“No Panic On The Sideline; Guys Were Convinced We Were Going To Win The Ballgame”
September 13th, 2019
You want culture change; here ya go.
And this includes a hat tap to former Bucs safety Chris Conte.
In 2015, Conte spoke on the Buccaneers Radio Network about how he encountered a losing, here-we-go-again attitude on the Bucs sidelines during games. Conte had recently arrived from the Bears in what was one of the worst free agency classes in Bucs history. A winner in Chicago, the Tampa Bay sideline kind of surprised him.
“There’s a lot of doubt on the sideline because, I mean, this team has lost in almost every way possible [in 2014],” Conte said.
“There was a lot of heartbreaking games that they had that they were in. So sometimes there’s kind of a sense on the sideline, ‘Man, like, can we do this? Are we going to do this?’ “But I think everybody really pulled together [Sunday]. ‘Like hey, we’re not going to let this one slip away.’ We’re going to come out and we’re going to play strong, and we’re going to do everything we can to get this win because we have to start learning how to win.
“And I think that’s really big for this team, especially on a team that has so many young players. Really to start that tradition of winning, and that feeling of winning, so when we going into a game we’re not saying, ‘Hey, are we going to win this game?’ We’re saying, ‘Hey, we’re winning this game, there’s no doubt about it.'”
Conte was pissed at Joe for writing that up, and he let Joe know about it. Joe advised Conte that he said it on the radio for all to hear.
Regardless, Conte was on the money and yes, clubs with loser mentalities think about losing and it infects the team. That mentality has to be eradicated.
Bucco Bruce Arians has been coaching forever and this season he isn’t calling plays, so he’s got a ton of time to gauge the pulse of the Bucs.
After last night’s thrilling, nail-biting win at Carolina, Arians noted in his postgame remarks that the roster has bought in completely and “there’s no panic on the sideline; guys were convinced we were going to win the ballgame.”
Joe is quite certain that was not one-liner coachspeak. Joe is sure Arians was looking for weakness in the team’s mentality on the sidelines — and he didn’t find it.
When it comes to wiping out the infectious stench of losing from the Bucs locker room, that’s a huge step forward.
September 13th, 2019 at 11:07 am
BAs mentality is running thru the team…..
We’ve had dawgs on the team the past 3years but we finally have a HC that’s a dawg too…..dawgs want to run with dawgs…..
This team is mentally tougher in 1 offseason…..
Dirk has been exposed….
GO BUCS
September 13th, 2019 at 11:11 am
JW did not win the game last night but he not only didn’t lose it he played well enough for us to win most games with this defense. If JW plays as well as he did last night he may not carry the team but with this D it will be more than enough to win ten games!
Only two games but I’ve totally bought into this D. It’s not just Bowles…it’s what a significant % of guys here have been saying all along…it starts up front. D line is starting to flex it’s muscle.
So our D has a core…two guys who are uncommonly strong anchor the very center for us. Vea and Suh can push even double teams into the offensive backfield…it’s next to impossible to run up the middle against these guys…add the talented corps of LB’s and the very talented and rapidly improving young DB’s…not just CB’s…gotta love the safeties as well. Then you take the bonus plays from guys like Shaq and Nassib and Gholston….this D is for REAL!
I have a feeling D.R. is going to love this team and this season.
September 13th, 2019 at 11:13 am
minus GMC, the team is a whole lot better. obviously…the weak minded link is gone…
September 13th, 2019 at 11:18 am
What has Conte been doing since he got stiff armed outta the NFL????
September 13th, 2019 at 11:20 am
GMC aka CANCER93 was part of that loser mentality and it was on full display last night too
September 13th, 2019 at 11:20 am
Wish I had the same confidence. Felt pretty good during the entire game until the Panthers got the ball back at the end. It felt like we were going to choke.
Todd Bowles needs a raise!!
September 13th, 2019 at 11:24 am
I love the BA slap to Dean back head
I love players holding each other accountable on the field like when oj blocked the wrong guy leaving Godwin blocking a DE and Godwin dugged into OJ after that about where he needed to be. I love that. Winning culture where we go!!
September 13th, 2019 at 11:31 am
It was a good win but there are still things to worry about. Cam being hurt/bad/whatever you wanna call it, played a huge part. There were guys open that he just couldnt hit for whatever reason. Still worried about the secondary.
Defense is much imporoved, but it can still be picked apart.
