The Drive That Killed The Season
November 27th, 2011
Well, what an interesting season this has been. And it all fit into a nice little package that was the Bucs third-to-last drive of the game, a drive that melted down just like the Bucs season.
For perhaps the first time all season, Raheem Morris/Greg Olson finally decided the team was going to feed the ball to LeGarrette Blount. The team was going to ride his wheels.
Blount paid the Bucs back. He was breaking off what seemed like seven yards a carry. The Bucs were finally imposing their will on the Titans and the Titans has no answer but to bend over and say, “Thank you sir can I have another?”
It was freaking beautiful.
But then the Bucs completely melted down. Kellen Winslow was called for holding. Why??? Then Jeremy Zuttah was busted for a false start, which is downright dumb.
What looked to be a touchdown series, was no more. What looked to be at least a field goal was out of the question with the ball now pushed back to midfield.
“Holding, [illegal procedure], holding, that killed you,” Morris said after the game on the Bucs radio network. “We had to punt the ball back. That’s been our Achilles heel as a team. We cleaned it up but you can’t have a series like that.”
Right there was your 2011 Bucs season, all in one series.
Morris has noted all season that the Bucs are killing themselves with penalties and he is right. Joe knows the coaching staff works to stop this malady. But it continues.
There is clearly a disconnect. Whatever the coaches are teaching the players to limit penalties isn’t sinking in. Whatever techniques the coaches are telling the players, they are not understanding. The key here is to find the disconnect.
Once again Joe pleas for the Bucs to hire an outside consultant to help this team. The playoffs are a virtual pipe dream right now. Chicago and Atlanta would have to have monumental collapses.
With no realistic expectation of a playoff berth, there’s no better time to start preparing for next year than in November.
November 27th, 2011 at 5:29 pm
Joe, I’m with you. That “drive” was our season in a nutshell.
So disappointing, exasperating and seemingly the way this season.
I hope to HELL the owners take note and try to help this team this winter.
They can start by being active in FA, signing the players we need to keep and scraping the ASININE London “home” game. Has not worked out so well, has it?
November 27th, 2011 at 5:35 pm
Penalties come when players like Winslow who don’t really want to, or LIKE to block get involved on running plays.
Winslow cost Tampa this game with not only his penalty, but his friendship with Josh Freeman.
Freeman forced the ball to Winslow, to allow his non blocking friend who took a bad holding penalty to save face.
Time to dismantle Tampa, and prepare for next season.
Someone mentioned Marty Schottenheimer ?
I had all but forgotten about him, but why not ?
We have perhaps the leagues best power back in Blount, and Marty will make Tampa a real power running team.
November 27th, 2011 at 5:36 pm
I was rooting for a loss…just saying. Coaching changes and a high draft pick are the best things that can happen to this team long-term. We need a new OC, DC and Luke Kuechly in the worst way. Our offense scored 10 points today and we couldn’t stop the run…those problems will persist unless wholesale changes happen.
November 27th, 2011 at 5:37 pm
This drive didn’t end the season – that happened about 5 games ago when Freeman began to revert from his 2010 form and show people that he’s only a 50% or less passer.
The season ended about 5 games ago when the Bucs decided to have Lumpkin in the backfield and Blount on the sideline for 3rd down.
It just took until today for the Homers to finally admit the truth that this team needs a real coach to coach the players and DISCIPLINE
November 27th, 2011 at 5:39 pm
Apple, please just say NO to Marty. Snatch up Fischer before he goes to Jacksonville
November 27th, 2011 at 5:39 pm
At least the draft will look good for us…
November 27th, 2011 at 5:44 pm
Time to put the bourbon down.
November 27th, 2011 at 5:48 pm
I totally agree, it makes no sense to me. Were running all over the Titans then on a 3rd and 2 they want to get in shotgun and throw. Do they know how to put in a draw play to BLount? YOU can run out of different formations. EVERY 1st down we are in 2 TE formation, I am done posting for the year! Thank you JOE, love the site.
November 27th, 2011 at 5:49 pm
1 more, do you happen to know how many int. Freeman has thrown when K2 is his target?
