Crisis
September 23rd, 2013
Joe is still troubled by the news from NFL Network’s Albert Breer last week, claiming that prior to the season, enough Bucs players cried like spoiled children because their training camp practices were too hard.
It was bad enough that good guy Dashon Goldson called a team meeting to try to stem the bickering.
Of course, the Bucs are going to say all is good right now. But unless a player loses his cool in the locker room, it is difficult to believe one player will express disgust.
But for how long? Jarrett Bell of USA Today notes that for the Bucs and the other winless teams, it is full-on crisis mode.
Will outside criticism tear the team apart?
“Well, it is definitely a choice,” Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano said after falling 23-3 at New England. “It is their choice. I have great confidence this team will stick together.”
Stopping the grumbling is simple; Win games. That takes catching passes. That means completing passes. That means blocking. That means converting third (and fourth) downs. That means kicking makeable field goals.
Winning cures all ills. Winning is the best deodorant. May as well weed out any malcontents now and get them off the field.
September 23rd, 2013 at 1:07 pm
It’s all about 5!
Derek Dimke Mob (has Lindell been cut yet)
September 23rd, 2013 at 1:08 pm
Playoffs hopes are gone only after we lose 7 or 8. 0-3 just means that a long win streak will happen to go 13-3, to make my prediction, and earn home field advantage.
September 23rd, 2013 at 1:10 pm
Winning is infectious.
Loosing is infectious.
Its their choice.
September 23rd, 2013 at 1:12 pm
It’s all about #5…and things of that nature.
September 23rd, 2013 at 1:13 pm
Lost 3 in row, now win 3 in row.
September 23rd, 2013 at 1:13 pm
never seen so many cry baby grown men making millions of dollars to play a game! Give me $8 million a year to cry about practicing for a few hours in half pads. What a joke!
September 23rd, 2013 at 1:18 pm
Joe,
I’m getting confused. How many team meetings have been called? Is the Goldson meeting different from the Economos meeting supposedly to rally the troops. If meetings are being called frequently, is this a sign that there is more going on in the locker room than we’re being told?
September 23rd, 2013 at 1:29 pm
We’ll have have to go 9-4 in the rest of the season, to finish 9-7. And I actually believe that in the weak NFC, that might be enough to get in this year.
September 23rd, 2013 at 1:34 pm
New kicker NOW!
September 23rd, 2013 at 1:37 pm
Gallop out the giraffe At QB….make this season such a blood bath that the HASMAT suits come out and One Buc Place is rid of MRSA, replacement kickers, Dirt Star GMs, the jv coach and his graduate assistant staff. I’m become fatalistic because a few courtesy wins won’t force the overhaul this organziation so desperately needs.
September 23rd, 2013 at 1:39 pm
9-7 will not be good enough. Two of these teams will get to 10 wins for the Wildcard: San Francisco, Atlanta, Green Bay, Detroit, Chicago. Hell we aren’t better than Carolina at this point. 9-7 is probably about a 10% chance of making the playoffs.
September 23rd, 2013 at 1:43 pm
Freeman and Dominick are the two cancers that need to be jettisoned this offseason.
Freeman = horrible QB.
Dominick made some good draft picks here and there on the defense and offense, but fails to go the extra mile to put this team where it needs to be for a chance at the playoffs. Let’s go of way too many productive players, and doesn’t even replace them with anyone that matches their production. The biggest mark on his record, he drafted a bust at quarterback. Oh, and in his 5 seasons here, we’ve missed the playoffs 4 times, and will likely miss them again this year. Times up.
September 23rd, 2013 at 1:44 pm
I’m not quite to the Glennon Mob yet but I am all for the Derek Dimke Mob. The guy nailed everything in pre season and was rewarded with unemployment.
Good coaches find a way to win, regardless of talent. Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson have Super Bowl rings. The worst outcome possible is we win just enough games for Schiano to keep his job and miss out on a real coach AND a quarterback from the 2014 draft.
At this point, barring a ridiculous turnaround, I don’t expect Josh back. I accept that. I also don’t expect Sullivan back. Good coordinators can cater the playbook to their quarterback. (No matter how inept you believe him to be.) Sullivan has not done that.
No matter how terrible Freeman is out of the shotgun we continue to call it. Freeman is at his absolute worst when the defense KNOWS the pass is coming. I am not oblivious to this but if this is the case, and even I can see it, then why in the hell does he keep taking snaps, with five wide, out of the shotgun? Why keep calling plays you MUST know your QB is not very good at?
