Five Things
December 23rd, 2019
Time to get rid of the gloom and doom right away before we all get coal in our stockings.
Blame It On The Wind.
After the nauseating loss to the Texans, Bruce Arians told all who would listen that the Bucs were just this close to beating the Texans. So many passes that would have been touchdowns for the Bucs were instead incomplete as the misfires were just a few inches off.
Arians could have stated the incompletions were on inexperienced receivers or lack of chemistry between said receivers and Mr. Entertainment, America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston. Few would have argued. Arians, too, could have fingered Justin Watson for pratfalling out of the snap when he was otherwise wide open for a touchdown.
But no. Arians went a different way.
You see, since it was windy, that wind pushed the ball away from being touchdowns, Arians said. It is the difference between playing in domes, where Jameis may have had his most perfect game the week prior, and playing outside in the wind.
OK, Joe really never looked at it that way before. Interesting angle.
Until Joe remembered: Houston quarterback Deshaun Watson plays his home games in a dome. Watson, though the Bucs defense held him without a passing touchdown, was 19 of 32 Saturday. That works out to 59 percent. Not great but not horrible, either.
Jameis connected on 25 of 48 passes for a 52 percent clip.
So how is it a guy whose home games are played in a dome is less affected by the elements than a guy who plays his home games outdoors?
Good grief! C’mon Bruce, you can do better than that.
Dejection.
Joe has never seen a defense as a whole have their hearts ripped out from them like Joe noticed the Bucs defense in the final minute.
Well, not since the 1999 NFC title game.
The Bucs were trying to mount a last-minute prayer of a game-tying or game-winning drive in the final minute. It ended with an interception. Naturally. That would be Jameis’ fourth of the day.
Usually in such circumstances, you will see the defense try to pump themselves up, you know, “Let’s take the ball away.” Something like that. At least they will show life.
Instead, as the defense took the field, they looked as if were leaving a wake. Every one of them hung their heads, helmets off, looking at their feet while they slowly meandered back onto the field for one more shot.
They had every right to be PO’ed. The Bucs defense turned in one of the best performances in recent memory, holding a playoff-bound team, a division champion, to 16 points.
(Remember Warren Sapp’s famous request? “Just get me 17?”)
And their quarterback all but threw the game away. Literally.
Joe has seen angry displays by Jameis’ teammates in the immediate aftermath of his interceptions before. Who could forget Demar Dotson skying off the ground as if he was Michael Jordan in outrage over one of Jameis’ picks at Cincinnati last year?
Earlier this year, Joe noticed Carl Nassib look as if he wanted to toss his helmet after one of Jameis’ signature first-pass-picks. Nassib had an angry look on his face and shook his head sternly back and forth while walking to pick his helmet up off the bench, as if to say, “That MOFO did it again?”
After Saturday’s display, Joe has to wonder if Jameis’ teammates may start turning on him? If that hasn’t already begun.
Not lethal.
Joe wrote this already but it seems many are not catching on, based on what Joe gets from followers on Twitter.
While Jameis’ three picks early were bad, really bad, they were not lethal. The game was tied at halftime. Problem for the Bucs was they only scored three points in the second half. That killed them as much as Jameis’ picks did, perhaps more.
If you play Santa Claus that badly in the first quarter and the game is tied at halftime, you have dodged a major bullet.
Were Jameis’ picks bad? Absolutely. Did they single-handedly lose the game for the Bucs? Of course not.
That’s not an excuse. That’s plain fact.
Little help.
While Jameis was clearly near or at his lowest point Saturday, and given the timing and circumstances of his meltdown, he couldn’t have picked a worse time to be at his worst; he didn’t get a whole lot of help.
The Curly Howard dance of Justin Watson, the key drops by O.J. Howard and Cam Brate, the absence of a reliable running back (no, one 49-yard run in the 15th game does not count as “reliable”) were critical.
When your franchise quarterback goes full-blown colorblind the rest of the team has to step up and damn near play perfect. The defense just about played perfect. The rest of the offense? Not so much.
Ballgame.
Solid corners.
The Bucs have a pass rush (yes, Santa, it is true). The Bucs suffocate running backs with a strong rush defense. But the secondary for much of the year has been a trainwreck.
