Find A Way
April 20th, 2018
BY IRA KAUFMAN
Toughen up, people.
Yes, I’m talking to you, any Buc fan cringing at the challenge dead ahead after the NFL released the 2018 schedule.
You think you’re being realistic, figuring the Bucs will be underdogs in each of the first three games of the season. You’re correct, but so what?
What better way to show this is a different Tampa Bay team with a different mentality? The Saints went 8-1 at home last year. The Eagles are the defending champs. The Steelers are a traditional NFL power.
Jon Gruden had it right when he said you either feel pressure or you apply pressure. You either get better or you fall further behind.
The 2018 Bucs need to embrace a champion’s mentality. Respect everyone — fear no one.
I’ve emphasized the importance of a fast start for this franchise, which usually stumbles out of the gate. The dynamics of this schedule doesn’t change that approach one bit.
Find a way.
If Jameis Winston isn’t available, find a way. If Demar Dotson, J.R. Sweezy and Kendell Beckwith aren’t dressed, find a way.
Besides, predicting a team’s fortunes based on the schedule is risky business. Nobody saw Philadelphia coming. Nobody figured the Steelers would lose 23-17 to the Bears in Week 3. Nobody knew the Saints would open 0-2.
The Jaguars and the Rams looked like easy marks. The Bills in the playoffs? Not a chance.
There’s no better way to prove these aren’t the same old Bucs than emerging out of this early murderer’s row with a winning record. Go in scared and there’s a good chance you’re going to take a beating.
Kwon Alexander isn’t scared. The face of this defense is a scowl.
“Everyone wants to see how close we are,” he says. “If we just take it one day at a time, we’re going to get to where we need to be. We believe in each other and hold each other accountable and we’re going to do our thing.”
The Bucs have an opportunity to impose their will on high-profile opponents in September. If they repeat their usual early doldrums, they likely won’t be favored until the Browns come to town in Week 7.
Talk Trash, Then Back It Up
Another putrid getaway would likely leave them looking up at the other three teams in the NFL’s best division. It wouldn’t be pretty at the turnstile or in the standings — and all those empty seats would factor heavily in contemplating a possible regime change.
In essence, this franchise has been rebuilding since 2009. If the world was built in 7 days, why can’t this roster be teeming with talent within a decade?
It’s time for this organization to turn the page in an antiquated playbook. Talk some trash, then back it up. Unleash the hounds on Drew Brees and Ben Roethlisberger.
“I believe in my team regardless of if we lose or win. but we need to have more wins than losses,” Alexander says. “I believe in us and I feel like we’re going to do a great job.”
Alexander made those remarks before he knew Tampa Bay’s early opponents. My guess is that daunting early slate doesn’t change a thing for a middle linebacker who can’t wait to tackle this team’s reputation as division doormats.
No excuses. Find a way.
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.
April 20th, 2018 at 2:23 pm
WOW. Sock it to Den Bucs NFL.😂😂😂😂😂
April 20th, 2018 at 2:24 pm
Tough schedules is just something bad teams and their fans use as an excuse. Good teams find ways to win regardless. We’re about to find out what this team is all about quickly. Like someone else keeps saying #NoExcuses2018
April 20th, 2018 at 2:28 pm
I’ll be so sad if Winston can’t play week 1 (unless he deserves it or something new came out).
The Zeke case had tons of evidence to support that he was being a f*ck head in that relationship. Tons of statements / evidence / etc.
Same with Brady. He wouldn’t cooperate with the NFL and there were all sorts of sketchy facts surrounding his case.
Winston’s cooperating and there isn’t any evidence as of now to say he did anything wrong whatsoever. If they can prove Darby was there then this needs to be thrown out like ASAP
April 20th, 2018 at 2:32 pm
I imagine Kwon is even more excited than before. Hes got those teams on his mind wants to send a message.
Post those first 3 games on every player’s locker with 1 message
“3-0”
April 20th, 2018 at 2:33 pm
maybe throw in…
“#NoExcuses2018”
April 20th, 2018 at 2:38 pm
Wow. Sounds like Ira is the one coming out swinging! Love it! Now punch someone in the mouth (preferably the pencil neck that brought in that Dawkins presser) and get Lynch and Barber in the HOF where they both belong.
April 20th, 2018 at 2:40 pm
We’ve seen this team lose to way lesser teams with a back-up QB while playing at home.
I think the tough schedule will work in our favor – this should be a wake up call that they need to start preparing now.
In the end, no one cares about our “schedule” issues. Just need to buckle up the chin strap and play.
Go Bucs!
April 20th, 2018 at 2:42 pm
Lord C
We’re not supposed to talking about “that”.