If you don’t have the stones to make the QB switch then at least call plays to his strengths. (I know some believe he has no strengths but that is simply not true.)
You guys know I have been a Freeman supporter. It is only because he has been our best option. (Still is). I am all for an upgrade when one is available and I am even in favor of starting Glennon once the playoffs are physically impossible. It is nothing personal against Glennon but a third round QB that saw only two QBs drafted before him does not scream “savior” to me.
My opinions.
Lovie Smith and Teddy Bridgewater please.
September 23rd, 2013 at 1:45 pm
Why is everyone talking about 9-7, possible playoffs, etc.?
What about yesterday gives you any reason to fantasize about such?
September 23rd, 2013 at 1:46 pm
FILTERS!
I hope my post eventually goes through.
September 23rd, 2013 at 1:50 pm
@lighteningbuc…..because we haven’t been there in so long. We’re starving for an exciting football season for once since 2007!
September 23rd, 2013 at 1:54 pm
(I am posting this again, hope it goes through.)
I’m not quite to the Glennon Mob yet but I am all for the Derek Dimke Mob. The guy nailed everything in pre season and was rewarded with unemployment.
Good coaches find a way to win, regardless of talent. Trent Dilfer and Br-ad Johnson have Super Bowl rings. The worst outcome possible is we win just enough games for Schiano to keep his job and miss out on a real coach AND a quarterback from the 2014 draft.
At this point, barring a ridiculous turnaround, I don’t expect Josh back. I accept that. I also don’t expect Sullivan back. Good coordinators can cater the playbook to their quarterback. (No matter how inept you believe him to be.) Sullivan has not done that.
No matter how terrible Freeman is out of the shotgun we continue to call it. Freeman is at his absolute worst when the defense KNOWS the pass is coming. I am not oblivious to this but if this is the case, and even I can see it, then why in the hell does he keep taking snaps, with five wide, out of the shotgun? Why keep calling plays you MUST know your QB is not very good at?
If you don’t have the stones to make the QB switch then at least call plays to his strengths. (I know some believe he has no strengths but that is simply not true.)
You guys know I have been a Freeman supporter. It is only because he has been our best option. (Still is). I am all for an upgrade when one is available and I am even in favor of starting Glennon once the playoffs are physically impossible. It is nothing personal against Glennon but a third round QB that saw only two QBs drafted before him does not scream “savior” to me.
My opinions.
Lovie Smith and Teddy Bridgewater please.
September 23rd, 2013 at 1:55 pm
AHA! It is the word “Br-a” without the hyphen that is banned. It all makes sense now . . .
September 23rd, 2013 at 1:58 pm
I WAS A FREEMAN SUPPORTER BUT THE ONLY CONSISTANT THING THE PAST 5 YEARS IS THE TEAM GOES AS HE GOES. THAT IS INCONSISTANT FOR 5 YEARS..
SORRY FREEMAN BUT CHANGE IS NEEDED AND GLENNON IS NOT ANSWER.
I Would rather have vince young who takes off if nothing is there..
watch for Butch Davis head coach, dave wiensted to d coordinator promotion who knows how to use revis.. 2 coahes with NFL and superbowls..
September 23rd, 2013 at 2:04 pm
God Bless Dashon Goldson.. The Hawk is single-handedly holding this defense together. Those kids play for HIM (not Schiano). They try and emulate his style of play. (Imitation is the Highest Form of Flattery) Hell, The Hawk has more clout than the HC.
Schiano’s Gotta Go.
Start Glennon.
Move Sully to Interim HC, see what he can do with 100% control of the offense.
September 23rd, 2013 at 2:04 pm
The Bucs can easily go 3-3 by mid October. We play a woeful ARZ team with Carson Plamer at QB, who is 0-3 all time against The Bucs. Then we get a bye followed by a home game against PHI with a good chance to knock Vick around. Then we play at ATL whom TB always plays tough. I think most of the drama is media driven. Screw them. And yes, Schiano had us poorly prepared to start the season but I’m calling it. The offense breaks out this week at home against The Cards.
September 23rd, 2013 at 2:10 pm
WCBF,
Thanks for the info on the br-a. I had a post this morning talking about the New England QB, whose name has those letters, and it didn’t go through. Now it makes sense why.
Joe,
Is there no way possible to tone down these filters?
September 23rd, 2013 at 2:10 pm
“I WAS A FREEMAN SUPPORTER BUT THE ONLY CONSISTANT THING THE PAST 5 YEARS IS THE TEAM GOES AS HE GOES. THAT IS INCONSISTANT FOR 5 YEARS..
