Impact
May 16th, 2017
NFC: Bucs are coming for you.
You want a team with impact? Adam Schein has your team.
The popular sports television and radio personality has been riding shotgun on the Bucs’ bandwagon (driven by Kay Adams) since the draft.
Schein is all in believing the Bucs are headed to the playoffs. What convinced him was the impact AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht had upon the roster this offseason, as Schein wrote last week for NFL.com.
Tampa Bay GM Jason Licht owned the offseason, putting the finishing touches on what should be a playoff roster. Chris Baker and J.J. Wilcox were fine acquisitions on defense, but real stars were added on the other side of the ball.
First, Licht signed Jackson in free agency, giving Tampa Bay the perfect, field-stretching complement to beastly WR1 Mike Evans. The Bucs didn’t have a single pass play over 50 yards last season. That will not be the case in 2017. Then, in the draft, Licht got a steal in Round 1 with Howard. The general manager told me on SiriusXM Radio how euphoric he was when Howard inexplicably fell into Tampa’s lap at No. 19. Licht said the Alabama tight end was one of the top 10 players on the Bucs’ board — and one of the three “cleanest” players in the draft. Howard’s gonna be a weapon over the middle for Winston — and he’s also a solid in-line blocker.
It’s hard to find a team that’s having a better offseason. What scares Joe is when it looked like the Bucs won the offseason in the past, folly followed.
It is different this time, Joe believes. In years prior, the Bucs had leaky, sleepy Josh Freeman. America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, is a far different cat.
Whereas Freeman seem to wilt and melt down under pressure and when urged to take a leadership role, Jameis not only thirsts for such responsibility, he often thrives under the lights.
Still, inhaling the air of excitement is cool in May. Lotta obstacles between now January.
May 16th, 2017 at 5:27 am
@Joe … “What scares Joe is when it looked like the Bucs won the offseason in the past, folly followed.” Great Tom Jones impersonation Joe … You scared me there for a second. Jameis is a huge difference this time, but he’s not the only difference. Our present T-E-A-M has talent up & down the roster, and it has a coaching staff with the capability to pull it all together. Like you said, “Lotta obstacles between now January” but … this T-E-A-M has already shown that it believes in its’ coaches & leadership, that it’s willing to work hard to succeed, and that it’s HUNGRY. Bring it on.
May 16th, 2017 at 6:03 am
Biggest difference is instead of “winning” the offseason with huge FA signings, we’re winning because of the draft now too.
May 16th, 2017 at 6:13 am
The offseason is like a big fancy dinner or hot date coming up. Sometimes the anticipation and buzz over the prep is as big as the actual event…and it keeps you entertained along the way. If we didn’t have offseason chatter brought to us by guys like Joe, many would have to just sit around watching the Rays blow it in the ninth inning or be forced to read TBT. I can’t think of a worst time. Let’s just hope the players don’t pull any Freemans or ASJs, etc. I always worry more about that break before the start of camp. Being a 20-something year old millionaire has got to be a good time. But must not be allowed to be TOO good.
May 16th, 2017 at 6:15 am
I would love the Bucs to go 12-4, but I’m cautious, the NFC South is loaded, the NFC East also, we play the NFC North and the AFC North, not pushovers. We have to be ready every Sunday, not sneaking up on anybody, gotta see improvement and consistency from Jameis and RBs. If we are going to use that 3-4 defense, don’t have time for a learning curve.
May 16th, 2017 at 6:21 am
@Defense Rules: I dunno. I think any Tom Jones impersonation would have to be filled with demands for banning from the NFL because someone said you did something, or said something. It would have to be followed up by empty logic, like writing that doing political activism during gameday fesivities, in front of customers, wearing employer’s uniform, and hurting the employer’s brand is no reason not to hire a withering QB. There must be something wrong with all 32 teams and Jones is proving he has superior business knowledge. Then he’d have to end it with “Three things popped into my fat hairy head…” and send three backhanded insults.
Joe clearly doesn’t do any of that! He’s a terrible impersonator of Tom Jones.
Thank God.
May 16th, 2017 at 6:28 am
“Still, inhaling the air of excitement is cool in May. Lotta obstacles between now January.” Joe
ITS FOOTBALL JOE OBSTACLES ARE PART OF THE GAME AND LIFE!!!
