Dominik Talks Another 6-Win Bucs Season In 2016
August 10th, 2016
Jason Licht’s predecessor sees another rough Bucs season
Former Bucs rockstar general manager Mark Dominik isn’t predicting a return to the glory days of Raheem Morris and his 10-6 record in 2010, the last winning season for Tampa Bay.
Dominik was talking all things Bucs on SiriusXM NFL Radio this week and comfortably went deep on Bucs personnel, the Lovie Smith-Dirk Koetter change and what lies ahead in 2016. (Here is Dominik’s take on Donovan Smith and the wide receiver corps).
Dominik also assessed the Bucs’ schedule and record.
“I see that they’ve got to get out to a decent start, and I think decent start meaning 2-3, 3-2 at least getting into that bye [in Week 6],” Dominik said. “Atlanta is a critical game [in Week 1]. Where do they stand within the NFC South right off the bat? L.A. has got a rookie quarterback they’re probably going to trot out there. In Denver, we don’t know who the quarterback is going to be yet.
“To me, those first five games are critical in terms of. ‘Can you beat the teams you’re as good as or better at, especially at the quarterback position?’
“And I think that’s where you’re really going to have to look at Tampa Bay and say, ‘If they’re not 3-2 or at least 2-3 coming into the bye week, then it could be a tough season.’ They still may be 6-10, even though they may be a better 6-10, it’s going to be a long season for them. So they’re going to really have to prove a lot in those first five games.”
When the segment ended, the former Bucs GM predicted the Bucs would end their five-year streak in the NFC South basement. He predicted a third-place finish, with the Saints fourth, and the Panthers and Falcons repeating as champion and runner-up, respectively.
Dominik fingered Mike Smith as the Bucs’ most important offseason addition and said how quickly Smith can gel the defense will be key.
August 10th, 2016 at 1:08 pm
Yea…..Rough season Mark…..thanks for all the talent you stacked up for us…..thanks a lot.
August 10th, 2016 at 1:10 pm
Poor dom force to watch another GM come in turn things round quick fast and a hurry. You mad bro.
August 10th, 2016 at 1:10 pm
I agree first 5 crucial. I got us down for 6-7 wins. I’d feel better if we could add a couple guys at dt wr.
August 10th, 2016 at 1:12 pm
Shut up Dom.
August 10th, 2016 at 1:18 pm
If we’re at 3-2 going into the bye then I see us making a playoff push. The schedule isn’t that bad.
August 10th, 2016 at 1:19 pm
And he did not sign Michael Bennett why?
Kick rocks!
August 10th, 2016 at 1:24 pm
Poppycock.
Multiply that total by 2 and he will have a better chance of being accurate.
SMH.
August 10th, 2016 at 1:26 pm
9-7 just miss the playoffs which drives young Jameis nuts but even more hungry for the following season.
August 10th, 2016 at 1:28 pm
Don’t give a a crap what Dom thinks. If his opinion regarding talent and potential were valuable, then Licht wouldn’t have so much of a talent hole to dig us out of and Dom would actually be working in the NFL again 3 years after being fired from his last NFL job.
August 10th, 2016 at 1:30 pm
@Lord Cornelius … “If we’re at 3-2 going into the bye then I see us making a playoff push.” Agree 100%. Something about Dominik’s numbers don’t make sense. He says that if we go 3-2 in the first 5 games, we still may end up 6-10. The math tells me that if we go 3-2 to start, then we’d have to be 3-8 for the rest of the season to end up 6-10. My thought is that if we start 3-2 against our toughest opponents, why would he expect us to go 3-8 against the not-as-tough part of the schedule? I agree with Lord C … if we go 3-2 to start, we should end up at least 8-8, and very probably 9-7 or 10-6 (barring a bunch of injuries of course). There’s a potential playoff spot with 9 or 10 wins.
August 10th, 2016 at 1:31 pm
Here’s a question for you all. How many elite QBs will we face this season??? Then come back and try me wit your migor 6 win total.
August 10th, 2016 at 1:38 pm
He said “may be a tough season” “could go 6-10” honestly how honest is that, pretty honest if you ask me. I know we all want our team to go 11-5 and make the playoffs but they do play Romo, Palmer, Brees, Ryan, Newton, Wilson, Cutler and Carr – much different group of QB’s than last year.
August 10th, 2016 at 1:42 pm
Sounds like some Dom damn dimwitted dour depression dirtying with his dump.
