Expected Turnaround?
November 27th, 2015
Expected Bucs to succeed.
Recently while listening to “The Blitz,” co-hosted by Bruce Murray and Bill Polian, heard exclusively in SiriusXM NFL Radio, Joe heard the duo talk about what a dramatically different team the Bucs are from last year.
Joe understands
Last year was a trainwreck and simply painful to watch and, at times, simply unwatchable. It was clear that Stewart McClown was far more a liability than an attribute.
Joe remembers thinking if AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht didn’t draft a quarterback, then the Bucs were going to be swimming upstream for years to come.
Well, a year later, the Bucs are in the hunt for a wild card berth (no, really), and Murray spoke about how he finds the turnaround stunning. Polian, however, had faith in Lovie Smith.
Bruce Murray: It is kind of like everything has come together. All of their issues last year – remember their offensive line? What a disaster that was! Draft two rookies. They have kept that group healthy – playing great. Doug Martin is healthy — Jameis Winston. If I said to you as an outside analyst looking in what your expectations were, I would have to assume it is well ahead of what you thought from them.
Bill Polian: Yeah, I think so, but with Lovie it is not at all surprising. He brought a very structured way of doing things. He is a player’s coach. Players respond to him. He had a blueprint that he was not going to deviate from and as a result, they are on schedule and maybe a little ahead of it. The big thing is how Jameis will play down the stretch. Because after all he is a rookie and it takes time for rookies to develop. That will be Question One. And the other is, can they really maintain their health as they go forward because the race for the wild card spots in the NFC is wide open. And so, every game is a big game the rest of the way and health will play a major role into who is getting into the playoffs. So, Lady Luck plays a role in that. I wouldn’t say that, from my perspective, I am surprised. I expected Lovie to do this. I am not surprised at all. Lovie had a great run in Chicago and I don’t think anything will change dramatically in Tampa Bay.
Joe has to give a tip of the cap to Murray. He is quite right. When Joe thinks of disasters, mudslides, famine, typhoons and last year’s Bucs offensive line each spring to mind.
Here is the thing, would Polian still be singing the praises of Lovie if Jameis was still struggling, and if Licht didn’t hit a grand slam in the draft, hitting on four solid or better starters with his first four picks, two of which have remade the offensive line?
Joe respects the hell out of Polian. Just about every time Polian speaks about football Joe learns something. But Joe sure doesn’t remember any rhetoric from him, say, a month ago, that the Bucs were in good hands with Lovie after he was 3-19 in his first 22 games as Bucs coach.
November 27th, 2015 at 1:09 pm
Lovie should get a ton of credit. The cupboard was bare when he arrived. He was hired before Licht so Licht was basically his hire, as was Koetter. Two GREAT moves by Lovie. As to the draft, you can bet that NONE of the drafted players, including JW are here if Lovie doesn’t sign off. Additionally he has the defense playing Ok in spite of his 2 drafts focusing on offense. I was not a fan when he was hired, I am now.
November 27th, 2015 at 1:13 pm
These type crack me up,I recall him being pro mariota for the Buccs and even during the tele cast talking that they might trade down mess. To me it’s like some folks don’t feel like Lovie deserve Jamies WINSton,to them I say get over it. They’ll be bonded at the hip for many many years. I’ve been paying attention to polian’s comments for months in relation to the Buccs. One thing for certain,he can tell a beast is has been born.
November 27th, 2015 at 1:20 pm
Sounds like to me Polian is getting his words ready for a Bucs win.
November 27th, 2015 at 1:23 pm
Bucnut- I think Licht’s last draft was great, but I disagree that the cupboard was bare- and if it was L&L had a hand in emptying it. Not only are McCoy, David, Martin, V Jax, etc. still here, the league is filled with ex-Bucs performing well some even as starters. Davin Joseph, Rainey, Owusu, McDougald, Larsen, Revis, Blount, Talib, Zuttah, Penn, Selvie, Goldson, and others were here and purged. You can’t tell me that Ghost Johnson and Verner were better than Revis — and they were cited by L&L as the reason for dumping Revis’ contract.
November 27th, 2015 at 1:26 pm
There has been some humorous suggestions about people here posting under fake names…famous types like The Big Dog or Ian Beckles.
