Mike Smith Off The Board In New York
January 13th, 2018
“Coach, Kwon and I promise we’ll get at least one sack for you next season. We won’t go sackless again.”
It appears one thread of hope has been lost for a faction of Buccaneers fans.
Not every Tampa Bay supporter is doing cartwheels on Clearwater Beach with the thought of Mike Smith returning for his third season as Tampa Bay defensive coordinator.
These fans see the woeful stats and progression of Smith’s defense and weep in their beers and scream at their spouses.
Fueled by New York media speculation, there was hope Smith could become the next Giants head coach. But, alas, it seems he’s completely out of the picture, per NFL Network super insider Ian Rapoport.
The Giants haven’t officially eliminated candidates, but it’s clear there are four left with legitimate chances at the head coaching job — McDaniels, Patricia, Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks and Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur. Patricia has received a lot of love inside the building, but the search is not to the point where anyone is considered a favorite. In fact, Shurmur is highly regarded inside the Giants’ building, far more than people realize. As for Wilks, the respect GM Dave Gettleman has for him has gone a long way, and he’s very much in the picture. This remains open, though a Vikings loss could force a Monday decision between Shurmur and Wilks.
For those who like Smith leading the Bucs defense, exhale and crack open a beer. The former NFL Head Coach of the Year will be back, hopefully with a blown up and retooled defensive line.
January 13th, 2018 at 3:28 pm
@Joe … ” hopefully with a blown up and retooled defensive line.” Joe, your keyboard is on the fritz. It failed to add “… and beefed up Secondary”.
January 13th, 2018 at 3:32 pm
Is it too early to start talking about the 2019 draft and who our future new coach may be eyeing?
January 13th, 2018 at 3:39 pm
Joe- you actually thought the leader of the worst defense in football would be named head coach? One could only dream. Sorry but there’s more to soft pathetic zone than pass rush. This league is about in your face attacking man defense. And he’s no smart enough to adapt. Which is why he will be a linebacker coach next year
January 13th, 2018 at 3:46 pm
The Bucs defense gave up 18.5 PTS/G at home. They gave up 29.2 PTS/G on the road. This don’t seem like a coaching issue, it’s more of a player issue. If you can play good defense at home, why you can’t play good defense on the road? We’re talking a difference of over 10 points a game.
January 13th, 2018 at 3:57 pm
The thought of New York getting a genius level candidate like Matt Patricia, while we retain Dork and Ol’ Smitty, makes me a little sick.
Here’s hoping that Jason Licht has his best offseason ever. Because that’s the only way we’ll attain level of success in 2018.
January 13th, 2018 at 4:00 pm
Ace
No its not. Glazers are delaying the inevitable. Theres no way gettleman was gona give mike smith a look, he knows football. Maybe he peeked at the bucs defensive stats. Maybe he saw tyrod taylor, the one who couldnt put up more than 3 points last week, torched the bucs for 434 yards and 30 points. Maybe he saw case keenum went 25-33 for 369. Or eli went for 288 2td and no ints. Or brady going 30/40 for 303. Or could have been palmer going 18/22 for 283 and 3tds, basically in one half. Or brees first game of 22/27 for 263 easy ones. Nope….I know what did it. It was when Matt Moore came in and went 17/28 for 282 yards…in one half!! The theme is sensed. Mike smith cant stop the forward pass. Sure glazers lets have another year of that. Sure he will “coach” better with multiple added defensive ends and more pressure on the qb. But is that really coaching? He had 17 weeks to adjust for his lack of rushing ends. He did nothing. Welcome back Mike smith. We look forward to the same game plan thrown out there every game next year…and so do the opposing coaches!
January 13th, 2018 at 4:03 pm
@Lakeland … “If you can play good defense at home, why you can’t play good defense on the road? ” Excellent point Lakeland. A 10-Plus point differential is HUGE. Eagles gave up 13 pts at home & about 5 more than that on the road … but 10 pts difference for the Bucs? Wow, something else is going on. Maybe we just didn’t match up well with those teams we played on the road since our record was 1-7 there (and the only team we beat, the Dolphins, were struggling at the time). Of course, at 5-11 we didn’t match up all good enough with a lot of teams it appears.
January 13th, 2018 at 4:10 pm
So here’s the story. Following the end of the 2016 season, Smitty interviewed for the Giants HC job, and left New York with a handshake deal. According to rumor (both strong and persistent) the deal blew up when Eli Manning stepped in and said he wanted the consistency Ben McAdoo could provide. That saga didn’t end well.
When McAdoo was fired mid-season last year, Smitty jumped back to the head of the line. Many phone calls were made and received behind closed doors. But then Giants GM Jerry Reese was fired, Dave Gettleman stepped in, and Smitty was no longer a lock.
And to all of you who love to point to the Bucs defense in 2017, and condemn Smitty for it……feel free. It’s the surest indication of how little you know about football. Makes it easy to know who to take seriously, and who not.
Better to look at his record as a head coach, if head coach is the position being discussed.
January 13th, 2018 at 4:15 pm
@darin … “He (Smitty) had 17 weeks to adjust for his lack of rushing ends.” And exactly how do you ‘adjust’ for no pass rush Darin? Bucs blitzed on 170 out of 608 dropbacks (28% of the time … #22 in the league). Should they have blitzed more? Maybe, but that exposes you to even more underneath passes (slants, etc) or potentially to more rushes (especially to the outsides). Plus the Bucs used their LBs in coverage quite a bit … blitz them more often? I’m confident that Smitty & company looked at all that, but my gut tells me that if you don’t have a pass rush, your defense is gonna be hurting no matter what you do. Smitty’s defense got us to #15 in 2016 … our pass rush that year was more effective than in 2017, but not by a huge margin. We’ve got to shore up the DLine AND the Secondary to have a top-rated defense (in the Top-10 is what our goal needs to be).
January 13th, 2018 at 4:34 pm
They watched him stressed out in the booth in preseason games on hard knocks lol who would want that as a head coach
Giants 4 candidates are all better than koetter and not because I know them well but because I’ve watched koetter. So we’ll be picking before the Giants in the draft next year. I’ll be watching all new head coach next year and how easily they start turning it around for their franchises. Will we get beat by Giants and bears next year? Probably
January 13th, 2018 at 4:41 pm
Defense Rules
Mike Smith defense in Atlanta was very good with John Abraham
2008 | 20.3 PTS/G
John Abraham | 16.5 Sacks
2009 | 20.3 PTS/G
John Abraham | 5.5 Sacks
2010 | 18.0 PTS/G
John Abraham | 13.0 Sacks
2011 | 21.9 PTS/G
John Abraham 9.5 Sacks
2012 | 18.7 PTS/G
John Abraham 10.0 Sacks
2013 | 22.1 PTS/G
2014 | 26.1 PTS/G
Once the Falcons let John Abraham walk, they went downhill
He gave the Falcons more than sacks, he was a force coming off the edge
He was always ranked at the top in QB pressures
Your defense is only as good as your D- Line
January 13th, 2018 at 4:47 pm
Joe, a faction implies a small or limited group of people. I would think a majority of Bucs fans or at least a plurality of Bucs fans being disappointed would be a better description. 😀
January 13th, 2018 at 4:51 pm
Mike Smith is just in the wrong job – he shouldn’t be the DC, he should be the HC and Dirk should be the OC, then you could hire a real DC – then everyone would be in the correct place that plays to their strengths. Right now everything is wrong, Dirk is super predictable on offense and rarely calls good games from the sideline, while Mike Smith is seemingly outwitted at DC.
