“This Is A Candy Store Operation”
December 2nd, 2014
Tampa Bay fans — the few still engaged that have not gone apathetic like most — came away from the near-win against Cincinnati, a division leader, with various degrees of outrage.
First, why can’t anyone on the Bucs count to 12?
Isn’t there some coach’s grandson who has nothing better to do than whine about when he will go to Dairy Queen the Bucs could hire to count to 12?
The Bucs, on a potential game-winning drive, had the possession blown up in their faces because on two consecutive plays, the Bucs had 12 guys line up in formation.
A high school coach would have soiled his pants for such an offense, much less a professional outfit.
Well, Tom Krasniqi, otherwise known as “TKras,” thinks the Bucs are anything but a professional football team and prove that virtually on a weekly basis. Sunday was just the latest example.
Yesterday, after a few days off over the Thanksgiving weekend, TKras resumed his spot behind the WDAE-AM 620 microphone to vent. He has had his fill of all the silly Bucs mistakes and unloaded on the team yesterday.
“You can’t really lay a whole lot of blame on this defense. They are playing well,” TKras said.
“It is really tough to run an offense when you have such a bad offensive line and a quarterback that makes some really bad decisions. Thirteen penalties, the most penalized team in the NFL. Thirteen! And that is on the head coach, that is on the coaching staff, it is ridiculous. If it is discouraging, how about you putting a stop to it?
“This is a candy store operation is what it is. it is preposterous. When is it going to end?”
Probably not until the season comes to an end.
That’s the way Joe sees it. If a team in its 12th game of the season is making stupid mistakes, just like it was in September, if not worse, then it won’t stop until the season is over.
The fact most of the mayhem is happening on the impotent offensive side of the ball tells Joe there will be sweeping changes there next year, including a new offensive coordinator (which is a given) and likely a new coaching staff.
TKras also had harsh words for starting Garrett Gilkey at center, a guy who had never snapped a football in a game. You can listen to TKras, and his co-host Ronnie Lane, from 9 a.m.-noon weekdays on WDAE-AM 620. To hear TKras’ Monday monologue, click the arrow below.
December 2nd, 2014 at 9:08 am
Since Lovie will be 100 percent responsible for ultra low attendance in 2015, single handedly reviving the NFL blackout rule, who were his enablers?
Who in the media gets the blame along with Lovie Smith for 2015 drop in attendance?
Joe is safe. Joe is the most honest critic.
But there are others who have enabled this poor decision
December 2nd, 2014 at 9:09 am
*his poor decisions.
December 2nd, 2014 at 9:18 am
I blame Warhop gor most of the OL problems. When you don’t know what to do, scheme and the personel picked sucks, no wonder the OL will be prone to offside, holding, illegal formation and 12 men on the field penalties.
Here’s what we need to do IMO
1. Fire Warhop and bring a OL coach that can really asseds the talent level of our players
2. Bring a proven OC
3. Draft high QB+OL
And on defense
4. Find a way to improve Redzone D.
On ST
5. Fire ST coach
6. Continue the search for a KR Specialist
December 2nd, 2014 at 9:25 am
Don’t blame Gilkey, blame the morons that run this stinkhole team and are actually in charge of providing depth and coaching that depth so it is prepared for Sundays. Oh wait, that’s not how it works with Lovie Smith and Jason Licht. The media has inexplicably given free passes to this outfit.
December 2nd, 2014 at 9:38 am
Joe I’m just worried about it carrying over to next season, it looks THAT bad out there, and I don’t see it getting any better.
Look it’s either that or it’s very possible they might be trying to tank the season and this is evaluation time. I was thinking about it a lot after this past game. I thought to myself, no team can be this inept without trying to be this inept.
12 men on the field? Cousins being lined up wrong on Martin’s 25 yard scamper in the first quarter. I don’t know, maybe a team can be this inept and if that’s so then our future is bleak my fellow Buc fans.
Us long time Buc fans have seen our fair share of inept teams from seasons pasts. Hell we’re the damn authority on inept football teams. We know what they look like and this is one of them.
So for me right now the future does look bleak.
Is it possible that they can be this inept this late in the season and not be trying to lose at all costs? I want to believe that they are trying to do all of this for a higher pick, but I just can’t bring myself to believe a team would do such a thing. I don’t see the players quitting on Lovie, so perhaps the coaches quit on the season and players have not.
It’s either that or we’re in for another loooong losing season next year.
December 2nd, 2014 at 9:42 am
It’s a candy store operation where all the candy tastes like pig crap!
