 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
There are many reasons the Bucs lost today (see the Dirk Koetter defense). But one contributing factor is the missing chemistry between Jameis Winston and the man who now sits just 12 receiving yards shy of 10,000 in his career. [read more]
BY IRA KAUFMAN
The little things will get you every time.
The Bucs did some things very well Sunday in Atlanta, but the details did them in. This football team isn’t good enough to overcome key mistakes — and Tampa Bay made too many of them in dropping to 2-3.
Gerald McCoy can’t be flagged for an illegal use of the hands penalty on a 3rd-and-11 incompletion early in the second quarter. Instead of settling for a field goal, the Falcons scored on the next play.
That’s a 4-point gaffe. [read more]
Struggled.
The last couple of games, Bucs cornerback Ryan Smith seemed as if he turned the corner. [read more]
The instant Joe saw it he knew the Bucs better win or fans would be outraged. [read more]
Dirk Koetter is responsible for the Buccaneers’ terrible defense every bit as much as Mike Smith is.
That fact isn’t lost on Joe or anyone minding the store at One Buc Palace. [read more]
Bucs defense smelled on more than one down.
It has already started. You heard it today from a few people and you will likely hear it more in the coming days.
Don’t be conned. [read more]
Crucial pick.
There was no way the Bucs should have been in the game. The defense in the first half was beyond atrocious. A lot of coaches would have launched Mike Smith at halftime. [read more]
Painted Bucs into a corner.
Ever since Dirk Koetter came to Tampa Bay to serve as offensive coordinator in 2015, Bucs kickers have done more for antacid sales than any local doctor. [read more]
Offensive line coach George Warhop dropped a very telling line about his unit after last season.
Warhop made it very clear that the line’s effort (keyword: effort) was unacceptable until Week 10 against the Jets. [read more]
The locker room scene did not look good for six-time Pro Bowler Gerald McCoy.
Joe saw McCoy wearing the dreaded boot on his right foot/leg. Fans watching at home saw him leave the game in the fourth quarter and limping on the sidelines.
Usually, the boot means at least one missed game, typically two or three. Don’t expect an official report from the Bucs until Wednesday.
What the hell was that, Dirk Koetter/Todd Monken?
From the 21 yard line of the Falcons with seven seconds remaining, you approve a high school trick play when the Bucs are loaded with big receivers and a quarterback very capable of throwing the football? [read more]
The bar is very high for America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, as it should be for any healthy, veteran No. 1 overall pick saddled with the worst defense in the NFL and a lethal arsenal of targets. [read more]
Typical Bucs game in so many ways starting with Matt Ryan completing 76 percent of his passes and Bucs defensive players too often looking confused and helpless.
When will this defensive nightmare end? Because the offense is good enough to win a lot of games. [read more]
Fire away with fellow fans in the comments section with Buccaneers faithful from downtown Bradenton to Crystal Beach and Westchase and beyond. Share your every thought on today’s critical Falcons-Bucs matchup. Kickoff at 1 p.m.
Play nice and maintain your composure!
And stick with Joe and Ira Kaufman (and Joe’s on-scene photographer) after the game for spectacular postgame coverage.
Old and rich meets old and rich
Now that’s the kind of headline you want to read on an Atlanta newspaper website the day your team plays the Falcons. [read more]
Pressure.
Heavy burden for America’s Quarterback these days. [read more]
“Hey Ali, where does this leave me?”
A very interesting and bold call was made by head coach Dirk Koetter on Friday. [read more]
What run game?
Judging by Joe’s Twitter timeline yesterday, a lot of Bucs fans are moaning about how Ronald Jones is still the Bucs’ No. 2 running back behind Peyton Barber based on the words of Bucs coach Dirk Koetter on SiriusXM NFL Radio Friday night. [read more]
Contender or pretender?
Joe likes the way Thomas Bassinger thinks. [read more]