But if we are permitted to speculate…a new more positive theory. I think the NFL has no proof and really can’t discipline #3. But they don’t like this type of headline and so they may be sending #3 a message to knock it off even if it’s just headlines. By letting him swing in the breeze so to speak they may be simply teaching a message.
April 20th, 2018 at 2:46 pm
Couch Fan Says:
April 20th, 2018 at 2:24 pm
“Tough schedules is just something bad teams and their fans use as an excuse.”
Easily the best statement I have ever heard regarding this subject!!!! Tip of the hat, Couch!
April 20th, 2018 at 2:51 pm
Easy fix gents, here’s how:
Draft Nelson at #7 and trade the 2nd round pick to Dallas for DE David Irving
Sign Alfred Morris and Orleans Darkwa
Leaves you with 4 picks to find CB
Then just pray the snoops nephew don’t run for 200 yards on us.
David Irving
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0eq9AgCLIyg
With Irving and JPP we could be really good.
April 20th, 2018 at 2:53 pm
Btw Alfred Morris ran for 4.8 ypc behind an injured Dallas oline
April 20th, 2018 at 2:55 pm
I was sky high last season thinking things were going to turn around. I’m not doing that again. They are going to show me this year.
April 20th, 2018 at 2:58 pm
GReat article here Ira. You are saying what I’ve been preaching since our last superbowl brother. Bucs will supposedly have the added tools to the toolbox come this season. Its do or die baby. Poop or get off the pot!! FIND A WAY. NO EXCUSES. Alls I can add to your article is…..AMEN
April 20th, 2018 at 3:01 pm
I renewed my season tickets before seeing this season’s schedule. I really, really don’t want to go to RayJay and see the stands fiiled with Eagles and Steelers fans. When you are in the stands it feels like an away game.
Yes, Ira, its been since 2009. It is time for new ownership.
April 20th, 2018 at 3:02 pm
Mike Glennon beat the Steelers in Pittsburg…Jameis in the RayJay on MNF will be easy…
April 20th, 2018 at 3:04 pm
Going into the season expecting a worse Bucs showing than last year is impossible!
April 20th, 2018 at 3:06 pm
BRAVO IRA!!!!!!!
WELL SAID!!!!!!
as yall know, I’ve been one of the leaders of the #NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!! movement!!!!!…..happy to see well respected folks like IRA hop aboard…..
no excuses….no passes…..find a way to win with what you got…..simple as that…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!!
April 20th, 2018 at 3:17 pm
DB55
Are you saying then your are comfortable with Barber as our bell cow RB?
April 20th, 2018 at 3:19 pm
I this scenario the bell cow would be Morris.
April 20th, 2018 at 3:21 pm
Darkwa can play too. He avg 4.4 ypc. I’m no fan of barber, he did well but once teams game plan for him forgetaboutit
April 20th, 2018 at 3:23 pm
“Respect everyone — fear no one”
Money.
April 20th, 2018 at 3:27 pm
Dallas has a 2nd rnd tender on Irving. I’d give them that in a heart beat. Not only does he play DE but you can kick him inside too.
6’7″ 290lbs from Compton, I think I have a boner.
Irving, Gholston, Curry, JPP with Spence and McIceCream rotating. I’d still like to bring Ayers back too but wtfdik?!
April 20th, 2018 at 3:34 pm
“With Irving and JPP we could be really good.”
I don’t think we need Irving. I believe Buckner is going to coach up Gholston and he’s going to be a beast. AND Spence started the year great before he got hurt. With our new center, and hopefully a new guard from the draft, Jacquizz, Barber or ME, would be able to average over 4 ypc!!! GO BADAZZ BUCS
April 20th, 2018 at 3:36 pm
Yep….Alfred Morris and Orleans Darkwa are taking the Bucs to the promised land!
To each his own.
Go Bucs!
April 20th, 2018 at 3:39 pm
Atlbucs
I say create competition and let the best men win. Better to have and not need than need and not have.
April 20th, 2018 at 3:47 pm
LOL!!!!!!!!! Just heard Joe on Moving the Chains on NFL Radio!!!!!! they are running the mock draft friday and Joe drafted the Running Back at #7
Well played Joe, Well played!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 20th, 2018 at 3:48 pm
DB55
Right! Plus more depth to wear down opposing OL’s
April 20th, 2018 at 3:51 pm
Go ahead Joe Buc, you got us Saquon Barkley on Moving The Chains Fan Mock Draft on NFL Radio. Couldn’t be happier with the pick and the caller who made it.
April 20th, 2018 at 3:58 pm
DB55
c’mon man….you know smitty will be dropping Irving into coverage in pass rush situations if we got him!!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
April 20th, 2018 at 4:01 pm
Interesting thoughts on DE Irving. I hate giving up draft picks.
