What’s Improved Since Last Year’s 1-8?
November 9th, 2014
New regimes look to improve, hopefully quickly, but at least steadily. They focus on growth. They’re trying to build something.
Right now, following a beating by a bad Falcons football team, Joe’s not sure what the Buccaneers have accomplished this year, if anything at all.
Joe really hates typing this. Losing sucks. Being the worst team in the NFC — by two games — is dreadful and inexcusable. Joe loves the Bucs more than most might believe. That’s why Joe started this website, out of pure love for the Buccaneers. Luckily, it led to Joe making a decent living, but Joe’s love of the team is what fuels the engine.
So, at 1-8, Joe is yearning for positives, and Joe really can’t find any right now outside of No. 13, wide receiver Mike Evans, a hell of a draft pick and a kid maturing rapidly before our eyes.
The core keys to NFL victory aren’t here.
1) The offensive line is below average with a lot of veterans who aren’t on the upswing.
2) The defensive line is anemic and can’t capitalize on the constant double teams of its lone manbeast.
3) The Bucs are poor at quarterback and are not developing a quarterback. That’s still the most important position on the field, despite those who pretend otherwise.
4) The Bucs are undisciplined.
5) The special teams are a weakness.
Joe’s really not sure where the Bucs are going, and where they need to turn in January, when 2015 decisions start flowing.
Last year, the Bucs were 1-8 under Greg Schiano.
What exactly is better, overall, about where the Bucs are right now, versus where they were at least year’s 1-8 mark?
Joe’s really struggling for positive answers. Can somebody please tell Joe why the organization is better off one year later?
November 9th, 2014 at 7:00 pm
They’re not.
“There’s a lot of other positions I’m concerned about. Quarterback — that’s not on the list.” – #Bucs HC Lovie Smith
4:37pm – 9 Nov 14
Get rid of this guy
November 9th, 2014 at 7:02 pm
While I try to think of something positive, I’ll stall by pointing out that Joe forgot style. Our uniforms are worse than last year, too.
November 9th, 2014 at 7:02 pm
Mike Evans will be good in this league for a very long time. That’s the only bright spot for me. The organization as a whole is a disaster from the owners to the janitors, poop everywhere.
November 9th, 2014 at 7:03 pm
Can anyone see the pattern? I was just watching the Seahawks-Giants game, and there was Preston Parker making plays, catching passes. I wondered why in the hell did we get rid of him? He was released when we signed Tiquan Underwood. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preston_Parker
We get rid of Dominik and in comes Licht (complete with puppet strings pulled by Lovie) a rash of horrific FA signings and I do not see us having a winning season for at least two more years. Not at this rate, not if we continue to ship out talent and bring in trash.
November 9th, 2014 at 7:04 pm
GOT IT!!! We’re headed towards a BETTER DRAFT POSITION!
This really, really sucks.
November 9th, 2014 at 7:04 pm
They had fun in training camp!!!
November 9th, 2014 at 7:04 pm
Patrick Murray is a bit better than Rian Lindell. That’s about the onky improvement I can think of.
November 9th, 2014 at 7:05 pm
only*
November 9th, 2014 at 7:07 pm
Great point, WalkdaPlanl!! Which reminds me:
What the heck happened to Michael Koenen?? Didn’t he used to be a Special Teams asset???
November 9th, 2014 at 7:07 pm
bring back Schiano!!!
November 9th, 2014 at 7:10 pm
They are better because as opposed to last season the games are over early and gives fans a chance to enjoy the rest of their day at an earlier time.
November 9th, 2014 at 7:12 pm
JBF, the answer is that sadly, nothing has improved and a lot has gotten worse as you’ve listed. Unfortunately, L&L have mortgaged the future with the FA signings, botched trades and incompetent coaching. I have no doubt that OBP is in total disarray, worse than last year and there is no one in the locker room that instill fear and discipline in the players. But these thieves have the security of long term contracts, so as Lovie told his locker room after their lone, lucky win, ” All is well”. Tell me what has gone right with this franchise since Papa Glazer was forced by health issues to hand his team to his sons?
November 9th, 2014 at 7:13 pm
This year you have me commenting and makes it all worth it.
November 9th, 2014 at 7:18 pm
Cue Brandon defending Lovie by saying last year is worse.
November 9th, 2014 at 7:18 pm
The schiano after party are way better than they were last year. Lol
November 9th, 2014 at 7:20 pm
Maybe Rex Ryan will be available next year for D/C. We still need an O/C… Bad! Definitely need to go all out and get a Franchise QB in the Draft, cut the dead weight of failed free agent deals of the last couple of seasons (specifically this season). Go back to the Dungy process of “Build Through The Draft”. We need another bruiser like Mike Alstott that can wear down D-lines and we have some greasy backs in Sims and Rainey. Maybe it’s time to unload Martin and see what we can get. Stick with VJ as he is a solid serviceable WR and will continue to mentor the “Up and Coming” Mike Evans. And For Gods Sake…. Give up the “Tampa 2” defense. It doesn’t really work anymore plus we do not have the personnel to make it work correctly anyhow. Looking forward to the draft.
