“Ultimate Boom-Or-Bust Proposition”

June 20th, 2019

Talkin’ Bucs.

A lot of folks think this year is a boom-or-bust season for America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston.

Joe isn’t quite ready to go there but it isn’t just Jameis who needs to have a nice season. So too does Vernon Hargreaves, Noah Spence, Ronald Jones and Will Gholston.

Not everyone agrees with Joe. Take Mike Florio, for example. The creator, curator and overall guru of ProFootballTalk.com seems to believe the Bucs in general, and Bucco Bruce Arians in particular, are a boom-or-bust for 2019.

Co-hosting PFT Live with former Bucs quarterback Chris Simms, which intelligent football fans see and hear weekday mornings on NBC Sports Network, Florio explained why the Bucs are dangling between good and bad and no in-between.

“I am going to start with a team that right now we would assume will be a bust category because they haven’t been to the playoffs in a very long time. But the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, to me, are the ultimate boom-or-bust proposition for 2019.

“There are plenty of players, coaches, teams we can throw out there for this category, but I think without question the Bucs under Bruce Arians, this is either going to work and it is going to work incredibly well, or it is just going to be same ol’ Buccaneers, hello 5-11, 4-12 and Jameis Winston is gone and who knows how long Bruce Arians remains as the head coach.”

Joe doesn’t know if this season will be boom-or-bust for Arians, but if it is a bust, Joe would not be shocked one iota if Arians would be a one-and-done coach. If the Bucs are losing terribly and his health issues begin cropping up again, who would blame him?

28 Responses to ““Ultimate Boom-Or-Bust Proposition””

  1. Sport Says:

    Its a safe prognostication, because like every devoted fan, we have been burned more often than delighted.

    I just want to have fun being a fan. Which only requires 2 things for me, 1) have an identity I can get behind on a weekly basis (e.g. The badass defense no one wanted to play) 2) be competitive (the annual – sometimes biannual – blowouts and being down by at least two touchdowns in the first half has to stop).

    The rest I can deal with and still have fun.

    In BA I Trust!

  2. BigHog Says:

    The # 1 QB on this team will be just fine, in his fifth year on the job!! Winning is the cure-all!

  3. Defense Rules Says:

    I don’t buy into that last line Joe … “If the Bucs are losing terribly and his health issues begin cropping up again, who would blame him?” For one thing, there’s NO indication that BA’s health is a factor this year. Kudos to him for losing weight & taking his health seriously. For another, this team has quite a bit of talent right now & this coaching staff has the experience to develop that talent. May take a little while for things to gel, especially considering our brutal first half schedule, but we’ll get there.

    This is a ‘foundation-setting year’ IMO. The offense is pretty much the same as last year, but the defense & special teams have been largely rebuilt. Most, but not all, of the key pieces are in-place. One thing BA has proven to be good at over the years is avoiding extended losing streaks. ‘Losing terribly’ isn’t a concern IMO. Still too early to make any reasonable predictions about what our final record will be, but I do predict that we’ll see more ‘consistent, quality football’ than we’ve seen for many years here in Bucsville.

  4. Pete I Says:

    Well unfortunately given the leadership of this franchise, the Glazer kids, who have muddled not one but two sports franchises, it may not be a boom or bust season. But frankly it should be. What if Winston can’t be fixed? How many more years? It needs to be BA or Bust for Winston.

  5. Loyaltotheend Section 312 Says:

    Arians is here 2 years barring some serious health issues

    He’d be risking his staffs security his rep and I just don’t think he’s a quitter

  6. Tom Edrington Says:

    Interesting how everyone seems to know Bruce Arians so well…..the one thing we do know is the up-and-down performance of good old JW….guy can be really good and then do some really bad things at the wrong time…..

    As we head for the “dead period” between now and the opening of camp, it’s all just guessing, hope and speculation, period. I don’t see the guys in Vegas raising that “over-under” number for Buc wins ….

  7. Todd Says:

    Loyaltotheend—

    “He’d be risking his staffs security, his rep and I just don’t think he’s a quitter.”

    Absolutely. You don’t pull together your own personal “dream team” (staff) with full authority and jeopardize their futures (forever being branded as being part of a one-year “bust” team). BA seems to view them all as family…and I think like your moniker, BA is “loyal to the end.”

    Be’s Not going anywhere until he, a) wins to Super Bowl or b) completes his contract. Licht…different story. He’s be the fall guy (deservedly so) if BA doesn’t turn things around with the current roster.

    But…since they’re going to open 6-0 and win the division, we speculate BA’s tenure just for the sport of it. 😉

  8. Bird Says:

    Why aren’t you ready to go there for Jameis as boom or bust ?
    It’s year 5. Not 2 or 3.
    They brought in the QB whisperer
    And his salary now starts in the 30 plus mil range (even if tagged) which makes it difficult to keep good players.

