“Quietly Disappointing”
February 9th, 2015
Joe stated previously that the Bucs could look to upgrade as many as nine starting positions. If Joe can see that, surely Bucs coach Lovie Smith can see that.
And how that translates into “on the verge,” Joe just can’t quite figure out without the help of Jack Daniels.
When you could easily target to replace nearly half of your starting roster, Joe may very well consider “on the verge” to be something completely opposite of what Lovie is selling.
The State of the Bucs was a subject Joe discussed with NFL insider Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com while in Phoenix. Rosenthal, like many Bucs fans, was caught off-guard by how quickly the Bucs bottomed out in the first year of Lovie’s reign.
“I think they may have had the most quietly disappointing season as anyone,” Rosenthal said. “They are further away now than they were before. I thought they were a talented team that may exceed expectations [in 2014]. They look like they have a few superstars, and very little else.”
It really is frightening how bad the Bucs are, but remember, when a team is 2-14, as Tuna Parcells famously said, “You are what your record says you are.”
For a reminder, the Bucs hold the top pick in the draft come the end of April. When you cannot win a division game in a historically rotten year for the NFC South, and you are winless at the Den of Depression, Joe can’t figure out how it can get much worse.
Rebuilding this team will be a long-term project.
February 9th, 2015 at 4:29 pm
And that is why you trade the #1 pick and turn it into more picks and players.
February 9th, 2015 at 4:30 pm
it could get worse if they retain the OL coach…oh wait!
It could get worse if they draft a morally questionable QB who goes all johnny manziel and rearely sees the field
It could get worse, a lot worse….and I predict it does.
GO DOLPHINS/TANNEHILL!
February 9th, 2015 at 4:30 pm
All these people that think these SB teams are built overnight are bandwagon fans. This is a younger and possibly up-and-coming team. we just need the right tools and that takes time
February 9th, 2015 at 4:33 pm
“On the verge” in Loviespeak means about to turn the corner to winning some games and being generally more competitive. It’s his job to be optimistic, and I think he believes that the personnel wasn’t as bad as the record, that they just need to tighten up on mental mistakes, get more big plays on defense, and begin playing consistently on offense. These are all things within their reach. So I have no problem with Lovie saying “on the verge” and Joe is making too much out of it, as usual.
February 9th, 2015 at 4:37 pm
Mr laid Back is Mr. DUD. would you ever say that belichick and the coach for the seahawks are laid back. Nope
February 9th, 2015 at 4:46 pm
Lovie is a fine human being….but not a 2015 NFL HC
February 9th, 2015 at 4:57 pm
Enter TheKevin in 3 2 1.
February 9th, 2015 at 5:16 pm
Joe Says
” Joe can’t figure out how it can get much worse.”
They could give Lovie a 5 year extension!
February 9th, 2015 at 5:17 pm
This is what happens when you think you are “close” and spend your time and money on recruiting high priced free agents, instead of building quality through the draft. Other than V-Jax, I can’t think of a single FA in the last few years that has made this team significantly better! How many millions did this team spend on FA’s over the last few years, and what do we have to show for it? That’s why some of us would consider trading down for more high draft picks if the right opportunity came along, instead of stupidly refusing to even contemplate it no matter what! Yeah Joe, that was a dig at you!
February 9th, 2015 at 5:22 pm
Oh….it can get worse….
How about 1-15, 0-16……
Or….for the Realist……how about bringing back the “Pop Star”
February 9th, 2015 at 5:25 pm
Bucco Bruce says:
Let’s where pink all season, we mayth not winth we’ll looksth so fierce.
February 9th, 2015 at 5:31 pm
Trading down and missing a Franchise QB is insane. If you think the Albatross could do as well go back and look at his terrible 3rd down ineptness, how many yards he sacrifices when he is sacked, and how many long throws he missed to the left or right. He can only throw long accurately straight down the field. He will never be a Franchise QB no matter how good of OL he is behind. Trade him to the highest bidder.
February 9th, 2015 at 5:34 pm
C’mon. As bad as their record was, they were close in many games. Revamp the OL, get a pass rusher and draft a good QB and they’ll improve over 2014. They won’t make the playoffs but they’ll be competitive. I believe in LS and JL. Wait till twenty sixteen for real excitement!
February 9th, 2015 at 5:34 pm
@tampabaybucfan
Bringing back the pop-star who immediately signs Clayborn to 4 year 80 million dollar contract is my worst nightmare!!!
February 9th, 2015 at 5:36 pm
Quietly disappointing?
2-14 SCREAMS: “Massive failure on so many front!”
