“I Didn’t Think It Was A Fluke”
September 13th, 2018
Suddenly smitten with Bucs.
Better make room people. Peter King is looking for a place to sit on the bandwagon.
A week ago, the Mike Florio-arguing, L.L. Bean-wearing, Second Amendment abolitionist, parrot-insensitive, chewing-with-his-mouth-open, soup-gulping, California train-romancing, anti-football proliferation, outhouse-admiring, airline-napping, steerage-flying, Yogi Berra-worshiping, urinal picture-taking, video game-playing, Taylor Swift-listening, pickpocket-thwarting, Bucs-uniform-frowning, Allie-LaForce-smitten, Big-Ten-Network-hating, pedestrian-bumping, olive oil-lapping, popcorn-munching, coffee-slurping, fried-chicken-eating, oatmeal-loving, circle-jerking, craft beer-chugging, cricket-watching, scone-loathing, college football-naïve, baseball-box-score-reading, NPR-honk, filthy-hotel-staying, fight-instigating, barista-training, social activist star of NBC Sports fame took to the airwaves of SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Radio to tell host Chris Russo that not only are the Bucs a sorry NFL team, but that Bucs coach Dirk Koetter should thank his lucky stars each night that Chucky wanted to go to California.
Now? King is one big win away from driving the Bucs’ bandwagon down Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.
In his weekly appearance with Russo on Tuesday, King regaled listeners with tales of the Bucs being a reborn franchise after a “shocking” 48-40 win over the Saints in New Orleans.
No, King said, the Bucs may not be a “fluke.”
Chris “Mad Dog” Russo: I’m telling you if [Ryan] Fitzpatrick keeps playing like this, [Jameis] Winston is never going to play again. Who saw that coming with last year the Saints defense being pretty good, much improved and he puts 48 points on the board? How good is that for Ryan Fitzpatrick and that’s a big win for Dirk Koetter as well. How big of a win is that in New Orleans for the Buccaneers?
Peter King: It was a shocking win to I think everybody but them. … I talked to Ryan Fitzpatrick after the game and he said, “I’m just telling you I saw this coming all along with our explosive players.” And it isn’t just Mike Evans. Look at DeSean Jackson’s speed. Look at O.J. Howard who is such a strong tight end and can really make plays, not just as a tight end would make but a big wide receiver would make. And, and I think they’ve got two or three other young guys who are very good young players. And to me, I think they are not shocked by it. And I think what is going to be really really interesting to me Chris is Philadelphia at Tampa. Now DeSean Jackson is in concussion protocol. If he doesn’t play my opinion will change. I have never, ever — I am not anyway a big gambler or anything like that. But I will just say this: Tampa Bay, I do not think, is a one-week wonder. I think they have a line that can protect the quarterback and again, they faced a good pass rush the other day and Ryan Fitzpatrick consistently had time. So I am watching that game the other day and I didn’t think it was a fluke. Beautiful passes thrown by Fitzpatrick, good routes run, they’ve got good skill players. I think they are an interesting little team and you are right. Look, nobody knows anything. They’ve got Philly and Pittsburgh the next two weeks. Both of which are formidable, formidable foes. I look at those two games and you are not going to know anything about who is going to play quarterback in Week 4 until those games are played because he could lapse back into who he was — Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Joe is trying to keep a level head here for a variety of reasons. First is the annual Bucs Week 2 rollover. Just when the Bucs seem to have their act together with a season-opening win, they get curb-stomped the following week.
Only three times in the post-Chucky era have the Bucs won the second game of the season.
So if one is to combine recent history with the Bucs relying on two rookies and Ryan Smith at corner and the Bucs still relying on a backup quarterback to face the Super Bowl champions, it looks to be a daunting task.
September 13th, 2018 at 9:14 am
We were “supposed” to go 0-3 according to all the “experts” and a significant % of JBF posters.
That ain’t going to happen and so we’re now playing with house money. Win one of the next three games to set up JW in Atlanta to take us to the playoffs.
