“Bucs Look Like A Tired Football Team”
December 27th, 2012
Did the New Schiano Order not know how to manage the season to have its team ready for December?
It’s a question Joe’s pondering today after Tampa Bay Times Bucs beat writer Rick Stroud participated in a Q & A on the Falcons’ official website and said he thinks the Bucs looked gassed.
“Overall, the Bucs look like a tired football team and Freeman is pressing. It’s a bad recipe,” Stroud said.
Frankly, Joe sees no reason why the Bucs should be physically fatigued. NFL teams practiced far longer, harder and more physically not too many years ago and had no problem competing hard in December.
But the Bucs do appear to have lost their mental edge, led by No. 5 and others.
Is it flowering “weeds?” Is it motivational techniques? Is it character?
During the offseason, Greg Schiano needs to do some hard self-scouting to figure out why his team lost the key intangibles that lead to Ws.
December 27th, 2012 at 5:23 pm
When ZERO depth at most critical positions, its hard to get decent rotation goin, especially on the dline. One thing I hope Shiano learns, is Martin doesnt need to take every carry of every game. If Shiano’s not gonna use Blount, which I think is assinine, he needs to get a RB to spell martin on occasion. i doubt there’s a single team in the NFL who % of carries are so lopsided to a single back. I think the Philly game “killed” ’em, and Shiano needs to take some responsibility for it. We’ve been competitive, for the most part, that’s all I was really hoping to see this year. Bigger expectations next year!
December 27th, 2012 at 5:24 pm
and queue Miguel to blame the conditioning test…..
December 27th, 2012 at 5:28 pm
Seriously Joe, why not at least just reference Miguel, lol. you know damn well what’s going to happen. He’s been waiting for this like Thomas 2.2 waited for a bad game from GMC.
December 27th, 2012 at 5:46 pm
Is it fatigue or a collective act of dejection because they know they threw away their season with the Philidelphia loss. Translation ; after Sunday, a lot of them along with some of their coaches will be looking for new jobs.
December 27th, 2012 at 5:48 pm
We lost the Philly game because The Moron only ran the play clock to about 10 seconds more than once on our final possession….and the scored with how many seconds left?
They should all be tired…of The Moron
December 27th, 2012 at 5:49 pm
This doesn’t appear to be the case as last week the defense came to play.
December 27th, 2012 at 5:53 pm
I love football, but in this case I’m glad this season is over. In the off-season, need to re-think some things, need to re-new some things. I’ve said it for the last 4 years and no need to stop now – “things will be better next year”!
December 27th, 2012 at 5:57 pm
Our players are “tired”, no doubt about it.
We need to assemble 53 strong components. We have too many weak links:
Trueblood
Quincy Black
Reejus Benn
Danny Gorrer
LeQuan Lewis
EJ Biggers
Myron Lewis
We need to pull the trigger on 2 FA CB’s, and still possibly draft one in the 1st round (depending on BPA).
December 27th, 2012 at 5:58 pm
Very strange where the disconnect came and the losses started to accumulate.
December 27th, 2012 at 6:05 pm
Though, Gerald McCoy has played the most snaps of any DT in the league this year(40 more than the next guy), Bennett is the 6th most of DEs, Lavonte David has played the 4th most of all OLBs, and Ronde and Barron are tied for 7th at safety.
If you want to talk about being tired, these are the guys that should be and none of them appear to be playing as such.
These numbers raise a lost of questions of depth at these positions. There doesn’t seem to be any if these guys can’t get a break once in a while.
December 27th, 2012 at 6:18 pm
@HAND,
They would all probably be first in the league, had not our defense given up long play after long play. We have given up 4 – 80 yard passes this year!!! Four!!!!
December 27th, 2012 at 6:20 pm
Horse sheet…..
December 27th, 2012 at 6:20 pm
Schiano is used to coaching an eleven game season, plus the weedeater classic bowl game before Christmas.
Understandable that this could happen.
December 27th, 2012 at 6:34 pm
I’m disappointed with your reading comprehensive skills.
The gauntlets have zero to do overall fitness. The problem with the gauntlets is the initial losses they had from the failures, players taking adderall, the loss of practice time, players practicing at half speed during camps, good players deciding to play for other teams, the inability to sign players off the street, and practice them or play them on Sunday.
I also believe the Little General lost all credibility in the locker room by trading the popular Brian Price after crippling him and cutting Briscoe with out compensation. Players talk and agents talk as well.
Since Bowers came back, I believe they they got rid of the gauntlets for this year, so they haven’t been a factor at all lately. My complaint was that they were creating a problem for themselves that was unnecessary only to promote how butch the coach was.
Running the dreaded and unnecessary sprints in July has very little to do with being mentally exasperated and physically exhausted in late December.
December 27th, 2012 at 7:23 pm
When you lose 5 in a row. Everyone looks tired even us watching it on the couch
December 27th, 2012 at 7:38 pm
They’re “tired” alright. Like Ronde…I wanted to retire after the loss to Philly. That one stung more than most….probably as bad as Indy in ’03 or the ’05 playoff loss to the Redskins.
December 27th, 2012 at 7:47 pm
With the pansy arse training schedule the NFL allows how can any team be tired? That’s just ridiculous. This team still has a few quitters and once Schiano weeds these leftovers from Raheem everything will be fine.
