The Real Culture Change
April 6th, 2018
BY IRA KAUFMAN
I keep hearing that offense sells tickets and defense wins championships.
Fine.
Let’s sell some tickets.
When the Bucs started playing this game at The Old Sombrero in the fall of 1976, Gerald Ford was sitting in the Oval Office. The No. 1 song in America was “Shake Your Booty” by KC and the Sunshine Band. “The Omen” was scaring the heck out of movie patrons and the Yankees were well on their way to their first AL pennant in 12 years.
In all those decades since John McKay led the expansion Bucs onto the field clad in bright orange jerseys, Tampa Bay fans have yet to cheer for a scary attack.
The Bucs have never scored 400 points in a season, Last year, eight teams reached that plateau — a quarter of the league. That group includes the Jaguars, who were thinking about dumping Blake Bortles until a stirring postseason run.
If the Bucs can land a productive running back in the draft, this offense should be dangerous. If the Bucs can land Quenton Nelson and an impact back, this offense should be killer.
Why not?
What Really Counts
Dirk Koetter has a long-standing reputation as an outstanding play-caller. He added to that rep in 2015, when he coordinated an offense that set a franchise record with 6,014 yards behind a rookie quarterback who took every snap.
It’s easy to see why Koetter keeps talking about better red-zone efficiency … moving the ball between the 20s isn’t the problem. Even with Jameis Winston’s shoulder issues, Tampa Bay registered 352 first downs last year, ranking second in the NFL to New England.
In yards per snap, (5.6), the Bucs ranked No. 8 in the league. But in the only offensive category that really counts, Tampa Bay’s scoring average (20.9) ranked 18th.
The Bucs scored only one more point than the Titans, who suffered through a lousy year by Marcus Mariota. The Bucs scored three fewer points than the Texans, who posted a minus-12 turnover differential and had Tom Savage and T.J. Yates under center for 10 of their 16 games.
That’s unacceptable.
24 Or Bust
With the emergence of Chris Godwin, the Bucs arguably have the deepest corps of targets in the entire league. The addition of Ryan Jensen gives Tampa Bay a physical anchor up front and Winston enters his fourth season brimming with confidence.
When drives stall, Chandler Catanzaro is supposed to end this depressing merry-go-round at kicker.
Yet something always seems to go wrong.
Jon Gruden was supposed to kick-start a slumbering Buc offense, but when I ran the numbers after the 2007 season, I found that the Bucs had scored fewer points in the first six years under Gruden than they had during Tony Dungy’s six-year tenure.
This offense has simply run out of excuses.
If Winston stays healthy and the Bucs average only 21 points once again, that’s a red flag worthy of a lengthy review. That would spell trouble for Koetter and big trouble for a quarterback hoping for a huge contract extension.
Tampa is known as a defensive town when it comes to its NFL team, but would it be a sin for this franchise to light up a few scoreboards? A vibrant attack would take some pressure off a defense that is still crying out for help in the secondary.
In case you haven’t noticed, each of the top six scoring teams in the league made the playoffs, compared to only four of the six stingiest defenses.
That might be an anomaly, or it might be the wave of the future in a league that cherishes points by the bushel.
It’s time for the Bucs to join the party. It’s time for the big score.
Ira Kaufman is the most revered sports personality and writer in town. He has hung his hat at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters since July 2016. Tampa Bay’s only Pro Football Hall of Fame voter, Ira busts out columns here every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and his award winning podcasts fire Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can also hear Ira on SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio Wednesdays during football season, and see him now on Mondays at 10:30 p.m. on Spectrum Sports 360 (aka BayNews 9). Ira also is part of the FOX-13 Tailgate Sunday and enjoys beet salads, Riesling, Chiefs victories and needling Joe.
Be there for Thursday’s Round 1, April 26. Arrive early. $20 all-you-can-eat buffet is available starting at 6 p.m.. Indoor and outdoor fun. Think block party. Return for Rounds 2 and 3 the following day.
