Joe Talks Messiness, F-Grade, Improvement, Double Talk, Smoke Screens & More

November 6th, 2014

joe_mug_shotIt’s time for Joe’s weekly podcast with Joe and silky-toned Ronnie Lane of the Buccaneers Radio Network and WDAE-AM 620.

Joe got a little emotional and dove into a variety of subjects. [read more]

Jameis Watch: Jags & Raiders Don’t Need QBs

November 6th, 2014
Rookie QB Derek Carr has kept Raiders fans from climbing the Golden Gate Bridge.

Rookie QB Derek Carr has kept Raiders fans from climbing the Golden Gate Bridge.

Crab-legs-stealing, BB-gun-shooting, obscenity-hollering, Heisman-Trophy-winning, national champion James Winston, the pride of Florida State University, continues to look like a much better quarterback prospect than Mike Glennon and Josh McCown.

It’s Joe’s regular nugget on the Jameis Watch, celebrating the best quarterback to wear No. 5 ever in the state of Florida. [read more]

Matt Ryan And His Four Threats

November 6th, 2014
matt ryan

Healthy receivers have Matt Ryan excited

The Bucs have the NFL’s 31st-ranked pass defense and a shaky pass rush, and Pro Bowl cornerback Alterraun Verner has a bad hamstring.

The Atlanta Falcons have a franchise quarterback, four healthy, dangerous receivers, and the seventh-ranked NFL passing attack (im)balanced by a garbage running game. [read more]

Lovie’s Empty Rhetoric

November 6th, 2014

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Joe’s head was dizzy yesterday listening to and reading the words from Bucs coach and overlord of football operations Lovie Smith. To be polite. none of it made a lick of sense.

Mike Glennon was “great” but he is benched. Lovie wouldn’t answer when asked if he would have been benched if Glennon played like Tom Brady. Glennon is the still the darling of Lovie’s eyes, the quarterback of the future, and quarterback of the past but not quarterback of the present. [read more]

“Because They Suck”

November 6th, 2014
NFL: Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Evan Dietrich-Smith weighs in

Joe spent his hard earned cash in September to fly to Atlanta and watch what may have been the worst Bucs beating in history.

Boy, that sure was fun! Regular readers here can only imagine Joe’s state of mind when Tampa Bay trailed 56-0 in the third quarter. [read more]

THE OPTIMIST: McCown II Will Improve

November 6th, 2014

McCownrightIn these unsettled times of devastating Bucs losses, constant change and growing pains, Joe thought it would be wise to bring back THE OPTIMIST.

THE OPTIMIST is Nick Houllis, a Bucs fan and an accomplished writer whose steadfast allegiance to the Buccaneers goes back to the 1970s. Houllis is the founder, creator and guru of BucStop.com, a place Joe goes to get lost in time via Houllis’ stunning video collection.

THE OPTIMIST will shine that positive light in your eyes. Some will love it. Some won’t. … Of course, THE OPTIMIST’s opinions are his alone and are not influenced by Joe. [read more]

Where’s The Excitement?

November 6th, 2014

McCownlaughPut aside Lovie Smith’s somewhat bizarre chatter about the quarterback situation for a moment.

The reality is the Bucs re-installed Josh McCown, who led the team all offseason — even in voluntary practices on public fields with 100 percent attendance — the man players voted captain, their freaking starting quarterback, and there’s very little excitement to be detected. [read more]

“Why Don’t They All Just Come Out In Dresses?”

November 6th, 2014

brantley-83Strokes and seizures and other problems have plagued former Tampa Bay standout linebacker (1980-1987) and Gators great Scot Brantley.

A regular on local sports radio in the previous two decades, including a run alongside Gene Deckerhoff on the Buccaneers’ radio broadcasts, Brantley joined the Ron and Ian show on WDAE-AM 620 yesterday. [read more]

Lovie Being Shortsighted

November 6th, 2014

lovie smith 0920

Joe cannot figure if Bucs coach and overlord of football operations Lovie Smith really believes Mike Glennon is the “quarterback of the future,” then, well, the future is now, at least the beginning of the future.

