Shattering The Losing Mentality
September 12th, 2016
From the JoeBucsFan.com photo team
Joe’s greatest fear entering yesterday’s game was the oversized, overweight baggage the Bucs traveled with to Atlanta.
It was a four-game losing streak, an historic October collapse at Washington and a shameful and disgusting lack of preparation for opening day 2015, including the worst collective mental failure in the history of NFL football.
It was five consecutive years of last place in the NFC South and three years of opening day losses. It was the embarrassing and humiliating Chase for Jameis in 2014.
The Bucs marched into the Georgia Dome with too much losing infecting their minds. Key cogs like Lavonte David, Doug Martin, Mike Evans and more were career losers.
Anyone who has played competitive sports knows a losing mentality is what molds losers. If you don’t fix that, then you keep coming up short every year.
What turns a team into a winner is always a mysterious element. “Chemistry” and “unselfishness” are buzz words, but it runs much deeper than that, and it’s surely not all about talent.
What Joe loved most about the Bucs smashing of Atlanta was their ability to weather adversity in the game — twice — and win. They didn’t just hang on; they made a play to close the game out.
Doing that on opening day is different. It sets a tone and it’s more meaningful. Right now, it seems all the Bucs know is 1-0 and first place in the NFC South.
Joe’s going to hope the Bucs finally shattered their losing mentality. That doesn’t mean they’ll win every Sunday, but it would mean they’re a good football team. The talent certainly is there to win more than they lose.
September 12th, 2016 at 9:06 am
Exactly…moral victories are for losers….this was big…we stood up and took it by the throat. That is what the Bucs did yesterday…that is what Seattle did yesterday. That is what winners do. We will lose our share this year, but we won’t settle for “a great deal of potential”, “getting better”, “growing together” or “cleaning up” something.
September 12th, 2016 at 9:09 am
Breaking Atlanta’s 8 home opener winning streak was also very sweet. That’s a tough place to win, especially in the home opener. Can you imagine RJ Stadium opening day if the football gods allow us to squeak out a win in Arizona…. I know, that’s cart before the horse, but one can dream!!!!
September 12th, 2016 at 9:14 am
@Joe
They cut the line to the anchor of this team back in January!!!!
I mean look at this headline!!!!!
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/ct-college-football-illinois-penalties-spt-20160911-story.html
It says it all does it not!!!!
Good times are ahead!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 12th, 2016 at 9:21 am
What Joe loved most about the Bucs smashing of Atlanta was their ability to weather adversity in the game — twice — and win. They didn’t just hang on; they made a play to close the game out.
DING DING DING DING
Morale victories and looking for positives in a horrible loss is for losers.
September 12th, 2016 at 9:23 am
U can say what u want about the past and the loosing mentality but this is a whole new team that shared a winning mentallity. U can just feel it with this team. There’s this vibe about this squad that tells u those dayz are behind us, we are a totally diffrent team now 3ven with alot of the same players like LVD and GMC the diffrent is they believe now and have all the Confidence in this team knowing that #3 is leading the way. This franchise changed the minute they drafted Jameis, and as he would say…”It’s a new Day in Tampa Bay” the whole league will soon find out just how good this squad is. ATL just did. Haha
September 12th, 2016 at 9:23 am
The Buc Realist
Be nice…. I am sure Lovie and his boys tried their best and no one cursed!
September 12th, 2016 at 9:31 am
That looked like a article from last years team, 25 point loss with 13 penalties. Where’s Big Hog at?
September 12th, 2016 at 9:32 am
My fav part is watching Pete Prisco gaurantee victory for the Falcons in the pre game. He laughed when asked if the bucs had a chance. Joe please post that video!
September 12th, 2016 at 9:32 am
Scoring that td before half. Of course we couldn’t do that last year, cause, we didn’t like to score before halftime in games
September 12th, 2016 at 9:39 am
Since I am Lovie smith loyalist, I am putting this game down as a loss in my record books. The bucs lost the turnover game 1-0, therefore they could not have been victorious, no matter how many TDs Jameis & company put together. #sarcasm
September 12th, 2016 at 9:39 am
Please stop with the leading the NFC South. That’s as dumb as saying JW is on pace to throw 84 TDs this season.
September 12th, 2016 at 9:40 am
Im impressed with how the game has slowed down for Jameis…already
OMG…little more experience, with his mental game and that golden arm…just scratching the surface
22 years old!
September 12th, 2016 at 9:43 am
BucsFanForever
Very Nice!!!
R.O.
Lighten up and let everyone enjoy the win and the fact the team has shown some improvement over the huge failure that was the lovie smith pr stunt. Go get a lap dance and a shot… Enjoy the bucs win don’t be a bitter little beotch.
September 12th, 2016 at 9:44 am
Guys, Lovie is gone, this is a new season. Can we just let it go?