Are those days over? Consider, second-year corner Carlton Davis made DeAndre Hopkins a non-factor Saturday. In nine targets, he only had 23 yards. You could make a case that Hopkins is the best receiver in the NFL not named “Michael Thomas.”
Jamel Dean has become Mr. Passes Defensed. For a rookie. Imagine when he gets a few more games under his belt?
And then there is Sean Murphy-Bunting, another rookie. He makes plays. He is tied with several defenders for fourth-most picks in the league (three), and he kept pursuit on a blitz Saturday when Deshaun Watson got behind him to force a fumble.
Could it be that finally, after all of these years (perhaps in a decade), the Bucs finally have competent corners?
December 23rd, 2019 at 8:02 am
BS !…
December 23rd, 2019 at 8:06 am
Great article Joe!Also note you mentioned Watson was 16/32 I
December 23rd, 2019 at 8:06 am
16/32 is I believe 50% not 59%…just saying.
December 23rd, 2019 at 8:07 am
Last I checked 16 of 32 is 50% on the dot and actually slightly worse than Jameis. Neither one had a great game
December 23rd, 2019 at 8:22 am
Tottenham Stadium is a bowl, very similiar game.
next excuse up !
December 23rd, 2019 at 8:30 am
When we talk about paying Jameis over $20 million a year…it makes me sick. He gave away at least 2 games this year (London and yesterday’s). His biggest issue has always been interceptions…and he has not improving. With an average QB the Bucs would have won the game. At least half the QB’s in the NFL are better than Jameis…because their teams can count on them. QBs with one year experience routinely play better than Jameis. Right now Jameis is learning and is worth about $10 million …not $30 million. If he threw 10 interception a year…he would be a $30 million guy.
December 23rd, 2019 at 8:31 am
“While Jameis’ three picks early were bad, really bad, they were not lethal. The game was tied at halftime. Problem for the Bucs was they only scored three points in the second half. That killed them as much as Jameis’ picks did, perhaps more.”
You can’t score points when you’re throwing it to the other team…
December 23rd, 2019 at 8:34 am
This was a tough one for me. Winning 4 in a row against poor teams, but I started to believe that Winston could be the QB of the future for us and I am not a Winston supporter. He had actually started to hit receivers in stride.
But I don’t think he has the mental focus to be a franchise QB. The INT’s to start the game are an example. To me this was his make or break game. And to think after 5 years and 80 games later, we are still having to talk a make or break game, I really think it’s time to move on.
December 23rd, 2019 at 8:37 am
The defense looked good and the GM needs to do all it can to keep them together for the foreseeable future. That needs to be the priority. Bring in an a veteran safety and add a D-lineman in the draft. (1st or 2nd rnd)
We need a high end O-lineman hopefully a 1st rounder and legit 3 down RB an not one that is currently running behind 5 NFL o-linemen. Chubba Hubbard or Zach Moss. Because our run blocking isn’t the best so vision is necessary.
I just cant see us taking a QB in this draft. After the top 3. Its a drop in Talent. Hurts and Love are going to need a year or two of development at the least before they can take over. From lacks the Arm talent to play in this type of offense. I dont even want to think about Eason being in this offense. He has the measurable but he has a lot to clean up if he can clean it up at all.
December 23rd, 2019 at 8:38 am
Joe I still don’t understand how the three early interceptions were. Or lethal. You only get x number of possessions a game and he spotted them 10 points immediately. In the end total number of points win the game. So what am I missing. In the nfl you see games decided by less than a touchdown all the time but then you also notice whoever has more turnovers loses. That isn’t opinion that is fact and statistics back that up. Of course the defense was Pissed of. We all are and we are wasting these efforts because of allowing this play. Jameis needs to own this to his team and each player. He already screwed the Bucs organization because of the Uber incident. Just so embarrassing
December 23rd, 2019 at 8:39 am
Wind is a horrible excuse. It’s BS. DeShaun Winston (get it right, Rich Eisen!) didn’t throw 4 INTs on Saturday and the Bucs defense neutralized their running game. In fact, the Bucs rushed for more yards than the Texans.
The difference in the game was Jay-Miss throwing 4 INTs and nothing else. It’s almost become comical the way Arians will go out of his way to defend the indefensible.
