Is the defense of the Bucs, led by LB Lavonte David, truly a “strength?”

Yes, Joe knows the Bucs defense last year wasn’t always humming. Hell, what was? The team finished 2-14.

Whenever anyone talks Bucs — including Joe — keep whispering to yourself: 2-14. [read more]

The NFL is filled with so many long shot stories. And the more you scrutinize the Bucs roster, the more it seems seventh-round pick, bruising running back/fullback Joey Iosefa, looks like Mason Foster chasing a tight end. [read more]

Chef Leslie Frazier has work to do

Your Tampa Bay Buccaneers have selected exactly one defensive player in the last two NFL drafts.

So Joe figured it might be a good idea to ask defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier about him yesterday. [read more]

New Bucs defensive end George Johnson

Joe’s not sure why, but the day always seems brighter when Casey Phillips is delivering insider news from One Buc Palace. [read more]

Bucs LB coach Hardy Nickerson said he is always looking for an edge to improve.

Coaching is often overlooked as a two-way street. Yeah, coaches bark orders and fans expect players to carry out those orders to win games.

That’s a simplistic approach. [read more]

NFL.com is no fan of running back Charles Sims.

The 2014 Bucs offense was gut-wrenching. Joe didn’t know what made him heave more last year, turnstile blocking, no running game, a turnover-prone quarterback who played like a scared eighth-grader, or the not-so-well-done cheeseburger Joe tried to wash down with a rank craft beer sporting some weirdo name. [read more]

This is one of the most popular questions Joe gets, and powers that be at One Buc Palace — at least Joe’s contacts — are stumped: “Why can’t the Bucs wear throwbacks?” [read more]

Much is made about how much Tampa Bay defensive players should improve after spending a year in the hard-to-master Lovie Smith/Leslie Frazier defense.

But what about their defensive coaches? [read more]

Fired from NFL Network after a $600 threesome landed him in jail, Bucs icon Warren Sapp now has a more soiled criminal record. [read more]

So what happened when the Buccaneers ran sprints last week? [read more]

Hardy Nickerson talks about focus for his linebackers

No team or coach will ever gripe about versatile guys, who in a pinch can play more than one position well. That is called depth.

But if Bucs LB coach Hardy Nickerson had his way, a linebacker would never play two different positions unless absolutely, positively necessary. [read more]

Bruce Carter was signed specifically to play middle linebacker, Bucs LB coach Hardy Nickerson explained.

Today was the first chance Joe had to chat with defensive coaches of the Bucs since December victory in the Chase for Jameis. A lot has happened since.

One free agent the Bucs picked up was linebacker Bruce Carter. In the past, the athletic Carter has mostly played outside, where he used his playmaking skills to make a few extra shekels. [read more]

There’s a big name Buccaneers player that talked an awful lot about being sick of losing this offseason. [read more]

Listening to Buccaneers defensive line coach Joe Cullen chat today, Joe felt like there was a roulette game going on. [read more]

Gerald McCoy speaks

The Buccaneers trotted off the practice field today and Gerald McCoy was fired up. [read more]

The Buccaneers’ running backs depth should be soothing, especially when considering the fizzle rate of stud college backs. [read more]

The geeks at Pro Football Focus have high praise

Lord only knows where this Bucs team would be without Gerald McCoy to anchor the interior of the defensive line.

Then again, the Bucs were a horrible 2-14 last year, winning the Chase for Jameis. [read more]

All this talk about mentors borders on nonsense. Mentor this and mentor that. Who is going to be that guy’s mentor?

What the hell are you paying a coaching staff for if you need a scrub player to be coaching up a starter? Geez, folks. Quick, who was Jim Kelly’s mentor? Or John Elway? Or Andrew Luck? [read more]

Noted SI.com NFL analyst Doug Farrar claims Jameis Winston has a few bratty Jay Cutler habits.

There is so much to like about “America’s Quarterback,” Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston.

He’s a winner. He has charisma. Teammates love the guy. He is resilient, and the dude is just freaking deadly when the chips are down. Lethal, in fact. [read more]

Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.

The Bucs have wasted no time promoting their No. 1 overall pick, “America’s Quarterback,” Jameis Winston.

And why not? The nation is captivated by young Jameis. [read more]