Josh McCown absorbed seven sacks by the Packers yesterday.

Joe was up for some pain and went back to the film of each one. [read more]

Before Joe gets rolling here, let’s address the (Alabama?) elephant in the room: Barring something totally unforeseen, Lovie Smith will return next year as head coach. Joe’s willing to lay cash on this.

There haven’t been any signs, rumors, hints or tips coming from One Buc Palace that Lovie is in danger. Everything points to a return. Now Joe has stated many times before, and will again, if Joe had to slap a grade on Lovie, it would be an “F.” [read more]

(Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

It’s always worth noting everything Ronde Barber says when he calls a Bucs game for FOX, like he did yesterday.

Aside from being close to some Buccaneers and knowing Lovie Smith’s scheme, Barber is part of private, FOX “production meetings” with Lovie, select players, as well as assistant coaches. [read more]

Bucs must be ready in seven days

Damn! Dolphins ownership loved the team’s high-flying, 37-35 win against a very sound Vikings defense yesterday.

Head coach Joe Philbin was granted another season after the game, so that means first-year offensive coordinator Bill Lazor won’t be free work for Tampa Bay. [read more]

Man, Lovie Smith wasn’t messing around last week when he said, “We feel like we know our roster right now, know exactly what we need to do going forward.”

Yesterday, Joe learned general manager Jason Licht already has his draft boards set and expects little to change. [read more]

A long look at the Bucs yesterday, today, and what to expect tomorrow and beyond.

Joe has a headache.

Joe just cannot get out of his head that woeful lot the Bucs trotted out for offense yesterday.

That was supposed to be an NFL offense? In what world? [read more]

It has come down to this. For the first time, Joe will root for the Buccaneers to lose Sunday when the whistle blows.

Lovie Smith can try to spin the benefits of victory against the Saints all he wants. He can’t fool Joe. He can’t fool the fans. And surely he can’t fool Team Glazer.

Losing Sunday is the right thing for the franchise – to secure the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2015.

Joe considers this a major announcement because cheering for a Bucs loss will go against Joe’s DNA, but it is critical.

The Bucs have a shot to get a guy who, if all works out, can lead the team out of the depths of a miserable offense, out of the basement of irrelevance, out of the dungeon of losing. A player who can lead this team to relevance, to sell tickets, to deliver hope, to ignite a fan base.

As much as Joe loves big-time, bone-crunching offensive linemen, he has never seen a left tackle in his life lead a team 80 yards for a go-ahead touchdown in crunch time.

After ignoring quarterbacks last year with the rare chance to draft one early, the Bucs are on the cusp of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity (again) to draft a quarterback of their dreams, a position the Bucs need in the worst way.

And to secure this ticket to a bright future, the Bucs must do one thing in six days.

Lose.

No. 1 Is Much Better Than No. 2 [read more]

Joe’s got a major announcement coming tomorrow at 5 a.m., one that really is a little painful.

Yes, Joe always gets his day rolling at 5 a.m., but this one will be a little different.

Joe would like to thank Josh McCown for making a postgame point today that Joe’s made for months:

The Bucs could use another offensive coach. [read more]

Mike Evans is the Bucs’ wide receiver of the future. Tampa Bay fans are jacked up to have the talented rookie be their No. 1 target for years to come.

But Evans is now on a five-game streak of less than 50 yards receiving. [read more]

Doug Martin and the Bucs rushing attack was invisible today.

It has been over two years since the Bucs had consecutive 150-yard games from their running attacks. The drought continues.

A week after the Bucs ran for over 150 yards, the Bucs not only went into reverse today, they fell off a cliff. [read more]

Michael Johnson blasts Packers QB Aaron Rodgers in the first quarter. (Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.)

Joe only spoke to one offensive player after the beating by the Packers. Doug Martin, stand-up guy he is, faced the music.

As Joe wrote yesterday, unless Martin runs the ball effectively, the Bucs have little running attack.

But Joe spoke with many members of the Bucs defense. They were in virtual shock after the game. [read more]

The Bucs’ season finale is a meaningless game for both teams

Let’s talk about what’s really important: the Bucs securing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. [read more]

(Photo courtesy of Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

A huge focus of the Buccaneers’ offseason was finding guys to pressure quarterbacks.

The woeful four-man pass rush under the New Schiano Order had to end immediately. [read more]

Enough is enough.

Joe’s had it with Marcus Arroyo, the Bucs’ acting offensive coordinator. His act is over.

Joe isn’t so sure Arroyo is qualified to be a college quarterback coach, let alone NFL offensive coordinator. Today’s lame effort did it for Joe.

Yes, yes, yes, Joe knows Arroyo was hung out to dry by Jeff Tedford. [read more]

“Damnit defense, you gotta score! That offense is so pathetic, my dog craps on the living room rug when the Bucs are on TV. Jiminy Christmas!”

You know what the Bucs need? The Bucs need to bring in Chucky for a pep talk. Just like Chucky used to bring in motivational speakers, the Bucs sorely need him now.

When Chucky was hired by Team Glazer, he knew the Bucs offense was a work in progress as he took them from the dark ages of Father Dungy to a 21st-century offense. Even Chucky knew it would take time before the offense clicked. [read more]

Did Jeff Tedford step aside to let his close friend Marcus Arroyo continue in his dream job?

This summer, Lovie Smith shared that Aaron Rodgers strongly referred former Bucs offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford to him with a powerful endorsement.

Of course, Joe asked Rodgers about Tedford, following the Packers’ beating of the Bucs today. [read more]