Don’t Be Shocked
April 8th, 2019
Not a “shock” if Bucs win.
The Bucs have been the doormats if not the laughingstock of the NFC in the post-Chucky era.
The only people not laughing are Bucs fans.
What can go wrong has gone wrong for the Bucs the past decade. And the team now boasts not only the longest playoff drought in the NFC but also the worst home record in the post-Chucky era.
Further, the team has been so bad that the Bucs even have last place in the NFC South named after them: Buccaneers Cove. That’s because the Bucs have been anchored in last place in all but two seasons since that dark Friday afternoon in January 2009 when Chucky was jettisoned.
The gloomy skies may be parting, however, believes Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com. He wrote recently he would not be shocked if the Bucs, under Bucco Bruce Arians, actually had a winning season.
In an offense-first league, Bruce Arians is taking over a Bucs attack with an abundance of talent and a 25-year-old quarterback in Jameis Winston who has already produced plenty. The Bucs’ defense was the bigger issue under former coach Dirk Koetter.
Joe remembers watching the Creamsicle Bucs under John McKay, both the good and the bad years. And even then, Tampa Bay prided itself on a tough defense. Oh, the Bucs lost, but opponents paid for those wins in bruises.
So in a town that always appreciated a tough defense, a physical defense, a defense that made opponents work for their touchdowns, it was beyond appalling what happened the past three years.
You know it was rock bottom when people longed for the days of inept Lovie Smith pushing the buttons of the defense.
Simply put, the defense just cannot get any worse both in theory and reality. That alone is reason for some hope.
April 8th, 2019 at 9:12 am
This has been the same cry from national pundits for over 8 years that one guy says: “watch out for the bucs ” and then 4-12 or 5-11. The bucs are not a very good team and have done nothing to fix that this year
April 8th, 2019 at 9:15 am
As long as Licht is involved…we will get the same result…to many WASTED high round draft pics to fix this mess quickly. I also agree with Dusthy!
April 8th, 2019 at 9:21 am
We need to be far more aggressive….especially with our DBs……..I suspect Arians & Bowles will significantly raise the level of aggressive play from all…..attack!!!
April 8th, 2019 at 9:39 am
I believe the improvement in the D and the discipline AB will bring is the difference. Friggin Kotter was a great offensive coach, but a terrible head coach. Mostly because of his lack of leadership (no balls) by allowing someone like Mike Smith to coast and have a defense that was a joke on a professional level.
April 8th, 2019 at 9:40 am
Our D hasn’t been the same since we were 9-3 heading into Carolina and word spread like wildfire that Monty was skipping town to coach with his boy. An unceremonious end to a remarkable run. We have never recovered.
April 8th, 2019 at 9:42 am
I will be shocked, because he’s done nothing so far but make the team worse on paper.
So color me skeptical until my eyes see it happen.
April 8th, 2019 at 9:43 am
Frank Pillow Says:
“Our D hasn’t been the same since we were 9-3 heading into Carolina”
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Frank!! How can you do this to us on a Monday??
What a bad memory! I can STILL see De’Angelo Williams & Jonathan Stewart running down the sideline…
well, and through the middle…….
and well,,,,,,,,, over the top of us.
Whew. Bad memories, Frank.
April 8th, 2019 at 9:46 am
So already I’m noticing the split in responses.
Players or coaching?
I’m on the hideous coaching bandwagon.
What we have is a failure to communicate. Lol
April 8th, 2019 at 9:46 am
Here is the thing…I get going easy in free agency. I get that. I prefer to build through the draft anyway.
However, this means we are counting on previous years drafts to make the team better, because this year will hardly produce for us until next year.
That’s the reality of the situation. Fans always think the team will be better the year of a draft, but it is usually the following year when those picks pay off.
April 8th, 2019 at 9:50 am
I” ask again…those of you that think it was the running game and defense that help us back and we are destined for the playoffs…why the crappy back up at QB? If you truly believe that the QB position wasn’t an issue then why have such terrible back ups. If anything happens to winston the season is over.
Truth is…the team sucks and will be lucky to get to 7 wins. Last call on the Winston express to loserville.
April 8th, 2019 at 9:51 am
I’ll and HELD us back
April 8th, 2019 at 9:52 am
Arians has a proven track record. The Bucs have had an outstanding passing game, but horrific special teams and defense to go along with a poor running game.
If Bruce Arians can get the Bucs defense, running game and special teams to average then I am confident this is a playoff team. That’s a big ‘if” though.
April 8th, 2019 at 9:55 am
wausa
saying a minor league franchise that has not won a single meaningful game in 16 years is close to being a playoff team is a HUGE reach almost like saying Rosanne Barr and Christy Brinkley are equally hot..
