Another Kick In The Balls
October 25th, 2015
You won’t find a bigger Bucs fan than Joe.
Not only does Joe love the Bucs, but Joe’s livelihood is hooked to the team. Bucs win, and more fans come to the website. Bucs lose, and a percentage of fans don’t want to hear, read or think about the team for at least a few days.
Simple as that, as Lovie Smith likes to say.
(Joe’s got about 120 games of evidence, so don’t try to claim Joe is full of crap.)
As a diehard, 24/7 Bucs fan, Joe can pronounce this loss in Washington to be an historic kick in the balls. It reminded Joe of when the Bucs choked away a lead to Nick Foles and the Eagles at home — on the day the Bucs honored the 10th anniversary of their Super Bowl win.
Greg Schiano got conservative and put the game in the hands of the NFL’s worst pass defense. Predictably, Bucs cornerback Danny Gorrer dropped what would have been a game-winning interception, and then the Eagles inserted the dagger with seconds remaining.
Unstoppable Revolution
Those 2012 Bucs never recovered, and neither did Greg Schiano.
The Bucs, then 6-7, went to New Orleans the following week and got waxed 41-0.
You think that was a coincidence? A member of that Saints team, former Bucs linebacker Jonathan Casillas, said he could see the quit in the Bucs on that day. Casillas told Joe his Saints teammates were surprised the Bucs rolled over.
There have been other brutal losses since, the worst on opening day this year against a crappy Tennessee team, when Lovie was so outcoached it’s a wonder he’s not still pulling up his pants.
A fan base, and a coaching regime, can only tolerate so many of those landmark losses before there is unstoppable revolution.
Lovie’s Only Survival Mode
Are Bucs fans nearing widespread revolt? Yes.
Joe hears the stampede, and Joe reads the texts, comments and emails from normally calm diehards.
It may not be completely fair to Lovie, as Lovie is still feeling the residual effects of a beaten down Bucs nation after Raheem Morris’ 10-straight losses in 2011, followed by the Schiano-Josh Freeman train wreck and an 0-8 start in 2013.
But Lovie has made quite a messy bed for himself. So Joe has no sympathy.
Joe desperately is rooting for Lovie to stop the bleeding and become the coach he was in Chicago before his own collapse of 2012, when his 7-1 Bears finished 10-6 and missed the playoffs.
Right now, however, there is no evidence Lovie ever recovered from that debacle.
Joe is confident Team Glazer sees the reality facing Lovie over the final 10 games.
Lovie announced one primary goal when he arrived in Tampa: get the Bucs “relevant” again.
That shouldn’t take three years.
After losing to a bad Redskins team today, Joe’s not seeing how Lovie will make the Bucs relevant this season. Even with Jameis Winston having a great day, and Doug Martin running wild, the Bucs still lost.
Joe believes today was the last historic kick-in-the-balls loss anyone should tolerate from Lovie’s Bucs this season.
October 25th, 2015 at 10:06 pm
Lovie. …….you’re the best!
October 25th, 2015 at 10:06 pm
With this defense as is, it’s tough to find more than 2 more wins this year with the schedule as is. Is 2-14, 4-12 really worth year 3?
October 25th, 2015 at 10:10 pm
He’s gotta go. Simple as that
October 25th, 2015 at 10:14 pm
As a longtime Diehard as well, I’m simply done. I will take my time and money elsewhere. I guarantee I can go to any highschool game on Friday and they at least know how to cover the middle of the field.
October 25th, 2015 at 10:17 pm
I don’t see another win on the schedule because our defensive can’t stop anyone. Matt Ryan will look like a superstar next week. Does anyone doubt that? We make every QB look like Joe Montana in his prime.
October 25th, 2015 at 10:17 pm
Says the man who could come up with no legitimate argument for the rock star to be jettisoned. After five years.
Now year three is it, and we aren’t even halfway through year two yet.
Painful process but necessary. The Glazers understand this.
Lovie is not going anywhere.
October 25th, 2015 at 10:18 pm
We have played 6 games, and of those 6 games, come two of the worst defeats ever by the Pewter Bucs. Tennessee and now being run over by the Redskins???? If we get torched by the Falcons, I am going to sell my tickets to the Giants game, and make some money!!!
