Dumb Play, Revisionist History & Barbra Streisand
December 4th, 2017
Ira Kaufman is the most beloved, revered and esteemed Buccaneers columnist in town. He has hung his hat at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters since July 2016. Tampa Bay’s only Pro Football Hall of Fame voter, Ira busts out columns here every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and his award winning podcasts fire Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can also see Ira every football Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on FOX-13, Scott Smith’s Tailgate Sunday.
BY IRA KAUFMAN
George W. Bush was sitting in the Oval Office and Jon David Gruden was stalking the Buc sidelines.
“No Country For Old Men.” was playing on movie screens and the Bucs proved that a year later with a veteran purge that included Derrick Brooks.
Alicia Keys topped the charts with “No One,” while Legally Blonde debuted on Broadway.
Yes, Buc fans, it was the winter of 2007, and yes, it seems like a century ago.
Since Tampa Bay won the NFC South that season, the Glazers have fired four head coaches and two general managers. Few members of the organization remain at One Buc Place from that fateful year – when the future seemed bright.
It’s true the Giants beat the Bucs in the opening playoff round, but New York went on to win the Super Bowl behind a dynamic defense and a young quarterback named Eli Manning.
No shame there.
But there’s been nothing except heartache since that season for Buc fans who have never stopped believing.
“Memories light the corners of my mind, Misty water-colored memories of the way we were.”
That Barbra Streisand song serves as a fitting soundtrack for this franchise during a decade of futility.
The way we were.
Dumb Football
The Bucs fell to 4-8 Sunday by playing some dumb football in Green Bay, ensuring a .500 season at best. And let’s not kid ourselves — this team isn’t running the table in the final four weeks.
The NFC South cellar beckons once again, this time while the other three clubs in the division all battle for playoff berths.
The postseason drought has reached 10 years, and that should lead to some serious soul-searching by ownership. Even during this lost decade, the value of the franchise has increased significantly.
Perhaps that’s part of the problem.
If the Rams and Jaguars qualify for the postseason, the Bucs will stand alone at No. 3 on the list of longest NFL playoff droughts, ahead of only the Bills and the Browns.
Do you ever want to be mentioned in the same sentence as the Browns and Bills? Didn’t think so.
No Backtracking
It wasn’t supposed to be like this.
When this season ends, some observers will suggest the 2017 Bucs never should have been expected to be a playoff team. That’s revisionist history at its worst.
“I expected to make the playoffs last year, and we didn’t,” Dirk Koetter told me in March during a breakfast with NFC coaches. “I mean, no one has higher expectations than I do. I have very high expectations. It has nothing to do with coming off 9-7. I mean, go ask any coach in this room, ‘Coach, do you expect to be 2-14 this year? Yeah, Ira, I think 3-13 would be an excellent season.’ No one’s thinking like that.”
But here we are, looking at a probable 5-11 finish. It wasn’t supposed to be like this.
Here’s Koetter, talking to Jameis Winston during an episode of Hard Knocks this summer. “We have a good team,” Koetter said. “We have by far the best team that we’ve had since you’ve been in the NFL.”
The Glazers will soon have decisions to make, if they haven’t made them already. Do they blow up the current regime or show more patience?
Either way, this decade of despair simply has to end.
“The Way We Were” is a nice, catchy song. As a sports slogan, it stinks.
December 4th, 2017 at 2:32 pm
Always enjoy your articles and podcasts ira!
December 4th, 2017 at 2:39 pm
Anyone who thinks there not talent on this team is crazy. Plenty to win 10 games.
Can someone explain to me why it took this long to play Barber??? If Martin isn’t hurt I bet it would have been another 20 carry 62 yard for Doug.
And Bobo was active and played but Quiz returned the kicks? Why?????????
December 4th, 2017 at 2:47 pm
Depressing ass article, but so true. Bucs are the yucks again. At lease we have the lightning who will be out in the community tonight trying to help Seminole Heights businesses recover. Bucs should take a page from the “support the community that supports you” book.