April 6th, 2018 at 1:11 pm
Amen.
April 6th, 2018 at 1:18 pm
Getting the run game and defense straight out leads to more time of possession and also keeps that historical worst defense off the field.
We need closers on defense should be number 1 priority. Tandy has 3 close out games to his belt and no one else has one. Unacceptable. This to me is the difference in OUR wins and losses ….. Closers.
April 6th, 2018 at 1:32 pm
That’s why we need to trade down, if possible, if none of the big 3 are available at #7. D-Line, G and RB in rounds 1 and 2. Then go after the secondary. It’s more likely to pick up a good S or CB in later rounds than a good lineman on either side.
Look for T, more secondary, WR and depth in 2019.
April 6th, 2018 at 1:33 pm
This offense has simply run out of excuses.
^^BINGO^^
well said IRA!!!!!
and i’ll take it a step further and say the defense has simply run out of excuses as well…..this is year 3 under smitty…..we’ve added depth and talent thru FA and more to come thru the draft……this team and staff has simply run out of excuses!!!!!!…..Winston is here to stay….he aint going nowhere…..dirk and smitty are a different story…….
no playoffs….no job….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
April 6th, 2018 at 1:39 pm
A top OG and one of top RBs in this year’s draft will have this Bucs offense humming – FINALLY!
Either draft Nelson and the best back available at #38 with rest of draft going to Defense – or trade back from 7 and get extra picks to draft the best prospects available at RB, OG and CB within the top 50-60 picks.
April 6th, 2018 at 1:42 pm
It is safe to say when we consider what we may get in the upcoming draft with the FA additions so far that this team could be the most talented team in Bucs history on offense and defense combined. The future looks bright. Hopefully!!!
April 6th, 2018 at 1:52 pm
Winston had a great amount of talent in receiving options last year and still couldn’t turn it into wins. There’s no excuse.
When he has a choice between keeping the sticks moving and getting 1st downs or throwing into double coverage more often than not he chooses the double coverage throw. He’s got a gun slinger mentality but doesn’t have the arm talent to thread the needle on those tight throws.
He has to figure out the limitations of his game right now or he will be a bullpen pitcher for the Rays in a couple years.
April 6th, 2018 at 1:53 pm
It’s kind of crazy how we are all pretty much in consensus on what the Bucs should do in this draft lol
Knock this one one out of the park please Licht
April 6th, 2018 at 2:12 pm
Outstanding play caller? That’s reaching
April 6th, 2018 at 2:17 pm
Here’s your “let’s sell some tickets” Ira…both literally and figuratively.
Saquon Barkley.
Go Bucs!
April 6th, 2018 at 2:30 pm
#12thManRising
April 6th, 2018 at 2:33 pm
#CultureChange
Starts with the ones that never leave.
April 6th, 2018 at 2:36 pm
No more revolving door at HC. Honor your commitments brings honor from those who commit. Regulators…. Mount Up….
#AllAboard
April 6th, 2018 at 2:40 pm
See Dungy for example… It was ride or die with him and Monte… The Culture Changed when we fired him for Chucky… It snow balled quickly after that…
Just saying, you cant always get what you want.
But we got what we need. Now ride or die. The 12th Man needs to Regulate the Trolls and Fans of Depression…
#TheTIMEISNOW!!!
April 6th, 2018 at 2:46 pm
But in the only offensive category that really counts, Tampa Bay’s scoring average (20.9) ranked 18th.
————————————-
And the def ranked 32nd, so what you saying?
Jameis can have 0 Ints and 45 TDs and still won’t get to the playoffs with a weak and fragile leader of the defense trying to avoid getting hit bc of a broken fingernail.
Just trade the bum already so we can stop criticizing EVERY SINGLE player to wear the pewter and red.
It’s the coaches, the QB, the RB, the safety, it’s all of the above except the crybaby who can’t stop a dive play on 4th&1 from anywhere on the field.
