“It’s Gotta Scare You”

October 6th, 2014

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]

Licht: Charles Sims Is “Way Ahead Of Schedule”

October 6th, 2014

LichtmugGood 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]

Glennon Accolades Roll In From Ex-Bucs

October 6th, 2014

mike glennon 0930cLovie Smith sure was happy with Mike Glennon while speaking to media after yesterday’s painful loss.

And Lovie is not alone. [read more]

Running Game Needs To Pick Up

October 6th, 2014
Bucs RB Bobby Rainey scores in the third quarter. Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.

Bucs RB Bobby Rainey scores in the third quarter. Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.

Entering the season, the Bucs running game seemed to be a strength. Five games in, the Bucs are still looking for one.

Doug Martin is going on a near one-year rut of underperforming. Bobby Rainey, at times, shows some splash, but there is the ever-present fear of him fumbling. [read more]

What More Can Lavonte David Do?

October 6th, 2014

LavonteDavidLavonte David took over defensive playcalling duties throughout yesterday’s game. (Apparently, Dane Fletcher couldn’t cut it).

And then David proceeded to drill Jimmy Graham and wound him for the rest of the game en route to 10 solo tackles. [read more]

Excruciating Pain Follows Numbness

October 6th, 2014

“We thought it would be unfair to ask the fans to be patient with us,” Jason Licht, March 2014

“We just decided that we couldn’t ask our fans to be patient anymore,” Lovie Smith, July 2014

As a passionate Bucs fan, Joe is really struggling this morning. This Saints loss was especially painful. Joe is no masochist.

The toll of the Bucs winning just 12 of their last 47 games is weighing heavy. [read more]

Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow

October 6th, 2014

saints score again

A long look at the Bucs yesterday, today, and what to expect tomorrow and beyond.

NEW ORLEANS — Joe nearly had acid reflux last night, and no, he didn’t go to a Cajun joint for dinner, and he only had one beer, though it was a big beer.

For a team with an alleged defensive wizard head coach, who made his bones on defense and who makes no bones about the fact his team will be strong and physical and tough defensively, the Bucs coughing up 202 yards in the fourth quarter and one drive of overtime is beyond the pale. [read more]

Flying Flags

October 6th, 2014
flags

Logan Mankins weighs in

Yesterday, flags flew in the Bucs-Saints game like seagulls when someone walks the beach with an overflowing bag of French Fries.

Just in the Drive from Hell, the drive that went in reverse, like a senior citizen punches the wrong pedal on his car (you know the kind, when a garage door is blown through, or new window is created in a donut shop), there were three penalties in six plays. That turned the game around and doomed the Bucs in the fourth quarter. [read more]

“Not Doing The Job”

October 5th, 2014

Right tackle Demar Dotson had strong words for his offensive teammates

Alterraun Verner was not the only man in the Bucs locker room who issued blame for the frustrating loss in New Orleans. Bucs right tackle Demar Dotson was honest and up front when he stated the Bucs’ offense, which shined for three quarters, didn’t get the job done when the team needed it most.

Dotson made no excuses and pulled no punches. [read more]

“He’s Playing Well. Simple As That”

October 5th, 2014

Glennoncatch

Lovie Smith seems to like his new quarterback. [read more]

The Drive That Ended In Disaster

October 5th, 2014
One of the ugliest drives in recent Bucs history ended in a safety and seemed to be a turning point in the game.

One of the ugliest drives in recent Bucs history ended in a safety and seemed to be a turning point in today’s loss.

It will go down as one of the most painful, ugliest drives Joe can remember. It tops the leaky, sleepy Josh Freeman meltdown in New York last year.

At a time when one Bucs score could have sealed the game, the gruesome series gave up points at a terrible time. [read more]

Verner: No Way We Should Lose The Game

October 5th, 2014

There wasn’t just pain in the Buccaneers’ locker room. There was a little anger and frustration, too. [read more]

Bucs’ Locker Room Like A Wake

October 5th, 2014

deathTrust Joe, in the past few years Joe has seen some bad losses. And don’t think the Bucs take those lightly. They wear on players because those are these guys paying with sweat and blood.

