The Value Of The Final Two Games
December 22nd, 2012
Look, the Bucs are out of the playoffs. Joe knows this comes as news to Bucs fans about as much as next Tuesday is Christmas.
There is a fair debate on the merits of the final two games of the season. Normally, in Joe’s mind, once a team can’t make the playoffs, it is actually beneficial to lose games rather than to win. The NFL is built on the draft and the better the draft position, the better odds of turning an NFL ship around.
But this year’s Bucs team is a bit different. This subject came up in an ESPN South chat recently.
CC (Atlanta)
You honestly think winning 2 meaningless games in late December will translate into momentum for the Bucs next Aug/Sept? That’s just silly. I expect more from you Pat. Too much egg nog?
Pat Yasinskas
Yes, I do. They’ve lost four in a row. If it turns into six, they go into the offseason with a really bad taste in their mouths. Might undo all the progress they made earlier this season.
Here’s the thing: As evidenced by a mole in the Bucs locker room to the creator, curator and overall guru of ProFootballTalk.com Mike Florio, there is a non-Buccaneer man still on the roster; likely more than one.
Bucs coach Greg Schiano is going to use the final two games to weed out the non-Buccaneer Men for what clearly will be a second round of player purging. So winning the final two games, in that respect, is important.
Those who don’t play hard will show up on tape. The eye in the sky doesn’t lie.
Coaches and players alike consider tanking games for a better draft position to be sheer heresy. Joe understands this, but there is no question five or six spots up the draft ladder is better.
This season though, Joe gets why the Bucs would want to win the next two games. Better proof of who is and who isn’t a Buccaneer Man.
December 22nd, 2012 at 7:48 pm
Tank this one and go for the Falcons game. They wont mind losing, its irrelevant.
December 22nd, 2012 at 8:05 pm
Of the players at positions of need, who might we miss out on if we win the last two games?
December 22nd, 2012 at 8:25 pm
What nice day said.
December 22nd, 2012 at 8:39 pm
Day:
Never know in the draft when a run at a position starts.
December 22nd, 2012 at 8:55 pm
Have A Nice Day, that is a good question. Sometimes if you are astute, those late first-round picks can be gems (Doug Martin). The guy the other clubs gnash teeth over for missing (Broderick Thomas, Keith McCants) can turn out to be busts.
December 22nd, 2012 at 9:40 pm
I can’t imagine a player hoping for a better pick in the draft. Imagine a 1st round pick at your position. Like LGB and Martin
As fans, we hope for a better pick.
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:21 pm
So in drafting…best CB’s 1 and 2 are Demarcus Milliner and Johnthan Banks. Milliner will be gone unless we trade up, but Banks won the Jim Thorpe award and I’d rather go with him if he falls to us. Then we could trade back into the first round for QB Aaron Murray (Im seeing he may or may not declare for the draft and some sites have him as declared). Then CB Xavier Rhodes in the 2nd and Safety DJ Swearinger in the 3rd if he’s still there.
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:23 pm
@ Joe
perfect article. I agree 100%.
December 22nd, 2012 at 10:34 pm
@ MadMaX
if you think we are going to draft a QB in the 1st or 2nd rounds then you really are clueless. anything from rounds 3 to 7 though is a possibility. just because you and some other fans have given up on Josh Freeman doesn’t mean Schiano has, and his opinion is the only one that really matters.
December 22nd, 2012 at 11:03 pm
Lol, I just have to laugh at people like you Andrew, and bucnjim or something like that, and your ilk. I must be striking a painful nerve with you guys (the truth hurts huh).
Do you have inside info on what Schiano and Dom are planning? Even if you did, what you’re saying doesnt matter to me. Im speaking my opinion about possible scenarios. Could be in the draft, could be in free agency, could be in a trade. Its too bad you feel the need to come at me like you guys are. But go for it, I just feel sorry for you. Also feel free to overlook my posts since Im so “clueless” to you..
December 22nd, 2012 at 11:38 pm
@MadMax
damn dude I was just busting balls. I knew that whole clueless thing would irate you because I read it in the earlier posts. lol. but Seriously we wont be drafting a QB in the earlier rounds. I would bet my life on it.
December 23rd, 2012 at 12:32 am
@Andrew, lol…yeah man, its all good. Bust balls. Im all for open dialogue about our situation. We’ll see more over the coming months. But I stand by our need for a new QB.
December 23rd, 2012 at 7:42 am
Really means nothing to lose the last 2, season died at new orleans….they didn’t even let barth kick so it wouldn’t be a shut out.
Carolina came on late last year and this year again but it means jack , playoffs or lose out for draft position.
December 23rd, 2012 at 8:09 am
Bucs better not waste a high round pick on a QB. We have bigger concerns at other positions……..
December 23rd, 2012 at 9:07 am
Madmax
That’s funny. On your first post you’re talking about CBs that may or may not be there… and after Milner, it is debatable who the #2 CB is. Then on your second post you ask if somebody else has inside info into what Schiano and Co. are thinking… it applies to you too, you know?
No chance in hell the Bucs will draft a QB… no shot.. period.