December 4th, 2017 at 2:49 pm
@mike n so many questions as to why Barber was moth balled until we saw him miss that block on crucial 3rd down in the red zone. No reason to not put Sims in who is a much better blocker and still run Barber. But to answer your question Barber not good enough at blocking right now to be every down back.
December 4th, 2017 at 2:50 pm
@@mike n BUT do we start Dougie over Barber now? HELL NO!
December 4th, 2017 at 2:57 pm
Our team has no pass rush and that in the toughest QB division in the entire league that has hurt us more than any kicker, any play call, or whatever scapegoat you want. We can’t get to Brees, Ryan, or Newton. Until that changes, we’ll be basement dwellers
December 4th, 2017 at 2:57 pm
Please STOP with “there’s talent on this team”! Obviously not enough. Geez. Every team has talent – some teams have more than others. The Bucs have some, but not nearly enough.
December 4th, 2017 at 3:00 pm
The life of a Buc fan!
We’ve seen GMs and coaches get shown the door for less.
Starts at the top though! Glazers might want to look in the mirror.
December 4th, 2017 at 3:07 pm
I see some people around here trying to make the foolish argument the Bucs weren’t talented to begin with. Those same people are “Totally Confident” in the direction of the team.
Trolls!
December 4th, 2017 at 3:08 pm
We need more talent for sure but coaching has been pretty bad too. Either way the team should be better than 4-8 given the roster. Either way I don’t feel like talent is being maximized or utilized as best as it could be.
If the defense could hold leads (Buffalo / Green Bay); and we didn’t have the early kicking issues (New England); the team is easily 7-5. That’d still be a bit disappointing for what we thought going into it.
December 4th, 2017 at 3:15 pm
It’s coaching man…..example.
3&6 in OT GB 30 yard line.
Mike Smith blitzes kwon up the middle and sends gmc wide left one on one with the tackle. Neither get there Hundley scrambles for the first just missing Clarke’s attempt at a tackle.
Now if it’s 3&6 and I have the DT with the most sacks in the last 5-10 years in the nfl why do I want to rush him wide left? Is the shortest distance not a straight line? Why not rush the middle with gmc and leave Kwon as your spy since Hundley been killing you all day with his feet.
It’s coaching calls man, I just don’t get it.
December 4th, 2017 at 3:19 pm
Anyone who cant see the coaching staff is far and away the main problem with this team is the dogs ballocks. All started with the patty cake camp. Letting the inmates run the asylum…oooops I cant say that these days. Fire the coaches today!
December 4th, 2017 at 3:21 pm
Man we got pro-bowlers at every level.
Gmc the best DT to ever play the game
Kwon and LVD both pb’ers
Grimes
Justin Evans prob playing the best def on the def right now.
Winston pb
Evans and Djax pb
Brate should be a pb led the nfl in TDs for a TE last yr and this yr he’s top 3?
December 4th, 2017 at 3:22 pm
As the gm I’m cutting the following players today:
McClain , Conte, Caleb and Sweezy
December 4th, 2017 at 3:23 pm
Well Ira, you didn’t say anything, but as usual you said it very well. What is the ten-year problem and how can it be fixed? Everyone has their opinion; here’s mine: Falling in love with Winston instead of recognizing that you had a young, immature draft pick with both issues and potential, and building in a sober, balanced fashion from there.
December 4th, 2017 at 3:24 pm
Before they start the pattern of firing GM’s and coaches again I really hope they bring in a very knowledgeable football guy to oversee football operations and hire the next GM and coach. I’m no longer confident in the Glazers making that decision and the easy choice for them is to hire Jon Gruden because Pewter Report told them to. Let someone with real football knowledge evaluate the current situation and make that decision.