The defense blows chunks and it’s all on Lovie. The Tampa 2 needs everyone to be on the same page, and obviously they are not. The way our defense plays is an embarrassment!
October 25th, 2015 at 10:18 pm
Yeah. It is getting tough to support lovie. We can see the offense is clicking now. But lovies defense is just not keeping up. And maybe that is because we have focused so much of the offense during the drafts that the defense is just not up to par. I really want Lovie here for year 3, 4, and 5. But he has to earn those years. And losing like this to this team was a “kick in the balls”, as joe said. I don’t think we should fire lovie mid season. I dont think it would help the team (i could be wrong) because with lovie out, most likely candidate to replace him is leslie frazier. And i don’t see that being an upgrade, just more of the same.
October 25th, 2015 at 10:19 pm
If there has ever been a performance that warranted immediate termination… This would be it. Lovie is simply not a good football head coach.
October 25th, 2015 at 10:21 pm
Horrible loss… Hard watching a train wreck in slow motion. It’s one thing to be bad, it’s another to be bad and gutless.
October 25th, 2015 at 10:22 pm
It’s true though, if our defense couldn’t stop a team like the Redskins, who can we beat on the rest of our schedule? Maybe Chicago the last week of the season?
3-13 is not improvement in my book.
October 25th, 2015 at 10:23 pm
Eric-you sure about that?
No coach is bullet proof. Why do you think Lovie is?
2 wins year 1, maybe 4 this year? Maybe more if he changes his passive approach to scoring. But let’s be real, Lovie is not safe, with the current state of his team.
He needs significant progress and no more embarrassing games to stay. If you think he’s safe no matter what, please share your insight
October 25th, 2015 at 10:25 pm
I will be cancelling my season tickets tomorrow morning didn’t want to renew this year but believed the hype once again. When love is fired I will return. Can’t wait to hear all week on our local sports talk channel how we can’t fire lovie it will be bad for Winston. Well he is t a offensive coach he is defensive and our defense is last in the league. 4 of the 6 qbs we have faced this year have had there career best game. And how many times can I watch us actually get a lead and then go turtle mode. As I watch Sean Payton and other teams throw the ball for first downs to put the dagger in the team. When we signed lovie on pft all the Bears fans said good luck with his conservative play bad clock management and horrific personnel moves. I laughed at them and now everything they said is exactly what we are getting from him. Dan Quinn has 2 more wins than lovie as a first year coach in 16 less games
October 25th, 2015 at 10:25 pm
The problem with supporting Lovie is an above average coach would have this team 4-2 or even 5-1 with a similar roster. Just watch the winning TD again. Reed literally does not get touched on a 3rd and Goal from 6 yards out. Poorly coached players make poor decisions period.
October 25th, 2015 at 10:25 pm
Thank god for the lightning. Pray, Bucs fans,that somehow the grand tetots see from Mr. Vinick how a winning organization is run. Or better yet, sell this garbage organization to him.
October 25th, 2015 at 10:30 pm
Lovie has had 3 of the worst loses in NFL history not bucs history NFL history since becoming head coach. He has embarrassed himself and this city immensely a real man of character would admit his failures and seek help or resign.
October 25th, 2015 at 10:34 pm
Yeah bad losses. But, in the last two games our franchise QB has racked up four touchdowns, around five hundred passing yards, and no turnovers. Refs stole a fifth TD.
I find that reason for optimism. A big reason.
Only the most important position on the field.
Yeah let’s fire the coach, give Jameis a new system to run next year, set us back, just like all the other perennial loser organizations in the NFL do.
October 25th, 2015 at 10:35 pm
@Mhill I hear ya man.. I said the same thing to my wife after I threw a lawn chair across the yard….I’M DONE. Fu*k it! I got better ways to spend my Sundays. And I’m sure I’ll be watching next week. It’s a YUKS life, since I was 8 years old… Starting to question my sanity.
October 25th, 2015 at 10:38 pm
Jab83 is a complete tool!!! Dude, if you accept the crap we are being fed, then you can eat Shat by yourself… moron!
October 25th, 2015 at 10:38 pm
What Eric said!
October 25th, 2015 at 10:41 pm
Yeah and Eric if he comes back like Philbin did, then what? We don’t need Lovie for Jameis to succeed, and in fact Jameis is far more likely to be even more successful without Lovie. We all have hope for Jameis, we also have none for Lovie. A new coach cannot be any worse than this, don’t worry. Too bad we didn’t fire Lovie and get Todd Bowles this offseason instead.