Can we do it after the draft and give them a 2019 pick?
What’s to stop every team from putting a 1st or overly high tender on all their resticted FAs they’d like to keep?
April 20th, 2018 at 4:04 pm
813
DAMN YOU MAN! I hate it cuz you right! Fml
April 20th, 2018 at 4:05 pm
Stan
Obviously I have no idea but I would certain try to offer a 2019
April 20th, 2018 at 4:12 pm
After last season I don’t care who is on my schedule and where I’m playing!!! I’m a Mad Moe Foe every game and I’m kicking everybody’s ass!!!! Damn a bunch of Eagles and Lions and Bears Oh My!!!!
April 20th, 2018 at 4:12 pm
Pedro: Bucs, they are sick. I ask Jobu to come, take fear from Bucs. I offer him cigars and Yuengling. He will come.
April 20th, 2018 at 4:21 pm
@ lord c
You are completely wrong as it relates to zeke. As a matter of fact, text messages from the accuser showed she was attempting to black mail zeke. Also, the female investigator that works for the nfl recommended to goddell that no punishment be given to zeke. Goddell went against her findings. So no, there were not tons and tons of evidence. Thats why jerry jones has no love for goddell anymore
April 20th, 2018 at 4:24 pm
@ lord c
The lead investigator that is also a female is named kia roberts. She was the only one who spoke with the accuser from the nfl. Again she recommended no suspension. Goddell did what he wanted to do. Dont think for a second that jameis is in the clear.
April 20th, 2018 at 5:29 pm
The world was created in seven days but the Bucs can’t put together a winning roster in ten years. Best line ever.
April 20th, 2018 at 5:29 pm
Pre-draft win totals are out. We’re at 6.5 win over a slight favorite. It’s not the real thing, just A double vig publicity line, but it shows where the experts’ expectations have us. I’ll calculate our line based expected win total once the game lines come out in May.
April 20th, 2018 at 5:31 pm
Lmao I love all the positivity but get prepared for 0-3 or at the very best 1-2.
More likely 0-3 with Winston having 5-6 picks 2 fumbles and maybe 3 td’s in those 3 games.
Lol I live in reality
April 20th, 2018 at 5:35 pm
Thank you Ira ! Perfectly stated .
April 20th, 2018 at 5:44 pm
Winston 3 TDs in 3 games is reality? I’ll bet that over anytime. Or maybe you’re just talking crap.
April 20th, 2018 at 5:56 pm
If we can get off to a great start in the season, I think it could prove to be a very strong one with the momentum. Those first few games are some of our toughest. Then outside of our division, we face some very beatable teams (based on last year) with the Bears, Browns, Giants, 49ers, Redskins and Bungles. We need to be strong, consistent, communicate, and pull all the guys together as a team. When Tampa is strong, the fans are too. Just look at the home Lightning games.
April 20th, 2018 at 5:57 pm
I also forgot the Ravens lol
April 20th, 2018 at 6:03 pm
@stanglassman
Sound just like an FSU fan.
Completely ignore the turnover part of my statement and focus on how many td’s he has lmao.
But I get it because you can’t defend his idiotic dumb as s decisions he makes.
“But he’s the best the Bucs have ever had blah blah”
You do realize how low the bar has been set right?
Oh well high draft pick next year new coaches who may want to pick their own QB. And that my friend is a very real possibility.
No way they win more than 6 games and you can book that right now.
April 20th, 2018 at 6:41 pm
As the great Rick FLair use to say “if you want to be the man you got to beat the man”
April 20th, 2018 at 7:07 pm
Ira, I knew I could count on you to hit the nail on the head. Get rid of the “antiquated playbook”, I’ve been saying it for 2 years. It is not just the play calling, that’s the easy mark. The more difficult find is the play designs themselves. Our WRs basically cover themselves because Dirk runs them right into the defense, they barely have to move. With Jameis running for his life because our LT has gotten him killed repeatedly, very difficult to be accurate. One eye over your shoulder, one eye downfield equals turnovers, just sayin’
April 20th, 2018 at 7:07 pm
Some people will never toughen up Ira. Every team in the league has a chance to win every week. Dont turn it over and out game plan them. Adjust. Plus last seasons record means nothing. If Dirk has them ready and he and smitty improve theyll make the playoffs no matter who they play. If they stick the the “tried and true” then theyll be fried and through. They can take the whiners with them
April 20th, 2018 at 7:45 pm
Has anyone officially said it yet? The theme for this year should be ….
NO EXCUSES.
Playoffs or bust.
April 20th, 2018 at 7:47 pm
Or better still…as Ira said…
NO EXCUSES….FIND A WAY….
