No Going For The Jugular
September 8th, 2013
Last year, Greg Schiano set up his Buccaneers for a late-fourth-quarter punt against the Eagles. Why? Because rather than put the game in the hands of Josh Freeman and Vincent Jackson, for example, Schiano preferred to let his porous secondary match up against rookie Nick Foles.
The Bucs lost.
Today, the Bucs got a huge third-down play from Vincent Jackson. With 1:06 remaining against the Jets, the Bucs had momentum and a first down at the Jets’ 26 yard line trailing 15-14.
Did Greg Schiano go for the jugular? Did he go back to one of his elite receivers for a shot in the end zone to put away the game? Did he throw for another first down to get in position to tick the clock down to nothing for a final field goal?
Nope.
Schiano ran three times, played it safe, and Rian Lindell kicked a 37-yard field goal to give the Bucs the lead with :34 seconds remaining.
Jets win.
Joe knows fans can second guess Schiano all day long. There’s no right answer. But Schiano does trend very conservative, and he doesn’t seem to trust his offense. Today it didn’t work.
September 8th, 2013 at 5:49 pm
When the game was on the line, Freeman delivered a game winning drive.
Just like last year, we needed the defense to provide one stop – and they did not.
September 8th, 2013 at 5:50 pm
Really? They had the lead with 34 seconds left and your questioning it? What in your mind makes you think Freeman with all of his accuracy and good decision would have possibly gone wrong with him taking a shot? You’re awful
September 8th, 2013 at 5:50 pm
Would you trust Freeman to make the throw in that situation? I sure as hell wouldn’t.
September 8th, 2013 at 5:51 pm
I m pissed just not sure at who… There is LVD, JF5, Doug Martin, Sullivans play-calling, ogletree’s stone hands, atrocious officiating? but the winner is O-Line
No running lanes or time to throw! Penn looks like he is still pissed that Eric wright got traded and is showing no desire to protect JF5.. We need and I can’t believe I am saying this, Erik Lorgic back as our full back and also Carl Nicks
September 8th, 2013 at 5:52 pm
This article above all else is the reason why we lost this game. YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME! Finished them! I was screaming this is a time to take a shot and go for a first down or a touchdown. The game would have been over! Never leave the hands of the game to ANY defense when you have a chance to win with your offense. It’s common sense!
September 8th, 2013 at 5:52 pm
I agree.
September 8th, 2013 at 5:52 pm
we are too passive on offense. This is why Rutgers didn’t do much. Passive play calling….
September 8th, 2013 at 5:53 pm
Freeman was shaky behind a porous OL yet gave us a go-ahead FG when it mattered.
Lavonte was a beast all game long, yet blew it for us when the game was on the line.
The Jets went 50 yards in 32 seconds with no timeouts.
Same Bucs defensive MO as last year.
September 8th, 2013 at 5:54 pm
Ambush buc he already drove us down the field! If he doesn’t trust him to get ONE FIRST DOWN! Then Freeman need to be benched now! Schiano has to give his offense a chance to win the game. One throw deep to Williams or Jackson and with the way they were playing, mostikely t would have been a first down.
September 8th, 2013 at 5:54 pm
I can’t fault Schiano for kicking the field goal instead of risking a JF pass….come on Joe!!! You are gonna go to the well again with Freeman?
What would be the mindset….”oh, we’ve got thirty seconds left in the game and they have no time outs….lets go for a touchdown just in case they are able to capitalize on a penalty.
THe problem is the defensive gameplan at the end of the game.LJ knocking down a pass instead of making a tackle eating clock…..giving the rookie a ton of time to find a couple of recievers…and let him burn us on a run again….
the same thing happend to us with Washington last year……
Go for the jugular earlier in the game….the constant running Martin up the middle lost us the game.
September 8th, 2013 at 5:54 pm
I’m sorry. I can fault turning the game over to your revamped secondary with a 2 point lead, no timeouts, against a rookie QB, who had no running game.
This loss lies squarely on Lavonte David and Sheridan who doesn’t know how to call a game. Did you see Marty Morniwhig today? He started slow made adjustments and Geno Smith came on at the end. None of that from our asshat OC.