The biggest sin to me with Mike Smith is his usage of Lavonte David, who is the best pass rusher on the team. Smith has him constantly playing in coverage, where he is extremely good, but Smith doesn’t use him for much else. It was on the issues that was discussed early in 2016 was that the position David plays isn’t an important one in Smith’s defense. Smith has used David more, and David is legitimately an All-Pro level player, but Smith is only get part of David’s value out of him – the guy can absolutely rush the passer. Instead when Smith did blitz, David was normally left out in coverage because he’s so good at it and can handle RBs and TEs one-on-one in those situations. However when he’s your best pass rusher you have to at least mix it up a bit – not saying blitz David all the time like he’s an edge rusher, but just mix it up.
Defense – if you got the stats on individuals and the amount of blitzes I’d love to know what the breakdown on those numbers or, or just point me to where you’re getting them from.
January 13th, 2018 at 4:55 pm
The Carolina Panthers gave up 25.1 PTS/G last season. This season they gave up 20.4 PTS/G. I’m sure the addition of Julius Peppers helped achieved those numbers.
January 13th, 2018 at 5:25 pm
Rod … I haven’t found that broken down by individuals, although I’m sure that someone keeps those stats (Joe … any help?). For defensive stats though, here’s several sites that I like (good to cross-reference various stats because somehow (?) not all end up with the same results (go figure huh):
1 – ESPN Defense (http://www.espn.com/nfl/statistics/team/_/stat/downs/position/defense )
2 – Football Outsiders Defensive Lines
( http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/dl )
3 – Pro Football Reference – Bucs
( https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/tam/2017.htm )
4 – NFL.com – Rankings Various Categories
( http://www.nfl.com/stats/team?seasonId=2017&seasonType=REG&Submit=Go )
January 13th, 2018 at 5:45 pm
The 2002 Bucs defense in the playoffs, in 3 games, gave up a total of 31 points. However it also scored 28 points, meaning the Bucs defense gave up a total of 3 points in the playoffs. Additionally the Bucs played all top 10 offenses in the playoffs that year, making their 1.0 points per game net average even more impressive. That was the best defense of all time.
January 13th, 2018 at 5:54 pm
Retool the line all you want. Hope???? ALL HOPE IS LOST AS LONG AS HE IS HERE
January 13th, 2018 at 6:03 pm
I’ve been talking to my Vikings buddy and he says he’s not scared at all of the Falcons. I’m guessing in 1998, when the Vikings were 15-1 (the one loss being to Tampa of course) and they played the Falcon’s in the championship game that they weren’t scared of them then either.
January 13th, 2018 at 6:06 pm
Quick football question.
Watch the eagles vs falcons. Punted ball to the eagles is tipped by an eagle, then recovered by a falcon down the field.
Why was the ball not a live ball? Why did the falcons not get the ball when it was touched by an eagle player?
January 13th, 2018 at 6:09 pm
Bonzai – A deflection is not considered a possession.
January 13th, 2018 at 6:10 pm
Watching the Eaglets and the Dorty Birts and still wondering why we traded up to take a kicker. Back to Mike Smith not leaving for a head coaching job, accountability IV
January 13th, 2018 at 6:23 pm
Does Matt Ryan pull an Alex Smith in this game or does he do it next week?
January 13th, 2018 at 6:26 pm
Rod, didn’t find the answer to your individual blitzing stats (asked Joe for help & he’s still got my response in moderation). Provided 4 other links though (defense) that you probably already use.
January 13th, 2018 at 6:44 pm
Defense – This is the most I can find talking about David, which matches what I see week in and week out – this is from a few weeks ago…
It has been tough sledding for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense in 2017. After a surprisingly successful 2016 season, their defense has significantly backslid. The pass rush is nonexistent, while the secondary appears to be a shell of itself.
Throughout the sudden downfall, only a few Buccaneers players have remained consistent threats. Linebacker Lavonte David falls in that group.
In fact, David may be having one of his best seasons yet.
The collapse of the defense around him has forced David to make an impact on nearly every play. While it doesn’t always show up in the box score, he has done just that.
David predicates his game on a quick trigger and blazing speed. He is the type of linebacker who can gash through an offensive line if given the slightest crease. With a mediocre defensive line in front of him, David has had no choice this season other than to constantly shoot gaps and hope he is right. When he gets it right, as he so often does, he disrupts the normal path of a running play and forces the play to stall or bounce. The slight moment of hesitation or redirection can be enough for fellow Bucs defenders to flow over the top of David and shut plays down.
Without David constantly wrecking plays the way he does, the Bucs defense would be in the running for worst in the league. That he can perform at his current level in a substandard defense is exceptional, especially for a position like linebacker that tends to require adequate defensive line play. Hopefully the Buccaneers will have the foresight to retool the defense around David heading into this offseason.
—NFL1000 LB Scout, Derrik Klassen
January 13th, 2018 at 6:52 pm
Acoording to many experts on here the retention of Mike Smith last year was the bucs best off season move.
January 13th, 2018 at 7:04 pm
Jason Licht didn’t help Mike Smith either. He went into the season depending on Will Gholston, Jack Smith, Noah Spence as his primary edge rushers. Jack Smith and Noah Spence both are injured prone. Will Gholston had 10 sacks in 4 seasons.
January 13th, 2018 at 7:09 pm
I still have a Blount bucs Jersey. Stoooooopid to let him walk. The guy could have been our “Beast Mode” SMH. Could make an all star team with the good players the Bucs let walk.
January 13th, 2018 at 7:11 pm
Lakeland
U sound silly. Will G was NEVER considered an edge rusher. Licht didn’t think so either. That’s why he plays base end and some DT. Ayers was the other edge rusher we thought could be something
January 13th, 2018 at 7:16 pm
Mike, you’re 1 of 2… You’re correct in that Gholston is not an edge rusher, he’s a 2 down run stuffer, and that’s all he’s ever been considered… however the Bucs TRADED Blount to the Pats, you know because the Jersey Trash ™ Schiano was a good buddy with Belichick – it’s also the reason Schiano gave him Talib.
January 13th, 2018 at 7:17 pm
The Eagles did that entire drive and only came away with 3 points… what a waste.
Now it’s up to Matt Ice – the world renown choke artist!
January 13th, 2018 at 7:17 pm
Rod … AWESOME write-up on Lavonte. My favorite line: “David predicates his game on a quick trigger and blazing speed. He is the type of linebacker who can gash through an offensive line if given the slightest crease.” Unfortunately, “the slightest crease” seems to be really hard to find when it comes to pass plays. That’s why IMO we need a beastly DT to anchor this DLine on about 70% or so of the plays. GMC, McDonald & TBD Beast could set a nice middle-of-the-line rotation … IF they could all stay healthy for a season.
January 13th, 2018 at 7:19 pm
I like the way the commentators nicknamed Bount “The Closer”. Sure would be nice to have someone like that for Red Zone rushes & to pound on defenses in the 4th quarter. Oh wait, we had someone like that … once upon a time.
January 13th, 2018 at 7:21 pm
Rod
And now it looks like Schiano is gonna be NE new DC. Full circle.
