Another Too-Early Prediction
May 15th, 2017
Guessing the NFL outcomes of teams in May is always dicey. Who knows who will get injured in those useless debacles preseason games?
That hasn’t stopped Jonathan Jones of SI.com from giving his best effort to predict season records.
And while Westgate in Las Vegas has the Bucs win total at eight, Jones is banking on the over. He has the Bucs winning 10 games.
This team feels like the 2013 Panthers, with a third-year quarterback about to come into his own and a young, hungry defense. The Bucs were mathematically in playoff contention heading into the last Sunday of last season, and now they have the best receiving tandem in the division in DeSean Jackson and Mike Evans. If Jameis Winston can stay calm and not turn the ball over (he has thrown 33 picks in his first two years), this Bucs team can win the division for the first time since 2007.
Jones added an interesting item to all of this. He believes the Thursday night game when the Bucs host the Belicheats to be the most anticipated Tampa home game in years. That may not be an outlandish claim, provided the Bucs are winning games when the Belicheats arrive.
All this excitement in the air is awfully cool in mid-May, but this team hasn’t been in the playoffs in a decade. Baby steps. Let’s see the Bucs have a winning record in mid-October before planning playoff parties and tailgates.
May 15th, 2017 at 8:02 am
Bucs have never beaten Brady, so a Thursday night win would make me a believer in this d. Can’t wait until real football comes back
May 15th, 2017 at 8:11 am
@Tampa Tony
beware of using that game as the “measuring stick” of whether your a “believer” in this team!!! The real core is very young, and if you think that Tampa Fans will be excited for this game, the players will be even more excited!!!! This could lend to a slower start for 1 or 2 quarters with the dreaded over-hype start!!!!!!!! But this team can be competetive, learn a lesson, make the playoffs, and do some damage, while starting to be that team that no one wants to play!!!!!
Still a very far way aways from games at this point!!!!!!!!!!!
Go BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 15th, 2017 at 8:12 am
If we had a legit 10 sack defensive end that could play the run
If we had a legit right tackle and and just a little bit better saftey and corner depth…. We could win 10 games maybe 11
May 15th, 2017 at 8:16 am
All depends on how quickly they can rid themselves of the leader of the losing culture cancer93. 8-8 with him playing more than 10 games 12-4 if they can rid themselves of the career loser by week 4
May 15th, 2017 at 8:19 am
I actually don’t hate the New England Brady’s, if anything I respect how well they are run as an organization. But if we could post a win against them, along with other winning we will be doing this season, national sports media will be forced to talk about the Buccaneers for the first time in a long time.
May 15th, 2017 at 8:30 am
@ destin boy you are over thinking the situation. These are not the old Bucs.
With the new acquisitions on offense and Koetter using a 2 TE set we will average 28 points a game. All we need is for our defense to play like they did in the 2nd half of the season or better to win our division.
Smitty is coming up with new wrinkles too.
People keep it real. Notice who we got this off season then predict accordingly. These are not the old Bucs from last year nor the Bucs who have lost the past 10 years.
Don’t forget Winston coming into his 3rd season with a solid receiving weapons.
Go Bucs!!!
May 15th, 2017 at 8:36 am
We will probably have the most high powered offenses in a division. Our defense gives us the advantage. I’ll also like our coaching staff and systems over any team in our division.
May 15th, 2017 at 8:42 am
Jones said if jameis winston can stay calm?
“Kobe is among headbutting QB /Sapp is my role model fanbase”
“I demand a Offensive Coordinator ”
Kobe Faker
May 15th, 2017 at 8:52 am
@rayjay
If we have a better scoring offense then both Orleans and Falcons that would be impressive. If we do, we have to make the playoffs and possibly win the division.
May 15th, 2017 at 8:56 am
What? You have to score enough points to win football games in order to have a chance to compete in the post season for a Super Bowl? The Bucs don’t automatically qualify for the playoffs in May?
Where do you people get this from?
May 15th, 2017 at 9:03 am
I wathc via NFL package from Dubai …
That game is a tough one to call but that three game stretch should be the defining moment of our season.