September 13th, 2019 at 11:35 am
There is no question that the coaching has made a difference in particular with the defense…..the entire defense…..and they are very young….but fast and aggressive…
Something isn’t quite right with the offense yet…..where are the passes to Cam Brate….OJ……?
We are still throwing low percentage passes on third down….need to make the sure pass….move the chains.
September 13th, 2019 at 11:36 am
I LOVE THE FACT THAT WE WON ,BUT OJ HOWARD NEEDS TO GET IT TOGETHER!!!
September 13th, 2019 at 11:37 am
I think you started to see that mentality in the preseason after they lost that first game. It seemed like Arians really planted that seed then and in the later games you could see the Bucs actually trying and believing they could win.
They still got a long ways to go on offense….. because we were lucky the D was on the field to win the game last night and not the offense. They’re still so sloppy I don’t think they would have pulled it off. Still though, glad to see the O look better from last week and the D not giving up 1 touchdown.
September 13th, 2019 at 11:39 am
Yeah those last 2 minutes were anything but confidence-inspiring.
Missed opportunity to challenge the Carolina 1st down at the 2 minute warning, and then the double timeout…. Yikes.
But they pulled through. It’s a start. Now let’s go beat them Giants!
September 13th, 2019 at 11:41 am
Dotson still has that stench all over him. Last night JW was telling the oline that the teams does well if they block we’ll, trying to hype up the oline and Dotson was like “whatever kid get away from me you’re bothering me”
September 13th, 2019 at 11:42 am
I doubt the confidence arrived until after VHIII made the play.
Hindsight is great, isn’t it. I would bet the players that have been here for awhile, like the fans, thought here we go again. It takes W’s like this to change that, not a coach.
September 13th, 2019 at 11:42 am
Tampabaybucfan Says:
“We are still throwing low percentage passes on third down….need to make the sure pass….move the chains.”
Yep TBBF…we had to settle for a FG cause it looked like once again Winston insisted on going to only Mike Evans on 3 and what was it 5 late in the game. Just get the 5 yards if there’s someone open short for the 5. smh sometimes.
September 13th, 2019 at 11:47 am
Defense saved this game. Waiting for all the SUH haters to come out and blast him like the did GMC. He did crap last night, a big ol’ fat 0 in the stat book.
September 13th, 2019 at 11:48 am
I wanted every Buc fan to see this and feel this good win! As down as I get on JW3 so glad we are not in a contraact with Cam Newton–he is a freak! So sweet to hear him “I just gotta get better” talk! If Jooe does not let me post the link go watch the Panthers postgame Cam Newton interview–he is wearing some sort bonnet on the hair Lol!
https://www.panthers.com/video/cam-newton-says-bucs-performance-wasn-t-good-enough
September 13th, 2019 at 11:49 am
Let’s hope so because according to many reporters there was a “here we go again” feeling after the week one loss.
September 13th, 2019 at 11:50 am
Hahah
He didn’t give the other team a First Down
He recovered a fumble
He was in the backfield on his feet
GMC did make it in the backfield on his back after Barber pushed him over as he ran past him
You GMC LOVERS KILL ME
HAHHA
MORE GRASS IN HIS HAIR THAN GAS IN HIS TANK
September 13th, 2019 at 11:59 am
So did the other last 8 teams that played the damaged Newton Panthers!!!!!!!!! And that includes the 2018 Bucs that beat the Panthers as well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How is it improvement when last year’s win was even more convincing?????????
2019 will reveal answers to the sheep, that the “real” fans already know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 13th, 2019 at 12:02 pm
@Bucsdelight
Well, Suh did have that fumble recovery.
September 13th, 2019 at 12:05 pm
IBIB
I believe in Bowles
IBIB
September 13th, 2019 at 12:14 pm
Not sure why they didn’t give the ball more to ROJO. he is definitely the more explosive runner. I’m happy we won, and Barber played hard, but it is tough to watch him getting 2 yrds at a time. he just doesn’t have that gear that ROJO has. Also they really need to get their tight ends involved. Even though OJ looked bad week 1, he is still a mismatch for any linebacker, corner or safety that has to cover him.
September 13th, 2019 at 12:16 pm
You can’t complain about the D-line when they held the panties to 39 yards rushing, and yes, Suh did recover the fumble.
September 13th, 2019 at 12:18 pm
You put one foot in front of the other, and soon you are….
