The Backup QB Curse
October 24th, 2019
Can Todd Bowles stop the madness?
What in the name of Warren Sapp is going on here?
How can any NFL defense that has a lick of pride — not to mention an ounce of talent — get worked over regularly by backups and rookies? That’s the Bucs defense in 2019.
Sad times we live in folks, sad times.
Kevin Patra of NFL.com noted this awful habit of the Bucs this morning.
Bucs have lost to three teams that started QBs who began the season as backups. Get Tannehill Sunday. pic.twitter.com/wss3wEX4XO
— Kevin Patra (@kpatra) October 24, 2019
This is simply embarrassing. There was a time, not long ago, that Bucs defenses would have eaten these quarterbacks alive. In the lost decade of the post-Chucky era, backup quarterbacks may as well be Pro Bowlers the way they shame the Bucs.
If the Bucs lose to Ryan Tannehill and the Titans Sunday, this team better be sellers come Monday when the trade deadline hits.
Just think, if Sunday is a loss, that means four of the Bucs’ five losses will have come from guys that weren’t even good enough to be starting quarterbacks coming out of training camp. That’s awful!
How can a defensive coach look a Glazer in the eye if that happens? Never mind looking in the mirror.
Nothing says “Lousy Team” like getting exploited by backup and rookie quarterbacks.
It boils down to this: If Tannehill racks up 300 or more yards Sunday for another Bucs’ loss, people at One Buc Palace need to seriously reassess how this defense was assembled and who is coaching it.
It is positively disgusting that Team Glazer shelled out so much cash to pay for an army of coaches and this pathetic pass defense is what they get in return. Hell, two high school coaches making $5,000 a year could get these results.
If Tannehill lights up the Bucs, the next time the Bucs honor local high school coaches, instead of giving them a plaque, they need to give them an interview to run the Bucs’ secondary.
October 24th, 2019 at 11:11 am
Haha… fair point Joe.. I know corners take time to develop but 1st & 2nd rounders should show some promise right out of the gate. I have seen nothing that looks promising from any of them & coaching staff has confirmed MJ stewart was a wasted pick & at top of 2nd round come on.. these guys have been playing man, cover 2, cover 3 etc… for years they should not be that far out of position regardless of scheme or being new to a system.
October 24th, 2019 at 11:12 am
This team is garbage can JW get a little help around here?
Where is Bunting and Dean?
October 24th, 2019 at 11:13 am
*WHEN* Tannehill lights up the Bucs.
Its coming. Just get ready.
October 24th, 2019 at 11:15 am
i enjoy for the most part reading the fans take on the Bucs. But myself, as far as the Bucs are concerned I could care less. That is until the Glazer’s sell the team to owners who care about putting a winning product on the field.
October 24th, 2019 at 11:16 am
JW get a little help?
You mean like when he turns it over 6 times and we lose despite the defense holding Carolina to under 300 yards? Our defense sucks but Jameis is the #1 problem on this team.
Who is still clueless about that after nearly 4.5 seasons?
October 24th, 2019 at 11:20 am
I said it earlier in the year and got lambasted.
How much loyalty is BA going to show TB before he shows him the door?
Loyalty like Kottman showed Mike Smith?
October 24th, 2019 at 11:21 am
All our concerns add up for a reason. We are on course for another wasted season once again. After a long evaluation after becoming head coach with his staff, our coach came the conclusion that the team was ready to compete now without rebuilding. Yet here we are. Know we are expected to be patient and give it time. BA hyped the train, not us.Frankly, we could have kept Koetter and gotten similar results. Just my humble opinion.
October 24th, 2019 at 11:27 am
We’re what, 0-9 now the last 2 years against backups and rookie QB’s, right?
Yeah, we’re not Tennessee ready….
October 24th, 2019 at 11:30 am
Also, we have one of the largest coaching staffs in the history of the NFL and we are still being out-coached. The Glazers must really feel they are getting their money’s worth each time they write all the checks.