October 25th, 2015 at 10:46 pm
The difference between the Bucs and other teams is that other teams simply gets better. The roster is improved, players are drafted and developed, the coaching staff makes adjustments and so on. Have you seen ANY of this this year? Because I sure haven’t. I’m all for hiring a good coach and give him time to mold the franchise into a perennial contender. Sadly, Lovie Smith is NOT that coach. We’re wasting time here. If Lovie is allowed to stay, next year is gonna be another dreadful one. And if you think that this season isn’t lost already, then you’re blind. We are not going to win a game in the next six games. We’ll pick at the top of the draft again and the new talent will wither and die, because our HC is clueless.
Please, some of you people need to see reality for what it is.
October 25th, 2015 at 10:48 pm
Jameis almost won today despite Lovie. Lovie is holding Jameis back period. Jameis has a bright future in the nfl. Lovie has a bright future in some basement living off the cash he stole from glazers pretending to be a football coach.
October 25th, 2015 at 10:53 pm
I hate this site.. I hope Joe gets Gonorrhea… I’m out
October 25th, 2015 at 10:54 pm
Calm down folks. The offense is becoming a real positive. Jameis is growing with good QB ratings. The O line is exceeding expectations and the doug o whatever is good. Yes the d fense sucks, so we shall see.
But don’t pull out the gallows just yet.
October 25th, 2015 at 10:57 pm
I don’t like Lovie, and didn’t want him hired in the first place.
That said, the Bucs were 2-14 last season.
Let’s be realistic.
(Although today’s game really was a kick in the balls.)
October 25th, 2015 at 10:59 pm
Eric, Lovies defense is currently setting us back as we speak. It’s painfully obvious this defense has NO idea what there doing AND every offense knows how to beat it. So IMO the longer we have him the further we set ourselves back.
October 25th, 2015 at 11:09 pm
Correct me if I’m wrong, but the game of football has three distinct phases. Winning relying only on one of such phases is very rare. I quite frankly don’t believe that defense wins championships in today’s NFL, but you still need at least a DECENT defense to support a POTENT offense, or vice versa. The Bucs won a Lombardi with one hell of a defense and a serviceable offense. Other teams have won with the opposite makeup. Bottom line, you need to be good in all phases of the game, and right now, the Bucs’ defense is ROTTEN. It doesn’t matter if Winston is getting better, if the offense is performing and so on. Those poor guys won’t get what’s theirs, because the defensive “genius”, Lovie Smith, is dragging this team down to the bottom.
October 25th, 2015 at 11:10 pm
Wish our owners have some balls to do what the Dolphins did to Philbin…
Now theyre 2-0 with their interim HC…
We need to Change the Culture @ One Buc. Our Defense is Mentally Weak. Just like their Head Coach.
Damn I hate Lovie…
October 25th, 2015 at 11:14 pm
Still don’t think there Tennessee ready.
October 25th, 2015 at 11:20 pm
well a blind man can see the defense is really bad.
However, they sucked last year and played much better in the second half of the season
If they could do that, and Jameis keeps improving, I think the second half of the season will show marked improvement.
I feel good about the team.
Of course I’m a psychopath and I could turn into lambasting Eric in a hurry if we have a Raheem type finish. But I don’t think that will happen.
October 25th, 2015 at 11:20 pm
Sorry Joe, I feel for you. We can still go 12-4 lol.
October 25th, 2015 at 11:22 pm
Eric, I’m feeling pretty good about it also. I see improvement too.
October 25th, 2015 at 11:23 pm
The Dolphins win two games and they are suddenly our model.
SMH.
October 25th, 2015 at 11:26 pm
Check out mike Wilbons tweet on the bucs, pretty embarrassing .
October 25th, 2015 at 11:31 pm
Simeon is this the tweet you are referring to
Hard to imagine a dumber team out there than the Buccaneers…Great comeback by the Redskins, but its not possible without Bucs incompetence… Mike Wilbon
October 25th, 2015 at 11:35 pm
The only 2 wins this team has is by the skin of their teeth. Just about anybody is their model!