    Oh that’s right though. He moves your needle.
    Gimme a break.
    And you still want John football on the team As a backup QB

  9. Bird Says:

    It’s time to nut up or shut up.

    Arians was the right hire for Jameis.
    He should bring out his best . No question.
    I just don’t understand why you think he deserves another chance if we see more of the same up and down roller coaster at QB. Sure. The end of last season was good to see. But this is no risk it no biscuit again. It’s go time.

    . People have absolutely destroyed McCoy for average play and he is a DT. Only Aaron Donald at DT can change a game. QBs change the outcome of a game all by themselves every Sunday. Yet Jameis average play gets another mulligan time and time again.

  10. SteveK Says:

    Well said, bird.

    Couldn’t agree more. Time to are up or step out.

  11. Joe Says:

    Why aren’t you ready to go there for Jameis as boom or bust?

    Very simple (pretty sure have already explained this). Going by both the quarterback landscape, public comments from Bucs officials and coaches and listening to non-public comments, don’t think it is “boom or bust” for Jameis.

    If Jameis is really terrible, he won’t get another contract with Bucs. And he doesn’t need to throw 50 touchdowns to ensure his return. Not sure why that’s difficult to understand.

  12. ModHairKen Says:

    What is a bust? A QB who does not win a SB in 5 years? Well, then Drew Brees was a bust in San Diego. So was Tarkenton, Marino. More recently, Cam Newton. On and on.

    Florio is a wannabe. Simms is a goof. Filling dead space and charging ad revenue.

    This is the worst time of the year: No news to report, so everyone just says something startling to get attention. “Bruce Arians is going to quit if they don’t win 12 games, especially if he develops a sore throat.”

    Come on, Joe. Do some reporting. Call a player or coach, go interview him or her, and let us learn something. Even if it is a FA WR. Give us some information, not speculation.

  13. Joe Says:

    Come on, Joe. Do some reporting. Call a player or coach, go interview him or her, and let us learn something.

    Not sure what there is to “report.” The team is on sabbatical until July. Most of these guys are scattered across the country if not the western hemisphere.

    Joe doesn’t think rookies going to visit cops or the various camps players have where they won’t talk Bucs is worth visiting. Surely you don’t want to read about O.J. Howard catching sailfish off Jamaica. Besides, generally, coaches aren’t supposed to speak about the Bucs on the record unless they have a Bucs media relations representative with them.

    Joe hopes to have a couple of players make an appearance on Ira’s pod. But that depends if they are in town or even want to do it.

  14. Joe Says:

    Florio is a wannabe.

    Pretty sure he is a somebody. NBC offered him enough loot and job security for him to shut down his law practice. To Joe, that is someone who made it. Joe knows for some owners (won’t mention who), that’s the first site they check in the morning.

    That’s NBC, not some flunkie AM radio station in South Carolina.

  15. Allbuccedup Says:

    We will find out in September if BA is for real or just here on vacation.

  16. Bird Says:

    Joe

    Really. This QB landscape is strong in 2020.
    Teams are winning with rookie QBs over the last few years
    I know arians is not here for rebuild . However , He did not come back to lose and ruin is legacy as a QB whisperer either. He does not want to go out as a loser.

    But you think it’s not a bust if Jameis has same up and down year (where you will point out his positive stats) and (rank in the 15 -25 QB area) he wins 5 or 6 or 7 games. That Bucs should give him year 7 to turn corner and 30 mil ?

  17. Bird Says:

    Year 6^

  18. tval Says:

    Nonsense, bird. And Fletcher Cox wants to talk. 😂😂👍👍
    To compare investing in a, PROMISING, young talent at qb compared to a dt that MAY have reached his, lower than expected, ceiling? Just STOP it. Jameis will AT LEAST be tagged for the next year or two..and unlike ANY OTHER PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE he’ll, genuinely, be 100% fine with it. When the same arguments made against Jameis can be made for wentz and dak. And I’m a Eagles fan (FLETCHER!!!!!!!!!) wentz had the softest schedule recent memory before injuries made him average. Dak just leans on Zeke. Give them $30 and cut Jameis. Lol @ FOOLS

  19. Joe Says:

    However , He did not come back to lose and ruin is legacy as a QB whisperer either. He does not want to go out as a loser.

    OK, let’s take your point. The Bucs have to get rid of Jameis because he’s a loser and Arians doesn’t want to soil his reputation. Exactly what quarterback is available with a resume who can do better than Jameis, Sam Bradford? Seriously. Pull Carson Palmer out of mothballs? Or how about Stewart McClown? Maybe it is just Joe’s imagination but Joe seems to recall the Bucs winning nine games once and in Jameis’ first two seasons had the Bucs in playoff contention in December.

    But yeah, let’s go get Mike Glennon. He doesn’t throw picks!