December 2nd, 2014 at 9:44 am
In what world do you not have someone practice as center, just in case someone is injured. I agree with @DallasBuc. Everyone gave (and is still giving) Smith and Licht a pass with this fiasco of a season.
Im thinking either QB or OL for our 1st draft pick.
December 2nd, 2014 at 9:49 am
Perhaps DallasBuc and many others are way ahead of me, Lovie was inept to begin with.
Perhaps Rastamon has been right all along. Lovie has been swept into this position (and Chicago) by his association with good coaches.
I know he’s here another year, but the team is so bad right now, I can’t think of a good reason to keep him here other than not wanting to start all over again.
December 2nd, 2014 at 9:53 am
In Chicago Lovie had annual house cleanings of both player and coaching rosters……that in itself should have raised red flags about his ability as a HC
December 2nd, 2014 at 9:56 am
Here is a rather simple question guys….Why so many penalties?
I believe the reason is lack of talent. The o-line jumps early because they are getting beat on most plays. They hold, because they can’t block legally and win the battle.
When you are totally inferior in talent and don’t have the coaching to overcome that fact, the results are you lead the league in penalties.
December 2nd, 2014 at 10:08 am
This is lovie’s curse. He never new how to build an offensive line.
Same exact thing happened in Chicago.
December 2nd, 2014 at 10:11 am
Didn’t we have a player who could pretty much play every position on the line, including center? We didn’t give him away for virtually nothing did we?
December 2nd, 2014 at 10:14 am
I know I’m not expecting a big turnaround next season. I’m not expecting squat. I’ve gotten to the point of enjoying the misery and incompetence on a weekly basis.
December 2nd, 2014 at 10:16 am
Everyone seems set on Marriota or Winston. To quote Lee Corso…”Not so fast my friend!” If we beat Carolina for our third win we COULD drop all the way down to no.7 (as of today). Both QB’s will be gone. Even if it’s 4 or five the Jets, Titans and Washington all will want QB’s. So hold your breath. DO you realize WInston has thrown the 4th most interceptions in the FBS. Lovie LOVES ball protection. Bottom line.. don’t count on a QB in the first round.
December 2nd, 2014 at 10:23 am
I am holding my breath for the highest possible draft pick….so we can trade down twice in the first round ! Picking up picks this year and next…the record is meaningless…..Fire L&L…..1Jan 2015
December 2nd, 2014 at 10:28 am
As for you have patience or give him time people.
What say you when someone mentions Andy Reid’s first season in KC? How about Chip Kelly winning this early in Philly? Bruce Arians in Arizona? Jim Harbaugh won quickly in San Fran…
Are we fans expecting too much? I don’t think so. The Bucs could have went 6-10 this season and most of us wouldn’t have bit*hed about it seeing how it is only Lovie’s first year. That’s NOT the case though. This team looks so far off from becoming a good team, it’s scary.
Would any of you take 1/2 of what Reid, Harbaugh, Kelly and Arians have done for their teams? I know I would, but the gap between those coaches and Lovie Smith is so wide right now. I don’t see it getting better next season.
December 2nd, 2014 at 10:32 am
Lovie failure is much deeper than the W-L record….complete blow outs Falcons-Panthers-Ravens
December 2nd, 2014 at 10:39 am
Attendance will plummet in 2015 thanks to Lovie Smith.
Who is gonna buy tickets next season?
December 2nd, 2014 at 10:43 am
I have already told my account manager I will not be renewing….the only HC I have not had season tickets for was Leeman Bennett…had these since Ray Perkins was hired…
December 2nd, 2014 at 10:44 am
How do you stop penalties? Guys that are not physically outmatched, and know the schemes. Our players have shown neither; they are weak, and apparently kinda dumb.
December 2nd, 2014 at 10:45 am
brandonbucsfan….this IS a 2-14 team. Make no mistake about it. This team will NOT win another game this season.
The Bucs NEED to take a chance on a QB in the 1st. Regardless if Lovie is here after next season or not. Let the next coach have the possible franchise QB then if Lovie bombs out next season, which looks likely to happen
Just like you said we might be picking 7th…..if they win a few more games. If not though and they have the 2nd pick in the draft, you don’t pass up this chance. You don’t know when you’re going to be picking this high again.
It really has gotten this bad, that I’ve questioned whether I could continue on being a fan if Winston or Mariota is on the board and the Bucs pass on both or trade down. I think what it comes down to for me really IS this. If they pass up on either QB and both of them have a good showing next season, while the Bucs are still sucking, I might be done.
I mean how much can a human being mentally take?
