Bucs Walking Into A Hornet’s Nest
September 14th, 2016
Joe has a hunch if the Bucs really are going to be players for a playoff run this year, we will find out rather quickly late Sunday afternoon.
The Bucs will be play in the Cardinals’ bird cage against a very PO’ed team.
Many picked Arizona as a Super Bowl contender. They got punked in their own cage Sunday night by a guy making his first NFL start, Jimmy Garoppolo, the pride of Eastern Illinois University. In primetime on national TV, no less.
We all know what happens to the playoff odds of a team that loses its first two games of a season. So Joe expects the Cardinals to come out fighting for their lives.
How p!ssed are the Cardinals? General manager Steve Keim blasted the team this week. How often do you see a general manager unload on his team publicly after the first game?
Oh yeah, guess who is one of Keim’s closest friends in the NFL? That would be AC/DC-loving Bucs general Jason Licht. You think Keim wants to lose a critical game to one of his protegés? No way.
(Trivia: When Licht was working for Jimmy Johnson and the Dolphins, he had to play the part of “The Turk,” the guy in training camp who tells players about to be cut that the head coach wants to speak with them and to bring their playbook. It was Licht who told Keim, then a reserve offensive lineman with the Dolphins, that his NFL playing days were done.)
Even the Bucs know what a steep hill Sunday’s game represents for them. Gerald McCoy explained to “The Blitz” co-hosts Bruce Murray and Brady Quinn yesterday, heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio.
“I like competing against people I am a fan of,” GMC said. “I am a fan of Bruce Arians. I’m not going to lie. You always love to compete against certain people. And Bruce Arians, as a coach, and the success he has had, it’s going to be fun to compete against his teams.
“[Arizona is a] very, very, very dominant team. Don’t be fooled by what happened Sunday. They are still dominant. You think they are going to lose on opening day and let another team come into their house and do it to them again? Nah. So we have a huge, huge, huge test ahead of ourselves.”
That’s the way Joe sees it. This is a test. A huge test. If the Bucs hang with or even beat the Cardinals, then Joe thinks we’ll be looking at a fairly good Bucs team this year.
If the Bucs do win, the Joe believe Sunday’s game could very well be a factor in determining a wild card in four months.
September 14th, 2016 at 7:36 am
Improvement starts at the top with the overall coaching staff, there’s a reason Lovie and his kids are no longer here….
That being said, this looks like a team that can compete at a pretty good level. Atlanta is not a good team, so first part of the equation is to vault over the Falcons in the NFC South.
Now they face a bonafide NFC playoff team, looking forward to see how they compete…..
September 14th, 2016 at 7:37 am
JOE, this is a Huge test for our guys! But forget about Arizona’s mindset. How about ours, JBOO and Coach K have got to be salivating at the thought of starting 2-0 and coming home for the Opener @ Ray Jay!! I see more motivation there!! Time to show everyone what the buzz is about!! GO BUCS!!
September 14th, 2016 at 7:45 am
The run game and rush game must be on point to win.
September 14th, 2016 at 7:54 am
Well it won’t be the 1st (Or the last) time – they started season 0-2
The 1998 Arizona Cardinals
Started the season 0-2
• at Dallas L 38-10
• at Seattle L 33-14
Finished the season – 2nd in the NFC East (9-7)
– Beat Dallas in the 1st round of the Playoffs W 20-7
– (2nd Rnd) Got smashed by Randy Moss/Cris Carter’s Vikings L 41-21
Let’s serve’Em up a big dose of Déjà Vu
September 14th, 2016 at 7:55 am
*Well it won’t be the 1st (Or the last) time – they started season 0-2
and made the playoffs
September 14th, 2016 at 7:59 am
Triva: When was the last time the BUCS started the season 2-0.
With two road victories?
September 14th, 2016 at 8:05 am
Just glanced on The Cardinals Website….Darren Urban I believe “writer for the Cardinals” said “I don’t think we kill them (BUCS) but it’s a game we won’t lose!! They don’t have the Star Power or coaching New England does!” Let’s Go BUCS!!
September 14th, 2016 at 8:12 am
I agree with Tom E: beating the ATL on the road just shows that right now the bucs are a better team than the Falcons; last year the Bucs swept them so while this is a good win it could merely be the case of a 7-9 Tampa team beating a 3-13 Falcon team. Yet any way you look at the Bucs’ performance in week 1 this year; it is a helluva lot better then that 48-14 embarrassment to a 3-13 Titans team last year! The team showed spark and resilience: 2 things we rarely saw under Lovie’s watch last year. BTW did anyone care to look at how the Illini have fared and how similar the comments of Mr lovie Smith appear to be to the BS he spouted after Buc losses while he was here??? I am sure the Chicago press will start roasting him if the Illini flame as expected and finish 3-9 or so…
But back to Koetters’ team. The wiseguys have the cards as a 6.5 point fave, not a huge line and definitely smaller than it would have been before week 1 was played and the cards were almost a 10 point fave over the Pats. However the Cards did not look all that good against the undermanned Pats who were missing Brady and Gronk. If the Bucs play relatively mistake free ball in all facets of the game (particularly in the running game and thus the control of the game clock/ time of possession) they could send the Cards to 0-2. I would not be surprised if the Bucs win this game outright and maintain first place outright for a second week. Anyway you cut it this team is light years ahead of where it was this time last year even if the Bucs rebounded to beat a mediocre saints team last year!
