“Deteriorating” Fanbase
January 20th, 2018
Ira gauges pulse of Bucs fans.
A couple of guys Joe is proud to be associated with had a meeting of the minds yesterday and, as one can expect, a good result could be heard.
Prized JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman hopped on to talk Bucs and the NFL with WHBO-AM 1040 radio personality Rock Riley yesterday. Compelling stuff.
Among the things Ira discussed was how close Team Glazer came to hiring Chucky, how Raiders owner Mark Davis was “obsessed” and the current unrest among Bucs fans with the state of the franchise.
“I’m telling you, a large segment of Bucs Nation feels that way Rock,” Kaufman said about the status woe of keeping a defensive staff in tact despite what should be unacceptable results. “Sometimes you make a couple of token moves just to show that” being last in several defensive categories will not be tolerated.
“You give a little hope to a fanbase that is deteriorating a little bit.”
Hear Ira’s full segment below.
January 20th, 2018 at 5:21 am
Prediction!
With this current coaching staff in place, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will go 0 for. And due to piss poor leadership on all levels, including the owners, they will wait too long to clean house before it becomes painfully obvious to do so. Last the Glazers will sell the team due to being inept at running an NFL franchise. #StatusWoe #SleeplessInTampa #ItsABucsLife #AlsoFiretheMarketingDept
January 20th, 2018 at 6:02 am
Unfortunately Tampa is always going to have a large portion of fair weather fans. In other words they will only support this team if they are playoff worthy. That’s the norm with many fan bases as our world is rapidly changing. Only a few franchises sell out every game every year regardless of the teams record.
I’ve been a Buc fan now for over 20 years and can say with certainty we have one of worst fan bases in the NFL. I get we havent had much to celebrate over thr last decade but if ya love your team it
January 20th, 2018 at 6:06 am
Shouldn’t matter what their record is. I do agree Smith should of been fired. So many coaches have been let go by this organization for doing a far better job than what he has done in his 2 years here. We had a 5 game stretch where d played lights out in 2016. Other than that what has Smith done for the defense?? No one is developing and it was the teams kryptonite all year. Guess the one positive of all this is we know and the coaches and gm know if they don’t get it done this year we move on and AGAIN Tampa starts over with a new regime!
January 20th, 2018 at 6:56 am
Same fans b$&ching are the same ones who year ago were yelling to resign said coach. Press coverage only works when you have a pass rush. Soft coverage is used when you have no pash rush and you have to keep everything in front of you. Plus we couldn’t even get home with blitzing LB, this Defensive failures IMO is due more to personnel insufficiencys rather than coaching. And that’s on the GM for banking on a tub of lard (baker) , injured second year player, an old declining DE and a run stopping only LE. But yet all these couch coaches what their pound of flesh. Look at all the playoff teams this year it’s not defensive coaching it’s personnel. They all can pressure the QB by rushing 4. GM better find a pass rush or the Glazers will clean house next season.
January 20th, 2018 at 6:57 am
@Ira … ““Sometimes you make a couple of token moves just to show that being last in several defensive categories will not be tolerated. You give a little hope to a fanbase that is deteriorating a little bit.” Ira you’re such a gentleman. Fanbase deteriorating a little bit? You know as well as we do that Bucs’ fanbase is in total freefall, and has been since Chucky left. That fanbase isn’t looking for ‘token moves’ … we’re all looking for quality improvements. No one wants to be looked at as cellar dwellers, and that’s what our Bucs are in the NFC South, and in the broader NFL.
And why focus solely on the defense in your response? Joe has that corner cornered. Bucs’ high-powered offense didn’t exactly do the Bucs’ defense any great favors this past season. Wanna see the offense help the defense? Stop starting slow … put some points on the board EARLY. Stop with the turnovers, giving the opposing teams better field position. Just as importantly, control the time-of-possession big-time. Best defense is keeping the other offense on the bench. Bucs’ offense scored a miserly total of 307 points this year (defense scored 28). Schiano’s 2012 offense under Mike Sullivan scored 389 points for heaven’s sake with Josh Freeman at the helm.
