What’s going on?

To Joe, this is either a sign a receiver is open, or the offense has changed and your greatest quarterback of all time and the franchise’s best-ever receiver are not yet comfortable with it. [read more]

Tom Brady and drops.

At first glance, this isn’t good. But at second and third glances, it’s not a reason for the losing. [read more]

Bucs OC Byron Leftwich.

Frankly, Joe is tired of hearing folks at One Buc Palace try to push the notion that all the Bucs have to do is flip the switch and magically, the no-risk-it; no-biscuit offense will pop out and all will be well. [read more]

Bucs coach Todd Bowles.

If you believe games are won and lost on a hard drive, this should make your day. [read more]

Big NFL weekend ahead and TAMPA TWO has its weekly picks and discussion of key games, including the Bucs-Carolina clash for the NFC South crown. Legend Derrick Brooks leads Ira Kaufman for the season. Is anyone surprised? Enjoy the fun from The Identity Tampa Bay and Joe.

Whatever fans and media think of the Bucs is far less important than how players collectively evaluate themselves.

A former Buccaneer made that resounding point this week. [read more]

“We’ve let down this team, Byron.”

Joe has a favorite defensive stat when it comes to team defense. No, it’s not sacks. [read more]

Inside linebackers coach Larry Foote, a former linebacker himself, painted a picture of his troops drooling to get on the field Sunday against the Panthers. [read more]

Joe hears the focus on the Bucs’ plodding offense and wants to remind fans that the Tampa Bay defense is fully capable of winning a game for the team — especially against a hot-garbage quarterback like the Panthers’ Sam Darnold. [read more]

Flash poll posted at 11:55 a.m. Poll closed at 2:51 p.m. Last week’s results linked here.

Chris Godwin explains.

Cruising through the Bucs’ locker room talking to players yesterday, Joe heard over and over the same thing. (Coached up to say this, perhaps?) [read more]

Likely to return, but not a lock.

As the Bucs inch closer to the playoffs, they also get closer to judgment days on big offseason decisions. And Joe’s not talking about whether to bring back Keanu Neal. [read more]

Click on through to shop at BillCurrieFord.com. Bill Currie Ford GM Sean Sullivan is ready to help you PERSONALLY and give you the Ira Kaufman discount. Just ask!

BY IRA KAUFMAN

Brad Berlin’s on special assignment this week. Tampa Bay’s equipment director is busy ordering up big-boy pants for Sunday’s matchup against Carolina. [read more]

Effort.

Fans of former Bucs running back Mike Alstott had to have been smiling at this. [read more]

“Derek, if you come to Tampa, we will have to hit up “The Undertow.” But only after we get wings at Hooters on John’s Pass.”

Well, this didn’t take long. [read more]

Todd Bowles on changes.

The mystery of the Bucs’ offense continues. [read more]

Rumored to move on in 2023.

Forgive Joe for not bringing this intel sooner as Joe was just tipped off to it and it’s a week old. [read more]