The scene in the Bucs’ locker room today was maybe the lowest Joe has ever experienced. The players knew — just knew — they had the game won if they only played average football. Yet in the final minutes, the team imploded on both sides of the ball. [read more]

Pass Defense On Dubious 2012 Pace

October 5th, 2014

How does that expression go? The more things change the more they stay the same.

Back in 2012, the Tampa Bay pass defense literally was inches from having the worst-ever NFL pass defense. The Adderall Twins got things rolling, and guys like E.J. Biggers, Leonard Johnson, Danny Gorrer, LeQuan Lewis, and safeties Mark Barron and Ronde Barber, kept the train moving in the wrong direction. [read more]

Mikey Football Took Another Step

October 5th, 2014

mike glennon 0925Was Mike Glennon good enough to win today?

No.

Is he still the worst starter in the NFC South?

Yes.

But Glennon did enough on the road to encourage Joe and look like a legitimate NFL starter for the second week in a row. [read more]

Where’s The Disciplined Football?

October 5th, 2014

lovie smith 0919Greg Schiano blubbered about how the Bucs were the “laughingstock” of the NFL with all their discipline issues on and off the field under Raheem Morris.

But Schiano’s team was terribly undisciplined between the white lines last year, and Schiano had no answer.

In comes Lovie Smith, and the Bucs look like a toddler eating an ice cream cone in July. [read more]

Saints 37, Buccaneers 31 (OT)

October 5th, 2014

SaintsTD

The Bucs shot themselves in the foot with penalties and drops early, and they did the same thing late.

In between it was pretty good, but that’s meaningless for your cellar-dweller Buccaneers.

The Bucs are 1-4 with three division losses. Liquor stores will be busy tonight across the Tampa Bay area. [read more]

Learn More About Amendment 2; Join our Town Hall In Ybor On Tuesday

October 5th, 2014

Yes On 2

Why Support Amendment 2?

Doctors should have the freedom to recommend the treatment they deem appropriate for their patients – including medical marijuana.

Marijuana – legal as medicine under state law in 23 states and the District of Columbia – has been shown to be an effective treatment for the symptoms and side effects associated with HIV/AIDS, Cancer, Hepatitis C, PTSD, MS and other neuromuscular disorders, Glaucoma, dystonia, and chronic pain. The American College of Physicians, American Public Health Association, American Nurses Association, and many other associations and organizations support the availability of medicinal marijuana.

Join our Town Hall to learn more about the amendment, and how it will ease the pain and suffering of thousands of Floridians, visit http://yeson2.org.

Bucs At Saints, Open Thread

October 5th, 2014

bucs cheerleader 0801So here we go. Bucs at Saints at the (loud) Superdome. Just the intercom in the press box is blowing Joe’s ears out.

The Saints are struggling. The Bucs have their issues. This is a big game for the Bucs. A win would both be a statement game for Lovie Smith, and keep the Bucs in contention for the division crown, an improbable thought just two weeks ago. That’s how awful the NFC has performed played.

Bang it here with your Bucs comments through the game. This the place to be! In the neighborhood of 1,000 comments are expected. As always, you may e-mail links of game feeds among yourselves but posting a URL of an illegal feed can and will get you banned. Thanks, and go Bucs!

Mason Foster Headlines Bucs’ Inactives

October 5th, 2014

lovie smith 0920It’ll be the Dane Fletcher Show again at middle linebacker for your beloved Buccaneers in New Orleans today.

Joe’s got the full list from the SuperDome. [read more]

Gameday Tampa Bay

October 5th, 2014

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Game 5

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-3) at Saints (1-3)

Kickoff: 1 p.m. [read more]