Gutless Defense
December 3rd, 2017
Groundhog day.
America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, tried his best to put a happy face on the game today.
He should have been cussing people out on the defense, or ordering a few of them to hitchhike next to the dead dear along I-43 in the cold Wisconsin night air, all the way to Milwaukee to catch the next plane out of Cheeseland.
Twice in Jameis’ last four games, he did what you want your franchise quarterback to do, what you want your No. 1 overall pick of a quarterback to do: Give you the lead late in the fourth quarter.
Just like he did at Buffalo three starts ago, Jameis threw a late fourth-quarter touchdown pass to put the Bucs on top. Only to watch this disgrace of a defense play Santa Claus and shat in their pants once again, letting an opponent drive down the field on the ensuing drive to tie or win the game (in regulation).
Yes, Jameis had a ghastly turnover that turned into seven points for Green Bay. Understood. But guess what, he overcame that and gave the Bucs a late lead only for the defense to yack like the last (and only) time Joe drank scotch.
Joe just cannot imagine how many NFL quarterbacks would just ream the arses off a defense for pulling that kind of crap.
Did Jameis play great? Of course not. But he brought the team back. He did his job.
Leave it up to Mike Smith’s defense, once again, to embarrass this franchise.
December 3rd, 2017 at 5:37 pm
Remember when Hiring Mike Smith was the best thing Koetter had done as head coach? His experience would be invaluable… his experience is losing and getting fired. What do you know Joe same things going to happen here . If only somebody could’ve done us a favor and hired him as a head coach somewhere
December 3rd, 2017 at 5:38 pm
GUTLESS TEAM CAPTAINS WHO GET FREE PASS AFTER FREE PASS!!!!
December 3rd, 2017 at 5:39 pm
Don’t forget. The offense(lead by Winston) could not score touchdowns or this game woudl not have come to overtime. You guys are just WRONG blaming D. We ran twice as many plays and had twice the first downs the Packers did. Wake up and smell the coffee Joes and stop defending your failed #1 overall pick. Winston had plenty of chances to win the game today but his lousy play gave the game away.
December 3rd, 2017 at 5:40 pm
Bucnut2
it’s time to go mariota needs to be rimmed. back to your knees
December 3rd, 2017 at 5:42 pm
AND Winston did NOT bring the team back. Barber and the o-line did
December 3rd, 2017 at 5:42 pm
I said last year at midseason that the Bucs need to make a change to fix their problems – and I stand by it. You can’t go around firing your head coach every 2 years and expect to get anywhere, yet it’s obvious that Dirk isn’t head coaching material, he rarely has his team ready to play, he’s a terrible play caller from the sideline and he gets out coached every week and fails to make adjustments during games. Fix the problem by moving Mike Smith to HC and moving Dirk back into the box and making him just the OC. Sure, yeah yeah yeah, you CAN’T do that, blah blah blah. Yes you can do that and the team should make the move. Short of firing everyone yet again it’s absolutely crystal clear that Dirk isn’t head coach material – from quitting on the team last year in the Denver game, to constantly getting out coached every week and showing zero progress, why keep him as head coach when there is a solution which wouldn’t blow-up everything? Mike Smith isn’t doing it as DC, and outside of a 6-game stretch, the Bucs have been generally between bad and terrible his entire time here. Just fix the problem, take him and make him head coach, and promote someone on the defensive to be the DC and make Dirk the OC. There, fixed. Now the team again has an OC and someone to work with Winston 24/7 and someone else on the defensive side can figure out playing your corners 20 yards off the LOS isn’t really getting it done.
Seriously – just get it done. Tell Dirk he’s getting promoted “UP” to the booth and give Smith the “assistant” HC title and move someone into his position. Mike Smith is a proven head coach and even if he’s not my favorite, at least he’ll be doing what he does best. Same for Dirk, he was a GREAT offensive coordinator, it’s why I didn’t want Lovie fired, why would we want to take a guy who is doing a great job, and after one season move him away from that job and thus take away Winston’s asset. Now Winston has no OC, just a distant HC who is overmatched and can’t call a game from the sideline to save his life.
