Opinion: Don't Go Jumping Off a Cliff Just Yet Buc Fans
by LeeCaz on Sep 27, 2010 1:59 PM EDT
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While I think we can all agree that the loss yesterday was certainly disheartening, I think that most of us would have been happy with this record going into the season. We're still in the midst of a rebuilding process, and it was extremely evident yesterday on the field. This writer predicted a win loss record of 6-10, and I still think that is easily attainable. Even an 8-8 season may not be out of reach. Our remaining schedule is extremely conducive to winning a few more times. Seattle, Detroit, St. Louis, San Francisco, Arizona and Washington are all pretty beatable. In fact, even our vaunted division champions of last year, the New Orleans Saints, have been showing chinks in their armor. Losing to a very game Atlanta team yesterday, as well as struggling to a sinking 49er team last week, has shown that New Orleans has lost the defensive magic that propelled them into the playoffs last season.
It's really astounding how much our perceptions can change after just a couple of weeks. I had actually started to drink the Kool-Aid a little bit, but the fact remains that there isn't a single game remaining on the schedule that I wouldn't give us a fair shot at winning, and I don't think we can chalk any of them up to an automatic loss. Let's take a look at what's left, and you tell me if you think we can't compete for a victory.
Here's a look at the remaining schedule, along with the team's record at this point in time:
@Bengals (2-1)
Saints (2-1)
Rams (1-2)
@Cardinals (2-1)
Now, let's be conservative here and say we take two wins out of these four games (I assume we would be favored over the Cardinals and Rams right now). That will still give us a record above .500 nearly halfway through the season. How can we not be happy about this after a 3-13 season last year?
@Falcons (2-1)
Panthers (0-3)
@49ers (0-3)
@Ravens (2-1)
Falcons (2-1)
Three tough road games in this grouping, but after a surprising loss to Kansas City, after gamely competing with the Saints last week, it appears there are some serious problems in San Francisco. Let's hope our victory over Seattle last season ended our rotten luck when traveling to the west coast, and I say we win that one. I also think we handily beat Carolina at home. Assuming we lose to the Falcons twice, and the Ravens on the road this puts our overall record at 6-6 going into the final leg of the season.
@Washington (1-2)
Detroit (0-3)
Seattle (2-1)
@New Orleans (2-1)
And there it is Buc fans. The final four games. Washington and Detroit are easily winnable, which would put us at 8-8 on the season (a triumph after 3-13 for sure). There is even a small chance that we beat a jet lagged Seattle team, and face a New Orleans team that has locked up a playoff spot and resting starters. I never thought I would say it, but at this point in time, after evaluating the schedule closely, there is a smidgeon of a chance we could compete for a wildcard with a 10-6 record. So what do you think Bucs Nation? Am I crazy?
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Nope not crazy to me, of course I will blindly remain optimistic no matter what our record is but truly an 8 n 8 or a 9 n 7 season season does not look out of reach at all, and the saints this year are not playing like the saints of last year, so I wouldnt be surprised to split the season series with them or atlanta (who is no. 1 in the nfc south this year in my opinion)
by Carlitin1988 on Sep 27, 2010 2:12 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
+ we beat the Saints last year!
Josh Freeman will be better than Matt Ryan, not so sure about Drew Brees!!
Still a realist...
I know beating the Browns and Panthers got me thinking…But I wanted 7 wins at least this year to show progress. Can’t be mad about being 2-1 at all. Steelers are the favorite in the AFC.
I think 7 wins will be a good year
by Carlitin1988 on Sep 27, 2010 2:18 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Deflated.
That was a killer loss and didn’t do anything but drag down my lofty expectations. I knew there would some hiccups this season but this was an abysmal performance. I had hoped for 7-9 before the season started. After the first two games, I saw enough talent and promise to think we could improve enough throughout the year to get close to “the dream” of ten. How we do on the road after the bye will tell me a lot about what we’re capable of.
5 picks out of the first 100 in a draft saturated with talent. Yes, I'm optimistic.
This game was a reality check.
"I'm going to unleash the offense." Raheem Morris (comedian and head coach of the Buccaneers)
Who was living in reality?
You would have to be crazy to think that we wouldnt take a step back at some point and that step wouldnt more than likely come against a TOP TIER team like the Steelers!
The people who need a reality check are the ones who are bandwagon fans to begin with and I say that with the utmost conviction.
