Labor Agreement Hurting Bucs
November 22nd, 2011
Bucs fans have agonized through this heinous losing streak trying to figure out whether the Bucs’ problems are more related to coaching or personnel decisions. Some think it’s neither, simply players failing to execute in the face of a tough schedule.
Joe’s been adamant that the struggles rest heavily on the coaching staff. Raheem Morris and company simply haven’t found how to get the most out of their team consistently, which is the essence of their profession.
Interestingly, Raheem explained last night on The Raheem Morris Show, heard locally on WDAE-AM 620, that his yungry bunch is handcuffed by the new labor agreement that significantly limits physical practices. The Bucs used a rare opportunity last week to have two practices in pads and it made a major difference for the receivers, Raheem said.
“We put our pads on, had those guys go out and really fight for the balls in practice and have the DB’s really compete with those guys,” Raheem said. “And you see it show up in a game. Mike Williams was able to go up and make some of the dynamic catches that he made last year when the practice habits were a little bit different.
“You know, we got the collective bargaining agreement and we couldn’t put on pads as much and some of those things. But last week we pulled our mulligan, we had our two padded practices, got those guys to compete again. Mike Williams practiced hard all week and it transferred into the game, which was great for us.”
A glass-half-empty fan hears that from Raheem and calls it an admission that he can’t find a way to get his receivers to bring their A-game regularly within league rules. An optimist might say the young Bucs are just growing together and only now are overcoming lost development time because of the asinie lockout and softer practices.
Regardless, time is up and the why isn’t all that important.
The 4-6 Bucs need to win at least five out their next six to salvage a respectable season after soundly beating the Saints and Falcons en route to a 4-2 start. They’ve only got two games out of six against winning teams the rest of the way. A “yungry” team on the rise wins at least four of those games.
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:07 am
I would love to see the Bucs go undefeated from here on out.
Ther team we saw last week looked capable with a few adjustments. I still think both onside kicks were ill-advised, but what’s done is done…on to the next game!
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:15 am
Correct me if i’m wrong but don’t all the other teams have to play by the same rules ? I would love for the Bucs to win out but it definitely will not be easy . let’s hope they can put a few together starting Sunday in Tennessee
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:21 am
Realistically they need to run the table to make the playoffs. I don’t see it happening.
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:23 am
Enough with the excuses.Hire a DC Raheem before you find yourself in the unemployment line.
November 22nd, 2011 at 10:00 am
This guy is ridiculous, he constantly says “no excuses” then proceeds to rattle off excuse after excuse – I am not sure that he knows what an excuse is.
Saying “I am not making excuses,” doesnt negate the litany of excuses you rattle off after saying that.
In fact, I dont remember a person, let alone coach, who is more full of excuses. The worst was after the thrashing from the Texans, he came out and said that the team’s performance was his fault then spent the week blaming his players for loafing, being outphysicaled etc. you embarrass yourself when you contradict yourself like that.
I have real concerns about this coaches ability to communicate consistent sensible ideas.
November 22nd, 2011 at 10:08 am
Even playing field for all 32 teams. I don’t want to hear about the lockout hurting us. The Packers with the 2nd youngest team seem just fine. Lets pull out all the excuses to save your job. Kind of like when he took all the blame then announced that his players came in and wanted to take the blame instead. The Bucs are what we thought they were, undisciplined and one of the worst defenses in the league being run by a defensive minded coach.
November 22nd, 2011 at 10:14 am
Raheem sucks. First clue a guy is over his head is the excuses he makes when he’s not getting the job done.
I despise this guy more and more each week. This team will be lucky to win 2 of its last 5 games – home against Carolina and Jax. The rest of the games will be more of the same — penalties, no discipline, boring offense.
November 22nd, 2011 at 10:41 am
“Soundly defeated” Saints and falcons. Came down to the final possession each game if i recall.
Actually, soundly defeated is what happened in the 49er, Texans, Detroit, and Bears games. Totally dominated is perhaps more appropriate
Also, barely squeaked by Colts and Vikes, two of the worst teams in the league.
Bad case of rose colored glasses I am afraid.
Nice try on the excuse Rah. Don’t think that is going to cut it. Unless, of course you simply want to admit you can’t get your team ready to play under the current rules. If thats the case perhaps the Glazer’s can find someone who can. BTW, you have had a bottom ten defense no matter what the rules are, since you took over. Currently bottom two.
