“Why Am I Still On This Football Team?”
July 24th, 2015
Garrett Gilkey speaks out and is called “despised” by a Bucs beat writer.
Bucs backup guard/center Garrett Gilkey is an easy punching bag for disgusted fans. The sight of Gilkey literally enrages many Bucs faithful.
And it seems Gilkey understands why.
Super fan Derek “Old School” Fournier, leader of the WhatTheBuc.net association, cranked out a 90+ minute podcast this week while joined by Mark Cook of Pewter Report.
Cook described a colossal feature he will release soon that delves into the “despised” (Cook’s word) Gilkey’s take on what went wrong for him and what the future holds.
Cook touched on the hours he spent with Gilkey and said, “Garrett will say, ‘Why am I still on this football team?'”
What self-awareness!
Joe already knows why Gilkey is still here. He’s a live, active body, and the Bucs didn’t add any experienced offensive lineman this offseason. How bizarre is that?
Gilkey’s almost a salty veteran among this O-line. At least Gilkey can say he’s played center now, something he couldn’t do when he started for the Bucs there last season.
July 24th, 2015 at 1:09 pm
Would be great if Gilkey could develop into a decent lineman after the beating he took on the field last year. It seems unlikely based on what we saw – but players can improve with hard work and good coaching.
On a related note, I sure hope Koetter knew what he was doing in keeping Warhop. I think most Bucs fans would have preferred to see a new face coaching OLine this year. We’ll see how it works out…
July 24th, 2015 at 1:10 pm
The real question is how does Warhop and Lovie still have jobs after last year’s disaster and not addressing oline
July 24th, 2015 at 1:15 pm
Pickgrin
Not sure why it does not get mentioned more but Laughable Lovie’s entire offensive staff from last year is in place. Not to mention the new qb coach is a Lovie guy not a Koetter guy. If Koetter really has control of offense you would think he would be allowed to pick his staff.
July 24th, 2015 at 1:22 pm
That is a good question……with us having first shot at the waiver wire…..there is no reason why we can’t upgrade some positions…..including his….yes, he’s taken a beating and yes….you’d like to root for him….but, lets get better players…please!!!
July 24th, 2015 at 1:24 pm
Maybe he is good with the staff.
July 24th, 2015 at 1:31 pm
Obviously it is much easier to teach a scheme your assistants understand and are familiar with versus teaching it to both players and coaches at the same time.
July 24th, 2015 at 1:31 pm
Can anyone explain why nobody at One Buc place is not bringing this guy in for a serious look?
http://www.nfl.com/player/evanmathis/2506418/profile
Best available lineman right now.
July 24th, 2015 at 1:35 pm
I would think with Mathis – EDS – Mankins we would at least have a chance running it up the middle at least once a series.
July 24th, 2015 at 2:00 pm
I believe the Bucs are playing Garrett Gilkey out of position, he’s a 6’6 tackle, the Bucs are trying to convert him into a guard/center. They are doing the exact same thing Cleveland did with him, but Cleveland did it because of injuries. How many 6’6 centers are in the NFL?.
July 24th, 2015 at 2:31 pm
If we have sunk so low that we are picking on Garrett Gilkey, we have serious problems.
July 24th, 2015 at 2:40 pm
Amen Senor Mofo! Gilkey wasn’t responsible for last year’s disaster. Unfortunately for him he has become the poster boy for all that futility.
Did Gilkey fail to count 12 players on the field?
Did Gilkey drop a game clinching int that turned into a loss?
Did Gilkey catch a first down pass in overtime only to fumble the ball setting up the other team with a chip shot game winning FG?
EVERYTHING about last year sucked…except for getting the #1 draft pick.
I’m the blog optimist but I concede there is no sugar coating last year. It was a TOTAL TEAM FAILURE. Gilkey didn’t lose those 14 games.
July 24th, 2015 at 2:46 pm
tmax – my understanding was that Koetter wanted to keep Warhop so they did.
Bajakian is well credentialed and experienced with QB and OC duties at the College level and did spend some time under Lovie in the NFL. He’s a good coach from all accounts and will probably be an OC in this league sooner than later assuming all goes well with Winston’s development.
I find your over the top dislike of Lovie to be pretty amusing on a regular basis though. You and Dallas both remind me of barry and supersam as they continually spouted their baseless hatred of America’s Quarterback pre-draft.
Lovie Smith is a very experienced NFL head coach. He has a winning record as an NFL HC and has coached in multiple Championship and Super Bowl games as LB coach, DC and HC over the last 20 years.
The Glazers are going to give Lovie time to get the players he needs and with Licht and his staff’s eye for talent – this team will be built for success the right way once again. Through the draft. And WITH a franchise QB and some nice weapons now in place I might add.
Lovie Smith is going to turn this team into a winner over the next couple of years and it will be built to last. And you will probably be whining and bitching and moaning about him the whole way.
July 24th, 2015 at 2:48 pm
Excellent post Pickgrin! Well thought out and reasoned and spot on IMHO.
July 24th, 2015 at 2:53 pm
Mathis has sure jumped around a lot. Four teams. May be good but that would seem to be a red flag. Pickgrin’s Warhop question is a good one. Hope keeping him works out. I still think the Bucs will add a vet OL off the waiver wire or FA one of these days. Need the depth.
July 24th, 2015 at 3:10 pm
The reason you are still here is because here in Tampa….the bucs like to hang onto underachievers 3 to 4 years longer than they should. They like to cross theyre fingers and hope you break out and become good. Than if you do become good they will let you walk. If you dont they will offer you a long term deal on the low. So if your still here tou probably suck or just havent finished your contract yet…
July 24th, 2015 at 3:23 pm
So keeping up with Our..No Mo’ Choir Boyz Approach
We have a new candidate Gents
Junior Galette DE/LB
Height: 6-2 || Weight: 257 lbs.