Right now Philly looks as beatable as the other two…although Pittsburgh without Leveon Bell at home might also be ripe…Chicago in Soldier Field actually scares me more than the first two.
But imagine…if Fitz can win just ONE more game out of those three…JW gets to start the core of our season at 2-2 with an important game at Atlanta against a division rival. JW will have almost three full weeks to prepare if he doesn’t play in the Chicago game because of the bye week that follows. Our rookie CB’s will have three more games against great competition…hopefully Vea and Grimes begin to heal…
One more win and we should all convert to optimists. Can Fitz just get ONE more?
September 13th, 2018 at 9:15 am
WOW….people are too ready to boot Jameis. Not saying he’s innocent or guilty, just saying it’s over something that happened two and a half years ago smh…Handle your biz Jaboo and be ready come wk 4/6…
September 13th, 2018 at 9:22 am
If the NFL is worried about Fitzpatrick blowing up and taking the league by storm just wait until jameis is back.lol
September 13th, 2018 at 9:23 am
I with Fitz and King… I saw the possibility to score 40plus most games but was worried about execution. I could never understand last year why we we averaging 20 points a game. This week will be tougher because it will be harder to protect Fitz and give him time. Just too many weapons to only score 20 a game. Fitz dida great job of making a quick decision and putting the ball where the reciever could YAC.
@Diesel… JW is 100% guilty of holding on to the ball too long and making the reciever adjust to the ball and not being accurate enough. Hopefully he will be better
September 13th, 2018 at 9:29 am
Fitzpatrick became just the fourth QB in NFL history with at least 400 pass yards, four TDs and zero INTs in a Week 1 performance (Drew Brees in 2016; Peyton Manning in 2013; Phil Simms in 1984).
I still think Jameis does better than Fitz in the Long Run, because people aren’t realizing that this is the new Bucs Offense going forward.
We as Bucs fans have seen this in the making for years now, and have been patiently waiting for the explosion, which just so happened to come when Fitz was playing.
We will score 40 aout 4 or 5 more times IMO. (With Jameis as QB)
September 13th, 2018 at 9:30 am
And Jameis was at the helm of one of those wins against Nawleans!
September 13th, 2018 at 9:33 am
@miken…maybe Jamies was the victim of terrible play calling. I am careful to just anoint Fitz as the best option. JW was a first round pick for a reason. I would like to see how JW operates with the better play calling. If it is anything like his play in preseason, then this team is dangerous on offense
September 13th, 2018 at 9:35 am
I’ll tell you what, 1 more win and NOBODY on the planet will be calling the BUCS a fluke!!!
I for one believe they CAN and WILL win at HOME.
That’s what good ball clubs do, and Tampa is a good team!!!
September 13th, 2018 at 9:37 am
The Jets ans Bucs had great wins, but I’m not sold on either.
It’s only one game
I buy and sell in November
September 13th, 2018 at 9:38 am
*and
September 13th, 2018 at 9:39 am
It really is simple. Beat Philly’s pass rush with a Brees like plan. Lots of short passes. Crossing routes, dump offs etc. Forget the deep ball that they have film on now. Also because their pass rush is more advanced than NO’s. Remember that between Curry and Allen we have some inside info on the Iggles.
September 13th, 2018 at 9:40 am
BEAT PHILLY!
September 13th, 2018 at 9:43 am
Shaun O’Hara ranked Tampa Bay’s O Line as a Top 5 club after last week.
Please step up and Dominate this week guys.
I wanna see Fitz back it up!!!!!!!
September 13th, 2018 at 9:49 am
“…Just when the Bucs seem to have their act together with a season-opening win, they get curb-stomped the following week.”
No truer words were ever spoken. Focus Bucs, Focus
September 13th, 2018 at 9:53 am
Looking room for the bandwagon???? That path is well worn with the “so-called fans” and sheep that will be on and off again at least 8 times this season!!!!!!!!!!!!
#trust the coaches!!!!!! Fix the “real” problem!!!! The roster!!!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!
