Dungyball Reared Its Ugly Head
December 5th, 2010
The thing many Bucs fans so positively unnerving about Father Dungy was he was so conservative even the John Birch Society disowned him.
Father Dungy made an art of playing not to lose — and no, it’s not the way the Pittsburgh Steelers played when Father Dungy was a defensive back for the Steel Curtain, much as Father Dungy would have people believe. Father Dungy was one of the few coaches Joe ever saw who would have a quarterback take a three yard loss to set up a 47-yard field goal, only to have the kick missed.
Sadly, Raheem Morris must have spoken to Father Dungy recently. Morris lost his aggressiveness, as did the Bucs and in turn, the game against the Dixie Chicks was lost as well.
Twice the Bucs had a fourth-and-one either at midfield or in Dixie Chicks territory. Twice the Bucs decided to kick: one was a field goal and another a punt.
When you have the best team in the NFC and Matty Ice on the ropes, you do not play not to lose which often means you lose. In the immortal words of Herm Edwards, “You play to win the game.”
The Bucs could have buried the Dixie Chicks. Instead, they let them wiggle off the hook. That’s what happens when you don’t play aggressive football.
Raheem Morris is an aggressive guy. Today, he got out of his shell. And it cost him and his team perhaps a playoff berth.
December 5th, 2010 at 9:41 pm
every team we needed to lose today won and we lost not a good day for the bucs
December 5th, 2010 at 9:42 pm
Dungy ball made plenty of playoff appearances.
This was the one chance, with the universe aligning with one of the easiest schedules in NFl history and the ball bouncing the bucs way.
Alas, not a single victory against a winning team.
Whoops.
December 5th, 2010 at 9:43 pm
I agree that we often do go too conservative, but not on those cases. First of all, we have proven time and time again Blount cannot convert short yardage. I don’t know why, but it’s true. Also, we are not going to run a QB sneak in those situations. Again, not sure why, but it is reality. So that basically forces us to throw the ball, which greatly decreases our odds. Finally (and most importantly), not going for it actually benefited us today. The one at midfield reversed field position and led to an INT, and eventually a TD. It ate up clock, so I really don’t see how that was a bad decision. It put us up 10 in the 4th, which should have been enough to win the game.
December 5th, 2010 at 10:16 pm
eric, with the stars aligning and the easiest schedule in the NFL, you predicted 3 wins on the season. You never qualified that one, or even all 3 had to be against winning teams. You should be more specific in your negativity in the future. If you would have said we’d get no more than 3 wins against good teams, I’d have probably agreed and said you’re being generous with this young group. Right now they’re learning how to win, even if that’s against sub-par teams, it’s still beneficial to the growth of the young players.
December 5th, 2010 at 11:10 pm
“growth” = loserville.
December 5th, 2010 at 11:34 pm
“Eric”=loser
December 6th, 2010 at 12:08 am
Right, eric. Would be much better if rookies always played like rookies. Growth is for losers. Teams that grow never get any better.
Oh, wait… I think that’s a lot of what growth is all about…. nevermind…
December 6th, 2010 at 12:20 am
Growth is a nice feel good subjective term that can neither be refuted or proven.
December 6th, 2010 at 1:13 am
It’s not Raheem, it’s Olsen. He is showing why he’s not ready to be a head coach. He hasn’t done a good job the last two weeks.
December 6th, 2010 at 7:28 am
It’s not about growth – it’s about learning. This on the job OTJ training is working. I mean sure Raheem made some questionable calls but at least he’s learning.