Final Stages
July 31st, 2014
Yes, it is only the first week of training camp, Joe gets that. And in March, Bucs coach Lovie Smith hinted no one would see the complete Bucs offense until the regular season, and maybe not until late September or October.
From what Joe has seen, this is going to be a fun offense. It’s difficult for Joe to comprehend a Bucs offense could make people stay in their seats/in their La-Z-Boys rather than going for a beer/going to the bathroom to take care of delayed smelly business.
With the first week of training camp nearing an end, it seems the Bucs offense is nearly complete, noted quarterbacks coach Marcus Arroyo.
“We’re at that stage now where we’re in the final stages of installing [the offense], working on the first day of red zone [Wednesday],” Arroyo said. “So we’re starting to work on some of the intricacies of that. I think today was the first day we did it, and we got a chance to work on some things, as you saw us doing. Thought it was a productive day. Always good to get through a lot of the game situations, so you get to teach a lot of them. That’s always the best part. [In practice], once you get to red zone [drills], it feels like a full game. You’ve gone through some normal downs, you’ve gone through some blitzes, you’ve gone through second-and-long categories, you’ve gone through third down, and now you’re in the red zone – feels like now you can run it all through the plan. You get to see the full development of a gameplan, and really a full development of a quarterback.”
Now Joe is not ready to anoint Josh McCown a Pro Bowl quarterback. The jury is still out. But, from watching practices, McCown is a helluva lot more consistent than former Bucs franchise quarterback leaky, sleepy Josh Freeman.
And McCown really gets the ball to the sidelines on short passes out of his hands damned quick.
As Joe stated earlier, he cannot remember a Bucs offense having the potential for big-plays like this one since Chucky’s first year.
We all remember what happened then, don’t we?
July 31st, 2014 at 12:40 pm
Yes we remember, but lets not get carried away. I mentioned earlier that our depth is improving BUT it’ still not were it needs to be yet. the only way that’s going to happen is for a few offseason to go by. Still I like where things are headed. for the first time in a while there is something to be excited about. And as much as we would all like to have a pro bowl QB, we dont necessarily need McCown to be one in order for us to be successful. If he can play above average, I think we could make the playoffs.
July 31st, 2014 at 12:41 pm
Super Bowl XXXVII to answer your question, Baby!!!!
July 31st, 2014 at 1:01 pm
I definitely think we have wayyy more talent offensively than we’ve ever had here. If we can execute, I’d say that the sky’s the limit for this team. I think a top-10 offense & top-10 defense is a realistic possibility; and those could be enough for us to ride all the way to the championship this year. We’ll have to see how it plays out, obviously, but I like pure chances as much as any team’s.
July 31st, 2014 at 1:02 pm
*Our chances, not pure
July 31st, 2014 at 1:07 pm
Freeman defined inconsistency even in his best games. One half, nothing. Next half he gave us glimpses of Payton Manning. 2013 was his only consistent year, he was consistently awful.
Andrew1,
Totally agree. We only need McCown to be a little above average. Anything over that is gravy.
July 31st, 2014 at 1:13 pm
NBC Sports has an interesting statistic on its’ website: In the history of the NFL, only 7 teams have won the SuperBowl the year AFTER posting a losing record.
Five of those 7 non-winning teams have won the Super Bowl the next year since 1998 — with only two in 33 Super Bowls before that — showing how the salary cap and free agency have made it easier for bad teams to become very good teams, quickly. The Rams hold the honor of going from worst-to-first: they had a 4-12 record in 1998 before winning the SuperBowl in 1999.
Many of us remember that 1999 season all too well. The Rams beat our Tampa Bay Bucs 11-6 in the NFC Championship Game, then went on to win the SuperBowl.
Although it’s only been done once, teams can in fact go from posting a 4-12 record one season to being SuperBowl champions the next. In the case of the 1999 Rams, they had a decent defense, but it was really their offense that exploded, and most of their wins were by large margins.
Not big on predictions, but there looks to be a very good chance that our 2014 Bucs are poised to repeat what the 1999 Rams accomplished: turn around a 4-12 season very quickly, on the strength of BOTH offense and defense.
Whether it leads to a SuperBowl or not is anyone’s guess at this point, but I’m sure that as a minimum we’ll get to see LOTS of outstanding football this year.
July 31st, 2014 at 1:16 pm
“It’s difficult for Joe to comprehend a Bucs offense could make people stay in their seats/in their La-Z-Boys rather than going for a beer/going to the bathroom to take care of delayed smelly business.”