September 14th, 2016 at 8:14 am
I don’t think losing this game hurts the Bucs much, but winning it would help them in a huge way!
The Cards and Panthers are the toughest teams we play. Beating either would mean we can win in the playoffs!
September 14th, 2016 at 8:17 am
Bucdup08 said: “Darren Urban I believe “writer for the Cardinals” said “I don’t think we kill them (BUCS) but it’s a game we won’t lose!! They don’t have the Star Power or coaching New England does!”” Gotta love when someone who represents the interests of the opponent goes out and gives the Bucs some bulletin board material to keep the intensity level up! Go Bucs!
September 14th, 2016 at 8:20 am
Answer: Never
In 41yrs we’ve never started the season w/ 2 road victories
Previous 4x
2001
– Dallas W 10-6
– Minnesota L 16-20
Final Record: 9-7-0
Playoffs: Lost Wild Card 9-31 vs. Philadelphia Eagles
1998
-Minnesota L 7-31
-Green Bay L 15-23
Final Record: 8-8-0
1995 ← The Year Sam Wyche broke the 10 year drought
-Philadelphia W 21-6
-Cleveland L 6 -22
Final Record: 7-9-0
1984
– Chicago L 14-34
– New Orleans L 13-17
Final Record: 6-10-0
Beat the Streak !!
September 14th, 2016 at 8:21 am
The deck is certainly stacked against our Bucs this week, but who knows what will happen. This is why we actually have to play the games. Joe this game gives you a lot to talk about with Ira and the other guy on 620 tomorrow. I was stuck in traffic yesterday evening, was very bored, broke my rule and tuned in at that time slot to hear some Buc talk. Surprise surprise, the host was ranting at a caller, passionatly declaring definitively that the Bucs were going to lose. I lasted maybe 3 or 4 minutes and had to go back to itunes.
September 14th, 2016 at 8:25 am
In 41yrs we’ve never started the season – w/ 2 back-to back road victories
September 14th, 2016 at 8:29 am
Smitty better slow down David Johnson
Arians saw what backup telvin coleman did to our pass coverage
We have to contain that kid
September 14th, 2016 at 8:42 am
There is no such thing as a moral victory…..a loss is a loss. We need to win this game. But, I will say it’s important for us to show ourselves and everyone else that we can be competitive against a very good team at their house.
September 14th, 2016 at 8:42 am
Its simple Buccs win. I ain’t hardly fearing a team that got manhandled the way they did against the cats in the playoffs. After we beat these ducks maybe some of y’all will begin to realize the cats are not the cream of the south.
September 14th, 2016 at 8:46 am
Let em think we’re the bucs of old and there gonna beat us up. There gonna get a rude reality check come Sunday afternoon.
September 14th, 2016 at 8:54 am
This team finished 2015 getting trounced in carolina and began 2016 getting handled by a depleted Patriots with no Brady. Says a lot about the mental of that team to me seems fragile. They’ll be hyped early after quarter they’ll notice “no back down” in us then they’ll proceed to fold. The way paper champs always do.
September 14th, 2016 at 9:22 am
Alexander and David are the X-factors in this game. They need to keep David Johnson in check. I watched every game of Johnsons at Northern Iowa working in the booth, he will take over a game fast if you don’t stay on top of him at the LOS.
Carson Palmer doesn’t scare me, my belief is he’s going to fall off a cliff this year. Their defense has obviously got some good players, but I dare them to blitz Jameis, he will pick apart the side opposite of Patrick Peterson if they do that.
Vincent Jackson needs to show up in this game and our TE tribe needs to work the middle of the field.
We can win this game.
September 14th, 2016 at 9:31 am
Yeah to me the odds are stacked against the Bucs for all the wrong reasons.
A NEW SEASON means just that.
I am gonna keep saying it the way I have been saying it. After the ATL game and having watched the ARZ game. NO WAY ARE THEY A BETTER TEAM…
Last year is a wash for these two teams as they are headed in opposite directions at this point. The league can handle a Palmer with a solid D. He cant create plays on his own. Put the heat on him and you have yourself a rich mans McClown.
