Crazy?
June 14th, 2015
Before Joe gets started here, Joe wants to say there are few nicer guys than Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report. Dude always has a smile on his face. Nobody digs for NFL info like Freeman and few have as many high-level NFL contacts.
Freeman is a good dude and has been quite kind to Joe in the past.
But sometimes even the best of them step into a pile of manure once in a while. Take a recent Twitter post Freeman had, thinking out loud.
Am I crazy to think Bucs might have good offense next year? I’ll hang up and listen.
— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) June 12, 2015
Joe can see why someone could come to that conclusion. The Bucs have a pair of receivers better than most teams. This is the best one-two punch at receiver the Bucs have had since they had Keyshawn Johnson and Keenan McCardell, and probably the best in franchise history.
Of course, every football person who has scouted or studied “America’s Quarterback,” Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston, believes he could be elite. If you believe tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins should break out this year, then that’s four studs, potentially.
Add a proven NFL offensive coordinator, and one could logically argue this could be a strong Bucs offense.
After that? Well…
The key here, of course, is the offensive line. Just like last year, there are massive question marks. Specifically, the offensive line largely will judged after the season by how quickly the two rookie offensive linemen develop.
If Donovan Smith and Ali Marpet struggle, it’s not a stretch to suggest Jameis will get pummeled and could become gun shy, and the team will be staring at another awful season right in the face. Again.
June 14th, 2015 at 11:01 am
The MESSIAH will overcome all obstacles!
June 14th, 2015 at 11:07 am
I think even Stevie Wonder can see the potential. We are all just waiting for a winning season to click. Sure we got a lot of athletic players with great size,…but lets make it happen this year. Get your toes on the line ASJ.
June 14th, 2015 at 11:07 am
I think this years O – line situation is a lot different than last yrs. This yrs we have holes and last yrs we had canyons.
June 14th, 2015 at 11:16 am
If your qb gets rattled getting hit and becomes gun shy he’s not mentally strong and is not a franchise qb. Good offense and Lovie don’t match. Bucs will sucks until he’s gone
June 14th, 2015 at 11:20 am
bleacher report is just silly opinion that anyone can write for.
June 14th, 2015 at 11:22 am
• A Sound offensive Line Will Produce Powerful Ground Games
• A Sound offensive Line Will give any Quarterback (especially a rookie) enough time, to push the ball down field (A Critical element to any Vertical/Spread Offense)
Fix the Freaking Offensive Line!!!
June 14th, 2015 at 11:28 am
As Kiffin always repeated: speed over size, production over potential
We can’t conclude anything yet
June 14th, 2015 at 11:29 am
You guys do realize Koetter had a bad o line in ATL and still had a top 10 offense last year????
June 14th, 2015 at 11:46 am
If you have to ask others if you are crazy, then you don’t really know, you just might be. Define crazy, three definitions… intensely enthusiastic… infatuated… impractical, sounds like Buc fans. One other… mentally deranged, ooh that one hurts.
June 14th, 2015 at 11:50 am
That is a fact Tampa Tony and because of that fact maybe we should take solice in the fact that we now have said OC. Because of which maybe we can now take comfort in the notion that Lovie and great offenSe can and will mix.
June 14th, 2015 at 11:54 am
I hesitate to make this comparison, however, Andrew Luck with the Colts, has a horrible OL and he has become a top five QB in the NFL and the Colts have become contenders because of his performance. Koetter will clearly make a difference and is the best BUCS acquisition for 2015. A quick, short passing game concept will protect the OL and allow the offense to be successful this year. This concept will allow the running game to flourish as well.
Joe: it’s time to let 2014 go and focus on 2015 as a positive year!!!
June 14th, 2015 at 12:39 pm
I think the big reason most of us aren’t willing to get our hopes up about the offense is the simple reason that we’ve all been let down so many times with hopes of an “efficient/consistent offense”. It’s as if getting our hopes up will jinx them.
