Fitz No. 6
July 4th, 2018
Ranked.
The Bucs season is in Ryan Fitzpatrick’s hands.
The Bucs need to at least win one game of their first three in order to stay alive for a playoff run. Since 1980, teams that start 0-3 have a 2.9 percent chance of making the playoffs.
Starting 0-3 means draft talk begins in September. Yeah, Cleveland South.
It seems Nate Davis of USA Today doesn’t believe the Bucs are all that bad off with Fitz. With America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, sentenced with a three-game suspension to open the 2018 season, Davis decided to rank all backup quarterbacks in the NFL.
Davis has Fitz at No. 6.
Fitzpatrick, set to enter his 14th season, went 2-1 last year while Winston ate only three Ws in 13 starts. Consistency has always been Fitzpatrick’s bugaboo, but he has posted a QB rating of 86.0 or better in three of the past four years and offers underrated mobility and smarts — but a touch of overconfidence in his limited arm.
Joe agrees that Fitz is a good backup. And Joe is eyeing Pittsburgh as an upset special (hopefully) because the Steelers defense is not near as good as what it was in recent years. Remember, the last time the Steelers took the field, that defense allowed Blake Bortles to complete 14-of-26 passes for 214 yards with a touchdown and no picks.
All Fitz has to do in three weeks is find a way to steal a win.
July 4th, 2018 at 8:20 am
We have enough talent to go 3-0. Fitz is a quality QB at his age, and should be able to use the speed and talent around him to score at least 28 a game. Defense needs to step up and take control for a change! Go Bucs
Hopefully Jameis sees the light, and can take this time to reflect on how he’s been selfish in his off field actions. I hope can change for the better.
July 4th, 2018 at 8:25 am
So is Joe saying that we have a good backup QB and a Bad starting QB????????
July 4th, 2018 at 8:25 am
I realize we need one win in the first 3 games to avoid the gruesome stats on playoffs….But, aren’t we setting the bar a bit low? Obviously, I’d like to be 3-0 but I believe it is not impossible for us to come out with 2 wins…..
NO is beatable early in the season even at home.
We are home against Phil and have some of their Dline….(perhaps a loss here)
Pitt on Monday night will be a war…..I agree that their D is not as strong and we can win that game.
July 4th, 2018 at 8:26 am
1-0
2-0
3-0
only way to think….well winners think that way…
July 4th, 2018 at 8:36 am
I don’t understand this talent talk…
We have a marginal offensive line, Marpet is good though.
Not much of a running game
And a below average secondary.
We have a solid defensive tackle rotation, one End that will get 8 sacks and one that gets 6.
We do have a lot of wideouts, tight ends and solid linebackers
But not much else
Jameis when playing is inconsistent and Fitz is a backup
6-10
July 4th, 2018 at 8:37 am
I would rather play these teams early in the season! Especially with Le’Veon Bell holding out all training camp and preseason(hopefully)
July 4th, 2018 at 8:38 am
Fits will be fine if he, like J-miss, avoids the boneheaded & costly turnovers!
July 4th, 2018 at 8:46 am
@Destinjohnny
The people that think that the “table is set” and that “they have too much talent” said the same thing after talk show host dominik was fired!!!!!!
Joe and the sheep have always overestimated the talent on the roster!!!!!!! And just because there is more talent than the past few years, does not mean anything!!!!! Its talent on roster vs the division!!!!!!!! Does anyone think that they are the most talented roster in the NFC South?????
And Tampabaybuc fan better wake up and smell the coffee!!!!!! Talking nonsense about playoffs and game 3 being a war!!!!!!!! Unless you are talking about who the new GM will be for 2019 with the “fresh start” and who to bring in to fix the QB debacle, you are just wasting time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 4th, 2018 at 8:57 am
I think the Joes are underestimating how much talent Licht has assembled on this team. With or without the groper significant upgrades have been made. If Fitz can be a game manager and not lose games for the Bucs, I actually think they can hold their own against any team in the league. If RJ starts off running the ball well, Fitz will have plenty of targets to throw to. The defense should be able to stop the run and provide a pass rush the secondary should show improvement as well. This is especially true if one or two of these rookie DBs play well. There are some ifs here, but the improved defensive line alone should make a big difference.
July 4th, 2018 at 9:04 am
Destin Johnny it is impossible to say how good the DBs are. They added 3 rookies in the offseason, brought Grimes back, and moved Hargreaves to nickel where he has played better. Regaradless, with absolutely zero pass rush last year it is impossible to say how good the secondary is. When QBs can simply wait until one of their recievers get open no CB has a chance. Deon Sanders and Revis in their primes would have looked bad last year playing behind that defensive line. I will give you the concerns about the offensive line. However, if they can run block we did get a dynamic RB in the draft who may actually be able to greatly improve the running game.
July 4th, 2018 at 9:19 am
We all suffer from battered fan syndrome. I agree with TBBF…we don’t have to set the bar so low.
It’s the N F L! As the late great Chris Thomas used to say NFL stands for No Freaking Logic. And as the league itself loves to promote and spend all it’s energy trying to achieve….”On any given Sunday”.
Nobody is suggesting you go out and bet the bank on the Buc’s first three games. But it’s ABSOLUTELY possible to win those games.
As many here have suggested, it’s probably not going to be Fitz who determines the outcome win or lose…it’s going to be that totally revamped defense. Are we as good on the field as on paper.