November 22nd, 2011 at 10:50 am
So Raheem is saying the only way he can motivate this team is through padded physical practice. But the labor agreement is keeping them from doing this. Tell that to Green Bay, Houston Texans, Saints and 49ers after they handed you your ass! I guess they didn’t get the memo. Enough with the excuses Rheem.
November 22nd, 2011 at 10:52 am
Re Mike WIlliams…….he finally caught some of the footballs that were thrown his way. Awesome, that’s what he gets paid for. They need to teach him to run across the middle without being scared – almost resulted in an interception when he quit on that play. He gave up on one play which did result in an interception because he basically stopped running. Bench him for the start of the next game, start Benn as the #1 receiver and Parker as the #2.
November 22nd, 2011 at 11:10 am
Gosh, so many football coaches on JBF that can tell Raheem how to do his job. First, our squad is a little bit different than every other team in the league. Yes, the Packers are young like we are, but their big time players on offense (Rodgers, Jennings, Driver, Finely) have all had a few years in the league. The majority of ours are literally 2 to 3 years in the league with very little experience. The padded practices obviously are an issue, because we came out and played physical the week after having physical practices. It makes a difference. Raheem maybe should cut out some of the “excuses”, I can agree with you guys on that, but I don’t think anyone on here has the credentials to tell him how to do his job. We have the ability to get hot and rip off a few wins to get to 8 or 9 wins, which in my opinion is an acceptable season. The team we just lost to, the Pack, went through the same thing we’re going through; growing pains. Have some patience, please.
@FloridaGirl, I’d actually agree with starting Mike on the bench for next week for a quarter or two, that’s a good idea, but I’d be more inclined to put Dez Briscoe at #2 and let Parker play the slot or whatever they find him able to do.
November 22nd, 2011 at 11:23 am
@ K2
Thomas has the credentials, still waiting to see for him to give them to us though.
November 22nd, 2011 at 11:35 am
Just wondering…What do you guys want him to say? No matter what he says you will call it an excuse. He is not giving anyone a pass, this sounds reasonable enough to me. Now find a way to fix it, and get the team motivated like they were on Sunday. Sometimes you play a good game and lose, like the Bucs did Sunday against the Pack. If you guys do not want to here excuses from coaches, stop asking them what happened.
November 22nd, 2011 at 11:46 am
I brought up this very topic in a comment to Joe not too long ago.
Basically, is the new CBA going to make players soft, or a trend towards such, because of the limits of allowed physical contact.
In college they hit their asses off, make it to the pros and relax.
November 22nd, 2011 at 11:56 am
I think 8-8 is where we end up. It’s also about where we should be, and where I said we would be last spring. As long as the team continues to play hard and show progress. That’s good enough. Rebuild year 2
Do we need a new DC. I think so. Raheem has shown more talent as a head coach. And its too much work to do both. Millard or Lake might be the answer.
A new Head coach? No. Not as long as the players play hard, show improvement, and knock of the dumb penalties.
If that doesn’t happen- then Meybe.
A new OC- probably not. Although his refusal to use Blount more is perplexing, the offense has been in position to succeed. It’s been more execution problems than planning.
New CBS and OLBer. An absolute must. This defense will never stop the run, or be successful, until those areas get NFL caliber players in those spots. We do not have that now( excluding, as always, Ronde Barber!). We have starters who aren’t good enough to be 3rd stringers. Gotta change
Most inportantly, we need the players to have an offseason with Millard, Yarber, Pat Morris, etc, – in order to evolve their game to the next level
November 22nd, 2011 at 12:07 pm
Florida Girl .. So Mike Williams has his best game of the season and now its time to bench him ??
Plus Im guessing if Mike Williams is afraid to go over the middle .. Im guessing you have been a Bucs for about 10 games or missed most of the games last season like when he dragged half the Panthers Defense into the endzone right through the middle of their Defense in week 2.
November 22nd, 2011 at 12:29 pm
@Capt. Tim
“A new Head coach?”
Depends. I don’t want to see the Bucs only victories for the rest of the season to be against the crappy teams (Titans and Jaguars). I also want to see much better discipline, leadership, and closer games too. Otherwise, Raheem should be on the hot seat. Oh, and I’d like to see this team make the playoffs for the first time in four years.