September 8th, 2013 at 5:54 pm
Schiano needs to remember that the NFL hates him and the Bucs, especially when he plays NY teams. The Bucs need a margin in the final few minutes that even a bullcrap penalty can’t make up for.
September 8th, 2013 at 5:56 pm
As soon as we got that first down I said “throw it in the end zone right now”…speaking of which…remember last year when Vincent Jackson got run down by somebody he shouldn’t have been run down by and we lost the game? So GD frustrating.
September 8th, 2013 at 5:57 pm
Thank you, Joe. Thank you. Playing not to win bit Schiano again.
September 8th, 2013 at 5:57 pm
The defense gave the offense starting field position at the 5 and 45 and it resulted in 2 scores. The defensive can’t score points as easily as the offense. This one is on the offense and the playcalling.
September 8th, 2013 at 5:58 pm
Look Joe is right on this one. We lost because we played right into the Jets hands. How many felt disgusted on the John Lynch saying how the jets would right there own script. As if the Bucs just called this an instant win. Well im sorry John you of all people should know the Bucs did not just hand the game to the Jets they prepared just as all the other 32 teams did. But hey I understand its easy to say that when the game is close. Bucs its time to take the gloves off and play Bucs ball. Penn your reaction on the sideline was childish when you have should me nothing. I could have blocked better then you did. Point is at the end of the day no lie the Bucs have a lot of talent but its important to stop pointing the finger and just look at each individual self in the mirror. Re-evaluate yourself, and be ready to show up next Sunday!
September 8th, 2013 at 6:00 pm
Buc1987 and BucNjunky,
Please, for the love of God, you guys are tailgating next week together. Don’t JUMP!
September 8th, 2013 at 6:03 pm
I think Mike Zimmer could be available…..
September 8th, 2013 at 6:04 pm
Yep, called it before it happened told my nine yr. old “yes, but they’ll run up the middle three times and kick a field goal.”
September 8th, 2013 at 6:04 pm
We played down to their level. MW19 want a factor. Martin wasnt a factor. But theres such thing in the NFL called MOMENTUM, and VJs 3rd down play gave us EVERY BIT OF MOMENTUM at that point in the game…..
Then Schiano decides to go soft?? Not even a play action roll out option??
I’m suprised to say it, but today, SCHIANO was SOFT. And its a power-pyramid.. Sh!t flows downhill, money goes up.. A few guys like Goldson, AC, Foster, AND David were money… but they couldnt overcome that much sh!t.
September 8th, 2013 at 6:04 pm
Game winning drive? Crap I turned the radio off two seconds early. Bucs win!!
September 8th, 2013 at 6:05 pm
I don’t blame him at all! Who can trust Freeman??
September 8th, 2013 at 6:05 pm
I dont 2nd guess that last drive at all. It was one of the few drives that made sense. And it would of worked out perfectly if it werent for that penalty by LVD. But i dont blame LVD. This is a loss on coaching and the offense. Defense did all we could of expected of them up until that last penalty.
September 8th, 2013 at 6:06 pm
Some real douche bags on this site.
September 8th, 2013 at 6:09 pm
some real ass kissers to
September 8th, 2013 at 6:12 pm
That’s what bad coached do. He allowed a rookie QB outplay his QB just because he wants to be safe and continue to run the ball for one yard even when the NYJ were daring us the Bucs to throw not to mention not allowing his offence to put the other team away for good.
September 8th, 2013 at 6:16 pm
What a way to loose a game. I feel bad for Lavonte David but he’s the kind of player who will rebound. I liked the play of Revis and hopefully the coaching staff learns something from this game. Win or lose, I still stand by my Bucs.
Next team up, time to focus on the Saints!
September 8th, 2013 at 6:22 pm
Once again, without a working headset, JFro proved he is absolutely an incompetent buffoon.
September 8th, 2013 at 6:23 pm
Anyone seen Buc87 or Buc Junky?
September 8th, 2013 at 6:29 pm
Seems like last year to me except we have a tougher schedule. Freeman plays bad but gives us the lead to win the game and the defense loses the game. Schiano I’m looking at you.