This 2Q of the season will make or break the season. If we can win two of three we make the playoffs even going .500 in our division. We should be 3-0 with the NYGiants coming to town. They will be just as explosive as us with OBJ, SS, BM and EE for Eli to throw to but Gallam will struggle against us so I say we win 34-31. Tandy will make a game saving touchdown INT and Martin will have 100+ yards.
Then NE comes in to RayJay in four days… I think this is our only loss in the first 8 games…. 21-17, as we play tough but aren’t at that level yet. Hope I am wrong but we are still 6-1 and travel to ….
Arizona for some pay back!!! We were overconfident going in there last year and got bent over the crimson couch… but this year we get after Palmer and force them to bring in the Roookie Knight or Gabbert. I say we take it 28-13.
We split with Falcons and Panthers and sweep Saints and finish the season 11-5 while the Falcons and Panthers win Wildcards at 10-6.
Howard Rookie of Year and McNichols leads Bucs in Rushing.
Go Bucs!
May 15th, 2017 at 9:03 am
@tmaxipad has his panties in a wad.
Again.
Go Bucs!!
GMC has the quickest first step of any DT in the NFL.
He plays through injuries.
He plays the game with honor.
Thanks GMC!!
May 15th, 2017 at 9:04 am
So according to Jones the key to the Bucs winning the division is Jameis not turning the ball over. There’s a lot of support for that conclusion actually. Jameis threw 18 INTs last year, more than any other QB with a winning record (next closest were Manning & Osweiler both with 16 it looks like). Not sure how Jameis ranked in terms of fumbles, but he had his share. Turnovers are obviously very costly.
This year SHOULD be different though. More & better weapons will obviously be a key, but so is more experience on Jameis’ part and what I anticipate will be better play-calling. Could see Jameis getting the INTs down to 10 or below this year, if the OLine holds up.
May 15th, 2017 at 9:09 am
No one should expect us to beat the Patriots coming off a Sunday game against the Giants going into a short week playing the defending super bowl champions the next Thursday, that’s beyond being a homer because this team hasn’t proven they can do it yet
May 15th, 2017 at 9:19 am
Sort of like no one should have expected us to go into KC and win last season right??? Or like no one should have expected us to beat Seattle after they had already destroyed the pats in Foxboro. Some of you mofos man. Capitol WEAK.
May 15th, 2017 at 9:21 am
This team is loaded, I’m going into every game next season expecting is to win. No two season’s are the same, so the what the pats just accomplished last season don’t mean diddly in 2017. We bussin they @$$ on that Thursday. Count on it. There is no roster in the NFL that is out right better than Tampa’s.
May 15th, 2017 at 9:21 am
Regardless of how good we look heading into week 5 vs. the Belicheats, beating them on a short week coming off of what will assuredly be a hard-fought battle vs the Giants is going to be a monumental challenge.
One not dissimilar to the challenge we faced last year playing that grueling game against Oakland, and then facing the Falcons on a short week.
We’ll see how it turns out.
May 15th, 2017 at 9:27 am
I said it the other day but it bears repeating. I have a good friend from Boston who is a die hard Pats fan since birth. He thinks that Thursday night game on the road off a short week against an up and coming Tampa team is their best chance of losing a game the entire year. I hope he is right
May 15th, 2017 at 9:29 am
@Nos-Bos
Don’t say no one!!!!!!! its a Realist Repost!!!!!!!!
The Buc Realist Says:
November 20th, 2016 at 10:30 am
Its all about the run game today!!!! wear the defense of KC out!!!! Instead of having our O-tackles struggle, take a page out of donald Penn’s playbook and dive at the DE’s knees!!!!!!!
KC is busy looking at Denver for next week!!!!! The Bucs (road warriors) steal one today!!!!!!!!!
GO America!!!!!!
And GO BUCS!!!!!!!
and go buc1987 loyal hand????? or did it already went??????? Please don’t answer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
https://www.joebucsfan.com/2016/11/gameday-tampa-bay-156/
and 2 post after kobe faker became kobe liar!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 15th, 2017 at 9:29 am
The Cheats have a higher mountain to climb because they will be on the road for that Thursday night.
I wonder what the W-L record is for a team playing on the road on Thursday night after a Sunday game…
May 15th, 2017 at 9:29 am
You can predict recirds, based on a team staying healthy
But no team stays healthy.