January 20th, 2018 at 7:20 am
I’ve given licht a pass for all the good players he brought in but can’t get around the fact that he’s simply a scout and that’s why, he has no vision which is why he keeps drafting at random positions. Beckwith was a great draft pick but if not for injuries he plays strongside linebacker which plays about 45% of the snaps, a wasted pick that could have gone to the line or running back. Not in outage because I think glazers were just buying themselves another year to find a coach that will be around for awhile, I don’t think their that crazy to believe this regime will do anything in the toughest division in football
I’m sure the saints, Panthers and falcons all laughed about three glazers allowing this entire staff to return another year
January 20th, 2018 at 7:22 am
The reason many fans focus on the Defense is because of what they see in the NFL. 4 of the leagues top 5 Defenses are in this yrs remaining playoffs. And We all witnessed a definite 5 maybe even 6 easy winnable games by our Bucs Had we had just a little Defense. We don’t even see any passion or hard hittin on our D either. We don’t see Defensive players being put in positions to make plays like other teams set up linemen to make sacks.And we don’t see any sense of urgency
to fix our Defensive woes..either by the HC or Mike Smith. We are also pissed at Mike Smith sitting his ass in the pressbox for 16 games with his binoculars. You’d think just once..He’d try coaching on the sidelines. Nothing else has worked has it? Yet we find scapegoats. Mike SMith would be gone yestersay if our Bucs was truly a good franchise. I just don’t think we want to be great. We don’t have great football minds calling the shots and really could care less. Anybody can see why this franchise continulaay loses or has..fair weather fans. We don’t win and we don’t show the public we want winners here. Say what ou want about Defense. You got 4 of the leagues top 5 Defenses in the playoffs. Not offenses…DEFENSES!!
January 20th, 2018 at 8:07 am
I am a season tickett holder who lives in New York. I was able to go to every home game this year. IMO I believe that this loser mentality is fine with the Glazers!!! You want to know why the fan base is leaving?? It’s because we feel like you could care less! You allow a team to go out there week in and week out to give the fans what?? Absolutely nothing!!! I sit in the stands and listen to my fellow season ticket holders call the plays before they happen!!! If we know it of course the other teams know it! There waas no one who ran away with the NFC South
January 20th, 2018 at 8:08 am
GRT1, some of us never wanted Smith to be the DC, some of us actually paid attention to his coaching in Atlanta. Some of us knew the 5 game performance was a flash in the pan from opportunistic turnovers and showed no consistency while playing against bad teams. I never wanted him, said he would be the one thing that will get Koetter fired and I’m surprised it hasn’t.
In Atlanta the only thing holding them back from a championship was the defense. They were the only team in the league that had a defense year in year out as bad as ours. If Smith know defense, he could have stepped in to save his team, his job and fix the problem. He couldn’t and he didn’t while Koetter ran a consistent offense year in year out. Every team has positions its lacks depth at or need upgrades. This teams problem on coaching is 90% coaching. Good coaches get 110% out of the players. Mike Smith gets about 35% constantly. He sucks and should have never been hired.
January 20th, 2018 at 8:10 am
Pointless post.
I get it
We all get it
…..why should the bucs organization do anything? That’s the same as “firing for effect”………which in layman’s terms means “nothing” in military terms.
Unless the Bucs fire the HC ………NO DUMB DUMB BUCS FAN will be happy.
The current coaching staff is purely a buisness decision made by the Glazers if anyone who works in buisness will understand……it’s more about “saving face” for future potential coaching hires versus saying to everyone “we’ll dump ya after two years”……LOL
January 20th, 2018 at 8:18 am
The fan base may be shrinking but comments on JoeBucsFan certainly are not….
January 20th, 2018 at 8:46 am
@Tom Edrington
I don’t think it is shrinking!!!!!!! It is going back to normal!!!!! The bandwagon, only here for the playoff fan that is now lightning fan, will be right back and say they were there the whole time if a good season goes down in 2018!!!!!!
But if optimism is down, that is fine by me, it just means that we don’t have to hear things like picking a guy off the scrap heap like TJ Ward and hearing how he is a pro-bowler and the final piece to a deep playoff run!!!!!!!!!
I stated early last year that if the Bucs were forced/signed up for hardknocks that the coaches would get a pass!!!!!!!! And now they team has to show up this year!!!!! But joe is wrong on their assessment of “status woe” !!!!!! Its status ” reload” !!!!!!!!!!!! maybe this year we will even get to see the offense have “5 game performance was a flash in the pan” that can carry this team to a good record!!!!!!!!!
And the stick carriers are a joke!!!!!! They need to do a poll to decide of what coaches name they can chant for a preseason game if another team is ahead in the preseason!!!!!!!!! Can a fanbase deteriorate, if its foundation is so fragile and weak?????????
The Coaching staff can only depend on ownership support if it has to do advertising and expanding the brand!!!!!! And can only depend on the so-called fan base if they are selecting new coaches or being front runners in a playoff run!!!!!! Now that is the “STATUS WOE”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!
January 20th, 2018 at 9:34 am
Barely come here anymore. Pretty much ambivalent towards the Buccaneers and the NFL. Too much loafing, lack of passion. If they don’t care, why should I?
January 20th, 2018 at 9:38 am
Not a bandwagon Realist, after 40 years, I see guys who dont try, why watch something that is just a waste of my time.