December 23rd, 2019 at 8:41 am
somewhere VHG is typing on twitter…..
he who laughs last, laughs the loudest!!!!!!….right now, VHG and most of the NFL are laughing at BA and the bucs……
BA has called VHG out….called ROJO out….
but BA has yet to call out JW and his TOs that continue to cost us games….
GO BUCS!!!!!
December 23rd, 2019 at 8:42 am
All I know is Winston is the most frustrating QB we’ve ever had. Why?
Because he has the ability to score bog points and make incredible throws…he never gives up. But those picks are joy-sucking-strikes to the fans.
And absolute roller coaster ride.
Throughout one game, fans want him gone, want him to stay, then want him gone again.
As I mentioned before, I cannot help but wonder how good this team would be with a top passer under center. I never pittied the Packers when they had Favre…until now.
December 23rd, 2019 at 8:43 am
Sorry Joe……….but no dice when it comes to Arians excuses of “windy” and “inches”
Arians is playing the political games……….he knows Jameis sucked but don’t wanna down him due to his confidence and bringing him back in 2020.
People are right, the Bucs probably cannot find any QB better than Jameis in 2020……….but it doesn’t make any fan feel better for the 2020 season.
December 23rd, 2019 at 8:43 am
813bucboi Says:
“…most of the NFL are laughing at BA and the bucs…”
I truly doubt that. They’ve seen so much bad that they’re probably numb to is by now.
December 23rd, 2019 at 8:45 am
By the way, it’s clear that Reasonable Joe wrote this excellent article. Those are really interesting tidbits about player reactions on the sidelines after Jay-Miss’ interceptions.
December 23rd, 2019 at 8:46 am
@ Buccaneer Bonzai
This team would’ve made the playoffs several times over if they actually had an accurate Franchise QB.
Brad Johnson and Jeff Garcia wasn’t great QBs…….but they made plays when they had to, protected the ball and led their teams to victory.
Again……Jameis #1 problem is in his head…inbetween the ears…….he just makes stupid decisions.
December 23rd, 2019 at 8:46 am
Bucs lose by 3
Texans score 17 points off Jameis turnovers
Yet he didn’t lose them the game?
I don’t think Clueless Joe was watching the game as much as he was watching Kay Adams
December 23rd, 2019 at 8:46 am
I don’t think he was that bad. Resilience on display, some good throws, that run for a first down was awesome. He was a little off early, but come on man broken thumb, no mike Evans and Chris Godwin. That game in Cincinnati was his worst game that was awful.
December 23rd, 2019 at 8:47 am
d-rome
BINGO!!!!!!
BA going out of his way regarding JW is comical…..
he can find every excuse for JW but when it comes to other players, he calls them out in public…..
all this coddling is embarrassing…..
GO BUCS!!!!!!
December 23rd, 2019 at 8:49 am
Favre and the Packers should have cashed in on more Super Bowls than they did and Favre was one of the biggest reasons why they didn’t. Of course, Favre played in a different era and it’s a disgrace that people (not you) look at his numbers and compare them to Jameis. Favre was an MVP by year 5. Jay-Miss will never be an MVP.
December 23rd, 2019 at 8:53 am
We’re wasting everyones time bringing Winston back in 2020 on a 1-year deal. You’re never winning a playoff game with this guy as the QB.
December 23rd, 2019 at 8:54 am
bonzai
nawl…
they’re laughing because shortly before the game rappaport reported that the bucs most likely will bring JW back…..then he performs the way he did vs the texans….
folks around the NFL are laughing at us for even thinking about bringing back a QB that leads the league in INTs in a contract year…..
imagine if ME13 led the league in drops in a contract year….lol…
or LVD led the league in missed tackles in a contract year….
or CD led the league in TDs given up by a CB in a contract year….
GO BUCS!!!!!!
December 23rd, 2019 at 8:54 am
BTW… the way I remember it, Favre threw very hot passes. Sometimes, they were too hot for the receivers. With that kind of a ball, the wind effect was somewhat lessened. Just making a point for all the Winston=Favre folks among us.
December 23rd, 2019 at 8:55 am
…….ummmmmmm………..yeah……
Jameis and NFL MVP will never happen…..and do you wanna know why?????