In 30 games as a starter, he’s compiled 31.5 sacks
*Possible 4 games suspension
July 24th, 2015 at 3:34 pm
stpete / pickgrin
i truly wish I had your optimism and confidence in a coach who has not WON back to back playoff games since 05 (ten years) and who has only managed 1 back to back playoff season in a 10 years. It only takes basic math to see he can’t beat teams with winning records and the only success, he had was when the division was down. Lovie does Just enough to think he is good yet NO Titles and NO Consistency when it comes to playoff appearances and playoff wins. 3-3 playoff record in a 10 year coaching career is laughable not legendary not to mention not only will Lovie have a .500 career playoff record he is more than likely will be under .500 coach for his career after this season therefore your arguments for lovie have no merit. He has done nothing… I will say the excuses people make for him are quit entertaining. And to top it all off Raheem had a better 2 year run than Lovie will and Raheem did it with peanuts while Lovie threw 31 million down the toilet… ooops… thats our guy Lovie…
July 24th, 2015 at 4:50 pm
If we were on board with Hardy, we should be on board with Gallete. If he can get to the QB I’m all for it.
July 24th, 2015 at 5:04 pm
Wish the kid would show more confidence. He was put in a bad situation which was made worse by the bumbling Arroyo.
I think if you kept a good attitude and showed effort last year you got a pass because Arroyo was deemed do incompetent.
July 24th, 2015 at 5:09 pm
Get off the panic button Joe, plenty of OL will be waived in the next 8 weeks and we get first dibs on them.
July 24th, 2015 at 6:48 pm
tmax – compared to the extremely unqualified head coaches the Bucs brought in after Gruden – Lovie Smith was a great hire.
At least he HAS an NFL playoff record -and as I noted, has coached in 4 NFC Championship games and 2 Super Bowls. That along with 20 years of NFL coaching experience makes him very qualified to succeed here in Tampa Bay.
In analyzing his record and focusing on the negatives – you ignore the fact that until now, Lovie has never had a good Quarterback before (except for Warner when he was DC for St Louis – and no Cutler doesn’t count and Lovie didn’t even want to do the big trade for him in the 1st place).
Last year was a tank job to get that QB (which I believe was mandated by the owners and for which I give coach Smith a hardy thanks and congratulations for a tank job well done) so as far as I’m concerned – Lovie’s evaluation as head coach of the Bucs actually starts this year.
Things are definitely looking up. Our GM and his staff seem to have a decent if not a good eye for talent, we got our QB, we got the best OC available, we have some talented weapons for Winston to throw to, we have finally started drafting Olinemen again (Thanks again Dom!) and we have 2 All pro Defensive players at key positions for Lovie’s defense – with a steadily improving supportive defensive cast that is now fairly familiar with the scheme and how to play well in it.
You can continue to play Debby Downer and Negative Nancy regarding coach Smith – as I’m sure you will – but at some point this team is going to start winning – and at that point you will look pretty silly trying to maintain your stance of what a “laughable” coach Lovie Smith is.
July 24th, 2015 at 7:35 pm
@Pickgrin. Thank u, thank u. I gotta say, it’s funny yet sad that you guys only hate. I mean damn why u still focused on the past… really? They shall forever remain nameless to me. Focus man. Bucs are coming for the league. @Stpetebucfan, 10-6 baby! In my best dicky V. voice
July 24th, 2015 at 7:38 pm
Cmon Joe, what did i say wrong
July 24th, 2015 at 7:40 pm
Does anyone think that when teams drop to their 53 man rosters and we pick up a serviceable guard, any team will pick up Garrett Gilkey when he is waived? Another reason he should not be getting first team reps, when they return to camp.
July 24th, 2015 at 7:40 pm
Lets not make believe that Gilkey was the only rotten egg on this line. It takes 5 and i cant remember one game when all played as one.
July 24th, 2015 at 7:44 pm
@Pickgrin, well spoken. We all should b focusing on moving forward. Screw last year, old news. It’s a new day in… well you know the rest. Let’s go Bucs
@Stpetebucfan, 10-6 baby! In my best dicky V. Voice
July 24th, 2015 at 10:00 pm
tmaxcon Says
“The real question is how does Warhop and Lovie still have jobs after last year’s disaster and not addressing oline.”
And here I thought they drafted two offensive linemen. I must have dreamed it.
July 24th, 2015 at 10:03 pm
Far as I’m concerned, Lovie can be given a full ten years as head coach. I would not, at present, mind that at all. We need the stability, and given a good GM and some good picks, he can make this team compete.
July 25th, 2015 at 12:35 am
Again
Gilkey looked good at guard
He played Center, to help ensure that we would get get Jameis
Thank you Misters Gilkey, Smith, and Licht.
Im sure Logan Mankins is telling the team who has talent.
Which is better than any “Posters”opinion
July 25th, 2015 at 11:44 am
Tmax always Belcher out the same thing with misinformation.
SAYS Lovie never won a title but he did in fact win the NFL title when the Bears went to the SB.
Tmax also attributed all of his alleged failures to the fact Lovie would never draft or be lived in having a franchise QB.
Says this despite the Bears bringing in Jay Cutler. Doesn’t say it now since the Bucs drafted Winston. Something Tmax said Lovie would never do or belive in.
Tmax has a hatred of all things Lovie and is a closet Bears fan.
July 25th, 2015 at 12:15 pm
Huh? Joe seems to recall the Colts winning that night?
July 26th, 2015 at 11:38 pm
Joe I think he’s talking about the NFC title