December 4th, 2017 at 3:26 pm
Slight correction there Lord Cornelius. You are being rather generous/leniant on the Defense. In the games I’ve watched (all of’em) I count 4. 4 easily winnable had our Defense just showed up over the 50% level. And thats truly pityful. Green Bay was just the iceing so far. I’m sure we will see this Defense fail miserably again this season. I say eaily 8-4 or 9-3. EASILY. The offense has not been Outstanding. But certainly good enought to have pulled us thru with a slightly above average Defense. I’ve been screamin for a Defense. GreenBay beat us with a backup QB. This within itself surely should sound the..radiation alarm. This is beyond unacceptable..every GD Sunday!
December 4th, 2017 at 3:32 pm
DB…. don’t try to argue with facts and explaining X’s and O’s it gets you nowhere in these parts. But on that play… WTF was fan favorite Keith Tandy doing. I’ve been hearing all season about how he needed to play more.
December 4th, 2017 at 3:33 pm
As a gm I’m cutting
Gmc
Grimes
Djx
Esmith
C baker
Ayers
Sweezy
Dm
J rogers
Conte
Ward
Fitzpatrick
Then with that huge fat salary cap… I’m getting serious talent. I mean serious
December 4th, 2017 at 3:33 pm
@MJ
True. I’m just calling the 2 games in which the offense took a lead late and all the defense needed was 1 stop to win it.
In the last few years we’ve been much better off being down one score with 2 mins left and giving Winston a chance to win the game; than we are being up one score with 2 mins left and needing a stop – which is insane.
December 4th, 2017 at 3:41 pm
Tnew
Tandy was dazed and confused! when he looked back to see if there was a receiver behind him it was too late. He needed to stop the rusher immediately but hesitated.
December 4th, 2017 at 4:29 pm
How could Barber learn to block when the soft training camp didn’t allow anyone to hardly hit each other? You get better at doing something by actually doing it!
December 4th, 2017 at 4:37 pm
defense rules
your, “we have no talent excuse” is out the window…..EXCUSES EXCUSES!!!!GO BUCS!!!
December 4th, 2017 at 4:41 pm
D-Rome Says:
December 4th, 2017 at 3:07 pm
I see some people around here trying to make the foolish argument the Bucs weren’t talented to begin with. Those same people are “Totally Confident” in the direction of the team.
^^BINGO^^
only st pete, realist and defense rules claim we have no talent and that coaching has been the least of our problems….to them its coaching the lovie out of players…tough schedule…HK…IRMA…injuries….needs time to gel….lovie again….lol….GO BUCS!!!
December 4th, 2017 at 4:46 pm
LAMARCUS
im with you, but don’t cut GMC…trade him for something….anything….a 7th round pick…not only would that help the team, that’ll show players that we aint round anymore….GO BUCS!!!
December 4th, 2017 at 5:06 pm
@lamarcus… i’m with you on all but djax. I’d keep him another year. I also since he’s been here have had no idea about gmc. I read where he’s great but when I watch… not so much. No clue why you rely on sweezy going into the season… an average guard who sat out with injury is crazy. Ward was a name but he was cut in preseason for a reason.
December 4th, 2017 at 5:11 pm
@DB55- 1st let me applaud you for finally admitting the truth about GMC! 🙂
I always knew you were a closet fan!
2nd, You want to get rid of Conte?! I think I would’ve rather have him on that last play than the ghost of Keith Tandy! Sorry Tandy fans.
Lamarcus- There’s no way that you could find that much talent in one off-season, no way. This isn’t Madden.
December 4th, 2017 at 5:26 pm
Bucsfan
Now you know dam well that was pure sarcasm. He was ghost yet again sans a screen play he blew up ooooooooh woooooow 1mil check well spent yesterday. 🙄🤬😡
December 4th, 2017 at 5:29 pm
Gmc 2 solo tackles
Siliga 1 solo Tackle.
