Monday afternoon, Bucs center Evan Dietrich-Smith appeared with Vic Carucci and Brad Hopkins on “The Blitz,” heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio. EDS had a lot to say about the Bucs, Lovie Smith and quarterbacks, and Joe will bring you bits and pieces the next couple of days.

Excitement filled EDS when he was asked to explain Lovie’s defense. Few on the Bucs roster know Lovie’s defense better than EDS because the former Green Bay Packers center had to battle it twice a year in the NFC North. (more…)

The stat nerds at Pro Football Focus are winding down their Top 101 players in the NFL, based on stats of course. Three teams had two players in the top-10. One was the Super Bowl champs. The other was the NFC East champs.

The third team was the woeful Bucs. (more…)

The way things are going around One Buc Palace, Joe is starting to smell something, and no, it’s not just the sweat from some of the best football players in the world working hard. No, Joe is smelling quarterback competition.

Yes, Bucs coach Lovie Smith has called Josh McCown his starter. Last Joe checked, it’s May. Lovie detailed why All-World cornerback Darrelle Revis would play on his defense, and hours after mattress-in-the-front-yard receiver Mike Williams took a blade to the thigh, Lovie also said he wouldn’t move Williams for being a victim.

How did those proclamations work out? (more…)

An ESPN blogger believes banking on Josh McCown is the Bucs’ riskiest offseason move

The old saying goes, ‘if you don’t have a franchise quarterback, then you will always be looking for one.’

As much as many Bucs fans will have you believe a linebacker can play quarterback; that a quarterback is not necessary to win a Super Bowl in the 21st Century, that simply is bunk.

(Spare Joe the Russell Wilson lines. It’s not like this guy is Dieter Brock. Besides, Wilson is a damn fine quarterback). (more…)

Your beloved Bucs are back on the practice fields of One Buc Palace tomorrow! So that means Joe will be your eyes and ears, sharing all kinds of stuff through the day and through the week.

Training camp is just 60 days away!

One of the more cerebral ex-Buccaneer greats, a former Pro Bowl wide receiver himself, is very high on the Bucs’ chances for a revived passing game. (more…)

When Lovie Smith called second-year man Steven Means his “prototype” defensive end last week, that was just another big clue Adrian Clayborn’s Tampa Bay future is in doubt.

The size, speed and long arms Lovie was referencing in means are not among Clayborn’s attributes.

Consider the following: (more…)

The stat nerds over at Pro Football Focus continued (rather, finished) their countdown to the top 101 players in the NFL. It’s fun fodder to fill downtime in the NFL as training camp is roughly six weeks away.

(Joe is pretty sure, given the past history of the Bucs, and given what cornerback D.J. Moore said, that the Bucs’ first camp practice is July 25.) (more…)

Joe hopes it’s easy for all his readers to take at least a few minutes to remember what today’s holiday is all about — remembering those who died while serving in the United States armed forces.

It doesn’t take long. It doesn’t take much. Heck, it’s great if you can devote the day to it or attend a memorial event, but the spirit of the day is met with any meaningful observance.

Glennon to start? Glennon to be traded? Chris Burke of SI.com says there’s plenty of Lovie Smith smoke to peek behind.

What a rollercoaster it has been for Bucs fans, and Mike Glennon himself, the past few months.

No one sung the praises of Glennon more than former Bucs commander Greg Schiano. Why, Schiano had a crush on Glennon and pined for him since the lanky righty was a high school pup.

Then came the hiring of Lovie Smith, followed shortly thereafter by the signing of quarterback Josh McCown, presumably as the starting quarterback. (more…)

A prominent beat writer weighs in

Through five years under former rockstar general manager Mark Dominik, your Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted just one offensive lineman, a fifth-round pick who was cut quickly.

Dominik didn’t believe in drafting O-linemen. He preferred to go the free agent route or to grab young guys after he could see them adapt to the pro game in preseason. (more…)

Well, it seems the Bucs aren’t interested in waiting to see how much cash manbeast, angry defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh can squeeze out of the Lions.

The Bucs already are on the horn with Gerald McCoy’s agent to talk about a contract extension. (more…)

Bucs junkies already have their seat cushions, binoculars and cameras ready, and their Mike Evans jerseys ordered, for the arrival of the annual rite of summer: sweltering training camp practice at One Buc Palace.

It’s a hardcore fan’s delight. (more…)

As Joe warned, with the summer holidays starting, the stat nerds over at Pro Football Focus have rolled out their top 101 players in the NFL. Crunching numbers and clogging up Excel spreadsheets created this list.

The second Tampa Bay Buccaneer appearing, counting up from No. 101, is defensive end Michael Johnson, who played for the Bengals last season. (more…)

Bucs CB Alterraun Verner is a fine player for a Cover-2 scheme. That is, when Bucs coach Lovie Smith employs a Cover-2 scheme.

Some Bucs fans want to throw rocks at Joe for being upset the Bucs willingly waved goodbye to All-World cornerback Darrelle Revis. Until or unless the Bucs make the playoffs, this transaction will continue to gnaw at Joe.

Phil Savage believes people who miss Revis should mellow out. The former Cleveland Browns general manager and current host on SiriusXM NFL Radio is a big believer in new Bucs cornerback Alterraun Verner. (more…)

A Bucs QB is on the mark and impressing a key teammate

One of the hardest Greg Schiano slaps at Josh Freeman and, simultaneously, one of his greatest praises of Mike Glennon, came when Schiano explained how Glennon was making receivers better because he’s so darn accurate.

Schiano said it would take Bucs receivers time to adjust to such precision and greatness. (more…)

Lovie Smith is awfully serious about his nickel cornerback position.

Back in Chicago, Lovie spent a season serving as head coach and nickel back coach. How often does that happen in the NFL? (more…)

eye-Rah! Kaufman is not sold on Bucs QB Josh McCown.

Few members of the local chapter 813 of the Tampa Bay pen and mic club have as colorful and powerful opinions as the Custodian of Canton, eye-RAH! Kaufman of The Tampa Tribune. Ask him a question and you won’t get a fence-sitting answer.

A groggy Kaufman appeared on the “Kirk and Dinger Show” found on WHFS-FM 98.7 this week. Given the show is broadcast before most people consume their required morning dose of caffeine, it was understandable that Kaufman took much longer than usual to get revved up. What awakened eye-RAH! for good was a question about Bucs starting quarterback Josh McCown. (more…)

James Lofton says his former workout pupil, Mike Evans, may not be a great route runner but that shouldn’t matter.

Joe knows Bucs fans are eager for football to start. Who the hell isn’t?

Joe enjoys baseball, too, but the new commissioner needs to do something about these games dragging out. The Rays tossed a one-hitter (and lost!), and the friggin’ game lasted four hours! That is inexcusable. And people wonder why Joe is a fan of National League baseball!

In particular, Bucs fans are eager to see rookie wide receiver Mike Evans in action. (more…)