“Yuccaneer Form”
December 3rd, 2013
Yes, before Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks and John Lynch blossomed in the late 1990s, the Bucs were so horrid they were commonly referred to as the “Yucs,” or in the long-form, “Yuccaneers.”
That is because there were few if any franchise more misguided, inept and running amok, save Bill Bidwill’s flock, than the Bucs.
Watching tape of the Bucs’ loss to the Stinking Panthers made longtime NFL writer Mike Freeman think of those old days of the Yucs as they were completely bullied by the Stinking Panthers for the Bucs’ ninth loss of the season.
In his weekly grades for each NFL team, Freeman — no relation to leaky Rip Van Freeman — branded the Bucs with a “D.”
Turned the ball over twice, and quarterback Mike Glennon was sacked five times. The Panthers will do that to a lot of teams, but the Buccaneers still reverted back to Yuccaneer form.
Joe guesses this will outrage some Bucs fans. Well, there is one way to change such perceptions. That is very, very, very simple and elementary. Win games.
Notice that the pitchfork was quelled after Bucs commander Greg Schiano’s won games?
December 3rd, 2013 at 5:13 pm
No Bucs hate here. Same guy gave the Bucs an A+++ the week before for their win at the Lions! The highest grade possible.
December 3rd, 2013 at 5:16 pm
Hey winning does that, look at the Sea Hawks. Everyone thinks they are a complete team and they are far from it. Offensively. But with this recent loss we are now back to the way we looked in 0-8. Or our true form. The coaching gets out coached, the players looked like they played like Matt Flynn( no effort) and as usual the team has no answer. We never really did when we had a winning streak it was dumb luck at times.
December 3rd, 2013 at 5:24 pm
Carolina is just better than us, period. Add to the fact that we match up horribly with them and I really don’t think we could beat them if we played them 10 times. Schiano has absolutely cost us some games, but in no way did he cost us this one. We were absolutely dominated for the entire game, for both games. I’m just glad we don’t play them any more this year.
December 3rd, 2013 at 5:32 pm
I agree Hawaiian, they are just more physical, faster, and flat out better in all phases of the game. I’m pretty sure they would go 10/10 against this Bucs team.
December 3rd, 2013 at 5:38 pm
That panther team may make a serious run. Defense is relentless and cam is dangerous. Can he hold it together in playoffs is another matter.
We’re not in their league as presently constituted.
Of course that in itself is sad enough. Get everyone back next year and have good fortune on the injury front and the gap narrows. One thing about the NFL things can change quickly. Just last year the panthers sucked and people were saying Newton couldn’t make it in a passing league. Look how far Atlanta fell.
It’s doable.
December 3rd, 2013 at 5:44 pm
@Hawaiian
I’ll agree as they are better than us. But is it because of lack of talent in our team compared to theirs NO. I do think coaching stunk this one up for us, I am not denying the fact that our team played with 70% effort. We could have a chance beating them if we were better managed, just my opinion.
December 3rd, 2013 at 5:48 pm
I disagree on the Panthers. Their defense is pretty good, but their offense doesn’t impress me. In both games we hung with them until halftime, they made adjustments and we didn’t. Collectively they are playing well with each phase just complementing the other.
Our defense has so much potential but I can’t help but think the constant stunts are holding us back.
The fact it was admitted that Carolina showed them things they didn’t expect, shows how far we have to go with game planning. We couldn’t adjust? Are we that stubborn to stick to our plan, game be damned?
I want us to win, badly, but I’m looking forward to the coaching purge, coaching hire, and draft.
December 3rd, 2013 at 5:49 pm
How quick they turn.
Ah well. Knew it was coming. The love fest for Glennon was unearned. Winning this game, or at least not turning in a supar performance would have gone a long way in getting the remaining critics to lean more in his direction.
As it stands, we skeptics have been right.
December 3rd, 2013 at 5:52 pm
I think their owner wants to win and they spend to the cap every year. We got owners that don’t give a sh$t and never spend close to the cap. Also they built their defense through great draft picks and our guys have mostly underachieved.
December 3rd, 2013 at 5:53 pm
bucfanjeff, I’m finding myself agreeing with you on the stunts. When they stopped the defensive line was more productive.