Crudely put, but true. We’ve wallowed in mediocrity for far too long. Bucs fans have a deservedly bad reputation, bit we deserve better than what we’ve had since December 2008. December 2008!!! smdh
July 31st, 2014 at 1:17 pm
*but*
July 31st, 2014 at 1:27 pm
…. McCown is a helluva lot more consistent than Jfro” ….
Whoa!
July 31st, 2014 at 1:30 pm
Joe
I got my SB bet on the Bucs down in Nevada, this is some team.
July 31st, 2014 at 1:30 pm
@ dick2111
Ah, yes…I remember that NFC Championship well…..under center was Shaun King!!!
“Shaun King, one of two Buc Quarterbacks that lost a NFC Championship Game when his defense gave up 11 or fewer points.”
July 31st, 2014 at 1:49 pm
Andrew 1 Says:
“And as much as we would all like to have a pro bowl QB, we dont necessarily need McCown to be one in order for us to be successful. If he can play above average, I think we could make the playoffs.”
I think if he plays above average, he’ll get the votes and get in after his performance last year.
July 31st, 2014 at 1:56 pm
McCown is a helluva lot more consistent than Mike Glennon too.
This offense is indeed very talented, except for two key areas. Offensive Line and quarterback.
While McCown may workout for a year or two, he isn’t the future. Even if he takes us deep into the playoffs, all that will do is hurt our chances of drafting a good QB.
Good or bad is a matter of opinion. It is possible we could replace him with another veteran down the road, either in free agency or in trade.
Mike Glennon is not impressing me thus far. His numbers are awesome when the pads are off and he doesn’t have to fret over hits. But put on the pads and he becomes the same unsuccessful QB from last year, when he lost more games than he won.
July 31st, 2014 at 1:56 pm
McCown is a lot more consistent than Mike Glennon too.
This offense is indeed very talented, except for two key areas. Offensive Line and quarterback.
While McCown may workout for a year or two, he isn’t the future. Even if he takes us deep into the playoffs, all that will do is hurt our chances of drafting a good QB.
Good or bad is a matter of opinion. It is possible we could replace him with another veteran down the road, either in free agency or in trade.
Mike Glennon is not impressing me thus far. His numbers are awesome when the pads are off and he doesn’t have to fret over hits. But put on the pads and he becomes the same unsuccessful QB from last year, when he lost more games than he won.
July 31st, 2014 at 1:57 pm
Sigh…my posts with code inserted get through easier than my simple comments.
July 31st, 2014 at 2:44 pm
It will the proverbial breath of Fresh Air to have an offense take some pressure off the defense for a change.
I haven’t looked this forward to a season since 2003…
Joe, seems you think McCown gets rid of the football quickly. Don’t you think that takes enormous pressure off the OL?
July 31st, 2014 at 2:52 pm
Hey Joe have not heard You say anything about Johnny Football. You wanted him so bad, but thank God the buc’s were smarter than that. Lol I wanted him too, but not after he was about to get busy with the 100 dollar bill.
Why would Joe write about Johnny Football when he’s not a Buccaneer and has no shot to be one? –Joe
July 31st, 2014 at 3:50 pm
I love to bet on the football lines in Nevada also. Alas, It’s too damn far away. Betting on the games makes them so much more fun to watch, unless you have dumped a bundle on a losing bet. I just stick with smaller wagers and parlay bets. Talking about it makes me itchy to go. I’ve taken the Bucs plus the points and won there multiple times. Florida should legalize it. We are all grown ups here.
July 31st, 2014 at 3:54 pm
thank goodness for the “pause button” The greatest thing since breast augmentation.
July 31st, 2014 at 4:43 pm
Why would Joe write about Johnny Football when he’s not a Buccaneer and has no shot to be one? –Joe
Never say never Joe, I’m sure there were a couple fans at one point in time pining over their teams missing out on drafting Quinn or Weeden. Be patient and after a few years Manziel may be a FA or waiver wire Bucs addition?
July 31st, 2014 at 5:05 pm
Hey Joe, just joking take it easy. Love your website, i check u out everyday for my Buc’s fix. Keep up the goodwork.
July 31st, 2014 at 6:55 pm
Free is still home playing with his snake!! I grew up on 123 Javorskie Lane small town America. Manziel would be behind Kafka, avoided that iceberg!!
July 31st, 2014 at 9:08 pm
I’m with BuccaneerBonzai Apparently he’s more consistent than any quarterback on our roster so comparing mccown to Freeman instead of Glennon just means Glennon is a nobody yet. From game to game I sure remember Glennon playing lights out in the first half of games and like Bambie the second half. Some of you are like sheep, you won’t think it unless joe says it….. Sheep