Bucs’ Kryptonite May Start
September 20th, 2017
Bucs killer could start.
Somewhere, Lovie Smith is breaking out into a cold sweat.
And so today begins Vikings week for the Bucs. And the big riddle is who will play quarterback for the Norsemen.
Sam Bradford looked like the No. 1 overall pick he was when he torched the Saints on Monday Night Football in Week 1. (Joe was never in the anti-Bradford camp. Now reunited with his Rams offensive coordinator, Bradford appears to have turned the corner).
And right when folks were starting to warm to Bradford, he had a knee injury. Again. He didn’t play in a loss to the Steelers last weekend and Vikings coach Mike Zimmer is playing the old 1960’s high school trick of feigning ignorance to Bradford’s injury.
What next Mike, have Bradford take the field Sunday wearing a different number?
Per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, a former Vikings beat guy, Bradford is believed to have a bruised bone in his knee and is having an injection of some sort. How he responds to the injection may determine his status for Sunday against the Bucs.
And if Bradford can’t go, Bucs fans’ worst nightmare will start. Case Keenum.
The pride of the University of Houston has made two career starts against the Bucs, both with garbage Rams teams in 2015 and 2016, and both times he has beaten the Bucs.
The first time Keenum beat the Bucs came in the final NFL game in St. Louis. The moribund Rams, with the U-Hauls warmed up, beat the Bucs and Lovie Smith 37-32, all but knocking the Bucs out of any wild card hopes. This was the infamous Ketchup-Mustard bottle game on Thursday Night Football, when both teams wore garish uniforms. Joe had to undergo corrective eye surgery as a result.
Keenum sliced up the Bucs for 190 yards and two touchdowns completing 14-of-26 attempts.
The next meeting between Keenum and the Bucs came last September. You remember that game. Keith Tandy got clowned by Tavon Austin for a touchdown and America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, misfired to a wide open Vincent Jackson near the goal line that would have won the game.
Keenum threw for two touchdowns and 290 yards while completing 14 of 17 passes — yes, 14-of-17 passes!
Granted, the Bucs defense is a far cry from the one that allowed Keenum passed at will. Still, if Keenum takes the field Sunday, Joe fully understands quite a few Bucs fans will be nervous as hell.
September 20th, 2017 at 7:46 am
I hope our D-Line can make him uncomfortable and force this guy to be Case Keenum and not Joe Montana. This is a huuuuuge game for the Bucs on the road and our 3rd down defense has to be better this week.
September 20th, 2017 at 7:46 am
I think we get the win. Just stop the run and make their QB whoever it is beat us. Our secondary is solid, and actually statistically sneaky good.
September 20th, 2017 at 8:10 am
Case is small. Get your hands up and bat him down. The layoff is over and the Bucs will be sharp. Close game but another Buc win.
September 20th, 2017 at 8:14 am
Big Mac is right……where are our hands?……if you can’t get to the passer bat the pass down.
I think we had zero vs Glennon.
We keep getting burned with the short quick pass over the middle…..every opposing team knows that and is exploiting that. There needs to be an answer by Mike Smith.
September 20th, 2017 at 8:14 am
I think you got the stats and scores backwards Joe. 2015 score was 31-23 where lovie made keenum look like montana, 14 of 17 and perfect passer rating. Last years was 37-32 but his stats werent that great. Still won tho. Lovies D made Keenum and others look great. Go Bucs
September 20th, 2017 at 8:33 am
Annt. There are no more QBs Bucs killers. Not when our defense is composed of the athletes it’s composed of now. I wanna see mr. Glass take off this weekend. Don’t hold your breath on that happening. You folks love to hang onto yesterday’s shortcomings even when the team is clearlyshowing signs of having turned the corner.
September 20th, 2017 at 8:35 am
Cut and paste this “we ain’t losing to none elite QBs anymore”. Bank on that.
September 20th, 2017 at 8:42 am
The Steelers killed this guy. Guess what they did? What all Steelers teams do, the blitzed him. When he killed us in the past he was allowed to sit comfortably and pick us apart. We have to be aggressive on defense and attack him with blitzes.
September 20th, 2017 at 8:48 am
Go hit him right in the mouth ! Defense will smoke his butt this time around !
