Titans Watch: Six More Days
September 7th, 2015
Phil Simms offers powerful words for Bucs and Titans coaching staffs
Joe’s already called opening day against the Tennessee Titans on Sept. 13 in Tampa a “must-win.”
It’s not a must-win for the standings. Duh. But it is necessary for the psyche of a fan base that hasn’t seen a home victory since 2013, and compares Jameis Winston to Marcus Mariota.
The Tennessean published a piece looking at what Simms, Jon Gruden and Bill Cowher think of the top two picks in the draft following their first preseason.
“I don’t want to look too far in the future, but I just look at them both this way: If it doesn’t work, I’ll probably blame the team and the coaches,” Simms said. “I won’t blame them, because they have the presence and talent to get it done.”
Joe can’t go that far. Jameis is no god. He must perform, and he especially must not repeat the same mistakes. A good start would be eliminating the seven-second sack.
Regardless, Joe’s not too dialed into career talk today. Who’s ready to execute in six days, under extreme pressure and rough Tampa weather conditions?
September 7th, 2015 at 8:46 am
Only 6-7 winnable games on the Bucs schedule and week 1 is one of them. No excuses, limit turnovers and penalties and beat the Titans.
September 7th, 2015 at 9:13 am
Dear Hateful Commenter Named “OK,”
Joe writes about what Joe finds interesting. And Joe is not interested in “beating” anyone in a mythical race to determine what guy makes the practice squad and won’t play Sunday. There’s a must-win game in six days. That’s far more interesting.
September 7th, 2015 at 9:14 am
We are at home against arguably a team that was worse than we were last year. We have an adult OC and what should be an improved defense….we have drafted many pieces of the offense the last two years.
We need to win this game.
September 7th, 2015 at 9:22 am
I LOVE this site and you guys, so I’m not hateful, I was simply shocked that you guys were not the first to report it, because you usually are.
I also understand that you might not find it interesting, but since our misguided head coach is calling this our second draft I thought you might put more of an emphasis on it.
The fans of this site want this information. That is all I was saying. Nothing but love for you guys, when I dont perform up to par At my job I expect to be calle out.
Take care,
PK
September 7th, 2015 at 9:27 am
I am excited to see what we have in the new look Bucs next week. We lost half the fan base to incredable negativity after a poor 3rd preseason game, after a short week. We also saw a pretty good team against the Bengals so there is good reason to hope thats closer to the team we have. 6 days till months of speculation give way to reality! Here’s to hoping this is the year we crawl out of the basement.
September 7th, 2015 at 9:30 am
Two rookie offensive lineman, one walking in a boot, 2 subpar interior vets who I’m not sure have the fire or just not as talented as we thought they were, a right tackle no we are not sure the chemistry is there yet. Mike Evams coming off an injury with limited preseason reps. All against a Dick Lebeau defense ready to blitz crazy a rookie QB hampered by a high ankle sprain. Can the Bucs win, yeah, that home crowd better be into it, but I’m not disappointed if we lose unless this one loss cost us a playoff spot, in other words, I think the team will progressively get better with chemistry as the season goes forward. Too many unknowns right now on both sides of the ball, the only thing I know is that the Kwon will hit Mariotta hard if he tries to run.
September 7th, 2015 at 9:44 am
Doug Martin will win this game for us, 200+ total yards for him, I bet my $800 check on this, anyone?
September 7th, 2015 at 10:00 am
One thing you have to love about Buc fans is their pessimism. Nothing is as important as confidence but here there is always the anticipation of losing. Some people get no joy out of life. One of the two buccaneers wins last year was not a winnable game and they should have won both unwinnable g ames a gains the saints. Sit back, relax and enjoy a season bound to bring some surlrises.
September 7th, 2015 at 10:06 am
But it is necessary for the psyche of a fan base that hasn’t seen a home victory since 2013,
Agree completely Joe. But I would add that it’s also critical for the players! This team has not demonstrated any heart yet. I still believe if we won that first game against the Jets when LVD to that penalty that season would have gone differently.
