“Don’t Be An Idiot!”
October 23rd, 2013
Joe is simply amazed at the deep hatred Bucs fans have leveled on Bucs commander Greg Schiano. The tide seemed to turn on Schiano when the saga of defrocked franchise quarterback and leaker Josh Freeman was tossed out of town.
(Notice how the drama with the Bucs has subsided now that Freeman is no longer employed by the Bucs? Hhhmmm? Funny how that works.)
One would think with how horrid Freeman played against the porous Giants defense Monday night, a historically rotten performance, that perhaps Schiano has an idea what he is doing, no?
No, is what the one and only Chris “Mad Dog” Russo would say. During his weekly segment with theMMQB’s Peter King Tuesday, heard exclusively on SiriusXM Radio, Russo, who hosts the show that bears his name, “Mad Dog Unleashed,” engaged in a memorable rant about Schiano’s kneel-down defense, which keeps rearing its ugly head.
Chris “Mad Dog” Russo: You know, Schiano, the old college try, the team is trying to be competitive. But do I need to see him do this stupid thing with this crashing into the line of scrimmage as he did on Sunday in Atlanta? Do I need to see this again? I mean, Greg, stop with the rah-rah college garbage, please. The game is over. You had the ball for 9,000 minutes in the fourth quarter and all you could get was two field goals. And he’s crashing the line of scrimmage there at the end against the Falcons, which he has done in the past, last year at the Giants. He didn’t learn his lesson. What is your take on that?
Peter King: I am not a fan of it. At all. Because I think that, ah, there is enough problems in the NFL today with guys getting hurt on plays that really count and plays that matter. You are just making guys play more plays. I don’t agree with it. It is clear by now that he is going to keep doing this. You know, it’s not going to change so if you have a team [that is playing the Bucs] you are going to have to…
Russo: Doesn’t he realize…
King: … prepare for it. I’m not a fan of it.
Russo: Doesn’t he realize that he is ostracizing fans, media, some players and some coaches by doing this kind of stuff?
King: He will always go back to that one time at Rutgers where it helped him win a game.
Russo: Aw, stop! Come, on! He’s not going to win a game on that, Pete! C’mon, Greg! Don’t be an idiot!
King: I am not saying that he will. I don’t agree with it. I do think you create more enmity in the very one-in-a-thousand chance that you are making a play that you are going to work. I don’t buy it either.
Now Joe spoke to Russo last year at Super Bowl media day and Russo likes Schiano. Russo, though, clearly doesn’t like the Schiano kneel-down. Clearly.
This is yet another of the strange contradictions that Schiano has. Schiano is a big time promoter of health among football players. Just yesterday he expressed concern over how smart it may be to play Thursday games because of the health of players and injury prevention. Schiano has even campaigned to have kickoffs eliminated from football as he believes it’s too easy for players to get hurt on kickoffs.
Yet on a play which is prone to get guys hurt, Schiano is in favor of it time and again and staunchly defends said play. Joe doesn’t get it.
This is one of those mysteries about Schiano that Joe can’t solve, just like how he is a disciplinarian yet his team plays so undisciplined with rashes of penalties and dumb errors seemingly each week.
October 23rd, 2013 at 12:42 pm
making them play more plays? thats an argument? there is time left play 60 mins.
October 23rd, 2013 at 12:44 pm
Bucs didn’t even rush the kneel down Sunday so I have no idea what they are talking about.
October 23rd, 2013 at 12:44 pm
if players get hurt on that play,its on them!! pay attention until 00:00:00 !!!
October 23rd, 2013 at 12:47 pm
I dont have a problem with it. its a long shot but it still gives you a chance to win. Im not a Schiano hater, but if he doesn’t start winning soon his time here will be up.
October 23rd, 2013 at 12:50 pm
How about Butch Davis being a “Buccaneer Man” thanks to a job title loophole that helps Davis rip off a state university?
October 23rd, 2013 at 12:51 pm
Unless this team makes a miraculous turnaround. Schiano is done and hopefully an innovative offensive minded coach will step in and change the direction of the team
October 23rd, 2013 at 12:53 pm
I, too, don’t have a problem with it.