April 8th, 2019 at 9:57 am
6-10.
The QB holds the team back.
April 8th, 2019 at 9:59 am
I’m still waiting for the 2016 picks to pay off.
April 8th, 2019 at 10:00 am
Doormats? More like a dumpster on fire. The Glazers are useless fools and poor leaders.
April 8th, 2019 at 10:01 am
Every year is the same. After 5 games we start talking about building through the draft. It’s a disgrace.
April 8th, 2019 at 10:06 am
True!
April 8th, 2019 at 10:12 am
T-REX Says:
“I’ll and HELD us back”
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More incredible grammar skills from T-REX.
April 8th, 2019 at 10:23 am
smitty left the building so we will improve to at least an average defense…..
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
April 8th, 2019 at 10:32 am
tmaxcon Says:
April 8th, 2019 at 9:55 am
wausa
saying a minor league franchise that has not won a single meaningful game in 16 years is close to being a playoff team is a HUGE reach almost like saying Rosanne Barr and Christy Brinkley are equally hot..
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tmaxcon:
I think you need to read my post again. I did not say the Bucs are close at all.
The Bucs have the worst defense and special teams in the NFL over the past three years and one of the worst running games.
Coach Arians has a lot to get fixed, but if he can get those areas of the team to average then this should be a playoff team.
The likelihood he can do that in one year is not good.
April 8th, 2019 at 10:53 am
Joe … Regarding the Bucs’ defense, I love conclusions like “it was beyond appalling what happened the past three years”. You found your perfect scapegoat in Mike Smith & that’s apparently all you care about. (BTW, you missed a golden opportunity to throw in your recurring caveat … ‘Poor Jameis; if only he had a defense & running game, he would’ve taken us to 4 Super Bowls by now’ … Sure, we all buy into that 100%).
Bucs had a great defense while Monte was here … period. When Monte left after the 2008 season, the Bucs defense sucked. Look at our POINTS ALLOWED (PA) rankings since the Super Bowl year:
o 2002 … #1 PA (196 pts) … DC – Kiffin
o 2003 … #4 PA (264 pts) … DC – Kiffin
o 2004 … #9 PA (304 pts) … DC – Kiffin
o 2005 … #8 PA (274 pts) … DC – Kiffin
o 2006 … #21 PA (353 pts) … DC – Kiffin
o 2007 … #3 PA (270 pts) … DC – Kiffin
o 2008 … #10 PA (323 pts) … DC – Kiffin
o 2009 … #27 PA (400 pts) … DC – Morris
o 2010 … #9 PA (318 pts) … DC – Morris
o 2011 … #32 PA (494 pts) … DC – Millard/Morris
o 2012 … #23 PA (394 pts) … DC – Sheridan
o 2013 … #21 PA (389 pts) … DC – Sheridan
o 2014 … #25 PA (410 pts) … DC – Frazier
o 2015 … #26 PA (417 pts) … DC – Frazier/Lovie Smith
o 2016 … #15 PA (369 pts) … DC – Mike Smith
o 2017 … #22 PA (382 pts) … DC – Mike Smith
o 2018 … #31 PA (464 pts) … DC – Mike Smith/Duffner
Actually Joe, our 2011 defense (#32 in the NFL & allowing 494 points on the season) wins the prize. BUT … the fact remains that since Monte left, the Bucs’ defense has sucked mightily. We’ve had only TWO good years defensively since Monte left (and BOTH resulted in our ONLY winning seasons): 2011 under Raheem (when we ranked #9 defensively in POINTS ALLOWED, giving up ONLY 318 pts) and in 2016 under Mike Smith (when we ranked #15 defensively in POINTS ALLOWED, giving up ONLY 369 pts).
And during that 10-year period, Bucs have had 4 HCs (meaning FOUR different staffs teaching FOUR different systems) and we’re now on our FIFTH HC. IMO, there’s no question that coaching has dramatically impacted those results. But IMO there’s ALSO no question that the QUALITY of our players isn’t even close to what it used to be (look at the slide in Monte’s defenses during the Jon Gruden / Bruce Allen years).
But here have been FIVE relative ‘constants’ over the 17 years since our Super Bowl victory: (1) ownership; (2) Rich McKay (2 yrs) (3) Bruce Allen (5 yrs); (4) Mark Dominik (5 yrs); (5) Jason Licht (5 yrs). Ownership AND Management owns this crapjob much more IMO than the coaches & players do. THEY were the ones behind EVERY selection.
