It Has Begun (Again)
December 28th, 2015
Lovie’s best friend right now is Bucs OC Dirk Koetter.
Earlier this year, when the Bucs started terribly, Joe openly wondered how Lovie Smith was going to save his job. Oh, there was time to turn things around, but limited time.
Well, things turned around, largely thanks to America’s Quarterback, Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston. But just when Jameis pulled the Bucs into playoff contention at 6-6 — splat!
Bad losses to woebegone teams in succession, New Orleans, St. Louis and Chicago, with Lovie’s defense getting torched yet again and no defensive improvement anywhere in sight (if he can’t improve his secondary after a revolving door of players through 31 games, when exactly will he improve that defense?), has led many, many Bucs fans and observers to reboot Lovie Watch.
Joe is not among them. Joe is certain six wins saved Lovie’s job; Jameis saved Lovie’s job. But others such as well-respected Luke Easterling of Bleacher Report aren’t so sure.
It’s possible that the best thing for this #Bucs team would be to have Dirk Koetter as their head coach in 2016.
— Luke Easterling (@LukeEasterling) December 27, 2015
Koetter he (publicly) claims being a head coach is not his goal, though Joe suspects that may just be false modesty. But if he does become head coach with the Bucs (let’s just play along, shall we?), then wouldn’t his many head coaching duties detract from his hands-on work with Jameis?
And let’s be frank here: Lovie is not returning in 2016 based on the body of his work with his defense, hell no! Lovie returns because not only did he sign off on drafting Jameis (smart!), he has handled Jameis’ transition to the NFL perfectly.
The main reason Lovie is sure to return is for continuity with Jameis and Koetter. However, if, for whatever reason, Koetter leaves, well, there goes Lovie’s security blanket. If the Bucs have to break in another offensive coordinator, then what’s the point of Lovie staying?
What decent offensive coordinator is going to want to come here for a coach on a hot seat and only have one season of job security? Good luck with that.
Again, Lovie surely will not return because of the (terrible) job he has done with his defense, specifically work with cornerbacks.
To be clear: Joe fully expects Lovie to be back in 2016, as Joe wrote when the Bucs tripled their win total from last year. Team Glazer said in training camp they wanted “a growing year,” and they got it. However, this chapter of the book isn’t quite closed. A loss to Carolina next week and Lovie will have a dubious, garish record with the Bucs of 8-24.
Lovie would be wise to do what he can to ensure Koetter is still on his staff for 2016.
December 28th, 2015 at 6:08 am
I think Lovie will be fine. JW has had a great rookie season. However let’s not forget that Lovie brought in the OC and that Doug Martin is the biggest reason we had a shot at the playoffs.
December 28th, 2015 at 6:25 am
Preaching to the choir here. But I truly did not seemuch on defense this year that seemed like an improvement. Safety play possiby? If you really stretch the definition of the term improvement. I thought Alexander was spectacular, so that was a good pickup and kudos to Lovie for getting him on the field. But the scheme was ineffective and watching scrub QBs dismantle the sum total of many decades of coaching experience was as embarrassing as it was frustrating.
Koetter and Jameis along with Martin, Marpet and a O line that looked improved because our play calling was a little more balanced were the difference. And I really can’t give Lovie credit for Winston’s play or personal development. That guy (Winston) seems to understand the business of being a pro football player. He is smart and as long as he stays healthy I think he can make any bad team at least mediocre.
December 28th, 2015 at 6:36 am
Martin and Lovie will be back. Licht will get it right on free agency acquisitions this off season and pump new blood to the defense in the next draft. Top ten draft will hopefully bring another quality defensive player.
We seen the possibilities with this team this year. We are to close to having a playoff team to start over again.
Playoffs are coming next year, baby!
