Before Joe gets going here, before the haters try to blame Vincent Jackson for forcing Bucs fans to perform the laborious if not dangerous extra click of the mouse for the “read more” option, Joe loves VJax. Thinks the world of him. He’s a warrior.

Usain Bolt, VJax is not.

Joe just loved how VJax hauled in a bomb from Mike Glennon down the right sideline in the first half, got behind the defense, but, again, VJax was caught just short of the goal line.

Again.

Naturally, the Bucs, specifically Mike Glennon, fumbled and came up empty-handed on the play. That was critical. It also reminded Joe of how [read more]

Joe really couldn’t stomach watching the Bucs rush the passer today. It was like watching one of those bad Geico ads over and over when the guys play the banjo to close the commercial. You could just play that damn music while the Bucs defensive line stunts over and over again.

Is there a reason first-round pick Adrian Clayborn can’t rush off the edge? It’s 100 percent clear to Joe the Bucs don’t believe he can. [read more]

Bucs running back Bobby Rainey said the Bucs were surprised at what the Stinking Panthers were doing defensively.

Bucs running back Bobby Rainey was refreshingly candid but not specific about the struggle of the Bucs running game today in the loss to the Stinking Panthers in Charlotte.

Speaking on the Buccaneers Radio Network after the game, Rainey was asked specifically why the run game sputtered. [read more]

Where does Greg Schiano stand with ownership at 3-9?

 Nobody Joe knows thought the Bucs would win today, but they weren’t competitive against Carolina, which is always a red flag when it’s a division game.

And that’s not a good thing for a second-year head coach who’s 3-9. [read more]

Overmatched.

Joe’s not sure how else to describe this debacle.

Yes, the Bucs shot themselves in the foot with a heinous, needless Mike Glennon fumble in the red zone, a few plays after Vincent Jackson got dragged down from behind en route to the end zone, but those plays really didn’t matter much today.

The Bucs were mauled badly in the trenches — on both sides of the ball — by the streaking Panthers, who won their eighth straight game with ease. There were also terrible breakdowns in the Bucs secondary by All-Pros Darrelle Revis and Dashon Goldson.

And Joe’s convinced the Bucs might have set an NFL record for ineffective blitzes.

Most noteworthy to Joe was Mike Glennon looking like a rookie again, tossing a bad pick on a throw that looked more like a shanked punt (yes, Joe realizes there should have been a defensive penalty against Vincent Jackson), missing open receivers, and that fumble that will be a highlight show laughing point all night long.

Joe had little hopes for the Bucs today. This is how the Panthers win. But Joe would have liked to see the Bucs execute better when they had their shots.

In case you were wondering, the Bucs officially were eliminated from playoff contention today.

Don’t worry, for open threads, Joe won’t force you to click a mouse and potentially sprain a thumb. We all know how clicking a mouse is so exhausting, akin to working a loading dock.

So the Bucs will try to extend their three-game winning streak against a beat up Stinking Panthers squad. This gives Joe a bit of hope.

The Bucs are not the same team that got curb-stomped by the Panthers on a Monday night a little over a month ago. And, apparently, neither are the Panthers.

Joe’s pretty sure that if the Bucs pull this out and Glennon hits a bomb or two for long gains/scores, Bucs commander Greg Schiano is saved from being forced to walk the plank.

As always, do not post URLs of illegally streaming feeds of the game here, but you are welcome to share them with yourselves via e-mail. Have fun and go Bucs!

BSPN NFL insider Adam Schefter is reporting this morning that Darrelle Revis and his tweaked groin (in a bad way) will play today in Charlotte.

This is great news — on top of today’s return of Mason Foster and Dashon Goldson to the starting defense.

The Bucs will have all their defensive playmakers on the field. Now it’s time to make some plays.

Game 12

Bucs (3-8) at Stinking Panthers (8-3)

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

TV: WTVT-TV, Channel 13, locally. Outside the Tampa Bay area, DirecTV Channel 704.

Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network (in Tampa WFUS-FM 103.5, and WDAE-AM 620); SiriusXM Channel 113. [read more]

“To see them happy after a win, you know, because they work so hard. Throughout the entire beginning of the season, I don’t think I can ever say that we went out to practice and their work ethic wasn’t what we wanted it to be. So, when you have group of guys that are putting forth that effort, it’s nice to see them be able to succeed and have a smile on their face after the game.” — Greg Schiano, expressing his satisfaction in the Bucs’ winning streak to the Carolina media last week. [read more]

The Bucs slapped on the pads and spent extra time this week, physical time, working on the finer points of the rushing attack after having an off day on the ground in Detroit.

Davin Joseph said Friday that the punch-them-in-the-mouth direction will extend to today. [read more]

The Bucs are looking for another blocked punt against Carolina

It was a stray, almost cocky one-liner at Greg Schiano’s closing news conference last season: “You’re not supposed to be able to do that in the National Football League,” Schiano said.

The head coach was referring to the Bucs blocking punts — and decisively leading the NFL last season in blocked punts. [read more]

Donald Penn talks about the keys to O-line success

Last week’s win over the Lions was cool in one aspect: The Bucs’ offensive line, greatly improved since the first seven weeks of the season, proved they could slug it out (but not run the ball) against a strong front-seven defensive team and win a close game.

Well, that task is going to get a bit tougher today. While the Lions have a damned good front-seven, the Stinking Panthers have perhaps the best front-seven in the NFL. [read more]

Below is the TV map showing where the Bucs-Stinking Panthers game will be broadcast free via FOX over-the-air affiliates.

So what the heck is Joe doing with this new feel of JoeBucsFan.com?

Joe’s read all the reader praise, hate and speculation. Much of it has been quite comical, especially the reader who claimed Joe has added the “read more” thing because Joe has small genitalia. (He’s been banned from commenting for the crime of lying about Joe.) [read more]

Many tens of thousands of JoeBucsFan.com readers only come here once a week or so. They’re people with meaningful lives, unlike Joe and many Bucs-obsessed lunatics that live on these pages 24/7. So with no Bucs football until tomorrow, Joe thought he’d re-visit a handful of this week’s headlines  — for non-regular readers that might want to catch up. Enjoy!

Joel Glazer likes what he sees
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=101693

With the fifth pick in the 2014 draft …
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=101713

No Mark Barron treatment for Kelcie McCray
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=101758

Schiano likes Glennon’s 40-second call
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=101768

Davin Joseph doesn’t like the “F” word
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=101799

Tom Crabtree is toast for 2013
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=101805

The Greg Schiano video that has fans jacked up
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=101831

McCoy outgrades Suh
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=101848

Schiano reveals what’s “driving me crazy”
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=101895

Full Schiano transcript from “Schein on Sports”
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=101913

Glennon: I trust my eyes
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=101915

Evidence of Schiano’s job security
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=102027

Part I of Joe’s chat with Dave Wannstedt
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=101994

Part II of Joe and Wannstedt
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=102061

Is Mike Shula really coordinating the Panthers’ offense?

If is a surprise this NFL season — and there are always surprises — one has been the development of Stinking Panthers quarterback Cam Newton. Seemingly on the cusp of being relegated to an expensive project that didn’t pan out last year, Newton has blossomed into an NFL star, both with his arm and his feet.

It sure helps to have one of the better wide receivers in the NFL, Steve Smith. And for the second straight week, the Bucs must prepare for an explosive weapon at wide receiver. [read more]

Before the Bucs beating of the Lions, Bucs icon Derrick Brooks talked about how Mike Glennon is a Greg Schiano man.

Speaking to Steve Duemig on WDAE-AM 620, Brooks noted that more than anything else, Glennon is pleasing his head coach and doing as he’s told. [read more]

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