December 3rd, 2013 at 5:53 pm
Remember that Jaworski word “Enigma”. Last night I saw the Seahawks shutdown the Drew Brees scoring machine and today all of football punditry is saying they’re unstoppable.
Yet I saw with my own eyes the lowly Yuccaneers amass a 21-0 lead and take them to OT before the game was finally decided and in their house of doom no less!
Where is that team and why can’t it show up every week? Why can’t we play consistently every week? Or are we that dreaded Jaworski word?
December 3rd, 2013 at 5:54 pm
@You Go Joe,
I think we may be more talented than them at certain areas, but they are much more talented than us in the more important areas. For starters, they have a better QB, which pretty much trumps everything else. They also have a better overall line on both sides of the ball. We have been decimated by injuries as well. I’m no expert, but I would certainly agree that our overall coaching scheme doesn’t seem to fit our players. We have 5 super talented studs on defense (Goldson, Barron, David, GMC, and Revis), so you would think we would be a little better than what we are. That falls on coaching. I can’t think of too many other teams (Seattle and SF maybe) that have that much elite talent on one side of the ball. Having talent is one thing, harnessing that talent is another. We seem to have done a very poor job of that this year. I swear, if I never see another stunt again I will be happy, but you and I both know we’ll be stunting every game all game as long as Sheridan (and probably Schiano) is here.
December 3rd, 2013 at 6:12 pm
Our stunting is a problem….but it didn’t unopen holes for Rainey….it didn’t cause Glennon to drop the ball…we have a very serious problem with both of our lines and that dictates the game.
Where were the short dink & dunk passes against the Panthers….if they were double-teaming Jackson & Wright?
Why so few passes to Lorig & Rainey?
I am really getting tired of Sullivan. I can write his answers down before his press conferences and he says them practically word-for-word.
“What is the problem with us in the second half?”
“Well, its not just one thing its a combination of things and you’ve got to give the other team credit….they did a great job defending us. We’ll just have to get better.”…….same old song….Schiano may or may not be gone….but Sullivan absolutely has to be fired either way!!!
December 3rd, 2013 at 6:45 pm
@ hawaiian
I agree I’m no expert, but the current scheme does not work at all. To be 28th(?) in sacks with the pro bowl performance of McCoy and little injuries on our D-line blows. That just shows the lack of talent or lack of coaching that we have to get us in top performance. Back to the argument with the panthers you said the correct words. They are good in the important parts to win them games. Cam is more talented than Glennon (no duh!) However they are not a playoff team. If anything they are like a Seattle team yet less complete. The offense of theirs just doesn’t produce enough points and the defense does their job to hold them in there. If only our defense was in that area, but Schiano/Sheridan holds the team back.
December 3rd, 2013 at 6:50 pm
Now I want Schiano fired, because this is the only way to see what is holding back our team. The schemes we do and play calling just get out played every sunday.
December 3rd, 2013 at 7:15 pm
@You Go Joe,
I was solidly on the fire Schiano train, but I’ve backed off a bit. I’m just going to see how we finish, but 5 wins just isn’t enough for me. Beat Buffalo and St. Louis, then either New Orleans or SF and I’ll feel better about Schiano staying. I don’t believe it’s right to just disregard the first 8 games of the season, but I’m afraid if we get a new coach in here he may blow this whole thing up again. I’m not ready for that. If the season ended today I’d want Schiano gone, but I’d like to see how we finish.
December 3rd, 2013 at 8:36 pm
Macabee, it’s because the enigma isn’t gone, just the QB we had when the team had the same erratic results last year. Remember October last year? Everyone thought we had a chance the way we were playing, then it all went down hill. Very similar to a 3 game run this year… People begin to think maybe we turned the corner. But it’s simply not true because the enigma we had last year is still here. Different QB, same results.
December 3rd, 2013 at 10:43 pm
It’s the players and the scheme and the coaches. Bad team. Just no quit in them, while that is admirable – it’s all about winning
December 3rd, 2013 at 11:05 pm
Dang just when I’m talking myself into supporting Schiano u guys drag me down……
December 4th, 2013 at 4:36 am
In addition, the Panthers have a HC with a great deal of NFL experience, and he played in the league for da Bears.
December 4th, 2013 at 9:14 am
A 3-8 team lost to an 8-3 team. In other news, the sky is blue and water is wet.
Let’s not lose any sleep analyzing it.