October 24th, 2019 at 11:33 am
BOLD PREDICTION:
Bucs score MORE than 20pts vs a team who according to one of Joes earlier articles today – Titans haven’t allowed over 20 points all season!
And…
Bucs D holds Tennessee to less than 20pts!
=BUCS WIN 23-17
Oh wait… They’re playing a backup QB?!?!?! Scratch all of the above!!!
October 24th, 2019 at 11:33 am
Really wierd, because the Bucs starting QB. Jameis L. Winston, isn’t good enough to be a starting QB and the defenses eat him alive. That is of course, when he’s not beating himself with endless turnovers and pre-rookie mistakes.
October 24th, 2019 at 11:34 am
This isn’t just this year. This is going on a half a decade and 3 or 4 DCs. Who’s the common denominator? It’s not Bowles, or Smitty, or Lovie, or Frazier. It’s someone else entirely.
October 24th, 2019 at 11:35 am
To my recollection it all started way back when, when Nick Foles beat us in a comeback victory.
October 24th, 2019 at 11:35 am
Trade Winston and then fire LIcht
October 24th, 2019 at 11:44 am
The Titans front office is sweating bullets this week worried sick over the certain possibility that Tannehill achieves all his contract incentive bonuses in one game against the Bucs secondary alone. They may pull him early in the game before that happens.
October 24th, 2019 at 11:56 am
If you think it’s going to be bad this week, wait until we play the Cardinals. I’m disgusted.
October 24th, 2019 at 11:58 am
So there is a lower level of caring less that you can arrive at?
October 24th, 2019 at 12:04 pm
Hire another defensive coach skilled in defensing back-up quarterbacks. Hey, what’s another 100 grand or so if you can stabilize mediocrity?
October 24th, 2019 at 12:06 pm
Hire another defensive coach skilled in defensing back-up quarterbacks. Hey, what’s another 100 grand or so if you can stabilize mediocrity?
October 24th, 2019 at 12:35 pm
We’re the only team in the NFL that has OL practice tackling. We know why they do this.
October 24th, 2019 at 12:51 pm
Impressive to see that there are w whole bunch of JBFers who drink you Kool-Aid Joe. Say something often enough and there are plenty who’ll swallow it hook, line and sinker. Your continual harangues about how bad the Bucs’ pass defense is remind so much of what we see in America today, both in politics and business.
One phrase that I love is to ‘look behind the veil’. When you truly take the time to analyze businesses (or politicians for that matter), what you usually find is that nothing is ever as good as it seems OR as bad as it seems. And such is the case with the Bucs’ defense in general, and even with the Bucs’ pass defense specifically.
BA’s ‘The Secondary is totally fixed’ back in Training Camp (June 1st) was nothing more than a giant smokescreen. And especially since it was proclaimed AFTER he relegated VHIII to the bench as an apparent disciplinary action, but THEN proclaimed him on June 1st as a ‘solid corner’. He also bragged that Ryan Smith ‘came along’, the very same Ryan Smith who spent the first FOUR games suspended. He bragged on Jamel Dean, who’s been hurt since the season started. Lots of bragging, but VHIII hasn’t shown up and Ryan Smith & Dean have been unavailable.
Our almost non-existent pass rush hasn’t done much for the Secondary obviously, and neither has having Devin White hurt for Games 2-5 (plus being sick in Game 1). That’s left the middle of the field vulnerable; Kevin Minter filled in nicely in defending the run, but his coverage skills are obviously lacking (which is why he’s not starting now?).
IF (and it’s a BIG IF) this coaching staff sits VHIII & MJ Stewart and gives our youngsters (SMB & Dean) a chance to gain game-time experience, this Secondary WILL IMPROVE. They’re ROOKIES playing in skill positions; heck, even Ronde Barber couldn’t break into the starting lineup his first year. They’ll make mistakes, but that’s part of the learning process. Maybe instead of denigrating them, you should be chastising our underperforming OFFENSE instead.