January 13th, 2018 at 7:22 pm
GMC needs to watch some fletcher cox tape. That a real ELITE DT
January 13th, 2018 at 7:22 pm
Defense – Well Lavonte doesn’t blitz much, that’s the issue I was talking about earlier. He is a proven great blitzer, but this year he didn’t do it much as Mike Smith seemed to want to save him for coverage when the Bucs did blitz on passing downs. I looked at your stats which is all stuff I had, but I can’t find individual stats on blitz percentage, which would be interesting to know – to see if there is something to it or if I’m simply wrong. David has always produced when he has been used as a edge rusher, but I just haven’t seen Mike Smith do that outside of a few weeks late last season (and David ended up with 5 sacks, which would be 2nd on the team this year).
January 13th, 2018 at 7:27 pm
I sound silly
Will Gholston contract, 5 years $27 million.
$7 million in 2017
And he wasn’t considered as a Edge Rusher
21 Tackles
15 assists
0 sacks
But I sound silly?
It’s obvious, who is the SILLY one
January 13th, 2018 at 7:27 pm
Such mixed feelings… I’d love to see the Falcons lose and Matt Ryan blow it yet again… but I LOVE seeing the trash in Philadelphia losing at home.
Ugh… such mixed feelings…
January 13th, 2018 at 7:27 pm
Who would hire the architect of the worst defense in the NFL as their head coach?
January 13th, 2018 at 7:29 pm
$7 million dollars for a DE that DON”T rush the QB
January 13th, 2018 at 7:30 pm
U just read off a run stoping de contract. U still sound silly.
January 13th, 2018 at 7:31 pm
Why was Sacks part of the incentives in his contract?
January 13th, 2018 at 7:32 pm
7 Million for a DE with 0 Sacks is plain DUMB. No wonder they are in a 10 year playoff drought.
January 13th, 2018 at 7:33 pm
What DE in the league doesn’t have sack incentives? U really are dense
January 13th, 2018 at 7:35 pm
The Carolina Panthers paid Julius Peppers $4 Million Dollars
11 Sacks
2 FF
2 FR
21 Tackles
!2 assists
January 13th, 2018 at 7:37 pm
Williams Hayes is a run stuffing DE and he made $5M this year. The average of will G contract in $5.4M. ???????
January 13th, 2018 at 7:40 pm
MATTY ICE DOES IT AGAIN!
January 13th, 2018 at 7:40 pm
E. A. G. L. E. S. EAGLES
January 13th, 2018 at 7:41 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
January 13th, 2018 at 7:41 pm
Now if we can just have a meteorite hit the stadium everyone would win! Well except everyone in the stadium.
January 13th, 2018 at 7:43 pm
Now we need the Vikings to win!!!!
January 13th, 2018 at 7:44 pm
HAHAHAHA!!!
God damn is this funny.
I hate the city of Philadelphia, it’s just a complete and total dump, but watching Matt Ryan pull an Alex Smith – just as I predicted at half time, it makes me very happy!
January 13th, 2018 at 7:44 pm
William Gholston
$7 Million
Robert Ayers
$6 Million Dollars
Chris Baker
$6 Million Dollars
Gerald McCoy
$12,250,00
Total Salary 31,250,000
Total sacks 8.5
Julius Peppers
$4 Million Dollars
11.0 sacks
January 13th, 2018 at 7:45 pm
Mike – Actually I’d rather have the Saints win, then maybe Brees can get a ring and retire.
January 13th, 2018 at 7:48 pm
And people actually Jon Gruden was coming to this PATHETIC franchise.
January 13th, 2018 at 7:49 pm
Actually thought
January 13th, 2018 at 7:51 pm
Lakeland, if you feel that way, swith teams instead of being a whiner.
January 13th, 2018 at 7:53 pm
Jim Schwartz shut down the dirty birds in second half, in Mike Smith we trust.
January 13th, 2018 at 7:53 pm
Congrats to the Eagles. I wanted them to win. I want the Saints to lose in the superbowl to keep the trend alive.
If the Saints go, maybe Brees retires…which will be a good thing.
January 13th, 2018 at 7:55 pm
I’m stating facts
Wasting money like this, how do you expect to win?
January 13th, 2018 at 7:55 pm
Cobraboy is right! Who would hire the guy who was the brains behind the #31 defense overall, dead last pass D and the worst pass rush in a decade???? The only guy Mike Smith might beat out in an interview is Lovie Smith and his 2-10 (0-9 Big 10) record at Illinois….. If the Glazers and Licht do not force Koetter to make some changes they are going to be looking at a lot of empty seats at RJS unless they are filled by the opposing fans.
I am beginning to buy into the TV money argument: as long as the team gets it cut of the pie there it seems like the Glazers simply do not care about the Buc fans; they seem willing to stand pat with a bunch of coaches who displayed time and time again incompetence, ineptitude, the unwillingness or inability to make adjustments during a game, mismanaging Winston’s injury, Doug Martin, Swaggy, starting VH3, predictable play calling, clock mismanagement, inability to cut cancers out of the locker room, poor personnel decisions, etc. etc. etc.
Can anyone tell me one thing the Buc coaching staff did right last season and don’t point to wins vs the NY teams, Miami, or Da Bears as those were simply victories over regimes that are equally dysfunctional to the Bucs or possibly even worse when you look at the Giants; one wrung above Cleveland on the bottom feeder ladder and 2 of those teams have already cleaned house coaching wise! ??????
January 13th, 2018 at 7:57 pm
The end results
5-11
At home, watching the Saints,Falcons,Panthers in the playoffs
January 13th, 2018 at 7:59 pm
FortMyersDave
I approve your message
January 13th, 2018 at 7:59 pm
Hey Lakeland, maybe you should have had your meltdown last season when the Bucs resigned Gholston.
Also the idea that the Bucs paid too much isn’t exactly an original point of view, most people on here once they heard the number was shocked it was soo high.
However the way the Bucs do contracts it means paying more upfront so they have the ability to cut guys later without killing the cap. So they could have given him a lower contract like most teams do, say $5-mil a year, but with a signing bonus of say $5-million, on a 5-year deal his cap hit would only have been $6-mil, but in the long run it cost more money and hurts the cap. The Bucs basically signed a series of one year deals with Gholston in that they can let him go anytime after the 1st year is done – when do that, you pay more up front. Gholston clearly didn’t live up to his side of the deal this season, so we’ll see if they bring him back or not, I’d assume they’ll try to reduce his salary more into the $4-5 million range, but we shall see.
January 13th, 2018 at 8:03 pm
EA – Did the Eagles shutdown Matt Ryan… or did Matt Ryan do what Matt Ryan always does and choked in the playoffs? It’s like saying the Titans shutdown the Chiefs last week… did they? Or is Alex Smith, Alex Smith, and not getting it done in crunch time is what he does?
Last year in the SB you have the league MVP, the MOST VALUABLE PLAYER, and people say the coaches messed up by putting the ball in his hands at the end of the game instead of running the ball… you have the league MVP, the guy you go to in crunch time, and people say take the ball out of his hands? Why? Oh right, because he’s Matt Ryan, and he’ll choke since that’s what he does.
MATTY ICE, get him a jacket, he’s chilly watching his team lose from the sideline.
January 13th, 2018 at 8:05 pm
Watching this Philly playoff game reminds me of when that sorry coach of days gone by took the bucs in there and kicked some ass.
Never been forgiven for it.
Sad.
