How impressive was the Bucs’ win over NFC North division-leading Detroit this past weekend? Big. Aside from the local reasons, it registered with national media types as well, which for reasons unknown to Joe, Bucs fans are fixated on.

Popular sports radio and television personality Adam Schein yesterday, both on his SiriusXM Radio Show “Schein on Sports,” and his Monday evening TV Show, “NFL Monday Quarterback, seen on the CBS Sports Network, was all over the Bucs and quarterback Mike Glennon. In a good way. [read more]

Greg Schiano added Donald Penn to his list of leaders when speaking yesterday

Greg Schiano had great praise for his veteran leadership last night on WDAE-AM 620. Typically, Schiano references his five captains, but on this day two other names got into the mix: Donald Penn and Darrelle Revis.

There’s video evidence here of Penn and Revis leading. If you listen closely to Revis, you can hear him counseling Johnthan Banks to remember he has the height and a “7-foot” wingspan to cover Calvin Johnson, so “go be a hero.”

Schiano said, “Penn has done such a great job, as far as leading our guys.”

Schiano also talked about how “close” the Bucs have grown over the past months.

Regarding the Bucs’ 13 players on injured reserve and lost for the season, that’s where Schiano had the highest praise for his leaders on the roster. “Leadership won’t allow that to be an issue.”

Only desperate types continue to beat the drum that Gerald McCoy is a subpar player in the NFL. Virtually every out-of-town NFL coach that speaks weekly to the Bucs pen and mic club, virtually every Bucs player, virtually every Bucs coach, gushes over the play of McCoy.

Now in his fourth season in the NFL, GMC, despite the idiotic stunts Bucs defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan is in love with, has become an elite NFL defensive tackle if not the best in the game.

Playing Sunday on the same field as Ndamukong Suh, a guy who was drafted one slot ahead of GMC and who GMC forever will be compared to, GMC was better, per the analysis of Sam Monson of ProFootballFocus.com.

Winning the Battle of 2010

There was a lot of talk before the 2010 NFL Draft about which stud DT prospect – Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy – would be the better player at the next level. As it turns out it looks as if that draft has provided three stud 3-tech DTs in that pair and Geno Atkins, but in this game it was McCoy that outclassed Suh. The biggest difference between them, though, might not be in grade, but in how much help each had around him. Suh was one of six members of the Detroit front seven to grade in the green in this game while McCoy was joined only by LB Lavonte David for Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers only generated 16 total pressures all game, and McCoy was responsible for eight of them. He has the kind of quickness and strength to dominate linemen at this level and he has really been playing well this season. His lowest grade of the year so far was a +1.0 back against the Saints and this +8.8 represents a new career high.

Joe vividly remembers just a couple of weeks ago in the Bucs media room where Bucs icon Warren Sapp — eyes bulging out and mouth agape — was just drooling over GMC’s play against Seattle and Sapp flatly said in that game, GMC “couldn’t be blocked.”

Sapp went on to say that was one of the best games he’s ever seen a defensive tackle have in recent memory and that McCoy may be better than him.

Regardless, GMC is now in elite status in NFL circles.

Damn that Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik!

So what really sparked the transformation of the 2013 Bucs? That’s the question every fan wants answered.

Why? What changed?

Superstar linebacker Lavonte David dug deep for answers last night on the Buccaneers Radio Network on WDAE-AM 620. [read more]

Joe finds all the veiled comments about a quarterback from the past quite interesting. Bucs players seem more comfortable letting them out of their mouths now that he is no longer infecting the Bucs locker room.

Sunday, Tiquan Underwood’s comments about Bucs quarterback Mike Glennon were hardly veiled back-handed slaps at former Bucs franchise quarterback, leaky Rip Van Freeman.

Joe won’t bother setting up quotes Bucs stud defenisve tackle Gerald McCoy shared from offensive linemen about what a fine game MG8 had in the win over the Lions.

“He’s one of the most poised rookies I’ve seen at quarterback,” GMC said. “He doesn’t get rattled much. There were times yesterday where he got hit and he could’ve just went down but he just – because guys were just bouncing off of him and he was just extending the play. There were times where I talked to some of the offensive lineman yesterday and I said, ‘I think that was a bad time for him to take a sack,’ and they [said] ‘Would you rather him take the sack or make an impulse throw or make a bad throw and turn the ball over?’ I was like, ‘I guess that makes sense.’ He’s smart with his decisions and he studies constantly and I think he’s starting to understand the game a lot more.”

Impulsive throws?

Now those guys couldn’t have been talking about a former Bucs quarterback who, at the very thought of angry footsteps his way, would mentally fold like an accordion, would they? A guy who had one of the worst records against teams with winning records in recent memory? Hhhmmm?

The Bucs rank in the top-10 in the NFL in punt returns and kick returns, based on average yards per return. Much of that has to do with 22-year-old return man Eric Page.

He’s talented. He’ll take sound risks. He’s got the burst. But he’s made some bonehead mistakes and he’s put the ball on the ground a couple of times this season. 

Greg Schiano expressed frustration with those errors last night while speaking on WDAE-AM 620. [read more]

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.