January 20th, 2018 at 9:45 am
I’ve been a season ticket holder for 15 years. I’m DONE. And don’t dare say fair weather fans. 15 years is plenty of time to fix what’s broken. What’s going on here is not worth the money. I’d rather go fishing
January 20th, 2018 at 9:57 am
@Chris and Broks55hof
I am just curious??? would a new secondary, and D-line coach proved they care?????
Did they care during the loser lovie years, when they were THE WORST team in the league?????
If they brought a piece of the past back would you come back???? like if they hired derrick brooks to assistant to the regional manager, or brought in a coach that would run the tampa2, would you come back then????
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 20th, 2018 at 10:04 am
All good points. Tampa has a unique fan base made up of a lot of people who moved to our great city from somewhere else. They have a team they can root for back home as the Buc’s begin to falter per usual at some point in the season. Oh there is a corp of devout supporters (most natives of the region) but not enough to create a large market mentality I.E. Dallas, Philadelphia, Denver, NYG, et.al. So what do the Glazers care? They get TV money, we pay $9.00 for a beer, and FA’s like Calias Campbell go elsewhere. Buc fans face its you’re part of a ponzey scheme and the best you are going to get is a lucky break every decade or so when all the stars align and Luck lands at Tia and you go to a playoff game. I am lucky I sall my Miracle in Tampa, I know it was my last, hope you are young enough to get a chance,
January 20th, 2018 at 10:20 am
I will not be renewing my season tickets this up coming season! I will not put another penny of my hard earned money supporting a team that thinks it is on the “right track” by retaining a failing coaching and GM regime that for some reason keeps falling short. I will still root for my Bucs to win as I have for the last 25 years, but the financial funding is done! It is the only major protest I can do on my level. I think team Glazer does not know how to be a quality ownership group! To me they would be just fine selling tickets to the visiting teams fans as long as they can collect the $$$. The coach Radio daze are a perfect example! Team Glazer was over extended by the purchase of Manchester United. So their NFL team took a back seat and quite frankly still does. In my mind if team Glazer wants to learn what quality caring sports team ownership does to be successful not only for the team, fans & community. They need to hang out with Jeff Vinik and take many, many notes! FYI I do not plan on letting my Lightning season passes go! Go Bolts!
January 20th, 2018 at 10:46 am
@Realist
You save that one for an infamous “Realist repost” when we start winning and the fans return en masse. That might be a few years though.
I’m tired of calling fans bad or “fair weather”. As a longtime Lightning fan and former season ticket holder I watched attendance in the pits and then finally grow to sellouts every night. Why are we called pejorative names when in reality it’s simply being a smart sports consumer. We do not OWE the Glazers a single penny.
And so it’s a football town and yet a hockey team…in freaking Florida is the one selling out. DUH…the Hockey teams has arguably the best owner in all of sports…IMHO it has the best GM in hockey and again maybe all of sports…an excellent coach with a great personality who gets on great with the media…four all stars in a league where two or three are considered a good thing…and EXCITING players and OFFENSIVE game to be incredibly exciting.
The very same formula could work for the Bucs…problem of course is that the Glazers…who I like OK..will NEVER become the best owners in all of sports or even the NFL…while the verdict is still out on our GM nobody is going to crown him best in his sport…our coach has potential but he’s pretty dry and while I like DK I much prefer to listen to interviews from Coop who actually shares real info.
But I’ve left the most important piece until last….do we have lots of All Pros?
Are we an exciting team to watch? #3 HAS brought some excitement to the equation but he needs lots more help…Our RB’s are the opposite of exciting…our Defense hasn’t been exciting because the home run is missing…NO crushing opposing QB’s…we’re not head hunters or particularly mean or hard hitting.
Bottom line…if those problems are addressed and the Bucs did the equivalent of the Lightning….an SB appearance and a visit to the Conference Championship in two of three years…RayJay will be packed!
January 20th, 2018 at 11:05 am
No one want to be associated with a team that’s in a 10 year playoff drought.
It’s call Human Nature
Everyone want to win
No one want to lose
January 20th, 2018 at 11:14 am
IF YOU BUILD IT THEY WILL COME.
January 20th, 2018 at 11:20 am
Proud to say we didn’t make any knee jerk coaching changes because THE MEDIA and the like are calling for it.
Last few times the owners have done that the results proved to be less than desirable.
You give a guy a contract, he should not have to worry about getting canned before his contract is up. Win Lose or Draw. It has a butterfly effect.
Besides that, most everyone wanting someone to get fired for under performing should look in the mirror. Should your boss fire you for Posting on JBF while you should be working…
Slackers… Thats the Bucs fan Base and the reason why our team slacks…
Inspire or be depressed. But don’t wish for one while doing the other.
Simple as That
January 20th, 2018 at 11:22 am
@ Defense – The offense was able to take the lead late in the 4th quarter in 5 games and the defense summarily turned into dogsh1t and lost the game! That is five fking games the Bucs should have won. If the defense didn’t suck beyond belief the Bucs should have been 10-6 at a minimum. Get out of here with you nonsense.
