You want to see a fired up coach? In this video from Buccaneers.com, which is a pretty cool game highlights package of the win at Detroit, fast-forward to the 5:12-mark and watch Bucs commander Greg Schiano climb atop a bench in the Bucs locker room and exalt his team on what he termed “One of the most gutsy performances I’ve seen by a football team.”

If people don’t think Schiano is passionate for the game and for his players, then Joe suggests you watch the video.

“BRING IT ON!” Schiano hollered. And he wasn’t yelling about a dirty old man movie.

Joe understands there are Bucs fans ready right now to knight rookie quarterback Mike Glennon as the new franchise quarterback. Joe loved how Glennon played Sunday (sans that terrible sack he took which all but dragged the Bucs out of field goal range — has Rian Lindell been cut yet?). If Glennon can just show Joe a consistent ability to stretch the defense like he did when he hooked up with Tiquan Underwood and Vincent Jackson Sunday, then Joe is sold.

It seems, however, the bandwagon is already rolling downhill.

Now if the Bucs decide to keep Glennon as the starter in 2014 [read more]

In a not-too surprising thought, Bucs commander Greg Schiano, if he is to survive and return for the 2014 season — and the arrow is trending towards a return — implied there is little need for the Bucs to entertain drafting a quarterback, types Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.

Because the Bucs will have a franchise quarterback already on the roster and his name is Mike Glennon.

“I know this about Mike: He is a rookie quarterback for sure and there are still some rookie things he says and does that makes you realize, oh, yeah, this guy is a rookie,” Schiano said. “But I think he has accelerated his progress since the day he got here by how hard he’s prepared and worked. And if there’s such a thing, I think he’s taken a rookie season and condensed it into eight or so games if that makes sense because he’s playing at a higher level that you would expect as a rookie.”

The Bucs have won three games in a row after an 0-8 start. Glennon has thrown at least one touchdown pass in eight straight games, the longest streak by a rookie since the Seahawks’ Russell Wilson did it in nine straight in 2012.

“And the things that are hard for rookies is to let a bad play die,” Schiano said. “Don’t get greedy. That’s what Mike does the best job of. In six games, he’s thrown on interception. He’s now thrown the ball down the field with more confidence, because he’s always been able to do it. Just pulling the trigger. That is the development and maturation of a quarterback and I think we’re all seeing it right in front of our eyes.”

Now one could make the argument it would be irresponsible for the Bucs not to take a quarterback in one of the deepest quarterback drafts Joe can remember. From the day Schiano benched and subsequently threw leaky Rip Van Freeman off the team, Glennon was his guy.

The only question was if Schiano was Team Glazer’s guy. With the very real possibility Schiano may weather the storm and return for 2014, it’s not a shock that, barring injury or a complete and total Freeman-like meltdown, that Glennon will be your Bucs starting quarterback in 2014.

MG8 sure hasn’t played himself out of a job; that’s for sure.

Now if Joe were Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik, just for a good investment, Joe would take a flier on Aaron Murray on the third day of the draft. Murray, who blew out his knee Saturday, won’t be able to participate in any pre-draft festivities, such as the combine, pro day or a private workout. So his draft stock will completely plummet, as he likely won’t be able to take a snap until the 2014 NFL season has already begun.

Not saying Murray is the answer, but he will be a helluva sound investment for any team that drafts him. Stinks for Murray, but great for some NFL team.

Everyone across the country is dissecting Mike Glennon. What’s making this third-round pick, dumped into a complete mess, play like the rookie of the year?

Former Bucs tight end Anthony Becht, who works for ESPN and the Buccaneers Radio Network, says it could be just that intangible that great quarterbacks possess. [read more]

Yes, the Bucs are doing things under commander Greg Schiano few teams have done in the NFL. And that’s a good thing, not a bad thing, sort of.

Consider what the numbers geeks at BSPN have unearthed about the Bucs in the wake of beating the Lions on the road yesterday for their third straight win.

@ESPNStatsInfo: Via @eliassports Buccaneers are 3rd team in NFL history to win 3 straight after starting 0-8 or worse (1978 Cardinals, 1986 Colts)

A link between the three teams? All three were coached by guys largely — accurately or inaccurately — considered “college coaches.”

