making that statement on but if you’re talking about media markets that’s not true. Tampa Bay is the 13th largest media market in the country. It *is* a major market.

  54. Tampa Bay Demon Says:

    tmax, I was referring to young elite athletes being very happy & comfortable in Tampa Bay. Some of the Lightning’s players are amongst the very best in the world. They love TB.