December 27th, 2012 at 8:25 pm
I think we have a large number of tired fans, including myself. The collapse two years in a row has been exhausting. Still….the end of this season is upon us. Time to play as many guys on the bubble as possible to see if they are solid professional material or guys to show the door. That is my hope….good judgment, good draft, good moves in FA. Who wins on Sunday? The question is whether or not the Falcons play enough starters to make this look like a regular season game rather than the traditional preseason last game? I’m tired. Thank goodness we have multiple professional sports. I’m ready for Baseball and a great new year for the Rays. Hope springs eternal. How many days until the NFL draft?
December 27th, 2012 at 8:33 pm
It’s not to hard to figure out what this team has lost from the beginning of the season. If you are honest with yourself anyways. Just think about it.
The Defense? Nope, they have been consistantly bad all year. In my opinion they’ve gotten a little better as the season went on.
The coaching? I haven’t seen a lot of mistakes lately they weren’t making at the beginning of the season.
The play calling? The play calling has been randomly sporadic all year.
The run game? Martin has slowed down towards the end of the season but he hasent changed all that much either.
The O-line? Not even close, this group has played there hearts out for this team, despite only having 1 remaining starter left.
The only major thing that has changed is the fact Freeman is now playing horrible the whole game instead of just the first half. I know I’m going to get bashed for this but it’s the truth whether you want to admit it or not.
I dont see a team that is tired or has given up. I just see a frustrated team. Last years team looked like a team that gave up.
December 27th, 2012 at 9:18 pm
@Silencethecritics
You summed it up. You also have to wonder if the lack of confidence the team has in Freeman causes players to pack it in.
December 27th, 2012 at 9:42 pm
At this point in time, what’s left to say. Every excuse has been used and abused, recycled and regurgitated, it is what it is. This season could have been much worse and next should be better. I hope they win Sunday but I’m tired of hearing the real reason when there’s about a thousand.
December 27th, 2012 at 9:46 pm
I do believe…. It’s gonna be another terribly long offseason with no hockey and the draft months away.
December 27th, 2012 at 10:10 pm
I’m a tired season ticket holder!
December 27th, 2012 at 10:52 pm
Today’s game is mentally exhausting. Whether it’s losing the close one or the blowouts like NO.
December 28th, 2012 at 12:03 am
What the doctor ordered for the offseason: DRC- CB, Sean Smith CB, cut Eric Wright, and attempt to resign him for peanuts with incentives. DE Osi Umenyoura, and another top FA at either: LB, FS and/or RT.
We need some depth. Our Guards are our cash cows, we need to put solid Skills at RT, what has happened to Demar Dotson.
If we can have another 2-3 FA’s come in and full needs, them we can work the draft and truly improve.
I and all for giving Freeman another year, but bring me a 2-3rd round QB. We need to let Josh understand he needs to either step up and put up 4 good quarters of football.
What frustrates the ever loving crap out of me is why Josh isnt seeing a sport’s shrink. He had freakish physical ability, but lacks the ability to think clearly and dissect the play. Is Josh going to get any smarter?
Secondly, is Freeman going to improve on touch and accuracy? He can wow you with the big throws, but e stinks at placing the short ones allowing the receivers to maximize YAC.
December 28th, 2012 at 3:11 am
@SteveK,
I would be thrilled with Sean Smith. I’m glad someone else sees his talent. He is my top choice of any available free agent, at any position. I wouldn’t complain about Osi either, but I’m afraid he may be a bit washed up.
I also like your idea of bringing in a second or third round QB. The one guy I would keep an eye on is Tyler Bray from Tennessee. He’s got a huge arm like Freeman, and can make all the throws. Seems to me if Freeman were benched/injured, the offense wouldn’t have to change much, which is a good thing. Unfortunately, he’s got a lot of Freeman’s bad characteristics too, like he often times becomes a turnover machine. But his talent is out the roof, and depending on how he does on his workouts etc., he just may be available. He’s got enough potential that he just may be worth the risk.
December 28th, 2012 at 6:46 am
Seems if we indeed get any QB at all it would need to be one with accuracy being his strong suit.
December 28th, 2012 at 8:26 am
It would be nice if san jose state’s David Fales decides to declare for the draft. 6’3 220, setting records and has the highest completion percentage in the nation. Watching him yesterday was fun. He could be a 2nd or 3rd rounder in this draft, but he’s leaning towards staying for his senior year.
December 28th, 2012 at 8:53 am
Still can’t believe the 80 td down the middle to the TE that Freeman gave up….why didn’t he cover that guy……lol
December 28th, 2012 at 10:49 am
@Hawaiian
Im a Gator fan so I’ve seen Bray play a few times and you are absolutely right when you say he’s alot like Josh. The Gator vs Vols game this year is a perfect example of that. The game was close until late when the Gators started to pull away and Ty got that same deer in the head lights look that Josh gets. To me it seemed like he had just lost all confidence and gave up. I knew the game was over just by the look on his face alone.
I’ll just throw something else out there just to get some opinions on it. Freemans replacement at Kansas State is pretty darn good and was a heisman finalist though I’ve read reports he wont play QB at this level. Big guy who can run with the best of them. Projected to be a mid round pick. Wonder if Dom and Co. are giving him any consideration.
December 28th, 2012 at 11:32 pm
What Freeman’s crap play has to do with the defense giving up an 80 yrd TD ill never know. 6 straight times the defense gave the offense the ball? 0 points??? Yea…
lol
December 29th, 2012 at 3:14 am
don’t be like that, prbf.
the offense isn’t all take, take, take. they gave the ball right back to the defense too.
December 29th, 2012 at 11:01 pm
lolol unfortunately so