Surprise!
September 22nd, 2016
The NFL season is still young, yet there are many surprises for each team.
As a result, the four-letter ordered its NFL team correspondents to knuckle down and come up with just one surprise for each team.
Now off the top of Joe’s head, if there is a surprise, it’s how wretched the Bucs looked last week in the desert. Coming off a big win on the road and a revamped defense, Joe believed the Bucs might give the Cardinals a run.
Instead, those birds pecked the eyes out of the Bucs’ carcass.
But Jenna Laine has another idea for a surprise. The BSPN beat writer believes the regression of Vincent Jackson is the biggest surprise of 2016.
The veteran has been the most consistent and reliable target for the Buccaneers since he arrived in 2012. But through two games, he has managed just six catches for 62 receiving yards, and quarterback Jameis Winston has been picked off in back-to-back weeks on passes intended for him. Coach Dirk Koetter even acknowledged that their chemistry is off. Is it lack of chemistry or the beginning of a steep decline for Jackson, now 33 and in his 12th season? He might hit his stride a few games into the season, but given his importance to this offense the past four years, his struggles are startling.
Joe touched upon this yesterday. The way wide receivers coach/offensive coordinator Todd Monken was talking about Jackson missing his strides tells Joe the offense is significantly different than it was last year. When healthy, Jackson was the stud of the offense last year. If the offense is the same, then how could he forget so much in less than a year? It doesn’t compute.
Joe has a hunch this Bucs offense won’t hum the way Dirk Koetter wants it to run until or unless Jackson gets on the same page with America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston.
September 22nd, 2016 at 7:14 am
He has been a real warrior for the Bucs and a great addition to this team. The question is has this warrior lost his will to fight for some reason.
September 22nd, 2016 at 7:48 am
we need to cut this cancer out of the team
*LOL, older veteran players production and bodies physically breakdown as the season progresses and not warmup
defenses are rolling their coverage toward Evans and our captain VJ is taking a dive
our leader is sulking because he wants a contract extention and he is going to sink our season
our military brat is doing a keyshawn to sweezy more money out of jason gump
September 22nd, 2016 at 8:05 am
I hope Im wrong but it looks like he just doesnt care……just the way I see it.
September 22nd, 2016 at 8:08 am
Am I the only one who thinks things will turn around for Vjax. He has a career of production. He loves Tampa and wants to retire here. Surely, he is either motivated to have a great end to his career or to play well enough for a contract extention.
September 22nd, 2016 at 8:09 am
extension
September 22nd, 2016 at 8:23 am
Per: Joe
September 22nd, 2016 at 8:33 am
My eldest son attended a few practices this year.
I can vividly remember him saying – Them pads aren’t popping like last year dad”
No this was regarding his view on this year’s 9-7 drills vs last year.
Had me wondering are they protecting our two stud running backs?
September 22nd, 2016 at 8:34 am
*Now this was regarding his view on this year’s 9-7 drills vs last year.
September 22nd, 2016 at 9:00 am
Man it seems the fate of our Bucs is always in the balance or even decided before September is finished. The next three weeks should be extremely revealing. Will Jackson return to the player we all love? Will Simms make his case as an every down back? Will Jameis become more accurate and put this team on his shoulders? Will the defense hold up with our pass rushers dropping like flies? Remember when we were in sole possession of first place in the division 11 days ago?
September 22nd, 2016 at 10:26 am
@TBBF
You’re not the only one but we’re clearly in the minority. All this talk about VJAX tanking is just absurd. Again read the parable about the Scorpion and the Frog or think of the cliche about leopards do not change their spots. VJAX didn’t suddenly develop a “bad attitude” after a lengthy career of excellence on and off the field.
He loves Tampa and is going to make it his home. I just can’t buy the “attitude” argument.
I think Realist is probably as close to anybody explaining this. He has observed that VJAX is not making sharp cuts and it’s probably because of last year’s injury still lingering in his old body. I can buy that. And running bad routes leads to interceptions.
And so the real question is how much does he have left in the tank. Perhaps he feels it slipping away and his reaction is simple depression. It must be hard for a proud man to find he’s no longer able to contribute the way he’s used to doing.
September 22nd, 2016 at 11:00 am
“I wanted to be drafted by the tampa bay bucs and play in front of poster stpetebucsfan” Sterling Shepard
September 22nd, 2016 at 11:14 am
Kobe Faker is a troll. Bor-ing.
September 22nd, 2016 at 11:17 am
I’m not concerned with VJax’s level of play either. He catches most balls thrown to him. To me Jackson is not the primary receiver often. He just looks for the open spot, apparently there haven’t been many open spots lately. Don’t know if past injury has anything to do with his play, seeing as how those matters have top secret need to know status. I say in this his tribute year that he returns to form, body willing.
September 22nd, 2016 at 11:32 am
Kobe
Props to you for coming up with a great moniker for a troll. One that is honest.
Faker indeed!
September 22nd, 2016 at 11:55 am
Whats all this nonsense about Vjax? jax still plays hard. And most of the balls are not even thrown his way. One ones that have been are out of reach, short or when he was covered like a blanket. Jax does not have an attitude. The guy does an awful lot of community work in the Bay area. So..Cut it out and Knock it off people!