“The Lost Decade”
September 1st, 2018
Savior?
Joe is pretty confident just about any Bucs fan knows the team hasn’t been in the playoffs since Chucky was jettisoned from One Buc Palace.
It is pretty disgusting. In fact, internationally popular JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman refers to the playoff drought as “The Lost Decade.”
One reason for the lost decade was, until this past offseason, the Bucs for over 10 years simply ignored the defensive end position. When the team did address the position, it was almost always with an average player hoping he would blow up (and instead, each one imploded). or the Bucs reached in the draft.
The one time the Bucs did have a good pass-rushing defensive end, some dime store Bill Parcells thought it best that this defensive end walk away for no good reason.
Yes, Joe is referring to Michael Bennett.
Insightful Chase Stuart of FootballPerspective.com doesn’t believe the Bucs being docked in Buccaneers Cove (last place in the NFC South) for seven of the past nine years and not having a decent edge rusher is a coincidence.
It’s been over a decade since the Jets or Bucs have had a real edge rusher capable of big sack seasons… no other team is close. Remarkable that two teams could go so long while lacking at second most important position (and it’s not like either have hit home runs at QB, either)
— Football Perspective (@fbgchase) September 1, 2018
Joe is so hoping that finally the Bucs may have solved this issue with the signing of Jason Pierre-Paul and bringing in rising defensive line coach Brentson Buckner.
As Hall of Fame general manager Bill Polian once said on SiriusXM NFL Radio, if a team cannot pressure the quarterback, that team has “no shot” to hold a lead in the fourth quarter.
September 1st, 2018 at 8:07 am
Fun Fact. Buc’s have also not reached the playoffs in any season that Joebucsfan.com has existed.
September 1st, 2018 at 8:08 am
Savior? Joe(s) blaspheme….I thought they declared Jameis “The Savior”….
September 1st, 2018 at 8:09 am
Fun Fact #2. The Bucs made the Playoffs the previous year before Joebucfan.com launched.
September 1st, 2018 at 8:17 am
Cannot wait to see the d . Facts it will be better then last year . Multiple games could of been won with a little bit of defense or many some field goals . At least 5 games last year alone
September 1st, 2018 at 8:22 am
https://youtu.be/Ssnw2GA657s
September 1st, 2018 at 8:24 am
Fun fact….. why not have the Bucs trade for Khalil Mack? That would instantly transform the Bucs D-Line from the worst sack leaders to the best. HE IS OUR SIMEON RICE!!!! I’d give Oakland whatever they wanted for him even throw in a Desean Jackson to sweaten the deal.
September 1st, 2018 at 8:25 am
Cant all be on JPP. Hes had a great preseason but his best days are behind him and others – looking at you Noah Spence – need to step up
September 1st, 2018 at 8:25 am
Love the JPP & Curry signings, but starting the year without Vea or Unrein against 3 pretty good offenses could be problematic (hopefully either Vea or Mitch comes back by 9 Sep). Not expecting very much in the way of sacks or QB pressure from Gholston or Spence unfortunately (hope JPP & Curry hold up).
September 1st, 2018 at 8:26 am
Had schiano had a mid level nfl qb he would have had this team in the playoffs for a few years, the defense was tough then but schiano was too mean for the nflers on the roster
September 1st, 2018 at 8:28 am
Fun fact #3 Joebucsfan.com is not GM or a positions coach because if they where we would’ve never released Bennet and would of definitely not drafted Aguayo.
September 1st, 2018 at 8:37 am
Defense Rules Says
“Love the JPP & Curry signings, but starting the year without Vea…”
I have a feeling Vea will suddenly be upgraded to questionable or better for game one.
Toughest three game stretch in NFL history calls for out of the box planning. Surprising the Saints is the name of this game. The Bucs showed nothing of what they will really be like in the preseason.
I think that is by design.
September 1st, 2018 at 8:39 am
Okay jpp gets dinged….
If he is healthy is he a 10 sack guy?
Jason just doesn’t draft ends
September 1st, 2018 at 8:40 am
SchwiftyBuc did a great job with the Fun Facts. The rest of you? Not so much. LOL
September 1st, 2018 at 8:42 am
Destinjohnny, he will draft a Defensive End or two over the next year or so. Just like with the oline, he went tackle first.
September 1st, 2018 at 8:46 am
@Bonzai … “Toughest three game stretch in NFL history calls for out of the box planning. Surprising the Saints is the name of this game.” Only 1 way to surprise the Saints Bonzai … Punch them in the face then step on their throats while they’re trying to figure out what hit them. Smashmouth football NEVER goes out of style.