Based on our Talent, this team should be playoff bound.
Or
If, God Forbid, we lose Jameis or McCoy for annextented period,
We could be playing for a top 5 pick.
Pretty much the same for every team.
There isnt a team in our division- that could lose their starter on week 3, and have any hope of the playoffs
And even if you could- why would you?
If your backup could squeak out 6 or 7 games- only to get crushed in the playoffs, why bother?
Pack it up. See you next year basically.
May 15th, 2017 at 9:32 am
Nosbos- I am always going into every single game expecting to win. This is our football team and there is nothing wrong with expecting winning week in and week out. All I am saying is that we should not start counting wins for games we haven’t played. It’s foolish.
May 15th, 2017 at 9:54 am
D.R.
Agree largely with what you just posted. I’m the blog optimist but I’m too impatient to wait with the Joe’s to begin cheering and planning for the playoffs.
While there is no denying we are talking about a “team on paper” and not one on the field yet….since there is no team on the field I cannot celebrate them…but as for the “team on paper”….I’m jumping up and down excited….on paper of course.
I think you are correct about #3 cutting down on his turnovers. There have been some significant improvements on paper this off season…
1.) #3 has another year experience and is entering his 3rd season…as you pointed out DR a time when young QB’s begin to come into their own. #3 is simply far more mature and has a much better team around him.
2.) I think he gets more time. We’ve just drafted an outstanding blocking TE and a RB also known for his blocking prowess. Those are two major upgrades in our blocking schemes. I think our OL can become dominant if Sweezy returns to health. The middle of our line will be big mean and nasty…Pamphile..Marpet..Sweezy….if we find a RT we’re set.
3.) Much better targets. The difference in the targets #3 will be looking downfield to find is night and day difference from last season. ME and now with the speed of DJAX…one of the top tandems in the league….yeah I know on paper…we’re just cheering on paper remember?
Now toss in OJ…Brate…McNichols..Sims…Hump..and I think Godwin may get his share of touches as well.
I’m not waiting to celebrate. Licht and Koetter have built a very competitive team…”on paper”….well there are no games to celebrate but we can certainly celebrate “on paper”. We just kicked some serious butt this off season and there’s more to come. We don’t know if Licht won’t find another steal or two when camp and cap casualty cutdowns begin.
Celebrate brothers! Let the others wait until the season begins.
May 15th, 2017 at 9:58 am
Dallas ima fan bro I can think like that. I actually hope all the members of team do as well. SB they talk as if the pats won’t be coming off a short week as well.
May 15th, 2017 at 10:00 am
I’m aware we are not going to be winning every game next season. But going into every game with roster I’ll be confidently talking noise to my peers as if a win each Sunday is in the bag.
May 15th, 2017 at 10:08 am
Yeper..Let the..Sh.. talking flow! Everybody is 16-0 right now. Giant killers. Then the hitting, injuries and losses start..complimented by the Spinning at the microphones. Its like Mike Tyson famously said, Everybody’s got a plan..until they get hit!!
May 15th, 2017 at 10:13 am
the most accurate QBs like rodgers and brady would have over 15 interceptions if they were in the same position as Jameis Winston in 2016
we had no separating receivers. look at all the games…everything was into tight windows.
now we have OJ and Godwin who can separate 1 on 1
the key to how we play if …Koetters playcalling/design of the short passing attack
how will koetter open up the deep vertical game with the 1st level passing and in the middle of the field
koetter will have to call and jameis has to unjust/audible to take advantage how defenses will attack us
the key to the 2017 season if how well koetter and jameis attacks the defense/weakness with our new weapons
they roll the coverage deep, jameis has to audible to the short passing attack
they stack the box/blitz, jameis has to get the ball out fast
they play man2man tight press, jameis has to double move deep
2016…THERE was no options and alternatives for Jameis
2017…He has the weapons. how quickly can koetter and jameis develop together to slice and dice the defenses
“I demand a Offensive Coordinor”
Kobe Faker
May 15th, 2017 at 10:25 am
Rodger that Pete.