Season sequence:
SNAFU (situation normal, all F–ked up)
TARFU (things are really getting F–ked up)
FUBAR (F–ked up beyond all repair)
simple as that…..
February 9th, 2015 at 5:48 pm
realist is secretly hoping for a Clayton resigning to a multi year suprise contract. That will bring back the Clayton posts that were so entertaining.
Lovie is what his record says he is MEDIOCRE… You should not get a lifetime free pass just because you lucked out and your team ended up in the super bowl in a weak division. Average… Just like all the other teams rejected qb’s bucs get average… time to raise the standards and do the right thing draft a winner Winston not a choir boy project. The choir boys have won 6 games in 2 years and have not won a meaningful game in 13…. raise the standards bring on Winston.
February 9th, 2015 at 5:55 pm
“QUIETLY Disappointing?”…..not in my living room…..I was loudly disappointing my family every Sunday.
February 9th, 2015 at 5:58 pm
Worse off than when we started perfectly sums up my feelings on Lovie Smith
February 9th, 2015 at 6:44 pm
We are “on the verge” of winning a third game…………oh drats! The season is over.
February 9th, 2015 at 6:44 pm
Since the Browns need a qb and Winston and Mariota will likely be gone by the time they pick and they do in fact have TWO first rounders maybe our Bucs could pull this off. Trade Glennon, Johnson, Goldson a 3rd and a 4th for one of their 1st’s? Just speculation obviously but how cool would it be to Grab Winston, Andrus Peat and Denzel Perryman all in a span of 34 picks. Plus it’s the Browns. They arent the brightest of NFL franchises.
February 9th, 2015 at 6:48 pm
I would say more like 11-12 positions
February 9th, 2015 at 7:06 pm
@robert9
Catch out b
Only Buc fans here. Screw the fins
February 9th, 2015 at 7:07 pm
Anybody who says we should or should not trade down needs to question their objectivity. It’s a value decision, and we have absolutely no knowledge of an offer.
Should we trade down with the Jets for an extra 6th rounder? Absolutely not.
Should we trade down with a team that triples the Ditka deal and offers all their picks for 3 years? Absolutely yes.
The value of the offer could swing this statement either way. Who doesn’t already realize this? Anybody who says we should or shouldn’t trade is blinded by some irrational emotion.
February 9th, 2015 at 8:05 pm
On the verge of falling off a cliff
February 9th, 2015 at 8:28 pm
@ Bill
Absolutely….trade down depends on the deal……
FYI…I answered your quesion on the Jamies article re media….
February 9th, 2015 at 8:38 pm
12 years of getting one good player every 4th draft
February 9th, 2015 at 8:39 pm
The Bucs season has been over two years in a row by the end of week 3. So yeah, of course they’ve quietly been awful to the national media, they’ve been irrelevant for more 75% of the last two years.
February 9th, 2015 at 8:42 pm
Lovie gets at least one more year so I’m gonna back him. We Have a good OC now so Glennon will be fine. We’ll hit on a couple FA’s and a few in the draft, and the team starts getting a little more respect.
Go Bucs!!
February 9th, 2015 at 8:42 pm
LOL@ Realist
February 9th, 2015 at 8:51 pm
@ Realist
The “Pop Star” would go after Revis again….but this time he’s a FA…..
Then….give Myron a tryout…..to fix our CBs….
February 9th, 2015 at 8:51 pm
8-8 or better football team next season…….book it
February 9th, 2015 at 9:17 pm
And Lovie is supposed to say
” due to bad coaches and a horrible, incompetent GM, this team is a gawd awful train wreck!! It’s gonna take 2-3 moe years of good drafting and coaching before we are a decent NFL Team. I wouldn’t bother watching this crap until then, if I was you!”
Riiiight
He may know that’s the truth- but he’s payed to shovel crap to the media- to try and get butts in the seats.
It’s extremely naive to expect otherwise
February 9th, 2015 at 9:37 pm
Breaking out the red meat for the negativity starved commenter wolves again Joe?
February 9th, 2015 at 9:43 pm
So basically Joe’s dream scenario for the Bucs would be to have Winston drafted and Lovie fired but if Lovie drafts a rookie QB it probably buys him another year. Oh, Joe’s pain
February 9th, 2015 at 9:54 pm
Just for one second lets stop talking draft and start talking free agency. We cn’t fix all of our issues in the draft alone. Licht is gonna have to put his big boy pants on and make some moves that could actually work. One of them could and should include an edge rusher. Bringing JPP back to Tampa would make a lot of fans smile including me. That’s if he becomes officially unrestricted and the G men don’t get him under contract. Same is true of Justin Houston and Greg Hardy. Hardy is possibly facing punishment but is a beast. Any one of these 3 would obliterate Michael Johnson and his invisibility. This is our greatest need on defense and needs to be addressed. This is a very strong free agent pool Very strong. This draft happens to be deep in D Linemen but with our attempts in the recent past, I would rather we take our chances in free agency.