Come on Joe…Gruden and Marinelli had “Pound the Rock”…
I like Ira’s every bit as much.
April 20th, 2018 at 7:56 pm
I think the Bucs should let Ira do the pregame speech before the season home opener. He could just recite this column while holding a snarling pit bull by the collar. 😂
April 20th, 2018 at 8:13 pm
Love the ‘take charge & git er done’ attitude Ira … right up until “In essence, this franchise has been rebuilding since 2009.” Sorry, it doesn’t take 10 years to rebuild. Bucs have just been fielding crappy teams since 2009 (as in poorly-coached, insufficient talent, no depth … too much talking, too little doing). That’s NOT building OR rebuilding. We had TWO barely decent years in there (10-6 & 9-7) … that’s it. No NFC South championships, no playoffs, nada.
‘Find a way’ sounds nice … positive, feel good … and I applaud that. What I applaud even more is a T-E-A-M that does it, not talks about it. Players who let their performance on the field do their talking for them. Players who when crunch time comes say ‘Not on my watch’, then kick butt. Takes a LOT to build a T-E-A-M with ATTITUDE. Starts with the owners, through management then coaches, players, and yes, even fans. Takes LEADERSHIP at each and every one of those levels. Winning T-E-A-M-S have it and it shows on the field. Losing teams talk about it & keep trying to build it, but keep coming up short.
Time for talk is long gone. Less talk & more kick ass.
April 20th, 2018 at 8:25 pm
6-10
Defensive backfield is weak
O line is pedestrian
Running backs???
April 20th, 2018 at 8:38 pm
Destinjohnny…
NO EXCUSES…FIND A WAY.
April 20th, 2018 at 8:40 pm
I would almost rather this tough of an opening schedule than a cupcake schedule. We ought to be fired up in training camp knowing we have to come out swinging. Players should be killing themselves in practice to be prepared and hopefully that translates through the whole season
April 20th, 2018 at 8:40 pm
I see what you’re saying Destin but I have to agree with sweeptheleg. Just where are we getting 6 wins from? I see only 1 win this year for the Bucs and it’ll probably be when the Falcons are resting their starters for the week 17 game in what would be a meaningless game for them.
Like, if I was forced to spend a $100,000 on the Bucs over/under win total and Vegas sets it to 6.5 guess which direction I’m going. And I’m sure, deep down, most of us here would take the under as well if their life savings were on the line.
Sorry, I love the Buccaneers but I cannot find another NFC team that is in worse shape than us. Maybe the Arizona Cardinals if Bradford goes down early but that’s about it.
April 20th, 2018 at 9:28 pm
Mark Dumbnik. There’s your explanation for why the team still sucks since 2009. How many of his players are still on the team?
April 20th, 2018 at 9:30 pm
I love the fact that these guys have to think about these first three games every day. It’s the polar opposite of last off-season when the were coming off a winning season, what were thought to be easy opponents and too much confidence.
This year it’s coming off a losing season, three really good teams to start the year and everyone knows this could be the beginning of the end.
I have all of the confidence in the world with the offense, but I’m willing to bet after three weeks our defense leads the entire league in completion percentage allowed, points allowed, first downs allowed, yards allowed EVERYTHING ALLOWED!!!!!
I JUST HOPE SMITH GETS FIRED GOING INTO WEEK 4 AND GIVE THE TEAM A FIGHTING CHANCE TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS
April 20th, 2018 at 9:31 pm
Can IRA be our next General Manager???
April 21st, 2018 at 8:00 am
Thank you Ira this exactly how I have been feeling and this could and should be directed at your coworkers who are two of the most negative writes/commenters on the Bucs. Silly talk. –Joe
April 21st, 2018 at 8:20 am
Ndog…the Joe’s aren’t negative..they are Buc fans… hopeful but realistic. The early part of the schedule will be a real test of talent and character.
I see no difference between what Ira is saying and what the Joe’s are saying. Who isn’t tired of the S show we have seen the last few years? HC and GM jobs are in the balance, as are those of many players. I think Ira and Joe are saying basically the same thing…
NO EXCUSES….FIND A WAY.
April 21st, 2018 at 9:06 am
NO TALK
#WALKTHEWALK
and get rid of the clown costumes… who could feel tough in a burger king outfit?
April 21st, 2018 at 9:13 am
In the past ten years, the Bucs were given what was considered an easy schedule two times. The NFL always takes a dump on us. We should be used to it.
Fitz might be able to win one of those games. Maybe.
And make no mistake, it will be him starting them.
April 21st, 2018 at 12:52 pm
Preach it Ira!
April 21st, 2018 at 12:53 pm
@bonzai same as it ever was. The NFL hates the Bucs.