How Far Away Are The Bucs?
December 8th, 2014
No, the headline is not a trick question but a reality that must be properly addressed (this time) by the Bucs’ coaching staff and front office, and Team Glazer, at the end of the season.
And there is an answer — for the third consecutive season.
Barring an historically bizarre finish in the NFL this month, an NFC team will miss the playoffs with a 10-6 record. That happened last year (Arizona) and the year before (Chicago and Lovie Smith), as well as in 2010, when Raheem Morris and the Bucs missed the playoffs at 10-6 along with the New York Giants.
In 2009, only one NFC team made the playoffs with a 10-6 record (Arizona); all the other qualifiers were 11-5 or better.
The point here is that if a team wants to be a contender, it better be sure it has the horses to win 11 regular season games.
That’s how far, far away the Bucs are.
The Lovie Smith/Jason Licht regime looked at Greg Schiano’s roster and told fans the Bucs could be relevant quickly. They missed the mark terribly. Their No. 1 gamble — and mistake — was that Josh McCown could somehow lead them to respectability. He was overmatched, old and clearly the least capable starting quarterback in the division, as well as worse than Mike Glennon and Derek Anderson.
The Bucs spent an entire year building nothing and regressing at the most important position on the field.
Joe knows every last Bucs fan is saying, “Now what?”
Great question. The answer starts exactly where it should have last January: draft a quarterback.
December 8th, 2014 at 3:08 pm
If they wanna build it right, through the draft and from the bottom up, 5 years away at least from being real contenders for anything. This is by far the worst team in the worst division ever. So many holes to fill going forward. Lovie being completely uninspiring doesn’t help matters either.
December 8th, 2014 at 3:17 pm
So what words of wisdom did Licht spew during the Bucs pre-game yesterday?
December 8th, 2014 at 3:23 pm
bucrightoff I think you are correct this team is a good 3-5 years from competing and I have no confidence lovie can do it….these 2 have swung and missed so horribly on personnel and coaching its incredible…..what a gross disservice lovie did to the team and the fans by not going out and getting an OC after the tedford thing….thsi year is a waste next yera will be a waste with a rookie qb that should play but the team will suffer so next year is going to be at the best 5-11 at the worst 2-14 and another top 5 pick,,,,,no trust in lovie nor licht to get a solid product up and running on dale mabry and domminik destroyed the team as well
December 8th, 2014 at 3:29 pm
How Far Away Are The Bucs?
1 guru Offensive HC
1 “WORTHY” franchise QB
5 o-linemen built like a tank and gel together like a stone wall
2 mega talented, quick, explosive DEs
1 shutdown corner
December 8th, 2014 at 3:29 pm
Joe what happened to the Chris Landry podcasts for Joe Bucs fans?
December 8th, 2014 at 3:30 pm
But we were 4-12.
What a jerk and mocking last years team. He got what he deserved.
Every move has been pizz poor.
#NOTAFAN
December 8th, 2014 at 3:34 pm
The Bucs owners know the pulse of Bucs fans. They will probably throw the fanbase a bone and take a shot at a top QB. Good luck with that.
December 8th, 2014 at 3:37 pm
Poll of Buc Fans on another site has at this point Mariota 74% to Winston 17%……
Just sayin’……..
December 8th, 2014 at 3:38 pm
How far away are the Bucs?
From here to Oregon……simple as that…as our favorite coach says so often.
December 8th, 2014 at 3:40 pm
Considering this seasons out right failures on many aspects,
you would think pretty far away at this point.
December 8th, 2014 at 3:44 pm
I still like Gary Kubiak
December 8th, 2014 at 3:46 pm
Lovie and Licht have had 1 positive since getting here and that is Mike Evans…basically now they need to build the offense around him…but after Vjax leaves there are no other WRs, verdict out on simms….whats wrong with mike james that guy runs hard and can catch….so lovie and licht are batting under 100 on all personnel moves this offseason and they are batting a very HORRIBLE .078 hitting percentage at that because the ones brought in probably will be unemployed at this time next year, maybe mccown will be the qb coach but that is it
December 8th, 2014 at 3:57 pm
Tom Brady would suck behind our Oline. If McCown had a running game and a Oline we would be much improved, not great but possably leading the Div in a bad year. But now it’s time to look forward to the future, and I don’t mean Glennon.