What a joke! But hey at least he gives interviews after every embarrassing loss and does it with a smile so at least he’s #1 at something.
April 6th, 2018 at 2:48 pm
Trench warfare.
A beast O-line that leads to points.
A beats D-line that gets the ball back for the O.
Get Nelson in round 1
Get a young pass rusher in round 2
FIX THE TRENCHES, FIX THE BUCS!!
April 6th, 2018 at 3:03 pm
@gotBucs, you must’ve missed the part where the bucs had more first downs than any team in the NFL except New England, so your point about first downs doesn’t fit. And saying Jameis doesn’t have arm talent is hysterical, while his int% was actually the best in his career, it was the fumbles that screwed us last year. so not sure what you’re seeing on any of those points.
April 6th, 2018 at 3:24 pm
As always Ira, You are..on point. I just don’t want us taking nelson at 7 unless we just have to. Say what you want. But our Bucs scored enough points to win games last season. It was just..shameful to watch knowing if our opposition had the ball, they were surely without a doubt going to score. Yes, we need to get better offensively. But we also need to multiply that times 4 on Defense. Smitty quiety sat in the pressbox game after game for his..better view. That view saw his Defense get spanked repeatedly. Maybe if he hit the sidelines with his players exorting them on here and here, it might make a difference. But he won’t, He hired a new defensive pitbull to do his barking for him while he…relaxes in the pressbox. I’m with 813Bucboi..No excuses this year. Its do or..Bye Bye!!!!
April 6th, 2018 at 3:28 pm
It was The Big Sombrero, not The Old Sombrero, Ira.
April 6th, 2018 at 3:36 pm
Great Article Ira! Enjoyed reading it!
April 6th, 2018 at 3:41 pm
(For a while my comments have been under moderation. Since I am for sure one of the most politest readers here could someone please look into this. I just want to be “one of the guys”)
April 6th, 2018 at 3:43 pm
If Nelson is on the board and someone wants to offer us a draft hual for the Lamar Jackson I say take the loot. However, a 10 year all pro and one of the best O-Line in the NFL is no small consolation prize. Get it done.
April 6th, 2018 at 3:46 pm
Defense will sell tickets too, as long as the home score reads greater than the away score.
April 6th, 2018 at 3:50 pm
IRA
Great piece…I’m one of the guys who likes offense. In addition it’s clear where the league stands and what it wants. Yeah most of the talk about rule changes has been about protecting players from CTE and I agree that accounts for “some” rule changing. But a larger cause is an attempt to get the game the league brass wants…and it isn’t defense!
Simply look at the rules…virtually every rule in the past decade has favored the offense at the cost of the defense. The new “catch” rule was long overdue but it’s going to mean even more complete passes. The league WANTS scoring.
We spent THE top pick in a draft on our QB. We spent a top ten on ME13. We have DJAX…a first round pick at TE…Godwin is ready to bloom…Brate is solid..and there’s Hump. We are not built to pound the rock. If we get Nelson and Guice or another good RB perhaps that will change a bit….but in today’s NFL I’m glad we have a good passing game.
Lord C.
I’m with you on consensus. I’ve never seen it like this in JBF in draft month!
April 6th, 2018 at 3:54 pm
Also in the summer of ’76 at the Big Sombrero……The Bicentennial concert……Eagles, Fleetwood Mac & Loggins and Messina……anyone else attend?….the TBBF was swatting fireworks off of him while relaxed on many, many beers and a couple of luudes…..
It was a very good year indeed….and then the losses started…..
I will be forever grateful to Gruden for that Superbowl…..and am patiently waiting for another….hopefully at least one more in my lifetime. GO BUCS!!!
