Reality Check
May 6th, 2015
Joe’s getting hammered via various mediums for having the nerve to say on radio (last night) and on these here pages (this morning) that the Bucs look like a six-win team right now.
How dare Joe not think the basement Bucs are bound for January glory!
Look, Joe is here to be real, not peddle in what anyone else wants to hear.
Joe’s take has nothing to do with doubting Jameis Winston; it’s just Joe dealing in reality. The Bucs have a massive pile of unknowns on the offensive side of the football, from the learning curve of a brand new offense, to below average starters and rookies with key roles on the offensive line, to a backfield that has much to prove, and a No. 1 tight end that was riddled with health issues.
There’s no evidence the Bucs’ defense can carry the team. And the special teams are missing a proven returner, own the worst punter in the league last year, and the unit made a lot of mistakes in 2014.
Joe has to deal in reality. Yes, the Bucs look like a 6-10 team. But it’s May.
Ask Joe after a few preseason games, and maybe Joe will see seven or eight Ws on the horizon. Regardless, always count on Joe’s candid opinion — like it or not.
May 6th, 2015 at 10:38 am
With the very soft schedule the Bucs have coming up, 6-8 wins looks about right
May 6th, 2015 at 10:40 am
Well one bit of positive history, Lovie went from 5-11 to 11-5 in his first two years in Chicago.
May 6th, 2015 at 10:41 am
No your right Joe. This team still looks like a 6-10 squad if not worse. Mark Dominik and that Gap Toothed B!TCH Greg Schiano set this franchise back for years with all their idiotic decisions! Leave it to Lovie to clean the mess up!!
May 6th, 2015 at 10:44 am
@Joe – to your point, have you heard anything from ASJ himself or from the team that would indicate that the offseason has gotten him to 100% heading in to this season? I know he had a back thing last year and backs are often a tough thing to get past
May 6th, 2015 at 10:45 am
Accurate assessment
May 6th, 2015 at 10:49 am
16-0
May 6th, 2015 at 10:49 am
I think six wins is the very safe and I guess you would say consensus “expert” opinion on how many the Bucs might win.
Now I watched what Russell Wilson did in Seattle. I”ve been fed a steady diet of just how football smart Fameis is and how he is amazing everybody. If the two young drafted lineman are even adequate this team should be greatly improved.
Just do the matchups…Marcus Arroyo versus Dirk Koetter!!! Really?
Josh McCown versus Fameis Winston!!! Really?
What if our OL rises simply to the level of mediocre…we don’t need to be all pro we just have to stop sucking. The infusion of talent and the new OC should help that greatly.
Like any team we have IF’s. And like any other team we need to stay healthy!
Hopefully this year we won’t have a MRSA outbreak…this year our best OL will not go to the retired list with an injury…we are due some decent breaks.
I certainly won’t be shocked with a six win season but I’ll be very disappointed. I”m looking for a Lovie repeat of turning it around from season one to two and I think we can win ten games and be one and done in the playoffs.
May 6th, 2015 at 10:54 am
Buccaneer fans will know very, very early with the Bucs opening against Tennesse as that is obviously one that EVERYONE is marking down a “W” for the fellas.
At the least, hopefully it’s a Winston-Mariota matchup, thinking that both should win starting jobs.
Should be fun.
May 6th, 2015 at 10:55 am
Onelove say:
I BET you HAVE a hoLeLOT OF BLACK friends …………..DON’T YA !!!
May 6th, 2015 at 11:00 am
9-7 will win this weak division, and just the pure determination, of jameis he will lead this team to more wins, as his team embraces his never can die attitude, than people think. worst to first keep the faith go bucs
May 6th, 2015 at 11:02 am
“you too. Says:
May 6th, 2015 at 10:55 am
Onelove say:
I BET you HAVE a hoLeLOT OF BLACK friends …………..DON’T YA !!!”
Whuh? What does race have to do with what he said?
May 6th, 2015 at 11:03 am
L&WD – you took the bait man….. you can’t take the bait
May 6th, 2015 at 11:07 am
@Patrick
Touche
May 6th, 2015 at 11:08 am
5-6 wins is about right the linebackers and secondary are still garbage the OL is still garbage soooo not sure if 6 wins might be too much
May 6th, 2015 at 11:10 am
6-10 is a valid guess.