September 8th, 2013 at 6:37 pm
Amazing some “fans” seem to be taking delight in this loss as it gives them opportunity to rub it in to other fans of the same team to say “I was right, we suck”… Think I’d rather be wrong.
Since you’ve been most vocal about it… lightningbuc, bring it on. I’m here. I’m not jumping off any bridges, and I’m not reveling in our team’s loss either. I also still think Josh Freeman is this team’s best option to win this year…
September 8th, 2013 at 6:38 pm
Also, Freeman didn’t ‘drive us down the field’, he made one pass to VJ and he made a play. That was the extent of the ‘drive’. A ten yard completion that our stud WR turned into a monster gain. Can’t imagine what a halfway talented QB would do with those weapons….hopefully we will find out soon. Just completely over that ‘I have no idea what is going on’ look. OVER IT!!!!
September 8th, 2013 at 6:48 pm
Bunch of douch bags on this site , for sure
Agreed Joe, just go for the jugular … free threw a buch of lasers on a rope today, play calling very predictable
September 8th, 2013 at 6:55 pm
The offense is so vanilla it makes Mike Shula’s old offense look complex. They run it on 1st down right into the teeth of the defense for either zero yards or a loss. Second down thery run it or there is a sack, throw away, penalty. Third down is a must pass situation that usually results in an errant throw, sack, sack/fumble, completion with an offensive penalty. Fourth down punt it and hope they stop oppossing offense in order to give it back to your pathetic offense. Rinse and repeat people.
September 8th, 2013 at 6:58 pm
I wonder what a Carson Palmer or Alex Smith would have done with this offense and these weapons. I still don’t understand having NO tight ends in an NFL where TE is becoming a real weapon but this is Dominik’s dumb fuck idea of a roster.
September 8th, 2013 at 6:58 pm
I have a problem with so much as far as the coaching goes today. In my non-expert opinion, the coaching would have had to be better to be awful. Worse than Raheem Morris on his worst day. However, I don’t have a problem with us going for the FG in that situation. Make them burn their timeouts and have 30 seconds to go 50 yards with a rookie QB. If we throw an incompletion or two, you save them valuable time, as well as timeouts. You can say to throw a for sure completion, but I ask you this: is there such a thing with Josh Freeman? He was about 1-10 on screen passes today. He was incredibly inaccurate all day, which is pretty much the norm. We couldn’t pick up first downs with any regularity all day. What makes anyone think we could pick up another one? There comes a point where you are going to have to stop someone on defense to win a game. We weren’t facing Drew Brees today. If we were playing the Saints, I would like to hope the playcalling may have been different.
September 8th, 2013 at 7:00 pm
I wonder what a Carson Palmer or Alex Smith would have done with this offense and these weapons. I still don’t understand having NO tight ends in an NFL where TE is becoming a real weapon but this is Dominik’s dumb idea of a roster.
September 8th, 2013 at 7:04 pm
@Raphael,
I really appreciate your loyalty towards Freeman. I know you take a lot of heat for that, much of which is undeserved. However, with all due respect, I must ask: what the hell game were you watching? Threw a bunch of lasers on a rope? He had 15 completions!!!! He had a couple nice throws, but so does every NFL Qb. Geno Smith threw a couple lasers too. I’ve seen Mark Sanchez throw lasers. He threw a TERRIBLE interception. He threw over people’s heads. He threw a bounce pass to Vincent Jackson on a free play. He missed on screen pass after screen pass. He was awful today, minus a few throws. You can’t just say he played well because he made a couple good throws. They all do that. He did not make one throw today that every other QB in the league can and does make. I challenge you to tell me one.
It’s great you support Freeman, and I also believe he will get better. But stop embarrassing yourself by trying to defend him on an obvious poor game. You can’t have any credibility by doing that. He played bad, hopefully he’ll get better, period. Enough already.
September 8th, 2013 at 7:05 pm
I agree. I could see doing that if the Jets were out of timeouts, but I would have liked to see a shot in the end zone or a pass to force the Jets to use up their time outs.