I don’t dislike Schiano, but, this is a results based business, and there’s three people who carry the weight: QB, GM, and coach. One already got the hook (for good reason). The other 2 will feel it if the wins don’t start.
I’m laughing at Joe still defending Dominick. It’s comical.
October 23rd, 2013 at 12:56 pm
It’s funny how in this entire rant no one stopped to check if he actually did do the victory formation attack. I was very surprised to see them NOT do it…considering they were only down by a score. Matt Ryan took the snap from the Shotgun position expecting it but the Bucs did not attempt to rush him.
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:00 pm
I can’t think of any instance where one single play has done more to defile a coaches career.
But it has.
And it is over.
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:01 pm
When was this tactic employed in the Atlanta game? I never saw it?
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:04 pm
Josh freeman has been benched in minnesota! hahahah he “has a cuncusion” from a mystery hit and they are starting ponder! freebow blows!
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:04 pm
“One would think with how horrid Freeman played against the porous Giants defense Monday night, a historically rotten performance, that perhaps Schiano has an idea what he is doing, no?”
Simply put: No. The team is 0-6 with a talent-laden roster. Freeman has stunk up the joint in 4 weeks, while our coaching has stunk up the joint in 6 weeks. Freeman’s no longer in Tampa, so he shouldn’t be of concern. Besides that–if Freeman doesn’t turn things around–that would make exactly one good decision by Schiano in terms of getting rid of the players that Raheem was trying to build around. Talib is over in New England playing like a superstar and has recently shut down two of the most dangerous receivers in our conference and Blount is at least somewhat effective as part of a RB committee. On a smaller scale, Chris Jones–the rookie from Bowling Green that we cut–has racked up 3.5 sacks in 3 weeks. Meanwhile, Revis is being misused, lined up in zone coverage against the second or third best receiver on too many occasions, last week was the first time any RB besides Martin got meaningful snaps and our defensive line is running stupid stunts and haven’t gotten a sack in almost 3 games.
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:05 pm
This just proves these talking heads don’t watch the game.
THE BUCS DIDN’T RUSH THE KNEEL DOWN LAST SUNDAY!
Let’s not let facts get in the way of a good story.
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:06 pm
The Bucs did not attack the victory formation against the Falcons. Matt Ryan took the snap in the shotgun formation as did the Eagles the week before. Everybody knows Schiano’s signature offensive play by now and anticipate it!
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:13 pm
I guess I can understand why Joe would put this on your site, but I’m surprised he didn’t state that Russo was wrong about this past Sunday. Did you watch the game? Schiano stated a week or two ago he was going to listen to his players about what they thought about it – it’s entirely possible he listened to them. But that wouldn’t fit into the Schiano hatred narrative
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:16 pm
ya joe is falling in line with his buddy steve in the schiano hater club!
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:24 pm
I hate the kneeldown rush. Have some honor!
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:25 pm
Can Russo point out exactly where Tampa rushed the V formation last weekend?
Russo is a blowhard. Much like his ex-buddy Mike Francesa.
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:28 pm
you know what i don’t get, joe…?
i don’t understand why it’s perfectly fine for the offense to move the ball at the end of games when down by 24. can’t the same argument be used for player safety? hell they’re not even within a score most of the time!!! why are they even “playing” in the first place if we’re so concerned with their collective health? these men get paid handsomely.
why can’t the defense play to the last snap? i realize i will be one of the only people in the world to agree with schiano (albeit i have no clue why).
joe, you’re a smart guy… can’t you see the double standard? how come a league where the offense is absolutely catered to and can do whatever they want but the defense is constantly under investigation. i do not watch NFL football now because it’s really flag football… and all of you are evolving with it. disgraceful.
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:32 pm
I have no idea what game Russo, Peter King, or the Joes were watching. There was no attacking of the victory formation on Sunday.