It’s going to be the OL and the running game. Of course one leads to the other…if we fix our OL and if ROJO is the real deal and Barber blossoms…
July 4th, 2018 at 9:25 am
Fitzpatrick it’s more like the 26th best back up QB. Thank God we upgraded the defense, o-line, and RB. So we still have a shot sy winning some of those 3 games.
July 4th, 2018 at 9:30 am
#6? As a backup? OK. Lets hope. At least he won’t turn the ball over like America’s Choir Boy – the turnover specialist – Go Fitz!!! Fine line between Fitzmagic and Fitztragic. Go Fitz!
July 4th, 2018 at 9:32 am
Gotta say. . . this is the NFL
I dont wanna hear any crying about winning 1 game out of the first 3
The goal IS and SHOULD be to win the fuh out of all of the games.
Anything less is just loser mentality – and we dont need that kinda crap around here.
GO BUCS!!!!
July 4th, 2018 at 9:47 am
@ Realist
You have gotten weird with your posts lately…..disjointed and confused….First you laud the coaching staff and now you are all negative….
And, we will see if I am right about the Pittsburgh game…..you think it will be a blowout….I think it will be a war….(are you Nostradamus)
As far as playoffs…..all I said was we keep looking at winning one game as a way to perhaps have a chance at playoffs….I am saying we should look at winning more than that if we are to even think of making the playoffs,
Sometimes I think you are one of these people who always disagree with everyone no matter what their opinion.
July 4th, 2018 at 9:48 am
“offers underrated mobility and smarts — but a touch of overconfidence in his limited arm.”
That description of Fitz is right on the money. As is the rating of 6th best backup QB in the league.
July 4th, 2018 at 10:38 am
@ Realist I don’t like/or prefer Chevy. For Fast food i go for the Whopper over the others. Point is if I prefer something over the alternative I spend my money and opinions on it. There’s 31 other teams in the NFL one could pull for and just maybe you ought to look into doing that
July 4th, 2018 at 10:42 am
If we beat New Orleans it should no longer be an upset to beat the Steelers oh except if you don’t work for the organization and you look at Providence records to determine who will do what the next year. For some reason I wasn’t as sold last year, not year sold this year I just expect winning
July 4th, 2018 at 10:57 am
Yes we have weaknesses. Newsflash: so does every other NFL team. IMO the time to beat the ‘good teams’ is early in the year while they’re still sorting things out (reference our game against the Pats last year, the SB runner-up). Bucs have a lot of new ‘parts’ that other teams will have to adjust to, just like our coaches will have to find a way to incorporate those new ‘parts’ into our scheme& tactics. 0-3 would be a disastrous start, but that should NEVER be the expectation. 3-0 is possible, 2-1 or 1-2 is probably more likely given the makeup & history of the teams we’re playing. Personally think we’ll win 1 game handily, lose 1 game handily, and 1 game will be a ‘could go either way’ game. Hopefully the Bucs come out on top in that one.
July 4th, 2018 at 11:28 am
It amazes me how people think that when/if Winston comes back the Bucs will start automatically start winning games. Bucs will just be changing from one average QB to another. Of course for Winston the schedule does get much easier
July 4th, 2018 at 11:59 am
We all know that Jameis Winston is emotionally and cognitively underdeveloped. He might have a breakout season in the later part of 2018, but we won’t see the “real” Jameis until the 2019 season.
From that point on, you will witness one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game.
We all also know that our best chance of racking up wins this season depends on an improved defense, and an improved running game.
Fitz is actually pretty smart. He has the talent to make plays, and the wisdom to avoid critical mistakes.
My prediction? Our defense will start the season absolutely on fire. They will be swarming in that first game. And Ronald Jones may break some sort of record.
We will slaughter the Saints with extreme prejudice.
The momentum from that first win should carry over and enable us to beat at least one of the teams from Pennsylvania.
We start 2-1.
GO BUCS
July 4th, 2018 at 2:49 pm
This is preposterous.
All the Bucs need to do is go 1-2?
Like they’re going to go 9-4 or 10-3 the rest of the way with a rusty Winston and 5 games left against the NFC South?
Fitz is solid. But the Bucs are one muscle tweak away from their season depending on the “other” Ryan.
Get another guy in to compete
And keep fixing the trenches and fixing the Bucs!!
July 4th, 2018 at 2:54 pm
We can beat the Saints, if defense is in sync and if Rojo is good
July 4th, 2018 at 3:50 pm
I’m calling a Bucs win over the Steelers also for the second time. Tomlin out after this year as the Reelers fail to reel in the playoffs. A stab in the dark perhaps.
July 4th, 2018 at 5:36 pm
stpetebucsfan Says:
“battered fan syndrome”
_________________________________
.. B.F.S. ..Classic!!! haha
July 5th, 2018 at 9:56 am
In college football you often know the outcome before the game. Alabama will beat SEC ‘rival” Kentucky 19 of 20 times. But in the NFL someone like the Steelers may only beat the Bucs 2 out of 3. There is no reason we can’t win 1 or 2 of our first 3..
July 5th, 2018 at 1:24 pm
With this many weapons on offense Leaf could score 35 points. When it comes to winning these first 3 games the offense isn’t what scares me. It’s our defense it all falls on. I feel a 2-1 start we will be over looked!!
July 6th, 2018 at 9:15 pm
We have Week 5 bye week. If Fitz can go 2-1, we should start him game 4.
July 6th, 2018 at 9:18 pm
^And if he can go 3-0, we need to start him the next five games and see what it looks like^