Bucs Not Turned Off (Yet)
November 7th, 2018
Update.
If the Bucs are trying to give America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston a test, thus far he’s passing.
Heavy metal headbanging Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reports the Bucs, behind closed doors, are happy with the way Jameis has handled Bucs Bit-O-Honey snacking coach Dirk Koetter dragging the flag down to half-mast, and instead starting journeyman backup Ryan Fitzpatrick.
The team has been very impressed with how Winston has handled his demotion, sources said, and believe he is working hard to try to correct the decision-making errors that have led him to turn the ball over at an alarming rate. With all they have invested in him, and with his 2019 fifth-year option guaranteed for injury only, the front office is hopeful of getting another chance to evaluate him this season. …
Winston is not being viewed as damaged goods at this point and the team made a point to reach out to him this week to explain that they still believe he can be a quality starting quarterback in this league, sources said. The success of his selection will have major ramifications on the future of head coach Dirk Koetter and general manager Jason Licht
The way La Canfora is angling his story, it almost reads like the Bucs have decided they will start Jameis again at some point this season.
Whether the team is fully aware that three more losses and this season is toast of that they believe Jameis will give the Bucs a boost to win more games is unclear.
November 7th, 2018 at 9:05 am
I said it when they benched him. that he will start again this year……
feel free to quote me. yer welcome
November 7th, 2018 at 9:17 am
Ever notice Matt Ryan’s worst interceptions years were with Dirk K. as his O.C.
November 7th, 2018 at 9:18 am
Ryan Fitzpatrick threw 4 TD passes last game.
November 7th, 2018 at 9:33 am
We should either try for Derek Carr from Raiders, 2 first rounders
for a known steady qb is good value, or try and get Mariota
if the Titans are willing to trade, the pick we should have made.
Can’t be any worse than our turnover machine JayMiss, leopards
don’t change their spots !
November 7th, 2018 at 9:41 am
Lol, 2 first for Carr. That was a joke right…..
November 7th, 2018 at 9:47 am
It’s either Winston or FitzTragic
Or maybe it’s the system
November 7th, 2018 at 9:52 am
…………..what a bunch of crap by saying “The team has been very impressed….”………blah blah blah
Ask yourself this BUCS fans,…….. why should anyone be impressed at all??????
Do they expected him to implode?????????
Of course not, he won’t……because he’s trying to GET PAID and I can guarantee you his agent told him to be on the best behavior
November 7th, 2018 at 9:53 am
Seriously the intelligence of Bucs fans is horrendous. Yesterday JP Peterson had something about who should be the next coach and people are saying we should go after coaches who are already a HC of an NFL team and have 0 chance of leaving. One idiot even suggested Mike Tomlin for HC John Lynch for GM and Rhonde Barber for DC…….. Is the water really that bad in the bay area where people thinl that is an option?
Now you have these two brain cells playing hide n seek with each other suggesting we trade for Carr or Mariota? Whatvthe hell makes you think that is even a plausible idea? Some of you “fans” are almost bad enough to want to root for another team so I’m not guilty by association.
November 7th, 2018 at 9:58 am
And that’s why they elected him team captain…
November 7th, 2018 at 9:59 am
anthem nailed it
for 20 million he and most would kiss some serious a$$
he doesn’t deserve ANY guarantees at this point. tough spot for the Bucs.
November 7th, 2018 at 10:01 am
Jameis has more class than any glazer or the tampa2 has-beens piling on. stay calm young man and you can escape the black hole. no one takes bucs organization seriously. winston will get his chance and collect super bowls while bucs collect choirboy scum like gmc and basement titles.
jameis will get the last laugh….. everyone always laughs at bucs. even the super bowl year they did not get taken seriously… always pretenders under dungy the clown and lucky under gruden for one year. simple as that. there is a reason that overrated defense is never discussed with the greats like ravens or bears. bucs are a joke 1 good year in 42 will confirm that joke….
Ted Bundy is a better role model for team than any of the buc has-beens…. at least bundy was a finisher…. those tampa 2 has beens were 1 dimensional pretenders who choked in post season.
November 7th, 2018 at 10:02 am
I watch the Titans the other night. Mariota is not a better QB than Winston. He just has…smarter coaching and play calling.
November 7th, 2018 at 10:04 am
You’ve got to be kidding me. 2 firsts for Carr? How about we give jameis another shot in a different system first. With his off field past the team would even be able to lock him up with a team friendly deal if he succeeds. If not you draft Tua in 2020. 20 mil is a small price to pay to see if a QB on the roster is your guy.