September 13th, 2019 at 12:27 pm
Realist
Was smitty apart of those 2018 Bucs that beat CAR?..lol…that was duff!!!!
GO BUCS
September 13th, 2019 at 12:27 pm
@buc1987 that pass to mike in the endzone should’ve been caught. Complaining about not getting a first down is hindsight. If mike uses two hands, thats a td catch on a beautiful throw.
September 13th, 2019 at 12:31 pm
Is Jones hurt? He looked like he was limping at one point.
Any news about White? I heard it wasn’t an ACL, but anything more than that?
September 13th, 2019 at 12:33 pm
This is because McCoy is GONE!
September 13th, 2019 at 12:33 pm
So is Howard the 2nd string TE? The Bucs drafted him as a pass catching threat right? It seems like his primary role now is blocking. I know injuries happen and he can more than fill Brate ‘s absence but it feels a little wasteful to have a first round TE as a pass blocker, which he isn’t really good at, at least not last night. They have to get them both involved more. Gotta let the horses gallop!
September 13th, 2019 at 12:36 pm
Perriman needs to get his act together. That should have been a TD and he knows it. Either Watson or Wilson need to be practicing this week to replace him. OJ we are watching you and you need to start dominating.
September 13th, 2019 at 12:38 pm
Any news on Jameel Dean? His leg just didn’t look right when the trainers were examining it on the field.
September 13th, 2019 at 12:59 pm
I truly expected someone to do something stupid on that 4th down play, but to my chagrin the defense made a freaking play. No offsides or bush humping, just a big play. I hope that is infectious to this team. Outside of BA and his double time out shenanigans. He’s a little rusty so I will give him that one.
September 13th, 2019 at 1:07 pm
GMC U later at this point. Time to move one from his Buc era of football. Stinky yet expensive…not a good combo.
September 13th, 2019 at 2:47 pm
Can’t say I knew they would stop them on 4th down but I could totally feel like we were going to win anyway based on the mentality of the team and the confidence in the coaches. It would have been 1:24 left and we would be down by 1 with just a fg needed. With or without that stop we were winning that game!
September 13th, 2019 at 2:52 pm
I’ll take the V. Happy no turnovers and the fact the D played tough throughout the game.
September 13th, 2019 at 3:14 pm
GMC is the worst arm tackler in the league. Don’t miss him at all!
September 13th, 2019 at 3:50 pm
If you think you can’t, you won’t.
When you have no fear, you will win.
September 13th, 2019 at 4:55 pm
Coaching, leadership and more coaching! This from BA and staff.
A winning attitude is learned from victory. Swagger is earned with time.
We are in the midst of a culture change hearkening back twenty years.
Even Jameis Winston has grown up professionally. He no longer is the grinning college boy with a lot of rah-rah trying to lead professionals. He is learning to do the small things instead of forever trying to do the spectacular.
He presents a more mature demeanor now at his press conferences. He still flashes a boyish grin after a victory, however.
__________________
Go Bucs!!! Win now!
September 13th, 2019 at 5:21 pm
“Bout da##ed time we stop being the bottom feeders of the NFL!
September 14th, 2019 at 12:18 am
We are now second in our Division and have the power in our DL to make it tough even on the Saints who just thought they were set to go to the Super Bowl this year! We shook them up in the first game last year and we have a better team to dominate them too this year. With lots of sacks I have seen their QB shaken up before and he isn’t as young as he used to be now. Our Offense are keeping some special plays to use on the Saints. This year we can still play hard even when a star player gets hurt but the defense didn’t’t even lose a beat when White was hurt. This team is going to be special this year! Ever see the Panthers held to no touchdowns for an entire game? Never til yesterday! Trust BA he will find a way!
September 14th, 2019 at 12:24 am
However, I am waiting for BA to use the treatment he used to get VHIII’s head on straight. He needs to sit Howard down this week and let Auclair practice in Howard’s place, and tell Howard to get his head straight just like he told VHIII and lit a fire under him!
September 14th, 2019 at 1:35 pm
Big win we needed that and so did most the fan base. Good wim but this team has a ways to go. Bucs will play there best ball in December
September 14th, 2019 at 3:29 pm
Joe says: “Conte was pissed at Joe for writing that up, and he let Joe know about it. Joe advised Conte that he said it on the radio for all to hear.”
Did this exchange truly take place? Is Conte really that dumb?
September 14th, 2019 at 5:38 pm
Sad and malicious misrepresentation of Joe here. –Joe