Springboard
April 17th, 2018
Talks building.
The Bucs season stunk last year.
We all know that. It was 5-11.
Garbage. Again.
Buccaneer Cove (last in the NFC South). Again.
However, the team probably played its best ball in the last five games of the season, beginning with a trip to Green Bay to begin December.
Was it a coincidence that America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, returned to the starting lineup in northeast Wisconsin healthy? Joe is convinced, no.
The Bucs ended the season with a touchdown bomb from Jameis to Chris Godwin to beat the NFC South champion, playoff-bound Saints.
Yesterday when speaking with the Tampa Bay pen and mic club, stud receiver DeSean Jackson said the last month of the 2017 season is what the team needs to erect a foundation on.
“Honestly, we just have to build,” Jackson said. “We have to build on how we finished last year. We finished pretty good, obviously a tough year for everybody in the building and on the field. We had high expectations and we still do. We feel like [offseason conditioning, OTAs and mini-camp] couldn’t come any sooner for us to get out there and work together, get back in the film rooms and meeting rooms with the coaches and just learning the scheme more and gelling more individually.
“I think everyone is excited about that. That period of time we had away, obviously watching the playoffs and seeing other teams play, we felt like we should have been there. But, there’s still a lot of work that needs to be accomplished and that’s still what we have to do here.
“So, like I said, that’s what the offseason workouts are for. We still have a lot of time to be with our families and have fun and enjoy the offseason but it’s still time to come together and gel and build on whatever it is you guys are trying to work towards.”
Frankly, the way the Bucs finished the season last year was cited by Team Glazer as a significant reason why Dirk Koetter was retained for the 2018 campaign. The Bucs could have easily thrown in the towel but instead, rallied around the embattled Koetter with rumors running wild Chucky was going to return to the Bucs.
If this season’s Bucs are just a little better than the December 2017 Bucs, this team should at least be competitive.
April 17th, 2018 at 10:18 am
The passing game rules the NFL. We have one of worst group of defensive backs in the league. We are also inept at rushing/pressuring the QB nor are we very good at protecting our QB and we just lost our starting right tackle for who knows how long. I’m not going to mention our running back situation.
But at least we have a kicker who can make at least 50% of his kicks.
April 17th, 2018 at 10:29 am
if im not mistaken, the last 5 games we finished the year 1-4…..lol….why the hell would you want to take that into next year….lol….
im calling BS….
if the coaches and players were able to carry over anything, they would’ve carried over the things that got them to the 9-7 mark…..but they want to carry over the last game on a 5-11 season…..lol…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
April 17th, 2018 at 10:44 am
The Bucs were a couple spins of the ball away from super bowl contenders. GO BUCCCCSSS!!!
April 17th, 2018 at 10:45 am
Frankly, the way the Bucs finished the season last year was cited by Team Glazer as a significant reason why Dirk Koetter was retained for the 2018 campaign.
you mean the way they finished 1-4….or the way Winston ignored dirk and won the game in spite of him playing for the FG?…..
glazers know its cheaper to keep her…..at least for 1 more year…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
April 17th, 2018 at 10:47 am
We need “a little less talk and a lot more action” – Toby Keith
April 17th, 2018 at 10:59 am
I remember way back, Gruden era. The Bucs started one of their least memorable seasons poorly, and Simeon Rice said something about learning how to win by losing in a close game.
That sounds weird but what I think he meant was, you have to grind out a close game to figure out how to eventually make those your wins.
The fact that the 1-4 end to this past season saw the Bucs lose by no more than 3 points per game shows me they are a young crowd learning how to truly grind in the NFL.
I think this year the Bucs will start fast and not let up until they get tired or lose a significant player/s to injury.
April 17th, 2018 at 11:16 am
I think this year the Bucs will start fast and not let up until they get tired or lose a significant player/s to injury.
getting tired or injuries isnt an excuse to “let up”…..lol….every team has injuries…..every team will get tired…..you have to fight thru adversity…..not fold when things don’t go your way…..c’mon man!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!…..GO BUCS!!!!!
April 17th, 2018 at 11:19 am
i just wanna see a passrush opposing qbs takin ditrnaps often and of course a w
April 17th, 2018 at 11:25 am
Action, not words!
You could literally record this very same statement and play it every offseason that you underachieve!
Shut up and play!
April 17th, 2018 at 11:36 am
the blazing 1-4 finish saved his job. Climbed within five games of third in a four team division.
awesome!!!!!!
yet people like Dungy and Gru jettisoned after playoffs or winning seasons.
the only issue in my mind is whether they are delusional, dumb, or disingenuous.
April 17th, 2018 at 12:04 pm
Man some people have a one track mind here!!! Can we see the forest for the trees.
Last year was awful. But there are some bright spots upon which to build.
If we paid attention to some posters here this team is totally bereft of all talent and we’ll be lucky to match last year’s five wins in 2018. SMH
I understand I am the blog optimist. There are a few others…then there are the vast majority in the middle who try and remain objective…then there are the old nattering nabobs of negativity….they have NOTHING positive to say about this team. That’s why we have scroll wheels on our lap tops and the ability to scroll down with our fingers.
I saw enough depressing stuff last year. The last thing I care about is bloggers sharing their negative opinions about how bad we’re going to be this year.
If teams with bad records have no chance in ’18 why even play a schedule?
April 17th, 2018 at 12:06 pm
Just a question for some of you.
