Five Things
December 16th, 2019
(Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.)
Let’s high-step into Victory Monday, Bucs fans!
Keep Throwing Picks (Early)
Yeah, there are still people hung up on the picks thrown by Mr. Entertainment, America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston. Yeah, Joe gets it, but when a guy consistently not just gets past the picks but racks up sick offensive numbers, you have to ask whether the picks are really dragging down the offense that badly?
For example, Jameis this season has five picks on the Bucs’ first possession of the game, including yesterday. Joe has a hunch it has something to do with scripted plays but really, only Bucs offensive coaches and Jameis would have knowledge of this for sure.
Here’s the thing: Of those five first-possession picks, what is the Bucs’ record in those games? Try 4-1. So over half of the Bucs’ wins (they are currently 7-7) have come in games when Jameis completed a pass on the first possession to a dude wearing the wrong color jersey.
You know what Joe’s reaction is to that? Keep throwing early picks, Jameis. If you win four out of every five games when you throw an early pick, keep firing!
The Return of Jameis.
Unless Jameis totally melts down the next two weeks like Steelers quarterback Duck Hodges did last night, Joe honestly cannot figure out how Team Glazer wouldn’t bring back Jameis. Working with Arians and Leftwich and Tom Moore, Jameis has turned into the quarterback Team Glazer has craved for over a decade.
Go ahead and check the national loudmouths or national sports sites. When they mention the Bucs these days, it has nothing to do with Ali Marpet or Will Gholston. It’s all Jameis. The fifth-year quarterback has made the Bucs relevant. Team Glazer likes that.
And, Team Glazer has has pointed out years ago, they look at how a season ends and if the arrow is pointing up. That arrow is pointing straight up for Jameis, barring a total collapse.
And it wasn’t like Jameis was riding the backs of Mike Evans or Chris Godwin as he set an NFL record for being the first quarterback in a century of NFL football to have consecutive 450-yard passing games. Think of all the golden arms that have played in this game and none have done what Jameis did the past two weeks.
And people think Team Glazer is going to give up on that?
Jameis vs. Shaq.
Bucs single-season sack record co-holder Shaq Barrett has indicated he wants to stay and seems to be hinting that his agent, oily Drew Rosenhaus, and the Bucs are already talking turkey.
Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht and Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians have stated they want Shaq back.
And then there is the matter of re-signing Jameis, which seems at this point to be a no-brainer. Those two guys represent the two most important players on an NFL team: A quarterback and a pass rusher. But what to do with both?
It stands to reason one will get a franchise tag. But which one?
First, per OverTheCap.com, the projected franchise tag costs for 2020 are $26 million for quarterbacks, and $16 million for linebackers (there is no designation for “pass rusher” or “outside linebacker,” only “defensive line” or “linebacker”).
For reference, Cardinals outside linebacker Chandler Jones, who Barrett was racing for the NFL lead in sacks, makes $16 million and he is fifth-highest paid at his position, with a much better resume than Barrett.
Per reliable Spotrac.com, the No. 10 base salary for quarterbacks, Derek Carr, is $25 million. Will Jameis’ representation going shoot for Jared Goff’s $33 million?
If somehow Jameis is cool with making top-10 cash and agrees to $25 million a year (with incentives) and you can keep Barrett at $16 million under a franchise tag, that’s doing pretty good.
The reason why Joe might franchise Barrett over Jameis is that we aren’t sure if Barrett is a fluke. Jameis has passed for a boatload of yards in past seasons. He has an established track record.
Dean Takes the Lead.
Jamel Dean, the rookie from Auburn, had two passes defended yesterday to bring his season total to 19. That currently leads the NFL. Entering this weekend, Dean was tied for the NFL lead with Logan Ryan of Tennessee. Both had 17. Ryan did not have a pass defensed yesterday in losing to Houston.
The fact a Bucs rookie is leading the league in this category is refreshing. The way Dean makes stops consistently and Sean Murphy-Bunting comes up with big plays in crucial moments is a very good sign for the Bucs’ secondary for the near future.
Offense What We Dreamed Of.
Joe thinks the 2017 offense finally showed up.
