Bucs captains Vita Vea, Antoine Winfield, Alex Anzalone, Baker Mayfield, Tristan Wirfs and Chris Godwin, where are you?
Todd Bowles, you too!
Over and over and over and over Bucs officials, players and coaches have talked about the team’s great culture and the quality of its leadership.
So Joe thinks it’s very fair to wonder where the hell it is, or if it exists at all.
Vea and Mayfield demanded more money in the offseason and made a stink about their value. What’s going through their heads now at 0-2? Joe fears it’s whatever was going through their heads at 0-1.
Winfield has gone 14 games without a forced fumble and 7 games without an interception. Winfield used to be a feared blitzer; he’s got 2 quarterback hits in his last 16 games and hasn’t had a sack in over a year. He’s another captain playing way below his market value and a guy who needs to raise his play.
Anazlone, who turned 32 last week, may be washed out. He’s certainly played like it.
Wirfs bounced back after a rough Week 1. Godwin isn’t getting the ball enough. Are those guys elevating the play of those around them?
Joe hopes the captains, including Bowles, skipped watching some college football yesterday and got together (or last week) to talk about how much they’ve failed their teammates and fans and why.
If today Joe sees more jogging Buccaneers, dumb penalties and offensive linemen not playing through the echo of the whistle, then Joe will know little or nothng has changed.