The 1978 Cardinals, after starting 0-8, finished 6-10 and were coached by one of the greatest college coaches in history, Bud Wilkinson. The 1986 Colts, after going 0-8 under the pathetic Rod Dowhower, were turned around when the Colts hired Ron Meyer, largely known for building (cheating) Southern Methodist before he pulled a Pete Carroll and left for New England before the NCAA posse arrived.

Both coaches, after turning around a season, were met with different fates. Wilkinson flamed out the next year, crossed swords with the notoriously inept Bill Bidwill over who to start at quarterback, and was fired before the end of the season.

Meyer turned the Colts into a respectable team and hung around for a few years, actually guiding the Colts to the playoffs once.

The Bucs thought they had a steal when in the offseason, Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik purloined tight end Tom Crabtree from the Packers via free agency.

But Crabtree has had virtually no impact, largely because he has been beset by injuries. And that will label the 2013 season for Crabtree. He is now out for the year, per Greg Bedard of theMMQB.com.

@GregABedard: Good thing for the Bucs that TE Tim Wright had a career game. Tom Crabtree is out for season with torn bicep. Would be 3rd TE on IR

Right now that steal is looking like Dominik got fooled, but there is no way, no how Joe can blame a general manager — doesn’t matter who — for injuries.

Just like Brian Price, who Bucs fans love to pile on. If you can predict injuries, then Joe wants you to look into that crystal ball of yours and give Joe the winning Lotto numbers for Wednesday. Joe promises to split the winnings. Really.

Former NFL receiver Curtis Conway and one of the original sideline princesses, Jill Arrington (remember her?), talk about Week 12’s unsung heroes in this FoxSports.com video. Bucs receiver Tiguan Underwood is No. 2. Conway loved Underwood’s game-winning touchdown.

The Bucs’ captain explains what won’t cross his lips when it comes to No. 8

It’s safe to say Davin Joseph won’t be lobbying the Bucs’ hierarchy to draft Johnny Football.

Joseph already has run his own scouting report on Mike Glennon, many weeks ago in fact. Joseph is all positive but he doesn’t like to bring the “F” word into the picture like many others do. [read more]

Adam Schein writes Bucs fans should give thanks this Thanksgiving for having Greg Schiano as their leader for the 2014 season.

Yes, Thanksgiving is coming. It’s a true holiday for football fans, when we get to shovel top-shelf food down our gullets all day while watching the greatest game ever invented from noon to midnight, all the while consuming mass quantities of cocktails.

It is a celebration of real ‘Merica.

Of course, during the lone solemn moment of the day, per tradition, we are to give thanks for the good things in our lives. No matter how bad off you think you are, there are plenty of people with much worse predicaments.

It’s in this special moment, popular sports radio and television personality Adam Schein writes on NFL.com, that  Bucs fans should be very thankful the team will not undergo a coaching search this winter as Bucs commander Greg Schiano has earned his right to return to the Pewter Pirates next season.

But regardless of the popular public sentiment, this team never stopped playing for Greg Schiano.

The season has been lost, but hope for Schiano leading Tampa next year should not be. If anything, this will prove to be a season of development and a major learning experience.

On Sunday, Tampa Bay went on the road to play the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions. I thought it would be a close game, with the Bucs coming off two straight wins. It was even better. Tampa Bay beat the Lions 24-21, with Schiano’s defense picking off Matthew Stafford four times in the process. The game featured six lead changes. Tampa Bay — not Detroit — looked like the playoff-bound team, showing grit and execution.

Schein went on to type that no coach of Schiano’s stature should be taken down by the juvenile antics of former Bucs franchise quarterback leaky Rip Van Freeman. If anything, Schein notes, the way Freeman tried to Pearl Harbor the team (and he did a good job of it) and how Schiano threw him off the team is evidence Schiano knows what he is doing.

Now Joe has stated that given the Freeman mess and the MRSA outbreak, none of which Schiano could control,  if Schiano wins two more games, Schiano likely has sealed his return.

Of course, Joe is not Team Glazer, who seemed to be happy with how Schiano has handled so much adversity.

Dekoda Watson was back coming off the edge yesterday, and he found his way to the quarterback again. This time it was a sack. Last week, it was getting to Matt Ryan’s arm that forced an interception.

