“Light Years Ahead Of Where We Were”
June 11th, 2017
High times
To quote Tampa Bay sports sage and JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman, tight end Cameron Brate is “not prone to hyperbole.”
So with that in mind, Joe’s eyes opened wide listening to Brate after Thursday’s practice.
Simply asked “where the team is at” as it enters this week’s mandatory minicamp, Brate didn’t hold back.
“From a year ago, we’re light years ahead of where we were,” Brate said. “Just kinda playing together as a unit; this is our third year in this offense. Now with Jameis, as well, we don’t have to start at Square 1 like we’ve had [to] in the past. We’re kind of on the graduate level part of our offense.”
Man, expectations are high for the Bucs — from the inside out and all the way to the national analysts. Dirk Koetter has one tough job trying to keep the team grounded mentally.
Keep in mind the Bucs’ offense ranked fifth in total yards two years ago with Koetter. It’s no wonder they’re feeling super confident, especially after adding offseason firepower.
If Koetter needs assistance keeping his team’s head on straight, he can always show film of the Bucs at Arizona last year. You know, when they “got too high.”
June 11th, 2017 at 10:21 am
I would be showing the sub-par play in the Dallas and 2nd Saints game at the end of the season as primary examples of where improvement is needed. Winning either of those games would have sent the Bucs to the playoffs and The Bucs as a team could not get the job done when it counted most – in December.
June 11th, 2017 at 10:37 am
The Bucs were not ready for the playoffs last season. Let it go bro. What good does it to make the playoffs and be eliminated in the first round. Cam feels they are “light years” ahead on O. Smitty said the D is at calculus level this time around. Sounds like to me a team that is primed to end this drought and make this convo a thing of the past. This team is ready to not only get in but make some major noise once there.
June 11th, 2017 at 10:40 am
If the team gets to high just have captain buzz kill the leader of the losing culture cancer93 give one of his patented pre game speeches that will bring everyone back down and fast.
June 11th, 2017 at 10:40 am
We didn’t have a run stuffer on D last season. We would’ve been exposed in the run game had we gotten in last season. On O you need more than just one WR to do anything in the playoffs. ME would’ve been bracketed more than he was in the reg season. Add a minimal run game I conclude we were good with a winning season. We took a step, we’ll take a bigger one in 2017.
June 11th, 2017 at 10:47 am
Oh we’re making noise in the playoffs this year. Take that one to the bank!
And at least we get our measuring stick midseason when we play the Patriots, so we can hopefully get our game right for Part 2 of Winston v Brady in the SB.
June 11th, 2017 at 10:54 am
Dang, tmax.. Never ceases to be a downer, but was at least semi funny.
I will say that the only person I think might end up faking a little bit for Hard Knocks is GMC, but maybe I’m wrong.
He’s in the process of personality transformation anyway (as a football player and teammate), so I guess we’ll see if he seems genuine or corny.
June 11th, 2017 at 11:21 am
OK let me steal from a couple of sources…
First Stephen Stills and Buffalo Springfield
“Paranoia strikes deep…into your heart it will creep…it starts when you’re always afraid……..”
And then there’s the little train that made it to the top of the steep hill…he didn’t get there chanting I”m not sure I can…not sure I can…nah…
I just can’t get too worked up over this. These guys are professionals…they have experience…Arizona last year and several other games….I think they are hungry…really hungry..we’re thinking 10 wins and playoffs…they think Super Bowl….and if they don’t I don’t want them on the team…and if that’s overconfidence I’ll take it!!!!!
June 11th, 2017 at 11:34 am
I think our passing game will be lethal but I am still concerned about our running backs.
They were awful last year and we only added a 5th round selection to the group. Let’s hope he was the steal of the draft.
June 11th, 2017 at 11:43 am
Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:
June 11th, 2017 at 10:37 am
The Bucs were not ready for the playoffs last season. Let it go bro. What good does it to make the playoffs and be eliminated in the first round.
It does all kinds of good. Good for the fans, good for the players, good for the coaches and staff, good for ownership, good for the brand. Making the playoffs is always good, whether you sneak in or breeze in, whether you lose early or win it all. It’s always good.
June 11th, 2017 at 12:01 pm
I hear you PHX and welcome to JBF if no one has told you yet. If you’ve been following without pisting for awhile you should know I scream Superbowl every year for the Bucs. Its all I think,Superbowl not playoffs. I was watching NFL network “The Life” Baltimore Ravens. Trent Dilfer said everyone every year says “lets just make the playoffs”. He said Brian Billick was the first coach he ever heard say “lets go win the Supwrbowl”. I agree with that mindset. Screw the playoffs, Superbowl or bust bro.
June 11th, 2017 at 1:13 pm
Plus just imagine when Doggie comes back “Highly” motivated to earn himself some much needed respect and big dollars for now and his uncertain clowdy future
June 11th, 2017 at 4:44 pm
St Pete… For what it’s worth, you left out “step out of line they come take you away”.
June 11th, 2017 at 7:09 pm
Pickgrin I cant agree more, those two games were a wake up call.that they are still a long way from good on defense.
June 11th, 2017 at 7:39 pm
Bucfan
Yeah that song is loaded with great lyrics…sadly they have once again become very appropriate.
I remember how bad things were in the late 60’s which allows me to keep my cool over the stuff going down right now. Just part of the cycle,
June 11th, 2017 at 9:11 pm
Exactly 3 light years
June 11th, 2017 at 9:11 pm
Dang it autocorrect. 3 licht years
June 11th, 2017 at 9:37 pm
Brilliant, danr
June 11th, 2017 at 11:54 pm
Tmax i actually like you bro but it’s really plain weird how you make everything about McCoy he’s a good a$$ player bro let it go