Remember when the Bucs signed malcontent DeSean Jackson and drafted O.J. Howard? Paired with Mike Evans and Jameis, virtually everyone expected the offense to take off.
It never did outside of a couple of flashes.
But now look at all the freaking weapons (when healthy) on this offense, and how Bucs offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich is using them.
Breshad Perriman (and to a lesser degree, Scotty Miller) have supplanted Jackson. Chris Godwin has made everyone forget Adam Humphries and Evans is, well, Evans.
When healthy.
Damn, watching Jameis just take apart the Lions in the first quarter using all sorts of different weapons was a thing of beauty.
Joe’s pretty sure that’s what every Bucs fan expected in 2017 and 2018, and it rarely happened.
If the Bucs can keep this offense intact (Perriman is a free agent), Joe is almost counting down the days before the 2020 season kicks off.
Bonus item: Can someone at FOX Sports do the right thing and put fossil NFL play-by-play broadcaster Dick Stockton out to pasture? Once upon a time Stockton, now 77, was one of the best play-by-play men in the business. That was a long time ago.
For example, Stockton called Carlton Fisk’s World Series homer in 1975 for NBC. He was excellent calling the NBA playoffs in the 1980s for CBS. He was OK when he did the NFL in the 1990s for FOX.
He’s terrible as we are two weeks away from the third decade of the 21st century.
Stockton, like most mortals, lost his fastball as he got into his 70s. He’s been bad for a while and he’s only getting worse.
Yesterday he claimed Mr. Entertainment, America’s Quarterback Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, had three picks entering halftime. He also claimed the Lions defense wasn’t touching Jameis just a few plays after Jameis got clobbered throwing from his own end zone.
Stockton also had claimed Bradley Pinion, who prepared to punt, was getting ready to boot a field goal.
Doesn’t anyone at FOX Sports monitor these broadcasts? Is the NFL really good with having this guy butchering their product each week? Do suits really have that little regard for fans?
You can’t tell Joe there isn’t some guy out there calling Sun Belt Conference games or someone working at the PAC 12 Network, or someone calling Kansas City Royals games that can’t do a better job than Stockton.
How about buying out Sean McDonough’s contract from BSPN?
(Just to be clear, Stockton’s partner, color analyst Mark Schlereth, is quite good.)
An indirect blessing if the Bucs continue to win is they won’t be stuck with FOX’s bottom-of-the-barrel broadcast crews as often.
December 16th, 2019 at 7:54 am
Barrett is NOT A FLUKE!!!!!!!! Holy jit! You have wanted and have opined SO MUCH about pass rush…..WE HAVE HIM RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!! Come on man, lol.
December 16th, 2019 at 8:00 am
Leave Stockton alone… he’s still far better than our “senile and dumb jock” combo on the radio.
December 16th, 2019 at 8:00 am
Not sure how the Lions bit on so many play action passes. Normally it only works when you have a run game.
December 16th, 2019 at 8:00 am
Stockton also referred to RoJo as a rookie, multiple times I think. I can see how that mistake can be made due to his play but, come on man.
December 16th, 2019 at 8:01 am
Jameis last week to Evans and yesterday to Perriman and Miller… all 3 were wide open and he hitsthem for 6 in stride. Last year Jameis would have thrown it a little short and the reciever would have to stop and jump and be tackled for a good gain. #3 is really looking good!!!
I wanted to cut Perriman for a fourth round pick last… ummm, I’ll take that back now.The young D looks good too!
December 16th, 2019 at 8:01 am
Its good to see we are winning…..its at least momentum for next year
We are finally beating teams that we should….Lions, Cardinals, Falcons, Jags, Panthers….all bottom of the barrel teams this year. The Giants and Panthers loss with rookie back up QBs, will be the games that would have made the difference.
December 16th, 2019 at 8:03 am
I’m with you Joe…. Franchise Shaq andif you aregoing togo with Winston, then itsa long term deal.
December 16th, 2019 at 8:08 am
View from 132 , you are a complete idiot, Dave Moore is outstanding.
December 16th, 2019 at 8:13 am
Jameis isn’t going to be franchised. The ceiling is too high. The Bucs will roll the dice.