December 8th, 2014 at 4:05 pm
1. Pick a strong OC with a good resume, no need to replace Lovie after his 1st year. Have a bit more patience than that. But we need a very strong OC to compliment him. Throw the bank at one if you have to. We can’t afford to draft a Qb#1 overall and let him fail. While you’re at it go ahead and pry Rob Merineli away from Dallas and let him take over the Defense and Lovie can just sit back and watch as a real defensive guru work his magic with this squad
2.Trade Glennon and Martin for some extra draft picks. KEEP VINCENT JACKSON!
3. Draft the QB at #1 no if, ands, or buts about it. Either get Mariota and work on his physical game or get Winston and work on his mental state.
4. use 2nd round to get a stud DE
5. use round 3 and 4 rounds, plus a premium FA for the o-line
6. use the remainder picks on Secondary and depth (Grab a tall, lengthy, ball hawkish CB and pair him with Banks. Allowing ATV to move to the Nickel where he can become an all pro)
7. Move Lansanah to MLB and Foster to SLB(where his strength is), Also Move Jaq Smith to RE and work Jonhson, Clayborn and new draft pick at LE as open competition.
In 10 moves or less I turned the Future of Tampa Bay into a competitors again. Why can’t these people getting paid millions figure it out!?
December 8th, 2014 at 4:08 pm
Brandon says…just wait until next season it will get better.
December 8th, 2014 at 4:10 pm
This^^^
December 8th, 2014 at 4:13 pm
“Joe knows every last Bucs fan is saying, “Now what?”
——————————–
With the best fortunes imaginable, I still don’t see us as being more than an 8-8 team with Lovie at the helm.
Consider this Joe, his coaching hires has been just as disastrous as the FA’s he selected.
December 8th, 2014 at 4:14 pm
the bucs are at least 5 years out. lovie will get 2 mor years.
that will be 3 years of bad decisions, bad trades, wekening our # and rank of picks, bad drafts…just flat out going backwards.
from there. if, and only if, we are lucky enough to bring in a talented coach and GM it will take them a minimum of 2-3 years to restock the roster, fix the cap hell and have the talent necessary to compete. and thats if their billicheat!!!
hate to say it guys, but find another NFL team if football is your things. Miami is on the rise and at least enjoyable to watch.
December 8th, 2014 at 4:26 pm
Lovie will turn this team around.It wont take 5 years. Sit back and enjoy! I love these blog sites. All the haters come out. Haha!
December 8th, 2014 at 4:30 pm
“Lovie will turn this team around.It wont take 5 years. Sit back and enjoy! I love these blog sites. All the haters come out. Haha!”
Did I miss the joke??? Or what’s the punchline?
December 8th, 2014 at 4:39 pm
Before they draft a QB they should fire the head coach and hire someone who isn’t clueless
December 8th, 2014 at 4:48 pm
A rookie QB will take time to develop. If the Bucs take a QB in Rd 1, that’s one less pick the Bucs can use for a stalwart O-lineman. Factoring in the learning curve of a rookie QB and a complete overhaul of the O-line, it could take a few years.
According to Lovie, the franchise QB is already on the roster. And Lovie is the architect of the current offensive line. The questions is, how long will it take to be a contender with Lovie at the helm? The answer might be never if he’s allowed to make all the decisions.
December 8th, 2014 at 4:53 pm
a rookie QB will get killed in this offense, then lovie will have another fall guy.
if he does not fire evry coach on the team, including his son, ….it’s only further proof.
December 8th, 2014 at 4:55 pm
a rookie QB will get killed in this offense, then lovie will have another fall guy.
