Playing Hard Is Not Impressive
December 22nd, 2013
It’s late December and there’s no doubt that radio and TV announcers will remark today about how the Bucs are playing hard for Greg Schiano.
Big freakin’ deal. Likely seven out of eight teams across the NFL are playing hard for their coaches, not to mention themselves and their fans.
Are Bucs fans so scarred by the Raheem regime that we have to celebrate effort?
When Joe catches himself doing that, Joe feels like he’s adopted a loser-fan mentality. NFL players are supposed to play hard. They’re paid to do just that, and they’re supposed to be men of enough character where they can handle giving their all for six or so months a year.
Joe’s had many face-to-fact chats with Darrelle Revis and listened to all of Revis’ radio shows on WDAE-AM 620. One common subtlety Revis expresses regularly is being ready to play in late January. It’s naturally woven in various ways into his conversation.
Joe doesn’t hear that playoff/Super Bowl mentality in most Buccaneers. Understandable. The point is Revis is always wired for championship preparation. That’s the way it should be, and that’s why Joe can’t celebrate the fact that the Bucs have played hard for Schiano.
And it’s not like there haven’t been lapses. Adrian Clayborn fingered his teammates questionable effort in Carolina this month.
“After watching the film we know why we lost, we wasn’t playing with that much passion on every play,” Clayborn said. “And we wasn’t gang tackling and we wasn’t doing the stuff that we’d been doing the past three weeks to win the game.
Can you put your finger on why, Adrian?
“No. I mean we started off good. But I guess stuff happens within the game and guys get frustrated, Clayborn said. “So we just gotta learn how to play through that stuff.”
Ironically, it was Raheem who always said his team goal on gameday was “to play, hard, fast, smart and consistent.” Frankly, that’s the only combination worth celebrating. With the New Schiano Order Bucs, they win when they combine those four.
Playing hard is nice, but it really doesn’t mean much. It’s not enough to win games.
December 22nd, 2013 at 10:05 am
A bit negative but still a good read.
December 22nd, 2013 at 10:15 am
I typically agree with Joe. This time, I agree 100%. Johnny Football, not so much.
December 22nd, 2013 at 10:18 am
Agree Joe. Sick of anything but Ws. Just win!
December 22nd, 2013 at 10:24 am
Therein lies the problem….staying with Schiano after the lucky Detroit win will only delay the inevitable…subpar,painful to watch football: Greggy style. I hope the Glazers don’t fall for it in 2014.
December 22nd, 2013 at 10:26 am
The only thing worse then accepting a losing mentally is if you sign your self up for a third year of it we already have that mentally get rid of it now b4 it consumes us and becomes who we are my biggest fear is becoming well not becoming but switching places with the jags I don’t wanna hold down there asstastic yearly stank Ness while they take our under the radar up and coming title away from us. This was supposed to b the year we placed ourself firmly on the map we had ample prime time games we where gaining national attention an this ass clown dropped a turd for the world so he can break us down to try to build us up n his mold screw that rat bastard. Excuse my French he gets me fires up when I think about this overall. It’s just not right!!!!
December 22nd, 2013 at 10:33 am
Seems like u guise have been bringing up a coach who hasn’t been with the team in two years a lot lately, rather than focusing on the fact that Gregory just plain sucks. But this is the site that said five wins is an acceptable outcome for a season, so I digress.
No lies, please. This is a site that said five wins is enough to earn Schiano a return. Five wins in the second half of a season, against a good schedule and a heavily injured roster, is not something that would be cast aside anywhere in the NFL under a second-year head coach. –Joe
December 22nd, 2013 at 10:44 am
Sorry Joe but to his point u can’t say against a harsh second half of the season because we beat no quality teams this second half. We beat teams on the bottom or in turmoil everyone who had something to play for other then Draft position like us took us to the woodshed. So please don’t toot that horn Joe. Still love u though buddy 🙂
December 22nd, 2013 at 10:52 am
Joe, you nailed it!
December 22nd, 2013 at 10:57 am
If Adrian is fingering his teammates we have a bigger problem than effort or wins. O_o
December 22nd, 2013 at 11:21 am
I was thinking about this last night. The Bucs just are not entertaining to watch. I want the team to win but I watch sports to be entertained by professional athletes. That’s why when golf is on, I only watch if Tiger is playing.
December 22nd, 2013 at 11:28 am
Five wins against a “good schedule,” you say? Did you forget who we played in the second half? And the injury card is a straw man. Everyone in the NFL has injuries this time of year.
Keep lowering that bar and revising history. True Schinao Men here!