One thing is certain however. We can all be certain that Polian has never posted under the moniker of “Realist” or “Tmax” or “Dallas Buc”…
How many times did people point this out in response to their Lovie hate.
Lovie had a great run in Chicago and I don’t think anything will change dramatically in Tampa Bay.
November 27th, 2015 at 2:02 pm
@Nole on Saturday – I can’t recall one “expert” before the draft saying Winston was the better pick for the Bucs. Everyone was all over MM wiener. As a Nole fan myself, I KNEW he would be a perfect fit in Tampa. All the “off the field issues” were bs to begin with, and can be looked passed. Isn’t it amazing how after 1 breakout game by Winston the national press wants to do an interview with him, as if they are surprised he is starting to perform well? I just shake my head when I hear these “experts” start talking positively about Jameis, when they were CLEARLY bashing him before/after the draft. I sat at game 1 this year and had to hear EVERYONE around my seat in the upper deck proclaim that the Bucs picked the wrong guy. I have been sitting back and enjoying the show, just like when he was at FSU. NOLES>GAYTORS this weekend too btw. Rumor has it, Jameis is Skypeing in a pep talk before the game. The guys will be ready.
November 27th, 2015 at 2:41 pm
Almost everyone said Jameis was a better fit here. Do you have Alzheimer’s?
November 27th, 2015 at 3:13 pm
Oh yea Joe Saturday approaches and to all gators out there we bout to str8 whip y’all a$$ in the swamp. Book it.
November 27th, 2015 at 6:10 pm
The Gators are coming back from some down years. Losing Grier the offense struggles now. FSU is favored, if they win it’s not like it would be an upset. Go Gators!
November 27th, 2015 at 6:53 pm
@TampaRob Says – “the league is filled with ex-Bucs performing well some even as starters. Davin Joseph, Rainey, Owusu, McDougald, Larsen.” “You can’t tell me that Ghost Johnson and Verner were better than Revis?” Rainey? Last I heard Bobby is still on the team? Ghost Johnson plays DE?
@Joe Cool Says – “I can’t recall one “expert” before the draft saying Winston was the better pick for the Bucs.” Are you serious? There were as many Winston “expert” supporters as their were MM.
November 27th, 2015 at 7:21 pm
Polian is backing up his Pre-draft rhetoric by giving the credit to Lovie. While I appreciate what Lovie has done, this turnaround is in largest part about what Winston has done off the field. Polian was a Mariota guy, he’s not gonna say this is about Jameis. I am not sure where Murray stood but the bulk of the NFL Radio guys were Mariota > Jameis guys. Some still are.
November 27th, 2015 at 8:16 pm
“the league is filled with ex-Bucs performing well some even as starters. Davin Joseph, Rainey, Owusu, McDougald, Larsen.”
And which of these players could beat out our current starter at their position? How many of them would even make the team…except obviously for Rainey who IS on the team along with McDougald?
This is a sign our team is getting better. Our rejects are able to find jobs in the NFL meaning we’re finally beginning to get more talent and more depth. That’s all good.
And Revis lovers give it a rest. First of all he gave Belicheat and huge Super Bowl discount…he was asking millions more from the Bucs. Then Belicheat doesn’t think he’s worth that much either..and btw he’s getting torched this year with the Jets…lots of griping by folks like Adam Schein about his poor play.
And NO freaking Cornerback is worth 16 million!!! Ties up far too much cap space for that position.
November 27th, 2015 at 8:29 pm
“Here is the thing, would Polian still be singing the praises of Lovie if Jameis was still struggling, and if Licht didn’t hit a grand slam in the draft, hitting on four solid or better starters with his first four picks, two of which have remade the offensive line?” – Joe
Of course not. Why would he give props to a team that isn’t doing well?
Doesn’t really matter much if we make the playoffs. While the experience would be good for our players, we would likely lose the first game. I don’t personally think the cost is worth it. Making it in only to lose right away accomplishes nothing but to give us a later draft pick.
Now…if the team were to become REALLY good…that’s a different story. I would LOVE to see Jameis go the Superbowl this year. Won’t happen, but it would be great if the impossible happened.