Let’s be real: journeyman Josh McCown and his garish turnovers are not going to lead the Bucs to an 8-0 record to close the season and get the Bucs to the playoffs. If you really believe that, pass the bottle. [read more]

It’s Rainey’s Job To Lose

November 6th, 2014

bobby rainey 1106

Joe wrote last week that if Bobby Rainey had a successful day in Cleveland, then Doug Martin’s days as the Bucs bellcow back were likely done.

Martin, since his rookie season, has shockingly and steadily declined as an effective rusher. [read more]

McCoy: Defense Lineup Changes Are “Interesting”

November 6th, 2014
Change is in the air

Change is in the air

Last week, former starters Mark Barron and Jonathan Casillas were relieved of their Tampa Bay jobs.

Now, more eye-opening change is coming to the Bucs defense, says Gerald McCoy. [read more]

Pawlowski: Is Lovie Foolish Or Lying?

November 6th, 2014

lovie 0613b

Joe just wanted to do a facepalm yesterday at One Buc Palace. It was bad enough that the quarterback of the future and quarterback of the past is no longer the quarterback of the present (again). Then, Lovie told the Atlanta press corps Mike Glennon was “great.”

What. The. Hell? [read more]

Jameis Watch: National Bucs Buzz Brewing

November 5th, 2014

JameisCrab-legs-stealing, BB-gun-shooting, obscenity-hollering, Heisman-Trophy-winning, national champion James Winston, the pride of Florida State University, continues to look like a much better quarterback prospect than Mike Glennon and Josh McCown.

It’s Joe’s regular nugget on the Jameis Watch, celebrating the best quarterback to wear No. 5 ever in the state of Florida. [read more]

Lovie Says Glennon Still QB Of The Future

November 5th, 2014

GlennonRyan

Don’t worry, Mike Glennon Mob.

Lovie Smith offered you hope today. [read more]

Verner Out With Hamstring; Stocker Has Bad Hip

November 5th, 2014

VernerThe Bucs’ injury list is growing again.

And Joe suspects Julio Jones and the Falcons’ dangerous receiving corps is smiling. [read more]

Lovie Claims Glennon Was “Great”

November 5th, 2014

lovie 1029

Bucs coach and overlord of football operations Lovie Smith has yet to address the local pen and mic club today — he will shortly — but he did speak with the Atlanta pen and mic club in his required Wednesday teleconference with media covering the opponent. [read more]

New QB Doesn’t Bother O-Line

November 5th, 2014
Bucs G Logan Mankins isn't too concerned the change in quarterbacks will hinder the offensive line.

Guard Logan Mankins isn’t too concerned the change in quarterbacks will hinder the offensive line.

An offensive line is a sensitive subject, both for fans and, of course, offensive linemen.

Talking to offensive linemen, they’ll often say the slightest distraction or disruption on a team’s front line can cause chaos. They preach how time is needed to build cohesion and unity to become their best selves. [read more]

“Frustration And Love” Got To Glennon Brother

November 5th, 2014
"Remember, it's all about F.A.M.I.L.Y."

“Remember, it’s all about F.A.M.I.L.Y.”

In addition to stunning Bucs fans, the move to yank Mike Glennon from a starting job and re-insert Josh McCown seemed to stun Glennon’s brother.

His Twitter outburst yesterday confirmed that. [read more]

Barber Says Vikings Have Old School Bucs Feel

November 5th, 2014

bridgewaterJoe literally wrote about 679 times this offseason that the Bucs must do what they have to do in order to draft Johnny Football or Teddy Bridgewater.

Call Joe a freak show, but a brand new regime with a quarterbacks guru offensive coordinator in the house sure seemed like a darn good time to draft and develop a QB. [read more]

Cousins Love Comes From Unlikely Place

November 5th, 2014
Cousins

Cousins’ harshest critic weighs in

The Bucs’ offensive line had an OK day running the football in Cleveland, averaging 4.3 yards per carry, and its pass blocking was more than good enough to win the game.

Improvement was obvious, and the big difference was backup Oneil Cousins stepping in for inconsistent and injured starting left tackle Anthony Collins. [read more]