January 13th, 2018 at 8:08 pm
This is funny to me. Lakeland used to post some halfway sensible stuff on here and lately it’s just been garbage spewing out his mouth.
Visa versa with Rod Munch. Use to post ridiculous crap and now post sensible things. Lol
January 13th, 2018 at 8:08 pm
LakeLandBuc Says:
January 21st, 2017 at 10:52 am
Will it be that difficult to replace Will Gholston 2-3 sacks?
LakeLandBuc Says:
January 21st, 2017 at 10:53 am
You’re 6’7 280 LBS, and all you can give us is 2-3 sacks a year.
LakeLandBuc Says:
January 21st, 2017 at 5:47 pm
I guess it will be another 10 years before we have another double-digit sack artist. After all ,sacks are not everything in Tampa. Just stick with the 3 sacks guys and be happy. SMH
January 13th, 2018 at 8:08 pm
I would be disappointed if I thought that the owners actually gave a crap but since they don’t I won’t either until they sell the team.
January 13th, 2018 at 8:09 pm
The Black Hole is waiting for you Gruden cry babies. If you really hate it here that much.
January 13th, 2018 at 8:09 pm
Who was the person last week that told me in the first half of the Chiefs-Titan game that Jameis needs to play more like Alex Smith and I said, what, put up stats when it doesn’t matter and then choke in crunch time?
I’m going to look it up since I really want to mock that person by name…
Here it is….
loggedontosay Says:
January 6th, 2018 at 6:51 pm
If only Jameis would play more like Alex Smith.
Rod Munch Says:
January 6th, 2018 at 7:04 pm
loggedontosay – If you mean you’d like Jameis to put up OK stats when it doesn’t matter and then choke in the crunch, well, I think you’re misguided.
January 13th, 2018 at 8:10 pm
LakeLandBuc Says:
January 21st, 2017 at 9:32 pm
Will Gholston should be a DT instead of a edge rusher. He’s a good tackler, but he’s a poor sacker, coming off the edge.
LakeLandBuc Says:
January 21st, 2017 at 9:36 pm
He can easily be a 6’7 300 LB DT. We need our Edge Rushers to get pressure on the QB.
January 13th, 2018 at 8:11 pm
Mike – I’ve always posted fantastic stuff, I just points using harsh humor and not everyone gets it until they see it for a while. Or maybe you just normally read my posts when I’m posting from my phone, those can be nonsense due to autocorrect.
January 13th, 2018 at 8:18 pm
Lakeland is right though. Forget about Gholston for a second. This team approached the offseason last year thinking they had enough pass rush with two guys who can’t give you more then 8 quaters(Smith, Spence) and one guy who has never and will never be a pure 3-down edge rusher in this league.
Everybody wants to cry about how we evaluate free agents or draft pick yet staring us right in the face is the fact that they can’t even evaluate their own effing team. It’s an absolute joke man. They just have no idea what they are doing which is why the players are on record saying they don’t know what their identity is and why they blow their free agent spending on DJax who comes in and makes no difference in any way at all.
They are ruining the team with these awful evaluations…….Not only can’t we fix problems more are being created like bad special teams play.
But back to the passrush for one sec……..Of course Licht has to take a brunt of the blame but who s helping him evaluate this roster? Who exactly besides Licht is responsible for saying that WR was a bigge4 need the Dline last year so we waste money on DJax?………When I think about this I put a good deal of blame on Koetter for his input of team evaluation. Maybe I’m wrong and Licht requires or don’t care about his HCs input but that doesn’t seem right. That’s part of the reason I wanted Dirk fired. We need a better HC who can look at this team and do a proper evaluation and let his GM know we needed a passrush or that Doug’s days as a feature back are done.
They kept Dirk so he better effing figure it out this year……..Though he has got much more then that to figure out.
January 13th, 2018 at 8:18 pm
Rod
Maybe???
January 13th, 2018 at 8:20 pm
Ummm yeah. Matt Ryan didn’t choke. Philly just played a great game defensively.
Didn’t you notice that neither Coleman or Freeman were able to make defenders miss and make splash plays like we are used to seeing them do to us?
January 13th, 2018 at 8:25 pm
Man I have seen some BS but D JAX??? 99% last year EVERYBODY was #Weapons for Winston. And as soon as D Jax was available 99% of the people here wanted him here. But now All I am seeing is Who me? No Not me! BS!!
January 13th, 2018 at 8:26 pm
JimmyJack
You have to give your DC decent Edge Rushers
Mike Smith and Lovie Smith did good as Head Coaches in Atlanta and Chicago. They had good defenses and good Edge Rushers.
January 13th, 2018 at 8:27 pm
JimmyJack – You have last years league MVP, a franchise QB, down inside the Eagles red zone with a full set of downs, and timeouts, with under 2 mins to go…
That’s on Matt Ryan. He was the league’s MVP last year, the most valuable guy in the entire world!!!! … and just like in the SB, he choked. The ball was in his hands, it was up to him to win the game… and he lost.
That’s on MATTY ICE… now hopefully he retires to become a forehead model.
January 13th, 2018 at 8:30 pm
I never once said weapons for Winston and all I ever said about DJax is if he didn’t catch an 80 yarder on Thursday Night he was dead to me. Little did I know he wouldn’t get an 80 yarder all season. Never thought he would be that bad.
Hey I was wrong about plenty else though. Didn’t want them to draft a top RB and though MARtin would be fine…….But I’m a fan I’m allowed to be wrong.
Fans crying Weapons for Winston hardly made it the top priority for the front office. That was their stupid choice.
January 13th, 2018 at 8:35 pm
Yes Lakeland. You especially have to give good edge rushers when your DC runs a defense that centers around getting pressure using a steady front four.
In both Smiths defenses the front four was the focal point of their D. Lovie gets no pass since he had control over personal. With Mike my opinion is that he is just the wrong coach for the players we have……That fact compounded by not addressing pass rushers. This is another fault of Dork since he brought the guy here. He didn’t hire a DC who could work with the pieces we had he hired a friend.
January 13th, 2018 at 8:36 pm
DBS – Actually I was against signing D-Jax as I didn’t think he was a good fit as a #2 wr, and because I figured he’d get injured and probably miss 5-6 games and he wouldn’t be able to practice and you’d end up with a bunch of timing issues. When people said he lead the league in YPC, I pointed out that so did Alvin Harper when the Bucs signed him… I said the Bucs should instead go after someone like Pierre Garcon, who is more a traditional #2, and then draft a guy as well.
HOWEVER, I’m glad the Bucs didn’t go that route – after seeing everything in action D-Jax is the correct fit and someone like Garcon ended up getting way more money than I would have thought – and D-Jax ended up getting less in terms of guarantees than I thought. The timing was never there this year, but D-Jax helped Brate and OJ all year long by often getting the S to have to play deeper. Also if the Bucs didn’t get D-Jax, I’m not sure they would have waited to get Godwin and would have went for more of a pure speed/quickness guy instead. Hopefully D-Jax and Winston get on the same page since they’re not off by that much, but they also need Dirk to actually play to D-Jax’s abilities, meaning get him in space and let him make plays. The 2 route tree Dirk had him running all year, go deep or curl, wasn’t doing much to help anyone. Also let D-Jax return some punts from time to time – do whatever you can to get him involved, except that stupid end around play, that play only ever gets a few yards and always looks like it’s going to end with an ACL tear.