April 6th, 2018 at 4:01 pm
Just a reminder that while the Bucs defense was 32nd and last in the league in yards per game allowed, they were 22nd in the league at 23.9 points per game allowed. In fact, the opponents scored 30 points or more in five separate games:
Arizona scored 38 points with help from two interceptions and two fumbles by the offense although the fumbles were both recovered. The first six possessions by the Bucs offense that day showed four punts, loss on downs, and an INT.
Minnesota scored 34 points with help from three interceptions and two more fumbles though again both fumbles were recovered. The first six possessions by the Bucs offense that day showed field-goal, punt, punt, INT, punt, punt.
Atlanta scored 34 points despite zero INT’s or fumbles by the Bucs offense. Nevertheless the first five possessions for the offense went field-goal, punt, punt, punt, field-goal.
Buffalo scored 30 points with help from three interceptions and six fumbles by the offense, two of which were recovered by the opponents. The first five possessions for the offense that day went field-goal, field-goal, fumble, punt, interception.
New Orleans scored 30 points with help from one INT and one fumble which was lost. The first seven possessions for the offense that day went punt, punt, punt, field-goal, punt, punt,fumble.
Despite all the “weapons for Winston”, the Bucs were 31st in the league in points scored in the second quarter and 26th overall for points scored in the first half. The Bucs’ defense almost never had the luxury of the lead to get creative or aggressive on defense.
tickrdr
April 6th, 2018 at 4:06 pm
Jameis will never be a top 5 qb
But he will settle in between 8-12th best which is okay
He has intangibles which I love.
A running game and A new guard and right tackle won’t hurt him.
April 6th, 2018 at 5:04 pm
tickrdr – so what you’re saying is that Glennon would have protected the ball better in those games – amiright?
April 6th, 2018 at 5:37 pm
@Ira … “But in the only offensive category that really counts, Tampa Bay’s scoring average (20.9) ranked 18th.” Ira, would you please tell Joe that … both of them.
@Pickgrin … “Either draft Nelson and the best back available at #38 with rest of draft going to Defense – or trade back from 7 and get extra picks.” Assuming we don’t trade back Pickgrin, we’d start improving our defense through the draft in ROUND 4. Might be lucky to get 1 starter and/or key rotational player; the rest would be backups & players to develop for the future. So WHEN Brent Grimes goes out (not IF IMO) we’re left with what at CB? And we’d be starting a 2nd year FS with Tandy & Conte at SS. We’d have 2 DTs (GMC & Allen) with little behind them (DTs do seem to get injured for some reason).
And everyone will be screaming “The defense blew it again & couldn’t hold the lead”. This is supposed to be the year to fix the DEFENSE in the draft, yet everyone’s once again beating the drum to fix 2 more holes in the offense with our top 2 picks. Yes, we NEED a RB in preferably Rnd 2. NO we don’t NEED a Guard in Rnd 1 … Package a #4 pick with 1 or 2 others, move up to Rnd 2 or 3, and there are several Guards who’ll do just fine.
April 6th, 2018 at 5:56 pm
D.R.
I would have been with you till the JPP signing. And of course your defense and I’m offense so we’ll always have that bone of contention.
Sometimes the best defense is a good offense…especially one with a killer OL that can win time of possession battles every Sunday.
I was with you and TonyinLA…Boss Hogg and all the others chiming in about fixing our DL. I used to believe it was an emergency but the signing of JPP…the other DL”s and the hope that Spence heals…I now consider it a need but not as desperate.
I’m a guy who loves synergy…I just believe if we grab Nelson our OL will be stout for the next decade. I like that Nelson has a bad reputation as a mean dude as does Jensen and to some degree Ali Marpet. I think all three of these guys will play to the whistle and perhaps infect the entire team with their ‘tude.
April 6th, 2018 at 6:35 pm
Let’s go Jameis!!!
This is your year man, light it up!
April 6th, 2018 at 7:49 pm
@Pickgrin:
Sorry, but I cannot make this point once again without sounding simplistic and condescending. I know that you know this well, so that is not my aim.
