Harsh Words For Bucs
September 11th, 2013
As Joe has pointed out, the day after Week 1 slate of Sunday NFL games each September is what Joe refers to as “Overreaction Monday.” Fans of losing teams pull their hair out.
But the way the Bucs played so sloppy agasint the Jets, Bucs fans have never been this crazed this early in the season. Seriously, Joe knows a respected TV producer locally, a sane, reasoned man, who now believes the Bucs could start the season 0-7.
That’s how wild fans are right now, up in arms. Still, the hardhest critique Joe has read or heard came from respected NFL scribe Mike Freeman, who now types for Bleacher Report. Freeman, who made his bones as a beat writer for the Jags years ago and recently worked for CBS Sports, is starting to believe that no NFL team is more morbid than the Bucs.
He gave his Week One grade for the Bucs — an “F.”
I thought the Raiders were the least talented team in the NFL. It might be the Buccaneers. They are disgustingly bad, and I think it’s only a matter of time before there is a revolt in that locker room against the head coach.
Wow! Least talented in the NFL? Consider the Bucs have the likes of Doug Martin, Vincent Jackson, Mike Williams, Darrelle Revis, Dashon Goldson, Lavonte David and Gerald McCoy on the roster.
If Freeman truly believes this, then he must believe the Bucs’ roster must really be low-rent. Jimminy Christmas!
Joe has read scores of missives ragging on the Bucs from the team’s fans, but none have come close to the damning three sentences Freeman wrote about the Bucs.
September 11th, 2013 at 7:04 am
Mark Dominik, rockstar.
Thanks for putting together the least talented roster in the league.
September 11th, 2013 at 7:10 am
He may be right. Only time will tell. I really like Schiano but if he can’t get the troops ready to go better than this he must be dispatched. It’s a shame because he will probably make a great coach at some point, some where. It might not be here though. There is a a lot of talent on this team but very little depth. Have Clubs seats for the Saints game. Might get to see an atrocity up close. Hope not.
September 11th, 2013 at 7:21 am
I remember (being an old guy) when on the very first play of the season the Bucs had a delay of game penalty. The first play! I thought that was a bad omen. But last week’s opening series of blunders sure looked like they hadn’t prepared. As one pundit has said, “What were they practicing all pre-season?” One can only hope this is correctable and not part of a pending collapse. I think the talent is there – must be the coaching staff.
September 11th, 2013 at 7:26 am
Its not the gm its bad coaching
September 11th, 2013 at 7:31 am
Freeman is as sure as gone. And I’m glad. He has been reduced to a catatonic shell of himself – void of any poise or confidence. Now the white hot light of competence is going to be turned up on Schiano and he’s not going to handle it very well. If he loses, the media is going to be unmerciful because he has not endeared himself to them. Blood is in the water and he will deserve everything he gets.
September 11th, 2013 at 7:31 am
“Rock Star” or Roadie?
September 11th, 2013 at 7:32 am
I hear you Old Guy. This team was just hemorrhaging last week. I don’t see how you fix it in just a couple days. (other than Jesus personally laying hands on it) This will essentially be an away game as the Screw Dat crowd usually travels well. I often wonder WTF they do during practice myself. Whatever they do during practice sure doesn’t translate to Game Day.
September 11th, 2013 at 7:34 am
Ha least talented? What a dummy. Talk about a writer that lost can lose all credibility with one sentence.
ps. Joe will you write an article about what King says about this team? I want tampabaybucfan to come back and him reminding us of who King is might be the only way to bring him out. lol miss you already buddy
September 11th, 2013 at 7:42 am
How does anyone who covers the Jags call any other team the least talented. Obviously, he’s trying to draw attention away from Bla bla bla bla…blablablabla bla bla blaine and the Jags.
September 11th, 2013 at 7:45 am
Where is miguel…i cant drop a post joe wassup..yoursite is hacking my stuff.
Miguel had it right..adderal..chip kelly instead of schaino know it alls..
Ryan Mallet? Now you maggotrons need to man up and say you wrong lil boys and girls.
