The 2013 Bucs brought you what turned out to be a game-losing, non-aggressive, three-man rush to close the Jets game in New York after an endless stream of blitzes.

And the same Bucs passed on a chance to win the Week 2 Saints game with a 3rd-and-6 throw (after Josh Freeman had just completed consecutive throws of 20 yards and 18 yards!!) only to fail on a long field goal on fourth down — and lose the game.

But now the Bucs have adjusted. They need to be aggressive from coaches to players, says Greg Schiano.

“We need to stay aggressive. We need to go out there and, if we can clean up some of the things that we didn’t do well, and continue to play aggressive and call the game aggressive and do all those things, you know, we have a chance to keep this roll going,” Schiano said this week on WDAE-AM 620.

“That’s exactly what we were talking about [leading at halftime against the Falcons]. The game hasn’t changed. It doesn’t matter what the score is right now. We’re going to come and continue to do the things, we saved a few things for the second half that we didn’t show in the first half, and we try to do that.”

Schiano has been clobbered by fans and media for ineffective second-half adjustments. But it seems perhaps Schiano is adjusting in the second half of the season. It’s clear there’s a fresh aggressive mindset among the coaching staff. The only reason Joe can figure is there’s now a quarterback in place that has earned their trust.

Don’t get Joe wrong. Joe still thinks Schiano should have played more aggressively with Freeman. You just can’t play conservative and/or scared, no matter who is on the field. That’s not winning NFL football.

Coaches, players and fans are waiting with baited breath for the Darrelle Revis-Calvin Johnson match-up Sunday.

Some are trying to narrow Sunday’s Lions-Bucs game to a match between two enemy combatants: Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson and Bucs cornerback Darrelle Revis (Joe has heard so many people call Johnson this “Megatron” thing and others call Revis something like “Prime Optimis,” none of which Joe has any clue what those monikers mean. But Joe does enjoy a good prime rib from time to time, well-done, of course).

[Is “Prime Optimis” Latin for “praying mantis?”]

In their only battle facing each other, Revis with the Jets, Johnson had but one catch for 13 yards.

Naturally, a lot of chatter at One Buc Palace had to do with the impending Revis-Johnson clash, and Bucs commander Greg Schiano admitted he may have to force himself to not enjoy the duel.

“You’re talking about two of the best that ever played their position in all of football,” Schiano said. “The fan in me has to step away and say ‘we have to make sure we do everything we can to put our 11 guys in the best position to defend their whole offense.’ And certainly Calvin is a huge part of their offense, huge, but they have other weapons. If it was just Calvin, that wouldn’t be easy, but it would be easier; but you’re talking about [running back] Reggie Bush, you’re talking about their tight ends, their quarterback is outstanding. If you just look at the stats, they’re top ten in every major category, almost. You can be top ten in a few, but when you’re in every major category you’re pretty darn good.”

Even Bucs defensive tackle Gerald McCoy wishes he could grab his popcorn for this bout. Instead, he will be trying to put Lions quarterback Matt Stafford on the ground to help out Revis.

“It’s kind of the unstoppable force meets the immovable object kind of thing,” GMC said. “Twenty-four [Revis] can stop anybody and 81 [Johnson] can’t be stopped by anybody, so it’s kind of like, when they meet up, it’s going to be fun to see. I hate that I won’t get to see it, because I’ll be pass-rushing, but I will watch it on tape.”

It is difficult to believe the success of the Bucs’ offensive line in November can be pinned solely on the shoulders of Jamon Meredith.

Ever since the Bucs decided to insert backup Jamon Meredith into the void left by Carl Nicks and his perpetually hurt/MRSA-afflicted foot, the Bucs’ offensive line has transformed like a caterpillar into a butterfly.

In fact, crunching the numbers provided by the Bucs, the O-line isn’t just good this month, it has been one of the best in the NFL. In the past three games, all in November, the Bucs are averaging 177 yards rushing a game, second-most in the NFL for the month. Additionally, the Bucs have racked up 28 first downs on running plays in November, ranking No. 3 in the NFL.

On face value, Joe just wants to slam his glass of beer down on the bar and unload on the waitress why Bucs commander Greg Schiano, or one of his 48 assistants, couldn’t have figured out by now that if Meredith was this good, he should have been starting long, long ago before the season was lost.