May 15th, 2017 at 10:36 am
If we had a legit 10 sack defensive end that could play the run
If we had a legit right tackle and and just a little bit better saftey and corner depth…. We could win 10 games maybe 11
——————————-
10 sack guy = Spence (Ayers believes he can be a 15 a year sack guy, but lets just get to ten first). We get Smith back as well who racked up sacks in a short period of time as well.
Safety = vets with Wilcox, Conte, Tande….and drafted Evans who could be a studded steal in the second round.
Corner = Hargreaves, Grimes, Jude, McClain, Elliott, Robinson…Corner might be our thinnest spot.
May 15th, 2017 at 10:37 am
Forgot to add Ryan Smith…..has been added to corner.
May 15th, 2017 at 10:48 am
StPete, I’m (normally) an optimist also, but … I keep tempering down my expectations somewhat I think because I have no clue right now how well the other NFL teams will stack up against our Bucs. In my professional career, we always let it be known that ‘Words are cheap – show me’. Performance was all that mattered (and yes, Fred E. Buc, we shared the same career in the same type aircraft, mine for 26 yrs). Maybe I’ve just bought totally into the ‘one game at a time’ thingie. Still excited for this season, but tempered a bit at this point I guess.
And Kobe, can’t say that I agree with your first sentence (Rodgers & Brady are highly experienced QBs after all), but I certainly do agree on the play-calling. Good analysis by the way. How fast Koetter & Jameis develop together this year will be critical IMO. Peyton & Drew Brees probably faced a somewhat similar situation initially with the Saints starting back in 2006 when they both came onboard … doesn’t look like the offense really took off though until Pete Carmichael came onboard as a coach in 2009.
May 15th, 2017 at 10:52 am
If you have a true franchise qb you have a chance in every game. Playing the champs is definitely a measuring stick game
May 15th, 2017 at 11:02 am
@Tampa Tony…Also@ JOE…isn’t it true Brady and Billicheat have NEVER won a game together with the Pats in Tampa?
May 15th, 2017 at 11:18 am
941BUC Says:
May 15th, 2017 at 11:02 am
@Tampa Tony…Also@ JOE…isn’t it true Brady and Billicheat have NEVER won a game together with the Pats in Tampa?
——————
Because 2000 was the last time the Pats were down here. In 2000 game the Buccs held them to like one first down in the first half vs. Bledsoe and Co.
May 15th, 2017 at 11:18 am
Here is another early prediction that says the Bucs are one of six teams that are going to crush it this year:
http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/six-nfl-teams-that-will-crush-it-in-2017/ar-BBB7yUd?li=BBnbfcL
May 15th, 2017 at 11:32 am
Brady has never played in Tampa
May 15th, 2017 at 12:23 pm
Ah, it’s @Cancermaxi – leader of the losing posters culture! We missed you. No really, we didn’t. Clearly it’s that time of the month again. Time to rage on about the player you wish you could quit. But can’t. Seems like we somehow eked out one more win LAST year than you predict this year with a healthy GMC. The last time he started less than 10 games was the 2011 season when the record was…4-12. Oopsie. Your “logic” seems to have failed you. Again. But then, math is clearly not your strong suit.
May 15th, 2017 at 3:24 pm
3-1 heading into that home game w/ the Pats is where we need to be.
May 15th, 2017 at 4:14 pm
“All this excitement in the air is awfully cool in mid-May, but this team hasn’t been in the playoffs in a decade. Baby steps. Let’s see the Bucs have a winning record in mid-October before planning playoff parties and tailgates” – J0E
Forget that! You remember ‘worst to first’ don’t you?
We had a winning record last year. Let’s go all the way this year!
May 15th, 2017 at 5:54 pm
The thing about playing the patriots the past few times is that we were obviously out coached. I don’t think think that will happen this time. Koetter and Mike Smith will have this team prepared properly. Short week or not. The fundamentals will be there. And the patriots won’t roll over us so easy like they have done in the past.
May 15th, 2017 at 9:29 pm
So freaking pumped for this season! Fire them cannons!
May 16th, 2017 at 6:19 am
@kobe faker…….No one gives a s&i\ what you demand….
May 16th, 2017 at 6:20 am
Just sayin bro….