OK, off to moderation. Finally figured out what lands you there.
October 24th, 2019 at 12:52 pm
Yup, there it is, right on schedule. Moderation as usual.
October 24th, 2019 at 12:58 pm
lol we need to start a backup!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 24th, 2019 at 1:00 pm
If i ever want to be put in a bad mood I should come read this message board. What a bunch of negative, bad energy people. Grow up!
October 24th, 2019 at 1:01 pm
help JW, help JW……..blah blah…….how long we been hearing that?
put a decent QB who can see more than 2 targets and recognize coverages and we would kill teams. It a small wonder Godwin is still standing. He’s a warrior….but there’s other guys who JW can throw to…….
October 24th, 2019 at 1:05 pm
Bucs have been losing to backups even when we had chucky … this shouldn’t even be a surprise
October 24th, 2019 at 1:07 pm
People seem to forget that this “backup QB” thing was happening for a long time. I remember Derek Anderson beating us twice in a year. I remember Clint Tricket of the Niners beating us. Matt Moore. This isn’t new.
October 24th, 2019 at 1:36 pm
Agree 1000% with this take. What a sham. What a fraud.
October 24th, 2019 at 2:12 pm
Time for the Glazers to hand over the team to a President of Football Operations! They are out of their league, no pun intended. This is the second team they have ruined since Malcolm passed.
I can think of 3 former Bucs who would be great interviewers… In order or preference, Dungy, Brooks and Barber.
October 24th, 2019 at 3:04 pm
Tannehill is going to shred our defense.. cough *VH3.* Winston will turn the ball over late and hey what do you know? The suckbags lose to another backup QB and it’s draft season once again… And we’ll probably keep a bunch of these bums past the trade deadline.
Fire The Glazers!
October 24th, 2019 at 3:30 pm
You also need to look at the pass rush. When the rush was effective the secondary had a little better results. Not making excuses but they go hand in hand. This defensive scheme works but players have to do their jobs. Stop falling down, getting turned around, jumping on fakes and missing assignments. Coaches can’t do their jobs for them. Might want to look at the GM who is a terrible talent evaluator. Fire Licht first.
October 24th, 2019 at 3:50 pm
Not long ago???? Really??? The superbowl defense yes but after that??? I cant remember when we were a good defense Joe its been that long ago. So this is just more of the last 15 years or more if you ask me!!!!!
October 24th, 2019 at 4:17 pm
TOM: exactly. Spot on.
October 24th, 2019 at 5:35 pm
Dang Joe, spoken just like one of your regular trolling posters, is that what you were before JoeBucsFan?
October 24th, 2019 at 11:41 pm
Fun fact.. this has been a curse for a while, it didn’t just start this season.
October 25th, 2019 at 12:39 am
I can not believe that the Titans are only a 2.5 point favorite given that the Bucs give up 30+ points a game and that Hargreaves will be rolled out there again and exposed as usual since Tampa’s defensive gurus simply do not adjust their gameplan unlike almost any other ****ing team in the NFL except for Miami, Cincy, the ATL and the Jets who are tanking for tomorrow and probably going to be the 4 of the 5 or 6 teams that will draft ahead of the Bucs in 2020 and snake the best talent of the board just like in 2018…… BA cites accountability, yet the D simply goes Mike Smith week after week, its disgusting, maybe they are tanking for Tua too……
October 25th, 2019 at 8:01 am
Well if the other teams are tanking and we only have one more win than they do- somethings wrong.
October 25th, 2019 at 8:09 am
I think we all know how this game is gonna go. Titans are a better football team and we are gonna get lit up by RT. Why wouldn’t we.
October 25th, 2019 at 1:51 pm
All JW and AB had to do is watch Mr. Brady Monday night. 16 plays, did have the ball in his hands for more than 3 seconds. That makes the OL better and the defense rested.