We have the right GM, Coaches, players and schemes!!!!
The New Bucs Are In Town People!!!
@Rrsrq- If we are going to use that 3-4 defense, don’t have time for a learning curve…….. I see your concern. One good thing is by the time we play our division opponents the defense should be solid. Learning curve or not we still have the best D in our division.
May 16th, 2017 at 6:28 am
Let’s be real. We are in a division with three other teams capable of a super bowl run and we play the patriots at home. I am not a doubter, i just believe we have a lot to prove. As the saying goes “there is many a slip from a cup to a lip”.
May 16th, 2017 at 6:44 am
Fred E. Bucs … lol. I stand corrected.
BucinPA … Yes we have a lot to prove, but isn’t it great that we’re at least in the conversation this year. Wasn’t the case in many years past.
May 16th, 2017 at 6:47 am
The biggest difference is that the last time we had a good record we had beat crappy teams to get that record. Last year we beat legit good teams so to me it is a different situation all together.
May 16th, 2017 at 7:07 am
@Rrsrq……..We play the NFC North and the AFC East
May 16th, 2017 at 7:16 am
Anytime Kay Adams is driving I want a ride.
May 16th, 2017 at 7:22 am
Good point Dog.. but the thing is I can make a case that every team has a lot to prove.
Camrolina Panthers are all about Cam. That can be good and bad. He is as moody as they come. When he is up, almost unstoppable, when he is down, he will drag a team into the gutter with him.
Atlanta.. was last year a magical fluke. Belicheck exposed the weakness of their defense and the Bucs have two backs to expose that weakness. Sims was hurt in the second matchup. That is something that Atlanta will have to fix. The Vin Beasley/ McKinley tandem is interesting. I still have them as the team to beat by a big stretch, but even if they go 12-4, no reason to think we won’t hang one of those loses on them.
New Orleans… Trading Cooks changes things for that offense. It will still be explosive but his abscence will be felt. Their 32nd pick of Ramczk makes me scratch my head. I know they are getting Sheldon Rankins back for the full season and he helps but for them not to go Defense for their first 4 picks is a bit crazy. The Alvin Kamara pick was a bold move, giving up next seasons second, and one that I wish Licht would have considered for a number of players available on the board at that time, but for the Saints it solidified a strength, rather than matching a weakness with a great draft value.
May 16th, 2017 at 7:38 am
Jameis has seldom thrived under the pressure of expectations as a Buc. Losing to New Orleans awful d and then losing the last 4 as a rookie. In college he was clutch but he’s seldomly done it the NFL
Hopefully he recaptures that clutch gene as there are no excuses this year
May 16th, 2017 at 7:44 am
Ndog hit the nail on the head!!!! No winning against a team that was over .500 (except new orleans on the last game that was pulling starters)!!!!! And do not forget that was the year that Carolina Tanked the whole season for cam newton, so 2 non-legit wins there!!!!
some people bought in and bought in hard!!! they are still scarred, and say that they will not “be on board until the bucs make the playoffs”!!!!!!
This team is real!!!! The Coaching staff is legit!!! and the GM Bona Fide!!!!! none of these things were in place in 2010!!!!!!
How does the The Buc Realist know????? Real Recognize Real!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 16th, 2017 at 8:05 am
@Chrisco,
Thanks, I had right teams in mind, fins, pats, bills, wrong division
May 16th, 2017 at 8:41 am
Buc in PA
All 4 NFC South teams play the same exact teams outside of 2 games. Schedule is just an excuse it’s pretty equal depending on what place you finish in the prior year. Hell we already know the Bucs home and away opponents for years to come. Just depends on where they finish.
May 16th, 2017 at 9:19 am
All of the optimism is getting me nervous. Big time.
I am too. I spend all year repping the squad and talking crap. Even if we are 2-14 but I’m one of few. Especially here in NC.
Now, I have panthers fans telling me we’re making them nervous. We’re in top 10 power rankings. Everyone is predicting playoffs. What I’ve been waiting for is finally here.
