“We Didn’t Do Anything To Stop Him”
December 20th, 2010
The man Chucky craved but didn’t score in the 2007 draft, Calvin Johnson, looked like a man among boys Sunday against the Bucs’ overmatched defense.
Johnson’s been a stud since he entered the NFL, but his Sunday totals of 10 catches for 152 yards was one of the best games of his career.
Ronde Barber seems to think the Bucs weren’t ready for Johnson, which to Joe is a smack at his defensive coordinator, who also happens to be the Bucs’ head coach. Barber told Sarasota Herald-Tribune columnist Doug Fernandes that the Bucs were unprepared at times to handle Johnson.
It marked the second straight week Tampa’s defense allowed a touchdown in the final two minutes. Barber had questions about that, along with the plan to stop Johnson.
“Bad plan,” he said, “and we didn’t execute it when it was a good plan. We didn’t do anything to stop him.”
Whoa!
Barber might be the only guy on the Bucs who can get away with publicly criticizing coaching.
Though the comment is probably just a sign of Barber’s immense frustration after a brutal loss, as Barber’s usually pretty measured with his speech, Joe wonders whether it’s a signal that Barber is not leaning toward a return to the Bucs in 2011.
December 20th, 2010 at 10:11 am
Nobody can do anything to stop the officials!
December 20th, 2010 at 10:15 am
Pretty sure Barber was a believer that this team had playoff potential.
Only problem, he is a blamer. When the Bucs collapsed in 2008, he blamed lots of guys.
Now, before the season even ends, he throws his best buddy under the bus, Tiki style.
Weak ass!
December 20th, 2010 at 10:22 am
Just listened to raheems press conference. The man said that he had plenty of “faith” in his defense on that final drive….what a joke!!! Does this man watch tape on his defense?? I believe the problem is that he is taking on to much responsibility between calling defensive plays and trying to coach the game as well. Its just too much for him , a veteran coach may be able to do it, but raheem cant as this level in his career.
December 20th, 2010 at 10:29 am
Talib was out. We really miss him when we have to face elite recievers. You can try, but there is no replacing a top flight cover corner.
December 20th, 2010 at 10:32 am
It’s sad that one loss to a bad team and so called fans are ready to rip and replace the team on many sites and forums.
Yes, this loss sucked, big time.
But big picture here, we have a GOOD team. We likely will finish 3rd in the division so we’ll get a 3rd place schedule next year. We will only get better offensively and be fully healthy next year with Grimm, Price, McCoy, Talib and hopefully a fresh pair of bookends on the DL.
Think positive…this year is a success, and we still have meaningful games to play.
December 20th, 2010 at 10:34 am
It would have been far different with Talib and jackson back there. 1/2 of our starters were out for this game. Perhaps Raheem could use a defensive coach to assist him, and our coaching staff did make some mistakes. Even if we DID make the playoffs, Tampa would not have gone far anyway.
December 20th, 2010 at 10:51 am
What about Ronde being a defensive assistant to Raheem? They have a great relationship. Ronde can help formulate game plans and game strategy during the game.
December 20th, 2010 at 10:55 am
bucfanjeff is right play to win this year but in reality plan for next year. Our Bucs made great strides this season but in truth we are building for the future not the now!
Go Bucs
December 20th, 2010 at 11:05 am
i would still expect this team to struggle a bit next year because i think they’ll be even younger next year but they are obviously on the right track. barring a career ending injury to our qb, we should be serious contenders for the next ten years.
December 20th, 2010 at 11:18 am
It is time for the Glazers to make an owner’s decision…
They can do the charitable thing and keep Raheem as the coach of the future.
Or do what’s best for the franchise and go out and get a real coach.
December 20th, 2010 at 11:36 am
*sigh*..Buc You..which “real coach” would have been able to throw together an effective defense with 3 backup linemen, a backup LB, backup corner and backup (3rd string) safety. Newsflash…the Bucs are not that good yet but they are getting there. Take an above average team and remove 50% of their starting defense and this is what you get. EJ biggers couldnt cover Johnson. He’s young, Johnson is elite and no amount of coaching will change that. Raheem needs a D-coordinator but is doing just fine as a coach.
What’s so funny is that even the optimists like myself predicted at most 6-7 wins and were laughed at. Now that we have 8 and will possibly end up with 9…all of a sudden Raheem is a bad coach and needs to go.
December 20th, 2010 at 11:37 am
Got bucs fans bragging about finishing third in a four team Division.
My how the expectations and standards have changed.
