Score 24 Points A Game
April 2nd, 2016
Still molding Jameis.
One of many stories Joe heard about the recruitment — if you want to call it that — of America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, occurred at the Florida State pro day about a year ago.
There, Jameis, brimming with confidence, called out Bad Santa, then the Saints defensive coordinator who was there scouting players.
Jameis would point at Bad Santa in between pass plays, or say something to him like, “This is for you,” likely expecting to be drafted by the Bucs and facing Bad Santa twice a year.
It was great entertainment.
Soon after, in a meeting with then-offensive-coordinator Dirk Koetter, Jameis said he wasn’t afraid of making any throw. Koetter replied, “You should be.”
Koetter got Jameis to significantly cut down on picks after a rocky start and, indeed, he became scared of some passes. But “The Professor,” John Clayton of BSPN, notes that Jameis remains a work in progress with Koetter.
Before the season, Koetter had a plan to make sure Winston didn’t throw too many interceptions. Koetter didn’t reveal his strategy, but it worked. Although Winston has the gunslinger mentality of a QB like Brett Favre, he not only protected the ball well, but he also won over his teammates with his leadership. Winston completed 58.3 percent of his passes for 4,042 yards and 22 touchdowns. He threw only 15 interceptions. Having Doug Martin in the backfield made life easier for Winston because he could rely on a running game. The next mission for Koetter is to improve Winston’s completion percentage and get the offense up to 24 points per game.
Well, 24 points a game sounds good so long as your defense is playing well. (The Bucs scored 21.4 per game last year, 20th best in the NFL.)
Now everyone is hoping the Bucs defense will improve under Mike Smith. How could it not? But no one has any clue what that defense will look like, perhaps not even Smith himself. Shoot, the Bucs likely will add another starter or two before training camp through the draft or free agency.
If the goal of the offense is to score only 24 points, that’s puts a whole lot of faith in the defense. Frankly, Joe’s not sure that faith is warranted yet.
April 2nd, 2016 at 8:47 am
Score every possession. Bucs will be #1 offense, fun exciting team to watch in the NFL. (Day Dreaming)
April 2nd, 2016 at 8:49 am
Yea. Add 10. 34 sounds good. And exciting. Need another quality we though…Boldin, Harvin, James Jones? Anyone…Roddy?
April 2nd, 2016 at 9:04 am
Um. No, no, no annnnnnd noooooo…..
April 2nd, 2016 at 9:22 am
Yea ima keep reminding y’all but after chatting wit my bro SB last night I walked away feeling like Mike Smith was the biggest acquisition of the off season this far.
April 2nd, 2016 at 9:31 am
@Clayton … “The next mission for Koetter is to improve Winston’s completion percentage and get the offense up to 24 points per game.” See no reason why the Bucs can’t score at least an average of 24 its per game this season. Admittedly we’re playing a tougher schedule, but we’ll have made one major improvement: our defense will be better at getting off the field and getting the ball back to the offense. (And yes, I’m an optimist).
Looking at 2015, the Bucs average time of possession was exactly 29.0 mins over 16 games. Opposing teams had the ball for 31.5 mins (1 OT game in Atlanta). The 2.5 mins difference may not seem like much, but it really is … unless you have a high-powered offense that constantly scores quickly (like the Panthers did last year).
In 4 games last year, the Bucs were at 25 mins TOP or less (Texans, Giants, Saints, Bears). We lost all 4. In 2 games we had the ball 35 mins TOP and won both (Jaguars and Eagles). Control the clock and it looks like you have a much better chance of winning in today’s NFL. Our defense getting off the field quicker will play a huge role in making that happen this year.
April 2nd, 2016 at 9:37 am
It would be improvement. Idk where 24 ppg would rank us against the league. But it would be a 3 ppg increase. Considering we missed that many fgs or penalized ourselves out of fg range. If we simply clean up our own mistakes we could easily get an extra fg per game. I agree that the goal should be for 30+ per game, but really any positive gains are good for me. I don’t expect the Bucs to be instant super bowl caliber wih the additions (and subtractions) we made this off season. So im not going to expect us to be the leagues top ranked offense. Winston needs better more reliable weapons if you expect him to do that. And thus far we have added none. I hope louis murphy comes back at full strength, otherwise we don’t even have a third wr on the roster. We have 2 starting caliber players, and a bunch of camp meat after that. No depth. Can’t expect to score a lot with dontae dye and russell shepard on the field.
April 2nd, 2016 at 9:56 am
Remember when Sapp said just get us 17 points ans well take care of the rest…sigh. I think Jameis should not play scared, tennative… And can be a gun slinger but when the play calls for it, when things arent grossly forced when passing. You have to know when to sling it in, and when to put touch on the ball. Jameis can make all the throws so its just a matter of time and trust from Koetter easing off the reigns and not fearing Jameis smartly letting it loose when situation arises where you can atttack the opposing defense.