So, winning games means that you score more points than your opponent or conversely that he scores less than you. Ira wrote wrote a very nice post stating that even though the offense gained plenty of yards and many first downs, their relative ranking in terms of points scored left a lot to be desired. Conversely, the defense was the worst in the league at giving up yards, yet their points allowed showed a better ranking. Which would you rather have: an offense that leads the league in yards gained and is lacking in points scored, or the reverse where they score many points but not as many yards. Similarly, would you rather have a defense that leads the league in yards allowed but gives up way too many points, or is rather the stingiest defense in the league as far as points allowed even though teams march up and down the field without scoring? My point is that everyone thinks the defense played so poorly, however they gave up fewer points (ranking-wise) despite being the worst defense in yards allowed. The Bucs offense on the other hand gained tons of yards and first downs, which didn’t seem to translate into points. I listed the examples of five games last year where the defense gave up a lot of points. Yet in those five games, the offense scored nary a touchdown in the first half, and had nine interceptions and 11 fumbles for those games, even though only three of those fumbles were lost to the opponents. Nevertheless, those plays kill drives and scoring opportunities. Despite Winston being the number one overall pick, and the addition of Evans, Desean Jackson, OJ Howard, Brate, Humphries, and Godwin, the Bucs offense only averaged only 23.9 ppg, and many of those points were scored when the outcome was no longer in doubt.
tickrdr
April 6th, 2018 at 7:58 pm
StPete … I’m not putting as much faith in JPP as you and many others seem to. To me, it’s about T.E.A.M and not so much about individual players. Guess I’ve seen too many movies where the lions attack the weakest member of the herd, and that’s exactly what good OC’s obviously do. We’ve still got too many ‘weaknesses’ on defense, and if we don’t fix those before season starts, we’ll see a re-run of last season IMO. I love the idea of having a ‘Nelson’ on the OLine, and I love the idea of having a stud RB in our backfield, but I have serious doubts that even with them we’d be scoring 30-35 pts/game. And that may well be what it takes if we don’t fix our Secondary.
April 6th, 2018 at 8:17 pm
Everyone has forgotten that the “Weapons4Winston” plan for last year flopped on it’s face. So then everyone hollers “But he got hurt!” Guess what, he can get hurt again. In the NFL, opposing teams TRY to hurt your QB. Once again, everybody thinks the offense under Winston will soar to the play-offs. YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW IF HE WILL BE PLAYING, cause the Uber thing is still out there. You don’t know if he can stay healthy. Forget about Winston and just build a strong, balanced team.
April 6th, 2018 at 8:24 pm
Im.still concerned with the kicker position, but I really can’t care much about anything with this team as long as Mike Smith is here.
Has any team ever won a championship having the 32nd ranked defense? EVER?????. Dead last secondary two years in a row despite five stat swaying games in 2016.
Yeah they better go lights out on offense just to not be an embarrassment. This defense is going to get burnt!!!!!!!
April 6th, 2018 at 8:43 pm
Doc – I was just ribbing ya because I know you always liked Glennon and thought he should have been given a shot and always used to love posting stats showing what a good game manager he was and careful w/ the ball and all. To which I always used to respond – ‘yea – but he doesn’t have “IT” and Winston does…’
Your point about offense not being up to par – especially in points scored – even WITH a QB who has “It” and is continuing to improve – and WITH weapons galore no less – is an important point that many who are all about “building up the defense” in the draft are not considering.
Which makes a nice segue into my answer to Defense Rules…
I hear ya brother. I feel your pain. Our defense pretty much sucked last year and lost us at least a half dozen games. But you know what REALLY sucks – having all this young talent that Licht has drafted/brought in (much of it on offense) and STILL having no real team identity.
What were the Bucs “good” at last year? Punting? Passing for lots of yards with not enough points to show for it? Seriously – this team had no identity to fall back on when the chips were in the pot and the game was on the line.
We are exactly TWO good players away from “completing” the offensive overhaul that started 4 years ago with the drafting of Mike Evans.
