“That Field Is 100 Yards Long”
December 15th, 2016
Mike Smith channels Norman Dale.
Football coaches, by nature, consider distractions worse than a flare-up of the shingles.
So with the Bucs facing America’s Team, the Dallas Cowboys, on Sunday Night Football in primetime with Carrie Underwood singing, this game may have more outside distractions than a playoff game.
Bucs defensive coordinator Mike Smith is aware of this. So he’s trying to keep things simple. In other words, he’s pulling a Gene Hackman in Hoosiers.
Remember, in the movie, the tiny high school basketball team from rural Indiana went to Indianapolis to play in a massive arena against a big-city school for the state championship game. Hackman (coach Norman Dale) had his players measure the height of the basket to show them it was the same as their little barn of a home gym in Hickory.
Today, Smith pulled out his tape measure for his defense.
“I guess [Sunday Night Football] has the most eyes watching it but I have always approached it as, that field is 100 yards long and 53 1/3 yards wide and we are going to go out and we are going to play,”
DaleSmith said. “We are going to be on the road so we know when we are playing it’s going to be quiet and we should be able to communicate.“It’s the only game going on at that time. It’s hard not to hear all the things that are being said. Again guys, it’s a football field. They are a football team. They are going to have 11 guys out there when we are going to have 11 guys out there. We are going to have to compete.
“Oh, by the way, they are 11-2. So they have a pretty good record. They are playing as well as anyone in the National Football League for the entire season. I think that gets their attention more than when and where we are playing.”
This is a pretty cool strategy by Smith. Keep it simple: Just because a hot babe is the face of the weekly game and the nation’s eyes will be focused on the game, and the result could very well determine if the Bucs make the playoffs or not, keep the eyes on the prize.
Despite all the glitz and glamour and implications, despite being played in an American palace known as “Jerry’s World,” it is a still a football game played on a field the size of a high school field.
December 15th, 2016 at 1:38 pm
As long as the players are focused on this game and this game only, and doing their jobs, and not mainly drooling over Carrie Underwood like the Joes… I think our team will be alright 🙂
December 15th, 2016 at 1:42 pm
Hate to have to correct you guys but according to our President Elect Carrie Underwood can’t even be a ten! Women with small breasts just can’t be tens.
December 15th, 2016 at 1:43 pm
Gene Hackman is awesome!
December 15th, 2016 at 1:48 pm
LOL @ St. Pete!
He was also bothered with the ‘person of the year’ title from Time, said it should be ‘man of the year’ because you know, women aren’t worthy of such distinctions… Although if they have big tatas, they can at least be considered a 10.
December 15th, 2016 at 1:49 pm
I’d like to send the Bucs a few cases of Red Bull for them to drink just before kick off.
December 15th, 2016 at 1:54 pm
Glad this is a night game. The sun is miserable just watching in the stands, it has to be a major distraction for the players.
December 15th, 2016 at 2:45 pm
It’seems to be simple stop the running game. Force Dan to throw and make him uncomfortable so he came make bad decisions.
December 15th, 2016 at 3:14 pm
Stupid question, but I’m assuming the roof is going to be closed on Sunday right? It’s supposed to be stupid cold Sunday in Dallas.
December 15th, 2016 at 3:53 pm
Hey Joe – what is the story with Demar Dotson. Is he cleared to play yet? Maybe I missed it, but I see that Humphries (Rudy) is good to go.
December 15th, 2016 at 6:02 pm
“They are going to have 11 guys out there when we are going to have 11 guys out there.”
Just guaranteed us at least two 12 men on the field penalties…
December 16th, 2016 at 8:46 am
Man I’m so Damn excited about this team!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!