“People Are Happy With Being Below Mediocre”
October 22nd, 2012
Ian Beckles is displeased by the mindset of many Bucs fans.
The former Bucs guard (1990-1996) turned radio talking head thinks a reality check is in order.
“Listening to the talk today, I’m finding that people are happy with being below mediocre. Ok. We have to stop doing that because we lost to a bad football in our house by a touchdown.” Beckles said on WDAE-AM 620. “Just think of it that way. Ok. We lost to a bad football team. Why are they bad? Because they’re porous. Defensively they’re porous all over the place.”
Are Bucs fans “happy?” as Beckles suggests. Joe’s not so sure.
Joe suspects the prevailing vibe is more one of patience and temporary contentment. No ghosts of 2011 have emerged (minus Talib shenanigans) and there are clear signs of progress in so many phases of Bucs football.
Joe expected much of what has been seen from the Bucs through six games. They’ve been competitive yet inconsistent, playing hard and emerging, while still going through brutal new-coach, new-system growing pains.
Joe predicted the Bucs would gel in the second half of the season and finish with six wins. That still feels about right.
October 22nd, 2012 at 11:54 am
No 2011 ghosts, well besides Talib being Talib, stupid penalties, Benn-around, misuse of Blount, crucial d-line injuries, inconsistant quarterback. Other than that…
October 22nd, 2012 at 11:58 am
I still think they get seven or eight wins this year. They’re getting better each week and are getting closer to being able to put a complete game together on a consistent basis. They won’t be facing Drew Brees every week so the pass defense will improve.
I’m looking forward to Thursday night. Everyone is picking the Vikes but I think the Bucs win this one. The Bucs strength on defense matches up very well with their strength on offense (run defense vs Adrian Peterson). Also, Ponder has been horrible the past three or four games and only completed eight passes for 58 yards yesterday. Our pass defense will look a hell of a lot better against such a weak passing game. My only concern is Percy Harvin, but one guy cannot win a game.
Look for the Bucs to surprise everyone and put up a pretty impressive win on Thursday night.
October 22nd, 2012 at 11:59 am
I’m pissed we had every opportunity to win that game and didn’t cash in.
October 22nd, 2012 at 12:00 pm
If anyone thought this team would be better than 8-8 this season with a lot of growing pains, (even before the loss of Clayborn), you were delusional. I am really amazed at the stride the offense has made, this is an offense no one would have dreamed possible with Raheem or even Chucky leading the way, this is the start of a high powered passing to run offense. The defense is another story, it has lost 2 starters on the line (one before training camp started) and is still weak in the secondary and pass rush phases, but we are stopping the run, make a team one dimensional and you should br able to beat them, unfortunately when those teams are the Giants and the Saints you are feeding into their strengths. I am very optimistic, this is not an 8 game turn around, it took more than 1 season to screw this franchise up (more like 7 between Chucky & Raheem) and it’s going to take more than 6 games to fix it.
October 22nd, 2012 at 12:01 pm
We are not ok with mediocre.
Drew Brees showed why he is a first ballot HOFer. Brees beat us yesterday.
Our defense, despite multiple draft choices, is still a draft or two away.
I am very encouraged about some of our D: David, Foster, GMC, Barron, Bennett.
We need to dominate another draft or two, then we will be competitive with the leagues best.
Did Myron Lewis do anything yesterday?
October 22nd, 2012 at 12:01 pm
Drew Brees beat the Bucs yesterday… well, him and the Refs.
The Bucs not having Talib only made the pass defense worse.
Other than that, we were still in it and came back at the end.
Now, why did we blow a 21-7 lead in the 1st half? That is not good. The Bucs just did not have the answer for Drew Brees yesterday. Hopefully, next time we see em, we will… otherwise it will be a looong off-season of explaining why we can’t stop the Saints or the Falcons.
October 22nd, 2012 at 12:05 pm
We still need to figure out how to win. I am very encouraged with our strong showing, but when push comes to shove we need to put the nail in the coffin.
Blount can’t get 1 yard? C’mon Big man! You are much better than that. It would be helpful if the Buc’s expensive O-Line could clear 3 feet of real estate.
As for Schiano, learn from the special team’s gaffe. I love the energy and discipline you are brining into the Bucs.