Because Jameis is always making stupid decisions with the football
December 23rd, 2019 at 8:57 am
The Bucs sliced their own wrists in missing the playoffs. That’s the bad news. It is also the good news.
Arians was right … about the DBs. They can ball.
Arians apparently does not want to tamper with RJIII’s fragile ego. What run game?
The OL … oh yeah. The guy they are supposed to protect leads the league in getting sacked and hit. Does that affect a QB and his game? Just a thought.
And there is Houdini …. Leftwich. He made O J Howard vanish.
And then there’s Jameis the Entertainer. With picks running him in the company of Favre and Peyton Manning. Obviously they learned and he hasn’t. Jameis, maybe try being like Brad Johnson … a teammate who knew they could win if he just didn’t step on it. Oops! I forgot he had Michael Pittman and he was a running back.
In the spirit of Christmas I would like to see a few presents under the Buc Nation tree.
A real running back.
A first round tackle.
A safety.
And a humble-yes-it-is-a-team-sport Winston.
Merry Christmas and happy Hanukkah.
December 23rd, 2019 at 8:59 am
D-Rome…as I remember, the Packers picked up some scrub player, Reggie White was his name. And all of a sudden, the Packers D was better, and they won a Title. People just want to talk about Favre, but it was much more than that. Then the following year, one of their best D backs became a FA and left. People said, “no problem”…we have Favre and Reggie. But guess what? No more titles. It is often a fine line…and you can’t be turning the ball over three or four times in a game and expect to win anything when the season shakes out.
December 23rd, 2019 at 9:00 am
D-Rome… slightly different era. Slightly. Favre still threw 20 INTs in a season six times in his career. That’s the same number of 4000 yard seasons. He also had five seasons of 1:1 TD:INT ratio, or worse. He also had five seasons of under 80 rating. The eras were not that different. What was different was that Favre was 28 in his 5th season, his defense was the best In the league, he had a competent running game, and a coach in Holmgren, that worked tirelessly to minimize his mistakes. Favre was notorious for being too amped up and terrible in his first drive. So Holgren started slowly to make up for Favre throwing up all over himself in nerves.
December 23rd, 2019 at 9:00 am
Coroner…glad you mentioned Pittman. He really made some big plays during the SB year.
December 23rd, 2019 at 9:00 am
It’s not difficult to understand playing with a fractured thumb on a windy day is going to effect his game more than playing in a dome. Lots of things happened in that game to effect the outcome. Brate dropping that 4 down pass on the winning drive. Watson legs turning to jello on what should have been a easy (perfectly thrown) TD pass in the end zone. Lots of bad refereeing didn’t help either.
December 23rd, 2019 at 9:02 am
stop comparing Farve with Winston please……
I watch alot of GB games just because Farve was my favorite QB of all time
……..don’t compare the two because Winston is just stupid with the ball
December 23rd, 2019 at 9:02 am
Stang… those two events could easily be offset for the two picks that should have happened but were dropped by the Texans…one on their goal line. Remember?
December 23rd, 2019 at 9:03 am
Yes of course JW has lost the kicker room ! They aren’t going to say it but you know they don’t believe in him . Like Lee stayed a few Ira podcast ago ,JW has a reputation for immaturity around league “suits” . He has not earned the big payoff ! Let him walk and move on ! The damage has been done ! He will never be embraced by the Buc nation ! A game manager will do ! JW has brought this fan base down , trotting him out next year is a slap to our faces !
December 23rd, 2019 at 9:07 am
This summer I guess we will hear from BA or BS take your pick, that Jameis interception problems totally fixed then he go out and challenge Vinnys record of 35 ints.
December 23rd, 2019 at 9:10 am
Maybe Tom Brady would like to throw the old pigskin to our receivers in sunny FL. He is basically a free agent after the season ends. Just a thought if the Bucs decide to move on from Jameis. Pretty sure that stadium would be a packed house with a move like that.
