I am 43. I tell you this because I want you to understand the timeline with my history of the bucs. I somehow turned on a game when I was just a kid and seen Warren Sapp playing in college. I followed his career into becoming a buccaneer. After that i was enamored with the game of football and been following them since.
The reason I wrote that little introduction is to not compare my self to the older fans that have went through the hardships of the earlier years. Not to say I haven't suffered with those same fans through the years after our first superbowl. There were some bright spots here and there. Mostly it was doom and gloom from the older fans. They got a taste of that sweetness from that super bowl run and to be honest we all wanted more. It was not be until we got rid of Winston. On a side note, I predicted that Tom brady would sign with us after we booted Winston. I didn't think we would win the superbowl until year 2 but I was not complaining about that magic season or that playoff run.
I could go into a lot of those reasons to be optimistic about the Buccaneers going forward and to be honest there are a great many. However, the reason I wanted to write this was to convince some of the older fans that's it's OK to be optimistic. There is a track record laid before you showing that these are not the same bucs when you were younger watching them bumble at the bottom of the nfl. We have problems, mainly our coach, but somehow we have exceeded expectations. Not mine I predicted 11 wins. The culture has been placed. That was one of the reasons we brought brady in. That culture didn't get tossed out the window because he left. We didn't win the super bowl but it wasn't a super bowl or bust kinda season. Not like it was for san Fran.
Kinds regretting writing this now but don't want to delete this novel after writing this much. I guess I wanted to head off the yearly pessimistic posts on why the bucs will fail. Probably won't help but to those that are of that opinion I pose a question. Is it getting harder to hold on that train of thought after years of improvement?
Welcome. I'm 43 and it looks like we became BUCS FANS at the same time. An age when we were enamored by Warren Sapp, and Hardy Nickerson. Derrick Brooks made his mark the following year, they hype was All Sappy that first year. You know who was one of the greatest under-rated Bucs….Shelton Quarles…heres another Karl’da’TRUTH could convert 3rd downs like he was born to catch balls on 3rd down. The good ol’days. Anyhoo, welcome…finally decided to post rather than LURK!!! GOOD POST and Good JOB!
Welcome!
I feel the EXACT same way you do, for many of the reasons you point out!
Well done!
Signed,
An old Buc fan!
Great post. Welcome.
I am always optimistic that the season ahead will be exciting.
Optimism has been what we've all been about since Brady
it was always false optimism prior to Brady, hence the over a decade of not making playoff drought.
since Brady, it seems we have established a culture that has carried over after his retirement.
In regard to being fans whether you are optimistic or pessimistic about the upcoming season doesn't make you more or less enthusiastic about the team when they play well or more or less disappointed when they don't. If being pessimistic causes you to not watch the games, then you aren't a real fan. You are just a bandwagoner. IMO call it how you see it. I called 9 games last year and got it on the nose. But if I think the Bucs are going to win five games this year I'll say that. I don't see any benefit to making a homer prediction.
All real Bucs fans have a lot of hope for the year and really look forward to the season and everything that leads up to it regardless of our assessment of the chances. Last year there were those who predicted 4-13 or whatever. That doesn't mean they didn't enjoy watching the Bucs prove them wrong.
In regard to being fans whether you are optimistic or pessimistic about the upcoming season doesn't make you more or less enthusiastic about the team when they play well or more or less disappointed when they don't. If being pessimistic causes you to not watch the games, then you aren't a real fan. You are just a bandwagoner. IMO call it how you see it. I called 9 games last year and got it on the nose. But if I think the Bucs are going to win five games this year I'll say that. I don't see any benefit to making a homer prediction.
All real Bucs fans have a lot of hope for the year and really look forward to the season and everything that leads up to it regardless of our assessment of the chances. Last year there were those who predicted 4-13 or whatever. That doesn't mean they didn't enjoy watching the Bucs prove them wrong.
