When the Bucs are on defense, the red zone would be more apt to called “green zone” for opposing offenses.

For when offenses enter the red zone against the Bucs defense — Lovie Smith’s defense — it has become a virtual free pass to score. [read more]

Lovie Smith let loose with an all-time knee-slapper yesterday.

Look, Joe has written countless times in recent weeks Bucs coach Lovie Smith returns next year.

Six wins is six wins, and Lovie got that mark, tripling last year’s total and perfectly overseeing the most important franchise transaction in decades: drafting America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston. Lovie could not have handled Jameis any better. [read more]

Perhaps all the Bucs’ woes are simply in their heads?

A mentally tougher team likely would be 9-6 now instead of 6-9. [read more]

There is one absolute reason Lovie Smith will return next season. It is because Lovie has done a masterful job developing and managing America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston.

And that great job should not end now. [read more]

Joe doesn’t think the following is outrageous, but some will not believe the following. [read more]

Lovie likes stats, so long as they don’t paint a negative picture.

Get a chance to ask questions of Bucs coach Lovie Smith, and he will have you know he is a new-age coach. He embraces football analytics. [read more]

Lovie — and the numbers — speak.

Numbers don’t lie when it comes to how much a player gets on the field compared to his teammates at the same position. [read more]

The GM sounds off

The Bucs have a couple of superstars on defense, but Jason Licht says only one of them is the best of the best. [read more]

How brutal has it been for Bucs fans the past five years? Losing is expected. Thanksgiving draft talk is the norm. Hope is fleeting if not hopeless. [read more]

Bucs cannot let OC Dirk Koetter escape.

Right now the most important employee of Team Glazer after rising star AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht (he of the grand slam) is offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter. [read more]

OLB Danny Lansanah didn’t register one play yesterday.

The following sentence is both a damning sword and an uplifting thought: The Bucs terribly missed rookie middle linebacker Kwon Alexander. [read more]

A former Bucs teammate of Jameis Winston talks Jameis.(Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Joe has admitted his minor obsession with Bears right guard Patrick Omameh, the guy who started 16 games at right guard for the Bucs last year only to be told this offseason that he couldn’t play the position. [read more]

Jason Licht speaks

Though the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have left a nasty skid mark on this season by losing to the lousy Saints, Rams and Bears these past few weeks, general manager Jason Licht is brimming with confidence. [read more]

Joe’s not going to act like a fool and start blubbering about how the Cover-2/Tampa-2 philosophy is dead. It’s not. (See Panthers)

However, the Lovie Smith/Rod Marinelli brand is having serious issues. The data is overwhelming. [read more]

Brace for the spin

Prepare yourself to hear a statistic this offseason that will make you take a hammer to your midsection. [read more]

OK, so after two years this much is clear: For whatever reason, Lovie Smith and/or his staff cannot coach up cornerbacks. The evidence is too clear. [read more]

Lovie’s best friend right now is Bucs OC Dirk Koetter.

Earlier this year, when the Bucs started terribly, Joe openly wondered how Lovie Smith was going to save his job. Oh, there was time to turn things around, but limited time. [read more]

CB Alterraun Verner understands what soon may be his Bucs fate

When the Bucs signed Alterraun Verner to essentially replace Darrelle Revis in early 2014, both the Bucs and Verner were riding high. [read more]

This Bucs season just got a few hours longer. [read more]