Panic?
October 13th, 2015
Panic talk continues
Joe isn’t sure there is reason to run to the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
But just because the Bucs beat the jughead Jags on Sunday doesn’t mean quite yet they are playoff bound.
Yes, 2-3 is a whole lot better than 1-4. Joe is sure — for the time being — that win saved Lovie’s job. Again, for now.
However, there is reason to panic, types Andrew Astleford of BSPN.
One reason to panic: The Jaguars entered Sunday’s game as the NFL’s No. 31 scoring offense, but they were able to put together sustained drives after the Bucs raced to a 20-7 lead. Jacksonville had scored just 30 combined points the previous two weeks. The Bucs’ defense still has room to improve.
Also factor in a one-armed quarterback (Blake Bortles) had those four touchdowns Sunday against the Bucs defense, and yeah, Joe can see how some fans might want to start playing tag with trucks on I-275.
There are signs the Bucs are building a decent foundation. Can Lovie take that foundation of talent to the next level? That is the question.
October 13th, 2015 at 5:25 am
Yes the Jags scored 31 and that is scary. But the Jags should have been 2-3 as well if they did not have a “Brindza” like meltdown kciking the ball in the 4th quarter and OT vs the Colts. The Bucs won and yeah some people probably point out that they are still not very good, particularly on defense. This win probably insured that we will not see a repeat in Tampa of what just happened in Miami where Phibin had his ticket unceremoniously punched by management so now we get to see just how bad this defense really is but lets face it Joe: 2-3 is a heck of a lot better to be going into the bye than 1-4 with everyone on this board (including myself) calling for Lovie’s dismissal. The Bucs play a not so good Skin tea after the bye, lets see what they can do up in DC before we “panic” or start thinking this team might avoid 11+ losses this season….. Just remember what Winston Wolf (Harvey Keitel) told Vincent Vega (Travolta) and Jewels (Samuel L Jackson) in Pulp Fiction at Jimmy’s house (Tarantino who made a damned fine cup of coffee. The Bucs won even if its its just a win over a bad team at home; lets be happy for a bit as most of the pundits were sure we’d be looking at a Tampa team that would be 1-4 going into the bye week. But yes, that defense looks bad, every qb that faces them puts up All Pro numbers, especially at RJS where the Bucs have allowed 116 points in 3 games; 38.7 points a game and we can not hang all of that on the offense turning the ball over; this defense is flat out lousy!
October 13th, 2015 at 6:10 am
Astleford … “The Bucs’ defense still has room to improve.”
Brilliant observation. Wonder what gave it away.
And I wish folks would stop with the ‘Bortles had only one arm’ junk. He was throwing the ball with authority and went deep several times, overthrowing his receiver. Jacksonville was as desperate as the Bucs were Sunday, and offensively they played a good game. Bucs defense needs work … a LOT of work in pass defense especially … but several aspects showed improvement, and discrediting the Jaguars diminishes that.
October 13th, 2015 at 6:40 am
Our offensive and defensive lines are both not only playing well but have depth as well. Our rookie QB is showing progress every week. Our running game is a true strength and we’ve got two legit threats in the backfield. Our PR/KR is giving us great field position every time he touches the ball and our rookie LB is turning heads already. Yes, our defensive backfield needs improvement. I’ll give them next off season to fix that. There’s only so much that can be done in an off season and we had a lot to do this year
October 13th, 2015 at 6:43 am
So we have a defensive minded head coach with a bad defense? The defense features two keystone players and has hand picked vets yet they still suck
October 13th, 2015 at 6:47 am
No need to panic, nothing new here I hope? Overall the defense is as poor as it’s been pretty much since day 1, mediocre QBs torch it and the top QBs laugh all week during film study that they get a gimme. Cutting the best CB in football might have been a bad idea in hindsight though.
October 13th, 2015 at 7:10 am
It’s almost Halloween and we are not eliminated from the playoffs. Couldn’t say that the last two seasons. We may not win another game but our season has already lasted longer than we are used to it lasting.
October 13th, 2015 at 7:16 am
The important thing is to replace Lovie at the end of the season. Lovie is a terrible coach and needs to be gone.
October 13th, 2015 at 7:40 am
I believe that synergy is big for football teams. The bucs are clearly not much better than the Jags, but if you eek out wins against teams that are as bad as you, pretty soon confidence starts to rise and all of the sudden you become a better team. Sitting at 2-3 instead of 1-4 is a start but this team has a ways to go before being even middle of the pack. I am not sure if my poor wife can take me screaming at #28 much more. As long is Jennings is on the field, the other team will be scoring lots of points.
October 13th, 2015 at 7:58 am
What a horrible week for the bye, they just built their momentum with a HUGE win…….when you’re winning, you want to keep on going…..
That being said, it will also give Lovie time to draw up some more great “prevent” defenses…..
October 13th, 2015 at 8:17 am
The word before the game was the Jags got out to a good start in the first half of games scoring most of their points before halftime. Playing the Bucs opens up your playbook. Sure, they were desperate to beat the Bucs, every team is looking at the Bucs as one of their easier games on their schedule. If you can’t beat the Bucs that’s comedy material. As far as throwing yourself off the Skyway bridge, some have survived doing just that. A Bucs bummer isn’t worth that leap.
October 13th, 2015 at 9:21 am
No he can’t
October 13th, 2015 at 10:27 am
“A win is a win, and wins are tough to come by in this league.” – Tony Dungy, Oct 24, 1999, when fans criticized a 6-3 win over Chicago for not being pretty enough. (Note: That was the season where the Bucs lost to the Rams in the NFC Championship game.)
Everyone wanted a return to the “Glory Days” under Dungy, this is exactly the way they went down. Rush the passer, pound the running game, neuter the QB to a game manager, and pray for a narrow victory. Everyone should be thrilled!
The Bucs are 2-3 going into the Bye week and they have a very winnable game against Washington the following week. The offensive and defensive lines have played extremely well and the Rookie QB’s limitations have been clearly identified.
If they keep the same conservative offensive game plan, clean up the mistakes on defense, and get Banks and Verner back as the starting corners, they can beat a lot of the teams left on the schedule. They have a really good chance of being 3-3 and being in the thick of the Wild Card race down the stretch.
Things are not as bad as they seemed a week ago. Dungy-ball is back!
October 13th, 2015 at 10:58 am
Ft Myers sums it up perfectly:
every qb that faces them puts up All Pro numbers, especially at RJS where the Bucs have allowed 116 points in 3 games; 38.7 points a game and we can not hang all of that on the offense turning the ball over; this defense is flat out lousy!
Coming into the game we gave up an avg of 30 ppg. That’s not what the T2 def is designed to do. Still struggling to cover seems route, the middle of the field and stopping the run.
When you have a 14 point lead late in the 4th and not one fan believes you can hold the lead then you have major problems.
So to answer your question NO I don’t believe Lovie can turn it around. I’ve been saying for years that Ron Rivera n marinelli are responsible for chicagos success but what do I know?
October 13th, 2015 at 3:11 pm
I’ve said it and heard it. That cover 2 not a great defense anymore. Qbs are said to be more advance now and better out the gate. That said in not gonna pretend to be a defense expert. Basing my opinion in what guys like parcels says. Don’t see why verner and banks aren’t starting? If Lovie isn’t gonna start them I’m real surprised.