October 25th, 2015 at 11:36 pm
Yup
October 25th, 2015 at 11:41 pm
Tim Brown had it figured out all along. Tampa is not a football town. Man, was he right. I don’t know what scares me the most, the miserable decline of this franchise ever since those clowns of sons began their reign after their father had helped making the Bucs a force to be reckoned with, or the people who support the team. The team needs a radical change, and the fans need a new culture as well. It’s so sad to see people settling for mediocrity. As long as the majority of fans will keep “seeing improvements” where there are none, throwing their money at the Glazer Clowns, then this franchise will always be a joke.
October 25th, 2015 at 11:43 pm
You really want to hit rock bottom as a fan, watch this vid of cousins. The glazers need to watch this, they’d Fire lovie immediately.
http://espn.go.com/blog/washington-redskins/post/_/id/20928/fired-up-redskins-qb-kirk-cousins-do-you-like-that
October 25th, 2015 at 11:47 pm
Im just gonna DVR the rest of the games… Maybe watch them in the offseason when I need my football fix.
Im done having Lovie bringing me down every sunday.. Im done with team. Unless I wake up tomorrow and read that the Glazers fired Lovie.
As far as Im concerned, Lovie can go suck Mike Jenkin’s c**k while the rest of D circle jerks around them.
October 25th, 2015 at 11:51 pm
Unforgivable give-away by the NFL’s most unprepared defense.
Watched the news and upon second view the 3 Cousins TD throws were to completely uncovered receivers in the red zone.
There is no attempt by the Buc DBs to rerout or bump the receivers that caught those TDs. It was too easy.
These losses have to be blamed on the lack of basic pass defense. Totally frustrating.
October 25th, 2015 at 11:52 pm
I found the game embarrassing to watch. 16 penalties.
What bothered me more was the panic that I could see and feel from the team.
This whole thing reminds me of my golf game.
If the putting is working, then the chipping goes. If the driving is good, my irons are bad.
I have a very bad feeling about this loss. I feel a shit kicking coming on.
We will see what kind of character there is on this team, and evidence of any real leadership.
October 25th, 2015 at 11:53 pm
I hated Jameis but he is actually going to be very good. Koetter is amazing as well. Lovie is a position coach Joe. He was FIRED after the 10 win season you want so badly. When he gets to coach 3 or 4 HOF’ers simultaneously that he had no hand in assembling, sure he will look good. This team has some young talent and will give fans hope, but I dont awnt that to mean Lovie gets to stay because of it. He needs to go- so does Frasier. Keep Dirk however we have to. I want Lovie gone more than I want to win. Signed- Bucs Fans EVERYWHERE- PS: I was the guy who did whatever I could to be on a base with AFN at like 5AM in AFGHANISTAN for 3 years to watch the Bucs and root for my team. I talk shit to my buddies, make bets about my team and their future, and used to buy merchandise. Once I saw that I managed a game in madden better than Lovie (timeouts, when to take shots ect.) I was no longer a fan of HIS regime. He missed on EVERY free agent- and is doing exactly what got him fired with the bears coaching hall of famers jerry angelo assembled. SIJgbkapj;gb;khqardbgvuabsjvkgvn
October 25th, 2015 at 11:56 pm
Is it November yet?! I’m ready for some football!
October 25th, 2015 at 11:57 pm
When everyone was wringing their hands about Jameis in week 1, I was most concerned with our defense. I’m tired of hearing how this defense. The only argument I will entertain is who is worse? I have always been an LVD defender but I am astounded as his digression since he signed the dotted line. Can’t believe that I argued that he was superior to Keuchly. GMC, I do like him but he is a nice complimentary player. He has all of the tools to be a great one, every tool except for his mindset. Secondary… don’t even mention any, even Banks. Banks is a nickel back on several NFL teams. Will hope to be proved wrong.
Offense… looking good, but when you think that this team is supposed to be a ball control low mistake team, it will be impossible to think that we will get to 5 wins
October 26th, 2015 at 12:03 am
@Simeon, That makes me sick…
Just another mediocre QB That Lovie’s Defense & scheme couldnt stop.
I hate you Lovie…. sooo, so much.