August 10th, 2016 at 1:42 pm
NOS…I hear YOU loud and clear. I’ve seen the schedule and I think I’m at 8-8 with a lucky bounce making them 9-7. Then again, our D is the biggest question mark and Dominik is an IDIOT. Like I said below in the Dom thread.
IF <—Big if the defense is improved then they can get to 10 or 11.
All of this also depends on who gets injured and at what point in time. Throw in those dumb ass penalties that they commit no matter who's on the roster. The we're back to 8-8.
That's the Buc1987 way of formulating and Dom's still and IDIOT!
August 10th, 2016 at 1:44 pm
Sorry for the typos can’t find my bifocals…jk.
August 10th, 2016 at 1:46 pm
Dom said if they Don’t go 2-3 or 3-2 before the bye week they are probably going to finish 6-10. Seems about right to me just like how critical the atl game is on week one.
August 10th, 2016 at 1:46 pm
I would be more worried if the worst GM in Buc History had us doing well!!!!
August 10th, 2016 at 1:52 pm
I know why- Romo injury prone,Palmer nut up under pressure,Brees aint getting no younger man,Ryan good only thing wit him is everyone knows he’ll force the ball to Juluo,Wilson will have five new starting olinemen this season,cam”we decided we would load the box and make him beat us with his arm” Chris Harris Denver Broncos.(he could’nt) why cutler and carr would even make your list beyond me.
August 10th, 2016 at 1:56 pm
My point is this all this chayyer about tough scedule I just don’t see it because I don’t see Brady,Big Ben,or Rodgers on it. We have the best running in the league,a young bad boy QB,a defense that is about to be let loose. So let me guess some of you don’t like our chances against a Mark Sanchez lead broncos??? Really!
August 10th, 2016 at 1:57 pm
Thank you for Lavonte David, Gerald McCoy, Doug Martin, Luke Stocker, Keith Tandy, Jonathan Banks, Mike Glennon, Akeem Spence, Will Gholston, and Mike James.
Nearly 20% of our current roster was drafted by Mark Dominik. Three of those guys are pro-bowlers. I don’t know what the haters expect but when it comes to drafting you are hoping to draft a player who years down the road will be productive or will be an asset used to acquire other players or draft picks (see Barron, Mark).
As for Dominik’s prediction I hope he’s wrong. Anything less than eight wins is a failed season. No such thing as good losses.
August 10th, 2016 at 2:11 pm
How does he think we can go 3-2 through the toughest part of our scheduleby far and still finish below .500? It makes no sense. And the Falcons? They are terrible on defense!
August 10th, 2016 at 2:12 pm
This is why Dom is an analyst for ESPN right now…I don’t care what the experts expectations are……Buccs are going to go out and fight to win every game and win a championship.
August 10th, 2016 at 2:18 pm
The opener is huge, and he’s right… we got to start 3-2 or 2-3. In the 2nd half, seatle and at kc are losses. We are better than san fran and SD, but going out west is always tough. At dallas and at NO is always tough.
August 10th, 2016 at 2:31 pm
The opener is huge, and he’s right… we got to start 3-2 or 2-3. In the 2nd half, seatle and at kc are losses. We are better than san fran and SD, but going out west is always tough. At dallas and at NO is always tough.
———————————————————-
If Mike Glennon can nearly beat Seattle in Seattle….we can beat Seattle. Let’s stop with the losing mindset, Buccs fans. I know what the so called “expectations” are….but our team doesn’t have those expectations….listen to Robert Ayers…he doesn’t give a Hoover what the projections are. We have to have that old mentality we carried when we had a dominant defense…it didnt matter who we played, or where we played them…we came to play, we came to win.
August 10th, 2016 at 2:34 pm
did anyone the Panthers a shot last season? No….their super bowl odds were 30-1 after they lost KB. No even expected the Broncos to be in Super Bowl 50 with a washed-up Manning especially after he got benched, but they were.
Did anyone give the 2007 Giants a snowballs chance? 6th seed….won 11 straight on the road, and pulled off arguably the biggest upset in football history….Let’s get the mindset we can start to be CHAMPIONS AGAIN.
August 10th, 2016 at 2:35 pm
Why take the word of a non winning and non producing executive formerly of the Buc’s Mark Dominik? He chose bad players that are very few left on the team. Now if a different person of NFL fame I would take their word.
August 10th, 2016 at 2:39 pm
@feelthepower lol
August 10th, 2016 at 3:07 pm
If we 3-2 or even 2-3 in those first 5, we’ll be alright and probably hit 8 wins, maybe even 9 .