Fandom is inherently "mini bouts of Bipolar" on the daily. Huge swings of emotion from Sunday to Sunday or even day to day. Take Rachaad White, Devin White, and Ballzerz as example of oUr "fickleness." Ballerz started the year and most of us thought it was a"rigged" QB battle, WE/most went from semi-outrage to..."Hey were 3-1, I'm mean, OK...lets goooo. Keep winning and doing the Locker Room "YEah" like Lil'John." Then adversity struck and Ballerz became the Journey Man we all (THought we KNEW was INEVITABLY going to "show" himself...any minute now...) KNEW he was...At that Point, I had even become disinterested again, I stopped watching the games, I only checked box scores, I couldn't bear watching them lose 7 out of 8 games...again. Ballerz was just another tease...ill hibernate until the OoOofSeason. But then they started winning when I would check the scores. And they won enough that THEY PUST THEMSELVES BACK IN PLAYOFF CONTENTION!! Now its the opposite- the "happI" side of the "fickleness." Well Now I wanted to dust of my BUC FAN "members card" and watch the Carolina Game. It was a WIN or go home. I saw the greatest defensive play of my life as AW3! took 7 points off the board and Got us the ball back. Then The Carolina panthers scored again on a run up the gut...well, they took the points off the board themselves with a SELF INFLICTED penalty. They "scored 2 touchdowns=14 points." We only scored 9 points, if not for the greatest defensive play ever witness by the ballz in my eye sockets and a self inflicted penalty (bad teams beat themselves before their opposition), we may not have gone to the Playoffs, because we couldn't move the Ball. I was like maybe all the great games I had heard about were fools gold. Im gonna carefully watch him against the Iggles. Holy Shyt! Can he repeat that against a "real time" in the Lions. Yep Holy Shyt. Now, the question is can he keep that UP, we'll find out on the Season Opener and then the game after that and after that, so on and so forth. Our fanbase has Ballerz Bipollerz.
R. White- First half of season=Bum, Second half of season+ Potential Diamond in the rough? What, release him the first half of the year, second half of the year, maybe we can use this guy as the foundation of our short and medium attack with a run pass balance-Versatile backs can be amazing. He's gotta learn how to block. Hes strong enough to properly block.
D. White: Early Carrer= Potential Diamond in the Rough??? Today=Selfish Bum...Why have we not Released him yet. Its 2 years over due. Bipolar'nip'in'the'bud'opportunity. Send him on his way with TBowles please. Early XMas gift or Late B-day gift just for me, ur fan/s...se la vi.
So you’re saying that the whole team was pretty inconsistent, not just one position?
Why, that’s a very interesting take!?
You described what we all felt, some of us kept watching, but saw similar results. Even though I have to admit, some of the games during that stretch of losses showed flashes of improvement. It’s what I anticipated, beat the teams you’re supposed to beat, see what we really have against the tough opponents, sneak up on a few and steal a few possessions. Let the OC/new concepts get figured out, then improve over the last part of the season.
it worked out.
The defensive additions really stepped up in some key games - got exposed in a few too. We definitely need all cylinders/sides of the ball to win - but we did find a way to win in ‘23.
Some NFC South teams will get improve, some won’t (I’d hate to be rolling into the ‘24 season with Derrick Carr and Bruce Young, and a rookie to be named later…), but it will prove to be another off-season of growth.
Knowing we have another new OC, albeit similar concepts, but a guy who has called plays…means it won’t be an automatic repeat.
I can at least say it IS leading me to feel optimistic.
I'll be optimistic when they get the FAs signed. It's unusual for a team to delegate a huge amount of cap space to a QB and 2 WRs. The Bengals are grappling with that conundrum this off season. But the Bucs are not a pass first team, so it doesn't make sense to put so much of the cap onto that trio. I'm in wait and see mode. I'm optimistic about Licht being able to draft well again, but I'm in wait and see mode on the free agency period. Once things sort themselves out a bit I'll be more willing to be optimistic or pessimistic as the case may be.So you’re saying that the whole team was pretty inconsistent, not just one position?
Why, that’s a very interesting take!?
You described what we all felt, some of us kept watching, but saw similar results. Even though I have to admit, some of the games during that stretch of losses showed flashes of improvement. It’s what I anticipated, beat the teams you’re supposed to beat, see what we really have against the tough opponents, sneak up on a few and steal a few possessions. Let the OC/new concepts get figured out, then improve over the last part of the season.
it worked out.
