Sleeper
August 25th, 2016
Begins with him.
Why are some national NFL typists bullish on the Bucs this season? It starts with America!
Yes, that would be America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston.
This morning, CBS Sports NFL insider, heavy-metal-headbanging Jason La Canfora appeared on WDAE-AM 620 to discuss all things NFL and said he believes the Bucs are a sleeper mostly because of Jameis.
“Well, first of all, it is the quarterback,” LaCanfora said. “I have always been pretty bullish on him. I don’t think he has scratched the surface and what he has done so far is pretty special.”
La Canfora then describes how running Lovie Smith and hiring Dirk Koetter was “addition by subtraction” by Team Glazer. He went into detail saying, in so many words, Lovie’s defense was outdated and he couldn’t connect with players.
But it is the offense that will carry the Bucs, LaCanfora believes.
“[The Bucs have] one of the best offensive lines in the league and have more big play potential to tap into,” La Canfora said.
The Bucs chatter can be heard by clicking below. It begins at the 5:45 mark. Audio courtesy of Joe’s friends at WDAE-AM 620.
August 25th, 2016 at 4:07 pm
I don’t think the Bucs have one of the best offensive lines in the league. I think there are areas the line excels in and other areas where they need significant improvement. It’s very debatable. Some point to a low number of sacks given up while others point to the amount of QB hits. Still others point to Jameis holding on to the ball too long being the reason why he was hit so much.
Doug Martin had a career year behind that line and Jameis made it through 16 games. We shall see.
August 25th, 2016 at 4:08 pm
Yeah, but how does a know nothing ordinary fan like me reconcile this with all the talk about ‘slow starts’, ‘lack of passion, team wide’, ‘mentally fragile kickers’ and on and on. Maybe it’s time to move on, try a new sport, like professional team badminton.
August 25th, 2016 at 4:09 pm
Nah!!! Football is still king.
August 25th, 2016 at 4:09 pm
wow, somebody in the national media actually watched the bucs’ performances on sunday and perhaps even talked to some bucs players instead of just falling back on “6 wins is better than 2 wins, so the glazers must be dumb and jumpy”
August 25th, 2016 at 4:18 pm
Agree @pick6.
Another interesting note. If he thinks the oline is that good he must be on PFFs bad side, as to them, the thought of Donovan smith being a serviceable starter is close to how I feel abt either of our presidential candidates being a serviceable president
August 25th, 2016 at 4:29 pm
I get hyped up every single year, and every year by October I’m down in the dumps. I’m really trying this year to just temper my expectations. While I think talent-wise this is our best team in a while, they have to put it all together. We still have several huge question marks (pass rush, safeties, WR depth, the kicker, the coach), but hopefully for once we can play up to our abilities.
August 25th, 2016 at 4:37 pm
Just imagining if Bucs would’ve sat and waited on Braxton Miller in round three and then if the kicker was still available then trade up to get him. But that didn’t happen. So why do I bring it up
August 25th, 2016 at 4:38 pm
Listen to the audio. LaCanfora explains why he is high on the Bucs line.
August 25th, 2016 at 4:44 pm
Here is one Buc fan that hopes that the Bucs are sleepers because of our Defense this year……
I think the offense is good….but still has some room for improvement…..but the defense could be great…..
August 25th, 2016 at 4:51 pm
I don’t think we can call the Bucs’ offensive line one of the best in the league yet, especially with a few injury situations that need to be resolved there.
Also, Jameis will not be elite if he is a habitually slow starter this year, as he was last year. If he’s too amped up at the beginning of games, they need to do something to keep him calm… meditation, quiet time, whatever it takes. He doesn’t have to be the cheerleader leading up to kickoff – he must be focused and relaxed. If Jameis can deliver in the first quarter of games on a regular basis, he could have a huge year, along with the whole team.