December 23rd, 2019 at 9:18 am
Watson had another int dropped and he had a fumble that rolled out of bounds…. watson didnt make anyone believers on sunday either
December 23rd, 2019 at 9:21 am
I don’t know what to think about the Jameis situation. I just know how I feel. Depressed, angry, and quesy about covers that. This guy is on the cusp of breaking the single season record for most INTs. In his 5th year that’s a bad look. Lots of TDs, I get it. However, he’s had games that he flushed down the toliet. At least 2 games, for sure. 2 games is enough to put us out of the playoffs. There just is not that much leeway in the NFL for those kind of game killing mistakes. Hasn’t changed since college. He’ll be back next year, but we should have a back up plan in place. I pray I’m wrong and he can miraculously change and at least only throw 15 picks (imagine Bilichick, or Sean Peyton accepting that stat as acceptable). If the goal is to win the SB, this won’t work.
December 23rd, 2019 at 9:30 am
ha ha ha ha ha Tom Brady in South Florida
ha ha ha ha ha ha
………………………Tampa is truly the retiree state if that ever came true 🙂
December 23rd, 2019 at 9:31 am
Developing a good defense will be wasted as long as JW is under center. We’ve seen it time and time again, good defensive efforts wasted cuz of the idiot QB. And if it weren’t bad enough JW and that overrated offense only scored 3 pts in 2nd half. I’ll keep saying it, what are the Bucs afraid of?, drafting a QB and going 5-11 or 6-10. Give me a less exciting QB that throws less TDs to the other team and a solid defense and Bucs won’t have to start every game down by 2 scores. I don’t care if JW wins 5 super bowl rings for another team, his time in TB should end next Sunday.
December 23rd, 2019 at 9:33 am
Does anyone see the theme here? It’s all due to Winston’s woefully inconsistent play. HE is this organization’s biggest impediment to turning this around.
As long as he’s here, it will be more of the same. How will forking over millions somehow turn him to a better player? Your answer, it won’t. I have zero faith in this organization to do the right thing.
December 23rd, 2019 at 9:36 am
@ Boltsfan17
…….people are right, the Bucs probably cannot find any QB better than Jameis in 2020……….but it doesn’t make any fan feel better for the 2020 season.
December 23rd, 2019 at 9:51 am
The question is do we keep Jameis AND draft a QB? I think we do
December 23rd, 2019 at 9:52 am
Brandon, the eras were different. Very different. Defenses could do things against QBs and wide receivers that they can’t do today. If Favre was playing in his prime in today’s game all of his numbers would have been inflated. Jay-Miss still can’t identify Cover 1 and throw to the right spot which, by the way, is not to the opposing team’s linebacker.
December 23rd, 2019 at 9:58 am
“not lethal” … What an absolutely stupid take. Not surprising, because its been the mantra all year. Then I guess the final pick was lethal. The four 1st half turnover, with the D playing lights were an absolute killer. No turnovers and we got to half probably up what 20-3? Then, its not really even a ball game. What if we had zero turnovers in the 1st half and those 4drives resulted in 4 matt gay missed fgs… not lethal because its close at half right. This whole thing about how the turnovers don’t matter. They all hurt, flip the field, change the complexion of the game ect…
December 23rd, 2019 at 10:04 am
It’s laughable and sad the amount of excuses that get run out to explain away the p!ss-poor performance of our QB.
Jameis Winston lost that game, there is no other explanation needed. “Wind”?!
Hah! The only wind effecting any outcomes around here is the hot air coming out of people’s mouth! Get the heck outta here with that!
December 23rd, 2019 at 10:08 am
Here is the question the Bucs have to answer and joe: can the Bucs win a championship let alone an nfc south title with jameis? In my opinion and the amount of turnovers he makes and especially in big games he has proven, no.
Want him too badly but we need to stop talking abut yards and touchdowns and points. It’s about super bowls and turnovers don’t get you there. It is a team game and we keep trying to build it around jameis but that’s not the way to go. We need to build a solid team. This guy better take a team friendly deal because he will keep screwing us over after we and the glazers have stood by him for so long. The question Arians needs to tell glazers is: can he win us a championship???
That is a fair approach.
December 23rd, 2019 at 10:37 am
Sign Shaq Barrett.
Franchise Jameis.
Get a real impactful RB.
Get an up grade at tackle.