And it scares the s*** out of me. I don’t mind expecting to suck and being surprised, it’s the opposite that takes a toll. I get that this team is different but team’s regress and injuries happen. I just pray that we stay healthy and have a winning season. Then I will be confident for the forseeable future. I am still confident, but the public consensus is nerve-racking.
May 16th, 2017 at 9:33 am
Saints picked up lattimore with their first pick in the 1st round who was projected best cornerback in the draft. Losing cook is going to hurt them badly.
1st thing DCs do against defending saints, is locate where cook is. Cook made vh3 look silly.
“I demand a Offensive Coordinator ”
Kobe Faker
May 16th, 2017 at 9:39 am
TampaTony
In college #3 was playing for Florida State and a National Championship Team with the talent to match. He had some “clutch” talent around him.
For the past two years he’s played for the Bucs!!! He’s put up more passing yards in those two years than ANY OTHER NFL QB in their first two years. He stopped a five years losing streak and led the team to a winning record.
We ALL get…and I think you can include #3 himself that he needs to improve.
But frequently your posts give a feeling of disappointment in his first two years.
That’s simply wrong! The numbers back up #3…the MOST IMPORTANT number…stop a five year losing streak!
He’s entering his third year…the experience factor is now great…he’s taken virtually every snap for two years…his targets have been improved dramatically…I believe the OL will be improved and especially right up the gut where we had a small center on bad knees last year…he’s going to be better.
I suspect he’ll be better in 18 than 17…and maybe again in 19…I do not know what #3’s ceiling is….I just know it’s high enough to carry this team to the SB and he has done NOTHING in the first two years to discourage that view.
May 16th, 2017 at 9:50 am
I disagree that the Bucs had a stellar off season. If it had been stellar, they would have PROPERLY addressed both sides of the ball.
Baker looks to be a big talker with little to back it up aside from dancing for the cameras, and Wilcox is a throwback from another era that no longer works in the NFL.
Our new OLB might play DE…if so I have high hopes, but that’s all they are.
May 16th, 2017 at 10:27 am
StPete…it’s very simple. He has an agenda. I really don’t even think winning the SB this season with JW being named the MVP of it, would even stop that agenda. imo
May 16th, 2017 at 10:39 am
He’d complain about the 3 overthrown balls, and the INT in the game.
May 16th, 2017 at 10:51 am
Gainesville Tony…at it again!!! SMDH
May 16th, 2017 at 1:56 pm
@JJ- you know what happens when you assume…
I’m strictly an NFL fan I think it’s absolutely moronic to root for a college team where you didn’t attend school at.
St Pete- When scouts tell you before The draft Jameis has a high football iq and is the best prospect since luck the expectations should be high.
The stats are nice but making the same mistakes and putting the team in a bad spot week after week is discouraging when you have high expectations.
I still hope Jameis can turn it around as his first two years have been an equal mix of frustrating and promising. But after year 3 the excuses are gonna have to come to a stop and we are going to need to see results
May 16th, 2017 at 5:04 pm
Tony says:
“making the same mistakes and putting the team in a bad spot week after week is discouraging… I still hope Jameis can turn it around”
Tony – that is hilarious that you actually see our QB situation that way. And trust me – the laughing is at your perspective – not with it.
May 16th, 2017 at 5:37 pm
@pickgrin
How else can you see the situation where a qb consistently gifts the other team free points and field position?
Someone said Jameis lead the Bucs to their first winning season, let’s pump the brakes on that thought process. During the 5 game win streak the offense struggled against bad defenses. The d lead them to that record
May 16th, 2017 at 6:35 pm
Winston had less than 10 interceptions last year that were his fault. Do you even watch the games Tony?
I guess Flacco (15), Manning(16), Palmer(14), Rivers(21), Roethlisberger (13), Luck(13) and Breese(15) ALL need to “turn it around” as well- eh?
May 16th, 2017 at 6:59 pm
@pickgrin
Lucks coach is on record of saying he needs to get the turnovers under control
Of the players listed only Rivers had over 20 turnovers like Jameis.
In a league where the margin of victory is slim you can’t give extra possessions and free points to teams. If I’m wrong I guess Koetter and Ira as well as many other paid NFL analyst are wrong as well