December 3rd, 2017 at 5:44 pm
………and to think
myself along with Joe and many other were so happy Mike Smith didn’t jump ship this past off season…..now look what it has come to.
I could’ve never imagined this defense would have been this bad this season with essentially the same players.
I like Mike Smith a lot…..but something here is off…..REALLY OFF
December 3rd, 2017 at 5:44 pm
Tmax-i dont personally insult you. can’t you take the truth? Don’t want to debate on the merits of America’s Turnover Machine?
December 3rd, 2017 at 5:45 pm
Bucnut2
i was not insulting just merely pointing out an obvious fact.
December 3rd, 2017 at 5:47 pm
Tamx- right. Let’s talk about ATM
December 3rd, 2017 at 5:49 pm
Meanwhile, some of you are “Totally Confident” with Irk (No D necessary) Koetter, Mike Smith, and Jason Licht.
Uh huh.
December 3rd, 2017 at 5:50 pm
Last year, the Bucs had the #1 defense in Opponent Third Down Conversion Percentage. This year, they are dead last.
Did they sign Mike Smith to a long-term contract? If so, there is a good chance that he’ll be fired. Paying coaches not to coach/players not to play is just the Glazer way. Smitty could then coach at FSU and still collect Glazer loot. #PaidFloridaVacation
December 3rd, 2017 at 5:52 pm
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Jameis looked very good, as he always does when he’s healthy, but the Bucs should have lost to the Jets and Phins on purpose to get a higher pick … but hey, it could be worse, Tampa could be stuck with Mariota at QB, a guy who has more picks than TD’s and has to be literally carried by his running game and defense to victory … the Bucs future is still brighter than most teams … I just wish they played in the weak AFC South instead of the murderous NFC South
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December 3rd, 2017 at 5:52 pm
Offense didn’t cough up 10 points late.
Who threw that go-ahead touchdown pass to Brate in the fourth? Wasn’t Peyton Barber. Wasn’t any offensive lineman.
December 3rd, 2017 at 5:53 pm
Gotta agree with Bucnut2 on this one. Running game put us up. D just sucks worse than a Hoover Wind Tunnel. How do you let a QB run around in the backfield for half the quarter, nearly falling down twice, and then ripping off a run himself? Aren’t there any professional football players left on this team? How about red zone play calls too? Coaches and play calls are out of their league. CFL wouldn’t make them look good. Clean house….
December 3rd, 2017 at 5:53 pm
Rod Munch you live in a make believe world. No way the changes you say happen. I wish it was that easy. Jameis may be a Stanford level graduate but his decision making lacks on and off the field.
Jameis saying that the running game was excellent. This is because they leave it to Winston and our receivers to beat them. That will never happen.
My season tickets will not be renewed, I am not paying for tix to this circus. Will wait to see if there are changes at the top.
This team is not good, so many areas to fix…..
December 3rd, 2017 at 5:54 pm
Hey…Mike Smith’s smirk in the 56 – not much Bucs beat down on Nat TV…is enough NFL coach cred to out last my days….Lovie
December 3rd, 2017 at 5:54 pm
IF You expect above average QB play when the Oline gets abused like they did today and your coach repeatedly call deep drops they you just don’t understand football.
Either the Oline needs to play better or the coach needs to call three step plays. One or the other………You’ll never get a game with that much heat on the QB and have him not make a few stupid plays. Extreme pressure on a QB effects decision making and if you don’t understand that you’re just foolish.
It was a poorly played game from the Oline and a poorly coached game. At the end of the day Winston played well given the circumstances and had one unforgivable error.
December 3rd, 2017 at 5:55 pm
“Rod Munch Says:
December 3rd, 2017 at 5:42 pm
I said last year at midseason that the Bucs need to make a change to fix their problems – and I stand by it. You can’t go around firing your head coach every 2 years and expect to get anywhere, yet it’s obvious that Dirk isn’t head coaching material, he rarely has his team ready to play, he’s a terrible play caller from the sideline and he gets out coached every week and fails to make adjustments during games. Fix the problem by moving Mike Smith to HC and moving Dirk back into the box and making him just the OC”
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This maybe one of the dumbest things I’ve ever read in a sports forum…..no offense Rod.