Here’s why: Josh Freeman is under contract through next season. Next season is make or break for him and his second year, and first full offseason, under the new offensive system. If he does extremely well and they’re convinced, they re-sign him to a big deal, if he does well or extremely well and they’re not convinced, they slap him with the franchise tag and tell him to do it again. If he just does okay, they still try to re-sign him and bring in competition. If he’s lousy, they let him walk. At no point in time do you use a high draft pick to replace another young high draft pick that hasn’t completely underperformed or injured. That’s bad business sense. Those draft picks are valuable resources and those resources can’t help your team if they’re doubled up at a position that can only have one see the field.
As for draft talk. I think a ton of what the Bucs do in the draft and free agency depends on who the Bucs bring in as defensive coordinator. Bill Sheridan has proven again that he will NEVER be a good DC. In 2009, in his one season as DC with the Giants, that team was historically bad (30th in NFL), just one season after the team was 3rd in the league. The following year, the Giants D rebounded to 13th under Fewell.
Considering Schiano was quoted in one of his first press conferences that he is a “4-3 defensive fundalmentalist”, and the team has been built for the 4-3, it’s safe to assume that whomever takes over (that is if Schiano truly believes in TBA, trust, belief, accountability, and fires Sheridan), will be running the 4-3. Considering what Schiano has said about the T-2, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he took a swing at some of the better available DCs that run the T-2 (rRon Meeks, Rod Marinelli, Monte Kiffin), or perhaps goes a slightly different route with a DC (McDermott, Rivera, or promotes from within-LB coach Bill Fraser). Regardless, the Bucs DBs aren’t nearly as bad as they’ve looked, as like it was when Sheridan was with the Giants, a simple change in the DC will make all the difference in the world in how the defense plays and looks.
December 23rd, 2012 at 10:23 am
Brandon, A good post up until “bucs DB’s aren’t as bad as they’ve looked” come on man we give up how many yard thru the air every game? 300+ So if the DB’s aren’t as bad as they’ve looked, who exactly is getting beat in the passing game? The LB, DL? I agree we might get a new Defensive coach. I bet when we do he will want to have totally new DB’s even those who’ve not looked as bad as they have played. If our DB’S could have made a few stops late in games we would not have as bad of a record as ours looks like.
December 23rd, 2012 at 10:39 am
@Brandon,
YOU, ME, JOE, AND EVERYONE ELSE DON’T HAVE A CLUE WHOM WE WILL DRAFT.
WE COULD TAKE A QB WITH EACH PICK, AND HOPE JUST ONE CAN MAKE A 5 YARD DUMP OFF WKTH SOME TOUCH, *CONSISTENTLY*.
I LAUGH OUT LOUD AT YOUR ABSOLUTE KNOW-HOW FOR BUCS DRAFT DECISONS.
COME ON MAN?
December 23rd, 2012 at 10:41 am
While there is a great deal of value to the last two games, the value isn’t in winning them. I agree that the value is in rooting out the remaining “quitters”. I am pretty optimistic about next year. The offense has some real talent at the skill positions. The O- line looks dominant. Penn, Nicks, and Joseph are Pro bowl Caliber.Dotson is shining at RT. Zuttah is a good guard, and a great center. I think Freeman will be better with a second year in the system. Good enough? Next year will tell. But his body of work isn’t horrible. A few games have been. He’s been in too many systems to throw in the towel just yet. Next year is the one.
Defense has real bright spots. McCoy is devastating.clayborne, Bowers , and Bennett will be spectacular in time. Foster and David are great!
Both areas need Depth. And a nose tackle. And a Strong side LBer.
The secondary is a mess. And I’m not sold on Barron. Great in run stopping, struggles badly in coverage. We have a couple CBs, who will be great backups. We have no one who is a starter.
But to turn the corner- gotta get rid of remaining “quitters”. Talib was a great start, but still more to deposit curbside, before this team really jells!
December 23rd, 2012 at 11:01 am
fricken hilarious people here….Freeman will be here another 8 yrs minimum…thankfully..
December 23rd, 2012 at 11:43 am
I sure Hope Josh has a good game. Im so over hearing about how we need to have a new QB. Even thought this is probably the best offense the Bucs has ever had. He will be here next year. And if i had to take a guess many years after that. So lets just move on and focus on the position thats cost us more games than any this year. The CB position. If we had decent CBs im sure we would be in the playoffs right now. Or at least in the race.
December 23rd, 2012 at 12:53 pm
@brandon, the difference is I never said “Schiano” is or isnt going to do this or that. I gave my opinion w/o saying the “team” or “staff” has this opinion. Could you really not see the difference? Wow!
December 23rd, 2012 at 1:08 pm
I say we should start a weed speculation list, this may add meaning to these two “meaningless” games. At least for us Buc fans.
December 23rd, 2012 at 1:12 pm
@tim
Well said
December 23rd, 2012 at 3:57 pm
Weeds- Quincy Black, Eric Wright, E J Biggers, “Evil Connor” Barth.
Ok, I’m joking about Barth! Just made me laugh to think about a kicker as an “evil instigator”.