October 26th, 2015 at 12:09 am
In the NFL you are what your record says you are. Lovie is 4 – 18
October 26th, 2015 at 12:16 am
Lovie is not the answer – no question. But we were never going to the playoffs with a rookie QB. just wasn’t in the cards with this team. BUT… we’re losing sight of something great… the kid can play at QB. Tampa looks to have their first long term legit franchise QB. that is always the hardest piece of the puzzle to acquire. Also… we invested draft picks in the o-line and they are gelling VERY well. those were two key problem areas coming into the season, and I am surprised at how well those areas have been rectified.
the next step is for Lovie to relinquish control of the defense back to Frazier. If that doesn’t work, then our best bet is to retain Koetter as HC with his offense intact and bring in some solid new blood to fix our defensive mess. they’ll draw interest from some top defensive minds because of the talent on the roster.
October 26th, 2015 at 12:18 am
If you read between the lines of Joe’s post, there’s a middle finger pointed straight up. It’s metaphorically in the direction of Lovie. I share the sentiment. We would all be talking about that whew moment when we iced the game after a ferocious comeback, if…if Lovie had the nads to go for the TD. Remember, safe is death coined by Tortarella during the Lightning’s Stanley Cup run in 2004. That saying always stuck with me because it’s always true. I freaking hate FG’s. I would love to see a coach with Belichick’s guts and brains to come here. Give me a guy that goes for the knockout punch when the opposing team is on the ropes. We all know that the 3rd and goal play from the 1 was a dipstick call. Why you would pitch a ball back from there is beyond me. But, that’s not as bad as kicking the FG afterward. Now, you give a team that has eaten our defense in the 2nd half all 3 timeouts and plenty of time and 4 downs each series to score a TD and win. Plus, they only need to go 80 yards instead of 98. These decisions and the massive amount of penalties falls on Lovie. This loss ,in particular, is on Lovie and his soft defense. I long for the day wen we made good QB’s look bad. Now, we make average to below average QB’s look like MVP’s. After moments of clarity, I usually calm down and defend players and coaches that deserve some rope. Lovie’s has had his share of rope and he’s hung himself and this franchise with said rope. Start the new chapter and let Lovie go now. Mold a new attitude into this team. Has anyone noticed how the Dolphins have responded?
October 26th, 2015 at 12:22 am
Agree CMurder. #FIRELOVIENOW
October 26th, 2015 at 12:23 am
So the Dolphins interim HC won back to back games his 1st two weeks..
After 22 games, Lovie still cant win back to back…
I hate you Lovie.
October 26th, 2015 at 12:30 am
I’m sick of hearing that somehow firing Lovie is going to set the team back 2 years.
October 26th, 2015 at 12:36 am
Don’t know what to say about this. For one half it was the best the Buccaneers have looked in years; offense, Defense, special teams, everything working.
They lost because they could not stop the pass and because of penalties. I am not going to blame the offense, they put 30 on the board, but if they get rid of some of the penalties that you should’ve put 40+
The defense gave cousins all kinds of time all day.
But I am a forever optimist. I have been a lovie supporter. Not sure if I can continue that much longer, but I am all for the GM and the OC.
They have a ton of good young talent. They need a defense of end, a cornerback, and another wide receiver because VJ is getting old.
This was so damn frustrating because they looked so good for a while and you can just see all the young pieces on offense coming together week after week.
The defense has very good DTs and LBs.
the DEs and DBs are all eh. Banks is good but only above average.
They show promise now and then (like the first half) and have had flashes of s pass rush then they disappear. The pass rush disappears, the pass defense disappears. It’s that simple.
They need DEs and CBs.
October 26th, 2015 at 12:51 am
Well, at least Jameis is on pace for 25 touchdown passes.
October 26th, 2015 at 1:22 am
Joe I’m NOT watching this team the rest of the season. I actually shut the game off when the Skins were on the 30 yard line during their final drive because I KNEW they were going to blow the game. I can’t simple convey how I’m feeling right now to you or anyone, but I’ll try. This team will NOT win another game this season as long as Lovie trots out this defense week in and week out. The season for me anyways ENDED yesterday. I can’t watch it anymore. I love Jameis of course and would like to watch him progress this season, but I can’t do it. That’s how much I want Lovie Smith fired first thing Monday morning. Tell you all what if they fire Love this Monday, then I’ll go back to watching the rest of the season. With THAT being said your site just lost a big Bucs fan that contributes what I think is a lot to your comments section. I have no interest in watching the team, so naturally I have no interest in talking about them on yours or any other site on the net for the rest of the season.