But if they do better, I would not be surprised.
I fear the Defense will give up allot of points and that will press Jamies into “Try to carry the team” mode.
May 6th, 2015 at 11:15 am
Six wins is very realistic. Abything more will mean they over achieved (which I think they will) anything less, it wont be pretty.
May 6th, 2015 at 11:17 am
I’d be pretty happy with 6 wins. That still leaves the bucs in a solid spot come the draft. I think we should target FSU safety/corner Jalen Ramsey. Think he would be a great fit in Lovies defense
May 6th, 2015 at 11:18 am
11-5 reg season. Book it!!
May 6th, 2015 at 11:29 am
Ya I think you’re right Joe.
If anyone disagrees and thinks better than .500, just ask yourself this question: Going into last season, honestly, what did you predict they would do?
If you could jump into a time machine, would you need to either give yourself a slap or a beer?
May 6th, 2015 at 11:36 am
People have obviously tried to forget about last year (and rightfully so). It’s pretty obvious that Bucs fans have forgot what a mountain of garbage our offense was last year. 6-8 wins would be a miracle.
May 6th, 2015 at 11:41 am
According to Lovie, “If you have great defense, create turnovers and great special teams, you can win 10 games. From there, the quarterback comes in.”
Ok the Bucs defense isn’t ‘great’ yet and that was certainly an exaggeration on Lovie’s part, but let’s say the Bucs D is only ‘good’ at this stage. They should be good for what, 5 or 6 wins on that side of the ball? That leaves 10 others for the offense to go out and win a few too, and this season it’s with a proven OC to lead them.
Sure the backfield is green and the OL is the biggest question mark of all, but anyone who’s got eyes has seen JW’s will to win lead his team to many victories, he commands the huddle and fellow players follow him. Sure, as a rookie he will likely fall short more often than not, but it’s pretty doubtful he will replicate McClown’s ineptitude of last year, therefore he should ‘win’ a few more than ‘lose’ so I give him a +2 in wins lifting the Bucs to a 7-8 win season. Alas, yet another top 10 draft pick position.
Sure do hope next year’s top ten pick is on the D-side of the line!
May 6th, 2015 at 11:50 am
6-10 with Jameis is about right +-
9-7 with Glennon is about right too +-
May 6th, 2015 at 12:01 pm
Free agency is over, the drafts over, and we are about to begin the offseason doldrums so what better way to waste our brain cells than to speculate wins and losses, power rankings, and all things insignificant related to football. I feel like I need to get a life for just writing this post. Go Bucs (I’m going to get some fresh air)
May 6th, 2015 at 2:53 pm
A rookie QB, an O-line that is very much a work in progress, no depth at receiver, an unsettled running back situation, no dominant edge rusher, huge question marks at the safety position, and a coach who just can’t bring himself to step on the opponent’s neck and close out the game when we go into the fourth quarter with a lead.
I’d say a six win prediction is being generous.
May 6th, 2015 at 3:53 pm
6 wins isn’t getting you to the playoffs. Also, Winston has to win at least 6 games otherwise you’ll be hearing it from the Glennon Mob.
May 6th, 2015 at 3:57 pm
The tennessee game will be very telling….a game we should win
May 6th, 2015 at 4:03 pm
Fungus head – I’m really sorry that Winston pissed on your bicycle, but you sound really immature constantly bashing OUR new franchise QB. Like it or not, he has been chosen by the Bucs and life roles on. So sorry you don’t like the selection and think Winston is horrible. Your opinion means absolute jack and your bashing makes you sound like a little girl. Enjoy your bike.
May 6th, 2015 at 4:05 pm
I know it’s crazy but I believe this team as it stands today can win 9 games against that schedule they face.
I believe with a competent OC, an improved o-line and Jameis the offense will be significantly better. Another year with Lovie on defense and maybe out of Bell and Clay this team can find a competent returner.
Now if only we could do something about that punter…
Seriously, I think the Bucs are going to keep the trend going for a quick turnaround.
May 6th, 2015 at 7:41 pm
Why even guess? Probably predicted they would win more than they did last year.