:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/21175075/20131013_lbm_su8_046.0.jpg)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are not a good team right now, despite the oodles of talent they have. There are some bright spots, of course, but all in all fans are deservedly angry at this team's performance. Schiano wants them to be patient, though.
"If they hang in there, we're going to be good." Schiano said in Monday's press conference. "If they can't [hang in there], we're still going to be good and then they're welcomed back. I'm not being smart, I mean that. I think our fans are great. When I came out to start the game, warm-ups, our fans were awesome. At the end of the game, I'm disappointed like they are. I understand anything and everything, that's disappointment. And the fact our fans care as much as they do, I think that's awesome. When we get it turned, it's going to be really special."
Yes, at some point the Bucs are going to be good again. They have as much talent as any team in the league, except at the most crucial position. The fans will hang in there, too. That's why we're fans. The question is just whether Schiano will be there if the Bucs are good. Magic eight ball says "slim chance".
The fans have also been very patient. They haven't seen a playoff win since 2003. That's 11 seasons without a playoff win, assuming they don't win one this year (which seems like a fair assumption). They sat through a three-year rebuild under Raheem Morris. They sat through last, when the defense was horrible. They're now sitting through this year, with a rookie quarterback and an 0-5 team. We haven't exactly been spoiled by competence in recent years.
It's a bit unfair to pick on Schiano's words, though. What is he going to say? "We're going to suck this year and I'm going to be fired"? No one says that, and I'm not even sure it would be the truth. This team really isn't that many plays removed from being 3-2, after all. At the same time, though, the team is 0-5. That's horrendous no matter which way you spin it, and coupled with all the off-field drama enough to warrant firing Greg Schiano.
At this point, the playoffs are out of reach. There's a chance, but it isn't a big chance. The most realistic expectation is a top five draft pick, and there's no way Greg Schiano survives that. Unless something changes drastically, the question's more "when" than "if".