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Buccaneers Round Table: Can the Bucs get on a winning streak?

By David Harrison

TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 12: Pregame views prior to kick-off between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New York Jets on November 12, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 12: Pregame views prior to kick-off between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New York Jets on November 12, 2017 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 29: Carrie Underwood performs live exclusively for American Airlines AAdvantage® Mastercard® credit card holders at The Orpheum Theatre on Thursday, June 29, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 29: Carrie Underwood performs live exclusively for American Airlines AAdvantage® Mastercard® credit card holders at The Orpheum Theatre on Thursday, June 29, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. /

James Yarcho

Despite coming off their first win in six weeks, the likelihood that the Buccaneers can rattle off five straight is slim to none. Like, super slim to none. As in, the same chance I have of getting a weekend away with Carrie Underwood slim.

Plain and simple – they don’t have the firepower this season.

With Jameis Winston on the shelf for who knows how long, Ryan Fitzpatrick isn’t going to lead this team back into a .500 or higher record, let alone playoff contention. The defense stepped up last week, but I have little to no faith that can be maintained by a team allowing an average of 33 points on the road.

The offensive line is having severe issues in both facets of blocking. They can’t seem to keep pressure off the quarterback – thus Winston’s injury – and they can’t open run lanes. Even when they do open the run lanes, any big run seems to be called back on account of holding. Unfortunately for Donovan Smith, he seems to catch the ire of officials even when he isn’t committing penalties.

Overall, the Bucs still seemed lost. Dirk Koetter seems to be completely in over his head which is unfortunate. I like Koetter. He’s the first head coach I’ve actually liked since Jon Gruden. However, with the Glazer’s propensity to have a short leash on coaches, it doesn’t seem like Koetter will return.

Mix all these factors together and you don’t have the team that went on a five game run last year to get into the thick of the playoff hunt. You have a last place team that will finish with a losing record and more questions than answers. I wish things were different, but that’s where we are right now.

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