If we lose to a “bad” team like the Titans at home there’s going to be a real aura of oh oh here we go again. This team needs confidence as much as talent at this point. And so do our freaking fans!!!
Only 6-7 winnable games on the Bucs schedule
This is what I’m talking about!!! Seriously? We have six freaking games in our division!!! The combined record last year was 20-27!!! There’s six “winnable” games right there…now add the Titans…Jacksonville…Deadskins…St Louis..and Chicago. There’s my ten wins!!! Those teams lost more than twice as many games as they won!!
OK St. Louis was 6-10 the cream of that crop.
We have 3 “unwinnable” games in a row in the middle of the schedule..Philly..Dallas..and Indy…
I do not believe we’ll go undefeated against our division…but 4-2 is certainly doable!!! I suspect like most years we’ll lost a couple we should win and win a couple we should lose. End of the year…10-6!!
We do need this first game desperately though to build our confidence. We need to get through the first 4 at 2-2 and we’re off and running.
This team is loaded with rookies!! It’s going to be a team that gets better and better. Just need to survive the first 1/4 of the season at 2-2.
September 7th, 2015 at 10:09 am
Must win indeed! No excuses, just get it done team. Wipe that zero off Lovie and the fans home record.
September 7th, 2015 at 10:09 am
@buddah
I, too am saddened by the negatism….or disguised as Realism…for some there just isn’t much joy…..if you can’t have just a bit of optimism now….when can you have it?
I’ve lived with the Bucs losing ways since the beginning….
At least we won our SB when we got there…..take that Eagles, Bills, Vikings, Browns, Lions, Falcons, Chargers, Panthers, Texans,
September 7th, 2015 at 10:12 am
Add the Bengals & Cardinals to that list…..that’s a whole bunch of fans who have every right to whine and cry day after day….
September 7th, 2015 at 10:14 am
St. Pete, the Bucs were 2-14 they can’t be counting anything as automatic wins. Not even division games. All 3 of the division opponents got better, Saints have a super bowl winning qb and coach, ATL drafted well and the Panthers have a tough d and a healthy cam. They beat the Bucs twice with a backup!!!!
September 7th, 2015 at 10:17 am
Good comment Tampabaybucfan
September 7th, 2015 at 10:21 am
Can’t wait! Thanks for the great coverage over the past few months! We appreciate everything you do!
Go Bucs!
September 7th, 2015 at 10:21 am
And….you can our next opponent the Titans….and the Jaguars to that list.
13 teams have never won a SB.
September 7th, 2015 at 10:27 am
@Tony
they can’t be counting anything as automatic wins.
Agree completely!!! But we weren’t talking automatic wins we were were talking winnable games. I see only three on paper that are in the so called unwinnable category..that stretch of three games in the middle.
2 of those are on the road.
Again it’s the NFL…on any given Sunday. If Schiano hadn’t choked on the sideline and pulled the plug on our hurry up offense we would have whipped the Seahawks in Seattle the year they won the SB.
Nobody thinks we or any team is headed for 16-0 or 0-16. That’s extreme.
Yet so many of us post in extreme terms and loaded with hyperbole. And so many of us forget that EVERY team in this league has problems. Again..arguably the best team in the league Seattle is worried about guess what? Their OL.
September 7th, 2015 at 10:29 am
Can somebody tell me who the backup QB in Atlanta. Last I saw it was Luke McCown in N.O. If Matty Ice or Brees goes down what happens to their seasons?
I like MG8 as our backup.
September 7th, 2015 at 10:29 am
And on stage, Simms, Gruden and Cowher singing My Mariota. One washed up player and two washed up coaches now in the talking head business. They all talk glowingly about Mariota. The Bucs need to smash all that Mariota love and pop these three stooges balloons that are big and filled with helium holding them up. I don’t think Mariota is going to be running anywhere against the Bucs.
