Third-worst rush defense through three games.

Last week, a career nobody named Alfred Blue looked like LaDainian Tomlinson and ran for 139 yards on 31 carries against the Bucs.

The week before, the Saints, with the Bucs up two scores, absolutely gashed Tampa Bay on the ground in the final minutes and narrowly missed sending the game into overtime. [read more]

Before and after the NFL Draft, there might not have been a bigger backer of Jameis Winston, America’s Quarterback, than Trent Dilfer. [read more]

Sunday is a big day in Buccaneers history.

And Joe’s not talking about Tampa Bay breaking its double-digit home losing streak. [read more]

It’s been a rough start to the season for Lavonte David. The $10 million-per-year linebacker ranks tied for 138th in the NFL for solo tackles. He’s perennially been a top-5 guy in that department. [read more]

Bucs GM Jason Licht no longer has the luxury of the first waiver claim for eligible unemployed players.

One benefit — yes, Joe is stretching the word “benefit” here — of having the worst record in the NFL is the top waiver claim.

By winning the Chase for Jameis last year, the Bucs had that benefit.

But it was only temporary and it expired today. [read more]

That sacks goose egg dropped by the Texans’ defense? Give Jameis Winston, America’s Quarterback, plenty of credit, explains his position coach. [read more]

Even America’s Quarterback would foul his pants if you tried to sell him that he played better than Aaron Rodgers this week.

Joe tries to keep an open mind about the stat geeks. Really.

Some stats are useful. Hey, Joe uses them every day and so do just about all fans of sports, even if it is just yards-per-carry or completion percentage or, for example in baseball, batting average and ERA. [read more]

Waived per NFL.com.

If Rand Getlin of the NFL Network and NFL.com is to be believed — and let’s face it, would the organ of the NFL put out false info? — the era of Mike James playing running back for the Bucs has come to a close. [read more]

Joe’s never quite sure what to make of it when a guy in charge says something needs to happen.

Then order it to happen! Take last year, when Lovie Smith used to say the Bucs must stick with the running game longer. [read more]

The math and reality here are simple and sound. [read more]

Anerica’s Quarterback gets rave reviews from Houston coach Bill O’Brien.

Texans coach Bill O’Brien made his bones as a quarterback coach in both college and NFL circles. He’s the only guy who got Brian Hoyer to play halfway decent football with the Belicheats.

And since BOB left Penn State for Houston, heralded quarterback Christian Hackenberg has been, more often than not, a mess. [read more]

All that national media attention for defensive end Jacquies Smith last week didn’t generate an inspired performance against a patchwork Texans offensive line.

However, Smith remains an inspirational figure. [read more]

Man, oh man, oh man. In retrospect, could Lovie Smith have done a worse job in picking free agents than he did a year ago when he first came on board to guide the Bucs? [read more]

Having a 1-2 record with losses to sad teams frustrates Bucs fans.

It is not quite as bad as last year, so there is growth.

One area worse than sad is red zone defense. [read more]

Joe really feels for those Bucs fans who don’t realize what a gem the Bucs have in Jameis Winston, America’s Quarterback.

It’s hard enough to live the Bucs life, but it must be hell if you think Young Jameis is a problem or a shaky project QB. [read more]

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve.

It ain’t that hard to count to 12. [read more]

An esteemed ex-Buccaneer and former Pro Bowler points a finger at flawed route running.

Joe pays attention when a 15-year NFL veteran, a reasoned, intelligent Xs and Os guru who is paid to study Bucs film, wags a finger at the Tampa Bay route running. [read more]

Deemed an NFL “goat” by theMMQB.com.

When you miss four kicks, three field goals and an extra point, and your teams loses by 10, you should expect darts to come your way.

And they are. [read more]

Joe’s really getting sick and tired of hearing about the Texans’ defense.

The reality is the Bucs didn’t run the ball yesterday nearly as well as most teams do against Houston. [read more]

A coveted man.

For the haters and the anti-Jameis blowhards out there, this is for you.

The owner of the team that beat the Bucs yesterday, a team that narrowly missed the playoffs last year, the guy who spent some $700 million to bring the NFL back to south Texas, is jealous of the Bucs. [read more]

Ali Marpet and his fellow linemen helped keep America’s Quarterback’s jersey clean yesterday, despite facing a future Hall of Famer.

Joe is going to guess many Bucs fans missed the following: the Bucs did not allow one sack on America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston.

Not one. And only three hits. [read more]

Former Bucs QB Shaun King

How bout those self-beating Buccaneers?

Former Tampa Bay quarterback Shaun King is convinced the team will be kicking itself today. [read more]