What say the rest of you? If the Bucs pass up on Winston or Mariota and both of them go onto shine in the NFL, while our team still sucks. How much longer do we hold on for our team to do something right, when they had the chance?
December 2nd, 2014 at 11:01 am
The offense is what it’s going to be for the rest of the season.
We’ll need an entire new offensive coaching staff this offseason. And a QB. And a line.
December 2nd, 2014 at 11:36 am
Nobody will expect anything good out of the Bucs next season. I believe with the right moves and additions that the team can be competitive. There will have to be improvement across the board for Lovie to keep his job. Stranger things have happened. It’s not out of the realm of possibility.
December 2nd, 2014 at 11:42 am
Spend your money on the Lightning…better product, better game and fan experience, much better run operation. Bolts are one of the best teams in hockey this year.
December 2nd, 2014 at 12:16 pm
Yeah support the Lightning. Live hockey > Live football.
December 2nd, 2014 at 12:31 pm
What professional coach would put a person at center who had never hiked a ball ever at any level? Who would not have had a backup center that had some practice? What OC and head coach would let this happen?
Who should lose their jobs today? Why don’t they?
December 2nd, 2014 at 1:29 pm
Really Joe that’s just brilliant champion stuff… Of course most of the changes will come on offense starting with an offensive coordinator because we don’t have one with experience which is part of the reason we do so many idiotic things on offense
December 2nd, 2014 at 3:22 pm
ok, ok, i get it, it’s on the coach…but is that really pointing to a solution? there aren’t many coaches more emphatic about eliminating mistakes than lovie smith and greg schiano. both their approaches could be distilled to “do nothing risky or flashy and just make less mistakes than the other guy”. this group of guys (with significant turnover between seasons, to be fair) have been bombarded with the idea of disciplined play by both these guys and the matters persist. so should lovie say “cool it with the penalties” 120 times a week instead of 100?
i think what’s missing is a sense of accountability within the huddle. there are players who confront players (kudos to mike evans for not just patting gilkey on the head and saying “it’s okay, you’ll get ’em next time”) when these things happen and that’s how it stops. warren\derrick, ray lewis, manning, brady…great seasons require great leadership at the player level and that’s why the players i mentioned had great success across multiple coaches or through total roster transformations
December 2nd, 2014 at 3:46 pm
Man I skipped this article somehow. Great comments and a great article too! Redemption is so sweet. Since April I’ve been bashing Lovie and crew for the chit decisions they’ve made and the chit product they put on the field. Since April I’ve also been ridiculed, chastised and insulted for not knowing what I’m talking about. Well the proof is in the pudding gents.
Who’s buying tickets next year? Corporations that’s about it. Can’t see a family of 4 shelling out hundreds for this product.
Oh, it takes time? No it takes ingenuity, passion and swagger to win in the NFL. Doing what you saw someone else do 10 years ago isn’t going to cut it.
Smith Bucs
2-10
Zimmer Vikings
5-7
Pettine Browns
7-5
Obrein Texans
6-6
Wisenhunt Titans
2-10
Gruden Redskins
3-9
Caldwell Lions
8-4
December 2nd, 2014 at 6:44 pm
What’s the difference between the Bucs mistakes and the mistakes made by the Packers, Patriots, & Broncos for example? Our mistakes absolutely kill us, whereas the mistakes by good teams do not. Why is that? Some will argue luck, but it’s really a combination of things: talent, good coaching, and a belief that you can overcome mistakes. I don’t think the Bucs have any of that. Lovie can’t manage games. Our players have difficulty based on their talent level making key plays at key times. And mentally, the whole organization is a mess with no leadership or direction. This is a recipe for 12 men on the field penalties; blown 4th quarter leads; and, an angry fan base.
December 2nd, 2014 at 7:20 pm
brandonbucsfan Says:
December 2nd, 2014 at 10:16 am
Everyone seems set on Marriota or Winston. To quote Lee Corso…”Not so fast my friend!” If we beat Carolina for our third win we COULD drop all the way down to no.7 (as of today). Both QB’s will be gone. Even if it’s 4 or five the Jets, Titans and Washington all will want QB’s. So hold your breath. DO you realize WInston has thrown the 4th most interceptions in the FBS. Lovie LOVES ball protection. Bottom line.. don’t count on a QB in the first round
—–
Wrongo!
They would drop to 6th BUT Jacksonville and Tennessee still have to play each other, meaning at worst they would be 5th. Tennessee also plays the Giants so there’s a great chance even with an additional win, they pick no worse than 4th.
December 2nd, 2014 at 9:32 pm
Got to give TKras his props. That was an awesome rant. Preach on, brother!