January 13th, 2018 at 8:37 pm
Rod there is a such thing as a goal line stand ya know. That’s what I saw. Phillys defense showed up…….It really sounds like you got some Ryan hater googles on, it sounds like your discrediting the defense on the field there to me.
January 13th, 2018 at 8:42 pm
I said that the Bucs should sign WR Robert Woods and draft WR Cooper Kupp. It’s funny that both of them are with the Rams. I was against the DJax signing.
January 13th, 2018 at 8:42 pm
Tennessee needs to draw up some runs for Mariota. NEs Dline can’t contain him and can’t get to the edge. They need to test the LB. Think the Titans could win if Mariota goes for over 100 and their D can handle Pats
January 13th, 2018 at 8:46 pm
It’s neither here nor there…….I rarely try to play GM and tell the team they are wrong. If they sign somebody I support it. Who am I to say I know better then a paid professional really? Unfortunately the proof is in the pudding and DJax was an unproductive waste of money.
I may change form and play some armchair GM this season since they apparently haven’t any idea how to build a winning team.
January 13th, 2018 at 8:48 pm
Cory Davis finally showcasing his talent
January 13th, 2018 at 8:48 pm
You’ll fix the defense by fixing the offensive line…..Build a line that can control the time of possession, you’re defense will be fresh in the 4th qtr. Having a QB that doesn’t turn the ball over in bad field position, give away points to the opponents and can score more then a TD in the first half will go along ways as well.
January 13th, 2018 at 8:50 pm
This is about to become the Marcus Mariota nut hugger thread.
January 13th, 2018 at 8:50 pm
Maybe I’m wrong again…..Forget letting Mariota run. Just let em throw those pretty rainbows to the back of the end zone while his receivers make amazing grabs.
January 13th, 2018 at 8:53 pm
I’m not gonna lie
I’m a Marcus Mariota fan, but I won’t compare him to Jameis Winston. They are different QBs.
January 13th, 2018 at 8:53 pm
Yes Alaska it will. Tampa fans suffer from the deadly sin of jealousy. Heck, they were even spotted being jealous of the 49ers this year hahahaha
January 13th, 2018 at 8:54 pm
JimmyJack – Matt Ryan has a history of choking, and if you scroll up you’ll see I’ll called it at half time, that he’d pull another Alex Smith – just like I said during the SB I hope the Falcons can get up big enough to big enough to overcome Matt Ryan choking the game away. Except I really didn’t hope so, I really wanted to see Matt Ryan choke the game away just because it’s funny and I like to see division rivals lose in embarrassing ways – and the most hurtful ways, like getting an early lead, losing the lead, then having the ball inside the Eagles 20 with less than 2 mins to go, all your timeouts, a full set of downs… and lose. LOL!
January 13th, 2018 at 8:55 pm
I don’t think Mariota is a very good QB really. His team? That’s a different story. I love watching physical teams like the Titans. Hoping to see their Dline wear out and break down the Pats by the 2nd half
January 13th, 2018 at 8:56 pm
Yes Alaskan this is indeed about to become the Mariota nut hugger thread. The same way that it would be the Jameis Winston nut hugger thread if it him in the playoffs vs the reigning super bowl champs, making amazing plays with his arm AND legs. Admiring Mariota doesn’t make anyone a Jameis hater. Unlike some narrow minded people, some of us genuinely like to see young quarterbacks come into their own.
January 13th, 2018 at 8:58 pm
alaskan
You are apart of the Jameis Winston ball gargaling thread so funny to hear you comment on that.
January 13th, 2018 at 8:59 pm
That’s fine Rod. I don’t care what you predicted. It’s a perspective thing.
I’m quite certain you could find plenty of fans who saw that ending the way I saw it……..And I’m sure you could find quite a few that agree that he choked too.
At the end of the day I think the Eagles were a much better team then the Falcons were today.
January 13th, 2018 at 9:02 pm
JimmyJack – Mariota will throw a good pass like once out of every 5 times or so, that was a nice TD pass. I don’t like nor hate Mariota, I only hate the people who think he’s better than Jameis because the Titans play in the worst division in football, play a cupcake schedule, then win despite Mariota and people pretend the W was all about him. The guy is not a good QB, he’s very inaccurate and doesn’t read defenses well, but he is an offensive weapon and with one of the best o-line’s in the league in front of him and a good running game he can be very effective – and every once in a while throw a pass that will make people think maybe he is a QB.
January 13th, 2018 at 9:03 pm
I could care less about Mariota vs Winston. I care about my team. If anybody thinks they could make some kind of case that if we had Mariota that we would be playing today then I think you were smashed on your head as a baby.
Right now all I care about is if Dirk is watching and learning how to score TDs from the red zone.
January 13th, 2018 at 9:04 pm
Matt Ryan is not good under pressure. He was a huge choke artist while Mike Smith was HC.
January 13th, 2018 at 9:05 pm
JimmyJack – If you can’t find enjoyment in the misery of others then that’s on you. If my team is out of it I want nothing but misery for everyone else, that’s a huge part of the fun of watching sports. If I don’t have something to root for then there is no reason to watch – and I’m not a bandwagon rider, my team is the Bucs and it’s an exclusive relationship.
January 13th, 2018 at 9:07 pm
I have no problem with Mariota, I don’t feel the need to put him down to make Jameis seem better. Jameis is already much better but Mariota is still a good QB and fun to watch.
The nut huggers know who they are. The ones who are still mad we drafted Jameis and will never accept or compliment him no matter what. The closet Titan fans who merely come to this site to b!tchh and moan.
January 13th, 2018 at 9:09 pm
Yeah Rod I have seen those fans. It’s hard to blame them really since our team gives us so little to care about. They just let their jealousy get the better of them and cloud their judgement……Heck, I’d wager that most of them aren’t watching the game right now like we are. They just see the end results.
You and I can disagree on a lot but I think we can both sit here and agree the Titans are head and shoulders a much better football team then ours. Much more the football the just QB play.
January 13th, 2018 at 9:12 pm
Yeah Rod I’m rooting for New England to lose today and Steelers tomorrow. Here their pompous fan bases.
Other then that I’m rooting for a team to represent the south
January 13th, 2018 at 9:14 pm
Alaska…….We all come here to b!tch and moan…….Need I remind you of our teams history?
January 13th, 2018 at 9:17 pm
LOL……..How many RBs do the Pats have with more yards&TDs then ours? 4?
The kicker is none of them really have much talent to write home about. This is what a quality offensive system can do for you.
January 13th, 2018 at 9:18 pm
JimmyJack – I disagree with you on the Titans, they do have a dramatically better offensive line and RB situation, but the Bucs have much better WRs and a much better QB. The Bucs have better TE’s as well, but it’s not as clear cut as people think as the Titans TE is a former All-Pro and still pretty good.
The Titans do have a better defense, but I don’t really know the full breakdown. There is no way they don’t have a better D-line and better corners/safeties, but I’m guessing the Bucs LBs are better.
Anywho what the Titans having going for them is a cupcake schedule. They literally played the easiest schedule in football this year. They beat one playoff team all year, the same number as the Bucs. The Bucs only lost one game all year to a team under .500, and that was the 7-9 loss in OT to Green Bay. The Bucs meanwhile were 4-1 versus teams under .500, meaning they beat who they should beat, but they didn’t play a lot of games versus bad teams. Meanwhile the Titans lost 5 games to teams under .500, meaning they’re very inconsistent from week to week.