“A new OC”
Yes. Unless I see some changes. Greg Olsen better give Blount, our best weapon, the ball more often like he did in Green Bay. He needs to quit putting in Lumpkin on 3rd down. I also want to see a better passing game. It’s hard for me to believe our offense is this bad. We definitely don’t have a VERY talented team, but I know we’re better than this.
We need to sign DeSean Jackson in the offseason. He’s the speedy downfield threat our offense needs. Getting a speed RB is a must as well. Blount will last longer if he doesn’t have to carry the whole load.
Biggers needs to be replaced. I’d like Barber to return for another season, but we need to get his long term replacement pretty soon here. Lewis is not it.
Talib is a player I’m really unsure about. Before this season, he was a very good player. Would’ve gone to the pro bowl at least once had it not been a popularity contest. But I really don’t know what’s happened to him this year. We’ve seen how talented he is before.
Here’s how we do it: Get a CB in 1st round or free agency and keep Barber. Keep Talib as a backup and let’s see how his trial plays out.
November 22nd, 2011 at 12:35 pm
I said it when the CBA was approved and again last week, the league has allowed the players to dictate when and how they will practice. This will come back to bite the owners and players in the ass. As the CBA progresses over the years the quality of the play is going to diminish and the league is going to suffer. I say in 3 years the coaches put enough pressure on ownership to reopen this argument with the NFLPA, as even the NFLPA will realize players will not be reaching performance based incentives b/c they are not practicing properly which will effect their income.
November 22nd, 2011 at 12:42 pm
To go 8-8 we gotta go 4 dash 2 the last six.
Uh, we have lost five out of six currently……………….
November 22nd, 2011 at 2:46 pm
The worst thing that could happen to this team is they end up 8-8 and no coaching changes are made in the offseason due to a false sense of progress. Remember, these Bucs tend to beat the bad to mediocre teams which is mostly what the remainder of the schedule contains. However, they routinely get beat (usually soundly) by non-division teams that are any good at all. Don’t let a good stretch run fool you. That would be equivalent to getting hyped about last season’s 10 wins against mostly bad competition.
I don’t agree with keeping Raheem as head coach, but if they decide to do so they absolutely need to hire as talented a DC as they can find and pay him whatever it takes to get him to Tampa. Same with an OC if they can find one who is a certain upgrade over Olson, because although Olson can have some maddening stretches of play calling he is actually pretty decent overall.
Lastly, they ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO get a new LB coach. Have to!!! Joe Baker is woefully inadequate at that job. Send him back to the secondary where he came from, to be an assistant to Jimmy Lake.
Without these changes this team will flounder in mediocrity for yet another year in 2012. Guaranteed.
November 22nd, 2011 at 2:51 pm
@FLBoyInDallas
At the very least, we need to fire Olsen. Unless he suddenly changes, starts showing a comittment to Blount, and starts calling better plays. but I doubt it. If Raheem stays, he needs to get himself a good defensive cordinator.
November 22nd, 2011 at 3:45 pm
You guys need to lay off the endzone play that looked like WEilliams gave up on his route, he was going in on what they tghought would be man coverage, and low and behold the Pack went with zone coverage. In zone coverage you slow down and adjust. Freeman missed the call not Williams. Now, that being said, niether of these guys needs to be benched. They appear to be waking up.
November 22nd, 2011 at 7:29 pm
everyone in the nfl has to deal with the same set of rules.
if he really thinks that is the reason or answer, he does not belong in coaching.
November 23rd, 2011 at 9:20 pm
While I don’t want to take any of the responsibility for Tampa’s woes off Raheem and the rest of the coaching staff, he may have a point in referring to the “padded practice” business.
It takes “padded practices” and hitting lots of it to get into what’s referred to as “football shape.” No amount of weight lifted, gassers run, or shaddow reps of plays run will get players into “football shape.”
Because it is as much attitudinal as it is physical, getting into “football shape” takes less time for veterans who understand the process and what is needed and expected. Tampa’s youthful team has few veterans to help the youngsters through the process by showing them the ropes.
Eventually the effects of the current limitations on padded practices will manifest themselves throughout the league. Right now those effects are more apparent in Tampa, because of the team’s youth and inexperience.