#perspective
December 4th, 2017 at 5:32 pm
The GMC haters on this site are hilarious! You want to cut the one guy who would be a starter on every other defense in the NFL. The rest of our d-line SUCKS, you can’t roll out one stud D-lineman and 3 should be beer truck drivers and expect to get pressure on the QB. With that said, every year at draft time nobody here is screaming for 1st round D-linemen, we want a new shiny WR, RB or even CB. THE GAME IS WON AND LOST IN THE TRENCHES!
December 4th, 2017 at 5:32 pm
As for Tandy I’ll take him all day. I’ll use the rust excuse for him yesterday. And he still outplayed Conte. I guess you forgot about Jamaal Williams carrying Conte into the end zone. Honestly my six yo hit harder than Conte.
If gmc is ice cream then Conte is nothing more than wet chitty toilet paper.
December 4th, 2017 at 5:38 pm
Sickofit
That’s a lie.
DB55 Says:
December 18th, 2014 at 1:49 pm
I begged for aaron donald but nooooo. Sad truth is he’ll prob out perform our best defensive lineman as a rookie. Sad but true.
DB55 Says:
March 2nd, 2016 at 10:20 am
Vernon Butler (DT)
HT: 6’4″ WT: 323LBS.
POSITION: DT
SCHOOL: Louisiana Tech
Comparison: M. Wilkerson
This big boy can move and I understand Mike Smith likes these type of athletes on his DL
DB55 Says:
March 28th, 2016 at 4:50 pm
I’m a fan of licht but if he picks Hargraves over a DE he should get slapped.
December 4th, 2017 at 5:45 pm
5-11? Ira is being quite optimistic…
December 4th, 2017 at 5:48 pm
I understand why fans want to blow up the regime, but have a coaching turnover every two years will never win you anything. The Glazers need to choose a direction and stick with it.
They weigh everything on who’s hot when they need to give coach’s time to develop their players and philosophy.
I can’t argue with the facts. Our team sucks.
But it’s also a fact that successful organizations give their coach’s time. They have vision.
December 4th, 2017 at 6:08 pm
Thanks LC.
December 4th, 2017 at 6:24 pm
This aint madden. It’s real life. U can get guys off the street that can play better and more hungry than the said listed players.
Maybe djx can stay another year but when u complain about touches in a WIN u need to go to the Browns. There is more opportunities there. Yes u can build that in 1 year.
December 4th, 2017 at 6:43 pm
The Vikings coaches were literally making fun of how bad the Bucs’ gameplan was against the Falcons. After watching Atlanta’s Julio Jones explode for 253 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 12 receptions last week, Zimmer told FOX’s broadcast crew, “We are aware of how great Julio Jones is, and I think we’ll cover him a little bit differently than Tampa Bay did.” Pro Bowl cornerback Xavier Rhodes joked that he would shadow Jones to the point of aligning at linebacker if Jones were to moonlight in the backfield. With help from Minnesota’s safeties, Rhodes limited Jones to a negligible 24 yards on two catches and six targets.
That was a dig at the coaches and a dig at Grimes. The teams that win have great schemes the teams that dob’t… don’t. Simple as that.
the Bucs coaches are simply not ever going to be elite. Sayonara.
December 4th, 2017 at 10:14 pm
@DB55… I didn’t call you out by name, what I said is true about most people who post here regularly. Jason Licht is no better than half of the people who post here, our TE leads the league in TD’s last year so….we spend our top pick on another TE. If there wasn’t a DL or OL worthy of our pick at that spot then you have to trade back.
December 4th, 2017 at 10:54 pm
Yea if I was grimes I would be livid not having that opportunity to cover jj. Apparently, this is not the case. I probably give kudos to msmith for not playing grimes on jj only if I possible could image jj going off even more. Like another 300 game. I’m stuck thinking that could’ve happen again if NON TACKLING LOAFER BRENT Grimes was covering him. So rolling w rsmith could of been better option.