A year ago: Haynesworth, and a punter in FA. “Youngry and awful”.
Freeman is finally answering questions, and I am excited. He just needs to totally soak his mind in the playbook, and speed up his thinking process.
October 22nd, 2012 at 12:07 pm
@ Buc Fan 237,
The refs did what refs do yesterday, officiate with human error.
They are 0% responsible for our loss.
Our expensive Kicker missed a FG, we called a stupid college play on FG block, and Blount and the O-Line got punked on the 1.
Those are key reasons to why we lost those games.
October 22nd, 2012 at 12:07 pm
Beckles = ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ’s
As good as Dominik did in getting Vincent Jackson, it appears to me that the Bucs WAAAAY overpaid for Eric Wright. Biggers was awful yesterday as well, but when it comes to performance based upon pay, Wright is even worse.
October 22nd, 2012 at 12:11 pm
Is he blind or stupid? Against BAD teams we were BLOWN out. The offense could never score in the first quarter. The run defense could stop nobody. Does he even watch the games. I am happy with signs of progress. We knew this year would not be a Super Bowl Team. Next year I will expect More!
October 22nd, 2012 at 12:13 pm
No, I’m not “happy” but leave it to Ian to use absolutes and black and white terminology. In relative terms, I’m “happy” that we have a team that, unlike last yr, doesn’t completely fold their tents at the *slightest* hint of adversity. Am I “happy” today that we lost another heartbreaking, down to the final play game? Hell no! At the same time, winning in week 1 and then leading virtually the entire game in NY but then losing it certainly raised the bar (understandably) on expectations…going into the season I figured this was about a 6-7 win team and maybe with a little luck, an 8 win team. It’s just unfolding slightly different.
October 22nd, 2012 at 12:18 pm
Is he still on the air? Other than the 1st shift show on 620, there is nothing worth listening to AT ALL on that channel. Thank God for the new FM sports channel 98.7. …. no need to pile on the insults. Joe
October 22nd, 2012 at 12:24 pm
Ian sounds like Sylvester the Cat choking on his own snot…..impossible to listen to
October 22nd, 2012 at 12:27 pm
Refs had nothing to do with this. We left so many points on the field. One Conner Barth field goal (3), a missed goal line stand (7) and Vincent Jackson / Mike Williams out of bounds plays (7). Thats a total of 17 points.
Plus you can subtract the Saints touchdown after being called for the penalty during their field goal attempt because our coaching staff doesnt know the NFL rule book.
This game was ours to lose, and we lost.
Yes, fans care. They just dont call in to 620 anymore-they call Justin.
October 22nd, 2012 at 12:37 pm
Ian really just needs a hug, and like other ex-bucs likes to create propaganda and get people reacting (he’s a troll)…Relax Ian we will get there
October 22nd, 2012 at 12:45 pm
“Refs had nothing to do with this…”
1) They negated a game tying touchdown.
2) They penalized a FG attempt resulting in a TD
They had a LOT to do with this.
October 22nd, 2012 at 12:54 pm
Who is Ian Beckles?
October 22nd, 2012 at 12:54 pm
lmao happy what fan is happy after a loss even more a division rival loss. what beckles dosent seem to undertstand is that we are much more happier with the fight in the team and how much better they are playing. Schiano is a great coach but its his first year and our offensive play caller first year. We are going to have growing pains we are very young and alot of positions have no real quality depth. If we can get by this year with no injureies to our young studs and have even half as good as draft we did we will dominate next year. I am honestly hoping we lose every game left to get a high draft pick then trade down get a couple of more picks. I love my bucs always have always will but we need better pass rushers corners and also RT and FS if we can get them in the draft and free agency we should be good. The one thing I honestly hate about my bucs is how much money Q.black makes not worth it at all we need to trade him and get what we can for him. Thier is a great olb coming out and I really hope we can get him also he is very familiar with schiano.
October 22nd, 2012 at 12:56 pm
2-4 with the two wins against one win teams……………..
Ten more games to establish they have really improved. Jury is still out IMO. Remember last year we were 4-2 at this point. (with wins over Saints and Falcons).
Hard to call 4-12 or 5-11 a rousing success, and that looks like where were headed.
October 22nd, 2012 at 12:56 pm
Per PFT, the Bucs have now switched from Cover 2 to Cover Nobody.
