Joe doesn’t give a damn if a team is learning a new defense or not. There may be a dozen teams a year that learn a new defense and they don’t get seal-clubbed twice in a month the way the Bucs have been gutted.

If folks in the past bellyached about Raheem Morris’ bad teams; if people screeched and howled about Greg Schiano’s rough start last year, it’s time to put Lovie Smith on the griddle, too. [read more]

No. 55 bleeds pewter and red, and he’s more connected to the Buccaneers’ organization this year than he’s been in any season since he was rudely cut in 2009.

Last week, Derrick Brooks was proud to explain why he thought the Bucs’ defense was nearing success. This afternoon, he was rendered speechless. [read more]

Mike Evans weighs in. (Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Joe’s press box perch revealed all kinds of man-to-man battles on the field for Vincent Jackson, Mike Evans and Austin Seferian-Jenkins to win.

But the Bucs weren’t going after them aggressively early in the game. [read more]

Lack of pass coverage, like on this catch by Crows WR Steve Smith, was a big reason for the beatdown this afternoon.

A guy walking around with a white cane could see what the problem was today. The back-seven of the Bucs’ defense couldn’t cover themselves with a blanket they were so terrible in pass coverage.

No, the defensive front didn’t pressure Crows quarterback Joe Flacco. That was mainly because Crows coach John Harbaugh employed a three-step drop for his signal-caller, often having him float to the right, to avoid Michael Johnson and Gerald McCoy. [read more]

Michael Johnson weighs in

Joe hates driving fans another step closer to an insane asylum visit, but the truth must be told.

As bad as the Bucs’ pass rush was last season, it’s worse this season. [read more]

Not only were the Bucs not ready for Joe Flacco’s three-step drops, they couldn’t adjust.

Joe spoke with several Bucs defensive linemen today about the baseball bat-to-the-nuts loss to the Crows, where the Bucs were outsmarted, out-hustled, and curb-stomped in the first half en-route to a 48-17 loss.

In short, the Bucs were not ready for Crows quarterback Joe Flacco’s three-step drops and had no answers for it. [read more]

Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Lovie Smith has found a silver lining, and it surrounds No. 8 and the Bucs’ offense. [read more]

Worry about your own team Lovie, instead of the damned weather to do your job for you.

Like Greg Schiano before him, and like Raheem Morris before Schiano, Lovie Smith talked all offseason about how he wanted to use the homefield heat in Florida as an advantage.

What a bunch of bunk that is. [read more]

Baltimore coach John Harbaugh completely and totally outcoached Lovie Smith

Joe has always believed — the genesis of this philosophy coming from Joe’s old high school coach who played for Tom Landry and John Madden — that a good coach always adjusts his offense/defense to best fit the talents of his players.

We all witnessed an example of this from Crows coach John Harbaugh today. [read more]

Joe’s going to blow a freaking gasket if he hears one more reference to this Bucs team under Lovie Smith being like the Buccaneers of 1996 under Father Dungy.

It’s an insult at this point, in addition to being a stupid take. [read more]

“Welcome to the club, Lovie!”

You want to know just how bad Lovie Smith’s defense is?

Consider the following: The Bucs worst four-game stretch defensively, per Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times, was the final four games of the 2011 season when Tampa Bay coughed up 165 points. [read more]

This one’s on you, Lovie Smith.

You emphatically told media last week that your current Buccaneers are a better team than the last time they were in town for a home game back in September.

You were so wrong. [read more]

OK friends, enemies, loyal readers and fellow Bucs fans, here Joe is at the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway as the Bucs host their first 1 p.m. game of the season, today being the Baltimore Crows.

Joe noticed on Twitter yesterday the Crows were already whining about the heat. And it isn’t that hot! [read more]

It sure looks like cornerback Crezdon Butler will start for the Buccaneers.

Who? (Feel free to click here.) Butler would be in line for his first NFL start. [read more]

That alleged built-in home field advantage held by the Buccaneers hasn’t showed up in a long time.

But Gerald McCoy is convinced it will matter today. [read more]

The failing Tampa Bay running game was one of the topics Pro Bowl left guard Logan Mankins addressed on Friday with the Tampa Bay pen and mic club. [read more]

The Buccaneers’ rookie first-round pick didn’t fully participate in a practice all last week, but it seems his groin is good enough to test in live competition this afternoon against Baltimore. [read more]

The Bucs will feel the loss of Mike Evans, says a Super Bowl-winning coach.

Ray Lewis and Ed Reed are long gone from the Baltimore defense, but there’s still plenty of nasty/stingy play on the field.

The Playbook crew on NFL Network last night were happy to blubber about the NFL’s top red zone defense. [read more]