December 20th, 2010 at 11:47 am
Don’t see any real
Buc fans bragging. Only a few Buc trolls complaining.
December 20th, 2010 at 11:52 am
mikeck Says: is on the right track, but left out the offense. The only starters from the first game that played on the OL yesterday were Penn and Youngblood. They could release Youngblood today for all that he matters. I don’t remember the new tackle that kept Suh in check name but he is there next year and the entire new line will have the off season and traning camp to bond and play. Just imagine Blount learning to blast the line to pick up a couple of yards and having Graham and him or the Caddie in the back field. I hold the LBs responsible for the run yardage more that the DL. The DBs, except for Rhonde, are learning in the heat of fire and don’t think for a minute they are not. Tne next games, however many there are, they will continure to learn and we can get rid of the bad ones we seam to carry like we did Sabby. I believe tht JF will only grow at QB but the stupid play calling has to cease by the coaches. Let JF call more of his own plays in a hurry up more often than the last two minutes of the game.
December 20th, 2010 at 11:54 am
Its always a bad plan when your worst corner who is about as big and strong as a high school girl is covering Calvin Johnson! I will never let this go or forgive Rah. I know everyone was getting schooled, I don’t care. With everything on the line, he put Elbert Mack out there!
December 20th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
@eric, nobody is bragging – just pointing out the potential obvious. The NFC South has got to be one of the strongest divisions in the NFL, top 2 at least.
You haters are just a bunch of f*cking idiots. At least say something remotely intelligent if you’re going to jump in to the conversation.
December 20th, 2010 at 12:17 pm
Your right, I guess the NFC South is too tough for Rah and the boys to be expected to win.
Perhaps they can get a gold star from the league office for trying.
December 20th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
At least three times yesterday, when Detroit broke out running, I saw Corey Lynch (41), kneel down in front of the runner to trip him rather than actually taking him down with a tackle. This worked only once, and the RB just jumped over Lynch. My preference is to try and tackle the SOB rather than take the easy way out.
December 20th, 2010 at 1:49 pm
From that article:
“Lost to a team using its third-string quarterback. Lost to a team whose 31-year-old running back gained 109 yards, many on forays through the middle of the Tampa Bay defense.”
And mention of the Bucs losing 3 out of their last 4.
So in what year of Raheems coaching tenure will he ever get the blame for a collapse?
If the Bucs lose 5 of their last 6 then how does that finish sound?
December 20th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
I totally agree about Corey Lynch…he looks very weak in the run game or even tackling receivers. I always see him ducking his head and going for their shoelaces….and Ruud looked just as weak yesterday. If anyone has the nickname “roller skates” its Ruud. I hope the offense can put it together and get W’s in these last two games. Give Blount 25 carries!
December 20th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
“At least three times yesterday, when Detroit broke out running, I saw Corey Lynch (41), kneel down in front of the runner to trip him rather than actually taking him down with a tackle”
Yeah, well, thats why he was number 4 on the depth chart barely swimming above the practice squad and behind Jackson, Sabby and Grimm. You never really know until you play ’em. Good thing about the inuries is that it really gives the organazation a chance to see what type of talent it has…or doesnt. I tell you what though, I’ll take a safety that “catches” when he tackles over one that is always out of position (Sabby). Anyone notice the lack of 50 yard breakaway pass playes (a la Todd Heap) now that Sabby is out?
December 20th, 2010 at 2:12 pm
“If the Bucs lose 5 of their last 6 then how does that finish sound?”
Well, consisdering that 50% of our starters are out…it sounds fine. Unlike Chucky, Raheem has an excuse why the team is losing steam. People can scoff at blaming injuries but 3rd string QB or not, when half your defense is missing…life is tough.
December 20th, 2010 at 3:19 pm
Unlike Chucky, Raheem gets many excuses. Exactly. Point made.
December 20th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
I seem to recall a lot of injuries down the stretch in the 08 season.
Didn’t Brian Griese have to play the OT loss to atlanta?
December 20th, 2010 at 3:22 pm
Eric…Maybe you mshould brag about only posting when the team loses. You are no fan, and you are no realist or whatever you fancy yourself. No one is bragging about a third place finish, but any person with half a brain can see that there has been progreess.
Joe, nice try on the dramtic ending. Barber’s words have nothing to do with if he is coming back or not, you are just fueling the pages for more posts. Hey, I am not ripping you, I enjoy all the posts as much as the articles.
December 20th, 2010 at 4:37 pm
Really eric??? What innuries were those. Griese was often a starter so thats no real excuse. Was there sometime in the 2008 season when 50% of teh team were backups? Was there a time when we were on a 4th string safety?
