Where Do You Stand On Lovie Smith?

November 26th, 2014

Tomorrow, Joe will compare results here to those of previous weeks.


Chucky Back In Coaching Mode

November 26th, 2014

chucky 0506

The world’s greatest coach, who just loves football and loves to talk football but doesn’t want to coach football, is back at it.

Chucky participated in a promotional video for GoPro to show how much the video camera can help high school football programs.

Naturally, Chucky broke out his fired football coaches schtick as if he is some martyr. This drives Joe nuts. Get over it, Chucky. [read more]

RGIII And The Bucs

November 26th, 2014
He likely could be had for a second-round pick says a former Redskins executive

He likely could be had for a second-round pick, says a former Redskins executive.

Yes, super-talented, 24-year old quarterback Robert Griffin, III, has been benched and many believe his days in Washington are finished.

The Buccaneers, to be kind, could use a new starting QB. [read more]

“Huge Offseason” For Mike Evans

November 26th, 2014

johnny png (1)Josh McCown brought this up on his Buccaneers Radio Network show last night, and it was a fantastic point.

McCown, though not an all-time great, has played with many all-time greats and knows Mike Evans’ fantastic development won’t end in when the Bucs close out the 2014 season in a month. [read more]

Bucs Have Played Sixth Easiest Schedule

November 26th, 2014

cheerleadersweatyThe 2-9 Buccaneers aren’t used to playing good football teams.

That a little scary as they approach a tough stretch of their schedule, starting Sunday with the 7-3-1 Bengals coming to Tampa with a punishing rushing attack and a quarterback who wins plenty of games.

[read more]

Lovie Changes Tune On Nose Guard

November 26th, 2014
Clinton McDonald

Clinton McDonald

Joe was very confused yesterday when Lovie Smith talked about starting defensive tackle Clinton McDonald (four sacks).

What Lovie said contradicted previous takes on the 2014 free agent signee. [read more]

McCown: I Couldn’t Manipulate My Balls

November 26th, 2014

josh mccown 1124

Josh McCown likes wet soggy balls and dry balls, but he’s no fan of the kind of balls he was feeling in Chicago.

The weather greatly affected McCown on Sunday, he said. That makes it all the more stunning he attempted 48 passes, the most in his career. [read more]

Agent: Jackson, Goldson Should Be Cut

November 26th, 2014
vincent jackson 1023

A former player agent suggests the Bucs should cut WR Vincent Jackson.

You can bet your friendly neighborhood bartender a week’s worth of tabs the Bucs will have a different look in 2015. Whether it is drastic or just new names replacing famous faces, rest assured there will be change.

How can there not be when a team is but one game away from having the No. 1 overall pick in the draft — see Lovie, Joe can play hopscotch math, too! [read more]

Rainey Among Most Elusive

November 26th, 2014
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That data geeks weigh in

Joe knows many Bucs fans become incensed when one suggests running back Doug Martin doesn’t have it any longer. He doesn’t.

Joe has written too many times describing in great detail why Bobby Rainey is a better option now than Martin.

Don’t think so? Just look at what the spreadsheeters over at Pro Football Focus dug up. [read more]

Joe Talks Breakdowns, Rebuilding Plans, False Title Hopes & More

November 25th, 2014

joemugshotIt was that time of the week again — the “JoeBucsFan Hour” with the dean of Tampa Bay sports radio, Steve Duemig of WDAE-AM 620.

Joe dove into all kinds of topics. [read more]

“Buying In More In What The Coach’s Philosophy Is”

November 25th, 2014

jacquies smith 1120How could Joe not celebrate all things Jacquies Smith? What a September pickup by general manager Lovie Smith and Jason Licht, and what a good job developing this guy quickly!

As the sacks leader among Bucs defensive ends with four, Smith has all of Joe’s attention. [read more]

Lovie Takes Will Gholston Off The Hook

November 25th, 2014

GholstonlockerFor those eager to clobber defensive end Will Gholston for his second costly special teams penalty this month, Joe can soothe you.