if he does not fire evry coach on the team, including his son, ….it’s only further proof. THIS MAN IS ONLY HERE FOR RETIREMENT MONEY. He cares nothing of winning. He surrounds himself with yes men flunkies who either a. need to build their resume (aroyo and lovies son) or b. are incompetent losers. frasier and wendies man
December 8th, 2014 at 5:04 pm
yeah its me……you will probably be happy at 6-10 or perhaps 7-9 and that is wrong with this fan base, as posted above reality of winning with these morons running the squad is at least 5 years outbecause lovie gets canned, and new regime….he has had one good move in an entire organization all year, that should get you fired not patted on the back and given attaboys
December 8th, 2014 at 5:07 pm
BucIt941 Says:
December 8th, 2014 at 4:05 pm
1. Pick a strong OC with a good resume, no need to replace Lovie after his 1st year. Have a bit more patience than that. But we need a very strong OC to compliment him. Throw the bank at one if you have to. We can’t afford to draft a Qb#1 overall and let him fail. While you’re at it go ahead and pry Rob Merineli away from Dallas and let him take over the Defense and Lovie can just sit back and watch as a real defensive guru work his magic with this squad
2.Trade Glennon and Martin for some extra draft picks. KEEP VINCENT JACKSON!
3. Draft the QB at #1 no if, ands, or buts about it. Either get Mariota and work on his physical game or get Winston and work on his mental state.
4. use 2nd round to get a stud DE
5. use round 3 and 4 rounds, plus a premium FA for the o-line
6. use the remainder picks on Secondary and depth (Grab a tall, lengthy, ball hawkish CB and pair him with Banks. Allowing ATV to move to the Nickel where he can become an all pro)
7. Move Lansanah to MLB and Foster to SLB(where his strength is), Also Move Jaq Smith to RE and work Jonhson, Clayborn and new draft pick at LE as open competition.
In 10 moves or less I turned the Future of Tampa Bay into a competitors again. Why can’t these people getting paid millions figure it out!?
———————————————————————————-
That is almost exactly what I would have said. The only thing I would do differently is keep Martin as his trade value is low and I also think he can be a good RB again with a better OLine.
Yes we have bigger needs (like DE) – but Lansanah is not the answer at MLB and neither is Foster. Both are very good SAM backers – but this defense needs a stud MLB to truly excel. Ala Nickerson, Urlacher or Kuechly (who we could have easily drafted in 2012).
Aside from drafting a QB with 1st pick which HAS to happen if either of the top 2 QBs is available when we pick – finding good players to play LT, Center and RG has to be the priority. I think Mankins and Dotson will be fine for now with good players around them.
I would re-sign Adrian Clayborn to a reasonable 1 or 2 year deal, keep Martin, keep Jackson – talk to Goldson about restructuring and cut him if he won’t sign a new deal for $4-$5M per year.
Draft a QB #1 – use picks 2,3 and 4 to draft 2 OL players and 1 DE – Go BPA at whatever position with picks 5,6 and 7 for depth and try to fill in the remaining holes through FA.
The reality is that all the Bucs holes cannot be filled in 1 year – but this plan represents a good attempt.
December 8th, 2014 at 5:18 pm
I don’t disagree with drafting a QB but the biggest miss was on the o-line. I don’t care if Joe Montana was the QB. With this line no QB has a shot in hell. I don’t want a single player back by this unit so this team has a long way to go on that side of the ball.
December 8th, 2014 at 5:20 pm
A lot of people are blaming the OL, and a lot of that does fall on that unit. The problem is when a new coaching staff and GM come in and totally blow a unit up that typically requires time to gel then they are saying two things (1) the current unit isn’t performing up to salary (fair enough) and most importantly (2) we have a plan in place to make it better. The last one is what keeps me saying little confidence in Lovie and Licht. The 3-5 year timeline may be realistic if we stay the course with these two (and I give Licht some leeway since he’s new to the position). Contrary to some here I believe we have (or at least HAD prior to Lovie’s arrival) the talent to pull off a Chiefs or 49’ers type turnaround, but our HC isn’t as good as some want to believe him to be.
December 8th, 2014 at 6:50 pm
“”Yea but last year we were 4-12” we had to get better. Right love?
December 8th, 2014 at 7:14 pm
At least five years away. Until then, they will be a bottom feeder team. Chuck Noll or Vince Lombardi couldn’t win here if they come back to life. Opponents next season and in future seasons will look at their schedule when it comes out and say “That should be an easy win”. Other than LVD and GMC, the majority of the roster is more interested in showing up just for a paycheck.
December 8th, 2014 at 7:37 pm
I wanted Johnny M. last year, that being said I told m friends if we don’t take him I’ll live with it as long as we get Famous J.
