Drought Stops Here
June 11th, 2017
Suckage will end.
Winning Bucs coach Dirk Koetter may not want to read this.
He is clearly worn out from the constant message the Bucs will be a playoff team. He’s very sensitive that this drumbeat will seep into the heads of his young players. Joe gets that and fully understands.
Yet for fans, well, Joe hasn’t seen fans this jacked since Chucky was prowling the sidelines. From near and far, NFL media types are singing the praises of the Bucs.
Even anti-Americans.
Take Jameis-hater Sean Wagner-McGough of CBS Sports (who is also a huge proponent of bratty Jay Cutler). To his credit, despite his personal disgust for America’s Quarterback, Wagner-McGough put his biases aside and maintains the team best positioned to break its playoff drought this fall will be your Tampa Bay Buccaneers, baby.
It’s no secret that I’m not Jameis Winston’s biggest fan. I would rather have Mariota and truly do believe the Buccaneers need more from Winston if they’re going to break their playoff drought. But I can’t deny the team the Buccaneers have built around him.
Mike Evans is a top-five receiver. DeSean Jackson is the game’s best home-run threat. O.J. Howard is one of the best tight end prospects in recent years. Noah Spence is primed for a breakout season. Gerald McCoy is Gerald McCoy. I could go on. A year ago, the Buccaneers went 9-7 and just missed the playoffs. They’re close. And yes, I’ll acknowledge that there’s a chance that Winston will take the next step with an improved supporting cast.
The biggest hurdle is that the Buccaneers are forced to play in the same division as the past two Super Bowl runner-ups. Plus, there’s the “Hard Knocks” curse. And, oh yeah, their second-round kicker can’t put the ball through the uprights.
First, there is no “Hard Knocks” curse. Second, yeah, who wouldn’t want a guy who set NFL records in his first two years in the league and has never missed a start?
Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht has (finally) surrounded Jameis with weapons (whew!). This should be the year the Bucs play a meaningful game in January for a change.
One thing Wagner-McGough missed: If he was trying to build a case against the Bucs missing the playoffs that has a helluva lot more credibility than attacking America, then he would have chosen two guys many think will be instant plug-and-play contributors, tight end O.J. Howard and wide receiver Chris Godwin.
Remember folks, these guys are rookies.
June 11th, 2017 at 12:29 am
Trust me, Jameis is working tirelessly to improve his mechanics as well as studying the defenses he goes up against every week. With his work ethic, there’s no way he won’t improve. Of course, that moron has no idea about the work ethic that Jameis has. Either that or he’s just not going to acknowledge Jameis’ work ethic cause it dosent fit his narrative that Jameis is some dumb, lazy criminal with no work ethic while Marcus Mariota is the golden child that represents the future of the league.
June 11th, 2017 at 1:04 am
Winston is one the best qbs. Work to do? Idk. Too many ppl put too much on stats and worship stats to make or break a player which is not fair. Peyton couldn’t be Peyton without hall of fame players around him. And the case with MM. …. he does have a better team around him aND doesn’t require much from him last season
June 11th, 2017 at 3:43 am
Still don’t understand why so many keep comparing Jameis and Marcus Mariotta. They’re both outstanding young men who fit their teams perfectly IMO. Different skill sets & playing styles? Certainly. Different leadership styles? Most assuredly. Both the Bucs & the Titans have built very promising young teams around their young QBs. Thankfully we’re in different conferences because I fully expect we’ll meet each other in the Super Bowl one day. Then folks can talk comparisons if they want, and it’ll be settled on the playing field.
June 11th, 2017 at 7:05 am
Defense rules- well said. Im beyond over the comparison
June 11th, 2017 at 7:18 am
This guy lost credibility with me just knowing he’s not a fan of Jameis, BUT IS a fan of JAY CUTLER??? Anyway, these national media types can say what they want, they’ll see how the new look Bucs are this year. They’re gonna shut a lot of people up.
June 11th, 2017 at 8:40 am
Now chant in unison the Bucs will be better, every fan out here thrives off that potential outcome.
June 11th, 2017 at 9:53 am
So much about nothing from one of the infamous Fake News organizations. Start with the easy: One way or the other, Aguayo won’t be a factor. If he is more of the same in pre-season, he’s not kicking a thing. The hyphenated Wagner-McGough forgets Mariota has an injury propensity (knock on wood for our guy)–take Jabo any day. Maybe Mariota will be full go at end of July. Maybe. The threat to Winston’s health (knock on wood) is getting mobbed by new Bucs season ticket holders as he parks outside the West Club at the Ray Jay. Hyphen man says they “need more” from Jameis. Like what? Deflate footballs or film the opposing team? How about getting back to a good running game (coming) that is NOT Winston’s fault, or if breaking on Jameis, maybe say he should work to improve his accuracy so he can more often hit DJax and Evans in stride. Maybe he’d go from 4,000 yards to 5,000? Smack about two Super Bowl runner ups? What do you call the runner ups? “Losers”. How about the fact two QBs choked when it came THE time to produce. Matty Ice has a history of it, and Cam shows how guys get into his head. Not worried. The division will be tough…AGAIN. There is a good chance two, if not three of the NFC South teams go to the playoffs this year. But I think most likely the divisoin champ is between Bucs and Panthers, and I’m partial…so picking Bucs.
June 11th, 2017 at 10:22 am
You people.. Mechanics??? His are fine hince the amount of yardage thrown since entering the league. You people’s problem is his motion which will never be all pristine like some of his caucasian male contemporary’s. Fameis has his own unique style similar to Phillip Rivers,not all that pretty but h3lla effective.. And btw Robert Ayers killed the top 100 mystery in a tweet yesterday. He the players only vote for the top 20 players and begged the question how does nfl network come up with the other 80. Things that make you go hmmm.
June 11th, 2017 at 10:24 am
I think he feels that 3 is inconsistent with his accuracy.
He thinks Jameis throws high a lot
June 11th, 2017 at 2:45 pm
Lolol @ “anti-Americans”…Ouch!
Two words: Wins! ….Tons!
June 11th, 2017 at 7:17 pm
Winston has as many turnovers as Mariota…less sacks….way more completions, touchdowns, and yards.
June 11th, 2017 at 7:20 pm
Joe, even though they are rookies…they are not going to shoulder the load in any manner. Brate is there, DJax, Hump, and Evans are there as well. Thats what makes the moves great…they will be transitioned nicely into our offense!!