The defensive additions really stepped up in some key games - got exposed in a few too. We definitely need all cylinders/sides of the ball to win - but we did find a way to win in ‘23.
Some NFC South teams will get improve, some won’t (I’d hate to be rolling into the ‘24 season with Derrick Carr and Bruce Young, and a rookie to be named later…), but it will prove to be another off-season of growth.
Knowing we have another new OC, albeit similar concepts, but a guy who has called plays…means it won’t be an automatic repeat.
I can at least say it IS leading me to feel optimistic.
So you’re saying that the whole team was pretty inconsistent, not just one position?
Why, that’s a very interesting take!?
You described what we all felt, some of us kept watching, but saw similar results. Even though I have to admit, some of the games during that stretch of losses showed flashes of improvement. It’s what I anticipated, beat the teams you’re supposed to beat, see what we really have against the tough opponents, sneak up on a few and steal a few possessions. Let the OC/new concepts get figured out, then improve over the last part of the season.
it worked out.
The defensive additions really stepped up in some key games - got exposed in a few too. We definitely need all cylinders/sides of the ball to win - but we did find a way to win in ‘23.
Some NFC South teams will get improve, some won’t (I’d hate to be rolling into the ‘24 season with Derrick Carr and Bruce Young, and a rookie to be named later…), but it will prove to be another off-season of growth.
Knowing we have another new OC, albeit similar concepts, but a guy who has called plays…means it won’t be an automatic repeat.
I can at least say it IS leading me to feel optimistic.
Fortunately at least U understand my form of communication. It's less lonely…thank u.
I'll be optimistic when they get the FAs signed. It's unusual for a team to delegate a huge amount of cap space to a QB and 2 WRs. The Bengals are grappling with that conundrum this off season. But the Bucs are not a pass first team, so it doesn't make sense to put so much of the cap onto that trio. I'm in wait and see mode. I'm optimistic about Licht being able to draft well again, but I'm in wait and see mode on the free agency period. Once things sort themselves out a bit I'll be more willing to be optimistic or pessimistic as the case may be.So you’re saying that the whole team was pretty inconsistent, not just one position?
Why, that’s a very interesting take!?
You described what we all felt, some of us kept watching, but saw similar results. Even though I have to admit, some of the games during that stretch of losses showed flashes of improvement. It’s what I anticipated, beat the teams you’re supposed to beat, see what we really have against the tough opponents, sneak up on a few and steal a few possessions. Let the OC/new concepts get figured out, then improve over the last part of the season.
it worked out.
The defensive additions really stepped up in some key games - got exposed in a few too. We definitely need all cylinders/sides of the ball to win - but we did find a way to win in ‘23.
Some NFC South teams will get improve, some won’t (I’d hate to be rolling into the ‘24 season with Derrick Carr and Bruce Young, and a rookie to be named later…), but it will prove to be another off-season of growth.
Knowing we have another new OC, albeit similar concepts, but a guy who has called plays…means it won’t be an automatic repeat.
I can at least say it IS leading me to feel optimistic.
I truly believe we have enough “weapons.” we need to fill in the “holes.” Baller ate too many sack, whether that's in the online, Ballers aggressive line calls, or simply missed assignments…too many drives ended with an unfortunate sack or tipped ball. That has to get shored up, regardless of what it takes, change personnel, tweak protection schemes, and Ballerz needs to hone in on dancing in the edge of Victory or Defeat…too aggressive too often, it can blow up in ur face…so get better at not getting sacked. Maybe the players we got just need the anal rings to spontaneously combust…that typically gets ppl to move their feet at the very least.
Next, whatever role Devin White Played on the team…or rather, the role that he was drafted for….well we need to plug that with someone capable of at least “sound disclipned” football. They gotta be solid vs run and pass at least.
Pass defense can be soft coverage too frequently. That's a reflection of coaching.