November 9th, 2014 at 7:20 pm
If we would have passed medical marijuana we would have something to help with the depression.
November 9th, 2014 at 7:28 pm
Well the over indoctrinated and undereducated made sure that medical marijuana is never going to happen in the conservative state. As far as the Bucs go…why are we still witnessing preseason mistakes in week 9?
November 9th, 2014 at 7:29 pm
Hey I got one, the locker room is free of MRSA this year….Oh wait, the NSO cleaned that up….never mind.
November 9th, 2014 at 7:41 pm
Team Glazier went cheap with RAH, MISS. They could not close the deal with CHip Kelly and overreacted and got Mr toes on the line Schiano, MISS/MISS. NOW they go safe with the” big name” who got tossed out of Chi town because of the same issues he has here. They gave Lovie they keys to the castle and he did nothing but make bad UFA moves and got rid of some players that would be helping this team now( Zuttah) MISS. So team Glazier, what now. We must wait this mess out. Does anyone trust Lovie to groom a young QB, something he has never done? Ya’ me neither.
November 9th, 2014 at 7:50 pm
@SSG -Rex Ryan doesn’t run a lovie defence so that’s a no go next year for DC. Love’s ego won’t allow it and he would mostly likely be a one year hire before he gets his next HC gig
November 9th, 2014 at 7:51 pm
Joe
The reason this years team is better than last years, is that we are going to have a major plank walking when this season is over. The players you and the rest of us could not understand how they stayed will be gone, some have left recently.
Sometimes you have to suffer to get better and if nothing else, the Glasers are noticing the empty stands and the boos. I will not go into those that will be gone because you know them, but even the office and coaches maybe wholesale replaced. We now have at least three rock solid players with some others in bloom.
We know what we need and don’t need, just keep you chin up and keep telling us what is going on and see if you can get comments from Hardy Nickerson on what he will tell us.
Hopefully they will change the uniforms to something that resembles a football team instead of a clown troop.
The world now knows we need change and it will come, so have a good single malt scotch or two and relax, you have done your job of pointing out the problems and the gems.
Have a Good Veterans day and remember what they went through before we started to win.
November 9th, 2014 at 7:54 pm
Hey….at least Schiano had more wins than Lovie. At least Schiano had the team playing as if they cared if they won or lost.
November 9th, 2014 at 7:59 pm
Lovie’s retirement fund has certainly improved. That’s about it. This team is completely devoid of NFL caliber talent…as it was last year and the year before and damn near every year since 2003. What Gruden was able to do with limited resources and cap hell looks all the more impressive these days. So the only real difference btwn this team and last years is that we replaced a bunch of turds on the OL with a different set of turds. We swapped a corner with a bum knee for one with a strained hammy. We move Bowers from outside to inside, same result. Our safety play went from bad to worse to a little better than horrible. Mason Foster lost weight and got slower. Doug Martin went from an upper body injury to a lower one. David went from being dynamic to being a non factor by design. Hakeem Spence is a now sub but is still fat and gets pushed around a lot. Maybe best of all we went from a Teo Neshiem to finally speaking some English…Larry English.
November 9th, 2014 at 8:10 pm
Where is Bonzai? I’m sure he has tons of positive praise to offer this team.
November 9th, 2014 at 8:10 pm
Instead of last year Mike Sullivan calling runs on 3rd and seven, we have Arroyo calling pass plays on 3rd and inches. Good grief what was with that wild cat crap today? I cannot wait for this season to be over.
November 9th, 2014 at 8:16 pm
Schiano/Dominik would have drafted Evans or traded up for Sammy Watkins since Mike Williams was a goner. So that would have been a wash. Glennon would have been the starter with no controversy and all 1st team snaps in training camp. They would have picked up a few offensive linemen. And would have kept Tim Wright who was way better than ASJ is now…no comparison.
Schiano’s D was way better than this sorry Defense. Revis would be still here and totally healthy (missed all off season last year). Would have cut Bowers and got a good DE in free agency.
So, no way is this 1-8 team better than last year’s. And Schiano may have learned from what we hear to not be an a-hole anymore
November 9th, 2014 at 8:28 pm
The Glazers need to swallow their pride and admit they were wrong, again, and show Lovie the door. I don’t think I’ve seen The Buc’s this anemic and it falls on the head coach.
The Glazers need to bring in an offensive mind that can groom and develop Marcus Mariota and build our franchise around him. We have Evans, Sims, Sefarian and the veteran VJax so Mariota will have plenty of weapons to utilize. Find O-linemen in the draft and in free agency. We will have the start of a very good offense with a qb who can read defenses.
November 9th, 2014 at 8:36 pm
Let it go already who cares about developing a sh*t quarterback. Mccown isn’t the why we lost, this team is rely horrible at every phase of football, I’m done wasting my time this year, if they don’t care enough to play hard and do simple sh*t why should I care. I’ll be back next year depending on what the front office does
November 9th, 2014 at 8:51 pm
Bill T Says:
November 9th, 2014 at 8:16 pm
Schiano/Dominik would have drafted Evans or traded up for Sammy Watkins since Mike Williams was a goner. So that would have been a wash. Glennon would have been the starter with no controversy and all 1st team snaps in training camp. They would have picked up a few offensive linemen. And would have kept Tim Wright who was way better than ASJ is now…no comparison.
