11-Win Year Adds To Urgency
December 24th, 2013
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? When Joe puts on his think-like-a-Glazer hat, Joe believes those are critical questions facing ownership.
Team Glazer is trying to win a Super Bowl and excite fans. The NFL is a business driven by hope and belief. If your fans are believers, then they’ll spend money, and advertisers and corporate sponsors happily will cut checks. Everybody has a happy offseason when a franchise is floating in a sea of hope.
But it’s much harder to be a believer when you’re staring at division foes with Cam Newton, Drew Brees and Matt Ryan — and you’ve got Mike Glennon and a fading-fast offensive line in a quarterback-driven league. The Bucs also have rival head coaches with stunning winning percentages, like Sean Payton and Mike Smith, and Ron Rivera very well could win NFL Coach of the Year.
Nearly every NFL owner is trying to figure out just how far his team is from glory. The Bucs have plenty of talent at a lot of positions, so they shouldn’t be so far away. But that’s more fantasy than reality. The Bucs have serious offseason work to do in order to compete in their division and in their conference.
Joe wrote about 200 times this offseason that the NFC was absolutely loaded, the likes of which hadn’t been seen since the 1980s. And that played out. Yes, good teams were ravaged by injuries and disappointed their fans. But at the end of the day, 11 wins will be needed to make the playoffs. In fact, an 11-win team could be sent home. If the Saints (10-5) win, and the Cardinals (10-5) beat the 49ers, Arizona will head home crying.
Regardless of what call Team Glazer makes on Greg Schiano, the owners must find a way to inject hope into the fan base. If Schiano stays, that means blowing a pile of cash in free agency, making a bold trade, and landing top skill position players in the draft.
Major change is coming. The Bucs are simply too far away to avoid it.
December 24th, 2013 at 8:38 pm
That is exactly right, Joe. If you think like a Glazer, how on earth does one go into the offseason with out making changes? It is depressing how far away we ended this season. The bucs are not loaded with cap space for 2014, so is our only hope the draft and some imaginary offseason magical improvement in Glennon? And then we are hoping it really wasn’t so much Schiano’s fault?
They have to make a coaching change.
December 24th, 2013 at 8:48 pm
What do I get from this?
That we need an ELITE quarterback as quickly as possible, because all the other teams in our division either have one, or have a QB that will be.
And since we do not know if Glennon will be, we should double-up and get a first round QB in the draft. Period.
Otherwise, look for repeats of this season for the next few years minimum.
December 24th, 2013 at 8:52 pm
But if Gregory stays on, we won’t draft a QB because Gregory thinks Glennon is “excellent.” He recruited Glennon out of high school, don’t you know?
December 24th, 2013 at 8:58 pm
Here are some teams the Bucs have much in common with
AFC – Browns
vs Steelers, Ravens and Bengals
AFC South – Jags
vs Colts, Titans, Texans
AFC West – Raiders
vs Broncos, Chiefs, Chargers
All bad treams with strong teams in their divisions, teams that either compete every year or only have a year or so of bad time.
We are in the same position, and each of those teams have no franchise QB. That is the common factor for the worst teams in the NFL.
And the Bucs are right there with them unless we find a way to increase QB play.
December 24th, 2013 at 9:00 pm
Glennon was drafted for two reasons. First, to be a backup. Second, because the Glazers and Dominick firmly believed Freeman was their guy. They were wrong and now Schiano will get the opportunity to draft one.
And he went through a bunch of QBs at Rutgers.
December 24th, 2013 at 9:06 pm
Eli Manning needs a change of scenery. At the same time, he could mentor Glennon. Getting Eli would energize the rest of the team, not to mention the fan base. Give the Giants a #2 pick, or, if necessary, a #1 in order to get Eli.
December 24th, 2013 at 9:20 pm
Wow…that was depressing. Not your fault Joe but still. Merry Xmas boys and girls. We have no hope.
December 24th, 2013 at 9:31 pm
Yea Joe…Merry Christmas!!! True….but very depressing….
December 24th, 2013 at 9:37 pm
@BuccaneerbOnzai – How about Schiano never wanted Freeman… and Glennon is and has always been in his mind the future Franchise QB? Just a thought.
Hopefully it will all change this coming Monday.
December 24th, 2013 at 9:38 pm
Schiano will never see 11 wins in this division.
December 24th, 2013 at 9:41 pm
@ Joe
Yes, the Bucs really are that far away
The majority of Bucs fans want Schiano replaced, however there are still a few that would like him to return. So let me ask you this – do you fans sincerely believe that this regime can make the Bucs into a Championship team? Or is getting to the level of mediocrity now acceptable?
December 24th, 2013 at 9:48 pm
Start with a new gm
December 24th, 2013 at 9:52 pm
@BuccaneerBonzai Says:
“AFC West – Raiders
vs Broncos, Chiefs, Chargers”
I only have one exception to your comment BB. The Chiefs do not have an elite QB, Alex Smith is adequate, but no where near elite. BUT, the Chiefs are the exception to the rule in that they have a lot of talent on both sides of the ball, and more important, the Chiefs are very well coached.
But continuing with your example, how do the Chiefs keep up in a ‘pin-ball’ game with the Broncos? Twice this season, they could not. That will be the Bucs vs. Saints and Falcons even if Glennon plays out of his mind.