October 22nd, 2012 at 12:58 pm
Well said, Joe. Beckles and King are depressingly pessimistic.
October 22nd, 2012 at 1:07 pm
If you read some of the excuses posted on here daily, one could easily agree with Beckles. A lot of Bucs fans have gotten used to mediocrity. That’s for sure.
As for Thursday night’s game…. I think the Bucs SHOULD win. Ponder isn’t a threat at all and the Bucs run D should be able to shut down Peterson considering they have no other choice on offense except to run.
October 22nd, 2012 at 1:08 pm
I thought it’d be a difficult game because of the match up. Saints are #3 in the league in passing offense and we are 31st in passing defense. Simple math shows that this was a hard game for us to win (even though we could’ve/should’ve).
Even though Minnesota is supposedly a better team, I’d be surprised if we lost that game based on a match up. AP isn’t the same. Percy Harvin can be limited and we can force bad turnovers on Ponder.
October 22nd, 2012 at 1:18 pm
lightningbuc
youre right biggers was horrible yesterday I really dont understand why dom hasnt given up on this scrub. got hurt early in preseason and hasnt been able to play and when he does play you see why he was the worst corner in all of the nfl he cant cover cant press and worst of it he cant tackle. why is he still on the team. I also hate that we signed okoye he had to have surgey and rehab and we didnt give him a chance to come back but for biggers we hold a spot for like 5 games into the season that is crazy we are missing okoye so much know its not even funny well maybe to him it is. I am hoping gaitor can come back soon we need to see what he can do.also i love johnson not a great cover corner but he can sure tackle wish he was able to see more action. I see much more of a future with him then biggers.
October 22nd, 2012 at 1:32 pm
Yes, I am happy being 2-4. Not because I like losing, but because I like watching competitve football games where people have passion and play like it.
We have been in EVERY game this year, real nailbiters….call them shoot outs, but at least we are shooting as well. the games have been exciting, the new schemes are interesting to see develop, it’s nice to see a team come together, and they are fighting, and experiencing highs and lows just as us fans are.
Last year I quit watching, because they quit playing. it was disgusting.
completely different team, and ian just shows what a moron he is for calling out the fans while trying to be controversial. I think he needs fans too,…not a good route to tak . LOL
and yes, I will watch every game, make time to watch, enjoy etc. win or lose they are giving me what I pay to see (dish).
October 22nd, 2012 at 1:36 pm
“Joe suspects the prevailing vibe is more one of patience and temporary contentment. No ghosts of 2011 have emerged (minus Talib shenanigans) and there are clear signs of progress in so many phases of Bucs football.”
I’m in this category. I was expecting this year to be a learning curve. I expected the offense to be FAR ahead of the defense (because the defense sucked that bad last year). I see improvement. I like the vertical offense. I like the way the run defense is playing. We have talent.
Fix what ails the pass defense and they could be a top 10 unit. Combine that with how the offense is playing as of late and we could be a dangerous team. A far cry from last year.
Alas, like any fan, I want to see the wins – and they will come soon. Nobody expected us to win the division or make the playoffs, but this team provides exciting entertainment during the games (sans the Cowboys game), the coaching staff and players are still getting better – and there are definitely brighter days ahead.
We have 10 games left…a lot can happen.
October 22nd, 2012 at 1:41 pm
If you listen to Beckles you are ok with below mediocrity. Bucs are in every game and improving, the wins will come.
October 22nd, 2012 at 1:57 pm
I don’t think it’s a matter of the fans being happy or unhappy. Unfortunately, we have what we have. Regardless if the Bucs wanted to say it was a rebuilding year or not, it clearly is when you fire coaches and install new systems. The fans know that. How long does it take the players to ‘get’ the system is the unknown. Yes, they’re more competitive than last year but that’s not saying much. It’s all about winning the games. I’m paying to see a product and right now the product is sub-standard.