August 25th, 2016 at 4:53 pm
Hawaiian Buc..that’s the lick! Temper your expectations. Don’t eat the..yellow snow my man. Cause every year, the Hype is intense. If we can come out of the 1st 5 or 6 games with at least 3 wins, then we could get some momentum for the rest of the year. But if we start out like winning 1 or 2 of those first 6? FORGETABOUTIT! Yes we’ve made improvements on the D line. But I’m not the least confident in our safeties or O line. And God forbide one of our 1st teamers going down. That by the way? Will happen.
August 25th, 2016 at 5:17 pm
12 million for old slow injury prone 8 game part time receiver
“No comment” Vincent ancient jackson
August 25th, 2016 at 5:18 pm
Wrong thread
August 25th, 2016 at 5:21 pm
Bucs fans are upbeat about the season starting and the potential of winning enough games to be noticed as improved or better. The drought of few wins is about over.
August 25th, 2016 at 5:33 pm
Wow! A lot of people are tempering their expectations lately as the season nears. Shades of fairweather fans. Or maybe the hot tempering needs cooling down.
August 25th, 2016 at 5:41 pm
“Wow! A lot of people are tempering their expectations lately as the season nears. Shades of fairweather fans. Or maybe the hot tempering needs cooling down.”
—————–
Or maybe it’s the reality that every year we have been losers. I’m the furthest thing from a fairweather fan you will ever be meet, but the proof is in the results. But I’m not going anywhere, win or lose.
August 25th, 2016 at 6:06 pm
It depends what kind of expectations that some will be excited about!! If you are playoffs or bust, you will be disappointed!!! There will be ups and downs with the “real” core of the team being so young!!! new defense to learn does not help ( keep in mind we have not seen the scheme yet!!) so that is a bit of an unknown!!!
This time last year, I saw nothing but disaster!!! This year I see some pieces to work with!!!!! I am more hyped about the Bucs than I have been in years!!!!!!!!!
Atl vs mia in a little bit, then the BUCS in 26Hrs!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 25th, 2016 at 6:43 pm
I’ve been watching a different team than the majority of you have. I think we had one of the best O Lines last year. I definitely think we have one of the best O Lines and we are a young O Line. It starts in the trenches and we have one side looking good.
August 25th, 2016 at 6:49 pm
“[The Bucs have] one of the best offensive lines in the league and have more big play potential to tap into,” La Canfora said.
Take that PFF.
August 25th, 2016 at 7:14 pm
Poor Buc Realist…You make me think about the song, Let me down easy!
Being hyped and excited is one thing. Stupidity is…quite another.
August 25th, 2016 at 7:27 pm
Remember that joke of a line in the 2014 ps with Collins and the other turnstile? Our oline is tight if we start:
Dotson, Marpet, Hawley, Pamphile, Smith.
Our roster looks good, we need a safety, a power rb like Karlos Williams and another receiver.
As long as Jameis gets the ball out in front of ME we cant be stopped.
August 25th, 2016 at 7:37 pm
Mike Johnson, you lost all credibility with “Stupidity is…quite another.”
August 25th, 2016 at 8:12 pm
The Bucs have the 2nd worst record in the NFL over the last 5 years. To suddenly think they’re going to turn into a powerhouse is absurd. 8 wins and mediocre would be a good start to turning things around. I’ve been a fan since ’82, and have seen the best and worst seasons – but mostly bad ones. I’ll never drink the koolaid about this team until they win consistently.
August 25th, 2016 at 9:11 pm
Louis – a fan since 82 missed 5 years of horrible football. Not ’79 for those of you counting.
August 25th, 2016 at 9:13 pm
As a fan since ’74, yes when tpa got a team, I’m more excited this year than since ’02.
August 25th, 2016 at 10:16 pm
Ha! Fameis Jameis headlines the NFLs commercial in the Atlanta game! People starting to recognize the greatness that will be Jameis
August 26th, 2016 at 12:33 pm
Realist has a fair point, the success or failure of this season depends on your expectations. The oddsmakers in Las Vegas still have the Bucs over/under for wins pegged at 7, and they are almost always on point. An 8 win season would be a huge success for this team in 2016, and everyone should be very excited for the future if they can do it; but so many Buc fans will truly be disappointed because they’re expecting the playoffs.