Brooks: Bucs Will Need “Community Buy-In”
November 13th, 2017
So what is the state of the Buccaneers throughout the Tampa Bay area? Those are murky waters to navigate.
Are the fans, community and their support of the team even important to success on the field?
Iconic No. 55, Mr. Derrick Brooks, says yes. And that was before Sunday’s defense-led throttling of the Jets at the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway — where the Bucs have been playing Brooks-like defense this season, holding five teams to an average of 15 points per game.
Brooks joined WDAE-AM with the great Steve Duemig last week and said for the Bucs to right their proverbial ship as it’s constructed, they’ll need more than just the locker room on board.
“You may not get as much buy-in from the community as you need, but it’s going to take a community buy-in as well to see this team through,” Brooks said.
It’s an intriguing take.
After the New Orleans game two Sundays ago, Joe knows fans and the community lost a whopping ton of faith in this team and its leadership and heart. That’s not fixed overnight. But yesterday was start.
It’s interesting that Brooks finds the fan and community buy-in so important.
And that got Joe thinking about the glory days Bucs and other successful teams. Typically, those clubs do have a special level of support from the outside, which penetrates the roster on some level. Hey, if negative press can help implode a team, then certainly positive support from the community should make a little difference, too. Right?
Joe wonders if Brooks was really sort of saying that an all-out fan and media mutiny could tear down the Bucs’ regime. (See Schiano billboards.)
Joe sure hopes that doesn’t happen prematurely in 2017, as in right now, Nov. 13.
Brooks added that it would be a mistake to try and pinpoint one major problem with the Bucs, noting that it’s a “bunch of little things.” He added a true day-by-day approach is the fix, and he pointed to New England’s struggles earlier this season and the workmanlike way they pushed through them.
And Brooks didn’t gloss over the magic elixir that rights everything over time. “”Winning helps,” he said.
November 13th, 2017 at 2:33 pm
Sometimes I agree with Derrick Brooks, but not this time.
The Stick Carriers supported these Bucs all through training camp, and they still managed to stink up the stadium.
November 13th, 2017 at 2:37 pm
This community did buy in, and they were met with a bad football team that essentially ended their chances at making the playoffs by going 2-6 for the first half of the season.
Wake. Up. People. This Bucs team is not winning 7 straight games. And there is 0 chance at making the playoffs at 9-7 or worse. So if you ain’t playing for the playoffs, you may as well play for the draft.
At this point the best thing we could do is lose out and come away with a true franchise running back, or the best Edge rusher of the 2018 class, or the best Offensive Tackle, or a boat load of picks.
Can’t do any of that by going 6-10, effectively just shooting ourselves in both feet.
November 13th, 2017 at 2:37 pm
The issue in Buc Country are that some fans will never be happy until they are running the tampa2 defense, and D.Brooks is the GM and Dungy is Pro-Personal, and Brad Johnson is the QB coach and with mark dominik back as a janitor!!!!!!!!!!!
Just look at comments after the Viking loss the the Bucs were 1-1, They were out for blood then!!!!!!!!! already calling for new coaches!!!!! LOL!!!!!! The sheep want a time machine not wins around here!!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 13th, 2017 at 2:46 pm
Every athlete loves to put responsibility on the fans….Buc fans have been watching garbage football for a decade now…you don’t get the benefit of the doubt after a decade of losing AND you’ve lost 5 straight with a 3-6 record.
Win games…make the playoffs once…you’ll get some slack. We’ve beat two of the worst teams in the league and one that was exceeding expectations by being .500. Only 4 teams have a worse record. Respect and support are earned at this point.
November 13th, 2017 at 3:06 pm
Good teams win games and still draft well with later picks.
I would rather see us close out 7-9 than 3-13.
November 13th, 2017 at 3:10 pm
@JollyBucsfan
So you’d rather see us come away with another Hargreaves, instead of getting a Jalen Ramsey?
Come on man, this upcoming draft ain’t exactly loaded. Ensuring that we get ourselves a game changing talent at a position of need, be it RB, Edge Rusher, or Offensive Tackle, or Corner, is absolutely paramount.
We could use this year as a sling shot into true Championship contention.
November 13th, 2017 at 3:36 pm
I said this on twitter, but its hard to have community buy in when your fellow professional sports franchise (Bolts) is absolutely dominating its league. Tampa fans see that (and not from the Bucs), and they tell the Glazers “Why should I support you?”
November 13th, 2017 at 3:39 pm
Right now, if we didn’t win another game in this season, and I were the GM, my Board would look like this.
1A. Saquon Barkely RB – Without a doubt the most talented running back in the 2018 class. 5’11 223 pounds of pure determination and ability. Has brutish power, balance through contact, elite agility/ elusiveness. Runs sharp routes out of the back field, has soft hands. With Break away speed to boot. Having clocked in a 4.33 40 yard dash.