December 8th, 2014 at 8:18 pm
BucIt 941 Hit the nail on the head….his 7 point plan in right on the money.
Sh#t ..Buc’s should hire him….fire Jason Light save money for signing Marcus M.
December 8th, 2014 at 8:37 pm
Whoever handpicked a career backup QB to start for a new handpicked OC who never called a regular season game due to illness and loves the team so much he didn’t want to come back once healthy – let somebody else pick this time. Lovie seems like a great guy and was certainly a great position coach and coordinator but there are serious questions about his tenure as a HC. The brothers reportedly gave him total control over football decisions. If true, he deserves total credit for the poor results of those decisions.
December 8th, 2014 at 8:51 pm
How far away from a winning season? About the mileage to LA. Or, call in Disaster Relief Services and do a total clean out 1 Buc Place. And fire up the media to get on the Team Glazer failures.
December 8th, 2014 at 9:07 pm
I like what Bucit941 posted but think that perhaps the 2nd rounder should be used to get what should be the best G on the board instead of a stud DE as the OL is most desperately in need and the very early 2nd round (Bucs will be picking 1st or 2nd in the round depending on if they are the only 2 win team left) is a spot where teams often get the top G if they do not go in the late 1st while you are likely already looking at the 2nd tier of DEs as the best will be gone and the one’s available will either have a character flaw or grade out a tad below the stud DEs that will all be snatched up during Day 1….
December 8th, 2014 at 10:52 pm
As long as it takes to sell the team, hire a sentient being as a head coach, and rebuild. I’d say we’re several years out.
December 9th, 2014 at 12:02 am
Winning teams develop players through the draft, i.e Packers. Problem is L&L don’t know how to draft. Therefore, if Glazer dweebs don’t fire Lovie, and they won’t, they should strip him of all personnel decisions, fire the rest of his coaching staff, hire Marinelli as DC, fire GM Licht, hire an established GM, and then hire away an OC from a final 4 playoff team.
December 9th, 2014 at 12:55 am
Allow me to further clarify what I meant. First I understand your belief on Martin but I just don’t see it. Even in his rookie year he really only had a handful of stellar games and a handful of what we see today.
The belief behind my drafting is because of how I can envision the line in 2015. I think Dotson has finally earned his shot at L, he is easily still the best player on the O-Line we have. PFF even has him in the top 10 of Tackles this year and the first RT to appear on that ranking. Move Collin’s to LG and Mankins to RG. Use a premium FA pick to get a Veteran Center then all you need is a RT and Depth to push/replace Mankins.
Getting a stud DE in the top of the 2nd round would allow us to find a way to push or replace Johnson. Although the defense has been coming along recently that front 4 needs MORE pressure. 3 of the 4 are getting it done time to get that 4th horse man.
Now for Lansanah, I’ve watched his tape over and over again and in this defense the MLB doesn’t have to be an all pro like Hardy, Kueckly and such even though it would be nice to have. The MLB simply need to be stout enough to attack a gap on a run play and athletic enough to keep up with TE’s down the seam. That’s what Shelton was good at and that’s exactly what Danny is good at. Not to mention he has excelled at everything they’ve thrown at him, a full off season at the position I can see magic happen. Foster isn’t athletic enough to keep up in coverage hence moving him to SLB would be a smart move.
There are the reason why behind my 10 moves. Hope that helps
December 9th, 2014 at 6:29 am
Bucit941 – I’m with you. Having Lansanah and Foster switch positions in the offseason is the best move if they stand pat with the current LB personel. I say we could use an upgrade specifically at MLB regardless – but if Lansanah can get his play up to the level that Shelton Quarles was playing MLB at – then that would be more than good enough with good players around him. Linebacker is not a huge position of need compared to other positions though. Pretty good amount of talent across the board – even Lemon has looked pretty good the last couple games.
Regarding Doug Martin – what’s the point of getting rid of him? Even if he is the 2nd or 3rd back – he is good in protection, he can catch the ball and has run well in the past. Why trade him for a 6th round pick that will get cut after training camp? We saw last year how quickly injuries can decimate that position in particular. No need to get rid of him when we won’t get much for him and he is still relatively cheap in the last year of his rookie contract.