“I think it’s no mistake when we talk about the great job that the line has done,” Bucs offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan said. “There’s no question that they have really taken and accepted the challenge and in some very difficult circumstances and certainly, what’s coming up this Sunday will be as difficult as it gets, in terms of a commitment to run football. One of the things that has helped is the continuity that we’ve had in having those same five people in those same five spots and being able to go through in a practice week and work the calls, work the communications, check, meet and talk about it afterwards. [Guard/tackle] Jamon [Meredith] is a tough, tough guy, hungry, like you’ve said. He got rolled up pretty good there in our game on Sunday and fought through it and came right back. Fortunately he did because he’s made some good plays for us and we’re really counting on him, particularly this Sunday with the great tackles that Detroit has.”

The more Joe thinks about it, however, it cannot be just because Meredith is starting. There are several factors, including Meredith, of course.

One would be that Davin Joseph is getting healthier. Joseph, aside from being perhaps the coolest cat in the Bucs locker room, is a prideful man. It likely pained him more that he wasn’t playing to his level of expected performance than the pain in his surgically repaired knee. Not all knees are created equal, and Joseph wasn’t going to use his knee as a crutch, even though he may have needed one at some point. Joseph is pretty close if not back to his old form. That is a key.

And let’s not overlook the two pair of fresh legs, Mike James and Bobby Rainey. Sure, the offensive line is getting holes open for them, but when James was still playing, and now Rainey, they have done more than run to the line of scrimmage before being stopped by the second level.

Each had a nose to find a crease to get past the second level to really open up the offense.

Yes, Meredith is playing well. But several factors have came together to transform the Bucs’ offensive line from liability to strength.

OK, so Bucs commander Greg Schiano has a reputation for being a big, bad bully. Is he demanding? Sure. Is he exacting? Yes. Now Kyle Meinke of MLive.com believes Schiano needs classes in phone etiquette.

After Schiano spent roughly six minutes with the Detroit pen and mic club, what seems to be (for those not familiar with Schiano) an abrupt ending to a phone call led Meinke to type in outrage that Schiano hung up on him and the rest of the Lions press corps today.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano hung up on Detroit reporters during a teleconference Wednesday after a question about the MRSA outbreak that infected at least three players.

He answered the question, then hung up fewer than 6 minutes into the call. That’s roughly half the length of the average weekly call.

No coach has hung up during the session in years.

However, listening to the audio of the teleconference (click the orange button below), the voice of Bucs director of communications Nelson Luis can be clearly heard saying, “Time for a couple of more, guys.”

Schiano is a literal person. In his vernacular, “couple” means “two.”

Schiano answered two more questions, the final one about MRSA. Schiano spent nearly a minute on it, giving a thoughtful answer about how much he has personally learned about MRSA since the outbreak in the Bucs locker room earlier this season.

After finishing his final answer, Schiano quickly said, “Alright guys, I appreciate it, I will see you Sunday” and, yes, hung up the phone.

Now maybe this is nothing for locals because the people who cover the Bucs are used to Schiano’s ways. How he ended his teleconference today is exactly how he ends most of his press conferences (go ahead and pick one, any one, from Buccaneers.com for evidence). Luis will say, “Two more questions” and after Schiano finishes answering the final question, he’ll say, “Thanks guys” and bolt off the dais. Sometimes, Schiano will toy with the Custodian of Canton, eye-RAH! Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune, and say, “Thought you could get one under the wire, huh Ira?” then flash a big grin and walk off.

Did Schiano interrupt a potential final question as he was saying “See you Sunday?” Yes, but that assumes Schiano even heard the question as the two talked over one another. Schiano’s quick endings to press conferences happen virtually daily here in Tampa. Again, Joe suggests you watch his press conference videos on Buccaneers.com for evidence.

What Joe considers a hang-up is if he would call Rachel Watson in the small hours of the morning looking for a heavy-breathing tryst between the sheets and hears a click, yes, that’s a hang-up.

This was not a hang-up. An abrupt ending? Yes. Nothing new, not even for an NFL coach. Shoot, earlier this year in a short teleconference with Saints coach Sean Payton, the Saints leader was clearly bored and at one point, Bill Parcells-like, blurted, “I’ve only got time for one more, I’ve got to get going.”

And that was that. To hear the audio of Schiano’s teleconference (courtesy of the Buccaneers), click the orange button below .

Thanks to a one-game suspension handed down by the NFL against Bucs safety Dashon Goldson, which will be applied to this week’s game with Detroit, the Bucs will be short-handed in pass defense against one of the better passing offenses in the NFL.

Goldson was sentenced as a result of what the league deemed an illegal hit against Dixie Chicks wideout Roddy White, which also took out Goldson’s teammate linebacker Mason Foster, who has yet to be cleared to play Sunday due to a concussion.

