“We’re Definitely An 8-8 Or Better Football Team”

August 30th, 2019

NFL predictions will be rolling in fast and furious over the coming days and a former Buccaneer officially has planted his 2019 flag.

A member of the Chucky and Raheem eras, ex-Bucs tight end John Gilmore now works for the Buccaneers Radio Network. He was a very critical and balanced voice last season when it came to assessing the team. Joe appreciated his candor.

After last night’s game in Dallas, Gilmore broke down the roster and advised fans they should be feeling very good.

“We’re definitely 8-8 or better football team. We’re not going to have a losing season. I feel good about saying that,” Gilmore said. “That’s a confident prediction. … The system’s different, the playcalling’s different, the coaching is better … based on what we’ve seen, they should win some football games. … Buccaneers fans should be excited.”

Amen to that.

Now 8-8 isn’t much to celebrate, but it does represent a good record for any first-year regime coming off back-to-back 5-11 seasons.

37 Responses to ““We’re Definitely An 8-8 Or Better Football Team””

  1. Sport Says:

    Damn Skippy! Been saying it since we got him and his staff. Easily the best offseason acquisition. And by far the best coaching staff since Monte was here.

    Go Bucs!

    In BA I Trust!

  2. Cobraboy Says:

    I like what I see. I like how this staff operates. No-nonsense. Accountability.

    My *guess* is a 7-9 floor with injuries, a 10-6 ceiling with health.

  3. MadMax Says:

    As long as the O line does a good enough job and JW stays healthy…agreed 8-8…a step in the right direction.

    Yes we want playoffs but glance at reality here. A new staff, lots of new players need to learn each other and need some hard games to get it going…this ship is on its way to being righted.

  4. BucsBandit Says:

    There’s always RUINED OPTIMISM with major coaching changes. It’s the very reason teams do it in order to rebound sluggish Ticket Sales.

    All fans typically have new optimism over new coaching staff. BUT…

    It doesn’t mean JACK SQUAT.

    Until the team PROVES IT on the field and executes, they’re still losers until they prove otherwise.

    There ARE several reasons to believe the team will be better this year, such as the improved secondary. But there are still too many big question marks, like how Jameis will play this year, and Winston’s INT trends in camp and accuracy issues in preseason so far are a bit concerning.

  5. Tc Says:

    I see 7- 8 wins this season, which would be an improvement based on better kicking and defense. The o-line and running game are weak.

  6. Tc Says:

    I see 7- 8 wins this season, which would be an improvement based on better kicking and defense. The o-line and running game are weak.m

  7. JimbobBucsFan Says:

    Bucs 10-6 or 9-7, nothing less

    8-8 would represent a move in the right direction but not satisfying, not really acceptable by any staunch fan …. realism be damned

    In BA I trust. … to overcome, to elevate the Bucs this year!

  8. Dusthty Rhothdes Says:

    6-10 season and really hope jameis doesnt get seriously hurt behind this inept OL. Also so happy that licht continued the trend of passing on big league college talent like greedy williams for sean bunting

  9. BucAllNight Says:

    We will DRIVE to 11 DASH FIVE

    GOOOOOOOOOOOOO BUCS!!!!!

    TAAAAAAAAAAAMPA!!!!!

  10. D-Rome Says:

    6-10.

  11. Loyaltotheend Section 312 Says:

    Still not gonna match Dirks first year

  12. DBS Says:

    6-10 until they show me more. Everything else is the same hype and talk.

  13. Todd Says:

    See Joe, even previously critical and balanced voices can responsibly abandon the disease of clinical histrionics and give credit where credit is due. It’s not so hard…unless you’re just dying for the Bucs to have a losing season so that you can wallow in the misery of the cellar. So unpack a little optimism in here for crying out loud. This season is already exciting. No need to continue to dwell in the past.

    10-6…at least.

    And we open 6-0.

    And Garopollo is sh!ting his West Coast pants right now…so enjoy the aroma!

  14. Joeypoppems Says:

    Ive bought into the preseason hype too many times to get overly optimistic about the season.

    My only hope for this season is that there is a clear decision to be made about Winston by the time it is over. Whether it is good or bad.

  15. Bucbuc Says:

    0-16 Licht gets extended another 35 years so bucs can maintain title of lowest win % of all NFL teams ever. Go bucs.

  16. NOSBOS Says:

    It’s funny. Y’all predictions to me would be valid if this were 20 years ago. You know when there wasn’t as much player movement and you really had to wait your turn because you had to build to beat the 9ers,Pack and cowgirls because those teams were just so good. Today’s game not like that. Again the bears were 5 and 11 in 2017 and 12 and 4 in 2018 with a gimmick offense and 2nd year QB and first year HC. Eagles 7 and 9 the season before winning superbowl finishing 12 and 4. Anything less than 12 and 4 would be bit of a head scratcher to me. There are no BIG Bad wolf teams in this league now. Well then again.. One has just been born.