What a concept!

The Bucs really rotated their edge rushers yesterday. Adrian Clayborn had a sack and tackles for loss, perhaps sparked by more time on the bench, giving way to William Gholston, Watson and others. Even Jonathan Casillas flashed on an edge rush.

Joe’s pleased to see the continued defensive line adjustments by the New Schiano Order. Matthew Stafford was the least sacked QB in the NFL entering yesterday’s game. The Bucs sacked him twice and pressured him pretty well.

Click here and watch the very end of the NFL Network highlight package of the Bucs-Lions game. You’ll see surprise safety star Kelcie McCray jar the ball from Calvin Johnson with a bone-rattling hit. But from the reverse angle shown, McCray clearly drives his helmet into Johnson’s head, in what Joe’s confident should have been a personal foul.

Now Joe doesn’t love the new NFL rules protecting receivers like Joe guards his gameday beer in the refrigerator. But the rules still exist.

The irony (and lesson) here is that officials likely let the hit go because it didn’t come from a marked man like suspended Bucs All-Pro safety Dashon Goldson.

Does anyone think Goldson gets away with a hit like that, especially against one of the greats of the game? No chance. With Goldson, the refs toss flags and consult later — and the Bucs likely lose.

In this MLive.com video, Justin Rogers and Kyle Meinke blast Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford for his four picks against the Bucs.

It feels like a lifetime ago when Bucs fans were forced to endure the horrors of the Fearsome Foursome, “E.J., Leonard, Danny and LeQuan” in the Bucs’ secondary, which was among the very worst in NFL history last season.

The Bucs made sweeping changes to their defensive backfield, and it’s starting to show up in the stats sheet. The Bucs have the 14th-ranked defense in the NFL and the pass defense is nearing middle-of-the-pack.

One number standing tall is the Bucs total of 15 interceptions. That’s tied for third in the NFL. Seven of the top-10 teams in that category have winning records. It’s been interceptions by committee for the Bucs. Keith Tandy, Mark Barron, Mason Foster, Johnthan Banks, Darrelle Revis and Lavonte David each have two.

Bucs teammates celebrate with Leonard Johnson (29) after his pick-six and move called “The Clearwater Somersault.”

There is a new dance craze in the local trendy hotspots where young, sweaty, nubile lasses grind to the music. It is called “The Clearwater Somersault.”

That’s what Leonard Johnson called his move as he leaped over the goal line following his pick-six of Matthew Stafford yesterday in Detroit, Johnson’s second career pick-six.

Johnson described the play — and his move — onthe Buccaneers Radio Network.

“We were in zone coverage,” Johnson said. “I took my landmark, dropped back, looked at the quarterback and he looked away. I saw the release and rolled with the ball.

“That’s the “Clearwater Somersault.”

Though Johnson admitted it was a tough game, he wasn’t surprised at how the Bucs played.

“All week we had a great practice but knew it would be a tough,” Johnson said. “It was a challenge. Every guy from the D-line to the secondary, brought their A-game.”

Mike Glennon didn’t freeze when he took a late sack yesterday

Joe and every Bucs fan watched in agony as Mike Glennon took a late, seemingly needless sack with just under four minutes to go yesterday. The seven-yard loss pushed Rian Lindell’s field goal attempt back to 50 yards, which he missed (of course), and the Bucs retained their three point lead.

Now Joe’s not about to assume Lindell would have made the field goal if it were seven yards closer, but it still felt like a Glennon mental mistake there really hurt the Bucs.

Glennon didn’t screw up so badly, Greg Schiano explained after the game.

Schiano said Glennon took the sack intentionally, telling Schiano “I thought we didn’t want to give up that 40 seconds” by throwing the ball away and stopping the clock inside four minutes.

Schiano didn’t necessarily agree with Glennon’s thinking, but the head coach made the point that it was an example of how Glennon is always focused.

“The fact that he thinks that way, for a rookie, is very impressive,” Schiano said.

Bucs receiver Tiquan Underwood seemed to be indirectly blasting former Bucs franchise quarterback leaky Rip Van Freeman in Underwood’s praise of Mike Glennon.