Hell yeah Im cheerleading for Miguel.. I apolygize Miguel.. Sacbucs will never doubt you again!
You newbies dont know what im talking about so step off.
Joe your no exception man up! All you guys smashed miguel for months for the little general comments and his inferior coaching style. Compared to Chip! He said those dreaded 160 were exhausting the bucs and look what happened mid season. Some of you fans shood just keep your opinion. Who cares if you live in tampa and is a season ticket holder you still dont know spit about football.
Yall truly are some bitches..untalented talent evaluators!
September 11th, 2013 at 7:48 am
He couldn’t be more wrong and has absolutlely no
Credibility. It’s because of our talent that we are so frustrated with the game & the way we were coached.
September 11th, 2013 at 7:49 am
Its freaking Wednesday. I hope the team moves on faster than we do. Freeman sucked. O-line sucked. Schiano and Sully sucked. Sheridan sucked in the fourth quarter. I think we covered it all. Whats going on with the Saints. How are they preparing for them. Any info at all?
September 11th, 2013 at 7:49 am
Lot of talent on the roster. Just a bad defensive scheme, very un creative play calling on offense fuels the losing. Good teams find ways to win the close games bad teams find new ways to lose. Watching Schiano get outcoached every week is not going to be fun.
September 11th, 2013 at 7:51 am
Yeah, I just wish the Bucs had made an offer to Chip Kelly…oh wait, that’s right, they did! He turned it down. Guess the Glazers should have held him at gunpoint to sign the contract. Go root for the Eagles if you’re so enamored with Kelly.
September 11th, 2013 at 7:57 am
If schaino was so dam smart he would of kept Josh Joshson. In a evolving league you give up your pistol QB. Fig Newton had just destroyed the league as a rookie and you get rid of our running QB. You tell Freeman not to run. Run one back to death when we got umpteen…
Get rid of Leperchan!
September 11th, 2013 at 8:04 am
It was one game and the season is lost? Anyone see the Giants last week?
Look, team fail, top down.
Frankly the embarrassment may just serve up a heavy dose of humility. The appropriate response is pride.
This team played much better defense and good special trams last week. Lets focus on fixing the offense. Fast too!
September 11th, 2013 at 8:07 am
Joe, have you ever thought about putting an ignore feature on your site so we could block certain posters? You should take some of your Dolman Law Group money and put your “do boy” on it. Just a suggestion, thanks
September 11th, 2013 at 8:09 am
The Bucs are untalented in the 2 most important areas of todays NFL. The QB and D-line. That is what doomed the Bucs. I don’t know how spence will turn out, hopefully good. But the D-line needs an elite Defensive End. AC played alright against the Jets. But we need great play. He was singled up all game and did not really take advantage of his match up. As far as the Qb goes. You either have a Franchise QB or you are looking for a Franchise QB. And the Bucs need to look for a Franchise QB. The Bucs Scouting Department need to scout these areas like there jobs depend on it.
September 11th, 2013 at 8:13 am
I see players or coaches dont wanna come to tampa to play or coach I wonder why?
Dont make me make a list know it all you shood know already.
I root for great decision makers when it comes to coaching and being a gm.
I wanna root for a winning organization.
I wanna root for a winning team smart a$$!
September 11th, 2013 at 8:23 am
Yet, despite the horrible play of the team, Josh won the game. A lead with 34 seconds is a win!
Unless your college head coach stops playing his effective 4 man line- and goes to a 3 man line. Lost games last year that way- why not keep doing it?
Take your mobile, running threat QB- and demand he transform into a pocket passer- 1980s style.
Run straight up the middle 17 times, with a average gain of 2.1 yards.
Have only two receiving options- the WRs. Martin can’t get open, or catch. Ogletree can’t catch. Stocker can’t do anything.
It’s almost like we need a TE and Slot Reciever!! Oh, wait- I screamed that all off season!!!!!!
It’s not the players. We have talent.
It’s the coaches. An NFL coach would be delighted with the talent here- and would win
After he got a TE and Slot Reciever- of course
And told Josh it’s ok to roll out, or even Run if he feels like it.
