Could Bucs Snap Record (Again)?
June 27th, 2016
Another offensive record?.
You want a reason for optimism? Try this:
Surfing yesterday for Bucs tidbits, Joe came across a minicamp rundown by Woody Cummings of SportsTalkFlorida.com. It’s the usual wrap-up of football (yes, underwear) before training camp begins in roughly a month.
But then there was this paragraph that caught Joe’s eye:
The Bucs also continued to develop Koetter’s offensive attack, which a year ago set a franchise record by racking up 6,014 yards. And along the way, they seem to have developed a bit of an edge about them.
Now last year, when Koetter was asked about the offense, once in a while he would mention that Lovie Smith likes to run the ball. And run the ball the Bucs sure did, led by 1,402 yards from Doug Martin.
Since Koetter has taken over, he has mentioned how he wants an up-tempo offense, and he claims to have heeded the words of noted offensive mastermind Marvin Lewis to “throw deep.”
Still, (to get back to Cummings’ excerpt) the Bucs recorded the best offense in franchise history with a rookie quarterback, two rookies on the offensive line, a talented but inconsistent duo of top receivers, and a Harvard man leading the tight ends. Additionally, the Bucs’ defense was wretched enough that it couldn’t get off the field on third downs, much less get out of its own way, thus cutting down on the number of possessions for the offense.
(Yes, Lovie, a punt is a takeaway, too.)
You want reason for optimism? There you go: If under the watchful gaze of Koetter, he could set a franchise record for offense given the obstacles detailed above, what might he do this season with virtually the same personnel and a rewired mentality? And if the defense is improved – and it should be – Koetter will get more possessions per game.
And folks wonder why Joe is eager for the regular season to begin?
June 27th, 2016 at 6:08 am
This offense should be fun to watch for a while…this team has the capability to be a Juggernaut if Mike Smith can get the defense squared away….
June 27th, 2016 at 6:25 am
Ive never been to big on franchise records. League records yes but not franchise records. Lets just get some wins!
June 27th, 2016 at 6:34 am
Dougie ran for 2,000 yards? Where was I for 600 of those?
June 27th, 2016 at 7:31 am
Imagine adding a speedster like bell, a healthy Jax and just maybe a mature and healthy ASJ to this offense, while the D actually stops somebody and gets the ball back once in a while. This offense could easily be a top 5 imo. Maybe I’m being a bit of a Homer but that defense last season was on the field WAY more than most teams wich Joe stated, wich took away alot of offensive possessions.
June 27th, 2016 at 7:34 am
@ espo
Lol who said Dougy ran for 2,000 yards??
June 27th, 2016 at 8:26 am
Espo, that was “team” rushing; it included rushing yards for other backs like Sims.
June 27th, 2016 at 8:44 am
The pieces are falling into place. It only took four decades, but it’s happening. The great thing, unlike 2002, this is a young team that’s just getting started with a balance of talent on BOTH sides of the ball. Koetter’s teams will never be below .500.
June 27th, 2016 at 8:49 am
This off season is working out great for me. Released my novel almost 2 months ago, and I have 2 more about to be released (if the Editor and cover artist ever get done) and am working on another.
In a few weeks I’m going on a week long vacation to the Georgia mountains (first time; and I am seriously considering a side trip to wiz on a certain stadium), and I return just in time for Training camp for a team that is going to be exceptional this year.
Best off season ever.
June 27th, 2016 at 8:51 am
@Kevin
Franchise leads to League records. 😉
June 27th, 2016 at 9:58 am
This season’s gonna be good!…
GO BUCS!!
June 27th, 2016 at 10:34 am
It’s so cool to FINALLY be optimistic regarding what lay ahead for this team!
In 40 years of watching this team, I have never felt this optimistic about the Bucs doing well. Will we win the Super Bowl this season? Extremely doubtful, but I’ll be happy with 8-8 as it shows the steady improvement coming from a well balanced team. As someone said earlier, not even in the late 90’s or 2002 did we show an offense of the magnitude we no possess. If Dirk can translate what he’s done as an O.C to being a head coach, I see multiple winning seasons, and even a Lombardi or two in the not too distant future! We FINALLY seem to be on the right track!!!!!!
June 27th, 2016 at 10:41 am
I hope optimist equates to WINS.
June 27th, 2016 at 11:02 am
Joe the Bucs metal will be tested. We might be 1-4 at the bye week and if that happens there goes the neighborhood. We have to beat the Falcons because after that Jamesis will be running for his nfl life. We play the cardinals with Campbell and Redding not to mention they got Chandler Jones and Nkemdiche in the draft. The Oline better be ready for them monsters. Our receivers got their hands filled with Pat P. The honey badger and company. To make a long story short. The first 5weeks of the seasons will be our playoffs. We play some of the best pass rusher and defenses in the League from the jump. M. Smith and Koetter gotta come out gate going for the juggler every game every play for 60mins. IMO that’s the only way we see the post-season.
June 27th, 2016 at 11:21 am
“And run the ball the Bucs sure did, led by 1,402 yards from Doug Martin.”
These sneaky bastards edited it. It was 2000 this morning.
June 27th, 2016 at 11:41 am
Bonzai what’s a brief synopsis of the novel that you just released?
June 27th, 2016 at 11:51 am
Bonzai
I’m also interested in your book(s). espo33618@gmail please if you don’t want to post on here.
Also, please wiz on said stadium for me also.
June 27th, 2016 at 1:14 pm
This Buc team will only go as far as their Defense takes them. Yes, they will score touchdowns. But will they stop opponents for scoring theirs? Will they stop teams at crucial times in the game which determine the outcome.Or..Will they lose 31-30? The clock is ticking and judgement day will arrive very shortly.
June 27th, 2016 at 4:51 pm
@Bigbucben and @Espo
It’s a fantasy novel. So are the next two.
Working on several others atm…a Superhuman fiction, a Kaiju (giant monster) novel and another fantasy.
The novel that is out is called “A Storm of Dragons: An Amazing New Fantasy Epic”.
Can’t link to it, but its on Amazon and Barnes & Noble and Apple, and others worldwide.
Joe was kind enough to give a shout out on twitter a month or so ago.
June 27th, 2016 at 4:54 pm
It’s a new release, so still waiting for reviews.
June 27th, 2016 at 5:26 pm
Congrats to you on your book being published! What a monumental task.
Please forgive me for being such a grammar nerd, but in your bio it states that you were given “free reign”. I believe the correct usage is “free rein”, a horse riding term implying “free to do what you want”.
tickrdr
June 28th, 2016 at 12:50 am
Not my favorite genre but I pick one up occasionally. I’ll be happy to check it out. Thank you.
June 28th, 2016 at 1:45 am
Dont care about yards…let’s set the record for points scored!!!! We had a hollow top ten offense because of garbage time yards…lets put some more points up! we have the talent and scheme in place, Joe!
June 28th, 2016 at 2:29 pm
@tickrdr
It was actually referring to “reign” as in what a king does. Total control.