December 16th, 2019 at 8:13 am
One thing outside of his on field perfomance I was impresssed with yesterday was seeing Jameis go to the end zone in celebration of Bunting’s int return. His effort is superb, he shakes of mistakes, and he’s a total team player.
December 16th, 2019 at 8:18 am
Gotta agree with MadMax Barrett is not a fluke. Just been behind Von Miller all his career. Now that he has his freedom to rush the passer and play more he is showing what he is capable of. If he was a fluke he wouldn’t be doing it all year long. he has consistently gotten to the QB all year… pay the man
December 16th, 2019 at 8:23 am
Joe, regarding Stockton, I get your point, but when guys like him that I used to listen to in the 80’s leave, it makes me feel freaking old. So I hope he keeps his job into his 90’s.
December 16th, 2019 at 8:32 am
I’m in agreement with franchising Shaq and offering Jameis a team-friendly, incentive-laden deal, that is provided he still wants to play here.
You don’t let a known commodity walk without having another known replacement. I can’t help but think of what this offense would look like with a sound, effective running game.
December 16th, 2019 at 8:36 am
Know what you mean, man. 🙁
Grew up on Jack Buck. When he hit his 70s he really had no business working games.
Only three broadcasters can think of that never aged. Vin Scully, Ernie Harwell and Al Michaels. Someone twittered Joe this morning that Michaels is only two years younger than Stockton but Michaels is still on the top of his game.
December 16th, 2019 at 8:40 am
Lol, I had to run out of the house a few minutes before half time and when I got back I hear Stockton say Jameis had 3 picks. I was like oh my god what in the hell happened. I had to text some friends how the picks happened. They responded that he only had the first one. Pretty bad when I have to get correct stats from guys watching the game vs the play by play announcer.
December 16th, 2019 at 8:47 am
The game wasn’t on Fox. I watched it on CBS Tampa channel.
December 16th, 2019 at 8:48 am
Dean’s accomplishment has been nothing short of amazing considering that he’s only taken defensive snaps in EIGHT games, and in 3 of those games he had a TOTAL of 10 snaps. So all of his PDs came in only FIVE games.
December 16th, 2019 at 8:48 am
Sign Jameis for 3…….franchise Shaq, draft an OT to replace Dotson…..draft a DE/DT to replace someone….(can’t sign everyone)
Draft a RB……preferably a bruiser….
Pray for Justin Evans…..
December 16th, 2019 at 8:48 am
Why do I get the feeling this article was meant for the Glazers to read?
Joe, unless you have inside info that Licht will be fired he’s going to sign Jameis.
December 16th, 2019 at 8:50 am
Why can’t we sign both? Shaq wants to stay here. Why not trade Evans for a couple high picks, sign shaq, Nassib, JPP, Jameis, Godwin, and Perriman. Use picks on Oline, maybe RB. Super Bowl…
December 16th, 2019 at 8:57 am
Yesterday’s game? It sure was on FOX.
December 16th, 2019 at 8:57 am
Gene Deckerhoff is rapidly catching up with Stockton. A couple times each game, you hear people in the background correcting him when he says the wrong name.
It will be sad when he retires, but we could use some fresh blood in the booth.
December 16th, 2019 at 9:01 am
“Franchise Barrett
Making a huge mistake giving him a long term contract
Without Suh inside and pressure from the other side, Barrett is crap like
EVERY OTHER PASS RUSHER
If you double team a edge pass rusher
YOU WILL STOP EVERY GREAT PASS RUSHER IN THE NFL
Including Mack and Miller
ALL EDGE PASS RUSHERS NEED HELP AND CANT CONTINUOUSLY BEAT DOUBLE TEAMS ALONE”
Kobe Faker
December 16th, 2019 at 9:02 am
Someone above made reference without naming names. But every radio broadcast there are multiple mistakes by our broadcasters. Dave is constantly bailing Gene out. 2 I remember from listening yesterday…”First down catch by Watson! I mean Godwin. #12 not #17.” Then and “Theres a Buccaneer down on the field.” Someone in the booth.. “A Lion” Gene ” A Lion” lol.
