Home Field Disadvantage
October 15th, 2019
Better off on the road?
The crib the Bucs call home has more than earned its moniker “Den of Depression” because the team plays so terribly there.
The Bucs have yet to win a majority of their home games in a season (five) since Chucky was jettisoned after the 2008 season. It has been so bad for paying customers and Bucs fans; in 2014, the team lost every home game. Think about that.
No NFC team has a worse home record in the post-Chucky era. Is there any wonder why the Bucs have been playoff-less since Chucky was shown the door?
And yet there are still people, both inside and outside the walls of One Buc Palace, who periodically come after Joe about the name “Den of Depression.” It particularly irked former Bucs coach Dirk Koetter, who indirectly brought that subject up in a postgame press conference.
Joe’s message, especially those who work at One Buc Palace: Don’t like the name? Win five games at home in a year. Is that too much to ask?
Given how the Bucs have no home field advantage (their two wins this season were on the road), it spurred Bucs are unpredictable.
Even hot dog eating contest-protesting, mock draft-scowling, L.L. Bean-wearing, Second Amendment abolitionist, Mike Florio-arguing, parrot-insensitive, chewing-with-his-mouth-open, soup-gulping, California train-romancing, anti-football proliferation, outhouse-admiring, airline-napping, steerage-flying, Yogi Berra-worshiping, urinal picture-taking, video game-playing, Taylor Swift-listening, pickpocket-thwarting, Bucs-uniform-frowning, Allie-LaForce-smitten, Big-Ten-Network-hating, pedestrian-bumping, olive oil-lapping, popcorn-munching, coffee-slurping, fried-chicken-eating, oatmeal-loving, circle-jerking, craft beer-chugging, cricket-watching, scone-loathing, college football-naïve, baseball-box-score-reading, NPR-honk, filthy-hotel-staying, fight-instigating, barista-training social activist Peter King of NBC Sports wrote that given how awful America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, was last Sunday in London, it’s a good thing the next two Bucs games after the bye will be on the road.
… his six-turnover game against Carolina on Sunday has to give GM Jason Licht pause. Licht badly wants to keep Winston and sign him, but he’s got to be smart too. The Bucs come out of the bye in 13 days with four road games in six weeks. Which, for Winston right now, might be the best thing.
Now Joe doesn’t know if that is the “best thing,” but King may be onto something. Remember, until the Bucs beat the Stinking Panthers in Week 2, the last time Jameis won a road game was all the way back in December 2016, when Jameis and the Bucs beat the Chargers in San Diego.
And yes, for those who get their briefs bunched up because Joe refers to the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway as the “Den of Depression,” it’s not in Joe’s hands for the Bucs to win five home games in a year. It’s up to everyone who pulls a check from Team Glazer working at One Buc Palace. It is in their power to change this moniker.
Win five home games in a season, or at least four out of seven this season, and that nickname goes away. Sadly, the Bucs are off to a start that will keep that nickname until at least 2020. The Bucs are already 0-2 this season with five more home games left.
October 15th, 2019 at 8:07 am
tank for Tua!
October 15th, 2019 at 8:07 am
Tank for almost any one else!
October 15th, 2019 at 8:15 am
Jameis will come out the bye with a great game and will continue his up and down nature and the bucs will resign him because they give top level contracts to middle of the pack players so be ready for 5 more years of basement dwelling.
October 15th, 2019 at 8:18 am
Screw them! They’ve earned that nickname. The Buccaneers organization has been a disaster for over a decade.
October 15th, 2019 at 8:18 am
Joe, Long Time season ticket holder. I don’t get bothered by the den of depression moniker, it’s well-earned. However why do you insist on The NeverEnding stream of consciousness tag attached to King’s name? I roll my eyes every time I see it and page down until I get to the actual article. Is this something that will simply never end like the absurd America’s quarterback thing that you are too stubborn to remove?
October 15th, 2019 at 8:22 am
Also I thought about the Winston thing long and hard as most fans have. Likely he continues to be the same player this year. I’m not comfortable giving him the fat contract that seems to be market value for any decent veteran QB. I have a feeling they franchise him and see how he does in the second year of Ariams system. Or whoever’s system he’s currently playing under…
October 15th, 2019 at 8:30 am
@Joe
Its not like that this roster is some kind of “road warrior” !!!!!!!! the last 2 1/2 years and the Bucs have a 4-16 road record!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joe and the sheep pounded for the coaches to be held accountable, but when will they with the GM and QB????????????????
2019 will reveal answers to the sheep, that the “real” fans already know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 15th, 2019 at 8:31 am
Fart man
You and buc cheeks are in the running for best poster name
October 15th, 2019 at 8:32 am
I don’t mind you calling the stadium the den of depression… but if it is that, maybe you should call Jameis the Driver of the depression bus… a bus that looks good until the driver focuses hard on the road, but when the bus hits a big bump, he forgets all driving fundamentals, and drives it off the causeway?