  17. Ben real Says:

    I don’t care what any expert says until it’s been done … still saying 3-13 prove me wrong bucs

  18. Stanglassman Says:

    8-8 or better means 8 is the floor and they can win 9,10,11 etc. This shouldn’t have to be explained.

  19. Pittsshore Says:

    Another positive message from a nobody. 4-12 and hopefully we get Tua

  20. 813bucboi Says:

    10-6 with playoffs!!!!!!!

    GO BUCS!!!!!

  21. Buc1987 Says:

    7-9.

    Staying pat on that!

    Go Bucs!!!

  22. Dusthty Rhothdes Says:

    NOSBOS…what have the bucs done to get better? Ignore the OL, Ignore the RB, lose jameis security balnket at RB…pass on 2 immediate impact players in the draft in Josh Allen and greedy williams. Licht is a horrible GM and the team resembles that. Sean Bunting over Greedy Williams…Alex Cappa a D3 player is protecting the franchise….only positive maybe is the kicker

  23. T REX Says:

    Test for drugs for severe homer syndrome?

  24. DooshLaRue Says:

    No more than 6 wins if JW stays healthy.
    If he gets hurt/benched our ceiling with RG goes up to 9 wins.

  25. BucsBandit Says:

    I think it’s very, very possible this team…

    Puts up one of the WORST seasons in a long time.

    2-14 or 3-13 wouldn’t shock me.

    There are just too many unknowns at this point. If they don’t get off to a hot start, the CONFIDENCE on this team will PLUMMET.

  26. Buccfan37 Says:

    Not too difficult to improve on two 5-11 finishes. The Bucs win more this year.

  27. Bucsfan77 Says:

    With just better coaching alone I see another 2-3 more wins, with better kicking since we got Gay that should equate to another 1-2 wins, with better defense we should win another 2-3. So if we stay healthy I can see us 9-7 at minimum 10 or 11 wins very feasible.

  28. Morgus the Magnificent Says:

    Only blind fans can conceivably think this team will go 8-8 or better. It’s totally ridiculous. And 12-4???? BWAHAHAHA!!! Las Vegas (and me) will be GLAD to take that wager!!!

  29. webster Says:

    Dusty

    Give it a rest about greedy williams. 8 cornerbacks were picked before him. Does that mean all 8 gms got it wrong? Also when the bucs played the browns, ronde mentioned how greedy was struggling so far and is the browns 4th cornerback. So lets hold of fitting greedy williams for his hof jacket. Jesus christ

  30. Pickgrin Says:

    A fast start is very important to how the team fares in 2019.

    Start off 3-0, and I believe that 10 wins is very reachable.

    Start off 1-2 and we are looking at 5 or 6 wins max.

    49ers, Carolina and Giants are all teams the Bucs should beat if we are to be a “good” football team this year.

    Does “coaching matter” in the Wins column? We’re about to find out over the next few short weeks……

  31. Mike Johnson Says:

    IF..and I do mean IF..our Bucs can start fast out of the gate with 2 0r 3 wins in a row. we might..have something. That’s some big IF-ing though. win. I’d be hella more confident if we had both JPP and Vea on that Defensive line. We shall see. No hiding in this league guys. Talkin time bout done. Batter up baby!

  32. LordCorn Says:

    I’ll agree with Cobra on range of outcomes

  33. Bill Macy Says:

    We lost a lot of very close games last year with the same O line and a weak pass defense. Loved the man to man aggressive play by the dbs and the 3/4 D line in preseason. Way better kicker, better defense, and stronger fg leg should net more of the close games. 8&8 at a minimum. 10/6 with some luck. If the offense can come close to last year and the defense and fg kicking hold up, we could be a dark horse surprise team. However, if they just play hard and fast and aggressive this season I will be a happy fan win or lose.

  34. Duthsty Rhothdes Says:

    webster u miss the point the bucs are 5-11 because they draft 5–11 players

  35. Aristotle Says:

    I love my Bucs but I’ll be honest. I see 5-11 if we are lucky. What I saw was terrible football mixed with years of terrible drafting. Glad we have Bruce but our GM has got to go!

  36. TOM Says:

    Jaymiss. Does that mean you won’t be the QB?

  37. A Train Says:

    With this roster and injuries, I would say 6-10 this season would be about right, give or take a game in either direction. The Bucs need an upgrade on offensive and defensive line and a good, 1,000 yard rush running back. With 2 good offensive lineman, a good defensive end, and a good RB the Bucs would be in the conversation.