Faster Start
April 19th, 2016
Need more scoring early.
Last year we heard a lot from Lovie Smith about fast starts. Hell, we heard that a lot through Lovie’s two seasons running the Bucs.
More often than not, there were fast starts all right: Fast starts by opponents against Lovie’s heralded defense. For some odd reason, Joe doesn’t think that’s what Lovie was hoping for.
Well, someone else is talking fast starts for the Bucs this fall. And that is Antonio Pierce of BSPN. He claims America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, got off to slow starts which boxed him in.
Pierce has a valid point. Only twice last season did the Bucs score twice in the opening quarter, at Washington in the Capitol Collapse and at home against New York, and that was only two field goals.
To hear more from Pierce and Dan Graziano discuss Jameis and the Bucs draft, click below for the BSPN video.
April 19th, 2016 at 9:21 am
The Bucs have ALWAYS been slow starters, ever since I’ve been,watching back in ’99. That’s just the Bucs. But now we finally have a decent offense I place wich we never has before, so,maybe that starts to change.
We have the ground game to do it, so there shouldn’t be a reason why not. With a healthy Jax and ASJ and maybe a new weapon for JW via the draft this offense should take flight.
For once in buccaneer history we have a top ten offense. Weird to say that the bucs are now a offensive team. Mike Smith and coach Hayes will have something to say about that this year tho. (Atleast I hope so.) Lol.
April 19th, 2016 at 9:32 am
“Always” back to 99’… Hillarious!!😂
April 19th, 2016 at 9:35 am
Oftentimes I think we should start with the no huddle hurry up offense…..almost a two minute drill…..we seem to move the ball when we do that…..but we usually try to establish the run and go to the well once too often and stall drives.
I like the idea of mixing the backfield with a play-making FB, Sims and Martin….also three tight ends with passing plays to one of the TEs.
Set up for the run…but pass.
April 19th, 2016 at 9:46 am
I would be interested to see how the top 5 “running” teams started in the first quarters last year. You would kind of imagine a boxer that is working with body shots, does not seem effective at first but pays dividends later on!!!
And for the Bucs to be down so quick and often with games getting out of hand. it was amazing that they ran as much as they did!!!
April 19th, 2016 at 10:41 am
In order to get to a fast start and score points you need more players that can get chunk yards. Six running plays in a row to start a game doesn’t equate to fast starts. Touch downs win games, field goals lose them.
Get players that can take it to the house on screen passes and slants. Sims can do it, but there needs to be more……(cough)Corey Coleman(cough).
April 19th, 2016 at 11:40 am
R O
I get your point, but 1999 is 17 years! In football you can definitely say “always” with that long a trend.
April 19th, 2016 at 1:15 pm
Maybe Koetter won’t be so conservative without loser Lovie looking over him
April 19th, 2016 at 1:45 pm
Jameis has a bit of history with slow starts – especially during his 2nd season at FSU – they got down a # of times early in games and then Jameis would own the 2nd half and bring the Noles screaming back to win at the end. That happened like 5 times in 2014.
Its harder to do that in the NFL (big comebacks).
As mentioned, teams who like to try and establish the run early tend to not score as many points early in games – so part of the answer is for Koetter to be more aggressive across the board and especially in the 1st and 2nd Quarters by taking more “shots” downfield early and often. I’m guessing he will be more aggressive offensively as a HC instead of having to bow to Lovie’s wishes to have a more “conservative” approach.
April 19th, 2016 at 3:25 pm
If the Bucs can come out of the gate fast, with 2 or 4 wins, it would turn their season around. We..shall see. Time will tell. Come out of the gate with 3 or 4 straight losses though? And its gonna be a long long season. We are not the Patriots. I don’t think we recover from multiple losses during the season outset.
April 20th, 2016 at 10:14 am
Play calling in first was very vanilla the last few years… Less runs on first downs would help… Screens, play action passes and draws should be incorporated more… I agree with a Corey Coleman draft pick by trading down a little… From Jamies Winston’s interview last week I got the vibe of Mike Evans becoming complacent and not in peak physical condition as opposed to someone who is angry about last seasons results. Competition at every position is key… No ones job should be safe unless they are performing at an all pro level. We also need a better left tackle to compete with D. Smith and throughout practice and reps that will also improve our pass rush. Another way we need to improve the pass rush is by drafting Noah Spence in the second round. I also think safety is a stronger need than corner… We will waste a pick this year because our corner position isn’t that bad after free agency. I am willing to guarantee if we address those needs early and aggressively we will be in the playoffs this year no matter what schedule we have.