December 28th, 2015 at 6:46 am
2016 the year loser Lovie is out of excuses
December 28th, 2015 at 6:48 am
The question everyone has to ask themselves is.. if Lovie stays through 2016, will this team be any better at the end of 2016? Define better? The Bucs were better this year because we won four more games and our QB and OL were better. That is some progress but how do you consider this year better when the defense is clearly worse? At a minimum a Coach should be able to keep his team at the same level as the prior year. The same with players. Players should always be progressing or at least staying the same with the exception of age. To many players on this team are worse this year than they were last year. With the infusion of five or six starters next year, I Just do not see this team being much different? Same problems, same results. If you agree then Lovie needs to go and begin rebuilding asap.
December 28th, 2015 at 6:52 am
Am not sure if Joe caught this at JW’s press conference yesterday but I get the sense that even he is taken aback at the sense of loser mentality at one bucs place unfortunately that sense of losing mentality has even infected the members of the mic and scribes club when one reporter asked if he would be happy to beat best team in the league the panthers am paraphrasing there, his reaction was priceless that only losers celebrate when good teams lose he wants to be on the other side where people cheer when they lose it shows you are a great team when everybody wants you to lose. I like the kid’s winning mentality hope it infects the fan base as well the mic and scribe club as well.
December 28th, 2015 at 6:54 am
I understand the frustration by fans but to start over????
We should learn from the past coaching carousel. The magic bullet is not coming Bucs fans! Allow for this team to evolve. It takes time.
Don’t be manipulated by the media. They want more angry people to support their jobs. The media feeds on anger and chaos. Don’t fall for their pitching curves!
We seen the possibilities this year. I would give Lovie 1 more year. If that does not work, offer Koetter the HC job next year. I can see Koetter getting the right staff to continue Winston’s growth.
Let Licht have another year of signing players and then lets see the outcome of that next year. We are too close to start over…
December 28th, 2015 at 6:58 am
Next year playoff or bust!
1 more year!!!!
December 28th, 2015 at 7:00 am
Using the coaching courosel as a excuse to keep Lovie is sloppy. Why keep bad continuity if the players are tuning out the coach and ok with losing?
December 28th, 2015 at 7:06 am
Gotta givs at least 1 more year or else the franchise will be like the Browns, no contuinity.
December 28th, 2015 at 7:10 am
tdtb2015 Says:
December 28th, 2015 at 6:54 am
I understand the frustration by fans but to start over????
Start what over? Seriously this is the weirdest comment. Take Jameis out of the picture and there’s nothing to start over because nothing has been built. Lovie has nothing in place meaningful without Jameis. We don’t need Lovie going forward.
December 28th, 2015 at 7:28 am
godzilla13 Says
“The question everyone has to ask themselves is.. if Lovie stays through 2016, will this team be any better at the end of 2016? Define better?
…I Just do not see this team being much different?”
I can answer that.
YES.
The key is this draft. In the last two drafts, Lovie Smith, who was criticized for being incapable of building an offense, DID build an offense. Masterfully. He’s been patient and allowed it to develop. In year one, Tedford handed him lemons, so in year two Lovie made lemonade.
Why is this draft key? DEFENSE. Lovie, being a defensive coach who specializes in young talent development (see Kwon), built the offense first because he knew it would take longer to develop. Now, in this draft, he can finally address the defense.
Given the last two drafts and how well handled they have been, it is likely we’ll get 3-5 great players out of it for defense.
So yes, the team WILL be greatly improved next year.
IF YOU BRING IN A NEW COACH, that new guy will change everything up, including staff, and Winston would get a new OC. IT would stunt his growth.
I would say that the ONLY reason to get rid of Lovie at this point would be to keep Koetter thru promotion…if it becomes an issue. There is an off chance that the players might not take to the firing of Lovie well though, if it is just to promote Dirk.
Here’s what you can realistically expect next season:
A Mostly defensive draft. A few free agents, maybe one big one, but unlikely. Martin resigned. Mike Glennon possibly resigned or traded. DEVELOPMENTAL TIME FOR THE DEFENSE.
