“No Excuse”
September 19th, 2014
Dixie Chicks RB Antone Smith runs past Dashon Goldson for a score Thursday.
Like the rest of America, Joe saw the shameful Bucs performance in Atlanta. That’s the best way Joe could put it. One of the absolute worst defensive performances since the Bucs were born, and that encompasses some very dark, awful football.
That was the most points allowed by Tampa Bay in 25 years. Pathetic.
Like America, Andrew Astleford was shocked and appalled. He typed for Fox Sports Florida that there is nothing Bucs officials can say that will exonerate last night’s performance.
Really, what is there left to say? This was an embarrassment in every sense of the word. As much talk as there was of change and new beginnings under Smith, the Bucs never looked this bad last year with Greg Schiano in charge.
Offense, defense, special teams. This was a complete failure in all phases. The Bucs looked completely unprepared and Devin Hester, who was an option for Tampa Bay in free agency, took it to his old coach by ripping Smith’s new team in a big way.
It’s hard to see where the Bucs go from here. Some perspective is required. Tampa Bay was undermanned on defense without McCoy, and this was an uncommon situation in which a quick turnaround was required after the loss Sunday to the St. Louis Rams. But this is the NFL. That performance was inexcusable. Terrible.
Yes, where do the Bucs go from here? Joe assumes a thorough re-evaluation of player talent is underway. There were guys last night that nowhere near played to the level of their contract. Joe is guessing some if not most of those guys won’t be wearing Bucs jerseys next year.
Can their be changes to the lineup? Lovie is a big Danny Lansanah guy and he has never disappointed when he was on the field. Perhaps he may have played himself into a starter role?
Joe can sense many fans have checked out. It is really amazing. Three weeks ago, Joe cannot remember the Bucs fanbase so energized.
Three weeks later, apathy has set it, the first kind of emotion. The kind of emotion that takes over when a division rival runs up a 56-point lead before your team wakes up.
September 19th, 2014 at 3:52 pm
There is nothing wrong with this Bucs team that a new coach and GM couldn’t fix. Surely that is in the offing.
September 19th, 2014 at 3:54 pm
We are cursed ! Lovie brought the billy goat and Steve Bartman’s curses with him from Chicago. We need a mad Haitian priestess to undo the Cubs curse or else we are doomed !
September 19th, 2014 at 3:57 pm
Yes..I listened to the press conference…what I heard was …no excuses…then excuses…
September 19th, 2014 at 4:03 pm
Coaching staff in over head. Players look lost. David is not improving as he had been. The QB is terrible as a starter, the oline is a mess. Evans drops a huge ball, Johnson in limited play is not in existence. Verner was toasted as well but thankfully ball overthrown and guess what fletcher can’t cover the seem in cover 2 either. Did you hear or see how made lovie got at Roy Cummings!
September 19th, 2014 at 4:05 pm
Simply put, this team is thin on talent and they missed on their free agent signings.
September 19th, 2014 at 4:05 pm
Lovie… Just do the right thing. Release Tedford to protect his health, finish the season and retire.
Please.
September 19th, 2014 at 4:10 pm
Just want to thank the Bucs for giving me back my Sunday afternoons. I’ve got better things to do than punish myself watching this crappy football club. I put it all on the Glazers.
September 19th, 2014 at 4:12 pm
Tampa needs a reason to get excited about their football team. Lovie just does not do it. Too stoic and emotionless on the sideline just like Dungy. And his style of ball is boring, period. Been a diehard fan my entire life — since 76 — and I changed the channel after our first offensive series last night. Thank god Gruden won us a super bowl. At 50 years old, I don’t think I will live to see another one.
September 19th, 2014 at 4:25 pm
This season is inexcusable. Period.
September 19th, 2014 at 4:31 pm
offensive playcalling: horrible
Defensive playcalling: ultra vanilla
Draft plan: horrible
Player Talent on team: not good
Offseason moves:
Same weak O-line, dirferent names
Same lame QB, different name of starter
So far: same level of incopetence at GM HC OWNER position as last year!
September 19th, 2014 at 4:33 pm
Nah these guys were already demoralized. Players do whatever you tell them to do. Of you say hey don’t kick to Hester the player won’t kick to Hester. THIS IS COMPLETELY ON LOVIE AND HIS STAFF
I’LL TELL YOU ANOTHER BRILLIANT MOVE AND PRIME EXAMPLE. YOUR SCARED TO THEIR IN THE REDONE, YOU’RE PLAYING FOR FIELD GOALS BUT YOU GET RID OF CONNOR BARTH TO SAVE A COUPLE DOLLARS THAT YOU’RE NOT EVEN USING
September 19th, 2014 at 4:35 pm
I’ve told my wife that I’m going to spend more time with her and the kids this year and not so much time watching football. I win on both fronts because it gets me points with the wife (she has no idea how bad they are) and I don’t have to watch this pathetic excuse for a team. Thanks Bucs.
September 19th, 2014 at 4:51 pm
Part of the problem is the way Lobie handles his players. For example, Rainey fumbled TWICE in the game, and yet he kept coming back into the game! Now I’m all for giving a guy a second chance….but at what point does it become MORE IMPORTANT to send a message to ALL the players that things like turnovers are not acceptable, and to sit a guy like Rainey for the rest of the game so he understands the message? I like Rainey….but there have to be consequences! Fumble the ball twice, and you ride the pine the rest of the game. Give the ball to Mike James, hell, give it to big Javorsky Lane, but send a message that these guys need to quit making these kinds of mistakes. I don’t like players being in the “doghouse” of a coach, but I’m all for dealing with a situation like this on the spot, during the game….and then you move forward.