Even as much as I hated Schiano, once he was gone and the new season started, there was no reason to keep looking at the past.
@R.O.
But the FACT is that we are currently leading the NFC South.
And technically, Jameis IS on pace to throw for 64 TDs, not 84.
Jesus, how can people still be so negative and sour after an opening day win on the road.
September 12th, 2016 at 9:52 am
Wow reading that Lovie article is like Deja vu from the past two years. Excuses, false hope and blank statements. I’m so glad Lovie is someone else’s problem now.
September 12th, 2016 at 10:02 am
others may have mentioned but what a contrast between Bucs/Jameis in Week 1 2015 (4 interceptions, blowout home loss) to Week 1 2016 (4 TD passes, road win). Feels good!
And the same contrast for Titans/Mariota….. he looked bad yesterday as they stumbled to a home loss.
September 12th, 2016 at 10:04 am
Yesterday’s win was a great win. However, there are a few concerning things.
– They gave up 374 yards of offense which is higher than their season average last year.
– They gave up 24 points which is only two points less than their season average last year.
– Matt Ryan completed 69.2% of his passes. Last season the Buccaneers allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete 69.3% of their passes.
Ultimately, none of this matters since the Bucs won. They were very effective in stopping the run and I really believe that once the Bucs clean up the communication gaffes the numbers above won’t look so bad. I feel optimistic about Arizona.
September 12th, 2016 at 10:06 am
“Morale victories and looking for positives in a horrible loss is for losers.”
@Tmax..I watched Dan Quinn’s presser on NFL.com and that describes it to a T.
I also watched Winston’s and OMG if anyone hasn’t seen it, do so and soon. Yah, yah, yah I get it, it’s just 87 Winston’s biggest fanboy hyping him up again. Just listen to the whole presser cause what I took from it is Jameis is like an animal with a killer instinct. He sold me a long time ago before he became a Buc, but after that presser I can truly feel even more comfort knowing that my SB in 2017 prediction will probably come into fruition.
Jameis is an animal.
@DB…Yep that TD to Evans was placed only where he could catch it(ala JW’s FSU days). He was pretty much doubled on that catch and Winston threaded the needle to perfection.
September 12th, 2016 at 10:09 am
The problem is not giving up big yards to Matty Ice with receivers like Julio and Sanu, the problem was giving up big yardage to Case Keenum and those kinds of teams. Atlanta is going to put up numbers, I expect Arizona to put up numbers, but I also expect a win (they are going to focus on ME, so Hump, Vjax, Chuck III), will show up nicely
September 12th, 2016 at 10:11 am
@R.O. ….on pace is one thing and actually being IN first is another. They aren’t on pace to be in first, they ARE in first. Week 1 or not. It’s actually a fact and not a speculation, but apparently that bothers you.
September 12th, 2016 at 10:18 am
Reading that Lovie article and seeing ‘simple as that’ almost made me vomit.. So glad the Glazer’s pulled the trigger to rid us of his 1940’s football mentality.
September 12th, 2016 at 10:19 am
I miss BigHog.
September 12th, 2016 at 10:21 am
Funny, R.O. did not bring anything up last year when some said that JW3 was “on pace” for 32 INT’s and 66 sacks!!!!!!
R.O. ( real obnoxious) !!!!!!!!!
September 12th, 2016 at 10:22 am
@Buc1987
Me too!!!! I do love to get him fired up!!!!!! I wonder what he will change his screen name too!!!! maybe ” KoetterDaMan!!!!!!!!!”
September 12th, 2016 at 10:26 am
As rrsrq stated, I think the gameplan was more cover 2 oriented as to keep everything in front of the defense and limit big plays downfield. I have faith in Mike Smith to adjust accordingly based on the opposing personnel as to how we attack their offense. With Lovie I had 0 faith.
September 12th, 2016 at 10:29 am
i am worried about bighog between lovie being lovie Saturday and koetter winning I hope he is OK….
KoetterDaMan too funny….
September 12th, 2016 at 11:04 am
Rah hasn’t been beat this bad since since his uncles got ahold of him.
Wonder if his granny still runs like a bulldog?
September 12th, 2016 at 11:25 am
I love it Eric. Very funny. Don’t think people reminding everyone we beat a .500 team is being negative, just realistic.
Still, I think Atlanta has won 8 straight home openers and looked much better and faster than they did last year in a loud hostile away domed stadium. Unfortunately for the Falcons, so were we.
Can anyone remember the pasting we took from them three years ago when Lovie was floundering around with his handpicked QB Josh McClown. To quote Col. Kurtz, “The horror, the horror.”