September 20th, 2017 at 9:02 am
When looking at our defense last year prior to the Chicago game it was a mess missing the right communication when it came to the players. That defense die before the Chicago game. The problem was solved. Since then we have the real Mike Smith’s defense. Last week it improved at the weakest part of last year’s defense— the run game.
Case Keenum has yet to play the real Mike Smith Defense. The real test this week is Calvin Cook and the Vikings o-line.
These are not your old Bucs Folks!!!!
Expect Different!!!
Go Bucs!!!
September 20th, 2017 at 9:22 am
Rather face Keenum than Bradford. Either way – the Bucs are the better team and should win if they show up to play.
September 20th, 2017 at 9:23 am
The question on Bradford was never talent. It was health. When he has played he has been excellent. Can he stay healthy? That was the question coming out of college and it remains a question today.
September 20th, 2017 at 9:23 am
This is a new day, a new team. No way Case and crew are going to win Sunday. This is the first time in 15 years I’ve had total confidence in this team. Bucs are going to show up and pillage the Vikings on football Sunday.
September 20th, 2017 at 9:24 am
(Joe was never in the anti-Bradford camp. Now reunited with his Rams offensive coordinator, Bradford appears to have turned the corner).
………………
Nobody in the NFL today has robbed teams of more money than Bradford.
September 20th, 2017 at 9:28 am
Joe are you are really going to start this mess. I thought we threw the old Lovie defense out the window. This is different team, different offense, different defense, different mindset. You guys are sitting up here worrying about Case Keenum? Really?
September 20th, 2017 at 9:32 am
I always get a chuckle out of how the Bucs are known for defense yet these bottom dwelling Best Buy employees get over on them time and time again. The Austin Davis’, Max Skelling, Case Keenum, Cody Pickett, Derek Anderson, rookies in their FIRST game…..
September 20th, 2017 at 9:35 am
So funny that some are scared of any of the vikings QB!!!! That is not the strength of the vikings!!!!!! Do not place pass incompetence to what is going on at 1 Buc now!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!
September 20th, 2017 at 9:44 am
You guys crack me up. In the last 9 games the only two quarterbacks that have beaten us has been been Drew Brees and Dak Prescott. Now if people want to keep living in the loser Lovie past go right ahead. Me, I’m a Stick carrier I can’t exist in a loser mind state, I expect to beat everybody whether it’s Case Keenum, Sam Bradford, or Tom Brady.
September 20th, 2017 at 9:51 am
Not this year mother f#%$&@ I believe case is not facing a defense that’s learning a new system he’s facing a defense that hungry a defense that smells blood and ready to take down what ever in it’s path so I’m not scared I say bring it on
September 20th, 2017 at 10:13 am
Bottom line for me is I’d much rather face Keenum than Bradford…if Bradford is healthy. He was a #1 overall pick for a reason as he showed in the Vikings opening game.
He has a great RB…and Diggs is a terrific WR…along with a couple of other weapons.
September 20th, 2017 at 10:24 am
The key to winning this one is the same recipe as last week.
Clog the running lanes and blitz the hell out of them.
September 20th, 2017 at 10:42 am
Blitzing Sam Bradford will have far different results than blitzing Mike Glrnnon.
Love our defense’s ability to stop the run. That is due to McCoy, Baker, Gholsten- and 3 fantastic LBers.
And that will probably get us the win.
But, if McCoy remains our only Pass rusher, QBs will be able to roll out, and pick the secondary apart( except Grimes, who is amazing)
We really need Spence, Rissel, or Clarke to apply pressure from DE position
September 20th, 2017 at 10:44 am
What Nos Bos said.
These are not your old Bucs. So you can toss all this kind of stuff, like losing to back-ups, getting beat by bad teams, Not going for the throat when we have the lead. This is now stuff of the past.
Btw Nos I got the P.O. box info when you’re ready for it. Just lmk.
September 20th, 2017 at 10:46 am
Maybe Pete,but man that aints defense is bhaaaadd. I can’t get bradford’s Monday nighter at home against the cgirls last season. Dude was horrible.
September 20th, 2017 at 10:47 am
Send it bro.