That’s right. The same thing I said this year for the offense will apply to the defense next year. They will draft defense, but it will need time to develop. The offense did, and by mid season it was doing pretty well.
The plus side is that next year the offense will be much more developed and will be able to carry the team while the defense develops. This year, the defense did not carry the team while the offense developed, so things will be much improved next year.
You can also expect Banks to have a breakout year next year. I know, everyone seems to have given up on him, but take the time to compare his career to Barber. Ronde did not produce until year 5. We’ll be entering year 4 for Banks, and his stats are better than Ronde’s were at the same point. Banks will be fine.
Verner will be toast. We’ll have a new DE and safety as well. Kwon will be further along and dominating.
SO YES, THE TEAM WILL BE BETTER!
December 28th, 2015 at 7:31 am
Lovie Is Dog Poo Says
“Start what over? Seriously this is the weirdest comment. Take Jameis out of the picture and there’s nothing to start over because nothing has been built.”
BULLSPIT.
Over the last 2 years, Lovie has built what is shaping up to be the best offense the Bucs have ever had. A whole new offensive line. A running game. A passing game.
You say remove Winston from it? Why???? Because it negates your agenda?
December 28th, 2015 at 7:33 am
The Glazers have to give Lovie another year. Otherwise, no one will want to work for them. Their record for giving enough time to coaches is horrible. No one will want to work for owners who set them up to fail.
So Lovie stays. Simple as that.
The haters and trolls will blow their tops, but you know what? I don’t care. I doubt anyone does.
December 28th, 2015 at 7:35 am
Here is the truth Joes and sheep!
Jameis won the heisman without lovie
James won the college national champion without love
And if James wants to go to and win in the NFL playoffs it will be without lovie
December 28th, 2015 at 7:36 am
Joe, I agree with ya that 6-10 would save Lovie’s bacon when the Bucs were 2-5 and just lost to a bad DC team after LEADING 24-0 but after they got to 6-6 I felt a bit spoiled as a fan; ya know???? I thought the Bucs actually had a 0.500 season or better in them. How I was wrong! And look at the opponents that the bucs have lost to: Rams, Aints and the lowly bears… Not exactly a murderer’s row like New England, Arizona, and Carolina….. Did the Bucs tank???? Joe you are in the Bucs locker room all the time and this is a serious question: I can not fathom the Bucs bending over to such low talent unless they have a plan of scaling up the draft board like they did last season in the race with the titans and jags…. If they were not tanking then it is conceivable that lovie could be removed for losing such winnable games so late in the season. Remember Joe; with a loss to carolina; which is likely as the Panthers need the W to keep homefield away from AZ, the Bucs will have lost 4 in a row to finish this so called “successful” season; Schiano was fired for less only losing 3 in a row on that 4-12 finale in 2013…..
December 28th, 2015 at 7:39 am
@bonzai
Not true! When has a vacancy for an NFL job went unfulfilled??? Cleveland has always hired coaches even when they fired a coach after 1 year!!
December 28th, 2015 at 7:45 am
Bonzai is the President, Vice President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board of the Lovie Loser Crew. All he wants is to never win anything so he can rip on other fans for not being on their knees to felate a limp dick while he gladly enjoys it. There isn’t much more he loves than losing. Well if you love losing and being irrelevant, Lovie is your guy.
December 28th, 2015 at 8:05 am
Bonsai would want Kiffen’s great grandson hired 40 years from now if he promised to keep running a cover2 defense!!! Anything to keep the dungy tree alive!!!!
Why do you think the sheep have had the same haircut since 1999!!!!
If you never let go the past, you will never have a future!!!