November 7th, 2018 at 10:05 am
I’m still sticking to the fact that JW is a top 5 Qb…… Just plays for a terrible team.
November 7th, 2018 at 10:07 am
Mariota……. God that kid would be in traction if he had to play behind that Buc O-line. He is fragile as china behind that Titan OL which is probably superior to the Bucs line….. Carr: he will probably have as much confidence as his brother David Carr after going 1-15 in Oakland and getting hammered game after game. Heck there was a rumor that the kid broke down sobbing in a loss for the raiders earlier this year so I’d take a pass on both Mariota and baby Carr….
November 7th, 2018 at 10:08 am
The Bucs have idiot owners so they will probably guarantee America’s Turnover 25 million over 4 years by the end of the year.
November 7th, 2018 at 10:08 am
Yes, I imagine these two weeks he will fix the inaccuracies and poor decision making. Easy stuff that takes no time at all if anyone has tried. All the while running before sunrise with a parachute on his back.
November 7th, 2018 at 10:09 am
Lamarcus has a point, either Fitz or JW would look a helluva lot better playing in a balanced offense that has a decent run game and a solid OL, this Bucs roster is just thin and below average thanks to poor GMs since McKay got chased up to Atlanta by Chuckie….
November 7th, 2018 at 10:12 am
How many QB’s survived getting two coaches fired in less than 4 years? One Buc Palace could also write history by paying America’s Turnover Machine 25 million per year over 4 years for getting 2 HC’s fired in 4 years. #OnlyTheGlazers
November 7th, 2018 at 10:12 am
jameis will most likely get one more shot to lead this team under a new regime…a new coach generally gets a pass the first year….therefore, the new coach has a full season working with winston to evaluate and decide if he’s the guy who can lead them…so dirk will be gone…not jameis…
they just need to reel jameis in a bit, hope he matures, and becomes a bit more of just a game manager…
the happy place for jameis is somewhere in between a game manager and a gunslinger…he is clearly not there yet…
he is an emotional quarterback too…which is a huge problem
November 7th, 2018 at 10:16 am
JW just needs to stop trying so hard. You’re our quarterback. You don’t have to put the team on your back every freaking weekend. Just play within the offense, take what the defense gives you and punting doesn’t mean failing. The Patriots have won games without Mr. Brady throwing for four touchdowns and 400 yards. There is no “I” in team and no man is an island. Just chill, baby. Go ‘Bucs.
November 7th, 2018 at 10:16 am
The only hope I have for the Bucs and what will bring me back next season is Jameis. If the Glazers give up on him before trying new coaching then I’m done. I say we at least try new coaching and do his fifth year option before giving up. It makes the most sense right now because their is nobody worth selecting in this years draft at QB. Next year if all else fails then select a QB in that draft. Go Bucs! Go Jameis! I’m rooting for you to be successful as a BUC!
November 7th, 2018 at 10:22 am
Damaged goods. Accuracy is paramount in today’s two hand touch NFL. If you throw an accurate pass it’s almost impossible for defensive backs to defend it with the rules the way they are.
Newsflash: Jameis Winston us not an accurate passer. His throwing motion and bad feet wont allow him to be. Pitching made sure of that.
November 7th, 2018 at 10:24 am
Also the proof is in the pudding not many players are progressing under Koetter in fact most have regressed at every position. I was talking to an Atlanta fan at my work and he said how they couldn’t stand predictable Koetter when he was with them. Koetter almost destroyed Matt Ryan. So yes try new coaching first please with this team. Oh and those ones saying Lovie was a different coach remember Koetter was still here as the OC.
November 7th, 2018 at 10:28 am
Imo, Winston didn’t have much of an off-season… look at all the reps he missed during training camp, during preseason games, and the first three games of the season
Yess these were issues that he brought upon himself but you you can’t expect him to come back and not be rusty or second-guessing himself…
Personally I still believe in Jameis and I don’t believe a rookie quarterback or any quarterback for that matter can come into this franchise and have much success until we fix all the other issues
November 7th, 2018 at 10:29 am
LAKELAND
its coaching and scheme not talent and players……
we fired the DC, kept the scheme and things havent changed…..
we changed QB’s twice this season and things havent changed…..
smittys defensive scheme was outdated and dirks 4vert scheme is outdated….
both lack creativity….both lacked physicality….neither coach could develop players…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!
