Adam Schefter Talks To Joe
February 29th, 2016
“Why wouldn’t they have a chance to win that division next year?”
Yes, the NFL version of spring break was last week — the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Anyone who is anyone in the NFL was there.
Naturally, among the army ESPN sent was Adam Schefter.
Perhaps no one is plugged in more to the NFL than Schefter. And, yes, when he wasn’t on the air, Schefter always appeared to have his nose in his iPhone typing something, unless he was chatting with someone.
One of those he chatted with was Joe.
Schefter offered up thoughts on the Bucs, Dirk Koetter and, of course, America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, who Schefter believes will turn the franchise around.
JoeBucsFan: In Tampa, with the exception of Lovie Smith being fired, the all-encompassing story is Jameis Winston. He’s captivated the area. Your impressions of him as a rookie?
Adam Schefter: I think he is everything [the Bucs] hoped he would be. I think he has been a leader sooner than they expected. I think that is what has surprised them the most. I know they are very pleased the way he is working now. He is rallying the guys – he acts like a veteran, he’s been acting like a veteran even though he was a rookie. He acts like a veteran even though he is a young guy.
Joe: Does it surprise you that so many veterans on the team sort of took a step back and let Jameis step forward, all but saying, “OK Jameis, it’s your team.”
Schefter: I think it speaks to the way [Jameis] conducts himself, how he is viewed on that football team, that he assumes that leadership mantled at such an early age. I think it is something that is going to progress and progress.
Joe: What do you expect from Dirk Koetter as a head coach?
Schefter: They love the guy. They think he is going to be a great coach. Continuity is important. And so, I they think he is going to be a really good coach.
Joe: The NFL is cyclical, except for the Patriots and Steelers and Packers. Eventually, this long, terrible run the Bucs have had will end. It seems like the Bucs have built and are building a good young foundation of players. You think maybe the Bucs are a couple of years away from contending for a division title?
Schefter: If you have a quarterback in this league, there is no reason they couldn’t contend this week. If you have a quarterback, you have a chance. They have a quarterback. They have a chance every year [Jameis] will be the quarterback. To me, you say a couple of years; I don’t know why you would wait a couple of years. Why wouldn’t they have a chance to win that division next year?
February 29th, 2016 at 12:10 pm
Oh boy.
February 29th, 2016 at 12:11 pm
Ah, the offseason. When just about every team still has a chance…
February 29th, 2016 at 12:15 pm
Bingo! Well stated Mr. Schefter.
February 29th, 2016 at 12:41 pm
If you don’t believe you can, you never will.
Contrary to the belief of a previous coach, smash mouth football starts in early September.
Maybe that’s why a rookie QB, on a bad team… that we had all preseason to game plan for, torched us on simple slant passes.
Mike Smith’s biggest concern is not the bar being set too high, but tripping over it.
February 29th, 2016 at 12:59 pm
Thank you,
I said the same thing. This team should only be better next year, no backward steps. Is this too much to ask?
February 29th, 2016 at 1:20 pm
Because the Panthers. I hate them as much as anyone else, but they are an excellent football team. They went 17-2 last season and they may not have peaked yet.
The Bucs’ day will come, but it may take a few seasons for the tides to turn in our favor.
February 29th, 2016 at 1:42 pm
Why not the Bucs? Why not this year?
Somewhere around 8 wins is realistic (considering the schedule). But at least a few NFL teams make big leaps every year. The 2016 Bucs could be one of those teams to win 10 or 11 games and exceed expectations. The Panthers are vulnerable IMO and the Falcons and Saints just aren’t that good.
With a franchise QB (especially one as promising and hungry to win as Jameis is), anything is possible.
If 3 or 4 upgraded starters can be acquired for the defense via draft and free agency, this team will be ready to compete for reals quickly.
Isn’t it great how every Spring brings fresh hope for optimistic Buccaneer fans? LOL
Its high time our best months as Bucs fans be Nov>Jan – NOT March>August.
Get-R-Done Dirk Koetter. This is the opportunity you have been working towards your entire coaching career. Show us what ya got Dirk!