Even with the seeming disaster that was this year if the Bucs played in the AFC South they’d be playing football today – I have no doubt of that. If the Titans meanwhile played in the NFC South, I think they’re a 3 or 4 win team. We’ll never know obviously, but I think the Titans are all about the cupcake schedule they play.
If the Titans pull out this game today I’ll eat my words – but I’m guessing Brady isn’t Alex Smith and won’t blow a huge half-time lead.
January 13th, 2018 at 9:24 pm
Tennessee has come a long way in a few years. They won 5 games in two seasons, then 18 games in two seasons.
January 13th, 2018 at 9:26 pm
Really Rod? I can understand when disgruntled fans make excuses for why our team is so bad.
It’s a little ridicilous to make excuses for another teams success. And your gonna go down the ole schedule routine? Give me a break. They just beat another playoff team last week so that pretty much flushes your entire argument schedule down the toilet.
It’s also silly to compare the two teams on talent levels because the Titans play fundamentally solid football. They play very well as a unit. It’s night and day how much better then us they are. You don’t see them out of formation, committing pentalties, missing assignments, missed tackles, blowing coverages, unprepared, special team gaffs……..I could go on and on and on dude. Give me a break hahahahaha…….If you don’t know our team sucked this year I’m gonna need you to pass that shizz dude
January 13th, 2018 at 9:28 pm
Wow, I don’t know about that call – but that’s the type of call a team like NE always gets. Just shocked they called it wrong and had the balls to change it.
January 13th, 2018 at 9:28 pm
Here comes the calls, i’m done with this game
January 13th, 2018 at 9:33 pm
Gronk with the push off. Evans gets called for much less
January 13th, 2018 at 9:34 pm
Rod, you keep picking on Matt Ryan but I suspect you’d admit something if pressed: Wouldn’t you rather have you your QB & team in the playoffs than be sitting at home picking on those that are? Matty Ice has AVERAGED right at 65% completion rate and almost 4,200 yds passing over his 10 seasons … not that shabby. He’s has gotten to the playoffs 6 times in his 10 seasons (total of 9 games). Thrown for over 68% pass completions in the playoffs & 19 TDs (2 per game average).
Same goes though for all those poor-mouthing Marcus Mariota & the Titans. Let Jameis & the Bucs get into the playoffs and people across the country can say whatever they want to about him & our team. Wouldn’t bother me one bit. Just win baby!
And BTW, has anyone noticed how virtually all of the defenses have stepped it up a notch (a BIG notch) in this year’s playoffs? I’ve been seeing some excellent defense in almost all the games thus far. Bucs have even more work to do on improving our defense than even I was thinking.
January 13th, 2018 at 9:39 pm
JimmyJack – The schedule matters, again the Bucs were 4-1 versus teams under .500, the Bucs played 9 games versus teams in the playoffs – Chicago, who had the most difficult SOS only played 7. If you think playing the Panthers, Saints and Falcons is the same as playing the Texans, Colts and Jags (although the Jags are actually a good team with a scary good defense), then you’re nuts. If the Steelers go out and lose to the Pats and the Titans beat the Browns – does that always mean the Titans are the better team? No. Schedule matters. Also it’s not excuse making, it’s pointing out obvious facts as a way to predict the future. Last year when the Bucs were 9-7 and everyone was saying how awesome Dirk was I was pointing out that the Bucs won seemingly every close game and Dirk was ultra conservative whenever he got any lead and the defense was only like one or two injuries away from a total collapse. Teams rarely win all their close games in back to back years – so you could see regression there. Also getting no corner depth or any DE’s seemed like a huge red flag. I wasn’t making excuses for a 9 win season, I was saying I didn’t see how they improve on that season when the defense had zero depth and they were unlikely to stay healthy again. This season the Bucs lost nearly all those close games and they were wrecked by injuries – and we know the results. So are the Bucs a 9-7 team or a 5-11 team? I think they’re basically in the middle, a 7-9 team in the NFC South if they don’t get a lot of help on defense. However give them a cupcake schedule and based on the fact they were 4-1 versus teams under .500, teams they should beat, and it’s pretty easy to believe they would have a better record, perhaps much better.
January 13th, 2018 at 9:46 pm
Defense – I’d rather have the Falcon’s team and Ryan for the 1st half of games, then Winston as the QB for the 2nd half of games.
For Mariota, you can keep him, and I’ll take his offensive line and RBs and his cupcake schedule and call it a day – that would be an easy path to the playoffs.
BUT if you makes you feel better I’d take Ryan over Mariota, and I’d take Mariota over Alex Smith. So there’s my ranking of those 3 if you’re wondering.
Again I don’t hate Mariota, I just hate the people that think the Titans win BECAUSE of him. It’s like saying the Bucs won because of Trent Dilfer.
OK… that’s below the belt, but just using an extreme example to make a point. Mariota does have value if you design the offense around him running the ball, but watching him play ball and comparing him to Winston as a QB is a joke.
January 13th, 2018 at 9:46 pm
These refs should be ashamed of themselves.
January 13th, 2018 at 9:48 pm
Rod all I saw was blah blah blah.
1st off schedule excuses are reserved for bad teams. Mainly because of division play.
2nd you really need a little insight into divisional play across the league and how competitive it is.
3rd just tell me who the Titans played when they needed a win to get into the playoffs(that plus beating another playoff team last week completely abolishes your argument)
But hey while your at it why don’t you make a excuse for all the Patriots winning since it is an undisputed fact that they have played in the most cupcake division over the last 20 years. Give me a break with these excuses hahahaha
January 13th, 2018 at 9:48 pm
MAriotta is terrible, shame on all of you for wanting him over Jamies !
January 13th, 2018 at 9:50 pm
Defense – I agree with you on the defensive performances, but honestly I wouldn’t expect anything outwise to this point. Short of the Saints beating the Vikings and then playing the Eagles at home, I don’t think there will be any offensive explosions this offseason, not unless you end up with a Pats or Steelers SB vs the Saints.
January 13th, 2018 at 9:53 pm
Not to mention Rod why would you even try to compare the Titan to us with schedules?
It’s just ridicilous because of how bad we are. We didn’t beat any good team this year except one on a Hail Mary type pass despite given plenty of opportunity……..The fact that you would even compare them to the Bucs basically shows why your argument is debunk…….They can beat playoff team and we can’t.
January 13th, 2018 at 9:57 pm
Looks like the Patriots will be eating Ws….
January 13th, 2018 at 10:03 pm
JimmyJack – Of course you see blah blah blah, that’s what happens when people who repeat cliches they read on bumper stickers, such as “you are what your record says you are” over and over again, when people like confront people who make arguments based on stats and tendencies and not on emotions, it can be difficult.
As for your question down the strech when the Titans needed a win to get in, in their last 4 games they lost to the 49ers, the Rams and the Cardinals, all NFC teams. They then beat the Jags when the Jags had literally nothing to play for since they were locked into their playoff spot. BTW, go back 4 more games before those 4 and the Titans beat the Colts, the Texans and the Bengals, and got blown out by the Steelers. Go back 4 more games and the Titans beat the Ravens, the Browns, the Colts and the Dolphins! Then let’s see, go back 4 more, they lost 57-14 to the 4-12 Texans, but they beat the Seahawks and the early season Jags, and lost to the Raiders.
That’s not exactly a murderers row schedule there, they literally beat one playoff team all year, the Jags. Anywho look at that schedule and then compare it to the Bucs and tell me exactly how schedule doesn’t matter.