Josh Freeman will be better than Matt Ryan, not so sure about Drew Brees!!
After reading this story...
I can’t say the I am swayed in any fashion. I like the positivity, but I tend to temper this kind of very lofty expectation. Thinking with the head – not the heart. I am looking at the 4 game stretch following our bye week, the teams being CIN, NO, STL and ARI. We would be VERY lucky to win 2 of these, but I think 1 is more realistic. Not the 3 predicted in the story.
Then I look at the next 5 games – ATL, CAR, SF, BAL and ATL again. I don’t see us winning any of these. I thought we would win one against CAR, which we did, so I stick by this. SF will be all straightened out by then and ATL and BAL are just too strong.
Now we come to the last 4. Before the season began, I was excited about our chances at the end of the season, but not so much anymore. SEA has already beaten SF and SD, so the “gimmie” label has to go. DET is also no easy target anymore. WAS and NO will have no trouble with us. We are nowhere near the team everyone was hoping they saw after the 2-0 start.
Even after the great 2-0, I still see us at 4-5 wins. Still can’t stop the run, and losing TJ is a death sentence for us in the secondary. PIT exposed us for the paper tigers we are, and everyone else will watch that game film and use it to beat us. Simply not enough horses.
by Cracker Ball on Sep 27, 2010 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions
We should be much better than both the Rams and the Cardinals
That doesn’t mean we can’t lose one of them but it would surprise me.
Bengals and Saints are very tough, though, and a win against either would surprise me a lot. The Bengals could give us a shot because their offense is incompetent, but hey I said the same thing about the Steelers.
I can’t see how you’re saying we can’t win against the Panthers or Niners. We beat the Panthers very soundly in their own home already, and the Niners, outside of three quarters against the Saints on MNF, have looked like a completely imploded team.
The key about Seattle is that they’ve beaten San Francisco and the Chargers at home – not away. Their home crowd is a huge advantage (they could teach the Bucs crowd something), and without that crowd they never beat the Chargers. Don’t forget they were completely burned by the weak-looking Broncos on the road.
The Lions not an easy target anymore – again I disagree. The Lions have gotten better offensively and their pass rush has gotten much better, but their secondary is worse than ours.
Well that's why they play the games...
to help settle debates like this one. To walk the fine line and try to remain positive about a liking very mediocre team, without sounding all “doom and gloom”, is pretty tough. It is so tough, I don’t even bother trying. To make predictions with your hands covering your eyes and ears usually doesn’t work out well. Its the thin, weak roster we have that is to blame. Too many rookies to be truly competitive now. Players that make our team would not make other teams.
I believe our only real hope for wins is DET, STL, SEA, and CAR. The CAR game was not as lopsided as the score would indicate. The Panthers started out slow last year as well, and I do believe they will get better. Ditto for SF. Singletary will get them straight, especially the defense. ATL (twice), NO (twice), BAL, CIN and WAS still on the schedule is bad. That is 7 losses right there.
As for SEA, they lost to the same “weak” DEN team that gave INDY all they wanted on Sunday. Offensively DEN looks very good – even with their RB troubles. Put up a LOT of yards. DET has played CHI, PHI and MIN and we have played CLE, CAR and PIT. Our secondary is very poor, but mercifully, we have played two very bad teams – what would CHI and PHI done to us? There is no question we would be a resounding 0-3 if we had played CHI, PHI and PIT.
Glad we got the 2 wins at the beginning, as they will come hard and far between now.
by Cracker Ball on Sep 27, 2010 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions
I have to disagree on SF and Carolina - I can't see them turning anything around
The 49ers just fired their offensive coordinator and promoted their QB coach, we all know how that stuff works. The Panthers just look all sorts of horrible, and having a rookie come in and start at QB isn’t going to make it any better.
What surprised me most about the 49ers is that they have horrible discipline right now.
Denver looks weak but it hasn’t looked disastrous no and Seattle is a fairly decent team, probably the toughest of the weak teams we’re facing.
Still, with the Lions, Rams, Seahawks, Panthers, 49ers and Cardinals (seriously, really really bad) yet to come I don’t see why we can’t get to 8-8. That’s 6 teams against whom we should be favoured or at least have an even shot.