(BTW, Sean Payton & Drew Brees have been around for a little while. You don’t get to last as long as they have by allowing other teams to sneak up on you unawares.)
September 1st, 2018 at 8:53 am
Gosh, you think they would put Vea out there like that? I know that a rookie has been playing football most of their life but there’s something to be said about the need to take snaps in a real football game, even if it’s only the pre-season.
September 1st, 2018 at 8:53 am
Wow!
Khalil Mack to Bears!!!
September 1st, 2018 at 8:54 am
I agree. The Payton and Brees duo is one of the best coach/qb duos in NFL history. There is, quite literally, nothing the Bucs can do to surprise either of them.
September 1st, 2018 at 8:57 am
Gruden being Gruden. I’m so glad he did not become the head coach of the Buccaneers. Gruden never having a conversation with Mack doesn’t surprise me at all.
The Bears made the move the Bucs should have made.
September 1st, 2018 at 9:01 am
Bucs in 20 yr rebuild mode, mack doesnt fit the buc way
September 1st, 2018 at 9:05 am
Just heard Josh Robinson was released. I’m not sure if that is true.
September 1st, 2018 at 9:05 am
I like the upgrades we’ve made on the D line. Although I think Vea will take a year or two to grow into his role. We should be better getting to opposing QB’s this season.
Just saw the Mack to Bears trade. Now would be a good time to call Chicago and swing a trade for RB Ryan Nall. I’m more worried about our runners at this point. Barber looks to be solid, but we lack solid depth and Jones May take some time to “get it”. We definitely need another quality RB or 2 on the roster.
Won’t be surprised to see the Bucs add another RB this afternoon.
September 1st, 2018 at 9:07 am
There is an anecdotal trend in the NFL that gives me some hope for those first three games.
Most of the really good teams do not come out firing on all cylinders. They get steadily better as the season progresses and by playoff time they are firing on all cylinders. This IMHO is one of the reasons we shoulda coulda beat the Pats. We caught them early.
Philadelphia is a bit of a wild card for me because of their QB situation and the fact they put together one good season…N.O. and Pittsburgh are generally consistent teams of quality although N.O. has had their share of difficulties as well.
I’ll be curious to see the lines for these games…remembering it’s not what the experts believe but what Vegas hopes divides the betting group right down the middle. The lines will reflect what the rest of the “betting” nation thinks of us.
September 1st, 2018 at 9:10 am
So now the most inept franchise in professional sports is counting on a DUMBARSE that blew his own hand up to be a savior. So based on that logic might as well bring in pee wee herman at qb until jameis the true savior returns.
September 1st, 2018 at 9:18 am
Khalil Mack going to Bears 🐻?? Imagine him behind JPP
September 1st, 2018 at 9:20 am
Does the Bears game look different now????? Does this change the JW3 should come in after a month off to the new bears pass rush???????
How many saviors were labeled here in Buc land and turned out to be false prophets!!!!!!!!! The “real” fans know that the Bucs need football players and not all of these so-called saviors!!!!!!!!!! And what would fans rather see, JPP getting 10 sacks or all D-line Starters with 6 sacks a piece!!!!!!!!!!
GO Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 1st, 2018 at 9:26 am
To bad the Bears got Mack from the Raiders! Thought the Bucs should have gone after Mack.
September 1st, 2018 at 9:28 am
Yes, per Jenna Laine, Robinson is Kaput. Great special teams player but one trick pony.
September 1st, 2018 at 9:28 am
I don’t ever remember Micheal Bennett ever sniffing double digits sacks in Tampa except his contact year and please stop referring to a football player as the savior. Jpp doesn’t have to have 10+ sacks to make the playoffs the media is pushing that narrative for a story to write about
It’s bad enough every well we have to read about it then when someone finally does it we’ll have to hear about how long it took who did it and if they can do it again.
The only stat fans care about are wins, it’s you who wants sacks, pressures that force opposing quarterbacks into turnovers are much better unless it’s a sack fumble
September 1st, 2018 at 9:31 am
Oh “Rock Star” Dominik attempted to address the D-Line in back to back drafts with Gerald McCoy, Brian Price, Adrian Clayborn and DaQuan Bowers. It’s just a shame poor Rock Star wasn’t very good at evaluating talent.