September 13th, 2018 at 9:53 am
I don’t want to win these first 3 games I want to demolish them all. I also like the underdog mentality going into that saints game, we have some nothing to earn respect because that comes from being a consistent playoff team so I’m praying they don’t get full of themselves before that happens.
If Fitz was 5 years younger Winston would be outta here but I’m sure these guys knows what the potential quarterback pool looks like for draft prospects and possible free agents, will there be anyone out there better than Winston I highly doubt it and you don’t but a guy that young for an aged journeyman qb
September 13th, 2018 at 9:57 am
@cspan… i am certainly not annoiting fitz. He is was he is …. a crafty vet that we are lucky to have, but just a back up. One thing jw as always been is prone to hold on to the ball, make poor decisions, inaccurate at times and turn the ball over. Now some of that is, he tries to do to much and has so much athletic ability he can make a huge play out of nothing but unfortunately, he can take a great play and make it average or bad. I’m not really going to say JW is a victim. Dirk got the job because of the spots he put jw in. Then he just needed help at we got him more weapons than any other team. then he needed better running, then better o line, then better d, then the suspension wasn’t his fault, then the suspension at fsu was only bc he was young, then publix was just dumb stuff, then not disclosing uber wasn’t that bad, then this , then that. Just done with excuses and all I’ve heard about Jameis is, ifyougive him great weapons, a great d , a good run game, a great oc, good kicking, and great o line – then he will be great. Well damn, so would every other qb, but just without the fumbles, bone head plays and off field stuff.
Fitz is nothing but short term and i think JW has finaly turned the corner, and this week could be our toughest match up of the year. Bucs 20, Phily 17 (maybe)
September 13th, 2018 at 10:01 am
@billy
Sure I see what you’re saying. New offense, same skill player, same Winston though. We saw on the pre season how careless he can STILL be with the football. I forget which game exactly, but the Bucs were in the end zone, Winston literally had a guy hanging off of him, still threw it. Granted he got lucky and scored anyway but that’s my point. None of the improvements on offense matter if he is still forcing passes.
September 13th, 2018 at 10:08 am
Im not sure Fitz can replicate those numbers. But Im also not sure if our defense will look quite as vulnerable, not going against Drew Brees in his house should certainly help.
Basically what might work one week might not the next. We wont have perfect conditions under a dome. Its going to be hot, humid and pribsbly a little ugly. We’re going to have to get down and dirty with a very physical team on Sunday.
September 13th, 2018 at 10:42 am
I don’t think that the team’s 3 wins in their 2nd game since Gruden era is significant. Since that time, the Bucs overall have a 51-94 record, or .352 win percentage. That is about on par for winning 3 of 10 games in any given week. I think we’re all ready to see the team turn it around.
It’s also only been one week. Everyone who is jumping on/off a bandwagon at this point, deciding who our quarterback will be from their couch, or saying anyone is a playoff team right now, needs to chill.
September 13th, 2018 at 10:49 am
Man Desean Jackson needs to suit up
September 13th, 2018 at 10:59 am
JBoo who???? The clown show is headed to Canada 🇨🇦
September 13th, 2018 at 11:14 am
SPBF, totally agree! I’ve been spouting the same logic ever since the “QB Controversy” reared its ugly head.
September 13th, 2018 at 11:34 am
King can hang from deez nut$…. boy Joe this site is so damn negative, I mean about everything to… click click click click that’s what it’s about these days. You could say switch blogs! Well it’s like they say we roll with what we got, and so we read what we got until the next man is up. Tampa is not big enough to have competition where you have freelancers that hooked up with some pretty good advertisers to pay the bills. Many of us got sucked in years ago and then it’s like the last few years you guys have just loaded piles of $hit on top of piles of $hit with the negativity
September 13th, 2018 at 11:37 am
Pete King….man I thought that was Pete Rose.
September 13th, 2018 at 12:03 pm
4-0 at the bye
September 13th, 2018 at 3:55 pm
nogodeep.66 the kkklown show came to joebucsfan.com the day you started posting
September 13th, 2018 at 3:55 pm
Peter King is a D****e