Sunday’s first-quarter roughing the kicker personal foul on Gholston that gave the Bears a fresh set of downs was bogus. [read more]

Glennon Mob Doesn’t Have To Dig Deep

November 25th, 2014

McCownGlennonIt’s been tough sledding for the Mike Glennon Mob. What a rollercoaster ride this year has been.

Those “19-and-9” bumper stickers, hot sellers last Valentine’s Day, were emblematic of the movement. But now there’s a new rallying cry fueled by fresh data. [read more]

Doesn’t Matter Who Is Quarterback

November 25th, 2014

josh mccown and mike glennon

It just hurts Joe’s head when he hears Lovie Smith talk about being in a playoff race. With a two-win team that can’t win a game at home? C’mon.

Even if the Bucs were in a playoff hunt, the Bucs offense is in dire need of help. Andrew Astleford of Fox Sports Florida believes it doesn’t make a difference who is the quarterback so long as the run game is swimming up stream. [read more]

Bucs Cut Returner Marcus Thigpen

November 25th, 2014
Replacing Eric Page hasn't been easy

Replacing Eric Page hasn’t been easy

The revolving door of returners trying to replace Eric Page keeps turning.

Jelly hands Marcus Thigpen was released today, after Trindon Holliday went to injured reserve and Chris Owusu was cut, after rookie Solomon Patton didn’t last long. [read more]

“Cool Out On It”

November 25th, 2014
Lavonte David told his painful story

Lavonte David told his painful story

Lavonte David is a fierce competitor. Sitting out Sunday, his first missed game of his career, was brutal on him.

David painted a picture of a guy who wanted to go but was denied by team medical staff. [read more]

Football On A Playground

November 25th, 2014
Bucs WR Mike Evans scores Sunday. (Photo courtesy of Buccaners.com)

Bucs WR Mike Evans scores Sunday. (Photo courtesy of Buccaners.com)

One bright spot in this miserable season is the glow of rookie wide receiver Mike Evans. It is hard not to group Evans in with the top tier of receivers in the league.

Sunday, in the loss to the Bears, the way Evans described it, he and quarterback Josh McCown were playing backyard football on his touchdown catch, the lone TD for the Bucs. [read more]

And If They Played To The Whistle?

November 25th, 2014
Teammates let down Louis Murphy

Teammates let down Louis Murphy

The easiest thing about playing football is going hard to the whistle. It takes no talent to give maximum effort. That’s learned at the Pop Warner level. Most plays are no more than six seconds of mayhem. Is that too much to freakin’ ask?

Joe presents Exhibit A from the Tampa Bay debacle in Chicago. [read more]

“They Ate”

November 25th, 2014

bears beat bucs

It was almost like two different games Sunday.

The Bucs thrashed the Bears and bratty Jay Cutler in the first half. In the second half? The Bears were wolves. Hungry wolves, in fact.

Bears safety Peanut Tillman, a Lovie Smith guy through and through, explained how Chicago coach Marc Trestman and defensive coordinator Mel Tucker went all “Coming to America” and lit into the Bears at halftime and unleashed the dogs. [read more]

Lovie Explains, “It Takes A While”

November 25th, 2014
lovie 1029

Time is helping the Bucs, Lovie claims.

How should one view this ugly Bucs season?

Is Tampa Bay simply the worst team — with the worst quarterback situation — in what might be the worst division in NFL history?

Or are the Bucs on the rise and just jelling a little slower than Lovie Smith would like, but still jelling nonetheless? [read more]

“Perfect Opportunity” Has Lovie Buzzing

November 25th, 2014

michael johnson 1014Chatter from Lovie Smith on his radio show last night seemed to provide good insight into one of the more frustrating elements of this season.

That would be Michael Johnson’s lack of production. [read more]