December 16th, 2019 at 9:10 am
This morning is a prime example as to why I, and others, feel the need to support the FACTS around our QB. Today on all the national shows there is NOTHING being said about the Bucs or Jameis. I know everyone will say it’s because we are out of the playoffs, but tell me if Jameis had thrown 4 picks and we lost we wouldn’t be a top 5 story. Yesterday Jameis did something that has never been done in THE HISTORY OF THE NFL yet it’s like it never happened. We as a fan base need to rally around this blatant bias against him and US. This is garbage and I am sick of it. Think about it we have the leading passer in the NFL, the leading sacker in the NFL in Shaq, we have the leading pass defender in the NFL in SMB, yet today in the national world we don’t exist. But if Jameis would have thrown 4 picks we would be talked about nonstop cause they just can’t wait to bury OUR QB. If you’re a Bucs fan this should make you sick.
December 16th, 2019 at 9:12 am
Gene Deckerhoff is, always has been, and always will be the voice of Tampa Bay Buccaneers (for me). I synch up timing on tv broadcast with radio because tv color analysts generally don’t call plays like radio guys; and (most importantly) Gene is as big of a Tampa homer as I am. We have suffered through lots of bad football together. It will be a sad day when he retires.
December 16th, 2019 at 9:16 am
I have been pondering this as well, but trading Evans could be just the thing we need to lock down our defensive line and depth. I love Evans and everything he has been able to accomplish, but right now the best thing he might be able to do for the team is get us some picks and salary cap back. Jameis has proven he can produce without him and I think it is only marginally better with Evans on the field, whereas I shudder to think about what our defensive product could look like without JPP, Shaq, & Suh. I hate the Patriots with a passion, but this is the kind of difficult move Belicheat and friends have been willing to make over the years. They understand you win with high quality talent across the board and not elite quality talent at a few positions. It would take some serious guts to pull the trigger, but I absolutely think it should be on the table
December 16th, 2019 at 9:18 am
“And, Team Glazer has pointed out years ago, they look at how a season ends and if the arrow is pointing up.” This is exactly why it was important to win these games and not worry about draft position. Imagine if the Bucs had gone 3-13 or 4-12. Team Glazer would have fired everyone down to the water boy and paid yet another coaching staff not to coach.
December 16th, 2019 at 9:19 am
@Ndog
I agree about no news on Jameis……for weeks they announce that Prescott is leading the league in passing & yesterday Jameis passed him….not a peep!!!
December 16th, 2019 at 9:21 am
“Not only the wins are important but
Everyone sees the potential for the following year most importantly the free agents
Tell me a reciever doesnt want to play in this offense.
Players want to win”
Kobe Faker
December 16th, 2019 at 9:48 am
Stockton still can’t be much worse than Gene Deckerhoff. I know people love him but the dude never gets a name right, thinks any pass to a RB is a screen, all passes to wide receivers seem to be crosses, freaking “side car right”, often doesn’t use words to describe what he’s seeing, and seems to genuinely not know the game. Relying on him to give me the action is better than nothing but not by much.
December 16th, 2019 at 9:50 am
Stockton sucks. He’s as biased as they come and obviously dislikes the Bucs. Reminds me of Collinsworth.
And Dave Moore is awesome. May be Genes replacement eventually.
December 16th, 2019 at 9:56 am
That was the worst broadcast I’ve ever heard in my life. Constantly misspeaking or just flat out wrong.
December 16th, 2019 at 9:57 am
Trade Evans? People are out of their minds. It won’t be on the table.
December 16th, 2019 at 10:00 am
i’d give shaq a 4year deal and JW a 3year deal…..
GO BUCS!!!!!
December 16th, 2019 at 10:12 am
I don’t think its that crazy. Belicheat shipped out Chandler Jones, Logan Mankins, and Richard Seymour for the long term benefit of the franchise. I’m saying it should be on the table to at least discuss if the right deal was available. I’m not saying Team Glazer wouldn’t veto that idea immediately.
December 16th, 2019 at 10:17 am
Wouldn’t it be great if they were able to negotiate contracts that were acceptable to Winston, Barrett and the franchise? It is not absolutely required that either of them has to be franchise tagged.
Creative contracts are not impossible. Get those two jobs done and the rest of the free agent negotiations will work themselves out.