September 11th, 2013 at 8:26 am
FREEMAN (the writer, not the coach) is a BOZO deluxe. If his opinions were actually accurate or insightful maybe he would still be working for CBS and not bleacher. Oh and you left off Nicks, Joseph, Koenen, Barron & Penn. Heck, half our starters have been to pro bowls or are of that caliber. This guy can go away.
September 11th, 2013 at 8:31 am
I can’t help but agree with the writer. Freeman is stripped of his “C” after 3 years which shows me the team doesn’t view him as a leader. The first drive of the game looks ALOT like Raheem circa 2011. Players who leave the team are grumbling about the interworkings of the locker room. They’re INSISTING they don’t need a tight end (when every other NFL team is jumping through hoops to get one).
I was a Schiano Supporter and I still am. But he and Sullivan are wasting their offense weapons. They’re going to lose this locker room and it’s a shame. Schiano is turning into a Modern Day Sam Wyche – good roster, but can’t get them to play.
September 11th, 2013 at 8:36 am
ranked 29th in the power rankings- OUCH!
September 11th, 2013 at 8:44 am
The QB play is unreliable, the playcalling reflects that. Freeman has 3 weeks to convince everyone he’s a franchise guy because I think everyone will be moving on at 0-4 and most people will be gone at 1-3.
September 11th, 2013 at 8:48 am
There is not just one thing with the bucs which is why this team is confusing to figure out. Freeman is being micromanaged so we will never know who he really is. This is a done deal. Let him play so we know what we have. Schiano is an old school coach that seems unwilling to change his ways. take note of game one’s game plan and it is not the first time we have witnessed this type of stubborness. What concerns me longterm is it seems that Schiano is such a micromanager that he is not letting the players make plays to win or lose games. Schiano is going to have to be more willing to adapt if he is going to find success in the New NFL. Look at Shanahan, Carroll, and Harbaugh. All have had to change and adapt to the changing player. What concerns me is the Bucs have a bad season and Schiano moves on from Freeman with Glennon ignoring the talent coming out of college at the qb position and settting the bucs farther back. The bucs have a lot of pieces but the pieces seem to be antogonists with the coaches. The bucs have talent that is being squashed by the coaching staffs lack of vision and willingness to give up some control. the players need to be put in position to succeed not trying to fit a square peg player in a round hole system.
September 11th, 2013 at 8:51 am
RachelWatson’sthong Says
“Joe, have you ever thought about putting an ignore feature on your site so we could block certain posters?”
I would so love this option! You could replace their comments with ads and I’d be happier.
In order to do it we’d need accounts though.
Personally I wouldn’t mind a way to rate comments. Either stars or thumbs.
September 11th, 2013 at 8:55 am
Through all my rampage the last couple of days this what I’ve been trying to tell you, the Tampa resident fans. That this the perception the rest of the country has about Tampa. The national media has been spinning Tampa into that of a three ring circus. A non football town that couldn’t support their own jock straps. This is what the rest of us outside of Florida hear practically daily, even all the way out here in the west where I live. The sad thing is that the local media has done nothing to dispel that perception. In fact, they actually help to pile on instead of standing up and defending them for a change. It’s becoming catatonically viral and disgusting.
September 11th, 2013 at 8:59 am
Everyone is entitled to there opinion. But this team has a ton of talent. We have a bum QB and the coaching needs to be a lot better… but even the best game plan and play calls wont work with a QB who can’t do anything until late in the game.
September 11th, 2013 at 9:03 am
Everyone has a right to there opinion. I think its laughable that you can look at this team and say they have no talent. The problem has clearly been the QB and the coaching, but even the best coaching and game plan wont work with a QB who can’t execute until the 4th Qtr….
September 11th, 2013 at 9:05 am
RBell,
Why don’t you go share your football knowledge on the Las Vegas Outlaws’ blog? Oh, sorry, they closed up shop after just one year.
Maybe go to the Las Vegas Locomotives website? OOPS, they’re defunct too.
September 11th, 2013 at 9:07 am
bucrightoff Says
“The QB play is unreliable, the playcalling reflects that. Freeman has 3 weeks to convince everyone he’s a franchise guy because I think everyone will be moving on at 0-4 and most people will be gone at 1-3.”