Not sure the panthers can turn anything but their heads when they play , and who said that game was not as lobsided as it looked? They literally had one play on us and it was due to a bad coaching call not anything our guys did, as for the 9ers yea mike singletery can sure talk but frank gore cant do everything, as for detroit, yea I dont really think they have a chance, we ARE better than them
by Carlitin1988 on Sep 27, 2010 6:29 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
As much as I hate to say it, you are just being a hater CB.
I am the last person to be called an optimist on this site, but six wins is staring you right there in the face man. If you’re not seeing that it’s probably because you just don’t want to see it. You must really not want to wear that Viking helmet. Giving love to SF and CAR and not giving credit where credit is due is bad form man. Those two teams are 0-3 and we are 2-1. Sure, they played harder teams, but we can’t help whom we have played. They are supposed to go out and win the games and until yesterday, that’s what they have done. I know being all doom and gloom is your thing and that’s cool. Nobody thought we were going to go undefeated, and I don’t think the scenario I played out in this article is that hard to believe at all. The 8-8 part, the wild part was me just being silly. I respect the realist approach, but at least try turning the same critical eye on SF and CAR as you do to your own team.
"Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example." ~ Mark Twain
*wild card part
"Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example." ~ Mark Twain
No, the bengals have a terrible QB,
Yes, Palmer can be awful at times.
Honestly ain't I insane I think that's the way I gotta be
Ain't I so so supafly boy ain't nobody hot as me.
wow
cracker ball. we wont beat CIN, STL, ARI, CAR, SF, SEA, DET, or WAS? your saying we will lose all of those games and go 2-14? wow you must be a real smart fan. TB is a better team than CAR, SEA, DET, SF, STL, ARI, and maybe WAS. Sorry but SF sucks, they aren’t gonna " be fixed by than" because there’s nothing to fix. They have a terrible QB, terrible,secondary, terrible WR’s, terrible DLine, and terrible coaching. all they have is Willis, and Gore. Thats it. What because TB lost to a SB team they’re gonna go winless the rest of the year. Well the Falcons and Titans are playoff calibur teams and they both lost to the backup QB lead Steelers. So you can’t base everything on 1 game. TB will go 7-9 or 8-8. That’s a marked improvement over last year. Even if they dissapointed and went 6-10 thats double the win total. for the 2nd youngest team in the NFL that’s not a bad improvement. Have patience and relax. Maturation doesn’t happen overnight. They are improved obviously. They started last year 0-7. this year 2-1. Only loss to a team that could end up being the AFC rep in the SB. You don’t have to be smart to see that they are much improved from last year. Thats all you can ask for. You don’t go 3-13, than go 10-6 and make the playoffs the next year. Things don’t happen that quick for a very young team.
What I said was...
that DET, SEA, STL are not the automatic wins I felt they would be. Not sure about ARI or SF as they will be played in their stadium. I certainly do not believe we can beat CIN, BAL, WAS, ATL or NO. That short list is 7 losses. This may be perceived as negative to some, but based on our talent level, I honestly cannot see it happening. And who knows what will happen with CAR. We could win by 13 again – or they could run on us for 250 yards.
I want them to win each and every game, but of course that is not very realistic. The fact that they ARE such a young team is, in the short term, part of the problem. We have some tough games coming up after the bye, and how a young team responds to such a massive butt kicking is unknown. I know we ARE better, but just how much remains to be seen against the good opponents. If I have to wear a Vikings helmet – so be it. I would love to be wrong. But I’m still not a “hater”
by Cracker Ball on Sep 28, 2010 12:55 AM EDT up reply actions
Detroit and Arizona have a horrible secondary,
Any experienced QB would pick them apart for what they really are.
Seattle is Meh, their defense is rising but their offense is nothing much.
St. Louis is starting a Rookie QB.
Arizona doesn’t even have a QB.
San Fransisco is inconsistent as they get, If they can’t get any recieving options, then it’s a win.
Cincinnati has an awfully inconsistent QB in Palmer, No matter what you believe, Palmer would have thrown more interceptions than touchdowns, if not for the Insane Abilities of Chad Ocho"Half-Amazing"O.
Im not too convinced with Baltimore’s offense, they have shown little to nothing.
Washington has probably the third worst secondary right now.
ATL, can be Meh to really good at times, their secondary isn’t great, and Matt Ryan can give you some terrible games at times.
NO, Well- I got nothing.