Why in the world would you do this with not a lot of games left and this team is not playing for anything??????
Besides, you don’t do this on a professional level because that would reflect poorly upon the organization…….there is such a thing called PR and future hiring respectability for future coaches and GMs. You don’t want to do something dumb like that.
December 3rd, 2017 at 5:56 pm
Tmaxacon.
Please read last article comments. Stop smoking joints with the Joe’s early IN the morning. You guys are delirious or something. Yah the defense sucked. The offensive line sucked too. To say that Jameis is the most important buc in team history is just crazy. To say Jameis played like a quarteback should play to give a win is just crazy. What planet are you guys on? What game did you watch.
Jameis looks average at best. wreckless would be a better term. Inconsistent as hell. Good play and then a few plays where you are questioning how is this guy an NFL #1 pick. I mean you have to draw up 15 short screens to help him complete passes. The offense was successful cause of barber the beast.
Joejameisfan.com
December 3rd, 2017 at 5:57 pm
Everybody thought Dirk was good because of 9-7 But had our division not been so awful we would have been 500 or less.
December 3rd, 2017 at 5:59 pm
Hard to blame him
We have no talent
December 3rd, 2017 at 5:59 pm
Bird
the offense did their job they kept the defense off the field and scored 20 pts. there is NO justification for the soft arse defense led by the pos quitter mccoy to give up not one but 2 scoreing drives to brent hundly… can not be denied sir wake up.
December 3rd, 2017 at 6:04 pm
Bucnut2 = hater Yeah that late 4th quarter TD pass on 3rd down to Brate didn’t happen the running back threw it. What a hater. Last time i looked your man crush Mariota is having a crap year. The only reason the titans are winning is he has a defense and a running game. Just stop with the hating. Just because you say Winston sucks doesn’t make it true.
December 3rd, 2017 at 6:06 pm
Kwon needs to get benched. Missed tackle after missed tackle. KB needs to man the MLB position.
December 3rd, 2017 at 6:13 pm
Last year’s 5 game winning streak appears flukey upon further review….and gave Smiley Smith an extension he clearly didn’t deserve.
December 3rd, 2017 at 6:19 pm
Oh come on Joe give them some credit losing is a team effort and everyone wanted to pitch in to help lose this one. The three and out by the Evans after they block in the back could easily be the reason this game went into overtime in the first place. Don’t win games and try to give the Glazer’s a reason to keep this trash coaching staff that can’t even coach up a scheme to keep teams from blocking punts
December 3rd, 2017 at 6:36 pm
Bird, you summed it up well. Jamis plays backyard football in an NFL game. He is reckless. That is his number one fault. He obviously makes the occasional great play but apparently not often enough. There are many other factors, the o-line, the defense, the play calling Etc. He’s my quarterback though until he’s not. I just wish he would mature from head to toe so that he can move on to being a very good quarterback instead of merely an average to above-average quarterback.
December 3rd, 2017 at 6:42 pm
Do you all really think that 3 deserves a 100 million plus when his rookie contract expires?
Cause that is what he is looking for in his next contract. Me, I don’t.
When you miss on a number one pick it effects you for a decade. We have a lot to think about in the near future.
December 3rd, 2017 at 6:44 pm
Can’t wait for this season to be over. The consensus of the writers is how awful the defensive line would be without Geraldine…I really would like to see how we would do with a young and hungry dline. Let those old fat slackers go.
December 3rd, 2017 at 6:58 pm
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^ I believe Jameis will easily become the highest paid player in the history of football come 2020 or 2021 if he makes the team franchise him in his 6th year …
JW does indeed play “backyard football” ala Favre, Rorrthlisberger, Bradshaw, Namath and Elway … and yet this year he has 12 TD passes to just 6 picks while Mariota, who is the epitome of a mere game-manager who only throws to open guys out of play-action has just 11 TD passes to TWELVE INT’s …
By the end of this year, Jameis will be the ONLY QB IN NFL HISTORY TO THROW FOR 11,000 YARDS before his 24th birthday … you Jameis-haters have no idea how good you have it … you could be stuck with Mariota, Dak … or Flacco, Siemian/Osweiler/Lynch, etc … loons!