I have to ask…who sets these deadlines? Let’s say for example that the Bucs go 0-4 to start the season. There are many fans who say he would be replaced then.
But I don’t believe he will be. Even so, it’s not up to any of us. It’s up to the coaches. So saying things like “by the bye Freeman is out!” (As I have seen around here) is stupid. The people saying it have no say whatsoever.
That’s right. We’re all powerless, people. What? You won’t buy tickets if you don’t get your way? Who cares? Most are not buying tickets anyway. Most of you like to whine while you watch others invest their hard-earned money in the team.
It was a bad game. That’s all. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong. From the start of the headset issues to the penalties to the drops to the bad oline play to the crooked refs to the…well…everything.
Fate had a mad-on at the Bucs and she slapped them around down to the last seconds.
But its over now. Move on. In a week you will be happy. In two weeks you will be sad again. Then happy again. Get over it.
That’s what veteran Bucs fans have learned to do. That’s how we’ve lasted since the start. If you can’t handle it, sorry about your ##$@ luck.
September 11th, 2013 at 9:08 am
Least talented? Losing credibility rapidly. The coaching is really sketchy IMO. You had like four months to prepare for the first series and you do that? I do fault free as well for not taking the initiative and calling his own damn play But c’mon. Free is bad, but I think he looked worse than he really is trying to run plays that don’t make any sense. For the first time, I don’t trust this staff with my bucs.
September 11th, 2013 at 9:09 am
bucrightoff, most of that wasn’t directed at you. I kind of released some stress, unfortunately you might have felt the blunt of it.
September 11th, 2013 at 9:10 am
2 coaching staffs with 2 completely different offensive systems but yet both have struggled in almost the same exact way. Whats the one constant between both? The one guy who touches the ball every single play…. Lol, the answer to what the problem continues to slap us in the face each and blind continue to point at everything else, even after they’ve been proved wrong.
September 11th, 2013 at 9:23 am
Well said, sir.
September 11th, 2013 at 9:25 am
(Standing up and applauding BuccaneerBonzai) Well said, sir!
September 11th, 2013 at 9:26 am
This is a what have you done for me lately league and the way the Buc’s played who could blame him for thinking that. That ‘s what was going on in my head the entire game. Miserable, miserable execution on offense.
September 11th, 2013 at 9:34 am
Sacbucs, you are a fool. You think you know all the answers, and you don’t know s_it, and this writer Freeman doesn’t know anything, he’s no different than you or me. This team is loaded with talent, and sorry Sacbucs, you said talent doesn’t want to come here??? What “F” we’ve only picked up the 3 top free agents available??? If your gonna talk, don’t make crap up.
How about we give this team more than 1 freaking game before we judge it. You don’t judge a painting at the beginning or the middle, you wait to see the final product. All your bitchen ain’t gonna change a thing. Get behind your team or go away cuz you ain’t a real fan.
GO BUCS!!!
September 11th, 2013 at 9:37 am
We buc fans should expect more from a team that has eight pro bowlers on it. We should expect to be better. We should expect to be prepared and execute. We have plenty of talent. Maybe the gentleman that said the bucs have no talent lost his survivor pool this weekend who knows. As a buc fan, I expect better from the bucs. This loser mentality has got to stop. Expect more. The organization has sold the fan base on that by going out and trading for Revis, picking up Jackson, and drafting Martin. Expect more than a crappy loss to the Jets. We will all get beyong this as BuccaneerBonzai has stated but As bucs fans we expected more. Hopefully we will get better.
September 11th, 2013 at 9:38 am
RBellbuc “Amen” I’m glad to see there’s others who see this.
September 11th, 2013 at 9:40 am
Dude writes for BleacherReport, the equivalent of Arena League 2 for football writers, enough said.
September 11th, 2013 at 9:47 am
here we go again,,,THE CHOKENEERS ,, GET YOUR HEAD BAGS READY…….
September 11th, 2013 at 9:57 am
The Bucs have talent. The coaches aren’t putting them in a position to win. We’ll see how the season goes. If the team doesn’t do well, I firmly believe it will be the result of bad coaching and game planning.