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:34 pm
Joe, you can’t actually be serious with this statement. The drama has not stopped at One Buc Place. Between the MRSA, 0-6, Revis playing zone, 0-6, Schiano and Sheridan insulting the fans, 0-6, lying to the fans, ect…..oh did I forget to mention 0-6?
That said I don’t recall the Bucs rushing the victory formation. What I do recall is the Falcons and Eagles going in shotgun formation to counter that bull rush.
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:35 pm
honor? if its close i say go for it! if/when it works everyone will be ok with it! just like running up the score,if you dont like it, stop it!! they’re pros they can handle it.
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:38 pm
Bucfan13,
I don’t think he has a concussion. I bet he just has concussion like symptoms and the Vikings don’t know that that’s just Josh
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:40 pm
@ D-Rome
I think he meant the drama more so towards the Freeman situation than anything else.
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:46 pm
chef paul ya effects of something that starts with C but it’s not a concussion.
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:55 pm
why do some comments get deleted? like my commentary of duemeg spewing hate for 3 hours a day on 620wdae
October 23rd, 2013 at 1:59 pm
It’s easy journalism to pile on when you don’t have anything fresh to add to a conversation. I’m not a Schiano fan and think that he will be gone at the end of the year. However, I watched the whole “ugly” Falcons game and did not see a rush on the V-Formation. If the National Media is so outraged than why are they only picking on Schiano? I was in Boston a few weeks ago and watched Belecheck do the same thing to the Bengals yet no mention on ESPN or the NFL Network.
October 23rd, 2013 at 2:03 pm
Why in the hell is this even up?
When’s the last time we rushed a kneel down?
Not last week that’s for sure. I specifically looked for it.
The media is purely reaching for stuff to bitch about.
Highschool shiite.
October 23rd, 2013 at 2:05 pm
Is your name Doug?
October 23rd, 2013 at 2:05 pm
Arizona game.
October 23rd, 2013 at 2:05 pm
No attacking the victory formation on Sunday….I watched and figured that Schiano finally learned his lesson….so
Lets criticize Schiano (and there are plenty of areas) for legitimate reasons.
October 23rd, 2013 at 2:08 pm
I’ll defend the play. A winning team with the ball doesn’t get to decide when the game is over.
October 23rd, 2013 at 2:12 pm
no why?
October 23rd, 2013 at 2:13 pm
I like the play. I don’t under stand why everyone is so down on it. If the the roles were reversed and the defence went into a victory formation up by 7 with time left on the clock the opposing offense is not going to take a knee. They are going to run a play and score. So why should the defense be exspected to just give up because the offense want’s to take a knee with time left on the clock.
October 23rd, 2013 at 2:17 pm
Idiot indeed!! It’s idiotic to imply that Free was solely responsible for all the drama. The petulant butt wipe Schiano got what he wanted finally(free gone). Now coincidentally the crap has died down but the results remain the same. Glennon will be broke in half this thurs night and the nation will see just what a sorry excuse for a coach we have. I wonder how many half decent players we will have left either due to attrition or them getting caught smiling on the sideline.
October 23rd, 2013 at 2:20 pm
Of all the things to b!tch about with Schiano. People want to harp on the dumbest sh!t. Such as attacking the victory formation… Big freakin deal! Playing hard every snap is not such a bad thing. If you dont want an injury then run a regular play.
October 23rd, 2013 at 2:21 pm
The reason you don’t dive at your opponents knees during the victory formation, is the same reason why you don’t throw Hail Mary’s when you’re up by 30 points.
It’s called ethics.
Next time, instead of a shotgun victory kneel down, I would like to see a quick slant for a 15 yard touchdown pass.
October 23rd, 2013 at 2:23 pm
This has less risk than most other plays, so I don’t know what your point is, Joe. On a regular play there is more risk. It’s not like teams do not know it is coming anymore.
October 23rd, 2013 at 2:24 pm
Hey Let’s not Bring Doug into this just because, he made a valid point, that if Freeman lit it up the entire show would have been about cutting an awesome QB.
But, as usual when Big Dog knows he is not on solid ground he runs and hides behind the dump button.
