The Uphill Climb
May 15th, 2018
Daunting task ahead.
Joe has mentioned the daunting task the Bucs have to lock in a winning record for this season.
The first month of the schedule is brutal. Then there is the early bye week and after the bye, three of the next four games are on the road.
Yes, brutal.
It is pretty much a foregone conclusion, barring America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, being sentenced to a long suspension or getting hurt and missing a bunch of games, that for AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht and/or coach Dirk Koetter to secure a return in 2019, they need a winning season. Maybe a playoff berth.
To make the playoffs, the Bucs probably have to win 10 games and that may not be enough (remember 2010?).
Now entering their 42nd season in the NFL, the Bucs have only had seven double-digit win seasons. Only twice since the Bucs won the Super Bowl not quite 16 years ago have the Bucs had double-digit wins — twice!
That’s how bad Cleveland South the Bucs have been in recent years. And that’s the history the Bucs may have to overcome in order for important people to secure their 2019 return.
Remember: The lone coach Team Glazer hired and then retained after two consecutive losing seasons is the same guy who won them a Super Bowl.
May 15th, 2018 at 11:17 am
Licht is not going anywhere.
Worse than 8-8 puts Koetter and his entire coaching staff at serious risk of being replaced.
Bucs have the talent to compete. No excuses.
May 15th, 2018 at 11:19 am
We need a top 10 defense, a top 5 QB.
May 15th, 2018 at 11:20 am
“Bucs have the talent to compete. No excuses.”
Yep.
May 15th, 2018 at 11:30 am
Yep…they have enough talent for a a double digit win year…a few stumbles and bumbles…I’ve been saying it’ll be the 2nd half of 2019 when the teams claims it’s place on the NFL stage as team for the future
May 15th, 2018 at 11:32 am
Bucs have a 38.7 percent win percent. Worse. And we need to rip 300 straight wins to get to .500
It’s a Bucs life!!!
May 15th, 2018 at 11:39 am
This coaching staff had better stop being sooo freaking stubborn and get creative with the weapons they have to work with on BOTH sides of the ball
I will believe it when I see it. .. .
May 15th, 2018 at 11:39 am
couple things here joe…..
first, dirk and this staff have no excuses this year…..not injuries or suspensions will save them…..vikes made it far without their starting QB….eagles won it all while missing their starting QB….cowboys still won 9games while their best player had to sit for 6games…..
the nfl has shown fans and owners that teams can still have a successful season or at least a winning season with significant injuries or lengthy suspensions…..the days of mailing it in when because you don’t have a full clip are over….especially when you’ve been here for a few years now and have hand picked your back up qb…..
next, glazers canned gruden after a winning season…..and the SB came first…its not like he had 2 losing seasons and then turned it around…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!…GO BUCS!!!
May 15th, 2018 at 11:46 am
@pickgrin… NFL gms don’t get to hire 3 coaches in 5 years.
May 15th, 2018 at 11:51 am
You fire the coaches because the owner isn’t firing himself and you can’t trade all of the team
May 15th, 2018 at 11:52 am
I’m elated to the max the pressure is on Koetter and pressbox Smitty. Win or leave. 8-8 gets them another season probably. Anything less and they join Schiano and Lovie at the..fired Bucs coaching fishing hole. No more Spin..No more excuses. Find a way to get her done Bucs. We..Are..Watching…
May 15th, 2018 at 11:56 am
We always do this with the schedule. It just isnt the right way to think. There is a ton of turnover season to season on who is good and who is t outside the handful of stalwarts.
Everyone plays 8 home games.
Everyone plays 8 road games.
Every team gets one bye.
Every team plays their division foes twice.
Every team plays the same out of conference games that their division mates do.
The Bucs actually get it easier than their division mates by finishing last in the division. They get to play all of the other last place teams in the NFC while their division mates do not.
It’s about perspective. The Bucs DJ not have it harder than the rest of the division. Outside of their division games, they have it easier.
Win the division and they get into the playoffs. The rest is just talk.
KEEP FIXING THE TRENCHES AND YOU’LL FIX RHE BUCS!!!!
May 15th, 2018 at 11:58 am
Bucs.gotta win or Dirks gotta go. He has as good a chance as 31 other coaches to win!!! If he can’t prove himself worthy we have to give another the opportunity to get us out of the Cellar!!! Coaching is a thankless position, I did it 27 years. But NFL Coaches are highly compensated and you gotta win or move aside to the next one!!! Perform Dirk or expect to be gone!!! NO EXCUSES DUDE!!!
May 15th, 2018 at 12:02 pm
Gawd….get off the coaches backs….you are holding a I’m a dumb phuck sign over your head….
May 15th, 2018 at 12:08 pm
Licht didn’t hire Lovie so there goes the theory.
May 15th, 2018 at 12:08 pm
Clean out the entire mess if the bucs do not make the playoffs, licht has had plenty of time and has switched lanes on building a franchise and has never had a thought out plan for building a team since he got here as every year the goal has been different….where are the dunkaneers?