December 16th, 2019 at 10:31 am
The Bucs aren’t going to dismantle the strength of their team with the playoffs in sight. They’ll do their best to keep the offense intact, including Perriman. They’ll look for OL, DL and RB. Fairly straight forward.
December 16th, 2019 at 10:33 am
Stockton is to good to let go ! Even with the errors ! He calls plays with such enthusiasm and heart . Leave the old man alone ! He is a jewel !
December 16th, 2019 at 10:34 am
Been a Bucs Radio fan for 40 years. Gene D is getting long in the tooth, but he can’t come close to Stockton. He sounds beginning senile. Gene doesn’t tho he flubs up at times. Dave Moore keeps an ear on it. I hate Collingsworth. He’s from high school in Titusville and went to UF. He has always scorned the Bucs. He didn’t care for them winning a SB either.
December 16th, 2019 at 10:44 am
Jameis is A fluke. All fixed Joe!
December 16th, 2019 at 10:54 am
The backup receivers that helped pile up 914 yards the last two weeks, did so because they’ve learned what to do by watching Mike Evans and Godwin too. Trading Evans is not just a bad idea, it’s ridiculous. You don’t trade a sure thing for a maybe. Great offenses are great because they keep key players together. The Bucs only lack an impact RB. They don’t to weaken one position to build another. They need to build on what they have. As for the announcers, I believe calling games or running the government requires a mental and physical endurance that people in their seventies simply don’t have. I know that from firsthand experience. Advisory positions are fine, but shouldering the whole load is a bad idea.
December 16th, 2019 at 11:46 am
I think it would be prudent to trade Brate and regain $6 million of cap room. We’d have around ~$99 million in cap space. At least $30 million for Jameis and $30 million (maybe more) for Shaq/JPP. Only 35 players signed through 2020.
December 16th, 2019 at 12:31 pm
But sparky, the argument I have is you are slightly weakening one position to build up 2 positions in DT & DE/OLB. And it would allow to build on what we currently have, rather than letting a lot of it leave like you want. I don’t want to go into the draft & FA needing starter level quality at OT, RB, DE, & DT. That’s just too many holes to fill and we have seen this season how developing the rookies takes time. Plus it handcuffs you in the draft to take need over BPA. Godwin has proven more than capable of handling the load, it’s not like we would be handing over the WR1 duties to Perriman.
Extremely unlikely to happen but not ridiculous. The great teams don’t handcuff themselves by overpaying stars at the WR position. Michael Thomas & Tyreek are still cheap, Edelman & Lockett are paid pennies on the dollar, name a star receiver on the 49ers or Ravens. Because they know a good QB can elevate the play of those around him and make an average receiver shine.
December 16th, 2019 at 3:18 pm
You know what’s even crazier about Jamel Dean? He didn’t even start until
The Seattle game! And now he leads the league in passes defended. I’m telling you if he can stay healthy he’ll be a stud and ballhawk for years.
Re: Dick Stockton, I totally agree and I’ve been saying this for the last 2 seasons. He says so many incorrect things every game it’s crazy. But you know why Fox doesn’t care? Cuz he’s covering Bucs games.
December 16th, 2019 at 5:26 pm
Know what would solve the Stockton Problem? WINNING. Stockton & Schlereth are FOX’s fourth or fifth string team. If our Bucs were more compelling to watch (winning games, in the playoff hunt, challenging for a division title or even -GASP- chasing down home field advantage) we’d get the better broadcast tandems. Hopefully that starts next fall!
December 16th, 2019 at 5:50 pm
Hey. Who isn’t always impressed with Gene saying the Bucs are running right to left on your radio diAl? Comon. THATs a a good line! As far as tv broadcast- THAT was a joke. How many plays did you see diagramed and when they ran the tape THEY WERE FOLLOWING THE WRONG GUY ON THE ROUTE! They tell you “ guy comes off the line, chips a defender and gets open in the middle “ or some such foolishness when the receiver actual ran an out and up! Follow the squiggles they put on the screen and you would never see the play that was run! LOL. Me and my buds were laughing our butts off! Incompetence at its best.
December 16th, 2019 at 8:32 pm
Yeah, Joe. If you watch, Gholston has been killin this season with the number one run defense.