Yesterday, Tiquan Underwood may had his best game as a Bucs receiver. He caught two touchdowns from Bucs stud Mike Glennon, one of which was an 85-yard bomb, the sort of pass Joe has been waiting to see from Glennon before Joe could consider knighting Glennon as a franchise quarterback.

After the game, Underwood was, naturally giddy, if not out of breath. But he came running to the defense of Bucs commander Greg Schiano and embattled offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan, and lauded Glennon with some passive-aggressive, not-so-veiled slams at former Bucs franchise quarterback, leaky Rip Van Freeman.

While praising Glennon, heard on the Buccaneers Radio Network, Underwood said, “great job. The reason I respect Mike as a person and as a football player is he comes in every week. He studies. He comes in early and stays late. The things a quarterback must do to be successful in this league he is doing it and he is doing it as a rookie. So he is only going to get better and as you can see, as we keep playing he keeps getting more comfortable.”

To Joe that was not just a compliment to Glennon. It was also a peek behind the scenes as to why Rip Van Freeman eventually melted down with the Bucs and was thrown off the team.

If Underwood respects Glennon for doing what a quarterback needs to do to be successful in the NFL, then what does that say about Glennon’s predecessor?

On Schiano, Underwood said with force and emotion, “we will continue to fight hard for Coach Schiano. We play hard for him, man. And we will continue to do the same.”

The game-winning hit yesterday on future Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson was a stunning, powerful strike, a rib-rattling stick at the game’s biggest moment.

If it was delivered by Mark Barron, Bucs fans would be injecting him into the Pro Bowl conversation.

If it came from Dashon Goldson, “Hawk” t-shirts would be flying off the shelves.

If Megatron was drilled by Johnthan Banks, Bucs fans would be celebrating the drafting of rockstar general manager Mark Dominik.

But the shot that broke the Lions back came from little known safety Kelcie McCray, a second-year, undrafted NFL nobody who was claimed off waivers after the Dolphins cut him seven weeks ago.

Joe absolutely had to take the time here to give the guy his just props. (Tampa Tribune columnist also honored McCray.) Joe also hopes Greg Schiano gives McCray an expensive gift for potentially saving his job and preventing another late-game Bucs meltdown.

What an amazing feeling for McCray. Even legendary defensive backs dream of drilling Megatron at the goal line to force a game-ending interception. Kelcie McCray! Remember the name in your Thanksgiving reflections.

OK, Greg Schiano has three wins this season. Most coaches would be working their real estate agents by now. Schiano’s situation isn’t normal. He had an infection in the locker room and it wasn’t just MRSA.

Notice all the drama with the start of the season? Then franchise quarterback leaky Rip Van Freeman missed the team photo and then was stripped of his captaincy title — by his own teammates.

When the Bucs went to New England for controlled practices, it got worse for Freeman when he was overshadowed by the play of Pats failure Tim Tebow.

The Bucs’ locker room was so unnerved the team called one of the dreaded players-only meetings.

Fast forward to the season opener and Freeman’s head was aloof on the very first series of the Jets game. If Joe didn’t know better, he would have sworn Freeman just got out of bed.

Once Schiano rid himself of Freeman, the Bucs slowly came together as a team. And lo and behold, the Bucs have won three straight (should have been four) and knocked off a division-leader in their own crib. This, despite Detroit having tons of weapons while the Bucs defense was ravaged by injuries and a suspension thrown in for good measure.

Now, it’s the Lions who are calling players-only meetings.

My, how this season has come full circle. Only thing that would complete the circle is if Detroit quarterback Matt Stafford was sighted at a Walmart buying alarm clocks.

Playoffs

This is heresy to suggest, but the Bucs are not mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. Yes, Joe is sober typing this. The Bucs would have to have all sorts of help but if they ran the table to finish 8-8, they would have tiebreakers over San Francisco, St. Louis and Detroit. It helps that the NFC East is putrid this season.

Draft

If the draft was held today, the Bucs would have the No. 5 overall pick. Has Mike Glennon convinced you? Or should the Bucs draft Jake Matthews or Taylor Lewan? Or perhaps trade down for Sammy Watkins?