April 2nd, 2016 at 10:05 am
And this is why I want a WR with our 1st or 2nd pick. I know some hate the idea, but just go watch some vids of Doctson and Coleman. The draft is deep with D line talent with value in the late first….not so much with WR value. JMHO.
April 2nd, 2016 at 10:08 am
Max, I’d hate the idea of passing on the BPA.
Think Baron over Kuechly and white hot pain stabs you in the forehead.
Trust Koetter to spread the ball around. Not everybody has to be a superstar.
April 2nd, 2016 at 10:13 am
BPA + Value + Need. And yes, I agree about Kuechly, but then we wouldnt have drafted LVD more than likely.
April 2nd, 2016 at 10:29 am
I’m wondering why we haven’t approached James jones or something for a 3rd receiver type deal. James jones has amazing hands and I think it would be great to add him. Or even white.
April 2nd, 2016 at 10:44 am
Add 3 pts. a game on offense, and reduce 6 pts. a game on defense—both definitely doable—and this team becomes top-tier…
April 2nd, 2016 at 10:45 am
@biff
Bowers or Peterson. If you recall Grudens comments after the draft. The fans in tampa would kill me if didn’t draft defense. He made it clear that he was ready to draft Peterson.
So, draft bpa. Need + draft = < BPA
April 2nd, 2016 at 10:53 am
Mad Max
I hear you with Doctson and Coleman. I’m a TCU alum and have seen every game Doctson played. He’s an athletic monster….I believe he’ll be the best of this wr class. I like Coleman almost as much. My dream scenario would be if either fell far enough in the first for the bucs to move up and grab one. Or if they have a good opportunity to move back in the first round for an extra pick or two then an immediate impact wr would be a great pick.
April 2nd, 2016 at 11:05 am
I’m wondering why we haven’t approached James jones or something for a 3rd receiver type deal. James jones has amazing hands and I think it would be great to add him.
April 2nd, 2016 at 11:06 am
Ignore the second comment by me
April 2nd, 2016 at 11:42 am
IF..our Defense improves like we are hoping it does, We will probably only need about 21 points a game to win. If not? 50 won’t matter. 100 won’t matter. Because our secondary will be picked apart while the opposing QB’s sit back in the pocket and orders a.. hot Pizza… take a few bites, then release the ball and picks apart our secondary. We’d better have an improved Defense. Much improved if we expect to win games. Dualing offensive banjos..won’t cut it!
April 2nd, 2016 at 12:38 pm
Perhaps this belongs back on the Aguayo thread but 24-21.4 is just UNDER 3 points!
It’s already been pointed out we’d have at least two more wins last year if it hadn’t been for kicking!!!
Aguayo can bump it from 21.4 to 24 almost on his own if all other factors remained the same. I do not expect them to remain the same…I hope our defense improves!!! And I hope #3 and ME get their long pass connection in synch and we score more TD’s. But in the meantime I would LOVE to have a MONEY FG kicker!!!
April 2nd, 2016 at 1:04 pm
BUCC55 Doctson is the truth like a.i. and I agree five years from now he’ll be considered the best from this draft. Followed by Tyler Boydd. That kid super nice also.
April 2nd, 2016 at 2:02 pm
Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. … I agree Mike Smith is a big addition to the Bucs coaching ranks. I have no doubt he could have taken Lovie’s roster and produced more wins.
April 2nd, 2016 at 2:09 pm
“Now everyone is hoping the Bucs defense will improve under Mike Smith. How could it not?”
I felt the same way about Lovie
April 2nd, 2016 at 3:20 pm
I think 28 is the magic number.
April 2nd, 2016 at 4:23 pm
24 pt was good enough 5 years ago. Now we need 30…or have people not see n the scores in our division?
April 2nd, 2016 at 4:35 pm
Panthers average over 31 pts per game. Cards score over 30 pts per game too (we’ll play them).
April 2nd, 2016 at 6:37 pm
Looked like martin working out at the skyway football fields the other day. Dont know if.it were him for sure but Ive seen players there in years past. All I know is if it was him dude looked more jacked than last season. Hope he keeps that same work ethic. I think the players are all seeing theyre not far away from having something special
April 3rd, 2016 at 11:01 am
we had 31 in seattle and lost a couple years ago.As Bonzai said there are teams out there that score in bunches.you have to keep up or hope for some defensive scores.And since you can’t always get the defensive assists, but if we could score 31 then our chances would improve greatly.