The stat geeks would say rookie Solomon Patton’s nine punt returns are a “small sample size.” But Patton has done pretty well with them, averaging 11.7 yards per return, tied for seventh best among full-time NFL punt returners. [read more]

When Joe looked at the Bucs landscape, he figured it would be the offense that would struggle early, learning the ropes as so many people on that side of the ball were new, along with the new, untested NFL coaches on that side of the ball.

Joe never dreamed it would be the defense that needs the most work. [read more]

Joe’s proud to continue his partnership with LandryFootball.com, run by former NFL personnel man Chris Landry, who has worked as an assistant coach and scout for Bill Belichick, coordinator of the Titans scouting department, among other positions in pro and college football.

Landry provides an exclusive podcast for JoeBucsFan.com readers, which you can enjoy here every Tuesday evening, as in right now. [read more]

Joe stepped into the den of the dean of Tampa Bay sports radio, Steve Duemig, for the weekly “JoeBucsFan Hour” on WDAE-AM 620.

All kinds of topics drew heated debate. [read more]

Mike Glennon doesn’t have many offensive teammates who played with him last year, but one of them can identify a difference in Glennon 2.0 versus the rookie version. [read more]

It was a focused bunch of men in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ locker room today, and left tackle Anthony Collins was among the team leaders eager to chat.

In what surely should soothe frustrated Lovie Smith, Collins assured Joe and other media that the Bucs’ struggling rushing attack is almost ready to revive. [read more]

Joe saw it from the top of the Superdome Sunday. Joe also guesses Bucs fans saw it on TV.

In the final minutes of the loss to the Saints, the Bucs’ defense was simply gassed. Nothing left in the tank. Drained. [read more]

Man, Lovie Smith is loving his new toy.

The head coach had big smiles in his voice on the Buccaneers Radio Network last night. [read more]

Yes, Joe’s been calling Vincent Jackson “V-Drops” because he drops a pass or two every week.

There is nothing more frustrating and demoralizing for a quarterback, an offense, an offensive coordinator, and fans, than a dropped ball. [read more]

With 6-foot-6 Joe Flacco coming to Tampa on Sunday, inevitably there will be talk of how 6-foot-7 Mike Glennon could be the next Flacco.

Glennon, however, seems more focused on another quarterback. [read more]

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Ten NFL teams average 30 or more rushing attempts per game.

And whaddya know, not one has a losing record. [read more]

“Tissue paper”

Look, Joe is not going to rag on an injured guy, and if you trust the words of Lovie Smith, Michael Johnson will never been 100 percent this season.

Joe waited for Johnson, the high-priced free agent signee, to make his first appearance as a Bucs defensive end, which he did last week in Pittsburgh by dropping Ben Roethlisberger twice. [read more]

Yes, Lovie Smith stood tall at the One Buc Palace podium this afternoon and took all kinds of questions from assembled media.

Joe’s already shared Lovie’s takes on Mike Glennon and Lovie’s effort to quash any quarterback controversy without actually quashing it. [read more]

Lovie should use the rest of the season to determine which defenders on the NFL’s No. 30 defense should return

One reason Joe weeks ago decided the time is now for the quarterback of the future was to get Mike Glennon more work.

If he put in 13 more starts this fall, then the Bucs would have 26 games (including last season) of Glennon on tape to gauge whether he really is the quarterback of the future, such as the empty proclamations by Bucs officials suggest. [read more]

Lovie Smith still won’t name Mike Glennon his No. 1 quarterback, and he’s not a big fan of the question. [read more]

Joe isn’t sure why, but it sure seemed as if Lovie Smith was doing his best to replace cornerback Johnthan Banks. Shoot, Lovie even went out and signed the notorious Mike Jenkins, and despite Jenkins missing virtually all of training camp and preseason, Lovie insisted Jenkins was a starter.

Joe watched closely and just shook his head. Mike Jenkins! [read more]

Fear is in the air and it’s not even Halloween.

Yes, there are highs (Mike Glennon), but the lows have analysts freaking out. [read more]

Good news is on the horizon. Joe hopes it soothes the excruciating pain of the overtime beating in New Orleans.

Yesterday, Bucs general manager explained there’s a shake up coming at running back. [read more]

Lovie Smith sure was happy with Mike Glennon while speaking to media after yesterday’s painful loss.

And Lovie is not alone. [read more]