The main reason the Bucs couldn’t score TDs when needed and had trouble running the ball and being balanced in general – is because our OLine play was WAY subpar – especially in the run blocking dept. Our 2 starting guards Pamphile and Sweezy flat out sucked. Now for sure Doug Martin was a contributor to the run game problems as well – no doubt.
The point is – with the addition of Jensen and with Marpet going back to guard – all we need now to have a dominating offense is a good OG and a high end RB.
Both are easily available for the taking with our 1st and 2nd rd picks this year.
Whether that’s Nelson in the 1st (fingers crossed) and the best RB on the board at #38 – or trading down and perhaps selecting our choice of Michel or Guice in the mid to late 1st and then grabbing a good Guard and a good CB in the 2nd rd with the remaining picks from the trade down.
Yes we need defensive help – but if you can truly “complete” the offense with 2 draft picks – we should do that and give this team an identity. An identity as a team having a kick a$$ and balanced offense that can score 27 points a game on the reg and win a bunch of games that way.
We brought in quite a bit of defensive help in FA for the DL and can still pick up a # of prospects in the draft with picks in rds 4,5,6,6 and 7.
I suspect if we can stay healthier on Defense this year – you will see much better defensive results in 2018 even without adding a 1st or maybe even 1st and 2nd round talent to the Defense via the draft this year.
I believe Licht is thinking this way as well. Especially if Nelson falls to #7…
April 6th, 2018 at 9:09 pm
I agree with Mike Smith. I didn’t fully understand his hiring at all. When this staff was in Atl they’d lose playoff games 34-31.I know LavonteDavid54 has shown countless times he can generate sacks if you let him.However , it’s the corners giving 7-10 yards off the line of scrimmage presnap.Lack of ingenuity ( blitzing David, etc) that makes me wonder. Now if we grab say James , you have two pro bowl lineman two pro bowl lbs a pro bowl cb and two top 11 picks at CB n safety along with a 2nd round safety. No excuse to be blown out 10 minutes into games giving up team and personal bests by the other team.If Jameis can’t get his deep ball down, then he MUST learn to use his legs and extend drives .All of you make good points, great Oline can help both sides, let’s not forget not just the running lanes not there, but Winston got banged up pretty good as well. That line is needed for both pass n run.Same time I can’t watch Conte posterized one more time in this lifetime. Quick slants and underneath routes would help too- hard to go vertical with lax protection.
April 6th, 2018 at 9:18 pm
What’s truly nuts, is with all our shortcomings if we had a kicker and a bye week we still could have gone 8-8 atleast. A kicker two years ago were 11-5.Its these things that make our losing so frustrating.I wish we could give away a 6th rd pick in exchange for new uniforms. I think that would bring much improvement as well.
April 6th, 2018 at 9:28 pm
Pickgrin
Agree with your take. I guess I don’t look at us simply in terms of need. There are needs and there is desperation!!!!
We had a most desperate situation on defense…the defensive line was atrocious.
But I believe we have addressed that. I’m not suggesting that it’s fixed but it’s not longer an emergency…we MIGHT get by.
But your point about being only two players away from a complete team on offense is what drives me. I think the D needs more than just two players to be really complete but the FA’s at least are getting us closer. Let’s see what the draft give us.
April 6th, 2018 at 9:35 pm
@tickdr
Glad to see you back recently. Always enjoy your posts.
Guess what happened to me this summer…something you’re familiar treating.
Had my first and hopefully ONLY heart attack!!! I’m very lucky though it wasn’t a classic attack with blocked arteries and by-passes or stents…just a type III where one of my arteries spasmed temporarily.
Fortunately for me it must not have been a long spasm because I had no damage and in fact they were ready to send me home until they saw my blood…EKG and rest of stuff is all good….scary because it happened while I was at our summer cottage on Michigan’s UP…3 1/2 hours from the hospital.