May 15th, 2018 at 12:14 pm
It’s on the line for Dirk Koetter this year, but I don’t believe it is for Jason Licht. I feel that he has done a fantastic job this offseason.
May 15th, 2018 at 12:20 pm
I tend to agree that Licht will not be fired……we have the talent to win. For the first time in a very long time we also have some depth.
We have depth at QB, RB, LB, TE, WR, Dline, Oline and it could be argued CB (although young)…..
We still are somewhat safe with our cap and have some team friendly contracts.
We have a few very good UDFAs and perhaps more to come.
The argument can be made that Licht has done his job….it’s up to the coaches.
May 15th, 2018 at 12:33 pm
Sorry. Joe has high standards for coaches. Have personal experience how a good coach can do so much good. And Joe fully understands how a bad coach can drag down a team.
Joe does not believe and never will that coaches are little more than playdates and hand out orange slices to players while patting them on the head whispering, “Way to try.”
Make your players better players; put them in position to succeed or go manage a produce stand.
May 15th, 2018 at 12:45 pm
Amen Joe!
May 15th, 2018 at 12:50 pm
Joe …as the saying goes…everyone has one and they usually ….. Johnny Maziel
May 15th, 2018 at 12:52 pm
@Demon… don’t we say that every offseason?
May 15th, 2018 at 1:12 pm
“6 or 7 wins and both Licht and Koetter will be back”
Kobe Faker
“Why Kobe, I thought you repeatedly post Klueless stinks”
The Buc Realist
“Klueless should have been fired end of last year. The reason Klueless will be back with 1 or 2 wins better than last years record is because the Glazers love Koetter. Doesnt matter what the fans think, it is still an improvement from a year ago. Kobe Faker can read minds and hearts”
Kobe Faker
May 15th, 2018 at 1:17 pm
A lot of jobs are riding on this season and the scheduling GODS didn’t give us any favors. If we kick @ss and get double digit wins then this staff including Licht deserve a long term deal.
May 15th, 2018 at 1:27 pm
If Koetter don’t win there will not be no Welcome back Koetter or Smith or Screech!!! Is that the right show or was that Ring The Bell!!! Anywho Just Win Babeee.
May 15th, 2018 at 2:01 pm
Sometimes reading the two Joe’s is like dealing with your bipolar neighbor. One Joe is obsessed with the oh so amusing that it never gets tiring [sarcasm] strikethroughs with hilarious gems like “underwear football” – hahahaha, and “Cleveland South” – hahahaha. This would seem to be the same one that attaches the monikers “AC/DC – loving general manager” – hey, it NEVER gets old! – and of course our favorite, “America’s QB Pro Bowler Jameis Winston”. That one always reminds me of “John Morgan of Morgan and Morgan” (I want them to hire just ONE more Morgan so he can say “Morgan” four times in one sentence).
Anyway, I think Licht survives unless there is unmitigated failure from nearly all of his acquisitions. I don’t think that’s going to happen.
May 15th, 2018 at 2:22 pm
I don’t think so this is not the same team as last year but I guess if that’s the logic we can expect Cleveland to go 0-16 again and be the first overall pick. Just like the team went 9-7 then updated the roster and got worse I doubt this year’s team will have the same results
May 15th, 2018 at 2:36 pm
Tony from Los Angeles is right.
If you base it on last years teams, the Bucs have the easiest schedule in the division. For some reason fans, but especially media seems to forget every year that teams in the NFL deviate substantially from year to year.
Who would’ve thought the Jags would have made it to the AFC Championship last year, or the Bills and Rams would’ve made the playoffs or the Eagles would’ve won the Super Bowl. Pretty much the only consist team year is the Patriots and to a lesser extent Pittsburgh.
May 15th, 2018 at 2:42 pm
Roger Trump and the NFL f#cking the Bucs over with a crappy schedule once again.
May 15th, 2018 at 3:07 pm
Being in a division with other pro football teams is just too tough for us.
May 15th, 2018 at 3:18 pm
where’s rhealist?
I bet he’s itching to give this staff a 2year pass just because smitty’s German shepherd has fleas…..
and the worst part about it, @rhealist is the bum who brought them over…lol…
I hope he’s somewhere buying new tmaxi pads and a new skirt!!!!!….real fan wont tolerate his skirt blowing up this year!!!!!!……
pull your skirt down or put your big boy pants on!!!!!!….simple as that!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
May 15th, 2018 at 3:30 pm
Well, for what it’s worth, the Vegas odds are in. And it doesn’t look pretty for the Bucs. They’re only favored to win in 3 games this coming season; at home against Cleveland in Week 7, at home against Washington in Week 10 and at home against Carolina in Week 13. And you all know how we play at home.
Of course these are just Vegas odds and those will certainly change and adjust as the teams play out their year. Let’s hope they’re way off. Because if our season ends up looking anything like that, it has to be time for Koetter to go. I think our team is absolutely loaded with talent. We can’t play games like we did last year.