January 13th, 2018 at 10:04 pm
I’m calling it now… Tom Brady is NOT Matt Ryan and he’s certainly not Alex Smith…
January 13th, 2018 at 10:15 pm
Rod it’s just the point that you are trying to discredit a playoff team.
You trying to say like they don’t belong when they in fact beat two playoff teams to be playing righ5 now. And oh, for the moment, they are hanging with the SB champs. And you sound like you are trying to make some kind of case like they are legitimate.
And your making it worse but trying to compare them The our Bucs. We haven’t competed all year with any playoff caliber team get me a break.
No matter how great you may think our division is it’s actually quite sad that we can’t compete with teams we prepare for all offseason.
It’s a glaring difference between how the Titans play fundamentally sound football and our team looks like their tripping all over themselves on the field. I don’t know how you have the gall to say we are better then any other playoff team hahahaha…..As I said our schedule full of them proves we can’t. Not that we can like you wanna believe.
January 13th, 2018 at 10:17 pm
And I’ll give you some credit that schedule helps. I’ve seen plenty of teams make the playoffs with an aided schedule then get exposed.
But that didn’t happen to the Titans now did it. You can make a schedule excuse all you like but it holds no more weight when they are playing in the divisional round.
January 13th, 2018 at 10:20 pm
@JimmyJack
It was happening before Kansas City choked & Derrick Henry went of for 150 yards, and it’s happening again tonight.
January 13th, 2018 at 10:24 pm
Jimmyjack i just have to chime in here to correct this comment below.
your making it worse but trying to compare them The our Bucs. We haven’t competed all year with any playoff caliber team get me a break.
It is pretty clear we competed with playoff teams. NE, NO, Atlanta and Car are all playoffs teas that we certainly competed with.
January 13th, 2018 at 10:27 pm
Is in not clear the Patriots are taking away the Titans run game and saying Mariota beat us and look at the result. So for all you Mariota is better than Jameis folks do you think he ever has had that luxury?
January 13th, 2018 at 10:30 pm
Ok Ndog……I’ll stand corrected on that one since we did finish out the year showing an ability to compete. Maybe not the biggest compliment since those are division teams.
Still very tilted about the Bucs laying an absolute egg when we had a chance to still have a good season(1st game vs Car, NO)
January 13th, 2018 at 10:31 pm
Really surprised they aren’t calling more runs with Mariota especially since NE has been very suspect defending the flats
January 13th, 2018 at 10:36 pm
Hahaha Tony Romo sounds sad it’s a 3 score game. Was hoping for a better game myself
January 13th, 2018 at 10:37 pm
As far as common foes go the Bucs were 1-1 and the Titans were 0-2.
The Bucs absolutely should have won the Pats game and would have if they had a kicker – meanwhile the Titans are about to be down 28-7 to the same Pats team and there’s still a lot of game to go.
Meanwhile the toughest team the Titans played all year was the Steelers and they lost 40-17.
I am completely unimpressed by the Titans and the quality of their wins, thus it gives you an idea of how you expect them to perform in the playoffs when they play good teams and what they do next year if the Colts have Luck back and the Texans don’t lose their QB and half their starters on defense. It’s the NFL and anyone can win on any given day in a 1-game playoff, but what we’re seeing tonight is what you’d expect.
January 13th, 2018 at 10:46 pm
On 3rd and 22 Mariota throws a 4 yard check down which is exactly why I did not want us to draft him.
January 13th, 2018 at 10:47 pm
Really is disappointing for me. I was looking forward to the amazing drama that would unfold here if Mariotas Titans could have found a way to pull this one out.
January 13th, 2018 at 10:49 pm
Any body ever notice whatever personnel the Patriots have they seem to figure out a way to rush and sack the passer.
Whatever personnel the Bucs have they don’t pressure the passer.
A defensive player who fails here will go somewhere else and succeed.
It goes deeper than players, it’s an organisation thing.
January 13th, 2018 at 10:53 pm
Ndog – To be fair Mariota has garbage WRs, so if you’re down too many points to run the ball and your offensive line is suddenly falling apart I doubt there was anyone to throw the ball too.
January 13th, 2018 at 10:56 pm
No one expected Marcus Mariota to beat Tom Brady in the playoffs. But it has to be a good learning experiencing to play the Pats in the playoffs. After all only 12 teams get into the playoffs.
January 13th, 2018 at 10:56 pm
learning experience
January 13th, 2018 at 10:59 pm
Matt Ryan comes up short in the playoffs, but he has Hall of Fame numbers.
January 13th, 2018 at 11:02 pm
This game is pretty much exactly what I was expecting, something like a 28 point loss, in that range. I don’t think that will be the final margin at this point, I’m guessing the Pats get a defensive score to get into the 30s.
January 13th, 2018 at 11:03 pm
I would like to see Payton beaten by Jaimes last game of the season. Then Case Keenum in the playoffs.All NFCS teams out.
January 13th, 2018 at 11:04 pm
LakeLand – Matt Ryan’s numbers look good, there’s no issue there, but with the game on the line, under 2 mins left, the ball inside the 20, all your timeouts, a full set of downs – a HOF QB needs to win that game.
January 13th, 2018 at 11:04 pm
Thats my point Rod we couldn’t run the ball all year and we’re down 3 lineman but everyone on this board including Joe just talks about how Jameis is not winning games, but when its Mariota it’s a valid reason all of a sudden.
January 13th, 2018 at 11:10 pm
DBS – I’m still holding out hope the Saints win it all and Brees retires. If Brees isn’t going to retire then I hope they get routed tomorrow by the Vikings… although the Vikings being the first home to play in a SB is annoying. Then again the Vikings becoming the first team to ever be 0-5 in the SB and losing at home is pretty funny.
But as far as an entertaining SB goes the last hope for the NFC is for the Saints to get in. The Vikings are pretty dull and the Eagles are nearly unwatchable. The Vikings I think have the best chance of actually winning out of the NFC however, not that I care in the least about what conference wins.
January 13th, 2018 at 11:11 pm
I read that Matt Ryan is 1-18 throwing to Julio Jones this season in the Red Zone.
January 13th, 2018 at 11:12 pm
Ndog – I agree with you completely, anyone that thinks the Bucs aren’t winning because of Winston are just dopes that don’t know a thing about football.
For Mariota I was just trying to be fair and balanced, I really don’t hate the kid, I just hate people that pretend he’s responsible for the Titans getting to the playoffs. He’s not, they got there in spite of him – and because they played a cupcake schedule, without that schedule they wouldn’t be there.
January 13th, 2018 at 11:12 pm
What makes Patriots so good is they are not predictable. On that last Falcons play everyone knew that ball was going to Julio. When NE is in that spot it could be any one of 6 guys. They just run play and pick the weak link they don’t force it to a certain guy.
January 13th, 2018 at 11:13 pm
Rod- I just don’ think he will retire. But I really don’t want to see Payton in there. But that’s just me.
January 13th, 2018 at 11:15 pm
LakeLand – Interesting, in that game against the Bucs, Ryan missed Julio a few times when he was wide open (which was basically every single play). Not sure why they’re not on the same page this season. I know Julio’s redzone number are much lower than you’d expect, but I think that’s scheme as the Falcon’s RBs tend to put up a lot of TDs.