February 29th, 2016 at 1:48 pm
Good point, Johnny. Sure, the Panthers got exposed as being vulnerable against a suffocating pas rush, but how many teams have that? Not many.
February 29th, 2016 at 1:48 pm
pass*
February 29th, 2016 at 2:00 pm
Yeper there Joe. The good ole offseason. Our Bucs are 16-0. We are on our way to the superbowl baby. Opps excuse me guys…..Yes honey I’m finished with my nap and will take out the trash dear! Deeyham..what a nice dream…..
February 29th, 2016 at 2:34 pm
Yea I don’t see us beating the panthers once next season, they are far more talented than anyone in the NFC South. I could see 2nd in that division easy, & maybe be in the wildcard race but not winning division.
February 29th, 2016 at 3:32 pm
Yes, we have no chance. Teams never change. They never go from first to worst or worst to first. Teams always keep the same players. Cam could never get hurt and better yet this team could never beat the Panthers. Guess Jameis might as well gie up now.
Some of you are so sorry. Why don’t you go and change teams for one that wins every year.
February 29th, 2016 at 4:11 pm
I’ve stated it before and I’ll state it again. Clark kent I mean cam newton was 30-31-1 the previous four seasons prior to this one. To quote my good sir St.Pete that’s not exactly world beaters. Those guys can and will be had. We won’t beat them once next season please. Sound dumb a$$ hell.
February 29th, 2016 at 6:07 pm
They need the 2017 draft before we start talking play offs.
February 29th, 2016 at 8:13 pm
Hey, remember the guys that wanted us to draft Brandon Scherff at number one? Or what about the guys that wanted us to wait on QB until this year so we could take Cardale Jones or Christian Hackenburg?
Whatever happened to those posters?
February 29th, 2016 at 9:02 pm
I know what is this couple years crap?
February 29th, 2016 at 10:01 pm
Congrats Joe. Getting to chat it up with Adam is so very cool. Love the website and please just keep those articles coming. So very excited for next year. And yes, A big reason for the excitement is having a true franchise QB like the young Jedi Jameis. We have some nice players on this squad. Just gotta keep Dougie and draft best available in the draft. Every year we get those injuries, and depth is a concern all over the roster. Let’s go Bucs! Let’s build this team and take the division over!
February 29th, 2016 at 10:56 pm
I know that this is not a popular opinion, but I strongly believe that a team’s record is very much influenced by their strength of schedule. Not the record of the teams in the year before they play them, but rather in the year that team is on your schedule. We all know that teams change from year to year based on new coaching, free agent pickups, new draft choices, and the progressive maturation and improvement of your players. so, a team that is 10-6 one year they dropped to 4-12 in the year following due to aging, injuries, or other factors.
In 2011, the aggregate won- loss record of the Bucs’ opponents was 141-115.
They played only 5 games against teams with records under 0.500, and they went 4-12.
In 2012, the aggregate won-loss record of the Bucs’ opponents was 128-127-1. They played 9 games against teams with records under 0.500, and they went 7-9.
In 2013, the aggregate won-loss record of the Bucs’ opponents was 147-109.
They played only 5 games against teams with records under 0.500, and they went 4-12. That year’s schedule included
February 29th, 2016 at 11:07 pm
continued:
NINE games against teams with at least TEN wins.
In 2014, the aggregate won-loss record of the Bucs’ opponents was 123-130-3.
They played 9 games against teams with records under 0.500, and they went 2-14!!
In 2015, the aggregate record of the Bucs’ opponents was 124-132. If you take out two games vs. the 15-1 Panthers, the remaining opponents were only 94-130! They played 9 games against teams with records under 0.500, and they went 6-10 against one of the softest schedules in the league.
We’ll see how they do against the NFC West and AFC West next year.
tickrdr
February 29th, 2016 at 11:17 pm
BTW, the only opponent that had as many as 10 wins last year was the Carolina Panthers. The next closest were the Washington Redskins at 9-7. Atlanta and Indy wound up at 8-8, and all of the rest were under 0.500!
tickrdr