Bad Practice, Great Game
September 19th, 2017
Gerald McCoy explains
So the Bucs returned to practice last Wednesday after a hurricane-induced bye and a ridiculously long layoff for their first-team players.
Everything might have looked strong on Sunday but that was a process after a rough start, Gerald McCoy explained after the Bucs’ win.
Tampa Bay certainly didn’t play the way it practices.
“Crazy part is we didn’t have a great day Wednesday. You know, guys came back, practice did not go well on Wednesday,” McCoy said. “And we knew we had to fix it and we just kind of built off that throughout the week and we came out and got a big win.”
Interesting. Players and coaches had no interest in talking about “rust” all week, but it was there immediately, per McCoy.
Another example of great coaching execution by Dirk Koetter, as well as team leadership, tightening the ship and being ready when it counts.
September 19th, 2017 at 1:38 pm
The offense needs to practice redzone offense more and make it a priority. Nothing sucks more than driving down the field and hitting a brick wall.
Maybe it was rust or maybe it’s lingering issues with redzone TDs, but it seemed to rear its ugly head again.
This team cannot leave points on the field. You can get away with it with the Bears, but not the elite teams. And Jameis needs to stop forcing the ball. These two things will lose us close games.
September 19th, 2017 at 1:42 pm
The photo is hilarious! It looks like Mike is taking a selfie while being drilled by Spence.
Yeap… we overcame Hard knocks, rust, Irma and remain FOCUSED!!!!
Sweezy is good to go….checked!
Marpet is good to go…..checked!
100 yards rushing………checked!
Run defense improved…checked!
Weapons for Winston…..checked!
Safety upgraded…………checked!
LBs upgraded……………..checked!
Offensive attack……..very promising!
These are not your old Bucs Folks!!!
September 19th, 2017 at 1:43 pm
Agreed on the redzone issues but I disagree about Jameis forcing balls. He looks much more poised and is taking more checkdowns and not forcing everything to Evans. Just wait til we are a few more games in with D-Jax, OJ and Godwin. ‘Tis will be beautiful!
September 19th, 2017 at 1:47 pm
We have what is needed to have a dangerous offense. They need a few games to start clicking. You can not duplicate game speed in practice. They are two different animals.
Patience….it will come.
September 19th, 2017 at 2:02 pm
yeah we differently have to work on red zone offense but I didn’t see any evidence to support the claim jameis was forcing throws SUNDAY….he looked very comfortable and went thru his progressions….he took what the defense gave him and checked the ball down numerous of times….
the only thing the harp about is the run game….its was ok but not good enough….feed barber early and often…he should get more touches this game…GO BUCS!!!
September 19th, 2017 at 2:04 pm
Focus. One week at a time. The next opponent is the only thing to put attention on – for the next 19 straight weeks…
September 19th, 2017 at 2:12 pm
Amen pickgrin!
September 19th, 2017 at 2:47 pm
@unbelievable, The very first drive, Winston had a pass that was dangerous. I think he was trying to force a ball to Juice. He also had throws to DJax that were dangerous. I like him being aggressive, but within reason. He also had a throw across the field if I’m not mistaken. His last preseason game he had the “ass pass”. Those tendencies to force balls are definitely there. He needs to avoid drive killers like those.
September 19th, 2017 at 3:27 pm
After all the ish this team went thru, you guys still not satisfied with what you saw is crazy to me.
September 19th, 2017 at 4:23 pm
The ass pass in preseason was definitely dumb but it was preseason. I’m just talking about the Bears game. I don’t have game pass so I can’t rewatch, but I really only remember 1 throw where he may have been forcing it.
Did he have some off throws that day? Yes, but to my eyes it didn’t seem like he was forcing balls into tight windows of double or triple coverage.
September 19th, 2017 at 5:45 pm
Dang….that pass to ME13 in the end zone was a thing of beauty…what’s wrong with #3’s throw there. Quizz busting it in from short yardage was a thing of beauty….what’s wrong with that red zone play.
Remember…we had Sims wide open but either he slowed to fool the DB or #3 simply overthrew Sims….the pass to DJAX in the endzone also could have been completed…hard to call that a bad throw..Schlereth couldn’t praise #3 enough for stepping up avoiding the rush and getting that bomb in a catchable spot.
You guys are a tough crowd….29 points…Sim’s fumble took three off the board and maybe more. The extra point would have made it 30…I’ll take 30 every week!!!
September 19th, 2017 at 7:52 pm
I agree with stpetebucsfan for once, the offense in the red zone was fine, they came away with 2 TDs. The Sims pass I think was an overthrow but those wheel routes are tough routes to get your timing down on (I think it was a wheel route unless Sims actually lined up outside and I missed it). The D-Jax throw, I don’t know what happened there because D-Jax didn’t really seem to try very hard for the ball. Perhaps it was further away than it looked on TV because it looked like the ball was right there – but perhaps it was just the angle of the camera and it was uncatchable. Considering that Winston hadn’t played with his starting WRs or starting offensive line in literally a month (it was the 2nd preseason game 30 days from Sunday they last played together) I think things went very well. Dirk was his normal ultraconservative self in the 2nd half and just sat on the ball but the game was never in question so it didn’t really matter that much. The offense will hopefully improve as the season goes along, assuming Dirk doesn’t go into a shell like he did last season, and it will get a huge boost when Martin returns.
September 19th, 2017 at 8:49 pm
I have to agree about the 30 points too. If we put up 30 a game we are good, like 14 – 16 wins good. There will always be things that can be done better but enjoy this win people.
September 19th, 2017 at 9:32 pm
Wait till Doug gets back, we are going to be getting the contract year version when he comes back. Not only that but he will be coming back Thursday night vs the patriots on a short week. He will have fresh legs with both teams playing on a short week.
September 20th, 2017 at 9:48 am
Winston “forced” only one pass for the entire game. I have game pass and have watched it several times. It was an out route to Humphries, near sideline, late in the first half on the final drive. That was a dangerous throw. The first pass of the game, he just didn’t see the linebacker. Big difference.
You guys expecting him to only hit receivers that have yards of separation don’t understand what’s going on in the NFL. This was a solid game given all of the circumstances leading up to it. Koetter plays his starters lightly in the preseason. Then to have a surprise bye. I’m giving them a big, good job. If this was week 6, the narrative would be different.
September 20th, 2017 at 2:14 pm
IMO we are just a little “touch” on the long ball away from being SCARY!