10 if some luck bounces our way.
August 10th, 2016 at 3:09 pm
4 road games out west in kinda tough though for any team. Ok I guess KC doesn’t count so only 3…
August 10th, 2016 at 3:11 pm
@fsuking, I interpreted that to mean if we’re not 3-2 were gonna be 6-10..
August 10th, 2016 at 3:15 pm
Yeah 10 wins unbelievable I agree. Hell 8 I’ll prob by the bar a round that day..
Do any of you real optimistic types remember any of the last 6 years??
August 10th, 2016 at 3:19 pm
Power save your energy, these folks have no football vision. Seeing will be believing tho. Dallas defensive situation atrocious,all NO has is a aging Drew Brees,atl suck, Seattle five new o linemen. In my opinion at KC in arrowhead is the toughest early season game on our schedule. Carolina will be starting two rookie cbs. If you think that’s not big you crazy. They are not the same defense.
August 10th, 2016 at 3:23 pm
I think the offense will do ok. The question is the defense. Will they be able to get stops in the redzone, and get to the quarterback consistently? If not, it’ll be another looooooong season. Our offense doesn’t have the firepower to put up 30+ pts per game every Sunday.
August 10th, 2016 at 3:25 pm
That’s a good point about Carolina, Nole.
Some teams are gonna be better than we think, some will be worse. I’m trying to set myself up not to disappointed, so I’m telling myself 8-8.
I think we have the talent to win 10 or 11, but we are young, and WR and O-line depth is concerning. Dreaming about playoffs…
August 10th, 2016 at 3:25 pm
My expectation for this year is playoffs. Period. Anything less than a playoff berth will be a failure of a season in my opinion.
August 10th, 2016 at 3:29 pm
That’s fair what you just unbelievable and Cream we in agreement my expectation is at a minimum playoffs for this team.
August 10th, 2016 at 3:31 pm
“D-Rome Says:
August 10th, 2016 at 1:57 pm
Nearly 20% of our current roster was drafted by Mark Dominik. ”
That means in just two seasons, Licht has felt compelled to replace 80% of the roster.
Matt Millen drafted a hall of famer. When you draft that high, that often, you are going to get some quality players. It’s nearly impossible to not hit on a few.
In a league of retreads and buddy buddy hiring, he’s still working for ESPN.
August 10th, 2016 at 3:41 pm
7-9 or 8-8 is where im lookin but with a team that is in every game and feeling they are on the come as opposed to last few years where there seemed every week they were outcoached and outplayed….never see that national tv falcons drubbing again… bucs will be in nfc championship in3 years
August 10th, 2016 at 4:04 pm
Love and Warrick Dunn,
That’s not a proper way to look at it. Even if you want to look at it that way you should see the amount of players Light has signed to the 53 man roster and then replaced since the 2014 season. There’s been significant roster upheaval since Jason Licht arrived here. Every GM has big hits and big misses. Licht has had his share as well. That’s part of the process in trying to improve the team. It should be no surprise the Buccaneers failures mostly have to do with instability at the coach and GM positions.
August 10th, 2016 at 4:35 pm
Hey Mark, I guess since your predicting a rough season, I can bet on us making the playoffs. After all, every time you blew sunshine up our asses and told us the team was headed in the right direction, it was just embarrassment and misery for everyone seen carrying a bucs flag. Now I’m definitely putting money on the Bucs making the post season.
THANKS ROCKSTAR!!!!
August 10th, 2016 at 4:37 pm
Jason Licht makes Mark Dominik look like the kid who pissed his pants in front of his entire third grade class. Who the hell would employ this guy thinking he has valuable knowledge of players and organizations in the NFL?
Oh yeah, never mind.
August 10th, 2016 at 4:45 pm
Until we see how the defense plays, no one can accurately predict any Buc’s record. I’m as optimistic as the rest, but we just don’t know yet. Even if the offense progresses as everyone expects, I don’t believe it’s possible for it to be good enough to overcome a bad defense.
August 10th, 2016 at 4:49 pm
Tired I know talent when I see it. Our defense is loaded wit talent.
August 10th, 2016 at 4:55 pm
When I personally examine our scedule I don’t see a single team that makes me say they are better from a roster standpoint. Now don’t get me wrong I understand”any given Sunday”but many of you are about to be surprised at how bad ya football team really is.