December 28th, 2015 at 8:14 am
Bonzai,
Me thinks you are giving Lovie too much credit for our successful draft. Player personnel and Jason Licht are more heavily involved in the draft. In fact there was an article about Licht taking Lovie to watch Winston and convinced him that he was the no 1 pick.As for Jonathan Banks I think Lovie has impeded
his progress with his constant tinkering with the cornerbacks.
having final say on personnel makes Lovie responsible for the succession of free agent busts such as Jenkins 2 johnsons and all the other poor secondary players we have had.Clinton Macdonald is the main success he has had
December 28th, 2015 at 8:38 am
Coaching aside the lack of depth and overall talent sunk the Bucs more than anything else. Kwon was the glue that had the defense playing better. With him out of the lineup they reverted back to last years form. On Offense without VJax they reverted to a predictable, run heavy offense. Yes, the O-line improved and Sims proved to be viable depth at RB but the WR crew had no other threat besides Evans when VJax was out.
The penalties, for the most part, can also be attributed to sub-standard players which again points to a lack of talent.
OTOH there are players on the team that were kept while a few that were cut have found success elsewhere. I saw DJ Swearinger looking like he was doing just fine in Arizona. It could be because of the surrounding talent or that he was a better fit there. I won’t pretend to know but the point about an inability to coach secondary players is well taken. Also the point needs to be made that the talent level is sub-par. (Verner is a puzzle I must admit).
There was a major blunder earlier in the year when keeping a substandard kicker cost them a couple of games. Lovie fell for the big leg, but at least he swallowed his pride and brought back Conner Barth.
Bottom line to me is this, the Bucs are 2 drafts away from being a legitimate contender.
December 28th, 2015 at 9:00 am
What’s wrong with a first year coach next year? Lovie just got his a$$ Beat By ANOTHER ONE!!!! whats sad is the coach that torched him the first game of this season was fired and lovie isn’t.
December 28th, 2015 at 9:11 am
If you Fire Lovie, Koetter will be gone and Jameis will falter
December 28th, 2015 at 9:24 am
Lots of really good analysis and perspective here. I’m torn. On the one hand, there is merit to the continuity argument. Bad teams ride the coaching carousel.
On the other hand, Lovie’s defenses have not been good, and he has made some bad personnel decisions. He let go of Barron, Hawk, and Revis, all three of whom have performed at a much higher level than the three players who took their place.
Finally, the year end collapse is beyond troubling. Given the opponents, we should have at least finished 9-7 and challenged for a playoff spot. Losing VJax and Kwon obviously hurt us badly, but the lack of quality backup talent can only be blamed on Lovie and Licht.
Nevertheless, at the end of the day, I believe the Glazers will come down on
the side of continuity. Lovie has won before, we have a good OC, a franchise QB, possibly the NFL rushing champion, quality depth at TE, RB, and OL, a franchise WR (sans the drops), and two young Pro Bowlers, and an All Pro WLB on D. Given the success of our past two drafts, especially 2015, it makes more sense the Glazers will give L&L another year. Like it or not.
Defense.
December 28th, 2015 at 9:27 am
Koetter could leave anyway stupid argument. Jameis is and will always be a winner, despite the O.C. they didnt draft him for Koetters offense. He’s a baller. I do like Koetter but he could be a head coach next year for all we know.
December 28th, 2015 at 9:31 am
How can the “Lovie has kept his job because they won 6 games” be confident a team that lost to a group of non-playoff teams-
Bears, Saints, Giants, Titans (at home), Rams on road.
They have beaten not a single team with a winning record. The home losses to the Bears and Titans were games that they should win and coaching and lack of preparation were a huge part of it.
So you really think Lovie’s team can win next year vs-
Seahawks, Broncos, Panthers (2x), Cardinals, Chiefs. That’s 6 losses there then even if you split with your divisional rivals that another 3. Playing on the road in SF and San Diego?, c’mon if Lovies coaching lost games to Bears, Titans and Rams how do the Glazers think in year 3 this poorly coached, mistake prone team will be competitive.
Bucs fans have accepted losing and e Bear fans told you all along what you were getting. It’s actually worse than advertised.
December 28th, 2015 at 9:35 am
@ ED Amen it’s the truth!!
