Raheem The Dream Cost Bucs A Win
November 30th, 2009
"Don't worry Rah, you're still a PTPer to this bald, one-eyed whacko... bay-BEE! You're a diaper dandy!"
Former Bucs beat writer and current SI.com columnist Don Banks pulled no punches in placing blame for the Bucs loss.
No, it wasn’t the defense giving up the final scoring drive by the Dixie Chicks.
No, it was not a missed field goal.
It was Raheem the Dream.
Bucs head coach Raheem Morris deserves some credit for Tampa Bay’s improved defensive showing against Atlanta. But his questionable decision-making undid much of the good that apparently came from Morris taking over as the defensive play-caller for the demoted Jim Bates. The Bucs sacked Falcons quarterbacks six times on Sunday, and played with an aggressiveness that has been rare this season.
But Morris looked like a rookie head coach when he called for a fake punt that went awry, wasted a late timeout that gave Atlanta a breather near the goal line, and went for an ill-advised 51-yard field goal attempt that gave the Falcons great field position for their game-winning drive.
Joe was beyond frustrated at the loss. The Falcons owe the Bucs a Christmas present because the Bucs sure played Santa Claus yesterday.
November 30th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
NOthing was wrong with going for a 51 yard FG with a kicker who has proven he can do it, especially in a dome.
The fake punt… it is what it is. they are 1-9, why not?
The timeout? It was after an incomplete pass to give the defense a breather. It was the right call.
November 30th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Joe here,
Dave, problem was running the ball on 3rd-and-7 from the Falcons 36 to set up that field goal. …And by your logic, the Bucs should have attempted a 55-yarder rather than go for the ridiculous fake punt.
Bad coaching by Raheem The Dream.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
With the potential of giving the ball over (on a missed 51 yard field goal) on Atlanta’s 41 vs. pinning them back near their goal line, or at worse, their 20 the decision should have been to punt it. The way the defense was playing I’d have preferred they make the Falcons travel the longest distance possible to score. It was a bad call. It cost them the game.