September 12th, 2016 at 11:31 am
If we beat Arizona and that’s a big if RJ will be a tough place to play
September 12th, 2016 at 11:45 am
Chris…haven’t you been listening long enough to Steve to understand how he does it? He is much more shrewd than many of you imagine. The easy, and rookie play would be to lavish over the big win and spout hours of superlatives. After about a week, no one would listen to him but for the utmost homers… after being exposed to excessive saccharin. Instead, he will do a “yin/yang” thing, and say it was a nice win, and rain on the parade. Some listeners will be upset…but people will keep listening….It’s money in the bank…
September 12th, 2016 at 11:57 am
I have always been a pessimist, especially with my Bucs. I think that is pretty warranted considering our lack of success since Gruden was mistakenly fired. This year I have very high expectations for the Bucs but I am going to play a little devil’s advocate here (I am sure I will get flamed). While we looked great offensively, our defense is a work in progress. Let’s not forget we have two of Atlanta’s previous coaches on staff. They are familiar with their personnel and it should be expected to get a win. Especially when we swept the series last year with a very mediocre team. We also had plenty of help from stupid penalties on Atlanta’s part to continue drives that were on crucial third downs where we did not convert. A lot to work on as far as I am concerned. The true test will be next Sunday in Arizona against a pretty stingy defense.
September 12th, 2016 at 12:08 pm
Tom T. Says:
September 12th, 2016 at 9:32 am
My fav part is watching Pete Prisco gaurantee victory for the Falcons in the pre game. He laughed when asked if the bucs had a chance. Joe please post that video!
@Tom T
I’ll see Pete in the next few days and remind him of it. What’s funny, is he’s a closet Bucs fan, who thought the Lovie hiring was the worst move by the Bucs ever.
September 12th, 2016 at 12:16 pm
This is JD out of Las Vegas, NV… Love what I seen from my Bucs opening day.. This was a statement win.. If our defense keep getting the job done we can make some noise this season.. Kwon Alexander 17 tackles 2 for loss and 1 sack.. Those superstar numbers… GO BUCS THIS OUR YEAR
September 12th, 2016 at 12:24 pm
Chucky “mistakenly” fired? I don’t think so. Good riddance! The bid positive I’m taking from this Bucs team is the development of a 24K blue ribbon quality OFFENSE. Oldtimers on here know exactly what I’m talking about. Remember krewe, Bucs won the SB with the #1 Defense in the League, very good Special Teams, and adequate Offense. This Offense in Famous J’s second season is already outclassing that SB Offense. Can you imagine our Bucs?? Their usual great Defense, excellent Special Teams, and a 24K Offense–on the SAME team??? Now, THAT is beyond MIGHTY. I just fainted, and I can’t get up. 🙂
September 12th, 2016 at 1:17 pm
Can’t wait until next week, going to be hard to beat Arizona. Them losing last night doesn’t help matters, now they need a win bad. Hope we can score 31 again next week because we are going to need it. Need more sacks next week too if we can get them. Does anybody know if Jaq Smith is out for a few weeks?
September 12th, 2016 at 2:01 pm
Realist
That link was eerie. You could have replaced Illinois with Tampa Bay from last year and the story would have been exactly the same.
If the same coach keeps producing teams that are penalized at what point to people admit it’s the coaching.
This time last year I was eating the crow and admitting you and Tmax were right all along.
Btw I like your name for RO.
September 12th, 2016 at 2:06 pm
@Rob
I’m not going to flame you but Koetter is right…it’s the NFL never apologize for any win. LUCK is always a big part in the NFL.
ALL good teams need luck but many of them seem to always get the bounce or lack of injury.
So far our luck has been outstanding. Julio goes down with that ankle…Carolina misses a FG Gano makes 4 out of 5 times..in fact he made it the first time but Kubiak had called the perfect TO…and the Saints choke in their own house and let Oakland come back and beat them.
This franchise has been snakebit for long enough. Freaking MRSA are you kidding me. We have had enough bad breaks…the law of averages is finally on our side. Just relax and enjoy the moment.
September 12th, 2016 at 2:43 pm
@Stpetebucsfan
I agree that luck is a big part of winning in the NFL BUT….like Koetter always says BUT the good teams always find ways to win and the bad teams always find ways to lose. And maybe we can be one of the good teams that always finds ways to win. We surely have always been on the wrong side of luck and I think that was attributed to the franchise being in disarray since the Dungy/Chucky era.
Regardless, I am super stoked for our Bucs this year. If our defense can play a full 60 minutes we will be in great shape. Quite a turnaround from what we are used to in Tampa. This offense is so much fun to watch. As a longtime Bucs fan, I have NEVER said that.
September 12th, 2016 at 8:17 pm
orlbucfan Says:
September 12th, 2016 at 12:24 pm
“Chucky “mistakenly” fired? I don’t think so. Good riddance!”
That’s disrespectful. Stop it.
Man am I late to this party.