The Drive To Nowhere
October 21st, 2012
Jimminy Christmas! Mike Sullivan got so conservative at 1st-and-goal on the Saints 1 yard line late in the third quarter, Joe thought Alan Keyes hijacked Sullivan’s headset.
Trailing by a touchdown and following Vincent Jackson getting outwilled by Malcolm Jenkins, the Bucs ran LeGarrette Blount behind Carl Nicks for a 1 yard loss. Then it was Blount again for 1 yard to the right. Then Blount back to the left for a goose egg.
Blount must do better. But Joe also has to wonder why, if Blount is going to be used in that situation, and the guy is a 240-pound back with tremendous leaping ability, why the Bucs aren’t setting him up to run downhill and dive over the top.
Mike Alstott did it. Earnest Graham did it. Why not Blount?
Is Blount to blame? Or is it the coaching staff?
And what about Freeman just powering in one or two QB sneak attempts, something he’s had great success with in the past.
Regardless, the Bucs got way too conservative there. And the naked bootleg to Freeman on fourth down was a disaster.
Joe’s chalking it up to growing pains for a first-time offensive coordinator.
October 21st, 2012 at 6:16 pm
Why are we not sending freeman right up the gut on first down he should be able to gain the one and a half yds needed
October 21st, 2012 at 6:17 pm
Run a wide set with a draw up the middle. Try Martin. Try a pass.
Three Blount runs in a goal line formation? Seriously?
October 21st, 2012 at 6:19 pm
I won’t blame Blount. The line didn’t get a push. Very simple. Another play probably would have worked. Spreading them out probably would have worked. Sneaking it probably would have worked. But there is no excuse for not getting a 1 yard push. That, is what should have worked.
October 21st, 2012 at 6:25 pm
It’s not all on Blount.
October 21st, 2012 at 6:38 pm
I know it pains you Joe…but Blount is just not a very good running back. Anyone else see his whiff on the play action in the first half (may have been first drive) to Lorig? His head was out of the game today and Martin is the real deal. Use Blount to give Martin a breather, but forget him in crucial situations. How about HE makes the run a down hill run. Goodness, if he just takes the handoff and actually accelerates a little he would fall into the endzone. Instead he just does this thing where he completely stalls before he hits anyone. Disappointing.
October 21st, 2012 at 6:51 pm
How long will it take ANOTHER offensive coordinator to learn to just call a QB sneak? I can’t recall few if any times Freeman failed on a sneak in his career.
That said, the OL got no push on any of those runs, and Saints defenders were in the backfield. Our right side of the OL is pathetic, point blank. Why run behind them 3 times (including a roll-out)!?!
October 21st, 2012 at 7:19 pm
@Tony
You’re spot on.
If anybody wants to talk about desire I think you have to question Blount’s desire to continue to be employed. Bro, you’re 6’0″ 240 lbs…put your head down and RUN SOMEBODY OVER instead of dancing. Alas, he’s had the same issue for 3 years. I give up b*tching about it.
October 21st, 2012 at 8:18 pm
Blount is a waste of a roster spot. Bring up the rookie RB and see if you can get anything for Blount in trade or just cut him.
October 21st, 2012 at 8:51 pm
That was one of the worst goal line offenseive series I have witnessed by the Bucs. It seems that too many times the offense gets down on the goal line and looks as if its their first time there. They don’t spread the formation, just bunch up tight. Then the running back runs into his own lineman.
If Freeman handed it to a running back 3 times in a row and they ran outside they would have a better chance to score. Run where they ain’t not right into the teeth of the defense. Freeman should have ran the bootleg on the 3rd down.
October 21st, 2012 at 9:15 pm
Joe wont admit Blount is a 1 trick pony. Hes not a short yardage back, hes not a pass protector, what is he? a between the 20’s running back.
October 21st, 2012 at 10:23 pm
I could not believe my eyes, something told me when Jenkins tackled VJax at the one, it would give NO the momentum, a 14 point momentum swing, but when I seen 3 straight running plays, with Blount running into the line with his head down (as always), I wanted to break something! Why not use the play action pass after the first run, and if you do draw it up, please do it right and before 4th down! When you run a play action, there should always be a receiver, especially on a bootleg PA that should ALWAYS run paralleled to the QB, there was nobody, no WR shadowing Freeman, how can a dude like me, sitting on my couch know this and not the coaches? It’s common sense, if you fake the run, tuck it and bootleg to the right, you should have an intended target, I mean if it was by design, then who did they plan on throwing it to, an offensive lineman? Can we please get a competent OC one of these years PLEASE!!
October 21st, 2012 at 11:23 pm
Just got home from Tampa and watch a replay of that set of downs. Dude, there was nothing there. The NO D-Line dominated. Blount was hit high and low, behind the line or at the line. A M-1 tank could not have powered through that wall. I don’t blame Blount or the O-Line because NO stacked the box. That can be done but it sure opens up other areas. Terrible play calls at the goal line.
October 21st, 2012 at 11:50 pm
All of you idiots bashing Blount for not scoring on any of those runs are just that..idiots. Adrian Peterson, Walter Payton are not going to score on those calls…there was nowhere to run. Terrible play calling, bad timing. Most of the game was called pretty well. And Joe dogging VJ that’s just not right…