January 20th, 2018 at 11:34 am
Fundamental sports question for more than just Buc’s fans.
We all know the story of Cubbies fans…but they were fans of a phenomenon not a good sports team…until recently of course. St. Louis and Cincinnati draw well in MLB regardless of their teams but that is a long tradition in baseball.
In football neither the Cincy fans nor the St. Louis fans(lost their team) show up if the team is bad.
There are a lot of choices…why should sports consumers be so different than car buyers…movie goers….if the product is horrible shouldn’t we have the right to not donate to the owners? You can still cheer for your team and wear some gear without blowing a wad of $$$ on an inferior product.
January 20th, 2018 at 12:27 pm
Realist the last thing 90% of fans want to see is the tampa two. Zone coverage on the majority of snaps is what has killed this defense for a long time. The team needs upgrades but with good coaching the unit as it exists would be much better than last in the league….period!
January 20th, 2018 at 3:08 pm
I wonder if these folks that that are quick to chastise have actual season tix. We are not renewing. Piss poor product over and over. Piss poor management and piss poor ownership. There are better ways to invest the money and watch these dogs on the big screen.
January 20th, 2018 at 5:20 pm
America…twenty years…sure….started rooting for the Bucs during the Sapp Brooks hayday years. Good timing. Many of us remember far longer than that, and have become fed up. The Glazers appear to be little different than Culverhouse…except they are now spending money foolishly while the Hugh pocketed his. Gave them decades… and what we are seeing now is more the norm than the exception. Being a Bucs fan is like being the punch drunk fighter that brags about having the stuff kicked out of him for but a few years in the last few decades by average and much better fighters.
January 20th, 2018 at 8:12 pm
I’m not going anywhere, I’ve loved this team since I was 8 years old, remember crying on the couch when we lost 9-0 to the damn Rams at the BIG Sombrero, once a BUC always a BUC, and I live in Stinking Panther country
January 20th, 2018 at 9:56 pm
Agree with Chrisco4BUCS Live in the moment “Buc Fans”. Been here since 79′ and will always be!
January 21st, 2018 at 3:43 am
Change the darn uniforms and everything will get better. Check out college teams uniforms and it makes me sick that a professional franchise with the perfect model (Buccaneers), can put this uniform on the field. Check out the Iowa Hawkeyes and their other uniform with the pewter color scheme and the number configuration. It is simple and bad-arse.
January 21st, 2018 at 5:21 am
This team is a joke .
I was the biggest Bucs fan since I was 8..
It’s just not worth it -it’s suppose to be about entertainment and fun..
The Bucs are awful and have been for over a decade.
My dad grew up in Minnesota and is a Vikings fan – he takes me to Bucs games whenever they play the Vikings . Going to see a game in Minnesota changed me. The excitement , the fan base , the product put on the field , the skol chants ..sold out .. so much fun .. SKOL Vikes ! Glad I finally saw the light and stopped being a miserable Bucs fan only .. the Bucs suck and provide fans with zero entertainment value every year .. SKOL !!!
January 21st, 2018 at 12:29 pm
Ryan..I’m feelin yas!! I’ve been to stadiums all over amerca (once upon a time following my Bucs). the electricity, the rabid fans, the full stadiums..the football atmoshere. Vikes, Eagels, Steelers, Pats GB..just to name a few. We had a small window when we had those great Defensive years. But it disappeared. Why would you pay money when you know..your team will find a way to lose? Like I’ve said, Our Organization does not have the heart, the enthusiasm, willpower or want..the know how to build a great organization. Its just not in them. You’re right, this team is a joke and will be until either ownership changes or they get a reall football mind in here. I just laugh at these post. Jameis this, Jameis that..Build more offense…4 of the NFl top 5 Defenses are in the final 4. Yet..we want a great Offense. What a truly pityful franchise man.
January 21st, 2018 at 7:30 pm
Many of the knuckledraggers don’t realize that you can critical of the Bucs and still be a fan. Every piece of this organization has substantial flaws. We are not a player or two away from being a playoff team and 2018 will be another unmitigated disaster.
I grade Jameis so far as C
Licht-D
Koetter-C-
Glazers F
The PAYING fans are getting real sick getting taken advantage of and being treated like fools.
January 21st, 2018 at 11:35 pm
My squad regardless! Can’t say I’m not disappointed with the current results and I don’t think the fix is in place yet.
We need drastic action at all levels and phases during the off-season. Please hit FA hard and let the Draft go as it may after the FA period.
No question we need;
1. RB
2. DE
3. CB
4. OG
#BucsLife #OffSeasonChamps #ProveIt2018 #ShowGutsGlazers #CutTheChecks