If a team finishes a season losing their last five games by 3-4 TD’s would you view them the same as a team that lost the last five by a single score.
BOTH records suck so they are equal in that sense…but look ahead you’d really feel the same with that first team as the second team.
April 17th, 2018 at 12:16 pm
I will say something positive. We will positively be a 5-6 win team if we don’t find answers at RB, RT, SS, CB and OG. Plus our “savior” Winston is currently under investigation that could have him serving a major suspension.
Is that “positive” enough for you sweetheart?
April 17th, 2018 at 12:33 pm
If you lost the last five you lost the last five. No bonus points in the standings for close.
If anything better coaching and game planning would have gotten you wins in the close games.
NFL games are typically close, decided by a few plays here and there.
Applauding close scores is totally loserville.
April 17th, 2018 at 12:35 pm
For the most part I like marine’s rant , but make no mistake that running the ball is still the key to getting in the playoffs. Last season 9 of the top 10 rushing teams in the NFL made the playoffs. Draft Nelson at 7 and let the running game make JW’s job a heck of a lot easier.
April 17th, 2018 at 12:46 pm
A few seconds away from losing our last six and the owners point out the finish as reason for optimism.
Mind boggling.
April 17th, 2018 at 12:50 pm
That’s how far things have sunk in Cleveland South.
April 17th, 2018 at 1:08 pm
im all for being optimistic but I would prefer folks keep it real…..
sure their were a few bright spots…..j.evans progressed nicely….so did godwin….barber showed some flashes…..late in the season, when healthy, Winston was sharp…..but that’s about it imo…..
we had 2 5game losing streaks…..coaching was terrible….scheme, play calling and personnel were suspect…..adjustments were nonexistent….couldn’t score in the red zone…..couldn’t stop anyone on defense…..special teams regressed big time…..lack of accountability….and those are all facts not opinions….
there are no moral victories!!!!!!…not even in HS or college…point blank period…..that’s all for little league…..
doesn’t matter if you lose every game by 1 or by 49points…..you still lost every game…..lol….a lost is a lost…..
the bucs are the only fan base that pats themselves on the back after a lost or lousy season…..lol….SMDH……
licht has given dirk and smitty talent and depth with more to come…..its time now….the spot light is on them……no playoffs….no job….
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
April 17th, 2018 at 1:11 pm
one things for sure, optimism and patience is at an all time high…..wish folks had that with previous regimes…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!
April 17th, 2018 at 1:17 pm
DeSean wants to TALK building (verb), he just doesn’t want to be IN it (noun), if he doesn’t have to be?!
My disappointment for this guy is growing.
April 17th, 2018 at 1:30 pm
813
Agree with your last two posts.
April 17th, 2018 at 2:37 pm
The Bucs were ranked #4 in passing offense last year, right in front of the Saints.
That is exciting in that it was a completely lost year and no one on offense seemingly live up to expectations, the offensive line was terrible and the running game was non-existent. Yes you could say the fact the Bucs threw a lot inflated stats, but the Miami Dolphins had the highest passing percentage in the NFL and was 18th in passing yards, so just throwing the ball a lot doesn’t mean you’ll actually get yards.
The Bucs, by my count, lost three games because of kicking, the Pats, Atlanta at home and the Panthers on the road. Win those and you’re 8-8, which is disappointing, but hardly panic inducing. Have the defense show any sort of spine at all in GB they win that, if the midget Hump doesn’t fumble in Buffalo, they win that, now you’re 10-6. None of those things is really a huge leap that can’t be overcome, and it’s why it’s possible the Bucs could be due to be a big quick turnaround.
April 17th, 2018 at 2:42 pm
813bucboi
I wasn’t using injuries as an excuse… I’m a Bucs fan and I know what to expect from my team.
Bucs always let adversity get the better of them.
I don’t make excuses for my team.
I don’t play at coach…
Glazers can’t fire me…
April 17th, 2018 at 2:48 pm
I have to shake my head sometimes. I know we are a down-trodden fanbase but there should only ever be ONE expectation. It’s not Pro Bowls, it’s not individual accolades, team records, or moral victories. It is WINS. Why root for any team if not for winning?!
There are a lot of good/great individual players who languish on worse (hard to believe!) teams who in 10 years nobody will remember except for their own fanbase.
There’s always talk of “culture change” but nobody ever admits what that is. It’s different from an “identity”. The “culture” of football is WINNING! Plain and simple. Win and all your troubles seem to dissipate. Sure, we’ll be here nitpicking wins too, but if at the end of the day you want something other than wins, can you consider yourself a ‘fan’?
Expect winning! DEMAND winning! Never forget though, that this here is just a game and we are just fans.
Semper Fi my Jarhead brothers!
April 17th, 2018 at 5:53 pm
Honestly getting sick of hearing about DJax. don’t care what he did for other teams he sucks on our team. He’s one of our worst players and we have guys on the bench who are better them him.
I’m cool with him coming back this year but he doesn’t deserve any of th3 talk of face time he’s getting. He’s been nothin* more then a scrub for our team.
April 17th, 2018 at 8:28 pm
Desean said that? Maybe we’ll see him a little more of him at OTA’s and mini camp this year. BWA HAHAHAHAHA!!
April 17th, 2018 at 9:06 pm
We just need to take a knee more maybe we will make a point probabaly won’t win anymore games. SAD!