December 23rd, 2019 at 10:39 am
Problem for the Bucs was they only scored three points in the second half. That killed them as much as Jameis’ picks did, perhaps more. -Joe
Funny how that’s exactly the number of points Bucs scored in 2nd half vs Giants, but Bucs lost that game because of the kicker?
December 23rd, 2019 at 10:50 am
sign shaq Barret and teddy bridgewater
December 23rd, 2019 at 10:50 am
The defense as a whole hasn’t accomplished enough to be upset….yet. But I do believe vets are growing tired of the double standard of accountability when it comes to Winston vs everyone else. All these guys have egos….believe that. They may play the part of being a professional but it has to get old knowing that you simply wont win with multiple turnovers every game. Winston is hovering at almost 5.0% interception rate of his attempts. That’s astronomical in itself…it doesn’t factor in all the fumbles.
December 23rd, 2019 at 11:09 am
We are kind of in a wait and see approach. Wait and see if they address the O-line and RB situation.
Grab and veteran safety to lead the secondary for even more growth in 2020. We can all agree the front 7 should be the best front 7 in the league next year. If the secondary can be top 15 then we should be working with something.
Draft a highend O-linemen, Have Demar as a back up. Get a 3 down back and allow the team to play complimentary football. Yeah JW put up big yards and a lot of INT’s. But the bad part about it is not 1 game were we able to just rely on the run game. If we get a decent backfield. I think the attempts will come down. If we had the threat of run game LBers would actually have to be be concerned about the running back.
If no improvement by JW ints after 2 years in the scheme along w/ improvement in the run game and improvement in the defense you can move on and trade up for the QB you want in the 2021 draft. I dont think thats a move you make in the 2020 draft with what is still needed on this team.
December 23rd, 2019 at 11:13 am
JW will never get it and the fans are the losers and they will continue to be losers if they keep this guy the bad out ways the good and he does not deserve to be the qb of the bucs period . and my family and i spent are money elsewhere this year and we will do the same until he is gone , bucs are in danger of losing all there fan base if they haven’t already.
December 23rd, 2019 at 11:15 am
Bring Romo in for 2 years
December 23rd, 2019 at 11:25 am
Subtract that first pick and three Bucs win 20-16 simple as that. That 1st pick was lethal because it was the difference between winning and losing. Every pick was lethal because that was less chances for points scored and less time to do it in so you’re just a little wrong there.
December 23rd, 2019 at 11:53 am
Omg……….somebody just said Romo
who’s next…….Troy Aikman too????
December 23rd, 2019 at 2:56 pm
I’ma go with yes joe. We finally got some corners who can cover an make plays happen this secondary is the youngest in the league an they are now turning up the heat. Hopkins, Jones, Ridley those are not your average WRs an they young corners played good against them. Some will say mike Tomas torched them. Yes he did but he’s also torched every other defense an DBs this year to break records. I’m impressed with our secondary an pride that we got them. Didn’t think I would say that this year with how bad it started out. Doesn’t matter who is under center next year this defense if we can keep suh Barret jpp an Nassib along with some of the depth like Ryan smith he’s great on ST. This defense will take us a long way.
December 23rd, 2019 at 2:58 pm
Yup, defense played great. Offense lost the game.
@DavidBigBucs you could say that about the 2nd pick, or the Barber fumble, or the blocked kick, etc…
Lost of reasons we lost- but everyone one of them is on the offense.
What a terrible, pathetic performance
December 23rd, 2019 at 3:38 pm
Did the Bucs have more than 5 runs in the second half, what is the max touches ROJO had, given touches, he had 100+ yards from scrimmage. How many runs of 10+ has he had called back by a penalty that had nothing to do with the run. BL and BA refuse to commit to the hot hand. They assume some of the blame when you know your QB has the penchant for turnovers… KEEP FIRING
December 23rd, 2019 at 7:13 pm
JMark- Almost interceptions isn’t a thing. I find it just as ridiculous when BA says the Bucs defense should have had 8 in the last two games. Remember?
December 23rd, 2019 at 7:37 pm
Good article. I am excited about our defense for next year. I was of the mind that Jameis was for sure coming back next year, but what you said about Nassib looking pi$$ed when Jameis threw the pick got me thinking. Maybe the Glazers are over Jameis having a seemingly permanent home for his head up his a$$? I know I am.