While Bucs commander Greg Schiano understands headhunting is illegal and has dire consequences for the guilty party, Schiano couldn’t but think Goldson’s reputation as a headhunter hurt him just as bad in the court of NFL warden commissioner Roget Goodell as did the actual hit on White (and Foster).

“I think Dashon understands that. I know he does. It is what it is. It happened,” Schiano said. “The reality is he got called for it. He got suspended for it. And a lot of it has to do I think with his history. We have to adjust better than we have. I thought he did make huge adjustments to his game since the last fine and suspension (which was appealed).

“A couple of things have occurred. The rules of the game are forever adjusting and they’ve adjusted this year, in 2013, more than they have in the past. And that’s fine. I get the big picture. We all want this game to keep moving forward. It’s the best game in the world. We don’t want to let it get jeopardized by something that is going on. The adjustment by the league, I understand it. We have to play within those rules.

“It is getting more and more difficult to play defense in the National Football League. That is the way it is going to be. We need to protect the game and protect the players. We need to modify how we do things. Those who adjust the quickest are going to have the most success. We are losing a valuable player because we did not adapt quick enough. Dashon is a great guy to have on your football team. History is the biggest culprit in this instance.”

That’s just it. Goldson claims no one will take the hit out of him. But the NFL can take Goldson out of the NFL with suspensions.

If Goldson is OK losing $250,000+ per illegal hit, Joe’s OK with that too. That’s his choice. But when Goldson’s headhunting leads to him being banished to the sidelines, that not just hurts Goldson but the team as a whole.

At that point, a player (no matter the position) begins to become an albatross. Either Goldson is going to have to learn how to play by the rules, or rock star general manager Mark Dominik is going to have to find another capable safety in the offseason not named “Ahmad Black,” who can replace Goldson the next time he is paddled by Goodell’s henchmen.

In the WDAE-AM 620 audio below, Bucs offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan goes into great detail about how Mike Glennon is at an “advanced level,” when it comes to preparation and learning quickly. Sullivan also raves about how Glennon doesn’t repeat mistakes.

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Click the arrow below to hear Greg Schiano on BSPN Radio this afternoon, as Schiano continues what feels like a media whirlwind tour. 

It’s a brief interview. He touches on a handful of topics and is asked what he thought about the stuff swirling around the media about his relationship with his team. Schiano says “most of it” was wrong and explains why he didn’t spend more time refuting it. Enjoy.

In a backhanded way, Darrelle Revis started the Calvin Johnson trash talk early in the Bucs locker room Sunday, minutes after the Bucs beat the Falcons. Revis told Joe and other reporters to “look at the stats” of the last time Revis faced Johnson.

Recently, Revis deleted some Twitter messages so an old one of his, reminding fans of his success against Megatron, now sits atop his Twitter timeline.

Joe is fired up for the Revis-Johnson matchup and will have more quotes about it through the week.

For now, here’s a nugget what will help you “look at the stats,” as Revis suggested. It’s from the New York Daily News back in 2010.

Darrelle Revis flashed the airtight coverage skills Sunday that turned him into a phenomenon a year ago. The Jets’ All-Pro cornerback turned Calvin Johnson into a nonfactor, holding the Lions’ star wideout to one catch for 13 yards.

“Calvin Johnson is a beast of a receiver,” Revis said. “It was a great matchup. He brought the best out in me. … It was a tough fight.”

Maybe so, but Revis, who was thrown at four times, made it look easy. The Lions went after Revis on the first play from scrimmage. The result: the first of Revis’ two pass breakups. It was the cornerback’s first game in which he tracked the opponents’ top receiving threat from start to finish.

“I felt good,” Revis said. “I did what I needed to do to complete my job.”

Joe knows many Bucs fans, desperate to see Bucs commander Greg Schiano leave the area, had their calendars circled for when they believed the Bucs would start to fold internally, and pull a Bucs 2011 stunt where they quit on Raheem Morris.

It didn’t happen, and instead, the Bucs have looked like a totally different team in the past three weeks.

Bucs stud defensive tackle mocked at people expecting the Bucs to quit.

Last night, McCoy appeared on “Late Hits,” co-hosted by Alex Marvez and Bill Polian, heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio, GMC noted that people who claimed Bucs players were about ready to shovel dirt in Schiano’s face simply don’t know Schiano or the Bucs locker room.

@Geraldini93: “Everyone is entitled to their opinion but Coach Schiano never lost this locker room. No one paid attention to those rumors”

Anyone who can see a game and isn’t walking with a white cane knows the Bucs never quit on Schiano. They played hard. That is part of the reason the team has — at least in November — turned the corner.

The question that now remains, has the team turned the corner enough to ensure a return for Schiano for the 2014 season?

