“It’s A Lot Better Than It Was From Last Year”
October 18th, 2010
Pressured for answers to the Bucs’ ineffective running game during his news conference today, Raheem Morris wouldn’t cast a finger of blame and, in fact, he said the Bucs’ rushing attack looks improved on film than it did in 2009.
“It’s a lot better than it was from last year,” Morris said of the running game. “The chances you do have to make plays, you’re not making them. There are some positives with our team happening with the running game.”
Morris went on to say the Bucs’ running failures fall equally on the line and running backs.
Morris was very pleased with the Bucs’ pass blocking and had specific praise for Jeremy Zuttah, Donald Penn and Davin Joseph. “At the end of the day, we didn’t get our quarterback touched,” Morris said.
Joe has to wonder, if the running game looks better than it did last year, as Raheem said, then why did the Bucs bring back Cadillac Williams for 2010?
October 18th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
What film is Raheem watching? I cant remember seeing a team that averaged 2.5 ypc from its lead back EVER
October 18th, 2010 at 12:24 pm
Raheem what game were you watching??? And this is not a one game occurence!!!We are ranked near the bottom of the league in rushing if we aren’t at the VERY BOTTOM. How much worse can we be? Raheem do you really want us to believe we have a better running game????No Josh Freeman is better but our running game is terrible. Its statements like these that make me think we have the wrong head coach!! What is this guy smoking?????????
October 18th, 2010 at 12:25 pm
There he goes again, blaming the players. That is a fast track to putting a coach in the dog house. Keep blaming the players Raheem.
How about you stop running a HB who has two bad knees!
October 18th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
You know what, Josh Freeman, Mike Williams, Kellen Winslow, Stroughter, and the opposing teams QBs throwing pick 6’s are the only people that were keeping this team afloat during that 3-1 stretch. DESPITE Raheem’s poor defensive play calling.
October 18th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
Positive thinking is a good thing. Delusional thinking is not.
He did admit the effort was lacking. Super Bowl Champs and Division rival in your house and effort is lacking?????????????????
WTF?
October 18th, 2010 at 12:47 pm
If Rah is talking about a straight comparison of production this he’s takes a loss on this excuse. The production thus far has been pitiful no matter who’s running the ball.
However, if he’s referring to the scheme itself in terms of cohesiveness, then, yes, it is leaps and bounds better. More power run schemes, less zone blocking is what we need as an offense…we just havent been able to produce within it unfortunately.
October 18th, 2010 at 12:56 pm
Joe — how about the traffic increase around here following a loss? Yowza!! 50-60 comments on one thread, dozens on another!! Wow! Eric is back, Buc You (aka a RahDom, Jankier or one of those guys) is posting like crazy! Lot’s of traffic and ommentary after a loss.
October 18th, 2010 at 1:31 pm
Move over Joe Madden of the Rays , a new spinmeister is in town. Raheem is giving you a lot of competition.
October 18th, 2010 at 1:35 pm
It’s great that the players are spending so much time in the “film room”.
It seems like the players have to find their own techniques and problems.
I believe the problems are all coaching and leadership.
The head coach is learning. The defensive coordinator is learning. The offensive coordinator is learning.
WHO is doing the teaching ? Who with experience is choosing the players?
Why would any coach say that their #1 running back is primarily in there to protect the quarterback?
They all need to be replaced with proven coaches.
October 18th, 2010 at 1:40 pm
Joe here — JimBuc, actually a loss doesn’t mean more traffic, only more comments. Slightly more traffic after a win.
October 18th, 2010 at 2:37 pm
We don’t have any RB’s. I wanted to see Huggins, his YPC was high due to his speed. He’s gone. We know what we have in Caddy, nothing, so we might as well look at Lumkin and Blount. I know Blount is big but he was cut from the Titans for a reason. Still, I want to see him with an increased roll. We need to find out which RB’s we keep for next year.
October 18th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
Whether they are less confused with the ofense the dream installed last year or not they still can’t run the damn ball. I love how the dream considers improvement changing a system that he presided over. Naturally, no measurable improvement exists.
I am a little tired of the big caddy cut back move into the center of the line where all the defenders are waiting.
Of course thats better than the other teams fourth stringer bursting through like Eric Dickerson.
