Ira Kaufman’s 10 Takeaways From Bucs-Cardinals
October 15th, 2017
Ira’s can’t-miss postgame colunn
BY IRA KAUFMAN
Don’t be fooled.
The Bucs made it close at the end, but this game was lost at the start — that awful start. While the Cardinals came out aggressive, Tampa Bay came out flat.
How does that happen?
The Bucs have played two road games in 2017 and they’ve looked awful in both of ’em. Don’t trust the final score — trust your eyes.
The Bucs are now below .500 for the first time in almost a year and Jameis Winston could miss his first NFL start. Add it all up and this team gets a big, fat “D” at this point of the season.
* After five games, this team has no identity. That’s a problem because it means the Bucs aren’t doing anything particularly well. Complementary football, this is not. Winning football, this is not.
* Jason Licht’s best friend in the business may be Arizona GM Steve Keim. With friends like that, who needs enemies? The Cardinals just unleashed a desert swarm on the Bucs for the second consecutive year. Memo to Keim: You’re not doing any favors for a buddy who is seeking a contract extension.
* It’s hard to know where to start on this shredded defense. Coming off a good effort against Tom Brady, the Bucs made creaky Carson Palmer look like vintage Joe Montana. In the first half, Palmer was 13-for-13 and his QB rating was 158.3. That’s as high as it goes. If it went any higher, Palmer probably would have reached it.
* Ryan Fitzpatrick player better than Buc fans could have hoped, despite a pair of interceptions. In fact, he threw the ball with more zip, touch and accuracy than Winston for most of his relief stint.
* In Week 2 on the road, Minnesota’s Xavier Rhodes got the best of Mike Evans in their individual matchup. On Sunday, it was Patrick Peterson’s turn to frustrate Tampa Bay’s best player. If Evans wants to reach the top of his profession, he needs to be at his best against the best.
* The Vernon Hargreaves slide continues unabated, and he had plenty of company in Glendale. Justin Evans looked like a rookie safety when he was completely turned around on one of Palmer’s few floating ducks. It went for an inexcusable touchdown and it’s a safe bet that Mike Smith will have a few words with Mr. Evans about locating the football.
* The Bucs failed miserably on their defensive priorities. Stopping Adrian Peterson? Not quite. Containing Larry Fitzgerald? Hardly. Pressuring Palmer? Try again. Playing without their best offensive weapon, David Johnson, the Cardinals averaged 10.1 yards per snap in the opening half.
* Mike Smith’s group wasn’t ready to play from the opening whistle. Arizona’s first three possessions produced TD drives of 75, 86 and 95 yards. Missed tackles, blown coverage, soft pass rush … guilty as charged.
* How can you have nine days to prepare and look like you haven’t a clue? There’s no denying that Tampa Bay’s coaching staff has a lot to answer for, from Dirk Koetter on down. There was no quit in the visitors, and that’s admirable, but there wasn’t much direction from the top.
* At 2-3, this team needs a win at Buffalo to restore some confidence. Otherwise, Tampa Bay will kick off the division slate by hosting Carolina with four losses in a five-game stretch. With an opportunity to pick up a game on the Falcons and Panthers, the Bucs whiffed. It’s not dark yet, but it’s getting there.
October 15th, 2017 at 8:54 pm
I love IRA posts and podcasts!!!!
Good -ish!!!!!!!
October 15th, 2017 at 9:00 pm
Me too Anthem. It’s tells it as he sees it even when it hurts.
October 15th, 2017 at 9:02 pm
Ira tells it….. Gotta love auto correct.
October 15th, 2017 at 9:02 pm
A little harsh on Evans, he is a rookie and he made some big plays after all. I vividly remember him stopping Peterson after he hurdled Vernon “Marshmellow” (cr: BucAnthem) Hargreaves like a little b****, as well as on the fourth down play. He has shown he can ball at this level but mistakes will be made. Show the rookie a little love IRA!!
go bucs!