In this Detroit Free Press video, Lions beat writers Dave Birkett and Carlos Monarrez are trying to figure out why Matthew Stafford said the Bucs are the most talented defense he’ll see all season yesterday.

Joe’s not too surprised by Stafford’s comment (perhaps he watched some Revis film?). The Bucs defense is loaded with talent — with a Pro Bowl producer at all three levels of defense. Can the New Schiano Order get the most out of it?

Joe hopes Stafford feels the same way on Monday. The Lions allow the fewest sacks in the NFL. Stafford likely will have all kinds of time.

Cary Chow and Ashley Fox discuss Bucs safety Dashon Goldson and his multiple finds for illegal hits in this BSPN video.

Truly fantastic in-depth interview here with Lions radio analyst Jim Branstatter on WDAE-AM 620 this morning. If you want to know what it takes to beat the Lions on Sunday, this is a great listen.

Branstatter explains that Calvin Johnson can be stopped but there is a cost. He dives into how the Lions are using Reggie Bush effectively, and much more, including detailing what Ndamukong Suh is producing. “He’s a still a big force.” Enjoy!

The Lions may have Calvin Johnson, but the Bucs have Bobby Rainey, who was just named NFC Offensive Player of the Week. Rainey’s 163 yards rushing on 30 carries and three touchdowns (one through the air) against the Falcons made this honor a no-brainer.

Joe has been stunned by how rockstar general manager Mark Dominik hit on both Mike James (60 carries for 295 yards) and Rainey. Throw in LeGarrette Blount and there’s hard evidence of how you can find extremely productive running backs in the late rounds or on the street. But you still have to pick the right ones, which isn’t so easy. See Michael Smith, Derrick Ward and Kregg Lumpkin.

Kudos to Dominik for being on the rise with his backfield selections, including Doug Martin.

Greg Schiano loves him some Mike Glennon.

The leader of the New Schiano Order is glowing about his guy.

During an interview with Gil Brandt and Alex Marvez on SiriusXM NFL Radio before the win against the Falcons, Schiano explained how Glennon is the total package.

“I’ll tell you, Gil. I really like Mike Glennon. I think he’s got a real bright future. He’s got all the things you look for. No. 1, he loves the game and loves to work at the game. And then he’s a pre-dawn guy at the facility and he’s here well after dinnertime. I mean he studies it. He works at it. He takes care of his body,” Schiano said. “One of the knocks on him coming out is, you know, he wasn’t a great leader. Well, that’s the furthest thing from the truth. He takes control, has taken control of our huddle. I really think he can be a tremendous football player. He’s very, very coachable, reads plays out the way that you ask him to. You know, when you do that, it gives you a chance to distribute the ball to all the different receivers. It keeps everybody in the game. And he’s just got a really good temperament to be a quarterback.”

Interesting was Schiano referencing a knock on Glennon not being a great leader when he was drafted. Perhaps that’s why Schiano didn’t oust Josh Freeman sooner?

Regardless, Schiano is all-in now. It’s all about No. 8. If Glennon continues to thrive, Joe can’t imagine Team Glazer breaking up this marriage.

There has been a lot of hot air hollered over sports radio, typed on the Internet, voiced on TV and bled with ink on 19th Century news delivery services (newspapers) about the Bucs and their pass rush (or lack thereof).

Akeem Spence told Joe last week that the defensive line as a unit had lobbied coaches all year to, as Hall of Famer Warren Sapp would say, let the dogs hunt.

Recently, it was learned Bucs stud defensive tackle Gerald McCoy put his foot down and all but told his coaches enough was enough with pretty stunting and that coaches finally listening to players is why the Bucs have had a virtual explosion of sacks the past two games (both wins, incidentally).

GMC attempted to dodge this issue earlier in the week, documents the Custodian of Canton, eye-RAH! Kaufman of The Tampa Tribune.

“You knew it was there, we had the ability to do it, there was just something missing,’’ McCoy said. “I never could really point that out, I just knew we weren’t finishing games. We had a lot of opportunities. I guess you can say, ‘Where was that earlier in the year?’ But you don’t want to look in the past, look to the future.’’

Tampa Bay has 22 sacks for the season as they head to Detroit to face Matt Stafford, who has been dropped only 12 times in 419 pass attempts.

“Yeah, we’ve got to work as a unit,’’ said McCoy. “I didn’t want to change anything I was doing, just keep trusting that the guys next to me are going to do their job and I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing. And it all came together [Sunday].’’

There’s no need to change what you are doing! The Bucs are finally — finally! — getting results. Why in the world would you change that and go back to what wasn’t working for lo’ these many months?