1B. Bradley Chubb Edge – Best pure pass rusher in the 2018 class, but is no slouch against the run. Currently having a break out season at NC state, wracking up 32 Tackles, 21.5 TFL’s, and 10 Sacks, 2 passes defensed in a 10 game span. Nasty attitude, and good size at 6’4 275, he could add a much needed edge. Not the most explosive guy, but has enough skill, speed, and strength to get the job done.
2. Mike McGlinchey OT – Notre Dames’ 6’7 310 pound physical specimen is the best Tackle in the 2018 draft Class. With enough foot quickness, size, athleticism, power, and skill in run blocking to play either Tackle position. And we are in dire need of an upgrade on both sides of the trenches.
3. Minkah Fitzpatrick C – Widely considered to be the best/ most complete corner in the upcoming draft. At 6’2 216 the kid has prototypical size, speed, and ball skills. Had an absolutely beastly 2016 season, with 42 tackles, 10 passes defensed, and 6 picks. But he has cooled off a bit in 2017. With less production in every category and only 1 pick. But still probably the best cover corner in his class.
4. Trade down for a kings ransom.
Won’t be able to do any of that if we win a bunch of meaningless, feel good games to placate the casual fans.
November 13th, 2017 at 3:47 pm
Doesn’t look like the win helped too much, last week you had like 80 comments on each article. Like I said this fanbased is a sad sad mess but wtfdik.
November 13th, 2017 at 4:00 pm
He knows what’s up. This team reads the press clippings even the coaches. GMC gets all bent out of shape on twitter when he gets trolled and tanked a season because of it. Koetter and his thin skin grips about what fans say. He reaction to the press is what he would say to a fan I’m sure of it and that’s not very endearing from a fans perspective and he condescending AF. Look at Gruden or Dungy, great with fans, Koetter… not so much.
November 13th, 2017 at 4:03 pm
I will buy in when I see consistent effort, game after game after game. I’m not saying wins, just effort. That is not asking too much. Those of us that watched the Bucs late 1990’s through the Super Bowl year saw effort every week…not just once in a while. We know what a real team effort looks like. Yesterday was very good effort. It was ugly at times, but both sides of the ball were giving everything they had. More of that please.
November 13th, 2017 at 4:04 pm
There’s a term for what Brooks is trying to do here: it’s called “Gaslighting!” How dare anyone associated with this franchise demand ANYTHING from ANYBODY? Bucs lose 5 in a row, and now there’s finally a win. That’s it- one lackkluster win!
Bucs coaches and players came into the new season riding high on wave of almost unbridled fan support and good will and rewarded their fans with game after game of false starts and broken promises.
That’s not how this works. That’s not how any of this works!
November 13th, 2017 at 5:54 pm
The money they would pay a top notch coach can easily be taken care of by making the playoffs. We’ve gone through seasons where we’ve had the biggest coaching staff in the NFL and it hasn’t mattered because they were all to Green. This coach says to me he’ll make us a wild card team at best, the NFC has become powerful, does anyone see a guy this predictable beating say the Vikings in a wildcard matchup? Oh answered that question already.
I think you’ll see exactly what I mean when we play the Packers with no Aaron Rodgers
November 13th, 2017 at 6:08 pm
We were all all in and you made us feel like a buch of suckers again!!!
Play like that for 7 more weeks. Win seven games in a row then we will alk asre holes
November 13th, 2017 at 6:10 pm
I know this take won’t be popular but…I love what Brooks stands for and loved him when he played but he is an awful interview. The dude is a walking cliche. There are so many other people I would rather listen to.
November 13th, 2017 at 6:35 pm
Speaking for Pablo
“Pablo buys in”
November 13th, 2017 at 7:21 pm
This is BULL$HIT!!!!!!!!! FANS WERE BUYING IN ALREADY…AND SO WAS THE PRESS…Pshhh, please!
The outrage from the fans and playing a weak team like the Jets finally made them care!
Well DUH, 16 GAMES BITCHEZZ AND YOURE A LITTLE LATE!
November 13th, 2017 at 7:25 pm
FINALLY GOT A KICKER AND A DIFFERENT QUARTERBACK TO NOT BLAME A LOSS ON….IS THAT WHAT IT TAKES A$$JACKHOLES?
November 13th, 2017 at 7:39 pm
This is how I think things went down the drain this season. I think the team knew and realized how hurt and in pain JW was/is and just sorta gave up thinking “geez, we done”. Now they are realizing that’s just an excuse, we have to fight on. New leaders are stepping up to fill the void now, and I believe the team will get even stronger if they can each man up. Time will tell. Oh and if they really don’t want another coaching change then they better fight on. Men not boys please!!!