Earlier today, I made a comment that there is a small chance that we could go 9-7. If we lose this next game, the next 4 games are much easier and very winnable. We close against the Panthers…and I don’t currently think we can beat them.
HOWEVER…things can change dramatically if we win 4 in a row. The team will be on fire, confidence will be high, and we would earn a spot in the playoffs instead of “getting lucky”. If that is the case, maybe the players will start feeling a little destiny setting in.
November 27th, 2015 at 8:30 pm
StPeteBucsFan Says:
“This is a sign our team is getting better. Our rejects are able to find jobs in the NFL meaning we’re finally beginning to get more talent and more depth. That’s all good.”
Nailed it.
November 27th, 2015 at 8:33 pm
godzilla13 Says:
“You can’t tell me that Ghost Johnson and Verner were better than Revis?”
No, but then Revis is not as good as people make him out to be either. Not to mention he is a team cancer. He took this team for $16 mill unearned. That’s thievery.
Johnson isn’t starting now…and neither is Verner.
November 27th, 2015 at 8:34 pm
StPeteBucsFan Says
“There has been some humorous suggestions about people here posting under fake names…”
I don’t know a thing about that.
November 27th, 2015 at 10:24 pm
All I know is that the anticipation is building for this Bucs Colts matchup. Every game gets bigger.
November 27th, 2015 at 10:57 pm
This season reminds my Dad of 1996-1997. Another window of success is starting to open.
November 28th, 2015 at 7:39 am
It’s always interesting to hear/see the so called experts play the results. I live 90 minutes south of Nashville so I’ve had the wonderful misfortune (beginning with Oregon’s throttling of FSU in January all the way thru week 4 of this season) of being able to hear the local AND national rhetoric about how Mariota was more polished, more cerebral (every one of Polian’s pre draft comments suggested he felt this way), and much safer than Winston – whatever that means. It’s entirely too early to say which QB is going to have a distinguished career. Both can be great. But both can also easily be RGIII or Kapernick if that proverbial ball bounces the wrong way at some point in the future.
It’s also premature to suggest that Coach Smith has found his stride and is finally doing what it takes to lead a Bucs resurrection. The easy thing to do is point to his history of success in Chicago and say that he can, and is the process of doing it (as Mr. Polian points out). However, this is also the guy that passed on Teddy Bridgewater (although Mike Evans and Jameis are better than advertised), signed a career backup QB and anointed him the starter, and fielded one of the worst defenses in the history of the game last season.
History can be deceiving, but numbers don’t lie. Coach Smith was 3-19 thru 22 games with the Bucs. Jameis Winston is 5-5 as the starting QB. We can point to a number of factors that have contributed to the success the team has experienced so far this season. A healthy and rejuvenated Doug Martin, better offensive line play, and Kwon Alexander are but a few. But to suggest that No. 3 isn’t the single, most distinguishable reason for the turnaround is football heresy. What’s even worse is to point to the coach’s track record and say you saw this coming (as Mr. Polian did) rather than attributing the winning to the kid that’s been under center the last 10 games. The kid that lost one time in college. The kid that won a heisman. The kid that’s won multiple rookie of the week awards already. The kid that leads and inspires men.
Hell, even the venerable Tony Dungy didn’t see this coming…remember?
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/09/jameis-winston-nfl-draft-tony-dungy-wouldnt
November 28th, 2015 at 10:02 am
ESPN IS GOING TO HAVE TO START PAYING MORE ATTENTION TO THE BUCS. WHY ARE THEY STILL ON THE COWGIRLS NUTS. AND ALL OF THESE OTHER TEAMS. WE WERE THE WORST TEAM IN THE LEAGUE LAST YEAR NOW WE ARE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE PLAYOFFS. GIVE THE BUCS WAY MORE CREDIT AND RECOGNITION… #GOBUCS #3IN-A-ROW
November 28th, 2015 at 10:45 am
This season reminds my Dad of 1996-1997. Another window of success is starting to open.–University of Seffner.
Amen. As far as Gators vs. FSU, my baby sis is a FSU alumni. She has stayed on my case about doubting famous Jameis. So, go Seminoles. And….GO MIGHTY BUCS TOMORROW!!!!!