October 15th, 2019 at 8:33 am
The caption should read “Better off on the street”
It’s been 4+ years and it’s as obvious as ever, Jameis ain’t the guy.
No one in their right mind honestly believes that this guy can be a franchise quarterback.
He is not consistent, he is not accurate, he does not make good decisions with the football, he can not manage a game. He is Ryan Fitzpatrick. He is a backup.
October 15th, 2019 at 8:38 am
Hey Joe….what will it take to make the “America’s Quarterback” moniker to go away? I’m sure every threshold has already been passed!! The nickname started before Jameis was drafted by the Bucs. It’s totally different. It’ll continue when/if Jameis has a new NFL team. Joe likes it. Joe does not like the Den of Depression moniker. –Joe
October 15th, 2019 at 8:39 am
forget Tua….i can wait a year for Lawrence.
October 15th, 2019 at 8:43 am
This is the curse of chucky and when the bucs hired chucky and brought doug williams back the curse was exorcised from one buc…chucky aint coming back here ever…only hope is the next HC hires jay gruden as the OC and also get some new uniforms because the ones they have now look like puke and the players, coaches and especially the GM perform like puke
October 15th, 2019 at 8:49 am
Just an observation. I’ve been called a “hater” for 4 years by posters on here (mostly Seminole/Buc fans). No longer…….
October 15th, 2019 at 8:51 am
Morgus the Magnificent Says:
October 15th, 2019 at 8:49 am
Just an observation. I’ve been called a “hater” for 4 years by posters on here (mostly Seminole/Buc fans). No longer…….
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No Worries Magnificent !…consider the source….the same folks calling you a “hater ( me too)…think Jameis is a great QB
October 15th, 2019 at 9:04 am
I find it interesting that you can name Ray Jay the “Den of Depression” but choose to name Jameis Winston “America’s Quarterback”
The problem with “Den of Depression” is that it feeds the losing culture…..doesn’t exactly inspire fans to go there…..
Sure, maybe the name is deserved….but is “America’s Quarterback” deserved?
October 15th, 2019 at 9:05 am
Steven007 … Can’t see franchising Jameis at this point. That’d be in the neighborhood of around $30 mil next year (give or take) & that’d prevent us from FIXING some of our other even more serious problems. Besides, he’s simply not worth that kind of money.
Our ‘reloading process’ (right) needs to START with FIXING OUR OLINE. Donovan Smith isn’t going anywhere (too costly to just ‘cut-and-run’ at this point … $14.5 mil Dead Cap next year). Ali Marpet isn’t going anywhere (he’s still our best OLineman IMO). Ryan Jensen has no dead Cap next year, but he’s coming around (for his $10 mil next year, I’d keep him). Cappa’s a keeper (although he MAY be better out at RT). Dotson’s toast, so we NEED 1 OLineman there (preferably high draft pick), PLUS we NEED to draft at least 1 more OLineman (to develop & for depth) & sign a couple more FAs (we have NO DEPTH).
Wouldn’t mind re-signing Jameis to a short contract (2-3 years) in the $10-$15 mil range max. IF he chooses to move on, fine. If he wants to stay (at that reduced salary) and compete for a starting role, also fine. Whether he moves on or not, find a reliable ‘game manager’ QB at reasonable cost AND draft a decent prospect in Rnds 3-4 OR wait until 2021 to draft a new QB. BTW, Ryan Griffin MAY be a viable ‘game manager QB’; no one knows at this point. We NEED to find out fast.
As far as ‘weapons’ go, ME13 is here to stay ($16.5 mil Dead Cap PLUS a Cap hit of $18 mil). I’d re-sign Chris Godwin early … he’s a beast. Cam Brate’s very expensive at $6 mil next year, so if this coaching staff isn’t going to use him, then move him (if they are going to keep him, then USE HIM). Same with OJ. Most of all, find a stud RB to pair with RoJo, either through draft or FA (re-sign Barber as depth IF price is reasonable). IF we’re gonna go the ‘game manager’ route, we NEED a more effective running game to pull it off. And that requires a better OLine AND better RBs.
On the defensive side, we’re actually fairly well set for 2020, with several exceptions. #1 priority IMO should be to re-sign Ndamukong Suh … he’s made a HUGE difference to this DLine. We desperately NEED more pass rush … re-sign Shaq Barrett AND JPP (IF he’s really recovered and IF his price is right), then draft a DE/OLB high next year (as his replacement). Also critical to grab a veteran outside corner in FA, as well as a veteran Safety in FA (our Secondary lacks LEADERSHIP & NEEDS a veteran presence to help them mature).