November 7th, 2018 at 10:30 am
SteelStudBuc Says:
“Ryan Fitzpatrick threw 4 TD passes last game.”
~~~~~~~~~
Correct, and Jameis threw 4 TD passes in Atlanta.
November 7th, 2018 at 10:38 am
Cam has NEVER been an accurate passer
That’s why Carolina drafted C-MAC, DJ Moore, Curtis Samuels
Speedy players that can take short passes the distance
And they hired Norv Turner as OC and his son as QB coach
Cam is not throwing into coverage anymore
He’s taking what the defense give him
He’s completing 67.3% of his passes
He has a 59.1% career rate
15 TD, 4 INT
November 7th, 2018 at 10:41 am
Dave Says
“Ever notice Matt Ryan’s worst interceptions years were with Dirk K. as his O.C.”
As easy as it seems to be to blame Koetter for everything, he is not Jameis Winston’s Offensive Coordinator. Todd Monken is.
November 7th, 2018 at 10:48 am
Norv Turner is calling plays that fit Cam strengths
Cam is not throwing the ball 50 yards up the field anymore
C-MAC is his leading receiver
And they are averaging 144 YDS/G rushing, 5.2 YPC
November 7th, 2018 at 10:48 am
If JW gets another start this year (other than due to injury to Fitz) then this entire regime IS gone. If they bring back JW after benching him, it just shows how poor the management of this team is and how clueless the team is.
JW is not a good QB he is what he is and maybe a change of scenery will be good for him. He has lost the locker room (it is clear even on TV the guys play harder for Fitz) JW has lost much of the local fan base, both from on and of the field actions. It is time to let him go and accept he is not our QB of the future.
That said, Fitz needs to be our starter so long as we are mathematically in the playoff chase. (there is slim to no chance of this team winning a playoff game if by some miracle they sneak into the last playoff spot) That will give Koeter and Licht the best chance of retaining their jobs.
Once mathematically out of the playoffs, it is time to play Griffin and see what he is. The Saints had hopes he would eventually take over for the old man Brees.
November 7th, 2018 at 10:51 am
Wow now we have genius claiming to trade for carr or the brittle man Mariota? You do know Mariota has more turnovers than games played right? Or does that only count with Jameis? Mariota would be on IR by week 2 with this offensive line. Man some Bucs fans are as smart as a roll of tape.
November 7th, 2018 at 10:56 am
LOL- still trying to get Mariota, SMDH!!
November 7th, 2018 at 11:00 am
Jameis should be starting now. Koetter is only sealing his own fate by not starting Jameis. If Koetter can’t win with Jameis then he will be gone at the end of the year.
November 7th, 2018 at 11:02 am
If/when Winston returns…I hope it’s with Dirk down the road and Monken promoted to interim head coach. Unlikely as the Bros. Glazer don’t work that way…but may give Winston a bit of a “reset”. Dirk’s done…probably want to return to Idaho where he’s kinda a big deal.
November 7th, 2018 at 11:12 am
So what LakeLand is saying is “coaching and scheming around your players makes a big difference”.
We’re doomed.
November 7th, 2018 at 11:20 am
Weapons for Winston and …he still a 2nd string qb.Get real and stop with the excuses. He has had enough years to prove himself.
November 7th, 2018 at 11:21 am
I am a Buccaneers fan as long as they exist. Nothing will change that. However…
…I am tired of seeing them self destruct.
• Jameis Winston is the BEST quarterback this team has EVER had play for them. Period. He’s hands down better than any of the past QBs, including Brad and Doug. I’m discounting Steve Young because he didn’t succeed while on the team.
• Dirk Koetter is the best Offensive Coordinator this team has ever had, and the most productive one. The wins are not there, but every thing else is. He was a rookie head coach when he started, so there were bound to be mistakes. He is, after all, facing all new challenges for the first time. He just needs to find a way to win.
• Jason Licht is the best General Manager this team has ever had…and that includes Rich McKay, who made some good picks but not very many great ones. He also got the team into cap hell and then took off, leaving it for Bruce Allen to clean up. Jason Licht is excellent in the draft, but his past record in free agency has been questionable, up until this year, when he finally did very well (outside of a kicker).
• Defense is, and has been the biggest problem for the past few years. It is only now getting the attention it needs.
Fans tend to forget…this top 5 offense was not built in one year. Or two. It took several years. The defense will take time too.
Was Jason Licht wrong for ignoring the defense for so long?
