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The second half of the season is hours away and Ira is talking the state of the team from various angles with Joe. Tune in right here, or at iTunes, Google Play or Podbean.com. The Ira Kaufman Podcast keeps you informed and entertained every Tuesday & Thursday — and there is no offseason. Click or download above. It’s free and easy. Enjoy!

BY IRA KAUFMAN

Dirk Koetter’s shift from coordinator to head coach hasn’t exactly been a boon for the Buccaneer offense.

I keep going back to 2015, when Koetter served as Lovie Smith’s offensive coordinator during Jameis Winston’s rookie season.

With Winston taking every single snap, the Bucs averaged 21.4 points and set a franchise record for total yards. The ground game was particularly robust, ranking No. 5 in the league in yards (2,162) and No.2 in average yards per carry (4.8). (more…)

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Powerful episode from Ira today, as the Bucs are in a dark place with change on the horizon. Tune in right here, or at iTunes, Google Play or Podbean.com. The Ira Kaufman Podcast keeps you informed and entertained every Tuesday & Thursday — and there is no offseason. Click or download above. It’s free and easy. Enjoy!

Ira Kaufman is the most beloved, revered and esteemed Buccaneers columnist in town. He has hung his hat at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters since July 2016. Tampa Bay’s only Pro Football Hall of Fame voter, Ira busts out columns here every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and his award winning podcasts fire Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can also see Ira every football Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on FOX-13, Scott Smith’s Tailgate Sunday.

BY IRA KAUFMAN

These are the hardest knocks Jameis Winston has ever experienced as a football player.

You can see it in his face and you can hear it in his voice as he tries to explain this train wreck of a season.

Some fans, maybe more than a few, are turning on Winston in his hour of despair, suggesting the Bucs should draft a quarterback with a first-round pick that now looks like Top-5 material. (more…)

Ira Kaufman is the most beloved, revered and esteemed Buccaneers columnist in town. He has hung his hat at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters since July 2016. Tampa Bay’s only Pro Football Hall of Fame voter, Ira busts out columns here every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and his award winning podcasts fire Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can also see Ira every football Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on FOX-13, Scott Smith’s Tailgate Sunday.

BY IRA KAUFMAN

A month ago, I declared the Bucs were ready to make a move.

I had no idea that journey would land them squarely in the NFC South basement, where they have dwelled for most of the past six seasons.

This five-game tailspin is testing the patience of even the most faithful of Tampa Bay supporters. Some Stick Carriers are hoisting pitchforks instead, hoping to rid One Buc Place of fakes and frauds.

There are enough of each to go around. (more…)

Welcome to a weekly feature on JoeBucsFan.com. Joe has challenged Ira Kaufman, Tampa Bay’s only Hall of Fame voter, to pick against the spread this season for a $500 prize. Every Friday, Ira types out his picks for each Friday-through-Monday game. If he hits at 53 percent or better for the regular season, then Ira gets $500 in gift cards to Abe’s Place in Clearwater, home of historically amazing food and 44 craft beers on tap. Feel free to send Ira your stone cold locks on Twitter, @ikaufman76. The sage of Tampa Bay sports always appreciates a tip.

BY IRA KAUFMAN

The common definition of stupidity is doing the same thing time aftertime and expecting a different result.

Because my picks against the spread have been stupid, I’m changing my routine. I’m sitting in a different room, in a different chair, sipping a different drink.

If that doesn’t work, I’m hitting up Madame Natalie next week for a psychic reading. (more…)

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Lots of big picture chatter from Ira Kaufman today and plenty from Ira’s locker room time, and much more with Joe. Tune in right here, or at iTunes, Google Play or Podbean.com. The Ira Kaufman Podcast keeps you informed and entertained every Tuesday & Thursday — and there is no offseason. Click or download above. It’s free and easy. Enjoy!

Ira Kaufman is the most beloved, revered and esteemed Buccaneers columnist in town. He has hung his hat at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters since July 2016. Tampa Bay’s only Pro Football Hall of Fame voter, Ira busts out columns here every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and his award winning podcasts fire Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can also see Ira every football Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on FOX-13, Scott Smith’s Tailgate Sunday.

BY IRA KAUFMAN

The best way to view the 2017 NFL season is through the prism of a funhouse mirror, heavy on the distortion.

Who could have expected the Rams to showcase a dynamic attack? Who knew the Jaguars would lead the league in sacks, on pace to set an NFL single-season record? Who predicted the Bills would have two more wins than the Giants and Bucs combined heading into November? (more…)

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Loaded episode today as the Sage of Tampa Bay sports is in disbelief at the state of the Buccaneers franchise. Plenty from Ira’s Sunday postgame locker room time, and much more as eye-RAH! dissects all things Bucs with Joe. The podcast closes with a 1-on-1 Ira interview of longtime local sportswriter, Bucs historian and author Joey Johnston. Tune in right here, or at iTunes, Google Play or Podbean.com. The Ira Kaufman Podcast keeps you informed and entertained every Tuesday & Thursday — and there is no offseason. Click or download above. It’s free and easy. Enjoy!

Ira Kaufman goes inside the locker room for today’s column.

Ira Kaufman is the most beloved, revered and esteemed Buccaneers columnist in town. He has hung his hat at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters since July 2016. Tampa Bay’s only Pro Football Hall of Fame voter, Ira busts out columns here every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and his award winning podcasts fire Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can also see Ira every football Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on FOX-13, Scott Smith’s Tailgate Sunday.

