Special Teams Not Miserable

January 23rd, 2015
koenen

There is no way to be polite about this without shameless spinning. Michael Koenen’s punting last year was horrible.

When a team sinks to the worst record in the NFL, fans nitpick every little thing that went wrong. And when a team has the worst record in football, that team gives fans tons of reasons to nitpick.

One area — surely not the lone area — Bucs fans grumbled about was special teams. [read more]

Jameis Watch: “Be Happy!”

January 23rd, 2015

jameis 1215

Crab-legs-stealing, BB-gun-shooting, obscenity-hollering, Heisman-Trophy-winning, former national champion Jameis Winston, the pride of Florida State University, continues to look like a much better quarterback prospect than Mike Glennon and Josh McCown.

It’s Joe’s daily nugget on the Jameis Watch, celebrating the best quarterback to wear No. 5 ever in the state of Florida. [read more]

“They Kind Of Let The Players Go”

January 23rd, 2015

Mankins

More light was shed yesterday on the relaxed management style of Tampa Bay head coach Lovie Smith. [read more]

Derrick Brooks: Bucs Need A “Character Development Plan”

January 23rd, 2015

BrooksLovieAre the Bucs ready to handle a high-maintenance draft pick?

That’s a damn good question. [read more]

Hester Success Reveals Koetter Versatility

January 23rd, 2015
A former Buccaneer weighs in on new Bucs offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter

A former Buccaneer weighs in on new Bucs offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter

For years in Chicago, Lovie Smith tried to turn All-World returner Devin Hester into a premier wide receiver.

The experiment failed. [read more]

Rising?

January 23rd, 2015
Just how secure is LB Danny Lansanah?

Is LB Danny Lansanah a rising player?

It’s hard to find something positive about the Bucs’ last year. The team stunk up the joint (but did win the Chase for Jameis).

Oh, there was rookie wide receiver Mike Evans. After that? Well, trying to find another positive is sort of like Joe staring at an empty beer bottle after last call. [read more]

What Could Have Been

January 23rd, 2015
In what turned out to be his final game as an offensive coordinator for the Bucs, Jeff Tedford thought he had the offense right on track to be successful.

In what turned out to be his final game, Jeff Tedford thought he had the offense right on track.

Though the Bucs now have a new offensive coordinator and a new quarterbacks coach, Joe thought he would give readers one last peek into his interview with former OC Jeff Tedford last week.

If Bucs fans haven’t quite washed away memories of 2014 with their favorite brand of bourbon, they’d remember that after a couple of horrific offensive performances in the preseason, the Bucs’ offense looked sharp in the third preseason game at Buffalo. [read more]

Bucs (Officially) Have A New QB Coach

January 22nd, 2015
The Bucs have announced the hiring of Mike Bajakian as their new QB coach.

The Bucs announced the hiring of Mike Bajakian as their new QB coach.

What was rumored earlier today is now fact. The Bucs have a new quarterbacks coach and his name is Mike Bajakian, by way of the University of Tennessee. [read more]

“I Eat Free”

January 22nd, 2015

gerald mccoy 0916Gerald McCoy headed to the BSPN Radio studios today and joined the famous Mike & Mike show to talk about all kinds of topics and have some fun.

Joe took notes. [read more]

QB Coach Target Surfaces

January 22nd, 2015
Volunteers OC Mike Bajakian is reportedly the new Bucs QB coach.

Volunteers OC Mike Bajakian is reportedly in the running as new Bucs QB coach.

If the Twitter whispers are to be believed, the Bucs have a new quarterback coach. And Joe hopes you are sitting down for this: it’s a college guy who was an offensive coordinator.

Breathe easy, however, Bucs fans, this is not a guy who coached at an extinct football program. [read more]

“You’re Not Going To Get A Third Year, If You Put Up Another 2-14 Or Something Like It.”

January 22nd, 2015

Glazerlovie

Welcome to the hot seat, Coach.

[read more]

“I’ll Bet He Starts To Fall On Draft Day”

January 22nd, 2015

WinstonMariota

NFL Network and the NFL.com team are busy talking quarterbacks with scouts and movers and shakers at the Senior Bowl. [read more]

“You Can’t Be Gun-Shy”

January 22nd, 2015
Nobody thrives in the draft like Packers GM Ted Thompson, but even he nailed two free agency signings last year.