December 28th, 2015 at 9:37 am
Thankfully there are a few reasonable Buccaneer fans in the midst of the angry mouth breathers that frequents this and other blogs. Firing Lovie Smith is not a long term solution. Tennessee fired their coach and they are, again, the worst team in the NFL and they’re going to secure another #1 pick. Most of you sound like those loser Titans fans who really believed the team would get better by firing Wisenhunt. What happened to that awesome turnaround in Miami? Only a fool thinks firing a coach in his second year with rookies playing in key positions should be fired. Only a fool will hold a 2-14 season against Lovie Smith after losing an offensive coordinator before the start of the season. Remember, if the Bucs win just one more game last year then Mike Glennon is your starting quarterback this year. The same people criticizing Lovie Smith for 2-14, the lowest common denominator of this fan base, would be complaining that Lovie Smith won meaningless games and missed out on a franchise quarterback. Some of you guys have simply resolved yourselves to blame the head coach regardless of how last season or this season were to go.
Let’s see…the Glazers signed off on Raheem Morris and Greg Schiano. The Glazers signed off on Mark “Pop-Star” Dominick. Yet, some of you think that it’s all going to get better once Lovie is fired. Some of you think the Glazers will “get it right this time” once they fire Lovie Smith. You sound like Browns fans. There is very no evidence the Glazers will magically get it right if they were to fire Lovie (and they’re not firing him). Heck, in hindsight the Bucs have never really been a contending team since they fired Rich McKay.
You guys act like the head coach has the kind of control over his players on the field like a gamer who plays Madden 16. The coaches coach and prepare the players but the players ultimately have to execute. I guess Verner’s selfish penalty is Lovie Smith’s fault too. Doug Martin fumbles twice but it’s Lovie Smith’s fault because he didn’t remind Martin not to fumble the football on the sidelines.
I had no issues with the game plan yesterday. The Bucs looked to run the ball and they play calls seemed to be fine. Again, there was no pass rush to speak of yesterday but yet, according to you guys, the pass rush will get better once Lovie is fired. There were plenty of opportunities yesterday for the Bucs to make a play and they didn’t in key situations. Even Jameis had an off day.
December 28th, 2015 at 9:44 am
I love how people want to give Lovie credit for the offensive players we’ve drafted. Though I understand thats the only thing he’s brought to Tampa so far so they dont really have anything else to defend him with. Still funny though considering Licht himself pretty much said Lovie falls asleep when they study offensive players. Yea Lovie has a lot to do with drafting those guys. LoL.
December 28th, 2015 at 9:55 am
One more thing to add to the Lovie record, some of his 2014 lowlights losing to these powerhouses-
Ravens, Bears, Lions, Rams. Not winning a single home Game! Lost every divisional game!
To be totally fair he did beat last years’s 4-12 Redskins on the road and beat the 11-5 Steelers last season in Pittsburgh. This year he did do something positive beating Atlanta twice and splitting with the Saints, plus destroying the Eagles, who at this point are going to have a losing record.
Summing it up in 2 years Smith’s 8 victories have come against only one team with a winning record (Steelers) and has lost games to the lowliest of teams like the Titans, Browns, Rams (twice), Bears (twice), Saints (twice in’14) and last year’s 4-12 Falcons.
His track record in Tampa points to a more dismal season next year as other than the Packers or Vikings/Patriots/Bengals the Bucs are playing 3 divisional winners- Cards, Panthers and Broncos plus wild cards Seahawks and Chiefs.
Yes, let’s support a coach that loses to the losers. How is he going to beat winners when he has proven his team’s get out coached and outplayed whenever facing winning teams?
December 28th, 2015 at 9:55 am
How many thought…
Mike Zimmer would be a great coach?
Bill O’Brien might be one of the best coaches in the league without anyone noticing
Todd Bowles would be a great coach
Jay Gruden would get the to playoffs before Lovie?
There are coaches out there better than Lovie. There really are. He’s not some infallible, top 5 coach. He’s not even a top 20 coach in the current NFL.