Well, first off, he did not completely ignore it. He always tried to pick at least one defensive player in the draft, and he tried to address it in free agency every year.
Secondly, he was given the order to draft a QB with the first pick of the draft and to build around him. Outside of RB, of which the effort was made to draft a good one two years in a row, can anyone honestly say he has failed to build around Jameis Winston? Of course not.
Why did he have to make building the offense a priority over the defense? Because that’s what you do when you draft a franchise QB if you want him to succeed. It takes longer for an offense to gel than it does a defense. I mean, think about it…building this offense started the year before Winston was drafted, when they drafted Mike Evans. Here were are 5 years later, and it is only now really showing how good it can truly be.
With defense, we had a few key spots filled…but not many. Our best CB is a bridge player. Our best defensive lineman going into this past off season was McCoy, and he was the only good lineman. Our safeties sucked. Our CBs sucked outside of the bridge player, and linebacker is the only spot that showed promise, but it was riddled with injuries this year.
Jason Licht did a masterful job of addressing the defense this year, but he has no control over injuries, and he doesn’t coach the defense.
One could argue he made the bad call of hiring Mike Smith, but we all know Dirk Koetter wanted Smith because he had a deal with the man (whoever got hired first would hire the other). The owners probably agreed with Dirk hiring him.
As things stand now…
I say we keep Jason Licht, no matter what. I hated him in the beginning, but since Lovie left he has gradually impressed me more each year. He’s not stagnant. He was a rookie GM when he came here, and each year he has evolved…gotten better. He is worth keeping.
As to Dirk Koetter and Jameis Winston, I prefer to keep them both, but if it is one or the other, keep Winston. Or, fire Monken and replace him with a QB Coach and OC who can help Jameis more. Or keep Monken and just hire a better QB coach. I’m fine with those ideas.
But if Dirk Koetter is fired, the last thing I want is for Monken to replace him as Head Coach. Contrary to popular fan belief, I don’t think he is all that great an OC.
November 7th, 2018 at 11:23 am
Tim is correct. Play Fitz now. Don’t dress Winston who is inaccurate throwing the ball, makes bad decisions on the field, and obviously lacks judgement off the field. Then play Griffin once we are completely out of playoff contention. We have to see if we have anything in him.
November 7th, 2018 at 11:23 am
@ben
Please show me a backup with comparative stats to Jameis Winston’s previous years.
The only numbers he has not improved in up until this year is turnovers/fumbles. And those fumbles increased relative to the number of sacks the offensive line allowed.
November 7th, 2018 at 11:24 am
I would rather get a first round pick
November 7th, 2018 at 11:31 am
Id like to see Jameies in there, but am content to just let Fitz play and have him come back next year with a good coach.
Lets get a prolonged dose of Fitzmagic.
November 7th, 2018 at 11:44 am
Stravenite
U r INSANE! 2 first rounders Carr? Trade for Marriotta? I want what u r smoking
November 7th, 2018 at 11:48 am
Wow, so this is where this franchise is that they are now handing out accolades to the idiot QB for handling his demotion. SMH!!!
November 7th, 2018 at 11:49 am
Tim Says
“If JW gets another start this year (other than due to injury to Fitz) then this entire regime IS gone. If they bring back JW after benching him, it just shows how poor the management of this team is and how clueless the team is.”
I beg to differ. Let me pose a question to you: Is this team going to the playoffs?
I would say probably not. I mean, there is a tiny chance, very tiny, that they can turn things around and the other teams in our division have some bad luck, but let’s face it, this season is probably done already.
Don’t get me wrong…I will be hoping for the best the rest of the year. I will hope each game for a win.
But if the season is done, what is accomplished by starting Fitz?
See, that’s the crutch of the matter. Most who don’t want Jameis back do not feel that way because of his ability, but because they want justification because of their ill feeling toward him over the Uber thing.
Yes, his picks have been horrible this year. Normally, he makes up for picks by scoring and leading the team back in the second half of games. This year is different. The suspension has affected him mentally.
But the best thing is for him to work through it.
And the Glazers are not going to condone cutting him this off season. No way. So if that;s what you are hoping, you may as well give up that thought.
November 7th, 2018 at 11:50 am
Steelstudbuc
Uh Jameis threw 4 against the Falcons in his first start and two picks as well but none as bad as FITZ first which caused an easy TD. Yet everyone only wanted to talk about Jamie’s two picks when it was the D and our kicker that cost us the Falcons game. Jameis should be the starter. I mean does anyone remember how bad FITZ was against Steelers? Just because we almost won means nothing we still lost and he caused it w that pathetic first half. Everyone made excuses for those first half picks even KOETTER! Jameis doesn’t ever get that courtesy. This whole situation is a joke!
November 7th, 2018 at 11:50 am
Casey Morgan Says
“…and obviously lacks judgement off the field.”
Unjustified. Winston has not made a bad decision off the field in three years. He has already proven he has improved his off-field behavior.
November 7th, 2018 at 11:52 am
People seem to forgot that we have arguably the best pass offense with or without Jameis.
November 7th, 2018 at 11:58 am
Incidentally, Ryan Fitzptatrick has thrown 4+ interceptions 4 times in his career, and two of those times he threw 5 and 6 interceptions.
November 7th, 2018 at 12:00 pm
It was his 4th year before Fitzpatrick threw his 5th touchdown. That same year? He fumbled 11 times and lost 5 of them.
November 7th, 2018 at 12:13 pm
Sorry! I scrolled down as soon as I read that “Ted Bundy would be a better role model!” That is freaking hilarious!
November 7th, 2018 at 12:19 pm
Reality is a beotch- I’ve been reading and enjoying your rage filled rants for a while now-first as Tmaxcon…. Always dependable easy to predict. Starting to get your rhythm down. I figured you have some characteristics that are not so good for society- e.i. You seem like the type who can blow a gasket and go on some type of killing spree- I think the team and GMC are incompetent too, but don’t direct all of my life’s unprocessed anger at it. I hope this blog is a healthy outlet for you and jot a warning sign for all of us. Should the Bucs be alarmed? Your Tes Bundy praise for being a finisher co firms my hunches. please just go see a counselor. There is help for you and people who care. Maybe GMC will let you play with his therapy dolls. Maybe Jameis will play catch with you after practice.
November 7th, 2018 at 3:06 pm
Twenty F-ing million. Who are you getting rid of next year to afford twenty million? Could care less if JW is good guy or not. 20 million for a no better than most team’s back up? GTFO-
November 7th, 2018 at 4:47 pm
Decision-making (on AND off the field), is the #1 thing Jameis Winston needs to improve upon in his Life; as a football player and as a Man.
November 7th, 2018 at 4:50 pm
It would be the first test he passed in which he took for himself. The dude is an idiot. Time to hear from all you JBoo Boody Lovers about how he was accepted into Stanford. FYI: Lab animals are also accepted into Stanford.
November 7th, 2018 at 5:29 pm
@Ranman Winston is a back up for most teams….really….
@Erik Winston hasn’t been in trouble for over 2/3 years
November 7th, 2018 at 6:32 pm
is this groundhog day?
November 7th, 2018 at 6:41 pm
So Winston hasn’t failed us enough? Ok, let’s just keep failing with him, that would be the smart move. How much time will it take for us to finally be satisfied he ain’t gettin’ it? It’s like clobbering yourself in the head with a hammer over and over again.
*whack* Thank you sir may I have another?
*whack* Thank you sir may I have another?
November 7th, 2018 at 7:13 pm
I think the Glazers have finally realized that the coaching, defense, kicking, special teams, Running game, and oline are so bad that no qb could win. The whole team is going to be rebuilt next season without the influence of Koetter or Licht.
November 7th, 2018 at 7:42 pm
@Bonzai
“Most who don’t want Jameis back do not feel that way because of his ability, but because they want justification because of their ill feeling toward him over the Uber thing”
I can’t speak for everyone, but it really is about his (in)ability for me..The Uber thing is just the dirty frosting on a nasty cake….
November 7th, 2018 at 10:34 pm
Pittsshore Says:
November 7th, 2018 at 4:50 pm
It would be the first test he passed in which he took for himself. The dude is an idiot. Time to hear from all you JBoo Boody Lovers about how he was accepted into Stanford.
FYI: Lab animals are also accepted into Stanford.
First hand knowledge??
November 7th, 2018 at 11:43 pm
Accepted into Stanford…….or better yet, He was accepted by Stanford on an Academic scholarship…….
Both are fictitious tales. A classification under Grid Iron legend is more informative and correct.
November 8th, 2018 at 2:05 pm
D1 – Per Bleacher report, Jan 30, 2012, he WAS accepted into Stanford. You may question whether they granted him an academic exception, but he had a 4.0 GPA in high school. I suspect those who dislike him do so for other reasons.
Facts are pesky things….and, yes, more interesting than legends.