October 18th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
Interesting Joe, thanks. So more people come to read after a win, more people come to comment after a loss. Wow. A loss is like a hater homecoming!
October 18th, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Jimbuc, you beat me to it…Welcome back haters, we missed you. If we win next week I guess we will not hear from you guys for a while. The game sucked for sure, but there are plenty more games to play. Eric, try measuring against lasts year’s first five games…I think you will notice an improvement.
October 18th, 2010 at 3:04 pm
Jimbuc,
I prefer Inglourious basterds.
Mcbuc,
In some areas yes. Freeman for sure. Other areas such as rush defense and rush offense no, perhaps regression. Pass rush surely worse. But three wins is better although weaker schedule and some very good luck. The Saints game of 31-6 remarkably similar to last years 38-7 debacle.
October 18th, 2010 at 3:50 pm
38-7=31,31-6=25. so we gained 6 points from last year, this must be the progress we keep hearing about am I right?
October 18th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
The running attack works if you have good blocking. The Bucs don”t have even decent blocking. If you don”t have good blocks then they need a bigger back to break some tackles. Freeman is not the problem. Very bad defense and poor O-line blocking are. The minute those 2 problems are resolved. they will win. It is frustrating to listen to the head coach constantly dance around the problems. I would have more respect for Raheem if he would just tell it like it is. And maybe his players would too.
October 18th, 2010 at 4:25 pm
Hey JimBuc have you noticed the OBVIOUS absence of head cheerleader Captain Tina? The great Buc’s oracle who said that the Bucs beat the Bengels running game last week?
Maybe someone should call Tampa General and ask if there were any Kool-Aid OD’s admitted on Sunday.
October 18th, 2010 at 4:26 pm
Hey Joe, maybe dominik can call Dallas and work out a trade for Penn – Trade Penn to Dallas for their 2nd round pick this year – it looks like it may be pretty high!
October 18th, 2010 at 4:31 pm
Remember the days when we used to put the ass-whippings on the other teams? One particular Super Sunday against the raiders in particular…………………….
But, were dynasty building. This guy is gonna take us right to the top!
Get beat 69-19 at home last two and people are talking progress!
October 18th, 2010 at 4:43 pm
Eric, how may rushing yards have we given up in each game this season?
What is the average? What is the avg YPC?
Thanks!
October 18th, 2010 at 4:56 pm
Mr. Lucky, I have no idea where the good Captain is. You might notice that I posted several times last week that the Bucs were due for a rough patch. You cannot be last against the run and no pass rush and win consistently. Moreover, having a lot of interceptions with no pass rush speaks more to bad QB play than good secondary. The Bucs are improving, but just remember they are very much a work in progress. Rookies everywhere and weak in the trenches.
October 18th, 2010 at 4:56 pm
Under the guidance of Raheem Morris we are giving up an average of 157 yards per game and an average of 5.3 yards per carry.
October 18th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
There is some improvement to report:
last year we gave up 158.2 yards a game. This years 157 is an “improvement” of 1.2 yards.
Alas, the yards per carry has gone up from 4.8 to 5.3.
October 18th, 2010 at 5:14 pm
Still 11 games remaining. Raheem will have to adjust. Maybe we all should just be happy that we can at least challenge the bottom 10 teams in the league. Maybe we should be content.
Steven Jackson and his offensive line is salivating over the game film this week however. 3 down linemen, tiny linebackers, over pursuing safeties……… GRAVY TRAIN.
October 18th, 2010 at 5:45 pm
Maybe seeing the Bucs like this is what drove TJ to smoke weed?
October 18th, 2010 at 7:25 pm
LOL!!!
October 18th, 2010 at 7:32 pm
Morris is too busy being a friend vs. being a coach. One of these days he will need to step up and put it out there in black and white.
On another note, I think a mistake has been made on our no. one draft selection. After watching for 4 games I believe he is not strong enough to play the middle. If they do not want a bust on their hands, they will need to move him to end. Price should take his place. Price gets lower and causes more disruption. McCoy might need to shed pounds to around 275 to play end but he has the speed and athleticism.
If they are not going to use Graham as a running back, I say trade him for a middle line backer. Ruud is getting worse every week. He never plugs the gap and hits like a kicker.
We are going to get worse as the season goes on without a pass rush or a run defense. The word is already out, just run the ball and you will win.