People on here might think I’m not serious because I’m always on here. I’m as serious as cancer right now. NO I’m not venting, this is my JBF swan song. I can’t do this anymore. There’s simply no point in arguing with morons on here that think Lovie is going to pull this team together at some point when he can’t even pull his head out of his ass. Am I mad? I’m more pissed off then any of you put together, that includes both of you Joes as well. The Glazers did the right thing and got us our future franchise QB. Now it’s time for them to do the right thing by the fans and fire this IDIOT midseason. Enough is enough. How much more evidence needs to be presented? So yes this is my swan song. I will miss many of you on here and the site as well. This team, is just not worthy of a fan such as me anymore. Do I mean the team in itself? No I mean the Lovie Smith coached team. Get rid of him and I’ll be back. I’ve already started to dismantle my Buc Cave in my house. All the Bucs stuff is going into storage for the time being as I don’t even want to look at it anymore.
I ask ONE thing of you Joes. You can do this ONE thing for me. I mean hell you don’t owe us readers and commentators all that much. You do enough for us, but I believe I helped your site immensely pre-draft with the Winston debates. SO I ask just one favor. Just ONE that’s all I’m asking for. Here it is and it’s easy to do too. On the JBF Hour this week can you ask your friend why Lovie’s team is so undisciplined when it comes to penalties and their play? The reason for my request is simple. If his answer is. “We’ll that’s not Lovie, that’s the players.” Please DO remind him that he’s being a hypocrite, because he blamed Schiano for all the stupid penalties and missed assignments. Call him out just ONCE!
Okay well signing off until perhaps the offseason now. I’ll be back in the morning, just to re-post this for all the regs as I want to say goodbye for the season and wish everyone well.
P.S. If you like forward this post to One Buc Place. I’m sure they would enjoy it.
October 26th, 2015 at 2:02 am
@Buc1987
I feel you, I really do. I share your opinions. You don’t have to stop visiting Joe, though. I always come here to read the news, but I’m a sporadic poster, unlike you. You don’t need to cut yourself off the Bucs completely. Just don’t pay this franchise TOO MUCH attention. Linger on the outskirt, so to speak, see what happens. Return to pay complete attention if/when things will change. That’s what I’m personally doing. I come here because I really like this site and I agree with the JOEs more often than not. Other than that, I’m not spending any money for the Bucs, and I won’t until I see a real, positive change.
October 26th, 2015 at 2:17 am
Joe, the offense shows improvement, the special teams (while not special) has not regressed and occasionally Rainey makes a play and the kicker is solid since Lovie owed up to making yet another personnel error with Brindza, but the defense is putrid; its disgusting, it is bad Joe! That is all on Lovie and i know he will use some sort of BS like this as his shield: “we have spent the last 2 drafts focussing on offense, now give me a draft on defense….” Ughhhh…… Lovie has worn out his welcome; this embarrassing loss had to be the last straw; why can’t the Bucs sack it up and do what the fins did with Philbin????? Lovie has to go (LHTG)!!!!!
October 26th, 2015 at 2:58 am
The Glazer Boys can become men by admitting they made a mistake in firing Chucky.
BRING HIM BACK!!!
October 26th, 2015 at 3:30 am
I Have already said my piece on this subject in an earlier topic, those who pay attention know my Views on this but I had to correct the People on here who said firing mid season is a bad idea that accomplishes nothing that’s what bad teams do, well to them I say Ehem look 5 Hours South ppl. it can work, Dirk is perfect man for the Job, SAME Offence for Jameis, but with more Aggression in play calling and a Great Head for the Game, and I say also say fuk it Fire Frazier and offer the Job to Derrick Brooks!!
If Not then Glaziers Need to Swallow they’re Pride and Reach Out to the only other Man that Has the Ability to Bring Pride Back to Our Ship and put the Fear of God into opposing Teams, Jon Chucky Gruden!!!!
