Lovie’s Warm Seat Cools

October 11th, 2015
Safe. For now.

Safe. For now.

Bucs fans are giddy. A win at home. Really.

By beating the jughead Jags, the Bucs broke an ugly home losing streak that stretched 11 games dating back to December 2013. [read more]

Two Wins For Jameis: One For Marcus Mariota

October 11th, 2015

Coveted.

Where would Marcus Mariota be if he didn’t get to play against the porous Tampa Bay defense? He’d be winless and sucking his thumb somewhere. [read more]

Stunning Depth Brewing On Bucs’ O-Line

October 11th, 2015
Kevin Pamphile

Kevin Pamphile shocked a lot of people today in his left guard debut

Making his first career start at guard, and enjoying his first regular-season playing time at guard, former Milk Carton and 2014 Bucs fifth-round pick Kevin Pamphile stood tall today.

Filling in for injured Logan Mankins, Pamphile was good enough in the Bucs’ glorious home win against the Jags. [read more]

Buccaneers 38, Jaguars 31

October 11th, 2015
Don't mess with Doug Martin. (Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers_

Don’t mess with Doug Martin. (Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

The sweet smell of a home victory! It’s been nearly 23 months!

It wasn’t always pretty against the shaky Jaguars, but Joe couldn’t give a damn.

That warm, unusual October feeling in your groin? It’s something called hope. [read more]

Buccaneers-Jaguars Open Thread

October 11th, 2015

bucs cheerleader 1117Can the Bucs beat the worst road team in the NFL, and turn frowns into smiles at the Den of Depression?

Joe would do cartwheels if that occurs this afternoon.

Dive into the comments section and chat all through the game.

You can also chatter in the new JoeBucsFan Message Boards. It’s easy. If you haven’t already, just register, confirm the automatic email, and then sign in and play.

Have fun. Bad words and naughty posters will be filtered.

Go Bucs!

Mankins Out, Pamphile In

October 11th, 2015
Logan Mankins and Kevin Pamphile were attached at the hip through many spring practices

Logan Mankins and Kevin Pamphile were attached at the hip through many spring practices

Tampa Bay’s depth will be tested today in a huge way. [read more]

Gameday Tampa Bay

October 11th, 2015

Game 5

Jags (1-3) at Bucs (1-3)

Kickoff: 1 p.m. [read more]

The Gravity Of Today’s Game

October 11th, 2015
lovie 1005

Career crossroads today?

Should the Bucs keep (3-17, 0-10 at home) Lovie Smith? A lot of folks don’t think so. Joe isn’t there (yet) but has to admit, Lovie is sure making his own bed.

Can Lovie still turn things around? Sure he can. [read more]

THE OPTIMIST: Surging Offense In Place

October 11th, 2015
jameis 0921c

THE OPTIMIST lays out the evidence

In these unsettled times of devastating Bucs losses, constant change and growing pains, Joe thought it would be wise to bring back THE OPTIMIST.

THE OPTIMIST is Nick Houllis, a Bucs fan and an accomplished writer whose steadfast allegiance to the Buccaneers goes back to the 1970s. Houllis is the founder, creator and guru of BucStop.com, a place Joe goes to get lost in time via Houllis’ stunning video collection.

THE OPTIMIST will shine that positive light in your eyes. Some will love it. Some won’t. … Of course, THE OPTIMIST’s opinions are his alone and are not influenced by Joe. [read more]

Defending Gerald McCoy

October 11th, 2015
Popular sports radio personality Chris "Mad Dog" Russo continued his attacks on Bucs DT Gerald McCoy.

Popular sports radio personality Chris “Mad Dog” Russo continued his attacks on Gerald McCoy.

For some reason, Bucs fans love to go after talented defensive tackle Gerald McCoy. For some reason, they think he should be getting 20 sacks a year.

Maybe it is his personality. Maybe it is his not-quite-Hall-of-Fame numbers, but GMC irritates many Bucs fans. [read more]

Jags’ Strength Versus Bucs’ Will

October 11th, 2015
The stat sheet says today won't be a good one for Doug Martin.

The stat sheet — and Paul Posluszny — says today won’t be a big one for Doug Martin.

So what NFL team allows the fewest yards per carry?

That’s the Jacksonville Jaguars, the guys standing in the way of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 12 short hours. [read more]

“It Is About Developing”

October 10th, 2015
Six-win team?

Six-win team?

While there are quite a few noisy people locally that have already called for Lovie Smith’s head on a platter if the Bucs fall to the Jags tomorrow, Woody Cummings is not one of them. [read more]

Joe’s Podcast With Ronnie Lane

October 10th, 2015
Smooth-talking Ronnie Lane of WDAE-AM 620 has his weekly sitdown with Joe talkin' Bucs.

Smooth-talking Ronnie Lane of WDAE-AM 620 has his weekly sitdown with Joe talkin’ Bucs.

Yes, it is that time of the week when Joe has his sitdown with cool cat Ronnie Lane of WDAE-AM 620.

In this podcast, Joe tackles the elephant in the room:  the job security of Bucs coach (3-17, 0-10 at home) Lovie Smith, and how tomorrow’s game with the Jags could very well be the beginning of the end for Lovie. [read more]

“Those Rare Throws” & “Vintage Brady”

October 10th, 2015

WinstonMariotaTampa Bay’s starting quarterback has been a model of inconsistency since opening day.

So who is Jameis Winston, America’s Quarterback, and why should fans be excited? [read more]

Another Personnel Decision In The Spotlight

October 10th, 2015

lovie and lichtA bizarre thing happened in Chicago last Sunday. On the third play of the game, the Bears lost their starting center.

Chicago’s left guard moved to center, and Patrick Omameh, the guy who started 16 games at right guard for Tampa Bay last year, jumped in at left guard for the rest of the game. [read more]

TV Map For Jags-Bucs Game

October 10th, 2015

tvYou asked for it, you got it. It’s the TV map for tomorrow’s game between the jughead Jags and the Bucs, live from the Den of Depression. [read more]

“Trickling Over Into This Year”

October 10th, 2015

lovie smith 0920If you’re wondering what would preserve Lovie Smith’s job, Joe’s going to tell you right now. [read more]

Faith In America

October 10th, 2015

american flagJoe stumbled upon a treasure of a new website recently. Pat Kirwan, of SiriusXM NFL Radio and CBS Sports fame, has launched a site called RealFootballNetwork.com.

No gambling. No fantasy. Just football to your X’s-and-O’s heart’s content. [read more]

Communication The Key

October 10th, 2015
Communication is why the Bucs offensive line is playing well, said RG Ali Marpet.

Communication is why the Bucs’ offensive line is playing well, said RG Ali Marpet.

Joe has been on an offensive line kick of late. For those who find this boring, don’t worry. Joe has plenty of non-offensive line content.

On a unit Joe thought would be the Bucs’ worst, the offensive line probably has developed into the team’s strength. [read more]

“Jaguars 24, Buccaneers 20”

October 9th, 2015

Brady Quinn and another noted NFL analyst are wagging a finger at Dirk Koetter and Lovie Smith’s management of Jameis Winston

What the hell is going on here?

Jacksonville has lost 11 consecutive road games and will play its third road game in a row on Sunday, yet multiple experts believes the Jags will handle the Bucs. [read more]

“It Is In Lovie Smith’s Hands”

October 9th, 2015
Can he turn things around?

Can Lovie turn things around?

In a sad way, the main topic of Bucs fans is not the solid playing offensive line or the burgeoning play of rookie middle linebacker Kwon Alexander, or a rebirth of running back Doug Martin. [read more]