SORRY FREEMAN BUT CHANGE IS NEEDED AND GLENNON IS NOT ANSWER.”
Agreed. The fans dont want him. His coach doesnt like him (lets be real people), and I dont think he wants to be here anymore.
@Freeman – It was fun. Good Luck in your nextchapter. Make sure your agent finds an offensive minded HC.
@Glennon – I’ll support you. You don’t have to carry this team. Just be consistent & don’t fck up.
September 23rd, 2013 at 2:12 pm
“Gallop out the giraffe At QB”
lmao… so wrong.
September 23rd, 2013 at 2:20 pm
Schiano bought in the type of players to fit his type if Defense and look how that has changed. Guess whats the only position on Offense he hasn’t been able to bring in his type of player? That’s right folks…. QB.
He wanted a physical WR and they got Jackson, he wanted a bell cow RB and they got Martin, he wanted a physical line and they have one (one that ranks 3rd in the NFL in pass protection).
So the way I see it they may want to let him shop for his type of QB too. Schiano has done more good than bad. But that’s talking sense and sports fans don’t like that.
September 23rd, 2013 at 2:24 pm
Tampa Bay Rutganeers.
It is doubly fitting considering Schiano believes this is Rutgers university AND we are in a Rut. Haha.
September 23rd, 2013 at 2:29 pm
I couldn’t help thinking, as that pass went through Tim Wright’s hands, that Schiano is far too in love with his former players. Tim has no business being out there to even be able to drop that TD pass.
This is the NFL. We need NFL players. Not Rutgers players that would otherwise be unemployed.
September 23rd, 2013 at 2:33 pm
sorry Joe, since this isnt being addressed, I gotta throw this out there:
I saw us down by 17 with 13 minutes left, at the NE 33 yd line, it was 4th & 13. And we GO FOR IT??? Instead of kicking a 47-49 yd FG???
Who do you think makes the final decision to go for it on 4th down??? Sully?? Please…
Did Schiano really like our chances of converting 4th & 13 better than kicking a 47-49 yd FG?? Where we could have cut it from a 3 score lead, down to a 14 point lead with still 13 minutes on the clock??
Schiano had a moment of insanity, or straight up quit at the end of the 3rd quarter.
The guy was 4th down happy with 2 previous attempts, and he had a moment of insanity and went for it on 4th & 13! ….And don’t give me sht about not trusting the kicker. When youre still in the game, you have no choice but to trust your kicker! We could have kicked a 47 yd FG to cut the lead to 14! How often does our team convert a 3rd/4th & 10+???
And even if we MISS the FG, at least it would show that Schiano was still playing to win, and that he wasnt giving up yet. But he did give up. After just 3 quarters.
Schiano’s Gotta Go!
September 23rd, 2013 at 2:38 pm
If Freeman screws up again next week, then yes, turn to Glennon. I don’t think he’ll be the answer either, but you never know…….he could surprise us!
Let Freeman walk in the offseason, sign a veteran and draft a rookie quarterback (and PLEASE draft the right quarterback this time!).
September 23rd, 2013 at 2:38 pm
@MakaveliTheDon
We went for it on fourth down four times. Schiano thought it was just as likely to convert fourth and 13 as it was to kick the field goal. He lost all faith in the kicker, rightly so. Look for a few kickers to be brought in this week for tryouts. (Hopefully Dimke among them.)
September 23rd, 2013 at 2:39 pm
Weve been in crisis for four years.
September 23rd, 2013 at 2:45 pm
Don: It sure seemed like Schiano went all in on 4th downs after Lindell whiffed again. Schiano was probably rattled like a nervous gambler after another ” bad beat” and went a little crazy. Not sure I blame him….Lindell is doing his best Bill Capece and Martin the trick or treater impressions. Double down on 4th I suppose…
September 23rd, 2013 at 2:45 pm
Funny how people are coming around now.
I also believe it’s the GM that’s in charge of all acquisitions. So, if you have an issue with personnel, there’s one name you should be calling for.
September 23rd, 2013 at 2:54 pm
@ WestCoastBucFan good point. What business does a coach out of the big east have to coach in the nfl? @ least try to hire someone out is sec next time.
September 23rd, 2013 at 2:54 pm
Talent is not the issue ODB. Nobody is calling this team devoid of talent. Players unprepared week one and complaining about their coach are the issues. There is a reason everyone keeps saying “this team is too talented to be 0-3 right now”.
Dom did pick the HC so he may be in some hot water there. Schiano will be fired before or along with Dominik if it comes to that.