    And unless Arians is flat out lying everytime he speaks, he doesn’t want to rebuild. If a rookie quarterback isn’t a rebuild, then Joe doesn’t know what a down marker is.

    If you want a new quarterback that bad, then sell off every valuable piece on this roster (including Arians), lose no less than 10 games the next two seasons and pay whatever it takes to get Trevor Lawrence in 2021.

    If you are going to do a rebuild with a rookie quarterback, do it right.

  20. Loyaltotheend Section 312 Says:

    @Joe

    Why do you always go to the extreme when trying to defend your point?

    If Jameis plays like he did in 2018 he’s gone, plain and simple, if this team is 5-11 or worse how do you spend 30 million on a QB who can’t carry a team?

    No need to replace Jameis with the washed up guys you always list. Derek Carr May be available, like Ira suggested. Andy Dalton, could be as well and could be a reclamation project for Arians like he did with Palmer. Are either long term answers? Hell no.

    Other competent NFL teams are winning with rookie QBs who’s to say Arians can’t win with Herbert or Fromm or Tua. So to act like we have to stick with Jameis for 7,8,9 years to wait for him to develop because there are no better options is silly

  21. RustyRhinos Says:

    Tired of hearing how if it gets a little rough with our W&L record the New “savior” HC will fold up like a circus tent at a PETA convention and move along. What happend to Coach Arians being the “man”? So when the going gets tough he will fold up and go home because of his health issues? That in itself does not give me hope for this season if this is how Coach Arians proceeds after this season. So as it appears from the words and subjects posted here that the people who report and are way way more in the know than I am say he may do this. I have to take that as a fact. When in reality it is just speculation on the part of post writer. If we have a bad season (less than 7 wins) I want our new HC here to keep working on what he was brought here to do, WIN GAMES! If he does not do that we will need to start over, because who believes that when that day does arrive who will take over for Coach Arians will make it better? Coach Bowles? I hat was his record as a HC? Do we really want that here in Tampa?

    It is my belief and my hope that Coach Arians puts this ship on its proper course to win the division, and go to the playoffs. All while fixing the 5th season for the supposed “franchise QB ” also creating a Bad A$$ Defense, and having some success as a running football team. I hope we have success this season on these very things. But if it does not work out we are to be hitting the HC trail again? That does not sound very stable or successful. Here’s to winning more than 7 games, winning the NFC South, and going to the playoffs.
    Good luck Coach Ariens.
    Go Bucs!

  22. The Buc Realist Says:

    Its hard to believe that joe does not think its boom or bust for the fold like a lawn chair qb!!!!!!!! Most “real” fans have lost faith in jw3 over the last few seasons!!!!!! And before joe screams about no run game and defense to drag jmiss to wins, Then that is more to the point of going in on a FULL REBUILD!!!!!!!! the lying inconsistent qb cannot do it with all that help, and the team is up against the cap, only to have to pay him more year, after year is just insanity!!!!!!!

    Its a shame that local media and sheep hold avg players and pretend that they are great, that only pigeon hole this team!!!!!!!!!!!! Its time for some to wake up and remember that they are Tampa Bay Buc Fans, and not jock sniffer’s of individual players!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    2019 will reveal answers to the sheep, that the “real” fans already know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  23. Bird Says:

    Typical temper tandrum response
    No surprise

    We get it ..he is Jesus Christ walking the earth

  24. 813bucboi Says:

    mike florio is right….its boom or bust for everyone…..coaches and players included…..

    but imo it more boom or bust for winston…..unfortunately, he’s on his 3rd HC while still being on his rookie contract….not all his fault but he is the QB, former #1 overall pick…..

    he doesnt have to play like patrick mahommes this year but he cant be the jameis winston that we’ve seen the past 2years either….

    GO BUCS!!!!!!

  25. 813bucboi Says:

    realist says: Its time for some to wake up and remember that they are Tampa Bay Buc Fans, and not jock sniffer’s of individual players!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    spoken like a true fraud!!!!!….lol…

    you sniffed sh!tty smitty’s jock and draws for years…..didnt matter if he lead the worst defense in NFL history, your nose was wide open…..

    #REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!

  26. bucnole Says:

    Very little history to support a turnaround season this year – but fingers are crossed at this point.
    GO BUCS!!

  27. Joe Says:

    If Jameis plays like he did in 2018 he’s gone, plain and simple, if this team is 5-11 or worse how do you spend 30 million on a QB who can’t carry a team?

    Of course. Joe has written *several* times if Jameis has an awful year he’s gone.

  28. BucEmUp Says:

    Cam newton throws more picks than Winston, has a better defense and a better run game. Getting rid of Jameis will be yhe dumvest thing they could do. But the conversation is pointless because Arians will have this team in the playoffs this year. I’ll take bets