January 13th, 2018 at 11:20 pm
Just hoping the Jags D is for real. So sick of the same teams in the AFC yearly. Nobody in that conference with the balls to challenge them.
The Jaguars D could be the de facto if they are able to get at these QBs
January 13th, 2018 at 11:20 pm
DBS – If after that last home game when Payton punked Dirk, if Dirk had said he wishes Payton luck and then said “break a leg”, my opinion of Dirk would have been nearly completely reversed.
But Dirk didn’t, he got alphamaled and just took it. It was embarrassing.
To be safe, and I hope I don’t have to remind any Bucs fans of this, but the Bucs “accidently” broke Payton’s leg in a game, and I put “accidently” in quotes for no reason at all, it really was an accident.
January 13th, 2018 at 11:22 pm
I guess i have spent too much time tonight watching the Pats DISMANTLE the Titans…….
The SAME Pats that we lost to when Folk missed THREE FG’s and a PAT when we only lost by 5!
We totally beat the Pats with an average FG Kicker.
January 13th, 2018 at 11:22 pm
Say what you want.
January 13th, 2018 at 11:26 pm
After actually reading the thread, Lol Lakeland.
January 13th, 2018 at 11:28 pm
SB – I’m onboard with the Bucs not being as bad as people think, but I don’t think the Bucs would have a chance in this game – not on the road in the playoffs, not this season. I don’t think they’d embarrass themselves quite this bad, but I doubt it’d have been close.
In the playoffs I think the Bucs could have beat the Bills, the Chiefs and the Falcons – since Winston owns the Falcons so the Bucs always have a chance to beat the Falcons. Again, we’ll never know, but just my thoughts.
January 13th, 2018 at 11:30 pm
Clemson DE Cullen feral not entering draft. Thank god. He’s Shaq Lawson all over again
January 13th, 2018 at 11:30 pm
Actually Rod the way I saw that exchange was that Payton tried to ‘Alpha Male’ Koetter but Kotter Grabbed him back and said ” Try it again bud” and Koetter won the ‘non physical’ Altercation. He was saying………”Come At Me” ” I Dare you”
January 13th, 2018 at 11:33 pm
Rod Munch Says:
January 13th, 2018 at 11:28 pm
SB – I’m onboard with the Bucs not being as bad as people think, but I don’t think the Bucs would have a chance in this game
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
I believe you are right because we are better in less meaningful games than a game like the Pats played tonight. Why? Because …….Brady. Experience with Talent trumps……”talent”
January 13th, 2018 at 11:34 pm
Rod……..My comment is in Moderation
Joes and all
January 13th, 2018 at 11:35 pm
SB – Yeah I didn’t see it that way, I saw Payton alpha male him, Dirk literally not knowing what was going on, then once he realized what was going on Dirk then started to explain himself, then later in the press conference, when he could have taken a great dig at Payton and maybe got a rivalry going, he instead just said good luck and repeated that he really meant good luck. I wasn’t impressed.
BUT, say the same thing and throw in the “break a leg” line, then it’s an all-time great quote.
January 13th, 2018 at 11:36 pm
Kudos Rod! I like your takes even when I disagree!
I am going to bed now trying not to think about the Draft. Peace out Sir!
January 13th, 2018 at 11:36 pm
Stupid garbage TD ruining my 28pt point spread…
January 13th, 2018 at 11:39 pm
Well Rod……I was Special Forces. It looked to me like Payton trying to bully a guy he couldn’t in a public forum. If I were Koetter I would have done the same thing and Grabbed him back an pounded his chest just like Koetter did.
Regardless, Koetter didn’t back down
January 13th, 2018 at 11:40 pm
The last line of this article sums it up great if we are in fact stuck with him for another year
January 13th, 2018 at 11:43 pm
Anyone glad Atl didn’t win??
January 13th, 2018 at 11:45 pm
@FNYMNE……….True
January 13th, 2018 at 11:49 pm
SB – If Dirk had done what you would have done, I think he’d be put into the Bucs Ring of Honor the next morning. The wishing good luck part however with no snide remark, it was just lame. For example if that was done to Dungy, well it’s impossible to even think of that being done to Dungy, but if it was and the players found out I think they would have went out and dragged Payton off their team bus and whopped his A all the way up and down Dale Mabry. If someone had done that to Gruden, Gruden would have been in attack mode. Heck if someone did it to Morris or Schiano, there would have been a response. Lovie… I’m not sure what Lovie would have done. If that had happened to John McKay, that would have been awesome since McKay would have roasted the guy for the rest of his life.
Anywho my point is just letting it go and taking the high road when you’re a 5-11 team that needs a spark, it was a huge opportunity that was missed. Nothing would have rallied the fans and the players as much as him coming out guns blazing on Payton and talking trash non-stop until they played again. That’s how you sell tickets and create rivialies. This is the entertainment business – and if you’re not entertaining on the field then you need to do something to give the team life, something that unites everyone and gives purpose – and saying we’re going to break Payton’s other leg would have been HUGE!
January 13th, 2018 at 11:55 pm
I buy All that you just said Rod. However how to “Fix” it is easier said than done. Firing a HC every two years is not how to “build” a team. Koetter is here and we need to support him because he is the FIRST HC not to be fired after two years in 7. As fans we have to have a stance that is relative. We pay for tickets and/or watch on TV. We don’t coach. I sat through Every home game from 76 to 96 without missing a game. I have Never left this team regardless of moving around the country for work. IMO this team is Close……..I just want us to get to the Next Step!
January 14th, 2018 at 12:00 am
And Now I am going to watch “The Foreigner”
Peace out guys. Best to you and yours
January 14th, 2018 at 12:06 am
SB – I didn’t call for Dirk to get fired, not unless they could get Gruden. I’m not a huge Gruden guy but I do think he’s much better than Dirk, which I don’t think is a very controversial view. My opinion is and continues to be Dirk is not in the correct spot, he shouldn’t be HC and they already have the guy on the team who should be HC, and that is Mike Smith. Mike Smith isn’t a good DC, but he is a proven and good HC, and if Mike Smith was running the whole show it would fix a lot of issues since it would mean Dirk goes back to just being the OC, sitting in the booth where he sees the field better and only worrying about the offense. Also that would allow the Bucs to hire a DC which helps there, and all that could be done without blowing up the team with a new staff.
When Lovie was fired a couple of years ago I was completely against it since I wanted Dirk only worrying about the offense. Dirk and Winston only had one year of working together before Dirk was made HC where he was no longer working with Winston 24/7, I think Winston and the Bucs offense would be in a better place today if they had just stayed the course. I said when Lovie was fired that the same people demanding he be fired would be the same people calling for Dirk’s head in 2 years – which is exactly how it happened.
I agree that unless you get a clear upgrade that you’re willing to stick with for a number of years then just stay the course for now. I just hope the Dirk we get next year is the guy at the end of the season who was mixing up his playbook and coaching for his job.
January 14th, 2018 at 7:13 am
If you’re goin to judge Mike Smith on his defense, how about you actually point out a defense he coached… the Jaguars. He didn’t coach the defenses for Atlanta as he was the Head Coach!
January 14th, 2018 at 10:31 am
Nobody is going to take Mike Smith after they see the Bucs stats on Defense this past season. NOBODY..in their right mind…But the wonder Bucs, Most NFL teams would have sent Smith packin after this season. Koetters loyalty to him is gonna cost him his job after next season. Watch and see.