September 11th, 2013 at 9:59 am
THIS MESS HAS TO BE BLEMED ON THE OWNERS BECAUSE THIS IS THE CRAP COACHES WE GET. SHIT ROLLS DOWN HILL AND IT FALLS IN THE LAP OF THE GLAZERS. BUC’S 4-12 IN 2013,, IT TIES THE OLD RECORD…….FIRE THE GLAZERS.
September 11th, 2013 at 9:59 am
This team doesn’t lack talent. It’s the qb. Te team around freeman is very good. But no qb in a qb driven league means inconsistency and poor performance each week.
September 11th, 2013 at 10:13 am
Buccaneer Bonzai,
Who are we to set deadlines. I agree, who are we to do such a thing. It is sad that is coming to a deadline for Josh to arrive.
He is in his 4th year as starter, the deadline to click is at some point this year.
We need to be better.
September 11th, 2013 at 10:14 am
Name 10 stating QB’s in the NFL, right now (last week) that are not a good as Josh?
Blaine Gabbert… That is it?
September 11th, 2013 at 10:19 am
Look Freeman isn’t a spring chicken anymore. At this point, almost 4 full years in, if we don’t know what we have in him, isn’t that so much worse than if we did know? We’re still going on what we hope he could be rather than what the evidence shows us he is: inconsistent as can be. He gives you so many teases of brilliance, yet he still makes mistakes rookie QBs make (and even they don’t make those mistakes anymore it seems). If the Bucs had an Alex Smith type QB, one who steady but unspectacular play was assured, this team would be a mortal lock to make the playoffs. Instead we have to take a ride on the Freeman roller coaster.
Basically I’ve seen enough of Freeman to decide he can be a good QB, but not good enough to lead you to a Super Bowl. Who here would honestly say they would take Freeman over Romo, even as Romo is labelled a massive choker? Maybe he is, but at the very least he gets his team in position to be considered chokers. Under Josh, thats happened once (and of course we choked against Detroit in 2010), which simply isn’t enough. The Bucs can be a playoff team next year with the right QB, assuming Josh produces another 7-9 season. At 7-9, Freeman has not earned the extension the market might give him (6/yrs $90m). The Bucs will have to choose walk away or bite the bullet. And lets be honest, you could lose a lot of the fanbase extending a guy to a contract that says playoff starter for a guy who’s never been to the playoffs.
September 11th, 2013 at 10:35 am
I thought it said he coverd the jags?
September 11th, 2013 at 10:36 am
To the zombies.
Josh Freeman won Ten games, with a team far less talented than this one, 3 years ago. I realize you brain dead clueless crowd can’t remember that far back. But then again- this is same crowd of fools that ran of Doug Williams, Steve Young, Vinnie Testaverde, Trent Dilfer, Etc. all of whom went on to either win Super Bowls, or have good careers.
All while this team continued to suck. Set records for length of sucking, amount of sucking. This franchise for decades apitomized sucking. Because we kept running of Good Qbs- instead of crappy coaches.
In other words, most “Fans” in this area wouldn’t know a QB if one kicked them in their dumb asses. History proves this area is a horrible judge of QBs- yet the fools persist.
Josh only has two Targets-Jackson and Williams. We have no TE. We have no slot Reciever. Martin couldn’t get open( as in, provide Josh a window to throw to him. That’s what open means) when the ball did get to him- he dropped it.
I said that all summer- that lack of options would slow this offense. But the zombies blame the QB . Lmao
Freeman has been told to stop doing all the things that made him successful. Stop running. Stop rolling out. Stop creating problems for the defense. Just stand in the pocket. This guy was incredible a few years ago. The talk of the league. But our lil college coach has made him far less effective- because Shiano wants to play 1980s football. That made him a .500 coach in college. Far less than that here.