September 20th, 2017 at 10:48 am
Might be wrong but I wouldn’t be inclined to compare this Buc’s team to any of the recent past. With a few games under their belt I hope we will see something new and different. A good consistent offense with a lot of weapons and a defense where both the line and DB’s are ruthless. Pressure’s not sacks and turnover’s will produce W’s.
September 20th, 2017 at 10:56 am
Blake Johnson
P.O. Box 290642
Tampa, FL. 33687
September 20th, 2017 at 10:59 am
Got it,it’ll mailed out this Friday.
September 20th, 2017 at 11:02 am
Which game was more embarrassing, the Lovie defense or a LA team that rolled in here last year who had not scored a single touchdown until they played the Bucs. We knew the Bucs were bad with Lovie and I also recall that is the game we lost with time outs still in our pocket. This should be a game coach K & Smitty will be able to scheme against Case and Company., like other posters are saying, hit him in the mouf.
September 20th, 2017 at 11:06 am
If Minnesota beats us this year, it will be the defense, not Keenum. This isn’t the same team that played the Rams last year.
September 20th, 2017 at 11:07 am
I will hold my words regarding Spence and the pass rush until I get to watch the Coaches all 22 tonight. I look forward to watching Howard block as well.
I hate to bring it up but I get so tired of hearing about Winston’s missed throw in the Rams game as the primary reason for the loss. Did he miss it, absolutely. Did Aguayo miss a makable FG and an extra point, which led to a missed two point conversion (5 points on Aguayo there) That was just a poorly played game. I have watched the all 22 of that game, Winston didn’t have his best game but even on that last drive. Jackson had a bad drop just inside the 10 yard line before that. Sims gets tripped up next to the sideline being hesitant, like Sims does with two blockers in front of him. Koetter fails to call a timeout. On the last play if Donovan Smith wouldn’t have absolutely quit on the play, Quinn, who he had on the ground couldn’t have made the stop. Jameis was 1v1 inside the 5 with one defender. Smith had Quinn on the ground but absolutely quit before the whistle.
That game is in the past but stop revising it to us getting outplayed by Keenum or Winston costing us the game. It has been a long time since the entire team has played a game that poorly. No matter. Keenum or Bradford. This is a game this Bucs team should be able to win. Not easy but it should happen.
September 20th, 2017 at 11:15 am
@NosBos
Preciate it fellow Bucs fan.
September 20th, 2017 at 12:41 pm
Don’t mention it man. I’ll let you know when the stork has that package.
September 20th, 2017 at 1:43 pm
not at all concerned with case….the first time we faced him we had jude and j.banks as our starting cb’s….we had g.johnson and h.jones rotating in as starters….
last year Roberto missed a couple kicks and dirk f’ed up the clock….
this year we have everything it takes to win….we’ll make him look like the back up he is…..GO BUCS!!!!
September 20th, 2017 at 1:59 pm
“Bucs fans’ worst nightmare will start. Case Keenum.”
I hope he does start. These are not the same old Bucs…and I hope you realize that soon, Joe.
How about this…if he plays and the Bucs beat him, you remove the “Den of Depression” moniker until the Bucs prove again that they deserve it?
Fair deal?
September 20th, 2017 at 2:05 pm
This “CASE” is closed!!!
September 20th, 2017 at 3:07 pm
Actually what I remember about last years Rams game is Dirk not using his timeouts and Winston getting them to the Rams 4 yard line as the game expired. If Dirk had used his timeouts the Bucs don’t run out the clock at the 4 and most likely win the game and then it turn they make the playoffs with a hot team and got defense. Dirk messed up a ton early last year, between not using his TO’s here to quitting on the team in the Denver game to not getting how timeouts worked in the first half of the Carolina game. I think Dirk was overwhelmed early last season and hopefully he has it figured out and can now manage a game AND do more than just run it up the middle on every play.
September 21st, 2017 at 1:02 am
I am not afraid of Case Keenum this time around. He will not be playing the same Bucs team he did last year, and the best part……Lovie is not in the sidelines!….. lmao
September 21st, 2017 at 1:04 am
I am not afraid of Case Keenum this time around. He will not be playing the same Bucs team he did last year, and the best part……Lovie is not in the sidelines!…..these are the new Bucs!