November 27th, 2011 at 5:51 pm
“With no realistic expectation of a playoff berth, there’s no better time to start preparing for next year than in November.”
I’m sick of this crap. When is it going to actually be fun to be a Bucs fan again?
November 27th, 2011 at 5:57 pm
I’ve never seen more drive-killing penalties and drive-killing interceptions in one season in my entire life. Ever.
Absolutely amazing. I’m not sure even how to respond right now.
November 27th, 2011 at 6:08 pm
I’m looking for a silver lining here and the best I could come up with is a 5th round pick and Trent Richardson. I know we need a CB, but CJ2k reminded me how valuable a versatile RB can be.
November 27th, 2011 at 6:09 pm
It’s true. This is the worst Bucs team I’ve seen.
November 27th, 2011 at 6:10 pm
Blount not in game on 2nd or 3rd down. This coaching staff SUCKS.
November 27th, 2011 at 6:10 pm
meant to say 5th pick in the 1st Rd.
November 27th, 2011 at 6:21 pm
Agree macabee…I’m actually hoping at this point they just go ahead and finish 4-12 so we have a top five pick. I know that sounds like giving up, but this season’s toast now so why get a couple more meaningless wins just so we drop out of the top ten in the draft? I’d rather get a high pick in every round at this point. There’s really not much more to look forward to.
November 27th, 2011 at 6:23 pm
Joe, your so funny. What exactly does Morris do to correct anything? I find it almost comical that our head coach stands on the sidelines week after week with that deer in the headlight look. Why didn’t Morris ask for a measurement on the fourth down play when Freeman hurried the snap and Tenn. took over in the fourth quarter? He is lost! The Glazers however are cleaning up in the pay for coaching dept.
November 27th, 2011 at 7:02 pm
Someone named Brain said in an earlier comment that he was rooting for a loss? What a POS. That type of attitude from fake fans pisses me off more than the piss poor play on the field.
November 27th, 2011 at 7:07 pm
@Snook
Oh yeah, Blount got the ball more in this game. But whenever we need it’s 3rd down and we need a 1st or just a real big part of the game, either he doesn’t use him or he takes him out!!! WTF?
November 27th, 2011 at 7:08 pm
Also, I am a homer and proud of it. I WILL NOT call for a coaching change. 3 years is not sufficient time to turn a team into contenders. I’m not saying it can’t or hasn’t been done. I’m just saying its an unrealistic expectation. If no playoffs in 5 years, I will lead the raid on 1 Buc Place myself. Til then, quit pretending to be Bucs fans if all you have is Buc hatred.
November 27th, 2011 at 8:39 pm
Hey Espo you wrote: ” 3 years is not sufficient time to turn a team into contenders. I’m not saying it can’t or hasn’t been done. I’m just saying its an unrealistic expectation.”
I’ll bet if you were on the Titanic you would’ve stayed in your stateroom saying, “this ship can’t sink all you people do is complain…”
The losses are bad enough but it how the team looks – like they’re getting worse instead of better. THAT CANNOT AND SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED.
The saddest part is that you settle for mediocre and do not DEMAND better – SHEEP
November 28th, 2011 at 1:16 am
@Espo
So you want to extend the period of mediocrity even longer? Brilliant! Unlike some fans I don’t just passively watch the games. I evaluate and reflect on what’s going on in the games. This team is a lost cause and has been all season. I’m usually an optimist but even when we were 3-1 I had serious doubts about talent in some spots and coaching overall.
This Bucs team is one of the worst professional teams I’ve ever seen when it comes to fundamentals: tackling, catching, penalties. The schemes and playcalling are atrocious on both sides of the ball. The team looks completely out-of-sorts in the key moments of every game, and always starts out maddeningly slow. If that doesn’t scream out a need for major coaching changes, I don’t know what does.
Forgive me for hoping for short-term pain for long-term gain. Obviously some fans are too short-sighted to see the benefit.
November 28th, 2011 at 10:20 am
“Forgive me for hoping for short-term pain for long-term gain. Obviously some fans are too short-sighted to see the benefit.”
Haha yes this is true. Exactly my point.
Its funny you have all these comments after a road loss. You must not actually go to any of the games. Therefore you opinion doesn’t matter to me.