August 16th, 2014

McCoy talks about the state of his game and translating Warren Sapp
There’s really no limit to the praise Gerald McCoy deserves for his performance tonight against Miami.
Reflecting a bit in the locker room following his truly dominant effort tonight, McCoy said he’s always been a good learner but a slow learner through his life. [read more]
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August 16th, 2014

Josh McCown and the Bucs offense struggled on third downs in the first half. Again.
No, the Bucs offense didn’t look good tonight, for the second straight preseason game. Granted, the first game was a complete and utter disaster largely because the offensive line was a complete and utter disaster.
At least tonight, the Bucs’ offensive line seemed to have a pulse. It was better than last week, but that’s not saying much at all. Baby steps, Joe supposes, baby steps. [read more]
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August 16th, 2014
We know the new Bucs offense is under a veil of secrecy, but what about the new Bucs starting quarterback?
Consider Josh McCown has thrown just 11 passes in two preseason games. [read more]
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August 16th, 2014
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August 16th, 2014

It was Gerald McCoy’s night. (Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Gerald McCoy was freakin’ dominant. The Bucs’ offensive line looked solid. Mike Evans learned a valuable lesson. And did Joe mention Gerald McCoy was an unstoppable force?
Hope and peace and calm is restored across the Tampa Bay area.
Joe’s must tip his cap to new right guard Patrick Omameh who made the most of his shot tonight. The 23-year-old did some good things, showed some quick feet and strength. There were holes for Doug Martin. Real holes. And Martin looked sharp. Omameh was undrafted out of Michigan last year, a Schiano-Dominik pick up off the 49ers’ practice squad.
The Bucs’ defense was again the no-worries unit Joe expected. They got the turnover Lovie Smith covets (thanks, Gerald) and allowed three points to the Dolphins’ first-team offense and through the first half.
Job pretty well done.
Stick with Joe through the night for so much more out of tonight’s game and the locker room.
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August 16th, 2014
Joe can only imagine the absolute glee pulsing through Lovie Smith’s body in the second quarter tonight. [read more]
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August 16th, 2014
Good evening, Bucs fans! Joe is here at the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa where the Bucs host their first preseason game. This time the opponent is the Dolphins.
Some news for you to chew on before kickoff. Patrick Omameh starts at right guard for Jamon Meredith. And the shocker of all shockers, defensive lineman Da’Quan Bowers is inactive. Can you imagine? [read more]
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August 16th, 2014

Preseason Game 2
Dolphins at Bucs
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
TV: WFLA-TV, Channel 8, locally. Game will be rebroadcast on NFL Network at 1 a.m. Monday and 10 a.m. Wednesday.
Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network (in Tampa WFUS-FM 103.5, and WDAE-AM 620); SiriusXM Channel 119.
[read more]
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August 16th, 2014

Some of the new grub fans can buy at the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway beginning tonight.
OK, this afternoon is devoted not just to the Bucs, but to #FGU. Not sure what that hashtag is? Follow Joe on Twitter or his good friend, @CommishOnline, Justin Pawlowski, and you will know.
In short, the hashtag is a celebration of good grub. Man food. There is no such thing as an #FGU salad. Such an item does not exist.
Earlier this week, Joe was invited to take part in the food tasting of the new offerings at the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway. The outlets are located on the 100 level concourse, the first concourse you get to when you enter the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway. [read more]
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August 16th, 2014
Team Glazer made feeding big-bellied, beer-soaked Bucs fans a priority this year.
Second-rate dogs and boring burgers are as buried as Josh Freeman jerseys.
[read more]
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August 16th, 2014
Bucs fans read deep into their team’s woes and highs out of the preseason opener in Jacksonville. And observers of the Dolphins, the Bucs opponent tonight at 7:30 p.m., did the same thing.
Last week, the revamped Falcons offensive line and Matty Ice absolutely abused Miami. [read more]
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August 16th, 2014

Artist Jeff Tedford will not be painting his canvas tonight
You didn’t really think the Bucs’ offensive line was playing for real in the preseason opener last week. That was all part of a great hoax perpetrated by Lovie Smith and Jeff Tedford.
The mysteriousness of the Tampa Bay offense will be a plus when it faces the nasty Carolina defense on opening day. So why not kick the mystery up a notch? [read more]
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August 16th, 2014
There are lots of new faces in the Bucs receiving corps, and a chunk of them will stick on the roster.
Yes, the Bucs have holes to fill after Tiquan Underwood didn’t get a return invitation and blade-in-the-thigh, mattress-in-the-yard Mike Williams was shuffled to Buffalo. [read more]
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August 16th, 2014

It would be nice if the Bucs offensive line could keep Miami defenders off QB Josh McCown.
As Joe has stated before, he hates preseason football. Joe watches Bucs preseason games, of course, because it is his job. You won’t catch Joe watching one play of preseason another team. Preseason football, well, it’s garbage.
So Joe understands how many Bucs fans, giddy after a too-long offseason, giddy after all the teasing practice stories, sat down all fired up on the couch to watch the first glimpse of the remodeled Bucs… only to end up searching for a poisoning remedy after much of the Bucs front line morphed into turnstiles. [read more]
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August 16th, 2014

Austin Seferian-Jenkins could be in a rotation with two other tight ends to start for the Bucs. Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.
If the Bucs have one loaded position it is tight end. Outside of running back, no other position is as deep.
There is Tim Wright, who came from nowhere last year as a rookie to become one of the better tight ends in the NFL. Then there is rookie Austin Seferian-Jenkins, who is a monster. He may not be ready (yet) to start, but as a receiver, he is a matchup nightmare. [read more]
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August 15th, 2014
Injured and now lost rookie running back Charles Sims was drafted for a reason. He was going to play. His sweet hands and versatile style were going to be key cogs in the Jeff Tedford machine.
That’s why the Bucs drafted Sims so high, investing a third-round pick, which was a stout price in a league that has devalued running backs greatly. [read more]
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August 15th, 2014
Ouch!
The Bucs have suffered their first serious injury of the preseason (not counting wounds inflicted by watching the offensive line last week). [read more]
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August 15th, 2014

Preseason is approached differently in Miami
Lovie Smith has spoken recently about how he doesn’t really bother with game planning and blitzing and strategy in his first two preseason games.
Game 3 of the preseason is the one Lovie treats as a dress rehearsal for the regular season. But that’s not necessarily the model across the NFL. [read more]
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August 15th, 2014

Former Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik selects his ultimate 53-man roster.
Joe knows fantasy football is all the rage. He gets it, but it’s just not Joe’s cup of tea. Joe’s more into the real football, and there are plenty of games on the tube for Joe to watch and DVR.
As Joe has always said, Joe’s fantasy has nothing to do with football and everything to do with Rachel Watson.
So from what Joe knows about fantasy football (he dabbled in it years and years and years ago), the funnest part is the draft where you get to drink beer and cuss and throw things at people who draft a player you wanted. [read more]
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August 15th, 2014

A Charles Sims injury update.
Yesterday at the final Bucs practice of training camp, a jarring sight could be seen just before the lighting alarms went off to delay practice. It was highly-touted running back Charles Sims watching from the sidelines in a walking boot.
After practice, Bucs coach Lovie Smith was rather vague about what was wrong with Sims, saying only the following: [read more]
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August 15th, 2014
There seems to be a little fear factor happening at One Buc Palace.
And it adds to the mounting evidence that life under Lovie Smith may be tougher than it was under former Commander Greg Schiano. [read more]
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