Just how desperate if not rightly paranoid for their jobs were Bucs defensive coaches to finally give in to the hell-raising of Sapp, Booger McFarland, Steve White, the Bucs players, hell, Pope Francis himself, to finally cave?

Meanwhile, GMC’s loud critics and haters have been shamed into seclusion and silenced. Why? Be men and speak for yourselves!

Tuesday, Bucs rock star general Mark Dominik spoke with popular sports radio and TV personality Adam Schein on “Mad Dog Radio,” heard exclusively on SiriusXM Radio. The conversation was wide-ranging dealing with a myriad of Bucs topics. Joe transcribed every one of the 3,550 words of the conversation for your reading and dancing pleasure.

Adam Schein: Joining us now on the line, friend of the radio program, the general manger of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Mark Dominik. Mark, its Adam Schein and Schein on Sports, how are you?

Mark Dominik: Adam, good, how you doing?

Schein: I am outstanding. By the way, can you get fined for commenting about the officials concerning another team? Can you go on a nice passionate rant about officials? Can you get fined? Will you get a call from Roger Goodell if I ask you about [Monday] night?

Dominik: I don’t know what you are talking about. What happened [Monday] night?

Schein: [guffaws] That’s why I love ya’ Mark, that’s why I love ya.’ Hey, in all seriousness, I mean, congratulations on the Bucs, on the last two weeks after what I have to imagine as difficult of a stretch for you professionally and personally since the beginning of the year.

Dominik: Yeah, it was a very long first half of the season. And frustrating. There were a lot of opportunities in front of us that we didn’t quite close or capitalize on. It’s led to a long season but I have been very proud of the players and the coaching staff. They have persevered hard through some adversity and the changes that have gone on through this organization and watching guys break out and watching guys really stay with the program and stay with the plan. And that’s paid off the past couple of weeks and as we sit around here now, it’s on to Detroit week as we prepare for the big Lions.

Schein: I could give you some names; I’d rather here it from you. Give us some guys who have been under that umbrella who you really are impressed with as far as staying the course and really achieving over the past couple of weeks.

Dominik: Yeah, I think a few of them on the defensive side of the ball to start, I think Lavonte David is a guy, if you haven’t seen our games or haven’t seen him play, to me, he is one of the best linebackers in the National Football League right now. He is making plays in the run game and in the passing game, sacking the quarterback. He has really been just a stellar player. He came off of a great rookie season and has built upon it. Same with a Gerald McCoy who, obviously, had a really great game against Atlanta, notching three sacks and his sack total is the highest it has ever been. He has been playing very hard and very productive for us. Our safeties have been playing at an elite level and Darrelle Revis, right now, has the biggest challenge or one of the biggest challenges you can ever have in the National Football League in Calvin Johnson this weekend. It will be a great matchup in the National Football League. On offense, Adam, I have been really proud of our young rookie quarterback, Mike Glennon, who has just kind of stayed the course and played even and consistent and our offensive line is gelling and playing really well together and that is how the Bobby Raineys and the Mike James – unfortunately with his injury and certainly Doug Martin’s – our guys have really been running the ball well behind a strong offensive line.

Schein: Mark, you said a lot there and I agree with a lot of it. I would like to go piece-by-piece because it is so important. I am with you on Lavonte David. I think he is one of the most superb linebackers in the game. And he obviously had that huge penalty in Week No. 1. I felt so bad for him because I know the effort he puts in. I know what kind of guy he is, what kind of player he is. How does he put that in the rear-view mirror and then have the season that he has put together for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?

Dominik: Yeah, that is a great question. It is a shame because it happens to one of our best players on our football team overall in Lavonte David. But I think he has that mentality that you have to have in this league where you have to realize you have to move on to the next play and you can’t live in the past in the National Football League. You have to move to the future and Lavonte is a guy, I am sure he regrets that play but at the same time, he has made up for it with a lot of big plays over these 10 games. He has been a big factor in us staying competitive for the past 10 games and getting a couple of wins in a row. As Coach [Greg Schiano] has said and I feel the same way, that’s a guy you want on your football team and are proud that he is on your football team regardless of what happened in the past.

Schein: How would you evaluate Darrelle Revis’ season? Is he 100 percent healthy? Is he the right fit in this defense?

Dominik: Yeah, I think it has been great. It’s one of those things where, you know, if you go back and look at the past few weeks he’s gotten more and more confidence in himself and being 100 percent. You know, it is different for a corner. A lot of people look at Adrian Peterson and just go, “Geez. He came right back.” And that’s one of the things we talked about before we made the trade with our doctors and internally. Just how long does it take a corner to come back from an ACL as opposed to a running back? What is the difference? It’s really hard. Every body, every player responds differently. But Darrelle has done everything he can and I think he is in elite form right now. I think he has done a really good job over the past few weeks. I think he is hitting his stride. The player we traded for is the player we’ve got right now.