I know the Glazers are atrocious, but so is Lovie. We gotta maybe hope Licht is our savior. He’s got Patriot and Cardinal blood in him. He comes from a good pedigree. I think he can find us at the very least as good a coach as Lovie, but at least someone fresh and new. Lovie is rotten vegetables at this point, yet some people think maybe we should have another bite. I’ll pass, as most sane football fans would.
December 28th, 2015 at 10:07 am
D-Rome, whatever the Titans or Dolphins do has no effect on what happens in Tampa. You can use those examples to prove a point that applies to those teams.
If you think the coaching carousel on those teams is so important than why is it the coaching carousel when the Chiefs bright in Andy Reid, the Jets dumped Rex Ryan and have a first year coach that has them in the playoffs. Texans dumped their coach and their new coach has them fighting for a playoff spot.
For every example of a revolving coaching staff there are examples of new coaches improving their teams in year one or two. What about Jim Fox getting canned in Denver, no one in Denver will complain about that one. Probably have seen the last of Tom Coughlin too, despite those Super Bowls. Jay Gruden for gosh sakes in year 2 with a career backup Kirk Cousins is in the playoffs.
The only argument that holds water is 8-23!
December 28th, 2015 at 10:11 am
Let’s try to look at this objectively. This really was the first year Lovie had an OC and they drafted Jameis. Bless his heart, through no fault of his own, Arroyo was in way over his head last year. You can blame Lovie for hiring Tedford, but not for his getting a heart condition in training camp.
They admitted they screwed up in free agency last year and cut their losses. That has to be a first in Bucs history. To see how last years first 4 picks had played out is nothing short of amazing.
Not a huge fan of Lovie, but agree that we can’t keep firing coaches every 2-4 years. Nobody is going to want to coach here. Progress was made. I think Jameis will help keep Koetter here along with his family.
Address the defense this year in the draft, and I’ll bet they get a key pick up or two in free agency. Just be reasonable enough to not expect lightning in a bottle two years in a row when it comes to the draft.
December 28th, 2015 at 10:38 am
Those teams had more consistency and less turnover prior to those firings. Todd Haley was in KC for 3 years and Rex Ryan was in NY for 6 years prior to being fired. Those are not examples of a coaching carousel. Lovie Smith hasn’t even completed two full season here in Tampa Bay. NFL history has shown repeatedly that teams who have constant turnover never find a way to win.
You are deliberately missing my point about other teams around the NFL. Yes, what other teams do don’t directly impact the Bucs. However, their example shows the coaching carousel does not work.
As for “Jim Fox getting canned in Denver” are you kidding me? He wasn’t fired. They mutually parted ways largely in part because John Fox knew Peyton Manning is done. There was a lot of consistency there prior to Gary Kubiak taking over. The Bucs situation with coaching turnover is far more similar to the Browns and Raiders than the teams you mentioned.
December 28th, 2015 at 11:15 am
Can Lovie build on six wins this year? Thats the most impirtant question. Next year has to be a playoff year. No other way to put it. Now, its still too early to predict what will happen next year. I hope we draft for defense and add some offensive talent via free agency.
December 28th, 2015 at 11:29 am
Lovie’s inability to pick the right free agents on defense just confirms he hasn’t a clue how to pick players, especially on offense. I’m amazed at how many “experts” give Lovie the credit for building this new and exciting offense.
It Wasn’t Lovie, it was Licht and his staff who put the draft board together and it was Licht and Koetter who picked the right players for Koetter’s offense.
What has to be decided by the owners and Licht is: 1) does Lovie stay? And if yes, 2) does Frazier stay too? And if yes (God, I hope not both), then which of the two will make the picks on defense with Licht, Lovie or Frazier?
Licht first, and Koetter second should get all the credit for the improved offense. Lovie gets third place only for STAYING OUT OF THE WAY of the offense.