October 26th, 2015 at 4:17 am
@Joe -I live and die with the Buccaneers as well. My sanity evolves around this team and the players who represent the city of Tampa. I am a die hard fan and have been for a long time. To tell you what a pussy I am, I frigen cried last game against the Jaguars on the opening drive when Conner Barth kicked and made the the first FG. The reason I was so emotional was because the week before I was embarrassed by witnessing Jameis Winston fumble the opening snap, throw 4 INT, including a pick six, then suffer through another game in which our FG kicker missed time and time again. Don’t forget about the Houston game before that, when it was either the dropped passes or the missed FG or the penalties that lost that game for us. Then came the game against the Jaguars. The opening drive absolutely blew me away. Winston throws were crisp and on target. Receivers were catching the passes, Martin was gaining yards and no penalties. Winston drove the offense down the field and Barth came out and nailed the FG. It was emotional.
Fast forward to today. I finally witnessed the team I kept bragging to people about. Winston was who we said he was. Evans came back to being the dominant WR he was last year. Martin ran like the best RB in the NFL should run. The defense held them scoreless until almost halftime. The score was 24-0 and most Buccaneer fans thought they were dreaming. Dominating. This was the team I thought they could be. Even at 24-0, I never felt comfortable. Something inside me told me it was to easy. Then it happened. They proceeded to methodically give the game away. Call it bad coaching, I call it a bad secondary. Call it to many penalties, I call it a lack of concentration. Call it bad play calling, I call it lack of execution. Call it the worst loss I have ever experienced, I call it a Bucs life. The thing I hate the most is that it will take until Thursday before I am able to move on.
Well, we know a couple of things. We have our franchise QB. He came of age today. We have a young “smash mouth” OL, who showed that nasty streak we have been looking for. We still have one of the best WR in the game. We have a one two comb at RB as good as any. We have a couple of very good LB including a rookie who is going to be great and we sill have the best DT in the game. This year is all about growing as a team and about rookies gaining experience. This game was a lesson for all who were a part of it. It happens. Be better because of it.
October 26th, 2015 at 4:40 am
As a Chicago resident and Bears (multi-generational) season ticket holder, I’ve been a Lovie Smith fan, forever. So, take my word. This latest iteration of a “Lovie Team” is in so many ways the same as it has always been.
Year 1: Clean House of all players who don’t fit the mold.
Year 2: Draft above average defenders and acquire (FA, trade) couple of offensive marquee vets.
Year 3: Install a killer defense and a ground pounding/clock eating offense.
Sprinkle in a reliable kicker and a fearless returner with blazing
speed.
And, there you have it. The Lovie Trifecta-Trifecta. A 3-year journey to build a team that is good at all 3-phases of NFL football and playoff contenders for years to come.
I like Lovie and respect his resume and results. I think he’s learned a lot in his years of being HC. Drafting for offense in his first “2” years as Bucs HC AND finding a very good OC is a good sign.
Alas, the defense has been the stepchild and all the toys went to the offense. I’m sure that no one could have foreseen a total lack of skill and execution that has become the hallmark of our DB’s. But, that’s the price you sometimes have to pay when you take a risk instead of going with what has been moderately successful in the past.
Some may poo-poo this notion, but, this team is close to being a perennial winner. Sausage making isn’t pretty.
Yo-ho-ho…!!!
October 26th, 2015 at 4:44 am
How is setting ourselves back a year or two by ditching Lovie worse than the 5-10 we lose every year he stays?
October 26th, 2015 at 4:51 am
87- what?…no more lectures on my negativity? Thought it was pretty comical when you teamed up with Bonzai 25 minutes into the game to trash talk those of us who question the competence of one Lovie Smith. Too bad the game is 60 minutes huh?
October 26th, 2015 at 4:53 am
MoDowns needs mo sleep and definitely mo sobriety.
October 26th, 2015 at 11:12 am
godzilla13; epic post; you basically summed up how most Buc fans felt during the deadskin debacle. I recall a game where the bucs led the lambs like 27-3 in the wyche years and threw that game away in similar fashion back in the early ’90s. i think that yuck team went 5-11 or so via wyches’ smoke and mirrors; i doubt if Lovie gets anywhere close to 5 wins this season; maybe 5 combined for his 2 year tenure….. Tough being a buc fan today, its really ****ing tough. LHTG! Lovie Has To Go!!!!!!!
October 27th, 2015 at 12:24 am
FortMyersDave Says: Thank You FMD. Its a Bucs life..
Someday…