October 23rd, 2013 at 2:33 pm
I’m so sick of listening to the bitching about this play. Quit being pu$$ies and play until time’s over. If we’re within a td then we should do whatever we can to win. AZ even did a shotgun snap kneel to eliminate the QB getting hurt. That’s fine, smart, and we’ll hopefully benefit from a bad snap in this scenario.
Move along, people. Nothing to see here anymore. Yawn.
October 23rd, 2013 at 2:41 pm
Possibly Russo is the idiot since the Buce DID NOT use the tactic Sunday! These national media types make me want to puke! If you’re going to report on something…do your research! I’m not a Schiano apologist by any means but damn, piling on just to pile on is lame!
October 23rd, 2013 at 2:44 pm
Yes let’s just let the offense dictate when the game is over and what the defense can and cannot do.
Biggest load of bullshiite I’ve ever heard.
It could have NEVER worked and I’m still not going to quit trying to get a turnover till that clock hits zero as long as ok within 8 points.
Lol so damn funny. There’s been plenty of legitimate football great that have also said “you play till the clock hits zero” end of story.
No not because the coach is Schiano cause he needs his pink slip after that joke of a FG and kickoff but if the coach were anyone I’d feel the same way.
I’ve never understood that whole “oh they are running the clock? Ok guys I guess that games over than… You win.”
Lol smh
October 23rd, 2013 at 3:27 pm
Its hilarious that these guys get paid to discuss things THAT NEVER HAPPENED! Although I agree with their stance, the Bucs did NOT rush the kneel down this week and I was shocked!
One valid point they did have is burning bridges throughout the league….
October 23rd, 2013 at 3:28 pm
And Joe….I was surprised you didn’t catch that either in your blog/article.
October 23rd, 2013 at 3:28 pm
Wah, the victory formation thing. I absolutely detest Schiano, but I don’t see why we need to watch a minute and a half of guys milling around and kneeling down. Play the frigging snaps and we don’t have this problem.
October 23rd, 2013 at 3:36 pm
Looks to me like Schiano has forced the offenses to change the way they line up for this play. In the shot gun which carries with it a higher probability of a failed snap than being under center. Interesting. Wouldn’t that be something to see a snap going over the head of the QB in the victory formation!!!
October 23rd, 2013 at 5:20 pm
Atlanta figured it out — if you don’t want to get bull rushed, put your QB in the shotgun and problem solved.
Amazing that Russo, King and now Joe Bucs Fan perpetuate the myth even though there was none of that Sunday.
October 23rd, 2013 at 6:46 pm
I’ll be pulling for the entire team, Bucs and their coaches….Hate the Panthers. Can’t believe that so-called Buc fans are rooting for the Bucs to lose in order to get a better draft choice and get the HC fired. These aren’t true Buc fans imo.
October 23rd, 2013 at 7:25 pm
Like you said, just the fact that they’ve forced the opposing team into the shotgun shows that it has worked to an extent. I see no problem with playing till the last snap when we are within a score of winning. We don’t do it unless there is that chance. So we play till the last snap….big deal. Go into shotgun formation and hope your center doesn’t get the yips..
October 23rd, 2013 at 7:32 pm
“just like how he is a disciplinarian yet his team plays so undisciplined with rashes of penalties and dumb errors seemingly each week.”
Joe there is no mystery there. The players have tuned him out. I place blame on the veteran O-linemen for holding and false starts or hands too the face. Just like I place blame on VJAX for false start. How exactly is he supposed to teach VJax that he’s not supposed to false start? Or teach Penn not to hold onto a player? How does he teach them discipline after they have been in the league for years? All this crap makes no sense to me when placing blame on the coach for the players committing penalties unless it’s a team full of rookies and young players.
October 23rd, 2013 at 11:36 pm
“All this crap makes no sense to me when placing blame on the coach for the players committing penalties unless it’s a team full of rookies and young players.”
Good point. Our penalties seem to be coming from the veterans. Can’t blame that on coaching.