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December 3rd, 2017 at 7:06 pm
@Rod Munch … “Fix the problem by moving Mike Smith to HC and moving Dirk back into the box and making him just the OC. ” OMG, we actually agree on something Rod. Said that weeks ago, and still stand by it. Dirk already shown that he cannot get the job done wearing both the HC and OC hats. And he’s better OC material (if he’s solely focused on that) than he is HC material. Glazers & Licht set him up for failure big time, and now the turkeys are coming home to roost. It won’t happen because the Bucs’ ownership & management rarely think outside the box. They are, however, really good at thinking cheap. Thus the Bucs being perennial NFC South cellar-dwellers.
December 3rd, 2017 at 7:11 pm
NFLNut, Jameis’ record is 17-24 to this point in his NFL career. Most Bucs’ fans don’t give a spit about 11,000 yards before his 24th birthday. They care about wins & losses (actually they care only about WINS). Newsflash: So does Jameis. And so does Koetter. And so does ______ (fill in the blank).
December 3rd, 2017 at 7:22 pm
I could have sworn I spotted DC Smitty in the pressbox wolfing down a burger and fries while his soldiers were….being manhandled on the playing field. Want some Coke with them fries there Smitty Or would you prefer we fail back..as a 2nd Defense?
December 3rd, 2017 at 7:22 pm
Thank you Defense Rules. Too many homers here. We need a leader who puts up points, protects the ball, and maximizes the tools he has on offense. I like the kid, he has won me over with his demeanor. His play, I am not sold on.
December 3rd, 2017 at 7:49 pm
Jameis played ok ovrall, constantly under duress–our O line was awful with pass pro but damn Peyton Barber was very good, encouraging. Joe–you said it perfectly : the defense shat their pants and all the descriptive phrases. Jameis got us out in front but defense let them score easily twice–somebody needs to tell Mike Smith it aint workin
December 3rd, 2017 at 8:01 pm
Bucnut2, actually americas TO machine is Mariota. 41 TO’s in 37 games.
December 3rd, 2017 at 8:04 pm
Everyone wants to blame QB, but the facts are the facts the defense sucks and couldn’t fight their way out of a wet paper bag giving up yardage after yardage after yardage. I have had enough of it. The front defenses line is verse I seen in a long time and Mike Smith has to go
December 3rd, 2017 at 8:17 pm
So here’s a question, if the veteran players who’ve been on this team for at least 6 years have been used to coaching turnovers every 2 years, new philosophies every 2 years, new schemes every 2 years, etc that’s supposed to take this team “to the next level,” isn’t it possible that those players just don’t truly buy into anything anymore that this organization tells them?
We have zero continuity. There is no vision, no identity, no “stay the course”
At some point you have to give your coaches time. All bad teams have no vision.
December 4th, 2017 at 6:45 am
Team game. Entire team is inconsistent from week to week and series to series. Potential is there…so much so that I still watch and love my Bucs. They will put it all together if they stay together (team game). Thinking about (thinking about) some sort of shuffle (not firing the head coach and staff) has merit. Go Bucs!
December 4th, 2017 at 1:22 pm
D Rules – yeah on the coaching situation I know it won’t happen since the Bucs are the Bucs and they’re just followers – but I really think the solution can be done in house if they actually did it. Sure peoples feelings get hurt – but I really don’t care – the team would be much better off. Do that for the rest of this season and all next year – then fire everyone if they still are the same. Dirk isn’t getting fired so next year we have the same exact thing to look forward too – a clueless HC who calls awful Games and another wasted year of Jameis development where he has no OC.
December 4th, 2017 at 7:33 pm
Mike Smith defense hasn’t been good for awhile! Even if you go back to the last few years of the Falcons, if not for Koetter offense the Falcons would’ve been picking in the top 3 in the draft during those last few yrs.
So I’m all about following trends, outside of like 6-8 games last yr the defense under the eye of Mike Smith (including the Falcons last 2 years) have been BAD! I wonder what Koetter & his offense can do w/ a decent defense. Been carrying Smith for seasons now lol