Schein: There was some conversation early in the year, is he the right fit for what Coach Schiano, [what] Coach [Bill] Sheridan wants to do on defense? Maybe are they doing things differently? What is your take on the fit for Darrelle Revis in the system that you guys run in Tampa Bay?

Dominik: I think Darrelle is a great fit for what we do. I think him coming here – just last week, he diagnosed Adam, he just sees and feels the game at an elite level. He had one [play] on a wide receiver screen that he read and snuffed out for a tackle and a four-yard loss. He was right there in position to seal the game against the Miami Dolphins on a deep interception where it looked like he was the receiver on the play. So Darrelle is a great fit for us – and just about any defense in the National Football League – but certainly, we are happy to have him here, I can guarantee you of that.

Schein: Mark, I have to say this to you because I said this to you after the draft. And I meant every word of it. And I said this to you after you drafted Mike Glennon. I thought you drafted a guy who was an absolute steal. You know I do a television show with Phil Simms, Rich Gannon, Steve Beuerlein, CBS Sports Network. They thought Mike Glennon was the best quarterback in this draft. They really did. Thought he was going to be a star. My whole take on it was, “Alright. You got your guy. I think Greg Schiano knows what Josh is; what Josh isn’t. “ Do you have regrets about not starting Mike Glennon from Week No. 1?

Dominik: No, there were no regrets here. We went into the season with a plan in place, organizationally. And we stuck to the plan. And performance dictated the change and that is why we made the change. And we are very happy. Sometimes, you know, it’s even good for young quarterbacks to see it from a different perspective for a couple of weeks instead of just jumping out there for Week 1. But that was part of the reason why we started Mike Glennon when we did, Adam. We put him in before the bye so we had time to look at some game film over the bye week and learn from it. But Mike has been a guy, a guy that you probably saw and a guy who we were happy was there in the third round and selected him. He is extremely professional, extremely intelligent worker at the game and he takes pride in it. You are always happy when you even pull in [to One Buc Palace in the morning] and you look to your left and you see Mike Glennon’s car already in the parking stall. …

Schein: Aw, that’s great!

Dominik: … So that is one reason why we are excited. A lot of guys know that position, that guy has to be the hardest-working guy on your football team and Mike Glennon is doing that. It’s good to see him get rewarded because this game is so hard and so fast for your quarterbacks. To see him be consistent week in and week out has really been impressive.

Schein: I believe you have your quarterback of the present and the future. Do you believe you have your quarterback of the present and of the future?

Dominik: I am very happy with what he is doing, I can tell you that. I think the term “franchise quarterback” gets thrown around loosely in the National Football League because it is so hard to evaluate and decided just what is a franchise quarterback and what is not a franchise quarterback and what makes a guy a franchise quarterback. Is it Super Bowl rings? Because I know some great, great quarterbacks who have played through the decades who would disagree with you. I tell you what: With a guy like Mike Glennon, I know he knows what to do and where to go with the football. I know our older veteran players respect him because of how hard he works at it and it’s just good to have him here. I will also say at the same point, it is a long season. There are six big weeks to go and going to Detroit now this week and seeing how he plays on the road and how he bonds, it is important in his building his resume, I guess is the right way to say it. But he has done a great job with the opportunities he has had so far.

Schein: Let’s talk about Coach Schiano and you know that I really like Greg Schiano and I thought that was a great hire. I thought he had a very good first year. I think with Greg, because of his personality, there is always going to be perception and reality. You know, I find it laughable when I hear that players don’t like playing for Greg. Well, you know, if there isn’t a penalty Week 1 against the Jets and you beat the Jets, and you start the season 1-0, maybe there is a different refrain on what the players think about Greg Schiano. You‘ve seen the reports. You are the general manger of the team. Take me through Greg Schiano this season: The good, the bad, and what you might want him to work on. What do you see when you evaluate your head coach?

Dominik: Well, I know the work ethic and the determination are top-notch. The time he has put into this building. How important it is to him. How much he loves coaching, the passion that he has, the passion that he has for coaching the way he coaches on the football field. I think every general manager would be proud with the way he works and prepares the way Coach Schiano does. I will tell you this: It has been a tough season. As we all know, the head coach and the quarterback get most of the blame and the majority of the glory when things go right. The one thing that we have here in Tampa Bay is a guy with tough skin in Coach Schiano. He stayed the course. He believed in his fundamentals and the team has stayed with him. That is the most important thing you can say. Certainly, Coach has made some adjustments from Year One to Year Two. Every coach does that as they get more comfortable in the National Football League or in any situation. But I think our players are playing at a really high level for him. They believe in him and they know he is doing everything under his power for us to get out from under where we were and continue to stay in the win column.

