Winning Cures All
February 25th, 2019
Steve Mariucci talks to Joe.
You have heard the phrase “winning cures all ills,” right? Well, one former playoff coach believes that’s the case between America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, and malcontent wide receiver DeSean Jackson.
In Atlanta during Super Bowl Week, Joe spoke with former 49ers coach Steve Mariucci during an NFL Network media availability.
Folks may not remember that Mariucci was Team Glazer’s first choice to replace Father Dungy in 2002, but he spurned Team Glazer’s advances.
Fast-forward nearly a year and the first Bucs’ postseason game in that magical year came at home against Mariucci’s 49ers. So Joe tried to find out from an NFL coach if there was a way Jameis and Jackson, given what has transpired since Jackson got here, can somehow co-exist. Remember, Mariucci had to tolerate perhaps the most petulant child and ultimate me-first diva who ever played wide receiver in the NFL, headcase Terrell Owens.
JoeBucsFan: Is that relationship beyond repair, those two guys, Jameis and DeSean Jackson?
Steve Mariucci: I don’t know. I’ve never seen where a receiver doesn’t get along with quarterbacks. [Clears throat.] Jameis has been through several coaches now. And Jameis has had some really good seasons and some really good games. He’s looking for consistency. They are in a tough division. Saints are not going away. Carolina is a heck of a team. Atlanta is pretty good. That is a tough place to think they are going to the playoffs every year. So there is always going to be that frustration: ‘Oh, we are not good enough. It’s got to be him… it’s got to be him. It can’t be me.’ So I don’t know where that thing heads. Trade him? We know [Jackson] is a heck of a player – they both are. They just need to win a little bit more consistently and the whole attitude of that organization changes.
Joe: Winning is the best perfume?
Mariucci: It is! You see where teams win and they brag it’s the best chemistry in the world and when they lose, ‘Oh, this place is chaotic.’… [The Bucs] have a lot of good players on that team. They just need to add to it, be good at the draft and spend money wisely. Not a lot of room for error in that division. You have good quarterbacks all the way around in that division.
About the only resolution Joe can see between Jameis and Jackson is Jackson gets whacked and turned loose from the roster. And at this point, Joe is guessing Jackson is not even tradable.
One comment from Mariucci really jumps out at Joe, him saying how the Bucs have talented players. Gee, first it was former Bucs coach Dirk Koetter then it was Father Dungy and now it is Mariucci.
What gives here? The Bucs (allegedly) have all this talent yet the Bucs’ record the past decade has been sorry AF. Inept Lovie Smith notwithstanding, has the coaching with the Bucs really been that horrible?
February 25th, 2019 at 6:05 am
Yes Joe, the coaching has been that horrible.
February 25th, 2019 at 6:17 am
You’re teasing us again Joe. DJax is gone, if for no other reason than that we NEED his $10 mil salary to fix other deficiencies in our roster. Bye bye DJax.
Mariucci hit the nail on the head when he said “[The Bucs] have a lot of good players on that team. They just need to add to it, be good at the draft and spend money wisely.” Yes we have a lot of talent … just not enough. We’ve got a solid foundation but we have to “add to it” via a good draft & FA period like Mariucci said.
Bucs are a very unbalanced team as of right now. Lots of talent in many positions, but also too many glaring weaknesses in various position groups that opposing OCs & DCs prey on. Add to that mediocre depth, too many injuries each year plus a ‘coaching carousel’ and it all leads to being the cellar-dweller in the NFC South for most of the past decade. BA will change that I’m convinced.
February 25th, 2019 at 7:09 am
The retention of GMC & his $13 mil salary has all but assured Djax’s exit…..yet we continue to
February 25th, 2019 at 7:09 am
We continue to read fantasy…..