October 22nd, 2012 at 2:01 pm
I knew Beckles was going to try and piss in people’s cereal today, everytime the Bucs win or play well enough to win, he rushes to calm people down when fans ARENT SAYING the Bucs are something they’re not, I hate this about Ian, and he always has to start off by reminding us all that he’s played the game, give me a break Ian, you are a jealous man because you never made the kind of money players make today, partly because of the era you played in, but mostly because you just never played well enough to get paid the way you hoped IAN!!! Let the Bucs be who they are, and if they win, don’t go rushing to remind us how poor they are or who we beat, even when they lose after playing well enough to win, he can’t wait to get on the air and trash his former team, you expose yourself all the time, so just STFU IAN!
October 22nd, 2012 at 2:12 pm
Offer a man in the Sahara Desert a glass of water, he will be happy for awhile.
But, after quenching his thirst, he will want some food too.
October 22nd, 2012 at 2:15 pm
Well put Eric. I’m ok with what’s going on, but my psyche is on thin ice. They’re 2-4, going 3-8 and 4-10 is not going to cut it for me.
October 22nd, 2012 at 2:20 pm
There’s a difference between seeing and appreciating the growth in this team and being happy with the results. I’m not happy about the losses, but I do like what I see (overall) out of what Schiano and his staff are doing and the direction he has this team going.
October 22nd, 2012 at 2:32 pm
Nothing says below average than Beckles and the 1990-96 Bucs. Stat of the day: Once Beckles left Tampa, the Bucs went to the playoffs 5 out of the next 6 years.
October 22nd, 2012 at 3:10 pm
Ian Beckles hosts a below mediocre talk show
October 22nd, 2012 at 3:52 pm
2012 is about getting better, not being a joke and the continued growth of the young players. 2013 is when I will be disappointed if this team continues to be the Browns of the NFC.
October 22nd, 2012 at 4:29 pm
@TBuc
We got embarrassed yesterday defensively. Sorry to say this but we are still a joke no matter how close are losses are.
But I will say this, I chalked this season up as a learning experience. I would like to win of course but their are too many new pieces and not all of them are good. Bill Sheridan can’t be trusted on to consistently have good game plans and make good game decisions. Unless he has a turnaround soon, he needs to go after this season. Sully is obviously improving so as long as we don’t see anymore of what we saw the first 4 games, he should stick.
We have spent so many recent, early draft picks on d line yet they can’t get pressure consistently enough and they can’t stay healthy (not. Saying they are injury prone but the it is what it is). Our blitzes are insanely ineffective which is part Bill Sheridan and in part a lack of good pass rushers in the back 7.
Hopefully our offense continues to perform well consistently but our defense ranges from stifling to pathetic too often. This year was doomed from the beginning so expecting anything other than mediocrity this year is foolish. Let the year run it’s course and then Dom and Schiano need to sit down and make the necessary changes. The Bucs have been mediocre for a decade, might as well wait one more year. Like others have said, I expect playoffs next year no matter what happens in the offseason and I will be pissed off if we don’t get it.
October 22nd, 2012 at 4:46 pm
I used to listen to Ron n Ian in the am but now I’ve switched to Gary n Commish for obvious treasons. I think 620 ratings are in steady decline. I did enjoy Steve/Joe1 on Sunday too.
Blount really sucked Sunday and he is definitely expendable.
October 22nd, 2012 at 4:49 pm
I have never left the CITS more upset than I did Sunday. We wanted to riot and all refs just suck out loud. These Obozos really sucked. Bring back the scabs please.
October 22nd, 2012 at 4:52 pm
I can take losing but when I get F#*ked I want to shoot something….. Or more like everything.
Saints’ fans are the worst display of low class trash men with their yellow haired hoochie mamas.
October 22nd, 2012 at 5:59 pm
Is 620am still on the air???
October 22nd, 2012 at 10:20 pm
I really like the physical nature of the team but we are missing so many details from the coaching aspect. We will grow but it sure hurts.
I agree also that we played a elite QB and he feed on weak pass defenses.
I like Ronde and Barron at safety but our corners are scary bad. Is it April yet? These corners couldn’t be on the same field or in the same lockeroom as Seattle corners. Both are young, skilled, and aggressive.
October 22nd, 2012 at 10:22 pm
I would like the Bucs to draft corners, OLine, and DLine depth. For Pete’s sake start coaching like other pro coaches do. Butch Davis is in the organization as a consultant.
October 22nd, 2012 at 10:27 pm
Yes our CB’s our among the worst and so far Wright has not been the answer either. They do make plays but inconsistency is the problem.