Joe can’t believe he just wrote in consecutive paragraphs that the Bucs have meager playoff hopes heading into December and they could also have a top-five pick in the draft. That’s just how wacky this season is.

Pass plays

Joe is quibbling here because Mike Glennon played so well, but in the first half, many third down calls had receivers running routes short of the first down markers. Joe cannot understand the rationale, or perhaps, as some suggest, Bucs offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan is trying to hide Glennon? If you believe this theory, his many run calls on second-and-long would reinforce this conspiracy theory.

Running such short routes when you need long gains may help your quarterback, but you are also hanging your receivers out to dry. And you are likely putting the defense back on the field quickly. Again.

Team Glazer Speaks

Did Greg Schiano get a vote of confidence after the game from Bucs co-chairman Joel Glazer? Glazer seemed pleased with the team’s turnaround. That will need to continue for Schiano to return in 2014.

Were Glazer’s words a good sign or a bad sign?

Rutgers Day

It was Rutgers Day at Ford Field as Tim Wright and Tiquan Underwood played at a Pro Bowl level. It was Underwood that hauled in a bomb from Glennon — something Joe had been waiting on for weeks — that put the Bucs over the top.

After being pulled off his couch, Underwood has 13 catches at more than 20 yards a pop and three touchdowns in seven games. It is still a mystery how he was cut in favor of Dropsie Ogletree.

Rian Lindell Better Still Be in Detroit

Joe has had it with this unclutch Bucs place kicker. Kickers are very much like running backs: There are so many who can be pulled off the street and be effective. Lindell should be on the street — at a frigid Detroit Greyhound bus stop.

Lindell cost the Bucs a win over the Jets just as much as Lavonte David did. And Lindell did his best to ensure Drew Brees drove the Saints down for a game-winning field goal.

Then there was yesterday when Lindell had two — TWO! — chances to help ice the game and whiffed both times. Granted, he was painted into a corner by an inexcusable sack taken by Glennon. Still, Lindell had plenty of distance on that shot. Since the Bucs still have a prayer of a playoff berth (see above), why keep this guy Lindell on the roster when he’s about as dependable as a low-rent bookie’s odds.

Get rid of this guy! Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik should be calling in kickers for workouts tomorrow as you are reading this.

Schiano Off Hot Seat?

The Bucs are on a 3-1 run and that one loss came in overtime on the road against the best team in the NFC. Has Schiano’s seat gone from roasting to simmer? Of it is even warm?

What will it take for Schiano to rest comfortably in his seat for 2014?

Glennon’s Numbers

In this last two games, Glennon is perfect when throwing 15 yards or more downfield. Perfect! Read that again. Perfect!

Would leaky Rip Van Freeman give his left nad to be 50 percent in passes 15 yards or more downfield? Probably.

And Glennon is perfect.

Also, Glennon is the first quarterback in NFL history to throw a touchdown in each of his first eight starts.

Lions Celebrated Early Christmas

Joe cannot remember when a team had five turnovers (four picks and a fumble) and a blocked punt and still nearly won. So as giddy as Joe and other Bucs fans are today, let’s be honest: The knockout punch is not (yet) there.

Part of the reason the Lions still nearly pulled out a win despite playing Santa Claus was Lindell gagging in the second half.

Schiano and Glennon

Look out now, you Freemanites, but it appears Bucs commander Greg Schiano is developing a pretty decent NFL quarterback.

As Joe has written before, Schiano didn’t wreck Freeman. Freeman wrecked Freeman.

NFL Thoughts:

Saints: Not sure who is going to stop Drew Brees but if the Saints have to play Seattle on the road, Joe is putting his cash on the Seahawks.

Crows: Suddenly the Crows look like a new team, slapping around the hapless Jets. Now this sets up a …

Steelers: The Men of Steel are playing good football of late. For Pittsburgh, beating the Brownies on the road is a good win. And to think some frauds believe the Steelers were shopping Ben Roethlisberger! Oh, on Thanksgiving Night, the resurgent Steelers – still in the hunt for a playoff berth – face the Crows. Joe’s looking forward to that.

