The leader of Lovieball, Lovie Smith, had a firm message for fans today.

And the head coach also offered up a question at his afternoon news conference. [read more]

Akeem Spence explains the Meltdown on Dale Mabry Highway yesterday in great detail.

Bucs fans will want to listen to this audio of Joe interviewing Bucs defensive tackle Akeem Spence in the Tampa Bay locker room after the game yesterday. You can just feel the frustration oozing out of him.

Spence, in a very candid interview — which Joe greatly appreciates — explained how the Bucs were not prepared for Crows quarterback Joe Flacco’s three-step drop, that the defensive line was helpless as a result, and that the Bucs actually know Lovie Smith’s precious defense. [read more]

Mike Glennon remains the most interesting aspect to Tampa Bay’s season.

Despite all the Bucs’ question marks, the No. 1 question surrounding the team — and one that will drive the team’s future — is at quarterback. [read more]

Joe has a range of emotions about the Bucs after their second seal-clubbing in a month yesterday, this time at the hands of the Baltimore Crows. It was one of the more pitiful beatdowns Joe has ever seen.

Not one emotion spinning in Joe’s head is positive. The Bucs are in a complete and total collapse, whether it be coaching or player evaluation. [read more]

Michael Johnson was invisible yesterday against a rookie backup left tackle

A prominent former Buccaneer would be on board with nicknaming defensive end Michael Johnson “Kleenex.” [read more]

Joe never understands why some fans claim former Bucs tight end Anthony Becht, now an analyst on the Buccaneers Radio Network and Buccaneers.com, is too pro-Bucs and won’t criticize the team.

Those bitter fans just aren’t paying attention. [read more]

Last year, Mike Sullivan couldn’t figure out adjustments. This year, Marcus Arroyo and company aren’t sufficiently prepared.

Last year, the Bucs delivered fans and Team Glazer a deeply troubling impotence score of 83 in the second halves of games. Yes, that’s how many points the Bucs scored all season in the second half, an average of 5.2 points over the final 30 minutes of games.

So for those of you yearning for Greg Schiano this morning, please seek medical attention immediately. [read more]

The Buccaneers’ offensive line got thoroughly manhandled yesterday. The run blocking is shameful and pride-free, and has been for weeks. There is no attitude.

Perhaps the Bucs need to make the desperate move. [read more]

Yesterday afternoon, Joe really was taken back by Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht’s analysis of Mike Glennon. [read more]

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

So we begin the week wondering if yesterday was some sort of drunken nightmare. Alas, it was not. Lovie Smith’s defense set an NFL record for biggest halftime deficit — 38-0.

Make no mistake, this is Lovie’s defense. It is not Father Dungy’s, it is not Monte Kiffin’s, it is not Rod Marinelli’s defense. It is Lovie’s defense. The Tampa Spittoon. [read more]

If the Bucs under Lovie Smith drop another No. 2 this season like they did yesterday, and like they did in Atlanta, one doesn’t need to stretch the imagination to believe Lovie will need serious explanations for Team Glazer. [read more]

Joe doesn’t give a damn if a team is learning a new defense or not. There may be a dozen teams a year that learn a new defense and they don’t get seal-clubbed twice in a month the way the Bucs have been gutted.

If folks in the past bellyached about Raheem Morris’ bad teams; if people screeched and howled about Greg Schiano’s rough start last year, it’s time to put Lovie Smith on the griddle, too. [read more]

No. 55 bleeds pewter and red, and he’s more connected to the Buccaneers’ organization this year than he’s been in any season since he was rudely cut in 2009.

Last week, Derrick Brooks was proud to explain why he thought the Bucs’ defense was nearing success. This afternoon, he was rendered speechless. [read more]

Mike Evans weighs in. (Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Joe’s press box perch revealed all kinds of man-to-man battles on the field for Vincent Jackson, Mike Evans and Austin Seferian-Jenkins to win.

But the Bucs weren’t going after them aggressively early in the game. [read more]

Lack of pass coverage, like on this catch by Crows WR Steve Smith, was a big reason for the beatdown this afternoon.

A guy walking around with a white cane could see what the problem was today. The back-seven of the Bucs’ defense couldn’t cover themselves with a blanket they were so terrible in pass coverage.

No, the defensive front didn’t pressure Crows quarterback Joe Flacco. That was mainly because Crows coach John Harbaugh employed a three-step drop for his signal-caller, often having him float to the right, to avoid Michael Johnson and Gerald McCoy. [read more]

Michael Johnson weighs in

Joe hates driving fans another step closer to an insane asylum visit, but the truth must be told.

As bad as the Bucs’ pass rush was last season, it’s worse this season. [read more]

Not only were the Bucs not ready for Joe Flacco’s three-step drops, they couldn’t adjust.

Joe spoke with several Bucs defensive linemen today about the baseball bat-to-the-nuts loss to the Crows, where the Bucs were outsmarted, out-hustled, and curb-stomped in the first half en-route to a 48-17 loss.

In short, the Bucs were not ready for Crows quarterback Joe Flacco’s three-step drops and had no answers for it. [read more]

Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Lovie Smith has found a silver lining, and it surrounds No. 8 and the Bucs’ offense. [read more]

Worry about your own team Lovie, instead of the damned weather to do your job for you.

Like Greg Schiano before him, and like Raheem Morris before Schiano, Lovie Smith talked all offseason about how he wanted to use the homefield heat in Florida as an advantage.

What a bunch of bunk that is. [read more]

Baltimore coach John Harbaugh completely and totally outcoached Lovie Smith

Joe has always believed — the genesis of this philosophy coming from Joe’s old high school coach who played for Tom Landry and John Madden — that a good coach always adjusts his offense/defense to best fit the talents of his players.

We all witnessed an example of this from Crows coach John Harbaugh today. [read more]

Joe’s going to blow a freaking gasket if he hears one more reference to this Bucs team under Lovie Smith being like the Buccaneers of 1996 under Father Dungy.

It’s an insult at this point, in addition to being a stupid take. [read more]