My cardiologist here in Tampa tells me I’m very lucky that it was just a warning.
He gave me some meds to stop the spasming and and a wonderful by product is my BP also stays nice and low.
April 6th, 2018 at 9:44 pm
I can recall the “Old Sombrero” days; the stadium was full almost every Sunday, and the jersey color in the stands was primarily creamsicle. Nowadays, it seems that pewter and red are a minority in the stands, especially when the Steelers, Packers and Falcons come to town. It would be nice for a change to sit in my seat and not be drowned out by the cheers for the other team.
It doesn’t necessarily take offense to sell tickets – it takes wins.
April 6th, 2018 at 10:47 pm
@Pickgrin:
Once again, everyone thinks a better rushing attack will lead to more points and victories. Yet, the two games where the Bucs had their highest rushing yardage of the year were both games that they lost. Your quarterback who has “it”, seemed to give “it” to the Packers for an easy six points IIRC. They did rush for 165 yards but only managed to score 20 points?? Against Detroit, they rushed for 133 yards but only managed to score 21 points. So even supported by their best rushing games of the year against Green Bay and Detroit, the Bucs offense could not score more than 21 points, even with Winston at the helm and all those weapons.
I wish there were a way to post video on Joe Bucs Fan, because the Detroit game in particular shows a play in the red zone from about the five or 6 yard line which demonstrates what I have coined the “Rashad Greene syndrome”, which was originally demonstrated by Jon Gruden on his QB camp, where Jameis continually locked onto his number one read, Rashad Greene. On that particular play, Jameis throws incomplete to a well-covered Mike Evans, although admittedly he was single-covered on that play. Jameis never moved his head, nor did he ever see OJ Howard wide open in the middle on the goal line, nor Adam Humphries completely uncovered heading to the right flag. If any of you have Game Pass on NFL.com, please review that particular play and you’ll see what I mean. Of course, even though there were two wide-open uncovered receivers on the play, it must be Koetter’s play calling in the red zone that is at fault???
tickrdr
April 6th, 2018 at 10:57 pm
@SPBF:
Sorry to hear that you suffered a heart attack recently, but I am happy for you that it was apparently mild, and that that your cardiac catheterization did not show any significant blockages or need for bypass surgery or stents. It sounds as if you had a mild troponin elevation of uncertain etiology, though coronary vasospasm could certainly be a possible cause. if you have any general questions, I would be happy to comment, however without specifics it would be pure conjecture on my part. I wish you continued good health and Godspeed.
tickrdr
April 6th, 2018 at 11:38 pm
LovE! your articles Ira!
April 6th, 2018 at 11:41 pm
@tickrdr………Have enjoyed your posts over the past years. Having trouble with circulation in my feet. No Diabetes, Kidney enzymes normal. PAD? I have been so healthy all my life. First time potentially serious health problem here.
Sorry Joe.
April 7th, 2018 at 5:08 am
Sorry to hear that StPete. Glad you are OK. Get well and good luck.
April 7th, 2018 at 8:15 am
StPete, take care of that ticker, OK?
April 7th, 2018 at 10:12 am
@SB aka ?GatorBuc:
Again, pure conjecture here. You didn’t mention any symptoms which make you suspect that you have PAD or poor circulation to your feet. Unless you have a poorly healing ulcer or sore, the most common symptom would be claudication, which is a cramping or tightness in the calf muscles when you try to walk. If you are having paresthesias, i.e. tingling or numbness in your feet, that may be a symptom of decreased circulation, but there are other causes as well, most commonly a peripheral neuropathy. If you are concerned, you should see your family doctor, who can check your dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulses in your feet, and consider arterial Doppler’s with ABI’s bilaterally. Good luck!
tickrdr
April 7th, 2018 at 10:48 am
I haven’t liked the saying “Defense wins championships “ since the 1999 Bucs lost to the Rams 11-6! I say bull crap! Points WIN championships!