Nobody thrives in the draft like Packers GM Ted Thompson, but even he nailed two expensive free agency signings last year.

As Joe wrote earlier this week, Jason Licht sounds like a guy ready to dive into the deep end of the free agency pool on March 10. That wasn’t the first time Licht talked about a Year 2 shopping outing with Team Glazer’s checkbook.

While Tampa Tribune voice Woody Cummings thinks otherwise, a former Buccaneer believes Lovie Smith and Licht have no choice. [read more]

“He’s Good!”

January 22nd, 2015
A national NFL voice offers his two cents on Dirk Koetter.

A national NFL voice offers his two cents on Dirk Koetter.

The past few months have been such an awful trainwreck for the Bucs; Joe doesn’t know where to begin. The end of the season was probably a late Christmas present.

About the only thing that has gone right for the team, aside from the season coming to an end and winning the Chase for Jameis, was the hire of Dirk Koetter as offensive coordinator. [read more]

The Dreaded Black Box

January 22nd, 2015

joe_mug_shotSome regular readers of JoeBucsFan.com are troubled by a black box that sometimes appears on their screen when viewing stories and comments here. Take a deep breath. It’s supposed to be there. (Gasp!)

For most people, the box fills in immediately with a cute video ad from Rich Eisen of NFL Network. It’s not seen on every page, and it’s a Super Bowl campaign that won’t last long. Isn’t it wonderful that businesses see the value in helping Joe cover the Bucs 24/7 and avoid eating dog food?

Of course, readers are welcome to click the X and not watch the whole video. Yes, Joe realizes that’s a big chore.

Bucs May Back Off From Free Agency

January 22nd, 2015
Word seeping out of One Buc Palace suggests Lovie Smith has had his fill of big-name hunting in free agency.

Word seeping out of One Buc Palace suggests Lovie Smith has had his fill of big-name hunting in free agency.

Last March, Bucs fans were absolutely giddy when Lovie Smith broke out Team Glazer’s checkbook and went drunken sailor in an attempt to restock the team’s roster.

Anthony Collins, Alterraun Verner, Michael Johnson, Clinton McDonald, Evan Dietrich-Smith, Brandon Myers and Josh McCown all quickly came in weighted down with Team Glazer cash ready to march the Bucs back to both respectability and the playoffs. [read more]

Jameis Watch: Booger’s Passionate Plea

January 22nd, 2015

jameis 1121

Crab-legs-stealing, BB-gun-shooting, obscenity-hollering, Heisman-Trophy-winning, former national champion Jameis Winston, the pride of Florida State University, continues to look like a much better quarterback prospect than Mike Glennon and Josh McCown.

It’s Joe’s daily nugget on the Jameis Watch, celebrating the best quarterback to wear No. 5 ever in the state of Florida. [read more]

Dirk Koetter Went Under The Knife

January 21st, 2015
New Bucs offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter

New Bucs offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter

Former Bucs offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford told Joe he thought Lovie Smith and friends were concerned about his health in 2015 and beyond, so they wouldn’t commit to bringing him back, despite being healthy and ready to coach in November. [read more]

“I’m Going To Travel A Lot”

January 21st, 2015

LovieJagsBrand new head coaches often are busy establishing their programs and doing extensive scouting of their new team’s existing roster.

They’re way to busy to scout college talent. It’s a different story for Lovie Smith. [read more]

A Josh Freeman Sighting!

January 21st, 2015
Former Bucs QB Josh Freeman is working out with Chris Weinke at IMG Academy trying to revive his dormant career.

Former Bucs QB Josh Freeman is trying to revive his dormant career.

One of the biggest mysteries in the Tampa Bay area this side of the secretive Bucs cheerleader selection process is what has happened to former franchise quarterback, leaky, sleepy Josh Freeman.

Rumors surfaced in 2014, claiming Freeman was working out with Chucky to refine his quarterback skills. Apparently, Freeman has moved on. [read more]

Jameis Watch: The Godfather’s Blessing

January 21st, 2015

jameis 1104Crab-legs-stealing, BB-gun-shooting, obscenity-hollering, Heisman-Trophy-winning, former national champion Jameis Winston, the pride of Florida State University, continues to look like a much better quarterback prospect than Mike Glennon and Josh McCown.

It’s Joe’s daily nugget on the Jameis Watch, celebrating the best quarterback to wear No. 5 ever in the state of Florida. [read more]