Coaching. Can't win playing scared vanilla, especially when it matters most. Sumbodi a long time ago said “Fortune favors the BOLD.” Coaches need to be a bit more intentionally bold. Take at least 2 semi calculated Risks per game, and at Least 5 “trick plays” over the course of a season. Lull them to sleep, then strike.
where i am not optimistic is looking at their 2024 opponents
let's look at the away games, non-division - Dallas, Chiefs, Chargers, Lions, and Giants.
i mean it's quite possible we wont be favored in any of those games. Cant even rule out the Giants bouncing back from a rough year. I mean what's the best we can do here, 2-3? I think be hard pressed to say better than that.
the home games, non-division - Eagles, 49ers, Ravens, Commanders, Broncos, and Raiders. I'm thinking the best we can do here is 4-2 and that's us being the better version team we were in the second half of the year.
now to the division. Say what you will but the best we can do is 4-2. We are not far off talent wise from the Saints or Falcons and i am sure the Panthers can only go up from where they were last year.
so that gets us to 10-7 with losses to Chiefs, Dallas, and Lions (stealing one from Chargers or Lions, dropping the other), Ravens, 49ers, Saints and Falcons.
this assumes wins over the Chargers and Eagles which are not gimme games.
unless we draft well this year, add some key pieces in free agency and Baker doesn't ying/yang, and maybe gets closer to mid 30s in TD passes, hard to not see another struggling year with the hope that the rest of the division also gets beat up.
and by struggling year i meant, fight to the last minute to win a division with 9 or 10 wins
i dont see a 2021 Bucs type of scenario lol
Spot-on.where i am not optimistic is looking at their 2024 opponents
let's look at the away games, non-division - Dallas, Chiefs, Chargers, Lions, and Giants.
i mean it's quite possible we wont be favored in any of those games. Cant even rule out the Giants bouncing back from a rough year. I mean what's the best we can do here, 2-3? I think be hard pressed to say better than that.
the home games, non-division - Eagles, 49ers, Ravens, Commanders, Broncos, and Raiders. I'm thinking the best we can do here is 4-2 and that's us being the better version team we were in the second half of the year.
now to the division. Say what you will but the best we can do is 4-2. We are not far off talent wise from the Saints or Falcons and i am sure the Panthers can only go up from where they were last year.
so that gets us to 10-7 with losses to Chiefs, Dallas, and Lions (stealing one from Chargers or Lions, dropping the other), Ravens, 49ers, Saints and Falcons.
this assumes wins over the Chargers and Eagles which are not gimme games.
unless we draft well this year, add some key pieces in free agency and Baker doesn't ying/yang, and maybe gets closer to mid 30s in TD passes, hard to not see another struggling year with the hope that the rest of the division also gets beat up.
This is as optimistic as it can get.
It will require ALL the pieces added in 2023 performing better, and adding some key pieces in the draft, to give us the talent injection needed to reach this level of optimism.
if we don’t, it won’t be because one player couldn’t get us over the hump. It will be because we’re rebuilding the race car while we’re racing.
where i am not optimistic is looking at their 2024 opponents
let's look at the away games, non-division - Dallas, Chiefs, Chargers, Lions, and Giants.
i mean it's quite possible we wont be favored in any of those games. Cant even rule out the Giants bouncing back from a rough year. I mean what's the best we can do here, 2-3? I think be hard pressed to say better than that.
the home games, non-division - Eagles, 49ers, Ravens, Commanders, Broncos, and Raiders. I'm thinking the best we can do here is 4-2 and that's us being the better version team we were in the second half of the year.
now to the division. Say what you will but the best we can do is 4-2. We are not far off talent wise from the Saints or Falcons and i am sure the Panthers can only go up from where they were last year.
so that gets us to 10-7 with losses to Chiefs, Dallas, and Lions (stealing one from Chargers or Lions, dropping the other), Ravens, 49ers, Saints and Falcons.
this assumes wins over the Chargers and Eagles which are not gimme games.
unless we draft well this year, add some key pieces in free agency and Baker doesn't ying/yang, and maybe gets closer to mid 30s in TD passes, hard to not see another struggling year with the hope that the rest of the division also gets beat up.
Good shit.
I don't think this is too far off.
If Atlanta makes a move for Cousins (and he's healthy) or move up for Daniels, they would be significantly closing the gap in the division and could be set up for the long haul.
