Pressure Kept Coming
December 10th, 2012Perhaps the primary reason Greg Schiano gave as to why he set up a punt with a 3rd-and-8 run late in the fourth quarter was that he was confident the Bucs would get pressure on Eagles QB Nick Foles, with the rookie in a scenario with no timeouts and feeling the heat to score a touchdown or lose the game.
Well, the pressure came, but Foles still feasted on the Bucs secondary, the one Ronde Barber said isn’t good enough.
Via Philly.com, an Eagles offensive lineman acknowledged that his linemates couldn’t slow down the Bucs’ rush.
“The offensive line didn’t help him out early in the game, and throughout the game, with the pressure, but he never got upset, never changed his composure. He stayed focused,” rookie right tackle Dennis Kelly said. “It was kind of one of those things like, if he can do it, we can do it.”
The Bucs finished with six sacks, including two for Gerald McCoy and Michael Bennett. That’s SIX! And they completely stopped the run. But the Bucs still lost the game, even without committing a turnover and despite a punishing performance by Doug Martin. That’s an extremely rare feat in the NFL. Apparently, it only happens when your quarterback is having an ugly day.
December 10th, 2012 at 10:52 am
Poised under pressure…the anti-Freeman! Hopefully, being completely out played by a rookie starting his 4th game without his three best weapons, in DeSean, Shady, and Celek, will light a fire under Freeman, and/or get the Buc brass to realize, we need some legitimate competition at QB.
December 10th, 2012 at 10:59 am
Schiano chose to give the ball back to his opponent when he had the worse pass defense in the league (or close to it). So he ran the ball straight at 8 defenders using 5 lineman (or there abouts). He got what he deserved.
December 10th, 2012 at 11:11 am
AtlBucsFan – I think you mean the worst pass defense in the history of the NFL.
December 10th, 2012 at 11:13 am
I was defending Freeman last week because of overall statistics and based on the fact the Denver D is just that good… but yesterday was very Dilferesque. Almost DeBergian in that “he played just good enough to get you beat”.
December 10th, 2012 at 11:14 am
I know there were other factors at play such as our pitiful secondary but I place this one squarely on the shoulders of Freeman. Aside from his uber cool block for Doug Martin in I think the third quarter he pretty much sucked for the day. And don’t say well he didn’t turn the ball over because it was a miracle that he didn’t as the Eagles had him picked more than once but failed to pull it out.
I’m ready for Freeman to start using the word “I” instead of we when he is talking about what the team did wrong. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard him personally take the blame without including someone else. Real leaders “share” the victorious moments with others but realize and accept the fact that the buck stops here when things go wrong. Josh needs to wake up quickly. At this point he is not a franchise QB. His inconsistency is a blight upon this team.
And for the record I don’t hate Freeman. I think he has moment of excellence. But he goes completely “deer in the headlights” under pressure and that is when a top QB thrives and makes plays. Our makeshift OL has played admirably well protecting him. Who else is tired of the look on his face after ever incompletion?
December 10th, 2012 at 11:24 am
I look back to the last win at Carolina. Sorry about the pun, but HERO today GONE tomorrow! smh
December 10th, 2012 at 12:39 pm
We all know our talent level on D isn’t amazing but shouldn’t Sheridan take some of the blame here too?
He was hated in New York too…
December 10th, 2012 at 12:54 pm
Orrrrrrrr the bucs should not of GIVEN the ball back with 2:55 left on the clock……Shiano lost this game ..NOT. Freeman , he put 21 straight points on the board……lol there seems to be a different Joe showing up every day…
December 10th, 2012 at 1:04 pm
Yes freeman wasn’t that good, but he had us up 21-10 with 7 minutes to go. The loss is not on Freeman. Where was the defense? Giving up 2 TD’s in 7 minutes and we’re pinning the loss on Freeman?
December 10th, 2012 at 1:14 pm
When even committed fans such as myself hear a guy’s name for the first time during the game.. you know you’re digging beyond your team’s depth. Gorer? Did he recently come from some other team’s PS?
He had his chance for a classic Barber moment and he struck out. Barber is probably pissed because if he was in there that would have been him, taking that ball and heading back the other way.
December 10th, 2012 at 2:22 pm
You want to blame somebody? Blame Bill Sheridan and his horrible playcalling and defensive schemes. Either he rushes 3 or 4 or he rushes 7 or 8… isn’t there a happy medium? He wasn’t fired from the Giants because he did a great job, he got fired because he was horrible, the Giants knew it, everybody knew it, he’s a terrible DC and needs to be replaced sooner rather than later.
Ron Meeks should be available, Monte Kiffin would be a huge upgrade. This defense is set to shatter the all-time record for passing yards given up in a season. Why? The players aren’t great, but it’s the schemes and playcalling that really suck. Sheridan has to go.
Schiano’s ultra-conservative playcalling and decisions are also a huge culprit. His decisions alone have cost us several games. He might be able to whip a squad into shape and have them playing hard til the final whistle, but he sure doesn’t do his part and help them out by playing the percentages. This loss goes squarely on Sheridan and Schiano… who both coached today like another “SH” word that comes to mind.
December 10th, 2012 at 4:03 pm
This comment section quickly turned to Freeman when is was spotlighting the uncanny performance from the defensive line. Kudos to McCoy, I’ve never seen him be so disruptive in the opponent’s backfield. And Bryce Brown met a wall of Bucs every time he had the ball, great stuff from the front four -who are also beat up (analogous to the secondary) yet played great.
As Joe noted however, even with the defense punishing the Eagles (upfront), Josh and the offense were embarrassing to watch in the first half. QB’s came in absolutely TORCHING the Eagles D….142 QBR I believe? I was sitting on the couch with my hands in the air watching Freeman overthrow his receivers by a mile and the receivers watching the throws sail out of bounds.
Worst part of the game and colossal collapse is I’m a long time Bucs fan in the Philly area! Never going to hear the end of it.