February 25th, 2019 at 7:19 am
DJax DOES NOT want to be here and right or wrong, but in Djax mind he has it made up that Jameis CANNOT complete a consistent deep pass to djax. His instagram today or yesterday was all these qbs hitting him in stride, as in every qb he has ever played with EXCEPT one. Jason Licht, the WORST GM in professional football, should never have signed djax and then should have traded him when teams needed WRs at the deadline
February 25th, 2019 at 8:00 am
In 12 years as an NFL coach, assistant or head, Koetter has 3 winning seasons- 1 with Jaguars, 1 with Falcons and 1 with Bucs.
This is a bit of cherrypicking, but I think it shows a lack of understanding of winning culture.
February 25th, 2019 at 8:10 am
“They just need to… be good at the draft and spend money wisely.”
LOL
Mariucci knows subtle messaging. But will Lichtweight be able to read between the lines?
February 25th, 2019 at 8:55 am
Winning cures perception. Djax proved after the 49ers game, winning didn’t matter. His catches, easy deep balls, matter. He wants to be the #1 guy and put up numbers.
Mariucci confuses me on the statement regarding the “several coaches” Winston has “been thru” Speaks to the national perception of the situation. Winston’s main voice in his head was the same guy, for his entire career. One season with Lovie as the head coach yes but his coaching hasn’t changed. BA is truly his second coach.
February 25th, 2019 at 8:57 am
That was 3 weeks ago bruh..
February 25th, 2019 at 9:14 am
I don’t think winning will fix the relationship between DJax and Tampa Bay Quarterback, Alternate Pro Bowler, Jameis Winston. The issue was and still is that Winston doesn’t throw to him. Fitz came in and threw DJax the ball and made him look good. JW came in and threw to Evans vs. DJax. The connection wasn’t there for them. If JW wants to get in the good graces of DJax, he’ll have to start throwing him the ball. Also, if we look back at the “Eating W’s” fiasco, you can see it all on DJax’s face.
February 25th, 2019 at 9:41 am
djax needs to go…we cant pay him and GMC top dollar….
much is right….we have talent….along with adding to it by the draft and FA, we also need to add better coaching which is think has finally happened….
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
February 25th, 2019 at 11:59 am
Everybody went nuts when Licht selected a FG kicker in the 2nd round. Not me. Hindsight being 20-20 I certainly agree he selected the wrong kicker but the concept was not crazy.
If he had selected the next coming of Greg Zuerlein we may very well have made the playoffs in DK’s short tenure. How many makeable FG’s were missed, how many extra points that effected game strategy were missed?
The right kicker would have made a HUGE difference in our record the past few seasons. Clearly Aguayo was not that guy.
And clearly you don’t HAVE to use a second rounder if you have the right scouting dept. Zuerlein played at the mighty University of Nebraska Omaha and Missouri Western State U…where the h is that…somewhere in Missouri.
He was drafted in the 6th round! The 171st overall pick. He was good last year but in 2017 he was freaking amazing…he drilled 95% of his FG’s missing only two!!!! Could the Bucs have used that?
February 25th, 2019 at 12:22 pm
With all the injuries on defense in the back 7, IMO Licht has to get more defensive players on the roster and practice squad. Redistribute the proportion
of linebackers ,corners and safety with the focus on improving and developing
special teams and defense. With starters like Evans,DJAX, Hump and Godwin at WR last year and Justin Watson and Bobo Wilson on practice squad. Sergio Bailey on IR, I can’t justify Reedy or Martino being on the roster at any time. You are not going to build a better defense if don’t you bring in enough defensive players to learn on special teams and become starters.
February 27th, 2019 at 4:05 pm
I like coach but I don’t agree. Should we forget the recent memory of Jackson leaving the field SUPER early when the Bucs were on their way to beating the 49ers. Aka WINNING!
No winning wouldn’t cure Jackson wanting the ball & rolling up #s. He’ll want that & wins. He might just take it w/o wins & be happy internally lol.
I think Bucs don’t wanna ruin his trade value so they keep positive energy whenever discussing him.