Schiano’s D was way better than this sorry Defense. Revis would be still here and totally healthy (missed all off season last year). Would have cut Bowers and got a good DE in free agency.
So, no way is this 1-8 team better than last year’s. And Schiano may have learned from what we hear to not be an a-hole anymore
—————————————————————-
Excellent post, Bill!
tickrdr
November 9th, 2014 at 8:56 pm
@Joe
I have been asking this exact question repeatedly for the last few weeks.
Schiano and Glennon went 4-9 to finish last year, and now all of the Schiano men have been demoted or shipped out. As I have asked repeatedly, which player let alone which unit (offense,defense or special teams) is playing better this year than last?
tickrdr
November 9th, 2014 at 11:45 pm
Lovie says the season doesn’t start until November…
That’s positive, I think!
November 9th, 2014 at 11:45 pm
“Can somebody please tell Joe why the organization is better off one year later?”
What are you talking about? McCown, Johnson, Collins, EDS, Mankins, Omameh and Verner…all clear upgrades at their position.
November 10th, 2014 at 12:00 am
tickrdr said:
“@Joe
I have been asking this exact question repeatedly for the last few weeks.
Schiano and Glennon went 4-9 to finish last year, and now all of the Schiano men have been demoted or shipped out. As I have asked repeatedly, which player let alone which unit (offense,defense or special teams) is playing better this year than last?”
Actually the Bucs were 4-4 after that 0-8 start that should have been 3-5 or so as the Bucs lost to the Cards, Rams and Seattle last year a lot like the way the Bucs lost to Cleveland, Vikes, Rams and Saints this year…. Bucs had a 3 game streak last year, doubt if they get another one game streak this year unless they catch the Bears laying down again like they ar tonight down 48-7 to GB; that team could actually compete with the Bucs for an L, no one else on schedule….
November 10th, 2014 at 12:27 am
McCoy is not double teamed constantly. His double teamed rate is right around 22% of the time. He is actually the least double teamed defensive tackle we have on the team for two years running. Please stop saying it because all of the acolytes just repeat it ad nauseam.
November 10th, 2014 at 1:12 am
Dallas Buc – not sure if you’re being sarcastic, but they aren’t upgrades..
All things considered I’d take Zuttah over EDS or Mankins. I’d take Revis over Verner. Penn over Collins, and Claiborne and even Bowers over Johnson. McCown is a wash – he’s a slightly upgraded back-up QB that doesn’t take the franchise any further moving forward – so I’ll take back that $10 mil.
Worse yet, the position where chemistry is most important (OL) was thrown together 2 weeks before opening day.
So both individually and as a unit, this team has been downgraded.
Then you throw in the coach, who is deficient in probably the most important thing this team needs – vocal leadership. I’m not saying I miss Schiano + Dom, but if Lovie and Licht make me even reminisce – we got a problem!
November 10th, 2014 at 3:09 am
They need to hire a great gm and let him bring in his coaches stop this stupid puppet crap we’ve been doing for years now no one man should have so much power also just tear it down and build from scratch it’s worth it at this point draft a quarterback round one then trade every player we can get a pic for draft in the second a big nasty guard or tackle third round a big nasty center get the offense putting up points we already have a great foundation in Sims Rainey evans Asj get our next qb an oline quickly and we will succed then build the d next draft maybe that man beast from olé miss sign such also if he becomes a free agent that man beast will bring an edge to tampa and a attitude this team needs cuz I’m tired of our team being a bunch of pansies
November 10th, 2014 at 3:36 am
…no one’s bitching about the thermostat setting.
November 10th, 2014 at 7:56 am
Mike10- yes. That is not-so-veiled sarcasm. Thought it was obvious….
November 10th, 2014 at 9:53 am
What a lot people fail to realize is the 2 most important aspect of a team is coaching & who your QB is…well our QBs aren’t anything special & our offensive gamplan/plays aren’t anything special…I do believe that our OC next yr (Tedford or a new person) will bringing a different aspect to the team…Look how Cam Newton turned around that Panthers team!…they were horrible & he gets there turn things around…has them as contenders, the coaching on the offense isn’t that great…he’s just a special talent…look @ the Browns & their coaching is what has them where they’re!…Lovie needs to evolve as coach, we NEED to find an impact QB next yr…that’s the only way I believe that this Buccaneers organization & fan base gets back on track…only if I had crystal ball to see WHO will be that person to change this franchise around b/c God knows this is too much to endure!
Back to back 1-8 season GTFOH SMFH
November 10th, 2014 at 10:37 am
NO MRSA!
November 10th, 2014 at 12:13 pm
Kevin O’Donnell Says:
“NO MRSA!”
Yeah but you won’t be saying that when MRSA makes the pro-bowl this year with its new team.