December 28th, 2015 at 11:43 am
I don’t think Dirk is ready to be a HC. I’d like to see a new HC with Dirk as a hold over like what we did with Monte when we fired Dungy.
December 28th, 2015 at 11:49 am
“Joe openly wondered how Lovie Smith was going to save his job.”
Joe…he gets paid either way. So what job? If I lose my job I lose my pay.
So WHERE’S the pressure?
Pishhh the media.
December 28th, 2015 at 11:53 am
Hire Jimbo Fisher, Jameis knows that offense if we cant keep Dirk.
December 28th, 2015 at 12:05 pm
I agree with you here. It’s either playoffs or no less than 9 wins. Lovie’s first year is a throwaway year, period. If the Bucs go 3-13 last year Mike Glennon is the starting QB and most of you did not want that. You don’t throw away a chance at a franchise changing QB for one or two meaningless wins in 2014. However, they have another off-season to address the defensive line and some positions on offense. The WR position absolutely needs to be addressed as VJax is long in the tooth. The Bucs going down the stretch without Clinton MacDonald and Kwon Alexander was a big reason why they have performed poorly. Losing Jac Smith to injury as well. The Bucs signing Da’Quan Bowers should tell you all you need to know.
December 28th, 2015 at 12:08 pm
D-Rome Says:
December 28th, 2015 at 12:05 pm
I agree with you here. It’s either playoffs or no less than 9 wins. Lovie’s first year is a throwaway year, period. If the Bucs go 3-13 last year Mike Glennon is the starting QB and most of you did not want that. You don’t throw away a chance at a franchise changing QB for one or two meaningless wins in 2014.
_______________________________________________________________
No it’s not a throwaway year. Think Jets fans are having a throwaway first year right now with Todd Bowles as they head to the playoffs? I mean come on, the pathetic Lovie defending is getting to be really humiliating. It is fun watching posters basically begging that we give Lovie more and more tries, but he’s coaching NFL game 176 Sunday. He’s not evolving or changing. Unless we fluke into multiple HOF/Elite players this offseason, this is a 6 win team at best next year. Schedule already looks twice as difficult as this year.
December 28th, 2015 at 12:30 pm
6 wins in 2016 and Loser Lovie will be proud with 5 playoff teams on the schedule
December 28th, 2015 at 12:45 pm
bucrightoff, Did the Jets lose their offensive coordinator at the beginning of the season? I don’t remember that story.
Losing an offensive coordinator to a heart attack prior to the season starting was a significant blow to the team. Only an idiot would say otherwise. It was the most significant issue that plagued the Bucs last year. I hope you’re not going to seriously argue that any other team can overcome that kind of loss and march to the playoffs with the worst starting QB in football.
Last year absolutely is a throwaway year. The Buccaneers finally have a franchise QB. Every fan base who’s team does not have a franchise QB would be glad to have the worst record in the NFL for one season to have a shot at a bonafide franchise QB. Of course, it’s no surprise to me that you conveniently ignored my point on one or two more wins last year. Are you excited for Jameis’s future like most of us? Well, one more win last year and that all goes away and Mike Glennon is the starter.
What would you choose? Mike Glennon for the next few years or having one terrible season to secure a franchise QB for the next 10 years? If the Bucs go 9-7, 8-8, 7-9 last year or even if they went 3-13 last year then Mike Glennon is your starting QB. I wouldn’t be good with that. Neither would you and you know it.
December 28th, 2015 at 12:53 pm
D rome
there has been no continuity on defense,due to lovies tinkering with existing players to bring in Jenkins,and Jennings .Do I need to bring up the
incontinuity at DE he created. in short plenty of turnover but not much to show for it. probably 10 bad signings to 2 or 3 good ones. sterling moore and clinton Macdonald are only 2 pluses I can think of right now.
