Archive for 2015

Bucs Lose Top Claim

Tuesday, September 29th, 2015
Bucs GM Jason Licht no longer has the luxury of the first waiver claim for eligible unemployed players.

Bucs GM Jason Licht no longer has the luxury of the first waiver claim for eligible unemployed players.

One benefit — yes, Joe is stretching the word “benefit” here — of having the worst record in the NFL is the top waiver claim.

By winning the Chase for Jameis last year, the Bucs had that benefit.

But it was only temporary and it expired today. (more…)

Jameis Hit Coach’s Goal, Helped O-line

Tuesday, September 29th, 2015

JameisHouston2

That sacks goose egg dropped by the Texans’ defense? Give Jameis Winston, America’s Quarterback, plenty of credit, explains his position coach. (more…)

Silliness With Numbers

Tuesday, September 29th, 2015
Even America's Quarterback would foul his pants if you tried to sell him that he played better than Aaron Rodgers this week.

Even America’s Quarterback would foul his pants if you tried to sell him that he played better than Aaron Rodgers this week.

Joe tries to keep an open mind about the stat geeks. Really.

Some stats are useful. Hey, Joe uses them every day and so do just about all fans of sports, even if it is just yards-per-carry or completion percentage or, for example in baseball, batting average and ERA. (more…)

Report: Mike James Waived

Tuesday, September 29th, 2015
Waived per NFL.com.

Waived per NFL.com.

If Rand Getlin of the NFL Network and NFL.com is to be believed — and let’s face it, would the organ of the NFL put out false info? — the era of Mike James playing running back for the Bucs has come to a close. (more…)

Lovie Says More Vincent Jackson Is Needed

Tuesday, September 29th, 2015

VJaxJoe’s never quite sure what to make of it when a guy in charge says something needs to happen.

Then order it to happen! Take last year, when Lovie Smith used to say the Bucs must stick with the running game longer. (more…)

Trading Alterraun Verner

Tuesday, September 29th, 2015

alterraun verner 1001The math and reality here are simple and sound. (more…)

Jameis The “Competitor”

Tuesday, September 29th, 2015
Anerica's Quarterback gets rave reviews from Houston coach Bill O'Brien.

Anerica’s Quarterback gets rave reviews from Houston coach Bill O’Brien.

Texans coach Bill O’Brien made his bones as a quarterback coach in both college and NFL circles. He’s the only guy who got Brian Hoyer to play halfway decent football with the Belicheats.

And since BOB left Penn State for Houston, heralded quarterback Christian Hackenberg has been, more often than not, a mess. (more…)

Still The NFL’s Best

Tuesday, September 29th, 2015

jacquies smith 1120All that national media attention for defensive end Jacquies Smith last week didn’t generate an inspired performance against a patchwork Texans offensive line.

However, Smith remains an inspirational figure. (more…)

2014 Free Agent Class = Disaster

Tuesday, September 29th, 2015

atomic bombMan, oh man, oh man. In retrospect, could Lovie Smith have done a worse job in picking free agents than he did a year ago when he first came on board to guide the Bucs? (more…)

Red Zone Defense = Green Light

Tuesday, September 29th, 2015

green lightHaving a 1-2 record with losses to sad teams frustrates Bucs fans.

It is not quite as bad as last year, so there is growth.

One area worse than sad is red zone defense. (more…)

“Man, Does He Work Really Hard At It. And He’s Extremely Coachable.”

Monday, September 28th, 2015

Jameis BajakianJoe really feels for those Bucs fans who don’t realize what a gem the Bucs have in Jameis Winston, America’s Quarterback.

It’s hard enough to live the Bucs life, but it must be hell if you think Young Jameis is a problem or a shaky project QB. (more…)

Lovie: Counting To 12 Troubles Will Be Simplified

Monday, September 28th, 2015

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve.

It ain’t that hard to count to 12. (more…)

Bucs’ Route-Running Scrutinized

Monday, September 28th, 2015
An esteemed ex-Buccaneer and former Pro Bowler points a finger at flawed route running.

An esteemed ex-Buccaneer and former Pro Bowler points a finger at flawed route running.

Joe pays attention when a 15-year NFL veteran, a reasoned, intelligent Xs and Os guru who is paid to study Bucs film, wags a finger at the Tampa Bay route running. (more…)

Kyle Brindza? Goat!

Monday, September 28th, 2015
Deemed an NFL "goat" by theMMQB.com.

Deemed an NFL “goat” by theMMQB.com.

When you miss four kicks, three field goals and an extra point, and your teams loses by 10, you should expect darts to come your way.

And they are. (more…)

Bucs Rank 24th In Yards Per Carry

Monday, September 28th, 2015

DougMartineyesJoe’s really getting sick and tired of hearing about the Texans’ defense.

The reality is the Bucs didn’t run the ball yesterday nearly as well as most teams do against Houston. (more…)

Texans Owner Jealous Of Jameis

Monday, September 28th, 2015
Coveted.

A coveted man.

For the haters and the anti-Jameis blowhards out there, this is for you.

The owner of the team that beat the Bucs yesterday, a team that narrowly missed the playoffs last year, the guy who spent some $700 million to bring the NFL back to south Texas, is jealous of the Bucs. (more…)

Applauding The Offensive Line

Monday, September 28th, 2015
Bucs G Ali Marpet and his fellow linemen helped keep America's Quarterback's jersey clean yesterday, despite facing a future Hall of Famer.

Ali Marpet and his fellow linemen helped keep America’s Quarterback’s jersey clean yesterday, despite facing a future Hall of Famer.

Joe is going to guess many Bucs fans missed the following: the Bucs did not allow one sack on America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston.

Not one. And only three hits. (more…)

“Wasted” And “Pressing”

Monday, September 28th, 2015
ShaunKing

Former Bucs QB Shaun King

How bout those self-beating Buccaneers?

Former Tampa Bay quarterback Shaun King is convinced the team will be kicking itself today. (more…)

Comparing Lovie’s Performance

Monday, September 28th, 2015

LovieJagsJoe’s already hearing a renewed round of calls for Lovie Smith’s job after the thorough Bucs collapse yesterday on offense, special teams and defense. Welcome to the roller coaster of emotion.

For that crowd, Joe’s got two things to watch. (more…)

“We Didn’t Do Our Job”

Monday, September 28th, 2015
Bucs DT Clinton McDonald  was angry that the defense didn't shut the door on the Texans.

Clinton McDonald was angry that the defense didn’t shut the door on the Texans.

In a sad way, it was refreshing to hear two Bucs veterans who built their football resumes on winning teams, defensive tackle Clinton McDonald and guard Logan Mankins, call out their respective sides of the ball for missing the toilet yesterday in Houston. (more…)

Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow

Monday, September 28th, 2015

mike evans 0928

Just when it looked like the Bucs would turn the corner, beat a bad team on the road (again) and have the first winning record since the first year of the Greg Schiano administration, the Bucs vomited all over themselves.

Inability to get a consistent pass rush (the excuses are just about over), high school quality kicking, which cost the Bucs 10 points alone (the difference in the loss), and so many dropped passes Joe swears the ball was poisoned with the Ebola virus, added up to an ugly loss to a bad team. (more…)