Schein: I think that is a really intelligent and honest answer, Mark. What has he done – and frankly, your opinion matters the most – how has he changed maybe for the better from Year One to Year Two?

Dominik: Oh, I think it is a lot of little things. The one thing that I don’t think people know from outside the organization is how much time he actually spends one-on-one with each one of our players and really has an open-door policy and really develops a relationship with them as a mentor and a head coach; both. I think that is the thing that is hidden and that is why [perception] on the outside had us on the inside scratching our heads saying, “That’s not who he is.” I think our players, because they are around him, have a better feel for who he is and what he is about. And I think that is the one of the main things that people don’t get to see about Coach.

Schein: I think that is a very interesting point. And I also think it goes noted that how the Buccaneers and Coach Schiano – hey, you’ve got billboards saying “Fire the Coach. Team is Winless” – starting with the Seattle game, I think this team, and a short-handed team playing without Doug Martin, has really played hard these last three or four weeks and been able to win some games. That tells me something about Greg Schiano.

Dominik: No, that speaks volumes about not only him but his coaching staff because everybody in the organization feels it and including myself, feels it when you are not winning. But it also speaks volumes to the players in terms of their belief in what is going on and to be able to rally up and play and I think that has been one thing that has been important. Certainly 2-8 is not where we want to be. But the reality is you can get into next week’s game and continue to grow off of what you are. It’s been a tough season. I think we have 13 or 14 guys on injured reserve. We have gone through some guys but at the same point we are all working here together, coaches and front office and that is why we are getting the Bobby Raineys of the world and coaches get the guys prepared to go out there as well as they can, and [Rainey] can have a game like he did [against the Dixie Chicks]. And with Mike Glennon, you spend some time with him and you understand that in the short time he has been a starter in this league from the time he was drafted that the coaches have done a great job with him by putting the time in with him. That’s a good combination between the two, the players and coaches and you are starting to see the results in the win column a little bit.

Schein: From where you sit, what does that mean for you when you see Rainey have the type of day that he put in [against the Dixie Chicks]?

Dominik: Oh, you are proud for him. Here’s a guy that has battled his way to the National Football League and been released and has a Super Bowl ring which is a nice start to your career. Having been around players for so many years and been a part of this organization for 19 seasons, it’s all about the opportunity to play and once you get that opportunity and that chance, what do you do with that opportunity? You get very happy for young players that when the opportunity is sitting right in front of them they take advantage and he did such a good job of it. I think Bobby really showed that not only was he able to take the lanes that were there, but he created and broke tackles and caught the ball well out of the backfield and pass protected. He showed everything you would want to see out of a young running back. He’s going to have a lot of games in front of him, hopefully here to help us and get us to stay in that win column.

Schein: What was your take on the Dashon Goldson suspension?

[Editor’s note: The interview took place just a couple of hours before the Bucs learned Goldson’s appeal was denied by the NFL.]

Dominik: [snickers] That’s like how you started the entire conversation about the New England Patriots and the Carolina Panthers…

Schein: Ah, ha.

Dominik: … event last night so I have no comment other than he can go through the entire appeals process and see what happens. But I believe in Dashon Goldson as a football player and I believe he is known as a heavy hitter but I believe Dashon never goes into a game looking to hurt somebody. He knows he is a safety. He knows he is a last line of defense. This game happens fast. Big hits happen all the time. He was part of one this week with Roddy White. We’ll see what happens.

Schein: Now, do you sit down with him, do the coaches sit down with him because you want him to still be aggressive. Possibly – I can say this if you don’t want to – I don’t think he was suspended for the hit as much as he was suspended for the hit in conjunction with his reputation. Whether that is fair or unfair, I think that is the reality when you look at it from a Goldson perspective. You know, how do you manage that if you are Greg Schiano? Because you want him to be aggressive, but you need him on the field.

Dominik: Well, I think the main thing is, sitting with the player. That’s what the coaches do. What Coach Schiano does, what the defensive coaches do is we continue to talk about aiming points. They continue to stress it. We continue to do tackling circuits everyday. We talk about seeing the ball, hitting the ball. We are talking about heads-up football here. Making sure that we get our head up. Making sure that we don’t have anyone injured not just on our team but the other team. It is very stressed here as an organization in terms of the way to tackle and the way to hit and lowering the aiming point and understanding the rules are in place to protect the players. We have to understand that. We want all of our guys protected just like the other team wants their guys protected. You just have to play within the rules. Dashon has done a good job of lowering his aiming point. But, he does have a history and we understand that. At the end of the day, I am very happy he is part of our football team.