May 15th, 2018 at 3:32 pm
#JIMSCHWARTZ2019….another successful Philly season and Jim will be the hottest potential headcoach for next year, especially after Josh McDaniels pulled that crap last year, of course the coaching search is a year too late, last year coaches look great, Matt Nagy, Mike Vrabel, Frank Reich, Pat Shurmur all would look better that Dork and press box Smitty which sounds like a bad reality show, and it’s bad
May 15th, 2018 at 3:38 pm
What Eric said…
May 15th, 2018 at 3:42 pm
If you want to be a playoff team then you have to beat playoff teams . Stop bitching about the “ brutal schedule “ .Fire the cannons!!!!!!
May 15th, 2018 at 4:19 pm
6-10
May 15th, 2018 at 4:32 pm
@Tony
I have been screaming fix the trenches since we wasted the first round pick on JW. Had we of traded down that year with the same results of this year, we would not be having this conversation. why is it that teams do not understand that if you bring in the best rookie QB and you cannot protect him, you are just wasting picks. JW was a luxury we could not afford. Evans was a luxury we could not afford. VH is a semi-bust and we drafted him no. 11. Going back further, We traded down for Mark Barron to get Doug Martin, to do that we passed on an all-pro linebacker. Think if we had concentrated on the trenches where we would be now.
May 15th, 2018 at 5:15 pm
I don’t know that the Bucs have to make the playoffs, or even have a winning record for Koetter and Licht to stay. I think it would take a total collapse for Licht to be gone (3-13 range). I think Koetter stays even if 7-9 or 8-8 as long as the team is improving and competitive. We are in the toughest division in the NFL, and going to be depending on some very young players at key positions. This team is still just starting to enter it’s prime with JW, Evans, OJ, Brate, Godwin, and the entire rookie class (promising rookie class I will add). I just think that the owners may have learned you have to have continuity or you are constantly rebuilding. I think Koetter has another year (2019) still to get this team to the playoffs, before they will fire him. DC Smith on the other hand is definitely on a very short leash.
May 15th, 2018 at 6:01 pm
So the futures odds are in? You can use those to forecast Vegas exact win expectation, a mean instead of a median (like the o/u win totals). I haven’t even looked at the numbers, but based on the win totals, I think Vegas likes what we did.
May 15th, 2018 at 6:03 pm
Pickgrin Says : Bucs have the talent to compete. No excuses.
AlteredEgo Says: Yep…they have enough talent for a a double digit win year
Tampabaybucfan Says: I tend to agree that Licht will not be fired……we have the talent to win. For the first time in a very long time we also have some depth.
Everyone is in agreement…”We have the talent”…. Coaching? Outside Buckner that’s a huge question mark.
May 15th, 2018 at 8:07 pm
@GhostofSchiano
I do not agree with that!!!!!!! They added talent, yes!! This should be the most talent we have seen on the Bucs in a long while, on paper!!!!!! But when you compare to the other teams in the division, the answer quickly becomes no!!!!!! Where does JW3 rank in the division!!!!! Ask NFL types where the Bucs roster ranks in the division???????? I have been on this site for almost 10 years and Joe always thinks this team is so loaded with talent!!!! I have never seen a super talented team have to do an emergency rebuild of a D-line in 1 year!!!!!!! In January, most where saying a total overhaul in the secondary!!!!! How many complained of all the holes on the roster, But now the roster is set with super talent!!!!!! No one has seen the team yet even practice!!!!!!! Maybe wait, watch and learn sheep!!!!!!!!!!
There is a lot gel together, and Like Ira said, they might not be done!!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 15th, 2018 at 8:36 pm
LOL… Offseason comments ares Always the best!
May 15th, 2018 at 9:06 pm
I’m tired of hearing about tough schedules. It’s all garbage. To win in the NFL you have to be able to beat good teams and on the road. If you want it, you have to put in the work which the Bucs rarely have done. To be the best you have to beat the best. Make other teams fear you. Take some risks. Koetter can be overly conservative and it’s time to throw caution to the wind. Get the job done. If Jameis chokes, put Fitz in and let him have a shot.
May 15th, 2018 at 9:08 pm
Talent?…
Defensive backs?…
None, No one including old man 9 games per year Grimes will start in any of the cornerback position in our division…
Absolutely No one
You sheep think brees and ryan cant easily short pass us to death…like taking candy from a baby
Ball will be out in less than 2 seconds with nonstop slants and screens
You guys have short memories…over 70% of completions up and down the field…
Where is poster lakeland at? You sheep is delusional
May 15th, 2018 at 9:11 pm
All this team needs is an average defense for 16 games….just average. Nothing spectacular, just solid. That’s all Jameis needs
May 15th, 2018 at 9:36 pm
Koetter will never master the quick slant. DeSean is so fast too. He can take a quick slant 50 yards.
May 16th, 2018 at 12:42 am
Licht will get an extension for sure and koetter is the hot seat guy. If he goes you know dang well Buckner will be the next head coach of the Bucs. He’s a true Jason Licht guy.