Packers: Joe just may have to believe Aaron Rodgers is the MVP of the NFL. The Packers were one of the better teams in the NFL and without him, they have totally collapsed and after tying the Vikings – where leaky Rip Van Freeman was inactive (can you imagine?) – the Packers are in a desperate mode to save their playoff lives. Good thing the Bears and Lions are keeping the Pack in the hunt as Rodgers recuperates.

Jags: They won. On the road. Against the Texans — another team circling the drain.

Chargers: Now if, as some Bucs fans believe, the Bucs, rather than drafting a quarterback in the first round (coughJohnnyFootballcough) the Bucs should try to acquire a veteran quarterback, Philip Rivers is a guy Joe would watch. He was strong in leading his team from behind to beat the Chiefs on the road. He’s also durable and has won playoff games.

Stinking Panthers: Here is where the rubber meets the road for the Bucs. Their next opponent is the Stinking Panthers in Carolina. If the Bucs pull off an upset here, then Joe suggests Schiano is off the proverbial hot seat. The Stinking Panthers didn’t have much of a day, struggling to beat the Dolphins.

Rams: The Rams blasted the Bears. The Rams! This team is truly Jekyll and Hyde, playing with a bunch of scrubs because so many stars are out on the IR.

Cardinals: Who saw this buzzsaw coming, where they whipped the Colts? Guess the injuries are mounting on offense for the Colts. With the Cardinals rising like a Phoenix, the NFC West is tough again.

Titans: What’s to write about a couple of teams fighting for worst in the AFC? Pretty sure the Titans will be drafting a quarterback in May.

Cowboys: What, Tony Romo didn’t choke? Isn’t that what he is supposed to do? Joe always thought the NFC East was an overrated division and this year it is putrid, which makes Joe smile.

Patriots: Joe didn’t watch one second of this game last night. Joe is so sick of the Belicheats and Joe never liked Peyton Manning. Thus, this game held zero interest for Joe. None.

* Lastly, isn’t it time for the networks to scrap the live in-game updates to show a scoring highlight of another game? People that are interested in other games either have the Red Zone Channel on their secondary TV or are monitoring the other game on a laptop/iPad/smartphone. The only thing these updates do is interrupt the game you are trying to watch. This tactic is so 1982.

Non-NFL Thoughts

1) So now that the long arm of the law might lock up Jameis Winston and Johnny Football suddenly looked mortal Saturday, people who follow the Heisman Trophy watch seriously think Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron could be a Heisman frontrunner. Well, let’s hold on. If you compare McCarron’s numbers to that quarterback conference factory, the Big Ten, McCarron would be fifth in passing yards among Big Ten quarterbacks.

Sorry A.J. Just be content with rings and Miss Alabama.

2) So Florida State was giving 58 points to Idaho and still covered? OK, time to brag. Who collected cash on that wager?

3) Never in Joe’s life would he ever have dreamed – ever! – that a low-rent school like Georgia Southern would come into Gainesville, not complete one pass – not one! – and still beat the mighty Gators. That simply was unfathomable to Joe. Georgia Southern beating Vandy or Kentucky would surprise Joe. But Florida? If this didn’t make Tim Tebow curse and want to sin with a woman, nothing will.

Now Joe understands how Florida State fans felt when USF beat them in their own crib.

4) Joe still thinks Florida is going to scare the hell out of Florida State this week. Really. Rivalry game.

5) Baylor? I mean, come on! You couldn’t put forth a better effort than that with your Star Wars-like offense. That was worse than an Oregon fraudulent choke. Turrible.

6) If Auburn beats Bama, and wins the SEC title game, then Joe is predicting right here and now that Florida State will be playing Auburn for the national title. That is, if Winston isn’t pinched.

7) Speaking of the fraudulent Ducks, they lost to Arizona Saturday. Go have fun in the Sun Bowl in lovely El Paso.

8) If you don’t like UCLA bone-crushing linebacker/physical running back Myles Jack, you don’t like football.

9) LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis is the only guy that has been able to figure out how to stop Johnny Football. Not Nick Saban. Not Bob Stoops. Not Dan Mullen. Not Will Muschamp. Maybe Chavis will be working in the NFL soon?

10) It appears Muschamp is safe, and he should be for at least one more year. But if the Gators decide to move on, Joe would like to see the Bull Gators try to outbid T. Boone Pickens for Mike Gundy.