Schein: What are you looking for with Coach Schiano and the Buccaneers the rest of the season, Mark?

Dominik: Well, we take the mantra here Adam that it is one season at a time, one game at a time. Competitiveness is very important but so too is the development. I will continue to watch Mike Glennon and see how he plays. Certainly the defense coming together and the way they are playing. But how are we playing against Detroit is how I am looking at it. Everything is a one game, week-by-week situation here. We have been happy with what has happened the past week but we have moved on to this week and certainly Matt Stafford and the Detroit Lions coming off a tough loss I am sure and having to play in Detroit. It’s a tough place to play. You are going against some of the best in the league at their positions. So, we will be ready to go.

Schein: Mark, we appreciate the time. I know it has been an up and down season at times tumultuous and you answered all the direct questions and we appreciate that and I know the listeners do as well. Have a happy Thanksgiving and we will talk to you real soon.

Dominik: You got it, Adam. Go Bucs.

The Bucs can’t replace what Goldson offers

The truly sad thing about the suspension of Dashon “I’m not going to let nobody take the Hawk out of me” Goldson is the inevitable insertion of second-year safety Keith Tandy into the starting lineup.

For Joe, this is the equivalent of replacing Gerald McCoy with Albert Haynesworth in 2011. It’s so troubling, at times Tandy at safety gives Joe visions of Sabby the Goat. 

Joe’s been down on Tandy’s tackling and his angles to the football. He looks like a sixth-round pick waiting for the light to go on. There’s a reason Tandy was behind Ahmad Black on the depth chart and Black is now unemployed.

Yes, Tandy’s made a couple of plays, but he’s nowhere close to the level of Goldson, who was strong against the Falcons and is just getting back to 100 percent.

Joe’s being harsh here, mostly because Joe’s so darn annoyed by the suspension of Goldson and how much it will hurt the Bucs’ secondary Sunday. “Hawk” has got to learn, and hopefully the loss of playing time makes an impact.

In the meantime, Joe’s going to ease the tension with some adult beverages and hope Tandy is a new man Sunday.

Dashon Goldson will not play this week against the Detroit Lions. The Bucs safety, who was suspended a game for a(nother) hard hit, lost his appeal with the NFL and will have to serve his sentence this weekend when the Bucs travel to Detroit.

The ultimate NFL insider, Jay Glazer of Fox Sports, broke the news.

@JayGlazer: Dashon Goldson suspension is upheld, out this week

Sooner or later, Goldson, who Joe loves for his hard-hitting, is going to have to wise up. If he is just getting fined for his head-hunting, well, then that’s his choice and that’s money out of his pocket and food off of his children’s plates.

But when he starts missing games as a result of his actions, then Goldson isn’t much better than an injury-prone player or a lout who keeps getting suspended for dalliances with PEDs and other things (Joe is looking right at you two, Adderall Twins Aqib Talib and Eric Wright. And you, too, bongman Tashard Jackson), because that puts the Bucs at risk.

Maybe the Bucs need a specific hitting coach to teach Goldson how not to hit? It’s not like the rest of the 48 assistant coaches seem to be getting through to him.

The Buccaneers have repeatedly celebrated fan Paul Stewart, chieftain of a Bucs “booster club” with a few hundred members in England and proprietor of BucPower.com.

Team officials have gushed over Stewart in extraordinary ways. He’s hobnobbed with Team Glazer. He’s joined Gene Deckerhoff to call plays in the radio booth. He’s been featured in video and in print on Buccaneers.com, and by NFL Films.

Now Joe doesn’t get the fascination with Stewart, a seeming regular middle aged guy who works for IBM and plays golf, per his website.

But since the Bucs have revered Stewart, Joe would be remiss by ignoring Stewart calling for the head of Greg Schiano and demanding action by the Bucs’ front office come “Black Monday.”  Stewart has had enough of the New Schiano Order and penned an “editorial” recently that explored potential new head coaches for 2014.

You can click the link to read Stewart’s prose. He says the talented Bucs have been “coached down” by Schiano like the Chiefs were under Romeo Crennel.

Joe doesn’t know Stewart and considers him just another fan with an opinion. But it seems that the Bucs organization sees Stewart as more than that. So perhaps this call for action is noted in the meeting rooms of One Buckingham Palace.