Strong schedule in the second half. Yes. Feel free to do the math. The injury card is a straw man. So is the distraction card you played, and claiming teams aren’t what their record says they are. If you don’t think the Dolphins and Lions (and the fifth win, if it comes) are strong wins, then you really don’t know football.–Joe
December 22nd, 2013 at 11:32 am
Eat, pray, love. Play football harder. The Bucs went from winless to mediocre. I’ll take a win over anybody, it will be nice to get one today.
December 22nd, 2013 at 11:48 am
Joe- Loser-fan mentality? Last I checked this is a losing team and has been for quite some time. The whole effort comment in context makes sense because our season was in the toilet after 0-8 and most coaches would have lost their team after that. I appreciate the effort this late in a horrendous season. We have a losing team and the mentality reflects it. No need to act like it is any different.
December 22nd, 2013 at 12:08 pm
Great comeback, Joes. “Oh yeah? Well you don’t GET football!” lol
December 22nd, 2013 at 12:10 pm
Are we seeing the same total wire-to-wire effort that we saw the first couple games (remember the goal-line stand to close out the 1st H vs. the Saints??)?
December 22nd, 2013 at 12:22 pm
I would think that at some point playing hard is more apt to lead to winning football games than checking out and loafing (like a previous Bucs team did or like the Redskins players looked like they did in their blowout loss to KC a couple weeks ago…brought up only as food for thought for anyone pining for Schiano to be replaced with Shanahan should he be let go from Washington)
December 22nd, 2013 at 12:38 pm
As Woody Cummings pointed out on Twitter, only one NFC team has a longer playoff drought than the Bucs. That would be the Rams.
December 22nd, 2013 at 12:43 pm
Its clear that Joe knows NOTHING about sports. Given most fat boys dont. Playin hard is the core of competitive sports. Intensity and speed were what made Sapp, Lynch, Rice, Barber, and Brooks the greatest defensive quintet in Bucs history. Joe also wants Manziel? Are u drunk?
@teacherman777 — Now that’s not very nice. Playing hard is not impressive at the professional level. Never has been. Your insults are ridiculous. Joe was a three-sport, top athlete in high school and played college ball. Joe also is the son of a football coach, a military man who was a basketball coach and an elite tennis player, as well.–Joe
December 22nd, 2013 at 12:45 pm
Bucs need to win next 2 games for me to be slightly ok with Schiano returning. Bucs need to win divisional games. 1-5 is not gonna cut it. I believe we went 2-4 in the division last season. As far as the possibility of snagging a new QB in draft or FA…if Schiano stays I don’t see that happening. More specific, Shiano will not bring in a QB for “real” competition (he loves Glennon). Not saying that Glennon does not have potential, but think about this…Brees, Ryan, Cam, Glennon? We have the worst QB in the division for sure. Tired of talking about potential with this team. It is time to win now or bring in players that give us a better shot. But like I said, if Shiano stays forget about Johnny Football. Glennon will be the guy and he will build around him.
December 22nd, 2013 at 12:56 pm
Huh? Aren’t we talking about the bucs and their level of effort? Who cares if statistically the rams are bigger losers than us? Do you disagree with anything I said or was that non-sequitur your only response?
December 22nd, 2013 at 12:57 pm
Great article; if Schiano is brought back (which personally I don’t believe he should be), he needs to make serious adjustments; this play not to lose/keep it close approach has not worked. Merry Christmas to you and your family, Joe
December 22nd, 2013 at 1:14 pm
Yes Joe. The Raheem Morris debacle has scared intelligent Buc fans after seeing that quit that Raheem coached.
So fans are finally satisfied that the Bucs are playing like an NFL team on Sundays again.
December 22nd, 2013 at 1:25 pm
LOL BucsFan68:
Liked the bitterness mixed in with Christmas wishes. Hope you have a nice holiday season too.
December 22nd, 2013 at 2:04 pm
Mediocrity and below should not be the goal. I hope the Glazers understand this next Monday.
December 23rd, 2013 at 6:35 am
Intensity is everything!
The Bucs just need more talent and depth.
And you cant forget health.
The Bucs need to rebuild again.
Josh Freeman should be the most hated man in Tamoa.
He TRIED to sabotage the season!
He has all the godgiven talent in the world, but he doesnt want to work!
Schiano tried to force him to work hard, but Josh’s spoiled ass wouldnt listen!
If Josh Freeman had been a hardworking QB, and if he had not been a selfish spoiled drug user,
The Bucs would have gone to the playoffs this year!
Josh Freeman has more talent than Glennon,
But Glennon wants it more.
Josh Freeman should be hated by all of our fans and veterans.
He did it all on purpose!
F-U. Josh freeman!