Honestly ain't I insane I think that's the way I gotta be
Ain't I so so supafly boy ain't nobody hot as me.
Ok,
Our pass rush is terrible, Ruud is a horrible Sideline to sideline defender, Grimm looked like a rookie in his first start, Sean Jones is terrible at tackling, Talib can get beat deep, Mccoy has to have someone that takes away double teams from him.
Our OL is a huge 0 for Caddy to run through, Faine has some trouble in pass pro, Penn can get quickly tired, Caddy doesn’t cutback anymore, Freeman needs a #2 WR other than K2 and M. Will, Stroughter hasn’t played well.
Honestly ain't I insane I think that's the way I gotta be
Ain't I so so supafly boy ain't nobody hot as me.
OK... now how many do YOU think we will win?
I said 4 or 5… taken some heat for it but I stand fast.
by Cracker Ball on Sep 28, 2010 2:24 AM EDT up reply actions
wasnt living in reality***
Josh Freeman will be better than Matt Ryan, not so sure about Drew Brees!!
Not even close. I think we have a chance of also beating Seattle. I would also not be shocked at us beating New Orleans on the last game of the season, similar to last year. If they have a large enough lead in the division, they very well may sit their star players again and if we are 8-7, 9-6 at that time we have a realistic shot at a possible wild card spot.
.. and before anyone calls me crazy I don’t think that the Wild Card is going to happen, but we know the NFC West will have no shot at the Wild Card, the Vikings do not look good and I think the Bears are a fluke, the NFC East has not looked great (although I do not expect that trend to continue) either. That pretty much leaves Atlanta, Tampa and probably someone from the East battling it out for the Wild Card.
I think atl will win the division
by Carlitin1988 on Sep 27, 2010 4:31 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I agree with you here...
ATL is solid top to bottom. New NFC South Champs.
by Cracker Ball on Sep 27, 2010 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Jumping off a cliff
Wait.
We got cliffs in the Tampa Bay area?
Witty's 2010 Draft review is full of meaty goodness. What you mean, you're vegan?! Sigh. Just read it.
The last game vs. New Orleans
there is every possibility that by Week 17 New Orleans and Atlanta are fighting for the division lead (with wild card as the booby prize). There’s a very good chance New Orleans will not rest their starters if they have to win the division (and the way things are shaping for the NFC, there’s a good chance Home Field will be at stake as well).
Seattle is also looking very scary right now: the way the West is playing out, the Seahawks may have clinched the division by then so they could sit starters… but if they have Home Field on the line, they will play to win…
Right now I’m counting Panthers, Rams, Niners and Lions as “good win chances”… Cards and ’Skins as “even odds”… Seahawks and one Falcons game as “win by good luck”… and any other games as “win by Act Of God”.
Witty's 2010 Draft review is full of meaty goodness. What you mean, you're vegan?! Sigh. Just read it.
The Cards are terrible.
Honestly ain't I insane I think that's the way I gotta be
Ain't I so so supafly boy ain't nobody hot as me.
...
Conclusion: The Buccaneers were exposed against the Steelers.
Are we jumping? Not this time.
I never felt like the Bucs were going to go 12-4 or anything, but again — and yes, I know I’m giving the Steelers a sensual foot massage here every week — I feel like they played a damn fine team this week.
It wasn’t just defense for the Steelers this time, either. The Bucs just held DeAngelo Williams(notes) to 54 yards (3.2 a carry) and then Rashard Mendenhall(notes) came to town and lit them up for 143, pounding out 7.5 yards a carry. And this was against a Bucs defense that knew the run was coming, given that Charlie Batch(notes) was the opposing quarterback.
They lost by 25 at home, but I’m still regarding the Bucs as a pleasant surprise. They’ll rebound from this. They’re not heading to the playoffs or anything, but if you were having “Man, the Bucs are better than I thought” feelings, this loss doesn’t mean you have to abandon them
Honestly ain't I insane I think that's the way I gotta be
Ain't I so so supafly boy ain't nobody hot as me.
When the National Media is giving us respect,
I will take it.
Honestly ain't I insane I think that's the way I gotta be
Ain't I so so supafly boy ain't nobody hot as me.
I, Rjblitz02
am going to make a trail of marijuana from Tanard’s house, all the way to Rayjay on Sundays.
