You name it, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had it in 2017. Star free-agent signing? Check. Nationally known television show? Check. Drama at every position group on the field? Check. Fan base uprising? Check. Team buying into their own hype? Check.
In 2018, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers need to learn from the mistakes of last year and come in to the pre-season with their eyes on the field, not the press.
Star signings are a good thing. Bringing in DeSean Jackson was a good thing. His arrival alone doesn’t trigger immediate pressures to make it to the playoffs, or even worse, expectations of playoffs.
Now, if you’re a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, or one of the other perennial post-season participants this idea may come off as a bit strange to you.
However, for the Bucs, coming into the 2017 pre-season with divisional title goals and playoff expectations was – in hindsight – a pretty bad thing.
A thick chain of hype inducing events took place last off-season which brought the team’s fan base to an ultimate high, and has since seen it crash down to a whole new low.
Earlier this off-season Jason Licht made a comment about cringing at the level of hype. Many fans took it the wrong way. Go back to where I mentioned the whole new low thing.
There was a moment in the 2017 pre-season where I cringed myself. It happened when Jenna Laine of ESPN asked Dirk Koetter what he wanted the teams identity to be. His response?
"“A badass football team.”"
This came on April 29th, 2017. And perhaps was the final piece of tinder which set the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hype-wildfire ablaze.
When I read his comment, I cringed. Not because I don’t want my head coach to have confidence. Of course I do. But, to deliver such a buzzworthy comment in April, when the team was going through so many changes at so many positions just didn’t feel prudent at the time.
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The comment locked Koetter and every player on his roster into playoff expectations. Not aspirations. Expectations.
It proved to be correct. What followed was training camp takeovers and paintings and coaches revving up fans even higher. Again, it was all fun, and I enjoyed it as an onlooker.
This narrative isn’t about fan interaction. Right now, I myself am enjoying my own hype revival as I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the signings, trades and am anxiously anticipating the upcoming NFL Draft.
Dreams of Lombardi returning to Florida are dancing in my dreams and I can only imagine the flood of emotion Jameis Winston will have pouring out of him as he hoists the championship trophy skyward in a Lion King-esque demonstration of superiority!
But that’s me. I write. I’m a fan. It’s ok.
The team. That’s different. If the team is going to participate in the hype-driving, then they better be sure they can deliver.
Last year, the team didn’t, and the organization (as a head coach represents it) was part of the gusting which sent fan expectations soaring into the heavens.
My advice to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers front-office for 2018? Keep your head down. Focus on team cohesion and assimilation, not fan hype and popular quotes.
Fan expectations cannot be managed by the team alone, but they can be sent into a frenzy by them. Don’t do it. The residual pressure from last off-season still lingers.
Next: Pre-Season Opponents Announced
Groups of fans are once again ramping up their draft parties and having preliminary talks about take-overs. Let them. Don’t discourage it of course, but don’t feed the fire which needs no fuel.
Doing so only places even more pressure on your already pressurized 2018 season, and does nothing but set you up for failure.
Win. And let the hype take care of itself.