September 23rd, 2013 at 3:03 pm
“This is the NFL. We need NFL players. Not Rutgers players that would otherwise be unemployed.”
I thought Dom has final say on ALL talent? I swore I read it on these boards…
But, go ahead and spin it.
I’d also say the lack of depth at TE and DE might be an issue. Stocker never had it and never will. Bowers pic is on a milk carton somewhere. Both Dom picks. He gambled on DE this season. Last year it was DB’s.
September 23rd, 2013 at 3:11 pm
WCBF – “He lost all faith in the kicker, rightly so.”
Of course he did. But when the game is still in reach, you have no choice than to attempt that kick. And if he missed, at least Schiano would have made an effort at cutting the lead.
Going for it on 4th & 13???? while youre still in the game, thats assinine!
He can quit on his kicker after the game, anytime this week, but during the game, he has NO CHOICE but to attempt that FG.
This seems to be Schianos M.O. He quits on Free. He quits on his kicker midgame (not like we keep a backup kicker on the 53), he quits the game after 3 quarters.
September 23rd, 2013 at 3:13 pm
The Team is Not Talented.
Sincerely,
Nobody
September 23rd, 2013 at 3:26 pm
I’m listening to Dumig defend freeman and I want to puke. It’s not all Freeman’s fault but he’s nothing to write home about. We can hire high school kids who can catch a Perfectly thrown ball
September 23rd, 2013 at 3:28 pm
We can hire high school kids who can catch a perfectly thrown ball.
September 23rd, 2013 at 3:33 pm
What is Dumigs agenda? He acts like Freeman’s the next Montana .
September 23rd, 2013 at 3:36 pm
Schiano was brought in to weed out the malcontents and create a new culture of discipline and accountability. Several of the players who were thought to be malcontents are now gone. There is a bigger problem if the current roster is reluctant to conform to their head coach.
The roster was very young under Raheem. The lack of veteran leadership was perceived to be a problem for the young players. The team added veteran leadership with Goldson, Revis and VJax. McCoy and Joseph have developed as leaders. The Bucs put an emphasis on drafting players that love the game of football and have shown character. Yet, the roster still has players who feel they’re entitled in some way? The veteran leadership of the team is allowing it to happen? Something doesn’t add up.
September 23rd, 2013 at 3:36 pm
The play calling in conjunction to not playing to a mediocre Qbs strength is a dismal combo.
September 23rd, 2013 at 7:31 pm
I’m a bit tired of the Breer story.
September 24th, 2013 at 3:12 am
I saw something on Michael Bennett, how he’s already got 2.5 sacks in 3 games and 7 tackles. And his Seahawks are 3-0. Well I did some fckin around on Google, and came up with this GEM of an article from non other than……JoeBucsFan:
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Bennett explained why he’s skeptical of New Schiano Order tactics and said he doesn’t believe it’s an ideal method for grown men
“The coaches are very different. You know, Coach Schiano is more hard-nosed, military-type guy. And Coach Carroll is so laid back, it gives the guys chances to not be on their back but still coach them at the same time,” Bennett said. “Because I think a lot of players, they’re adults, too, and when you treat them like kids they get offended by that. You know what I mean? Because players, you know, they got their mortgages, they got their kids, they got wives, they got family, they got things they can do.
“So they know it’s their job and they know when they make mistakes. But it’s a coach’s job to keep them honest, you know what I mean. But when a coach is just too much on them, I think the players rebel. Because, you know, they’re going to be like, ’Why is he on me like this? It’s my fifth year in the league. I know more than him.’ Guys are just like, you know, it just becomes a big conflict, I think.”
None of this surprises Joe. However, Joe is troubled hearing it come from Bennett, who is a very level-headed guy. Bennett also appeared to be the textbook Buccaneer Man under Schiano. He was hard-working, versatile and he played through an injury and took on a tremendous number of snaps.
Current Buccaneers surely share Bennett’s attitude. But Joe has no problem with that. You don’t have to love your boss. Numerous hard-nosed NFL coaches have achieved greatness, including Tom Coughlin winning two Super Bowls recently. Schiano’s tactics can work. Joe’s more skeptical of Schiano’s ability as a game-day coach. (You can hear the Bennett audio below.)
https://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=94365
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@Coach Schiano,
If youve somehow stumbled across this page, really take a good look at that post, and what Bennett is saying.
And just assume that every single player thinks this same way. I’m sure that there are some that don’t. But just assume that they ALL do. Then maybe you can re-evaluate your own tactics, do your best to adjust and save this season. There’s still 13 games left.