Do you know where it is,
I shalt join you in this quest.
Honestly ain't I insane I think that's the way I gotta be
Ain't I so so supafly boy ain't nobody hot as me.
...and I will be following behind you like the birds from Hansel and Gretel.
Except birds don’t smoke.
If you will it, dude, it is no dream.
Join me on this quest my comrades,
for the ‘Weed-of-Great’ shall bring back the ‘Smoking One’.
I ask of you all not to smoke the weed trail lol
If you get Roger Goodell stoned... maybe he'll bring him back early.
by Cracker Ball on Sep 28, 2010 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions
Yea that sounds about right
by Carlitin1988 on Sep 28, 2010 10:38 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Man...
..why don’t we bring Jermaine Phillips, aka wife beating weak forearms to play safety?
by Titankillah on Sep 28, 2010 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Fair weather fan
I’ve said it before, I will say it again: I am a fair weather Bucs fan.
I don’t think this is a character flaw. I am not a fair weather friend, to my friends, I am deeply loyal. I show up for good times and bad times; if my friend needs a hand, I’m there for them.
A professional sports franchise is not anyone’s friend. The Bucs front line does not show up with a truck to help me move; the Bucs special teams do not lend me rent money when I need it, nobody on the Bucs roster comes to my cook outs or invites me to theirs. They are not my pals. They are professional athletes who make millions of dollars off the revenues generated by fans like me. I do not owe them my loyalty under any conditions except one:
They. Win. Games.
That’s the deal: they win games, I support them. They don’t, I abandon them. It’s that simple.
See, when the Bucs win games, it makes me feel really good.
When they lose games, it makes me feel like crap.
Now, you never know before any game is played who is going to win. That’s obvious. But if I’m going to invest the time and the effort in watching a game, I want to feel like there’s a reasonable chance the Bucs are going to win, and I’m going to feel good. If I’m going to risk the agony of defeat, I want to feel like I’ve got a decent shot at having the thrill of victory.
Now, the Bucs have always been an excruciating franchise to follow. These guys will find more ways to snatch a loss from the very jaws of victory than any three other teams in NFL history. Anybody who sat through that thoroughly horrible Bucs-Colts game in ’04 has to know that. Anybody who has watched their team squander a three touchdown lead in the last four minutes of play has to understand just how horrible it can be, being a Buccaneers fan.
I’ve sat through all the wretched seasons since we finally won a Super Bowl, and since I now live out of state, if I want to see a Bucs game, I have to go to considerable effort to do it. And if I’m going to do that, I have to feel like there’s a decent chance the team is going to win.
Well, after a game… nay, true believer, I say, a royal shellacking… like the Bucs just had against Pittsburgh, I no longer have any faith that they can do much of anything different from the last, uh, oh my god, TEN SEASONS?
I’m tired of watching the Bucs lose. I’m really, really tired of it.
So when they start winning again, someone let me know.
In the meantime, cheerful, upbeat blog posts about how you really, really think the Bucs could still manage to go 6-10 this season… HURRAY!… don’t work for me.
What do you expect when we're the cheapest franchise...
…though I know we’re probably NOT the cheapest, we’re probably the 2nd cheapest or something of that manner
by Titankillah on Sep 28, 2010 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions
We really need a waiting period before people can post here.
"I'm going to unleash the offense." Raheem Morris (comedian and head coach of the Buccaneers)
My bad, I didn't realize anyone was holding a gun to your head, forcing you to read it.
In case you haven’t noticed, they are winning. One loss and you you are already off the ship? Good riddance. In the past TEN SEASONS this team has won a super bowl. Six wins is double the win total from last year. If that isn’t as successful as you would like them to be, I don’t know what to say. See ya in a couple years when we’re back in the playoffs I guess.
"Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example." ~ Mark Twain
by LeeCaz on Sep 28, 2010 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
heh..
rookies.
I’ve been a Bucs fan for only 7 years, (when i started watching football), and i can say i’ve seen some CRAP. Yet i am compelled to root for this team EVERY Sunday, no matter WHAT the record.
pfffffffffffffffff
LeeCaz is spot on.
It's fans like this
that piss me off. You are on the bandwagon and your attitude is what gives the TRUE Bucs fans a bad name. Do us all a favor and please do no root for our team anymore period!!! Matter of fact do us all a favor and no longer grace us with your presence.
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