The other thing where the coaching failed was adjusting. The Jets keyed on the run to force Freeman & the Wrs to beat them. OK, fine open things up & give Freeman that chance. His throws down the field were accurate today. I have read that by some that Sullie doesn’t trust Freeman but you don’t know what you have until you let it rip.
September 8th, 2013 at 7:15 pm
Adam – probably run Martin into the same brick wall and thrown to the same two (does 2 count for ALL these weapons?) guys while ducking and scrambling for their lives under the same pressure.
September 8th, 2013 at 7:21 pm
Thing is, Freeman makes dangerous throws at any second. I could understand Schiano’s decision to stick with the ground attack.
To be honest, Freeman got lucky. He stared down and locked onto Vincent Jackson the entire game for the most part and on that 3rd and long, the Jets forgot to cover him lol.
September 8th, 2013 at 7:22 pm
@Hawaiian Buc
Raphael is a troll. He’s not going to respond to your comment.
September 8th, 2013 at 7:23 pm
We played great defensively. The only reason we scored two TDs is because of the Foster Forced Fumble and 3 and out setting up field possession at the Jets 40. Other than that, we were horrendous. Even after the David pick, Freeman answers with an even worse INT.
Even if David doesn’t make that dumb mistake, we still were NOT the better team on the field today.
September 8th, 2013 at 7:27 pm
Raphael Says:
September 8th, 2013 at 6:48 pm
Bunch of douch bags on this site , for sure
Agreed Joe, just go for the jugular … free threw a buch of lasers on a rope today, play calling very predictable
_____________________________________________________
Is the team in a bit of dissaray? Yes. The coaching staff was ill prepared, questioable play calling.
However, you cannot tell me, Freeman was any good. Every time he dropped back, his eyes were locked on his first target and never came off. Sure the oline didn’t do a great job, but you just see it where if the first read isn’t there Free hesitates and holds the ball rather than moving to the other side of the field for the 2nd or 3rd option.
September 8th, 2013 at 7:47 pm
Heartbreaking loss but u gotta suck it up nxt gsme
September 8th, 2013 at 8:46 pm
You would have to be an absolute idiot to question the field goal at the end. You don’t NEED a touchdown, you only need a field goal. You do exactly what Schiano did, you run the ball, force the Jets to use all of their timeouts and then you kick the game winning field goal. You have a kicker who has been kicking the ball out of the endzone all day long so you like your odds giving the Jets 80 yards to go with 38 seconds left and no time outs. No sane NFL coach would have played it any differently. To even write an article like this shows a complete lack of football IQ. You NEVER put the ball in the air when you don’t have to. 3 things can happen and 2 of them are bad. Freeman can get sacked. Freeman can throw a pick, or the receiver tips the ball for a pick. NO!!!!! You do just what Schiano did. It’s not conservative, it’s smart and the right thing to do. I guarantee that you will hear no one who has coached or played the game question that field goal at the end. That was the quintessential ‘NO BRAINER’.
September 8th, 2013 at 8:59 pm
^ Agreed. Especially against a rookie QB with no offensive weapons and no timeouts, playing against a defense with a completely revamped secondary that is promoted as a “No Fly Zone”. There isn’t one coach in the NFL that would have done anything differently (with our personnel). Not sure if anyone has noticed, but our offense is completely predicated on allowing lots of time for receivers to get open. Bad bad things can happen.
September 8th, 2013 at 10:05 pm
^^I agree as well. It was the right call. If you don’t have faith in your defense to stop a rookie QB in 38 seconds with no timeouts then you have some serious issues with your team.
September 8th, 2013 at 11:11 pm
Joe, Seriously? Josh Freeman missed 2 screens , overthrew VJ by 15yds for a INT, and allowed himself to get sacked holding the ball forever and a day, and on multiple drives the offense was very successful only at moving backwards. I will admit that the call drove me nuts, but would you trust the offense that was out there today? I certainly wouldn’t. Say what you want about the penalties, I LOVED the intensity and the hitting I saw from the Defense today. They certainly need to clean up the laundry for the other mental errors, but it was refreshing to see that kind of fire on that side of the ball, or on the team period.