December 24th, 2013 at 9:54 pm
Because of what I said in the first post to this article, Schiano’s fate is already sealed. No way he returns next year.
December 24th, 2013 at 9:57 pm
Problem with this line of thinking is, the NFL landscape changes from year to year. Only a few years ago a 7-9 team won the NFC west. Now it’s one of the best divisions in the league.
So it’s tough goings this year. Next year an 8-8 team could be a wild card team.
But joes point is taken. Bucs are far from a playoff team
December 24th, 2013 at 10:15 pm
I thought that the Glazers have committed on paper a quarter of a billion (with a B) dollars to win now! What is it going to take to build a winner? And how are they going to feel if the Dynamic Duo ask for more?
We don’t even look close to winning!
December 24th, 2013 at 10:29 pm
What is puzzling is that this very team had games won against the Jets, Saints, Cardinals & Seahawks…(two or three pretty good teams) Several other games could have been won.
If its coaching then we aren’t that far away (KC)….
If its talent then we aren’t that far away.
If its coaching and talent…..(Houston) we have a problem!!!
December 24th, 2013 at 11:03 pm
Merry Christmas TBBF,
And the same to the Joes and staff and all my fellow JBF posters.
Now because it’s the holidays TBBF, you’re allowed a drink or two. But stop now because you know that you don’t win games until the clock goes to zero. You can’t almost win a game. The NFL has no such stat. We are 4-11 and that’s not close. 8-7 is close. Now put the bottle down!
December 24th, 2013 at 11:48 pm
@ Splengo
4-11 makes me want to pick the bottle up
December 25th, 2013 at 1:18 am
Totally agree with premise. We need #1 QB and we do not need Schiano’s scheme, lack of flexibility in play calling and lack of creative play calling….he really doesn’t know what to do when….Puleez lobby the Glazers for a new HC ASAP. If its true that Schiano was interested in Penn State and he might be the right person to right that ship…..even if its not true….let him go…NOW. Immediately after Saints game win or lose then go get someone who can coach!!!. I don’t know who. What about the guy we have sitting up in the stands Butch Davis. Is he any good? What about Dave Wannstandt? I know hw wasn;t so good at Miami. Oy vah. Whyat;s a fan to do?
December 25th, 2013 at 1:48 am
The truth is always in the gray – it’s not a black or white issue. There is a need for better coaching and need for more talent in positions.
Don’t know how to fix this but it’s a mess.
December 25th, 2013 at 1:49 am
@ Splengo
Merry Christmas to you too…how did you know I opened up the Single Malt a bit early….
December 25th, 2013 at 2:28 am
Ah hell Joe, you had me right up to “Team Glazer is trying to win a Super Bowl and excite fans” part, then I knew you were just messing with us! The Glazer boys have spent their entire lives living in the shadow of their Dad, and now that he’s incapacitated due to the stroke(s), you can see just how much they really know about running a professional sports organization. Glazer boys, do us all a favor and either sell this team to someone who knows how to make a winner or take your shit show somewhere else!
December 25th, 2013 at 2:48 am
Merry Christmas fellow Buc fans
December 25th, 2013 at 3:50 am
Dom is not the problem. I’ve seen it posted too many times. Shelton Quarles is the director of pro personnel. He recommended Q. Black for all that cheese and brickhands Ogletree and every other bad deal thats pushed Doms way{in regards to pro signings.} Johnny Manziel, Barr, Clowney, or any other heavily critiqued stud will probably push us over the top. Unfortunately for us all this season was a series of unfortunate events starting with the bad Geno call and ending next week with who knows.
December 25th, 2013 at 8:26 am
The Glazers need to find a new head coach because 95% of the fanbase have given up on Schiano and for good reason. He is regressing as a HC. Bring him back next year and the fans will already be resigned to another losing season, IN JANUARY. No matter how Schiano and the Buc’s PR department wants to spin it, the Bucs, with Schiano will not be a post season contender. Cut your loses Glazers and move on.
December 25th, 2013 at 8:30 am
I’m sorry, but Cam Newton isn’t a better drop back qb than Glennon. And Matt Ryan isn’t any better, he sucks without his top WR’s just like Glennon, but gets better game planning than Glennon. Cam avg less attempts per game compared to everyone else to hide his poor reads.
December 25th, 2013 at 10:09 am
Paul, put down the bottle, Glennon is nowhere close to those guys yet, and odds are against his big slow lanky A$$. Matty Ice is an awesome QB and years now to back it up. Cam Newton is playing really well which pains me because I think he’s an arrogant punk b!t<h. He is way better than Glennon, not even close. Let's not mention Drew Brees.
Bucs need a Miracle. Well it is Christmas.
December 26th, 2013 at 7:09 am
Paul: Put the three QB’s on the trade block and see who gets picked last. Glennon, so far, looks like a good back-up QB to me; nothing more. Rookie or not, this scarecrow simply doesn’t have the ability to win games. He may not be the reason the team loses. But what DC is staying up late trying to figure out how to stop Mike Glennon. Here’s what they do. Bring every defender within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. That way the running attempts get stuffed for a 1-yard gain. After the two 3-yard passes are completed, tackle the receiver. At 4th and 3; line up to receive the punt. Easy peezie!