And for the 2nd round pick which is basically like getting an extra (late) 1st round pick if we are picking 33rd – IMO whichever OL player or DE is the highest rated on their board is who they should pick. We desperately need more talent at all those positions so no need to pigeonhole a particular spot. Just take the player you think will be a great one – regardless of whether he plays Tackle, Guard, Center or DE. We need all of those. If we don’t draft 2 OLine players within the 1st 4 picks – then they are not trying hard enough to improve the OLine which is currently this team’s Achilles heel.
December 9th, 2014 at 7:19 am
@ JOE- Their No. 1 gamble — and mistake — was that Josh McCown could somehow lead them to respectability
so you think payton manning or tom brady could have done any better with this roster and this coordinator? because if mccown was the big gamble what happened when mike glennon got his chance?
the defense was just as bad, they gambled on leonard Johnson and daquan bowers and wil gholdston….they should have looked at the tape and saw how garbage our safties and corners are. the online was bad, the d end position was bad and lovie came in and replaced them with worse players
December 9th, 2014 at 9:05 am
Architek-
Chris landry’s mom was very ill causing him to miss one of his scheduled appearances. That would be my guess.
December 9th, 2014 at 2:46 pm
There’s no question the Bucs needs an improvement at the QB position but there isn’t a QB that came out of this year’s draft that would have performed better than McCown or Glennon behind this offensive line and lack of an offensive coordinator. The QB play has been bad but don’t underestimate the biggest loss this year which was Jeff Tedford.
December 10th, 2014 at 3:55 am
I love reading you gurus talk football. Those who are laying out a 7 step plan like this is a grocery list are fools. If it was just as simple as, “Well, draft a stud in the 2nd round for this position, and draft studs on the o line in the 3rd and 4th rounds. Then go get a freakin brilliant OC, and sign perfect free agents,” then running a football team would be pretty damn easy, wouldn’t it?
Great players aren’t just properly and clearly marked with smiley faces on their wrappers on store shelves.
And that’s just generally not how the draft SHOULD work anyways. Successful organizations don’t just go into the draft with quick and easy checklists Of course they take needs into account, but drafting BPA is the best way to get the best players (crazy concept, I know).
You can argue this grocery list approach is the one we took this past offseason. What’s that? Our line sucked last year? Let’s sign a ton of FA’s and just make it awesome! What’s that? Our offense was awful? Let’s just draft offensive players! Hmm, we need a QB upgrade? Let’s sign that career backup who had 5 good games to be our unquestioned starter!!
December 10th, 2014 at 5:02 am
Lovie is not the guy. He’s not very sharp, he’s a horrible motivator and he’s too faithful to his old vets.
Id rather see Schiano back than Lovie because at least Schiano knew how to light a fire under people’s asses. Every time Lovie talks I about fall asleep instantaneously
December 10th, 2014 at 9:44 am
Quarterback, quarterback, quarterback that’s all one hears over and over again. The Bucs need far more than a quarterback to become winners again and spending a high draft pick in the 2015 draft would be a waste at this point.
The QB is one man on a team of 22 playing the ultimate team sport. Whomever you might pick for the NFL’s “All Time Best QB Ever” or if that QB is still out there playing pee wee football, he is still only one player.
Fail to protect him with a good offensive line, give him the receivers to catch his darts or running backs to corral the defensive line a bit with a running game and he fails.
Neglect to develop a defense that can stop other teams consistently and every game turns into a shoot out that no quarterback can win with championship consistency.
If you prefer your evidence from the past, one need only look to the Hall of Fame QBs, like Fran Tarkenton, Dan Marino, Warren Moon, and Jim Kelly. Other than lacking a Super Bowl ring what do they have in common? They played on teams that lacked something that kept them from winning the ultimate prize.
It’s also important to note that among today’s superstar QBs, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees, Brady is the only one that has won more than one Super Bowl.
To return to respectability the Bucs have to draft wisely in 2015 and that starts with the offensive and defensive lines. As has been said more often than not but is rarely acted upon you build a football team from the front back.
If the Bucs wind up with the #1 pick in the draft, use that to work some deals that will allow them to grab both a left tackle and the elusive edge rusher to complement Gerald McCoy, in the first round. Then find a good game manager in free agency and let’s keep building from there.
Enough with the franchise quarterback already. I want to win games.