December 20th, 2010 at 4:53 pm
I recall Cady being carried off the field with a ten point lead against the Raiders. Was having a good game before that.
Josh Johnson started a lot but you would not see a dropoff if you had him in an important road game vs. Freeman?
The 08 team was definately beat up at the stretch run. The 05 and 07 Division Title Teams had a slew of injuries. Remember the playoff loss to the Giants? Lots of guys hurt and unable to play.
But, that did not interfere with the roasting and lambasting of Chuckie, did it?
How would the media (especially a certain loud radio host) be handling this if Chuckie were coach and the bucs lost a Home game to the lions after they had lost 26 straight road games, with their third stringer at QB? I can only imagine.
Someday, the double standard needs to evaporate, and the “youth” “rebuilding”
“injuries” “learning on the job” excuses set aside. Beat some real teams, win a Division, or a Championship, then brag. Till then its all subjective “feel good” mumbo jumbo.
December 20th, 2010 at 5:10 pm
Youth, rebuilding is fine… What is bull sh!t, is that Raheem gets a pass to “learn on the job”?????????????
What in the f,,k is that all about???
What NFL franchise puts an inexperienced head coach in charge of a rebuilding project? And why does he get to “learn on the job”?
December 20th, 2010 at 5:20 pm
It is crystal clear why a targeted group of apologists give him every excuse in the book.
But no head coach should get the opportunity to “learn on the job” in the NFL…perhaps that is why the stadium won’t sell out.
How many more years of OJT does Raheem get anyway?
December 20th, 2010 at 5:25 pm
Your dreaming Eric…08 team didnt have 50% of the starters on IR.
Again…if Chucky is so great, why isnt he coaching? He didnt retire like Cower, he was canned. So how come nobody picked him up?
December 20th, 2010 at 7:23 pm
I certainly can’t question the sentiment of a future hall-of-famer, but in all honesty, with our injury predicament and scheme – what exactly could we have done?
I mean Morris rolled coverage – even stuck Ronde on the Megatron at times – and with our scheme, if we aren’t creating pressure with the front 4 then we’re taking a DB out of coverage in order to bring some pressure…what more COULD we have done?
The bogger question to me – is why did Raheem handcuff the one part of the team that had the talent to go and get this win? Faced with a “3rd and doable” deep in Lion territory, at the end of regulation – why didn’t we go get a first down after the TERRIBLE call on “The Souldja”? Why did Raheem play it safe and put the pressure back on a defense that had played well all day specifically BECAUSE it wasn’t being asked to win the game?
I would have rather lost GOING FOR IT with our STRONGEST (offense) unit – than to gamble on being able to make one last stop with an injury depleted defense…?
After seeing this group play sharp and smart this season – it just struck me as strange. However – Raheem has earned a pass on the last two weeks – but the passes are gone. If your sprinting down the stretch, not only do you need the best from your best players – you need the best from your coaches.
December 20th, 2010 at 7:23 pm
I certainly can’t question the sentiment of a future hall-of-famer, but in all honesty, with our injury predicament and scheme – what exactly could we have done?
I mean Morris rolled coverage – even stuck Ronde on the Megatron at times – and with our scheme, if we aren’t creating pressure with the front 4 then we’re taking a DB out of coverage in order to bring some pressure…what more COULD we have done?
The bigger question to me – is why did Raheem handcuff the one part of the team that had the talent to go and get this win? Faced with a “3rd and doable” deep in Lion territory, at the end of regulation – why didn’t we go get a first down after the TERRIBLE call on “The Souldja”? Why did Raheem play it safe and put the pressure back on a defense that had played well all day specifically BECAUSE it wasn’t being asked to win the game?
I would have rather lost GOING FOR IT with our STRONGEST (offense) unit – than to gamble on being able to make one last stop with an injury depleted defense…?
After seeing this group play sharp and smart this season – it just struck me as strange. However – Raheem has earned a pass on the last two weeks – but the passes are gone. If your sprinting down the stretch, not only do you need the best from your best players – you need the best from your coaches.
December 20th, 2010 at 8:33 pm
Chucky is collecting his five million a year from the Glazer Boys, while setting ratings records at ESPN, and likely laughing his ass off at this.
Or polishing his Lombardi trophy and reflecting on the six division championships he presided over.
Meanwhile, Mr. Buffoonery couldn’t manage a critical win over a team that lost 26 straight road games with their third string Qb and running back!
Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa