“I Had The Missed Tackle”
December 6th, 2010
It was the play that not only changed the game, but likely lost the game for the Bucs.
It was gut-wrenching for Joe watch Eric Weems run 102 yards for a kickoff return that pulled the Dixie Chicks within a field goal of the Bucs just after the Bucs had taken a 10-point lead.
Good guy Mo Stovall could have had Weems out of bounds. He didn’t. But Stovall manned up after the game and told Stephen Holder of the St. Petersburg Times the touchdown was on him.
“I had the missed tackle on the sideline,” he volunteered afterward. “It’s something that we practice every day. It was a great call by our special teams coach and his staff. It was just mis-executed by me. We were definitely in position to make that play. It was a good call and great kick by our kicker. It was just a missed tackle and you can’t have those in a big game like this.”
Watching that was like someone had kicked Joe in the cajones. What should have been a Dixie Chicks team with the life sucked out of them suddenly was energized.
In short, when the Bucs play teams with winning records, those teams find a way to win. The young Bucs haven’t learned how to do that yet.
December 6th, 2010 at 8:05 am
That’s because the Bucs have (let’s all say it together now) POTENTIAL.
Unfortunately until that POTENTIAL is realized on the field the team is below average.
the players are learning, the OC is learning and the HC is learning.
Playoffs are for GOOD teams – the Bucs aren’t there yet.
At least the Bucs aren’t a BAD team like last year!
December 6th, 2010 at 8:33 am
Joe have u not done ur hw? The rams are 6-6 XD I don’t think Stovall is the only goat on that play but I can’t be sure didn’t look like it but he did have the clearest shot
December 6th, 2010 at 8:55 am
Gavster:
English please. Not sure why you are invoking the Rams. NFC West doesn’t factor into the wild card discussion. because the teams are so miserable.
December 6th, 2010 at 9:03 am
I have to disagree with Mr. Lucky on one point. The playoffs are not just for good teams. Since we went to four divisions and two wild cards over a third of the teams go to the playoffs. I guess you could make a case that the top 38% are the good teams but I think it’s more like average to good. The idea of course is that since people regard ‘making the playoffs’ as an important goal and there is so much parity the number of teams that could possibly get into the playoffs late in the year is increased and it keeps fans shelling out bucks at the stadium until late in December.
Does anyone really think the Bucs will be anything but one and done if they do get a playoff berth? I am thinking this is a fun year but they still need a year or two to hit greatness, so I hope they win but the playoffs don’t really matter this year to me other than getting to watch an extra game.
December 6th, 2010 at 9:25 am
I also have to disgaree with Mr Lucky on one point. The Bucs are not below average, they are average. You are right about realising their potential, but that will come with time.
December 6th, 2010 at 10:16 am
I have to disagree with both Mr Lucky and McBuc, we are actually in that space between the Elite teams and the Average teams. We beat average and bad teams, and we have beaten one Div leader (Rams) and and have lost to nothing but the Elite teams (Falcons, NO, Steelers & Ravens) We are on the cusp of being a very, very good young team who will win for hopefully many years, and we are doing it the right way, through the draft and some incredible talent evaluation, something that hasn’t been one of this teams strong points since 2002 (hint, hint). I am strongly behind Morris, Dominick, and the on field leadership of Freeman.
December 6th, 2010 at 10:17 am
That Kickoff Return broke our backs, and changed momentum away from Tampa.
December 6th, 2010 at 10:21 am
flmike…when you put it like that, I am with you. Next year I beleive the Bucs will be one of the Elite teams, so I will agree that we are between the great teams and the average teams.
December 6th, 2010 at 10:43 am
When success is always measured in the future it can never be disputed.
But wait till next year, by gosh.
December 6th, 2010 at 11:24 am
That’s true with anything, eric. Even failures. No one could dispute your “we’ll be lucky to win 3 games this year” when you said it in the preseason. Of course, now that’s the past, and we’ve won 7 and you look like a fool.
December 6th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
Eric you are a joke.
You were beating the drum all off season saying this team wouldn’t compete this year and here we are at 7-5 with still a chance to make the playoffs.
Success for this team is not measured in the future my friend. Succes is measured right now This season is already a succes of major proportion. We have a team that competes every week and no one thought they would. We have a team that contrary to what all the chicken littles out there are saying still has a shot at the playoffs and no one thought they would.
December 6th, 2010 at 12:13 pm
Poor little Eric. The guy who lost all of his credibility this past summer. But spew on Buc Hater.
December 6th, 2010 at 1:57 pm
I respect Stovall’s take on the play but there were 10 other guys out there on the field with him, he did miss his tackle but he is not the only one who missed just one who says it was his fault.
December 6th, 2010 at 3:23 pm
not trying to point the finger anywhere. But are DE s where were they . Black showed with his horse collar he is all hype. Lastly Mike Williams is a beast but when He was on sound FX Raheem toid him stop crying about calls and go make plays he droped about 2 or 3 balls then looked to the ref to bail him out. Freeman still showed he was a little inaccuarte to the last Int should have been more to the outsisde
December 6th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
BUC YOU:
1. Everyone knows the Bucs need a DE or 3.
2. Most have been pointing out the dissappointment from Black all year, and several others, including me, have been pointing out the below average LB play as a whole all year.
3. Williams is still a rookie
4. Freeman, like every other QB in the league is a little inaccurate at times. That pass should have been more outside, but I would argue he should never have thrown it, it was covered. It was a mental mistake more than anythig.
I see two spots to point the finger:
Defense giving up a 3rd and 20
and Stovall missing the tackle on special teams
December 6th, 2010 at 5:07 pm
Another thing no one realizes is that Freeman is throwing the ball to receivers who are NOT coming back for the ball. If Mike Will took one step forward, it would have been a completion!!!!!!
December 6th, 2010 at 6:01 pm
Stovall is not contributing to the O and now he cost a game, Can you say ” Mo the Goat”? Will he suffer the same fate and find himself on waivers?
Why waste a spot for him next year, we have been waiting on him to show up for years now, and now there are a handful of receivers out there who are producing!