August 10th, 2016 at 5:32 pm
Funny thing about a lot of fans and the media there in Tampa. They blame every past coach and Mngr for the team not winning. They never blame the players performance. But nationally sportswriters and commentators blame the owners for not being patient. And so far, they have been right. Now why are you fickcle fans posting here always wrong about the Bucs. Perhaps you are in..denial.
August 10th, 2016 at 6:19 pm
If we can make it out of those first 5 games ok followed by a much needed bye week, it’s smooth sailing from there.
August 10th, 2016 at 6:19 pm
I think it all depends on how Jameis progresses.
Many QBs have rough second years, just like many WRs. I’m hoping we avoid it.
August 10th, 2016 at 6:24 pm
It was the defense and Lovie that held us back from being a plus 500 team, we made almost no changes on offense because we’re already set for now, we had a top 10 offense last year . This season depends on Mike smith and how the defense preforms.
August 10th, 2016 at 6:36 pm
hey yo dom,eat it.11-5 Super Bowl.it all starts tomorrowthe beginning of a dynasty and more.Tampaaaaaa
August 10th, 2016 at 6:47 pm
Dom’s butthurt is still strong…
August 10th, 2016 at 6:48 pm
The Bucs could easily have been 8-8 last season and have gotten markedly better—on paper.
The question is how much better are the 13 teams on their schedule?
August 10th, 2016 at 6:53 pm
Feelthepewter I agree. I dont care what anyone is picking us to be, including Dominick. The team and the fans are pumped about this year so go get dem wins boys!!!
August 10th, 2016 at 6:58 pm
I think Dom pretty much nailed it. He hedged his bets and didn’t make any real prediction here. The Bucs are an unknown right now but soon, very soon.
Go Bucs!!!
August 10th, 2016 at 6:58 pm
24hrs until kickoff!!!!!
24hrs until the new regime starts!!!! I would not want any other team as a first game then Atlanta!!!! Are you telling me Coach Smitty has not circled that game as soon as the schedule was released!!!!!
24hrs!!!!!!
August 10th, 2016 at 7:46 pm
Fr fr Realist!!! I whole heartedly expect to pummel Atlanta week 1.
August 10th, 2016 at 7:56 pm
What channel locally is tommorrow’a game on?
August 10th, 2016 at 8:12 pm
I agree that Atlanta is critical just like Tennessee was critical last year. I don’t see us winning in Arizona.
If the defence is decent we can go 50-50 from there or better.
Did anyone see that George Yarno died yesterday? He was an offensive lineman for us during the time McKay was saying “Capese is caput”. Yarno kicked either a field goal or an extra point for us at the end of a game. It was a straight on kick, not a soccer style kick so it was quite an entertaining moment. Goodbye George.
August 10th, 2016 at 8:24 pm
No way Jameis accepts a second straight year of not making the playoffs. He and Mike Smith are the difference. Bucs go 10-6 and make the playoffs as a wild card.
August 10th, 2016 at 8:56 pm
As always, Joe will have all of that information in his “Gameday Tampa Bay” article which is posted before every game.
August 10th, 2016 at 9:00 pm
I moving my prediction from 6-7 wins to 8-9 wins. Other than a few injuries, I like whats been going on so far. I think our D has been key in a few of those losses the last few years and that will hopefully be fixed under Mike S.
August 10th, 2016 at 9:32 pm
Unfortunately I’m still in 6-10 mode😢
August 10th, 2016 at 10:01 pm
Im going to send this little no sack pansy ha ha and “I told you so letters straight in his mail when the bucs surge up to the post season..SCREW YOU marky DumbaNick! Sit down son and watch real me play as a team in Tampa Bay!See what a Real Coached and manged team can do..
Freaking puke
August 10th, 2016 at 10:19 pm
Eric……Are you signed up yet?
JoeBucsFan Pick’em league.
http://games.espn.com/nfl-pigskin-pickem/2016/en/group?groupID=99276
August 10th, 2016 at 11:25 pm
This is the most confidence-inspiring Bucs news I’ve seen all off-season. Dominik has never been right about a single thing he ever did regarding the Bucs.
This is the man who resigned Michael Clayton.
This is the man who let Michael Bennett walk.
This is the man who drafted a safety at 7 overall.
August 11th, 2016 at 1:00 am
SB, gotta find my password! 🤔
August 11th, 2016 at 7:28 am
Everything depends on Jamies. I can’t wait to see where he is at in his development. I hope all the work that Jameis has done will translate into wins on the field.