November 13th, 2017 at 8:31 pm
Best thing this team could do a get a top 5 draft spot , and thAn trade down to later in the first and pick up a extra 2 and 3/4 , we should come away with 3 starters on def that way , DE,CB,Dt
November 13th, 2017 at 8:31 pm
And a rb
November 13th, 2017 at 8:50 pm
I’d like to see the Bucs close out strong this season and then I’d be ok with them drafting DLine with almost every pick. We need to be able to create pressure with our front 4 then we can really start to get creative on defense with the play calling.
November 13th, 2017 at 9:06 pm
Spare me the hoorah from Derrick Brooks…don’t get me wrong–love the guy. But this community is not made up of people that throw money around willy nilly and get behind something indefinitely without cause. There’s too much to do here. Folks have to discriminate–beach, watersports, fishing, hiking/biking, Lightning, Rays, Bulls, Bucs, the Arts. We can’t…and won’t…keep dumping our money and passin into the same old bad movie. I’ve been a Bucs fan for all their 41 years, and I’ve supported them through all of the times they tried to win but didn’t have the talent or the money. I get that. But for the third season in the last eight years we have a clear problem of a losing team that just doesn’t care anymore…or as is the case this year, decides to care too late.
Yeah, I’ll be back next year as always. But I’m also cutting my losses. I’m not bringing more folks to games this year. I’m not buying that DJax jersey or Bucs bicycle for the grand kids. Screw it. The Bucs are going to have to earn all that back.
Sunday’s win was a good way to start…but there were a lot of unsold tickets then I have guest that canceled the Monday night game because they have better things to do. And Sunday was a pretty tepid crowd overall…and justifiably so. This team sucks this year because they wanted to–not because they couldn’t help it. Yet they claim to be professionals? That’s not just in game play but attitute. Maybe they are righting the ship to provide hope for next year? We’ll see. But this year is basically lost…because these “professionals” have trouble focusing on why their jobs exists.
November 13th, 2017 at 10:24 pm
Chris@Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa:
I disagree. The stick carriers are a new thing. It will take a sustained and rabid fanbase to expect change. One training camp will not turn around a franchise no matter how hopeful. We, as fans, must keep the pressure on the players.
November 13th, 2017 at 11:14 pm
This team is so deeply rooted in losing that it’ll take consistent winning to get the Tampa fan base to buy-in.
November 14th, 2017 at 1:09 am
The Buc Realist Says:
November 13th, 2017 at 2:37 pm
Just look at comments after the Viking loss the the Bucs were 1-1, They were out for blood then!!!!!!!!! already calling for new coaches!!!!! LOL!!!!!! The sheep want a time machine not wins around here!!!!!!!!!!
————
Yes, that is when some fans saw the writing on the wall. They were called “reactionary” by most local media types. Turns out those “reactionary” fans knew what a bad football team looked like when others chose to believe in hope. Good football teams don’t go anywhere and have games like that.
This town doesn’t need to be the old Bucs. They simply need to be a competitive football team. The fans of this team are well-seasoned after many a losing year. They simply know when their team and ownership has given their all in the commitment to win. No matter what a few idiots like to think of Tampa fans. Don’t complain because the fans refuse to blindly follow. The Rays tried that. Remember that the Bucs fired two great coaches after back to back winning seasons. Then proceeded to sell them on “building through the draft” type cliches. People don’t forget.
November 14th, 2017 at 5:08 am
People advocating for a losing record for draft picks makes me sick. Its a loser mentality. You can’t build success that way, just ask the lions, or the browns.
November 14th, 2017 at 8:24 am
@Rob
Oh yeah? What about when the Cowboys went 4-12 and came away with Ezekial Elliot?
Yeah I’m sure they really regret that.
November 14th, 2017 at 9:55 am
Like Roy T Buford, I’ve been here from the Bucs very first preseason game in 1976. I have never in those 41 years wanted to lose any game my Bucs have played in regardless of the ramifications. I know we have social media now which might magnify sentiments but I can’t ever recall having a conversation with another Bucs fan where tanking for draft picks was ever a desired outcome. We were hungry for a win, any win, anytime of the season. Probably not a viable option but fans of any team in a season that purposely lays down and tanks for draft picks, especially with eight games left in the season (as some were spouting before the Jets game), should be allowed to sue the owners and players for fraud. And I despise frivolous lawsuits.
Blake, Ezekial Elliot had a 50/50 chance of failing as he did in succeeding, as does any player selected in the first round. Just curious since I don’t care, nor follow, the Cowboys. Did the deliberately lose in 2015 to get a top pick?