I am calling for 5 sacks 2 picks and a shot heard round the world.
Bucs wont loose before the bye week WHEN they WIN this game.
38-21 Bucs.
September 14th, 2016 at 9:51 am
that is a talented roster but getting to palmer changes everything. a composed palmer will pick us apart, he just has too many good players to throw to. a rattled carson….we’ve seen that guy play and we can beat him. they have a heck of a defense, and i hope koetter has a gameplan….i could see us staying away from the WRs and running the offense through our RBs and TEs
September 14th, 2016 at 10:08 am
I expect to compete every single week and yes, I expect us to win. Time to start expecting more from this football team.
September 14th, 2016 at 10:08 am
I sort of agree with JAB83 on this. I think if we pressure the hell out of palmer they will crumble. But that will be the key. Grimes and VH3 can handle the parameter. It will be up to Jude and Verner to handle Fitz. I expect a lot of man to man packages this week. Most of the big passing plays we gave up were busted zone coverage’s. The only one that might have been man to man was to Sanu at the right goal post. We have a good team this year and I believe that Arizona is on the decline. @JAB83, I don’t think that the score will be that high. I’ll guess 17-13 Bucs!
September 14th, 2016 at 10:18 am
“Hornet’s Nest”? More like a Fire Ant’s Nest, Joe. Cardinals’ GM needs to shut his trap, too. We Buc fans would love to have the record the Cards have had for the last couple of years! @Pablo: thanx for the nice compliment yesterday. 🙂 @JAB83: Hope you’re right about the sacks, picks “and shot heard round the world.” 4PM kickoff means NoSBoS and the rest of the krewe will have plenty of time to prepare. I’ll have it on Bucs radio. 🙂 Go Mighty Bucs!!
September 14th, 2016 at 10:20 am
What Dallas just said. Geesh some of you.
September 14th, 2016 at 10:23 am
What DallasBuc said,
I expect this team to compete and overcome adversity (mental toughness). Who is this guy [Darren Urban I believe “writer for the Cardinals” said “I don’t think we kill them (BUCS) but it’s a game we won’t lose!! They don’t have the Star Power or coaching New England does!” ], who is the star power on the Pats without Brady and Gronk, not saying that Pats aren’t all that, but i would consider (ME & JW a better combo than any Pats combo that did play and I would also consider GMC & LVD just as good or better combo than anyone who played for the Pats last week), plus we got “Hump”
September 14th, 2016 at 10:24 am
This will be an Outstanding measuring stick for the Bucs. The AZ Cards very rarely lose 2 in a row. They have a no nonsense tough as nails coach. If you do not perform, you are benched. Even if he has to place lesser talent on the field. Their Defense and O line are tough. They have a QB who is old, but wise. He can have 3 bad qtrs and still beat you in the 4th. I do believe our key will be defensive pressure. We got to have even more than last Sunday to win. Because Fiztgerald don’t miss many thrown his way. Man’s got hands like glue!
IF..we can get just a little rotation on the D line to give guys a breather, We just might? Should be a great game. But we have got to be on top of our to win. I thought we could beat ATL. I’m not so sure about AZ in AZ.
September 14th, 2016 at 10:27 am
Star power hahahaha without Brady or gronk. The pats LACKED star power. The Cards got out coached. Carson Palmer can be vgood. But he’s will throw some straight up stinkers too. I counted 3 blown coverage plays by our defence week 1. Leading to 3 big plays. Those are alot easier to correct than guys being beat. Clean that up and if #3 can get more accurate early. He had a great game but the inaccuracy in the 1st quarter might be the kiss of death against a quality team.
September 14th, 2016 at 10:43 am
Darren urbans on twitter. If you wanna give him a piece of your mind.
September 14th, 2016 at 11:11 am
If you want to be the best you have to BEAT the best!!!
September 14th, 2016 at 11:12 am
IN Kotter we TRUST!!
September 14th, 2016 at 11:38 am
“You think they are going to lose on opening day and let another team come into their house and do it to them again? Nah.” GMC’s statement seems to cast doubt on the Bucs chances to get the win.
September 14th, 2016 at 12:38 pm
You have to believe to achieve. Sounds like GMC is not quite a believer. Thats unfortunate.
September 14th, 2016 at 12:43 pm
Hargreaves and Grimes!!!
They can make a name for themselves against Peterson and Mathieu.
I love our little corners!!
So SMALL but they BALL!!
Go Bucs!!
September 14th, 2016 at 12:54 pm
The answer? Who cares. All that matters is This year. Not the past history.
September 14th, 2016 at 1:09 pm
37 I’ll give GMC the benefit of doubt and say that was a bit of gamesmanship. Sort of like how Michael Jordan would take opponents to dinner the night before they met in the next game. And then kill’em when they faced off the next day.