February 9th, 2015 at 10:02 pm
“Trading down and missing a Franchise QB is insane.”
True dat. Can anybody guarantee there’s a franchise QB in this draft? Because signing a QB out of desperation who doesn’t really measure up is just as insane.
Can you say Johnny Football or is he now known as Johnny Rehab?
February 9th, 2015 at 10:06 pm
Cmurda
Not sure about Hardy. If this is a one time event then I’m OK. It’s patterns that concern me. Ray Rice is probably not a big gamble. I believe AP will now keep his hands of his kids. I honestly believe that he didn’t know any better. Not that I support that behavior just that he can learn and stop it. Perhaps that is true for Hardy..
It’s the most frightening part of Jameis. He clearly is a very slow learner. He’s been Fameis for how long? And yet he keeps screwing up. Hardy, Rice and AP may be one time deals. Johnny show off has some big ego problems with the money sign and all the other BS.
February 9th, 2015 at 10:18 pm
Speaking of free agency, if I hear anybody else say that the Bucs only need 2 new starters on the offensive line I’m gonna barf
February 9th, 2015 at 10:19 pm
Lovie made this team worse,.. and not only that, he made it worse than it had to be even after his lousy talent evaluations. Should have played Mike Glennon all year. lovie is Worthless as a head coach, and his “no swearing” would have a little more weight if he were not a Liar which in my book is MUCH worse!
February 9th, 2015 at 10:47 pm
Mr Patrick we finally agree!
February 9th, 2015 at 10:50 pm
We are on the verge whether you’ll want to believe it or not! It’s the nature of the nfl just LOOK AT THE LAST 3 YEARS OF THE NFL DRAFT! Lets start with the colts from 3 YEARS ago 2-14 with the number 1 overall pick they made the playoffs the following year. Next year the Chiefs 2-14 same result. Last year the Texans went from 2-14 to 9-7. Stop regurgitating everything you hear from networks and other sites and try to spew it here. Have a mind of your own and form your own opinions!
February 9th, 2015 at 10:58 pm
@ StPete. I know AP went too far with his discipline but I’ll argue anyone that says you never should touch your kids. That is true for some children but not all. Some need their tail whipped every now and then to keep themselves in line. Again, clearly AP exceeded the level necessary and seems to be following what he was taught. Anyway, I don’t believe this makes AP a criminal. In short, I agree with you here.
Ray Rice not only is on the wrong side of his career but he knocked out his girl in the elevator and everybody saw his full knockout punch. Now, that’s beyond disturbing. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Rice not welcomed in any locker room.
Hardy? I don’t know man. I am not sure this went down the way it is being purported. I would be happy to take a chance on this guy. A contract with Hardy would have to be clear about off field incidents such as a void in big incentives or of the entire contract should he have legal issues.
February 9th, 2015 at 11:05 pm
Cut Michael Johnson, sign Hardy, Suh, and draft Leonard Williams.
February 10th, 2015 at 5:36 am
@SteveK
Hardy, Suh, McCoy, and Leonard Williams would be a Dline for the ages. No doubt about it.
Maybe we could cut Verner, keep Johnson, sign Hardy and Suh, with McCoy….and draft a QB named Winston! With that Dline, who needs CB’s?
February 10th, 2015 at 7:31 am
I disagree
February 10th, 2015 at 7:49 am
@SteveK
Hardy would get arrested at Mon’s and be suspended, Suh would try to stomp another QB and get suspended for a year and McCoy would be on his own again. Thats just how they roll in Tampa.
February 10th, 2015 at 7:50 am
Mr. Patrick Says:
February 9th, 2015 at 4:29 pm
And that is why you trade the #1 pick and turn it into more picks and players.
—————
Yeah, worked wonders for the Colts twice in the past 15 years as well as the Panthers and a few other clubs…
Wait, that’s wrong… can you tell us, oh smart one, when this has been done in NFL history AND when it has been effective?
If there is an elite talent available, you take it… you don’t trade a $100 bill for a pocket full of change.
February 10th, 2015 at 7:52 am
Mr. Patrick Says:
February 9th, 2015 at 10:18 pm
Speaking of free agency, if I hear anybody else say that the Bucs only need 2 new starters on the offensive line I’m gonna barf
————-
We only need two new starters on the offensive line… enjoy that upchuck.
Wow, Mr. Patrick, what’s that smashing new scent you’re wearing?
It’s called Eau de Vomite!