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Change around Mike Glennon? Or a change of QB?
In this CBSSports.com video preview of the Bucs-Saints game Sunday, NFL insider Pat Kirwan, the former Jets personnel chief and linebackers coach, seems stunned that Greg Schiano’s job might be in jeopardy. Kirwan reveals he’s heard new intelligence this week that blindsided him.
Kirwan endorsed a Schiano return, though he wasn’t robust about it. [read more]
Lavonte David leads one of the NFL’s best red zone defenses.
There’s not much to be proud of for Bucs fans this year outside of some superb individual performances.
But the red zone defense is a major source of Bucs pride.
After 15 games, the Bucs rank sixth in the NFL in red zone defense. Tampa Bay has allowed an average of 4.42 points every time an opposing offense gets into the red zone.
And it isn’t just the red zone. When opponents get a series of downs inside the Bucs-10, they’re not scoring many touchdowns. The Bucs have allowed the second-fewest average points per visit inside the 10 — 4.5 points. Their goal-line stand that led to a forced fumble kept the game close in St. Louis on Sunday.
The defense really hasn’t been the problem this season. It’s been the NFL’s worst offense. Yeah, the ones wearing pewter and red. This annoys Joe more than warm beer.
Film junkies weigh in
Joe knows there is a push for NFL types to name Bucs linebacker Lavonte David as the defensive player of the year. He certainly is the Bucs defensive player of the year, but the stain of that stupid penalty in the media capital of the world in Week 1 likely has branded David for the foreseeable future. Unfair, yes. But that’s how the cookie crumbles.
Gerald McCoy is now considered one of the elite defensive tackles in the game. So he sure is a Pro Bowl player. [read more]
Left guard Jamon Meredith was benched in the second quarter Sunday.
Bucs commander Greg Schiano isn’t exactly doing jumping jacks over the play of his offensive line.
Watching Bobby Rainey run time after time after time into a wall Sunday was enough for Joe to jump off the ledge of the Ed Jones dome. Granted, the Rams get paid, too, and they did their job but it wasn’t like there were holes for Rainey to run through.
Schiano detailed woes of the offensive line Monday, as Joe documented, but Schiano also explained the formula to fix them. [read more]
Joe makes the case
The case against Greg Schiano has its opening argument rooted in December 2012.
The 6-6 Bucs, alive in the playoff hunt, were home against the struggling 3-9 Eagles led by rookie quarterback Nick Foles. [read more]
Joe makes the case
Joe just laughs when Bucs fans demand consistency from their team. That’s a true and a noble goal. Consistent winner. It’s not like it can’t be done in the NFL; it’s not like the Bucs have never done that. Joe can’t argue with wanting if not demanding consistency with victories.
Then, just as quickly as Bucs fans scream consistency, they want to run Bucs commander Greg Schiano out of town right now. [read more]
Joe hopes all his readers have a Merry Christmas. Joe knows not everyone celebrates the day, but it’s the spirit of the day Joe hopes all welcome: peace and good will towards all. Joe is really appreciative of all of his readers. Without readers, Joe wouldn’t have this little corner of the Interwebs. Rarely a day goes by that Joe isn’t humbled by his readers and their loyalty. So, enjoy the day and celebrate it however you wish. You can bet Joe will have some Bushmills today. Happy Holidays!
Yes, this is a sad Christmas Eve tradition for Joe, to show how the snooping of the federal government upon innocents can get out of hand without checks and balances. On his rounds from the South Pole this evening, Santa Claus has been detained by TSA agents who have decided to call in the notorious Jack Bauer to interrogate him in the bowls of CTU.
Team Glazer must revive hope
Barring stunning surprises, such as the Bucs upsetting the Saints on Sunday, both NFC Wild Card berths this season will go to teams with at least 11 wins.
The NFC South winner also will have at least 11 in the “W” column.
So where does that leave the Bucs? Just how far away are they? [read more]
Right now Sunday’s clash with the Saints at the Superdome is secondary to Bucs fans. Turn on sports radio or read comments here and you will see fans are clearly looking to the future, very much past Sunday.
Already Bucs fans are giddy about the draft, some five long months away. And, of course, the job status of Bucs commander Greg Schiano is on Bucs fans’ minds.
So too is Schiano on the mind of Pat Yasinskas of ESPN. He believes Sunday’s outcome will likely determine the fate of Schiano.
Sunday is about winning, not personnel.
The Bucs are marching up to New Orleans to beat the Saints on Sunday and there will be no deviation from the plan. This isn’t a preseason game, Greg Schiano explained today.
Joe asked Schiano if he might give young players extra snaps or rest any banged up veterans, or even approach the game with that possibility in mind. [read more]
Is Davin Joseph struggling because perhaps he is not yet 100 percent recovered from knee surgery?
Joe knows that in the inner-walls of One Buc Palace, the decline of the offensive line is of a great concern.
For Bucs fans, it has been the source of acid reflux, and for good reason. In the past few games, opposing defenses have exploded, making Monday mornings troublesome for Bucs quarterback Mike Glennon.
Your eyes are not deceiving. Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune has the disturbing numbers. [read more]
Schiano uses the “E” word
Mike Glennon is an excellent quarterback when “he can actually play the position.” That was a common theme repeated by Greg Schiano during his various public chats yesterday.
The clear implication was that Glennon does just fine when his linemen block and his receivers get seperation. [read more]
About that report yesterday from a Central Pennsylvania newspaper claiming Greg Schiano had an “intermediary” sniff out the potential head coaching job opening at Penn State recently?
Schiano said today there’s “zero truth to that,” so he told media at One Buc Palace. “And make it clear. The only job I want is the one I have right now.”
Is Roger Goodell overcome by the spirit of giving?
Dashon Goldson told Joe today that he will not be fined by the NFL for the punishing hit he put on Rams WR Stedman Bailey. [read more]
Last year, the Bucs went to New Orleans in December and got their clocks cleaned 41-0. It was a shocking beating from the opening whistle for a Bucs team that was still in the playoff hunt.
Joe remembers talking to a Saints player off the record who said New Orleans was stunned by the Bucs’ lack of intensity for a big division game. [read more]