BY IRA KAUFMAN

Demar Dotson knows a thing or two about the Buccaneers because he’s seen a thing or two.

The longest-tenured Buc turned 32 earlier this month and he’s made more money than he ever dreamed since signing an NFL contract in 2009 as an undrafted free agent out of Southern Miss.

Dotson has the cash, but he doesn’t have the ring. He thought this would be the year Tampa Bay made a deep playoff run, but there the Bucs are, chasing the rats in the NFC South cellar. (more…)

Ira Kaufman is the most beloved, revered and esteemed Buccaneers columnist in town. He has hung his hat at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters since July 2016. Tampa Bay’s only Pro Football Hall of Fame voter, Ira busts out columns here every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and his award winning podcasts fire Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can also see Ira every football Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on FOX-13, Scott Smith’s Tailgate Sunday.

BY IRA KAUFMAN

The unthinkable is sinking in, dark and scary.

By next weekend, the Bucs could be four games out of first place in the NFC South, hopelessly out of playoff consideration midway through the season.

You can only imagine the disappointment of the Glazers Sunday as they departed their suite for the elevator down to the carport at Raymond James Stadium. They began the year thinking they owned a franchise on the rise behind a franchise quarterback.

On a blustery day in Tampa, those beliefs are now in question. Here’s 10 reasons why: (more…)

Welcome to a weekly feature on JoeBucsFan.com. Joe has challenged Ira Kaufman, Tampa Bay’s only Hall of Fame voter, to pick against the spread this season for a $500 prize. Every Friday, Ira types out his picks for each Friday-through-Monday game. If he hits at 53 percent or better for the regular season, then Ira gets $500 in gift cards to Abe’s Place in Clearwater, home of historically amazing food and 44 craft beers on tap. Feel free to send Ira your stone cold locks on Twitter, @ikaufman76. The sage of Tampa Bay sports could always use some help.

BY IRA KAUFMAN

You know that sliver of light I talked about last week? That was just a tease.

Here comes that rainy day again. (more…)

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Loads of deep analysis in this episode of the Ira Kaufman Podcast as the Bucs sit at a major franchise crossroads — last week was just a season crossroad. eye-RAH! dissects all things Bucs with Joe. Tune in right here, or at iTunes, Google Play or Podbean.com. The Ira Kaufman Podcast keeps you informed and entertained every Tuesday & Thursday — and there is no offseason. Click or download above. It’s free and easy. Enjoy!

BY IRA KAUFMAN

Buc fans are running out of patience and this franchise is running out of time.

A 2-1 start has given way to a three-game losing streak heading into the opening of divisional play Sunday. If Tampa Bay doesn’t snap out of its funk within the next two games, this season will be toast at the midway point.

A lot of jobs, including some big ones, are on the line as the Bucs prepare for a home game against the reeling Panthers and a road meeting with the division-leading Saints. (more…)

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The Buffalo collapse has The Sage of Tampa Bay sports going in many directions during this episode of the Ira Kaufman Podcast, where eye-RAH! dissects all things Bucs with Joe. Tune in right here, or at iTunes, Google Play or Podbean.com. The Ira Kaufman Podcast keeps you informed and entertained every Tuesday & Thursday — and there is no offseason. Click or download above. It’s free and easy. Enjoy!

Ira Kaufman is the most beloved, revered and esteemed Buccaneers columnist in town. He has hung his hat at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters since July 2016. Tampa Bay’s only Pro Football Hall of Fame voter, Ira busts out columns here every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and his award winning podcasts fire Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can also see Ira every football Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on FOX-13, Scott Smith’s Tailgate Sunday.

BY IRA KAUFMAN

Buc fans went to bed Sunday night with an incomprehensible thought racing through their heads.

Are the Chicago Bears better than we are?

The NFL standings suggest as much, only five weeks after the Bears trudged out of Raymond James Stadium looking like a 3-13 team playing for a lame-duck coach. (more…)

Hey, you missed a JoeBucsFan.com Watch Party event at Abe’s Place in Clearwater yesterday, but sports multimedia guru Rock Riley (@RealRockRiley) was in the house getting fan reaction and talking to Pro Football Hall of Fame voter Ira Kaufman. Enjoy!

Ira believes Bucs season may be over! from Rock Riley on Vimeo.

BY IRA KAUFMAN

I can’t put it any better than Dirk Koetter:

“We let this one slip away.”

This was a galling setback, in some ways more hurtful than the embarrassment in the Arizona desert. The Bucs simply didn’t man up against the Cardinals. On Sunday, they didn’t smarten up against a Buffalo team that was there for the taking.

This one stings like a yellow jacket, so let us count the ways: (more…)

Welcome to a weekly feature on JoeBucsFan.com. Joe has challenged Ira Kaufman, Tampa Bay’s only Hall of Fame voter, to pick against the spread this season for a $500 prize. Every Friday, Ira types out his picks for each Friday-through-Monday game. If he hits at 53 percent or better for the regular season, then Ira gets $500 in gift cards to Abe’s Place in Clearwater, home of historically amazing food and 44 craft beers on tap. Feel free to send Ira your stone cold locks on Twitter, @ikaufman76. The sage of Tampa Bay sports could always use some help.

BY IRA KAUFMAN

There’s a sliver of light peeking through the clouds. (more…)