Corralling Stinking Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart should be priority No. 1 today.

The last time the Stinking Panthers squared off against the Bucs, despite having the immortal Derek Anderson at quarterback, the Stinking Panthers rolled up 334 yards of offense to win.

If the Bucs are going to win today (and kiss goodbye the No. 1 overall pick in the draft), they must do something about that. Unfortunately, the Stinking Panthers are coming off a helluva offensive performance. [read more]

Look for Riverboat Ron Rivera to follow the leads of Marvin Lewis and Jim Caldwell

The Tampa Bay offense isn’t just bad, it’s been completely disrespected by opponents over the past two weeks.

Remember that wacky, senseless onside kick by the Bengals two weeks ago? The one with Cincinnati leading 14-10 with 2:04 remaining in the third quarter? [read more]

Time’s up for a member of the Bucs’ O-line, says NFL Films guru Greg Cosell.

In a matter of minutes before “98.7 The Fan” was shut down by the sports radio station’s ownership this month, longtime NFL Films chief Greg Cosell was on their airwaves talking all things Bucs.

Cosell made it clear that Josh McCown, per the film, was nothing more than backup fodder, but Cosell also had firm words for the offensive line. [read more]

A career scout weighs in on mechanics

Crab-legs-stealing, BB-gun-shooting, obscenity-hollering, Heisman-Trophy-winning, national champion James 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]

Albert Breer, of NFL.com and NFL Network, projects six openings at general manager across the NFL in a matter of days, and Breer says former Bucs rockstar general manager Mark Dominik is among the “second-chancers” who could get a serious look.

What? How could this be? So many Bucs fans consider Dominik to be clueless. [read more]

ESPN pumped out key data recently for their Insiders, those who pay their hard-earned cash every month to read allegedly fancier articles.

One nugget clarified a key offseason point for Bucs fans. [read more]

It’s time for Joe’s weekly podcast! As always, Joe joins the silky smooth pipes of Ronnie Lane, of the Buccaneers Radio Network and the Ronnie and TKras show on WDAE-AM 620.

Joe hits on various topics of the day. [read more]

Bucs rookie tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins has a shot at a club mark despite all his injuries.

Joe just has to thank general manager Jason Licht. The man completely and totally hit a home run when he drafted wide receiver Mike Evans in the first round. Evans very well could be the NFL rookie of the year.

How good has Evans been? The weekly release from the Bucs’ media relations staff touting individual and team highlights has four full pages devoted to Evans’ accomplishments. [read more]

One Bucs beat writer thinks QB is not the team’s top need

Raise your hand if you think the Buccaneers’ No. 1 need is a starting quarterback.

Joe’s hand is up. But Joe’s media brethren are not all in agreement. [read more]

You asked for it, you got it. It’s the TV map for tomorrow’s game between the Bucs and the Stinking Panthers, live in Charlotte.

Believe it or not, if you live near the cities of the NFC South teams, you have a decent chance of viewing the Bucs live on your local over-the-air FOX affiliate.

[read more]

Acting offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo does “things that bad teams do.”

Going on two seasons now, especially after leaky, sleepy Josh Freeman got run off the Bucs by former Commander Greg Schiano and then-rookie Mike Glennon was knighted starter, the Bucs offense has been in turtle mode.

The lowlight was that it was dumbed down too much to prevent mistakes, that receivers were running six-yard routes on third-and-nine. [read more]

If the Bucs defense has really turned a corner, if Leslie Frazier and Lovie Smith are savvy, elite defensive minds, then the Panthers’ offense should be handcuffed starting two rookie guards and a backup quarterback tomorrow.

Anything less would be unacceptable. [read more]

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]

It was time for Joe’s weekly visit to the popular Ron and Ian show yesterday and, as usual, it was a rapid-fire affair filled with all kinds of stocking stuffers. [read more]

There is little doubt Lavonte David is one of the best outside linebackers in the NFL. Maybe the best. Joe wouldn’t argue.

But when fans vote for the Pro Bowl, they don’t often look at David’s tackles and his sideline-to-sideline play. [read more]

Joe can think of two guys who have had bad seasons on the offensive side of the ball because of circumstances beyond their control. One is acting offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo. The man is simply over his head in a no-win situation.

The other is Charles Sims. [read more]

After a game off with an elbow injury, Bucs left tackle Anthony Collins practiced all this week and should start against Carolina on Sunday.

In Week 1, Collins locked down Panthers’ beastly pass rusher Greg Hardy, but Collins has had only a few good games since. [read more]

Whenever sports analysts, players or team officials speak for the fans, Joe’s ears perk up.

Often, that’s a dangerous slope.

Don’t mess with the masses. [read more]

Lovie Smith talks about building a winning culture with the Bucs.

Not that long ago, winning wasn’t expected at One Buc Palace. It was demanded.

Division titles were expected. The team had loftier goals than merely getting to .500.

Oh, how things have changed. [read more]

Marcus! Jameis! Marcus! Jameis! Marcus! Jameis! Marcus! Jameis! Marcus! Jameis!

Oh, what a maniacal frenzy it will be if the Bucs maintain their current 2015 draft position, the No. 1 overall pick.

But that specific No. 1 slot is critical. [read more]

Birds of a feather

Six weeks ago, former Buccaneer Mark Barron took all kinds of heat for saying the safety position in Lovie Smith’s defense was too “passive,” following his trade to St. Louis.

Even Lovie Smith took exception to that. [read more]