April 8th, 2019 at 10:54 am
“The $215 million guaranteed tv money clears the Glazer’s bank accounts if we win 10 or 5 games per year…
The Glazers believe wholeheartedly that Jason Gump is drafting well…
at least we have 2 female coaches and a dude cheerleader
Lets have Alexandria Ocasio Cortez to sing the national anthem at RJS to kickstart our season”
Kobe Faker
April 8th, 2019 at 11:29 am
5-11
April 8th, 2019 at 11:37 am
Every year several bad teams have winning seasons. Every year.
The Bucs haven’t because they have not hired a single sought after coach since Gruden. They’ve been behind the times.
Arians is legit.
Much more than Lovie was ever considered.
I’d be more surprised if they didn’t have a winning season.
April 8th, 2019 at 12:06 pm
If the schedule is favorable: 6-10
If the schedule is tough: 4-12
Basically the same team meaning same players…. True talent should still show up in games regardless of coaching!
April 8th, 2019 at 12:07 pm
If the schedule is favorable: 6-10
If the schedule is tough: 4-12
Basically the same team meaning same players…. True talent should still show up in games regardless of coaching!
April 8th, 2019 at 12:18 pm
Kobe Faker Says:
“The $215 million guaranteed tv money clears the Glazer’s bank accounts if we win 10 or 5 games per year…
The Glazers believe wholeheartedly that Jason Gump is drafting well…
at least we have 2 female coaches and a dude cheerleader
Lets have Alexandria Ocasio Cortez to sing the national anthem at RJS to kickstart our season”
Kobe Faker
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Make the National Anthem a duet with AOC and Roseanne Barr.
Bring in a celebrity cheerleader, 50/50 raffle drawing each quarter, install a high end concession stand serving Outback steakhouse etc.
At least I would feel better paying my $100 ticket to sit in the nosebleeds, watch an offensive out put of 500 yards netting 3 whole points while the defense lays down. Oh wait that was the Washington game. Minus the Outback steakhouse medium well sirloin with grilled asparagus and Potato.
April 8th, 2019 at 1:19 pm
There is no rhyme or reason for the Buc’s performance. Some decades you get the bear, some decades the bear gets you. I genuinely believe that none of the coaches, players, GM’s or owners intentionally tried to lose it is clearly a calamity of variables ranging from wrong players combined with wrong coaches, combined with wrong schemes jinxed with bad luck, and untimely injuries a dilemma all teams face. The reason I sense this is the number of players, coaches and management who have moved on to very successful organizations and conversely good players who have unfortunately moves to lesser organizations. No one has the perfect formula at the optimal time with extraordinary resources, even Belichick had his failures. Being a fan is enjoying the game, how you personally handle wins and loses is a product of your personality and interpretation of enjoyment.
April 8th, 2019 at 1:31 pm
@ martinii
Spoken like a true loser.
April 8th, 2019 at 1:32 pm
Z31 BUCS Says:
April 8th, 2019 at 10:12 am
T-REX Says:
“I’ll and HELD us back”
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More incredible grammar skills from T-REX.
This is what stupidity breeds. I was correcting my post above. LOL. I’m not the best typer. Great post!
April 8th, 2019 at 1:32 pm
Lol… enjoy the suck…lol. Spare me your zen bs Dude Lebowski…
April 8th, 2019 at 1:39 pm
With Arians maybe…. with Jason Gump and the ownership group that brings you male cheerleaders and female football coaches F…ing NEVER!!!
April 8th, 2019 at 1:41 pm
Wow Joe what does a long standing poster need to do to get off moderation?? It has been well over a week! I must have really p…d Joe off something awful!
April 8th, 2019 at 1:45 pm
Marine Buc:
Thank you for reading my post. I fully respect your opinion. If your handle indicates your service as a Marine, Thank You fo your Service.
April 8th, 2019 at 2:06 pm
Marine Buc Says:
@ martini –
“Spoken like a true loser.”
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Spoken like a true a$$.
April 8th, 2019 at 2:08 pm
^ In spite of the earlier post, I also echo the Thank you for your service.
April 8th, 2019 at 2:17 pm
@martinii
Thank you. I am not accepting this team losing any longer. The NFL does not give out “participation trophies”. Just one real trophy called the “Lomabardi”. I am tired and frustrated by constantly cheering for an embarrassing franchise. Each year it gets more and more difficult to listen to the excuses and the bullshit. If you enjoy watching a loser year after year after year than have at it. I am barely hanging in there as a fan who even cares anymore. I know I am not alone.
April 8th, 2019 at 2:17 pm
Good days. Opposing offenses didn’t plan around one or two guys, it was the whole defense. Yes!
April 8th, 2019 at 7:37 pm
Its been coaching….for a looooong time. You dont miss on that many early picks. Thats bad coaching. Pull your heads out of your asses
April 9th, 2019 at 10:56 am
I’m afraid BA is fighting an uphill battle against the Glazers & Licht.