December 28th, 2015 at 12:58 pm
D-Rome Says:
December 28th, 2015 at 12:45 pm
What would you choose? Mike Glennon for the next few years or having one terrible season to secure a franchise QB for the next 10 years? If the Bucs go 9-7, 8-8, 7-9 last year or even if they went 3-13 last year then Mike Glennon is your starting QB. I wouldn’t be good with that. Neither would you and you know it.
_______________________________________________________________
And yet you’re good with a coach who is a lot like Glennon: Probably bottom third of the league at best, more than likely a backup (or co-ordinator like Lovie should be), never good enough to win anything. Utterly bizarre, nonsensical and truly backwards thinking.
Just face it: We have a very poor coach. The Jets and Texans and Redskins and Vikings all have better coaches. It should make us sad and jealous, instead we see very pathetic defenses of our very not good coach. Just sad that our fanbase for the most part has no ambition other than not being one of the worst teams in the league. Ok, guess we’re not that…
December 28th, 2015 at 1:05 pm
Not happy with Lovie. His whole tenure to date has been below subpar. Just more wasted time from a clueless coach who has shown he is not a teacher or motivator. Lovie has my vote for the worse coach in the league.
December 28th, 2015 at 3:18 pm
Bonzai drive that Lovie Love Boat and next year when he stinks it up again you sail that ship into “I Was Wrong” port and Stand tall I say ” I was wrong, Lovie Sucks and has sunk us deep into a hole.”
It will be hard to get a good Coach in Tampa because of our past..Like Chucky fired for going 9-7 after winning a Super Bowl
December 28th, 2015 at 3:23 pm
bucrightoff<——– Won the battle.
D-Rome <——Lost the battle.
JBF<——-The best NFL team related site on the net and this is why.
Don't EVER shutdown Joe's.
December 28th, 2015 at 3:30 pm
A-train…Bonzai is a lost cause. He has this twisted way of thinking that everything bad that happens is Licht’s fault and everything good that happens is Lovie’s doing.
Hate to go the politics route on this one, but our president has been doing that very same thing for the last 7 years. If something good happens he takes the credit. If something happens that is bad or goes wrong, well then that’s George Bush’s fault.
That’s Bonzai in a nutshell… am I right?
December 28th, 2015 at 10:03 pm
Buc1987 Says:
December 28th, 2015 at 3:30 pm
A-train…Bonzai is a lost cause. He has this twisted way of thinking that everything bad that happens is Licht’s fault and everything good that happens is Lovie’s doing.
Hate to go the politics route on this one, but our president has been doing that very same thing for the last 7 years. If something good happens he takes the credit. If something happens that is bad or goes wrong, well then that’s George Bush’s fault.
That’s Bonzai in a nutshell… am I right?
Your are an idiot.
December 28th, 2015 at 10:53 pm
Better offense? We have Dirk and Jameis. Pick Jameis? How was that hard? Responsibility for team? Lovie is the head coach. The straight losses are inexcusable. I’m still a fan but I don’t see us winning more than 4 games next year with the schedule I’ve seen. Season has made me sick to my stomach. At least my shop is busier on Sunday’s with football over and we have the draft to obsesses over. Ty Glazers for a mediocre year vs a goat fu@k year. jfc smh.
December 29th, 2015 at 9:03 am
Loggedontosay, it’s “you’re”, and “an” doesn’t need to be included. You type 4 stinking words and you get half of them wrong. Your (see that?) right to call anyone an idiot is revoked. Good day.
Hate to say it but Bonsai’s argument is starting to sway me.
December 30th, 2015 at 3:32 am
I don’t think next year will be a playoff year. I really wasn’t all that optimistic when Lovie was hired. I knew it was a few years away from “relevancy”. Did I expect 2-14 and the first pick. Hell no. Did I expect a 6-8 win season this year. Yes. Lovie has to keep his team getting better. Don’t talk “relevancy ” until we’re in the playoffs. Still I don’t expect a playoff year. I expect a winning season, but we’re not there. Not until two things happen
1) these damn penalties need to stop
2) Get the damn defense fixed. Put players who can play in. Cut those who can’t.