September 7th, 2015 at 10:45 am
Winning that “must win” game also has its downsides. It can also bring a fool’s euphoria and beer party chants of championships. Bucs fans and writers in that mold? Nah. Not a chance. Hope the Bucs win! Benefiting most would be the players. Old school me still thinks they are the ones who play the game until it’s time for concussion permanent time out.
September 7th, 2015 at 10:46 am
Its going to be a Loooong week if we lose to the Titans. Especially considering how the media has this dubbed “Winston vs Mariota”. Plus Titans fans are so cicky right now. They have this as an automatic win. In their minds, Jameis is a criminal qnd a dumb, crappy qb. Its at that point where im done loking at stats and comparisons. I just want the Bucs to kick the spit outa Tennessee so everyone will shut up. I have never wanted the Bucs to shut everyone up so bad.
GO BUCS!!!!!!!!
September 7th, 2015 at 10:51 am
Whoever loses this game will be a lock for a top 5 draft pick!!! another draft closer to building that “lasting contender” !! Its as simple as that!!!! if you are willing to wait for years and years!!!
September 7th, 2015 at 11:08 am
Joe-
I think the overall perspective has changed–I don’t believe that Bucs fans see the Titans game as big of a “must win” as you keep saying.
It was appears from preseason play that the Titans are a few steps ahead of the Bucs—and no, I’m not talking only about Mariota. There Oline looks better, and the defense seems to be responding well to Labeau.
If we win, I’ll be pleased, but I’m not expecting a W. I think Bucs fans are catching a case of reality…this is going to be a longer process than we hoped.
September 7th, 2015 at 11:20 am
The Bucs have to keep the offense (TOP) on the field and the defense on the sidelines to beat the Titans. Yeah, no kidding..!!
I’m amazed at how little depth talent is available for both teams, and around the league. Injuries have also limited the defensive depth of both teams.
The team that wins TOP will win this game. So, considering the Titans have crap at RB and the Bucs have a good RB but crap on the OL. Who knows..
This game will come down to which defense can limit the short passing game and not get bored by MM’s dink and dunk and get burned deep.
To be honest I don’t have a clue as to which team will win the “Draft Bowl”.
Let’s hope our defense puts on its OSU big-boy pants and scares MM into a few turnovers. Otherwise, MM will roll-out a lot to the strong side and pick up 1st downs if no one is open.
Final score: 20-17. The winner? Your guess is as good as mine.
September 7th, 2015 at 11:21 am
To say this is a must win is a stretch…..a needed win….an important win, yes.
I suspect Joe believes it is a must win because of the Winston/Mariota matchup….that coupled with the fact that we are home….haven’t won at home….and Tenn had a 2-14 record like we did.
It’s not a division or even a conference game…..
Other than that….it’s simply 1 of 16
September 7th, 2015 at 11:22 am
I think we, BUcs Fans, have an expectation issue.
Since a very long time we all have expectations, not necessary great ones, for this team.
And we have been often disappointed.
So now optimism is a bit frightening;
we all want to have a good game , we all want to see Jameis Winston throwing 4 TD, Mike Evans scoring 3, Mariota being put under pression all game long, being sacked 5 times, defense even scoring a touchdown on their 3rd interception.
But we all know that it’s not how it works with the Bucs.
That there is a great chance that the opposite will happen.
I have no victory expectation for this season. I just want to see fighters on the pitc. Guys who refuse to lose, who will give anything to win.
after that, if victories are coming, wonderful, If not, too bad.
But I don’t want to see games given up after the 1st quarter like last year, I don’t want to have the feeling since the first play that the game will be very long, I don’t want to see last season spirit
September 7th, 2015 at 12:11 pm
Thanks for the clarification Joe! I was beginning to think that football meant fans=worshipers and football players=idols. Scary, I just wanted to enjoy this football season I mean truly enjoy it.
Thanks,
September 7th, 2015 at 12:46 pm
titans traded for T.West from Cleveland… he’s a pretty solid back