September 19th, 2014 at 5:02 pm
I love how people are so quick to forget about the asswhooping the Saints put on us in 2012 … A SHUTOUT still in the thick of a chance at the playoffs or at worst a winning season… 41-0 against one of the historically WORST defenses in the NFL is just as bad…
September 19th, 2014 at 5:03 pm
I think that there are a bunch of kids on this comment section or some of the fans here have some type of medical condition and are not taking their meds. why am i even concerned, you know just forget it and carry on.
September 19th, 2014 at 5:06 pm
It’s been nice, actually. The wife is happy that I don’t give a crap about the team or even whether I catch the game. I could get used to not having a stake in these idiots and their futile activities. I didn’t have to drop a fortune on one of those hideous uniforms either. I’ll still stop in here to rubberneck, though.
September 19th, 2014 at 5:27 pm
Aah, welcome to the past, it’s nice to reminisce of the futility of the old hapless Bucs come around to slap fans hard in the face again. Those lovable bungling Bucs have been reincarnated.
September 19th, 2014 at 5:29 pm
RE-STRUCTURED CONTRACTS FOR EVERYONE!! (Not sorry for all caps)
Go BUCS!!!
September 19th, 2014 at 5:34 pm
I am trying to figure out how the Bucs have 2 of the biggest receiver tandems in the NFL and never use their height advantage. I have yet to see consistent use of their height over an opponent. That screams of incompetent offensive coaching. The Bucs kicking to Hester is on the head coach after the 2nd time it happened. The defense consistently over pursues the running back and gets gashed. The corners play such soft coverage that its laughable.
September 19th, 2014 at 5:38 pm
All last night missing was Yackity Sax(Benny Hill theme music) playing over the broadcast.
September 19th, 2014 at 5:53 pm
This is the culmination of years if not decades of poor drafting, poor coaching, owners that are too complacent but other than that everything’s good.
September 19th, 2014 at 6:04 pm
It was 35-0 before TB got a first down!! Has that every happened before in the NFL? I doubt it. Probably in college ball where mismatches are scheduled but the NFL is supposed to have a degree of parity. Most of the posters here have expressed the same feeling as I had watching the game. Inexplicably pathetic.
September 19th, 2014 at 7:03 pm
Joe why does your site constantly exit and take me to the apple store while I am reading articles?
September 19th, 2014 at 7:21 pm
I have never seen defense as bad as what I saw in that first half.
They should be fired for not taking Manziel with the 7th pick.
September 19th, 2014 at 7:27 pm
CB’S WERE LOST,NO PASS RUSH,McCOWN WAS LOST,O-LINE WAS BAD,5 TURN-OVERS,THEN THEY JUST QUIT . . . FLAT OUT QUIT. WERE HORRIBLE ON OFFENSE,DEFENSE,SPECIAL TEAMS. THIS TEAM IS NOT VERY WELL COACHED!
September 19th, 2014 at 8:09 pm
Joe, wake us up in a few years once this is sorted out.
September 19th, 2014 at 8:11 pm
I’m curious what if any action will come from the Glazers. I can’t imagine any owners sitting quiet for this. The stadium will be half full if they are lucky.
September 19th, 2014 at 8:18 pm
I predited the falcons would blow us out 48-20 but OMFG! That was shockiingly similar to the end of Raheems tenure. Building a team takes time but wow. These players must not listen or have any respect for Lovie’s program cause if they were actually trying then all 53 players have no rigt to play in the national football leaugue. I mean WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT HOW! WHY! ARE YOU SERIOUS! THAT WAS THE MOST PATHETIC ATTEMPT IVE EVER SEEN FROM THE BUCS! WORSE THAN RAHEEM! WORSE THAN SCHIANO! PATHETIC! Something is seriously wrong here. I dont know what but the bull spit was not acceptable in any way! LOVIE YOU SUCK! HOW DARE YOU PUT THAT SPIT ON THE FIELD!
September 19th, 2014 at 8:55 pm
Casual Observer: I think in 2011 that the Colts were run by the Saints 62-7 on a Sunday night game. I believe Curtis Painter was the QB, the Saints did not punt during the whole frieking game and the Colts started that season 0-13 before getting a win or two….. Sounds like a good team to compare the Bucs to…..
September 19th, 2014 at 9:21 pm
That game literally redefines ineptitude on a grand scale… Some of the worst if not the worst played game by any team I have ever seen…
I sat and watched players who were clueless and lovie showed absolutely NO EMOTION throughout the game.. Players came out flat with a crappy game plan and the coaches apperared absolutely clueless.
This fan is totally disgusted at the thought of knowing we still have 13 games left and know that we probably won’t see didly in improvement.
September 19th, 2014 at 10:26 pm
Didn’t you hear Deckerhoff yell like we got a touchdown? FIRST DOWN BUCCANEERS! Oh, that was me in the third quarter…
September 19th, 2014 at 11:05 pm
I’m starting to think McCown has some compromising photos of Lovie
September 20th, 2014 at 12:02 am
Leslie Frazier is the one who ruined Ponder and Schiano Defense. Bring Schiano back as Defensive Coach and Bring in Ponder. Maybe without Frazier these two talented entities could actually flourish. I know Schiano would not come back but instant improvement.
September 20th, 2014 at 12:18 am
Lovie, with Urlacher: 69-51
Lovie, without Urlacher: 12-21
Just how much of a team is Lovie able to build outside of his elite players? Not a winning one.
And he inherited Urlacher.
All these free agents he thought were good, with the exception of Verner, just stink. He has no eye for talent. The average fan is better than he is at it.