Along came Jason Licht Christ and, well basically another half decade ofthe same, except Jason didn’t even try to address the D-Line beyond a single Noah Spence until Licht Christ’s fifth year at the Helm.
Gee guys, I can’t understand why this team isn’t in the playoffs every year with so much talent acquisition! 😂
September 1st, 2018 at 9:34 am
Tom S right on bucs need a legit president or GM that knows how to build a winning franchise, like guy they have now in cleveland dorsey
September 1st, 2018 at 9:55 am
When it comes to grading Licht or any GM we all blow smoke up our own butts.
Nate Silver is perhaps the most respected analyst around today with his site FiveThirtyEight. He does everything from politics to NFL by analyzing the numbers objectively and dispassionately. Here is a piece from him that basically points out with FACTS that the draft is pretty much a crap shoot which NO GM gets right consistently.
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/no-team-can-beat-the-draft/
Yet despite so many people trying to “beat the market,” no single actor can do it consistently. Abnormal returns are likely due to luck, not skill. But that hasn’t stopped NFL executives from behaving with the confidence of traders.
While some veteran general managers were able to sustain positive returns above average over six or more years, even theirs were not unqualified success stories. Along with former Green Bay Packers GM Ron Wolf, ex-San Diego Chargers GM A.J. Smith and ex-Indianapolis Colts GM Bill Polian were the three best drafting executives in our data set on a per-pick basis. But as Pro-Football-Reference’s Stuart notes, despite Smith and Polian’s track records, both were fired from their posts after a series of poor drafts.
September 1st, 2018 at 10:39 am
Whether a GM hits more or less than average in the draft it all comes down to the same thing wins and losses.
A GM like anyone can hit above or below the average based purely on draft picks however roster construction is as much about the realization that hitting on a left tackle, or defensive end is far more valuable than trading up in the second round for a kicker.
It’s the importance on winning inside-out football starting with line play and not trying to build the best wide receiver corp in the NFL so Ryan Fitzpatrick can throw deeper interceptions. There is a value to building a roster and hiring the right coaches, Jason Licht and Mark Dominik have proven to do neither very well. There’s a reason why the Browns do Browns things and the Bucs are the Bucs. Unless we think the Culverhouse years or the previous lost decade was pure random chance.
September 1st, 2018 at 10:56 am
Tom S
Great points. Since we know all GM’s have winners and losers in the draft..that’s not where they should be judged.
But putting a team together is far different than simply having successful drafts.
You have to succeed at the right positions and structure the team properly.
September 1st, 2018 at 11:52 am
When Chucky was let go it wasnt far from the time the Glazers had bumped up their $$ into Manchester United, making the Bucs heir red-headed stepchild.
The fish stinks beginning at the top. And it seems they never have done much to prove anything has changed. Bringing in Raheem Morris was a joke, Schiano an experiment, Lovie a wish sandwich and Koetter another experiment.
JP Paul may be the 1st real FAgent other than Safety Ward that could be a game changer. But Ward was not effective which may have been scheming. Sigh.
September 1st, 2018 at 12:11 pm
@El_Buc94
Yeah if JBF was gm we wouldn’t have Mike Evans because they would’ve have drafted Johnny Manziel.
September 1st, 2018 at 12:21 pm
Schiano’s defense was not tough. Gimme a break.
It was only good against the run, and that was because we had the WORST secondary every fielded in the NFL.
You don’t remember the ‘fearsome foursome’?
September 1st, 2018 at 12:43 pm
Cobraboy pointed out on another thread the cost of Jon Gruden.
2 #1’s and 2 second rounders….he did get the SB so most think it was worth it….but there is the birth of your lost decade. That’s a future talent drain that’s hard to overcome especially when that trade brought zero talent back.
The Bears have given up 2#1’s for Mack but at least they got a great player in return.
September 1st, 2018 at 1:22 pm
JPP is only here to pick up a check in his final stop in his NFL career. Veterans have been doing this to the Bucs Organization for a few years and the GM simply lets it happen. We need to be able to draft and develop our own players. Although When it comes to the draft the letters GM stands for Guess Master.
September 1st, 2018 at 1:37 pm
Reality-
If Pee Wee Herman was qb while Jameis was out, RayJay would sell out and TV ratings would be through roof
September 1st, 2018 at 6:55 pm
I hope everyone is watching next year’s first round draft pick, Will Grier. Will the Thrill!!!
September 2nd, 2018 at 10:46 am
“The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have selected Will Grier from the University of West Virginia”. It’s coming