Other than that, we’re good. Well, caveat … Don’t let Jason Licht touch the draft, and find a real OC. I’m through with this On-The-Job-Training experiment for coaches. We’ve got enough of that with our players.
October 15th, 2019 at 9:09 am
Defense, I was a year behind, thinking more in the order of 18 million /. I stand corrected, if we’re going to spend that much we might as well sign him longer deal with more favorable metrics. I like your short contract idea, and if Winston didn’t have an agent in his ear he might consider it. But his agent will want top dollar and for that they will have to go elsewhere I believe.
October 15th, 2019 at 9:12 am
Altered Ego…your ego is larger than your brain (and I know, your ego is small). The JoeBucFan bandwagon is CLEARLY no longer on board with your Jameis jocklovefest. It’s over. Just 3 years too late. (So now the vast majority are “haters”? Oh…and Tom Bassinger is a hater too I suppose? And soooo many other local sports writers and radio broadcasters?)
October 15th, 2019 at 9:15 am
Magnificent your reading comprehension is as bad as Jameis QB skills
October 15th, 2019 at 9:16 am
More like Dumpster of Depression. It’s only a matter of time before the trashbag headresses return to RayJay.
October 15th, 2019 at 9:17 am
The Bucs have averaged 5.5 wins per season since the Super Bowl. We are the Cleveland Browns of the South.
October 15th, 2019 at 9:19 am
Home games, road games, whatever. They have all been a blur. I’m mostly apathetic at this point.
October 15th, 2019 at 9:30 am
this franchise has SUCKED at home since sapp left… cancer93 was giving up the booty and getting blown out at rayjay long before winston. winston is an easy whipping boy ladies but you fools look stupid neglecting to mention cancer93 is the one who turned RayJay into a Robert Kraft 5 STAR rub and tug for opponents…. no one gave up the booty like cancer93
October 15th, 2019 at 9:37 am
Winston is Licht’s pick. Say what you want about it being Lovie’s pick, but Licht pulled the trigger on him. That year, the Bucs should have traded out of the pick and not drafted a QB at all, but hey, this is what happens when you let losers run an organization. Now, in a year where they should be looking to get a QB, and they’re are plenty of them in the draft, we’ll go after a DB or OL. Sorry, they’re needs, but this franchise is toast until they get a QB who can actually play the position with excellence. Winning franchises do not have a QB who plays like Winston period.
October 15th, 2019 at 9:39 am
mons venus draws far more visitors and does more for Hillsborough county tourism than bucs have or every will… quality leadership will do that….
October 15th, 2019 at 9:39 am
Who’s the hater? Hmmmmm……
AlteredEgo Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation. Says:
October 15th, 2019 at 9:13 am
The same criticisms I had of him as a college draft prospect are true today…same ole same ole…
October 15th, 2019 at 9:41 am
The nickname started before Jameis was drafted by the Bucs. It’s totally different. It’ll continue when/if Jameis has a new NFL team. Joe likes it. Joe does not like the Den of Depression moniker. –Joe
Continued idiocy? Joe, you’re the ONLY ONE who even THINKS of Winston like that, much less refer to him as such. It’s not a good look for you.
October 15th, 2019 at 9:41 am
Hilarious that tmax still blames GMC for the Bucs losing when he’s not even here anymore and Winston just threw 5 picks. Comical!
October 15th, 2019 at 9:50 am
WalkdaPlank Says:
October 15th, 2019 at 9:41 am
Hilarious that tmax still blames GMC for the Bucs losing when he’s not even here anymore and Winston just threw 5 picks. Comical!
hey retard get mommy to buy you a new reading comprehensions course…..
it was an historical fact reference not blaming him for current situation. Bucs have lost long before winston and cancer93 and will lose long after. outside of sapp and grudens glory year this franchise is a total embarrassment to sports home or on the road. bucs tickets on road or at home should come with the same warnings that circus tickets come with you may see feces from participants…..
October 15th, 2019 at 9:52 am
WalkdaPlank Says:
October 15th, 2019 at 9:41 am
i do find it funny the only oline that can get cancer93 a multi sack game is this high school unit licht and the glazers rolled with. bucs set jameis up to fail from the get go just like every other failed prospect. there is a reason glazers are proud owners of the worst winning percentage in sports….
October 15th, 2019 at 10:05 am
tmaxcon Says:
“Cancer93 is the one who turned RayJay into a Robert Kraft 5 STAR rub and tug for opponents.”
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H3ll, no. LOL
October 15th, 2019 at 10:07 am
we have a disadvantage at QB in every game….
GO BUCS!!!!
October 15th, 2019 at 11:01 am
Troy…or maybe he was Lovies pick, as Licht was only here because Lovie gave the G men his OK on Jameis.
October 15th, 2019 at 2:59 pm
“Winning franchises do not have a QB who plays like Winston period.”
@Troy
Absolutely!