Upgrades
June 29th, 2015
Spreadsheeters already believe the Bucs have upgraded on offense from the likes of turnover-prone quarterback Josh McCown.
How scarred are Bucs fans from the nutkick of a 2014 season? Well, it is common for a Bucs fan to be found in a neighborhood bar sitting alone in the corner incoherently mumbling the sordid three names of “Josh McCown… Anthony Collins… Oniel Cousins… ” over and over again.
It’s hard to conclude which of the three did more to soil the good name of the Bucs franchise. One can still hear the circus music.
Despite those three being replaced by green rookies, each of which has yet to take a snap in preseason game much less in training camp, numberscruncher Cole Schultz of Pro Football Focus is convinced the Bucs have upgraded at each position.
The Buccaneers are one of the few teams that are well prepared to deal with their offensive losses. With the top pick in the 2015 draft, Tampa Bay took Jameis Winston, and even if he struggles some in his rookie season hecould still provide an upgrade over the departed McCown. Likewise, the Bucs selected Donovan Smith early in the second round, and he’ll likely start at one of the tackle spots with Demar Dotson manning the opposite side.
As rotten as McClown, Collins and Cousins played last year, it’s hard to fathom the Bucs not upgrading those three positions no matter who they plugged in.
Unless proven otherwise, McClown reinforced the popular belief that his stint with the Bears was an aberration. Collins proved unreliable, and Cousins apparently proved his career is over.
Word to aspiring NFL personnel men: Don’t watch tape in Lovie Smith’s Chicago basement.
June 29th, 2015 at 9:04 am
I think Lovie was smoking ganja while watching tape in his basement. That is the ONLY thing that would explain last seasons personnel moves by L&L.
June 29th, 2015 at 9:23 am
Hey Joe, they just put out a piece over on BSPN that names Julio Jones the best playmaker in the Division and Yastinkskas agreed. HOW the Heck????? JJ has never had more than 10TDs in a season his whole career with Matt Ryan and Dirk Koetter!!!!!! ME13 had 12 with McCown/Glennon and Zero OC!
Can you do a piece comparing the two rookie seasons or something.?
June 29th, 2015 at 9:37 am
We have also upgraded at DE……
June 29th, 2015 at 9:44 am
With Jimmy Graham gone, can’t argue. When healthy that guy is freaking lethal.
June 29th, 2015 at 9:52 am
we are gonna put the smack down on the NFCS this year, mark my words.
June 29th, 2015 at 9:57 am
Joe, you forgot a few names on that list. Most of the roster comes to mind.
June 29th, 2015 at 10:04 am
I’ll believe it when I see it, topping our division. The way the team has floundered, winning the NFCSouth would almost be like winning the Super Bowl. I sort of feel the Panthers will win it again.
June 29th, 2015 at 10:06 am
At the very least it’s addition by subtraction
June 29th, 2015 at 10:09 am
Tom has it right! because its gone from the worst in the NFL to incredibly poor!!!
June 29th, 2015 at 11:04 am
I think the addition of Carter, Moore and Melvin is going to be help this team… All three come from Dallas… All three were regular contributors to a similar defense on a much better team…
Very little has been said regarding these three additions but I think our defense will be much improved because of them…
June 29th, 2015 at 2:42 pm
No offense to Harry because I realize people say people must be smoking pot every time they do something stupid. I just think this needs to stop, it’s getting a bit outdated and far from reality. More realistic thing to say is they must have been drinking liquor or snorting coke. I’ve seen much less thoughtful and more poor decisions made on those substances than ‘ganja’.
June 29th, 2015 at 5:45 pm
@ Stanglassman, AMEN brotha. I was thinking the same exact thing.
June 30th, 2015 at 2:45 pm
Lovie really was smoking ganja in his basement reviewing tape of Anthony Collins in Cincinnati. Anthony Chronic was “detained” at a fellow Bengals home in 2011 where 2.5 pounds (yes, pounds) arrived at the house in what authorities called a controlled delivery. A third person allegedly signed for the package. Inside the home, police allegedly found six more pounds of marijuana, other empty parcels, scales and packaging material. Narcotics agents found scales and other items inside which gave the indication that the homes occupants had more than Madden 2011 on the minds. Lets not mention that if he Bucs scouting dept would have spoken to some of his teamates that Collins is probably not one of the smartest guys and he’s got attitude problems. Yet the Buccaneers front office went forward to signing Chronic to a $30M contract?
June 30th, 2015 at 2:54 pm
bedabest:
Would love to see a link for that. 🙂
July 1st, 2015 at 2:10 am
Joe =
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/21/jerome-simpson-and-anthony-collins-marijuana_n_974999.html
Jerome Simpson was later indicted for marijuana trafficking, not related to the Jerome Simpson/Anthony “chronic” Collins event.