June 14th, 2015 at 12:41 pm
The drafting of a “franchise QB” was supposed to overcome any and all offensive shortcomings. What is it we read in past JBF articles…something about a franchise QB being able to elevate the play of everyone around them? No need to start making excuses…either Winston is that guy like many here insist or just another over-hyped former college star like a few others think.
June 14th, 2015 at 1:30 pm
Bill Bryne I’m super high on my WINSton but it is also my belief was the biggest acquisition made.
June 14th, 2015 at 1:31 pm
I left out Koetter.
June 14th, 2015 at 1:31 pm
Other teams have serious oline injuries and work around the problem. Nether Bucs have not. Depth is a factor, as is luck. But other teams started 6th rounders and even FA without the disaster we had. Seems like scheme, scouting and teaching are vital and were lacking here.
June 14th, 2015 at 2:54 pm
And QB play
June 14th, 2015 at 4:08 pm
All of you stop and ask yourself how much you would look forward to your job if you already had just pocketed ten million bucks!
Would it effect your work ethic. Last year’s crop of free agents turned out toe be mercenary turds. Now L&L scrwed the pooch either way…the either overestimated the talent or the character of some of those players and perhaps even a combination of the two.
The two rooks will not lack in motivation! They are both better physical specimens than the players they are replacing. They will be utilized by an actual professional NFL OC and backed up by a talented QB who will not hang on to the ball for five seconds or choke it away like McCown.
There is EVERY reason to be optimistic about the Bucs defense. The argument for negativism rests on two sole propositions…our OL will not improve…Jameis is not the real deal. I look at those and say I accept your points. Could be. Could just as easily be that Koetter hooks these boys up and calls a freakking professional game and we win ten.
June 14th, 2015 at 4:35 pm
That’s real talk St.pete.
June 14th, 2015 at 5:12 pm
Over and over again I hear about the Buccaneers offensive line and how horrible, hideous and horrendous they performed last year. The problem was Anthony Collins, Oniel Cousins, Patrick Omemah, Garrett Gilkey and Kevin Pamphile. Yes, those names are a reflection of the Bucs front office and scouting. Two of the five are gone and the starters will be replaced by young intelligent, athletic and talented Offensive Linemen. I have faith in Demar Dotson, Evan Smith and Logan Mankins. I have been watching film from last year over and over again and those three had some issues but were NOT the problem. Teaching the new additions teknique and scheme is vitale and I believe Warhop can get it done. With Koetter and Winston the Buccaneers are going to win the NFC South next year and blow everyone away.
June 14th, 2015 at 6:40 pm
StPeteBucsFan… just reading your posts make me more optimistic. Go Bucs!
June 14th, 2015 at 7:32 pm
It’s ok to be positive joe, I know you have it in you. That’s something we like to see sometimes too
June 15th, 2015 at 1:59 am
GetAClue
Seattle Lead the league in rushing last year with 2762 yards
Followed up by:
• 2.)Cowboys (12-4): 2354
• 3.)Jets (4-12): 2280
• 4.)49ers (8-8): 2176
• 5.)Texans (9-7): 2161
• 6.)Bengals (10-6): 2147
• 7.)*Panthers (7-8): 2036 ←Only Divisional Leader w/ Losing Rec.
• 8.)Ravens (10-6): 2019
• 9.)Eagles (10-6): 1992
• 10.)Chiefs (9-7): 1918
• 11.)Packers (12-4): 1917
• 12.)Dolphins (8-8): 1872
• 13.)Saints (7-9): 1818
• 14.)Vikings (7-9): 1804 <-*Without AP
• 15.)Broncos (12-4): 1785
Outside of Carolina only 3 of the top 15 teams finished with a losing record.
Note: Average Combined Rushing yards from scrimmage in 2014 was 1781. Bucs ranked 29th in league with 1375 combined rushing yards.
June 15th, 2015 at 9:00 am
With Koetter calling plays, our OLine will look like geniuses compared to the hot mess we had last year. Looking forward to seeing Muscle Hamster tearing up the yards in the new scheme.