Despite all that. Josh had the winning drive. 34 seconds left. Yet Shiano went to a 3 man line. Have smith all day, plus room to run. That same 3 man line strategy cost us games last year. It is stupid beyond believe. But we keep doing it
Freeman will leave this offseason. And we will again be a horrible team- trying to find a QB, when the Coach is the problem
September 11th, 2013 at 11:20 am
So having a top 5 WR and arguably the best #2 option in the league is what exactly? Tom Brady doesn’t have a single top 20 WR, and yet…
Seriously to Cpt Tim and all the Freeman defenders who defend regardless. I’ll keep asking this till I see more of you comment: Would you, at this very moment, sign Josh Freeman to the market rate extension (6yrs, $90m minimum)? And if so, why? I just cannot believe people are convinced he’s worth it.
I would so very, very much love him to be worth it and to be the guy. That would mean we are playoff bound. He’s just not y’all. He’s Jason Campbell redux: Good enough to get you beat a lot. Freeman has had more opportunities than most QBs get. Again people act like he’s going to leave and go elsewhere and be a megastar. Literally, here are the teams who will be considering signing Josh Freeman, based on their QB situations: Jacksonville, Cleveland, Arizona…that is the list. Everyone else is set or has a young guy they need to see more of. If you’re suggesting he’s going places with less talent than this one and doing better, I want the drugs you got.
September 11th, 2013 at 11:53 am
Now we know why he writes for Bleacher Report…
Regardless of Sunday’s outcome…this team has Top 10 talent…and anyone who denies that is simply wrong.
The loss just speaks to the parity in this league.
September 11th, 2013 at 12:09 pm
F.U. weak ass fans.
September 11th, 2013 at 3:43 pm
If they are the least talented team in the NFL why would there be a revolt against the coach? I would expect a revolt from a team filled with talent who are not being coached well but a bunch of scrubs, like Jax for instance, would just be happy to have a job.
He contradicts himself…he is correct when he says that a revolt is coming if things dont improve but for the opposite of what he is saying. There is way too much talent on this team for a performance like we saw sunday and that falls squarely on the coaches shoulders.
September 11th, 2013 at 3:59 pm
Wow. All this after one game? I agree that it was a bad offensive performance but damn. You guys make it sound like we should start planning for next season. No wonder our games are blacked out. We have shitty fans.
I agree that Josh needs some work but he put us in a position to win. The O Line, dropped balls, false starts, lack of running game, and field position play a big part in Josh’s success. There aren’t too many QBs that can carry a team without a running game and not so great O Line play. The key to take away from this is 4th quarter Josh got us in a position to kick that field goal. Let the man work. The outcome is simple. Either he’s here next year or he’s not.
Oh and Defense also got 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and an INT. Outside of Geno the Jets RBs combined for 43 yards…I think. Pressure was there. The containment wasn’t.
I don’t understand how a team could have 13 penalties for 102 yards and Josh is the first one to blame. Smh. Go Bucs.
September 11th, 2013 at 4:13 pm
Jackrightoff
No
No
Having only two recieving options- even the fantastic ones we have- means the opponents can double team them both.
Stocker can’t get off the line. It’s embarrassing to watch. Ogletree can’t catch. Never could, never will.
Martin couldn’t get open but 2 times- and dropped both of those.
So, that- my confused and clueless friend , is the problem.
And you where, I’m sure , in favor of running many of our other QBs out of Town. I’m sure you didn’t just become “vocal without any idea what you are talking about!”
Many of them went on to win superbowls(3)
Hopefully- Freeman leaves here, and will get his chance.
And I hope he wins it
September 11th, 2013 at 4:46 pm
Joe, as you know this is due to the fact that the majority of people who claim to be Bucs fans are the ones who game around/after the Super Bowl year. So if we don’t play like Superbowl contenders every week these quote on quote “Bucs Fans” freak out and think the seasons over which is why our attendance is so shitty in down years. its ridiculous and we will be fine.
September 11th, 2013 at 8:28 pm
bucrightoff Says: September 11th, 2013 at 10:19 am
“Look Freeman isn’t a spring chicken anymore.”
Ummm…he is only a year older than Wilson. 1 1/2 years older than Glennon who was picked THIS YEAR. He actually is a spring chicken. Especially compared to the guys you bashers compare him to.