October 15th, 2017 at 9:02 pm
Sad. They could be so much more. Main mistakes were not having them ready to play from the start and not going to no-huddle sooner. Both on you, DIRK.
Wasted time that prevented you from winning. Not to mention that your QBs almost always Excel in NH.
Using your own words, HOW CAN YOU NOT SEE THAT????
October 15th, 2017 at 9:03 pm
On a positive note Patrick Murray was perfect…
October 15th, 2017 at 9:03 pm
This coaching staff is doing a horrific job
Poor clock management, poor preparation and poor play calling.
The Bucs are way too talented for this continuing to happen.
October 15th, 2017 at 9:04 pm
The elephant in the room is needing 11-5 maybe to reach playoffs. That would be 9-2 to finish the year. 7-4 at the very least. Another lost season would be a death blow to this franchise. Winston looks to miss time so they have to rely on Fitz. I haven’t bought a ticket since they fired Gruden and that streak will continue. They are lucky fans even still watch the games on television.
October 15th, 2017 at 9:04 pm
Yes, Ira, “there wasn’t much direction from the top” after the mini-bye, but at least Coach Koetter is such a breath of fresh air like a cool summer breeze with all the doors and windows wide open.
October 15th, 2017 at 9:09 pm
Well placed and appropriate Dylan reference!
October 15th, 2017 at 9:16 pm
Bucs soiled themselves early and could never quite recover…similar to Ira’s Chiefs who lost as well. Dante the dog better wear a flap jacket to keep his ribs intact. 🙂 Ira ain’t playing!
October 15th, 2017 at 9:29 pm
It would seem that ‘ol Bruce has Dirk’s number and clearly out-coached him today. I was impressed by the never-give-up attitude of the Bucs, but that hole they dug for themselves was just too deep to climb out of.
Didn’t Peterson say that he wanted to play for the Bucs and was not even given a tryout? How do you like him now, Bucs front office?
October 15th, 2017 at 9:30 pm
its wet asphalt black. the players did what they could but the coaching is putrid both sides of the ball. Winston needs competition not keys to the franchise. hyping fitz for throwing against a prevent D is tone deaf analysis. Love ya Kaufman but youre not seeing the forest for the trees.
October 15th, 2017 at 10:23 pm
The truth hurts!!!…GO BUCS!!!
October 15th, 2017 at 10:43 pm
Did Fitz throw as many, if not more TDs in his stint than Jameis this season?
Maybe Koetter can’t do much different play calling if Jameis is not up to the task!
I don’t care if you Seminole fans think he’s God, the Easter Bunny and Elvis wrapped up in one very inaccurate QB!
October 15th, 2017 at 10:48 pm
Maybe the best thing is that nobody shows up for the pressers tomorrow. That might say more than asking the abvious questions for which there is really one big answer – a soft overly relaxed culture that underachieves worse than any Bucs, ever.
Shame on Koetter, Smith, and the Tampa Bay Frauds.
October 15th, 2017 at 10:57 pm
I drive a taxi cab in Tampa and visitors often ask me about QB Winston. I tell them “He throws high, behind, and misses deep route receivers.” I have stated that for three years and nothing has changed. You cannot coach accuracy. Winston WAS BENCHED today. They said his shoulder. Right.
October 15th, 2017 at 11:02 pm
Flak Jacket to keep Dante safe from Ira’s big-ass foot. 🙂
October 15th, 2017 at 11:03 pm
Sign Kap and give Jameis some competition…If not, maybe just see what Fitz can do..what were his final numbers and what were Jameis’ ???
October 15th, 2017 at 11:03 pm
Life of a Bucs fan, yeah he also threw almost as many interceptions in one half as Jameis has all season. Against a prevent defense at that, that didn’t even have peterson playing. You’re trying to hard.
October 15th, 2017 at 11:27 pm
cgmaster…Jameis can thropw his interceptions but at least he needs to match them with TDs..whereas Fitz did just that…
October 16th, 2017 at 12:01 am
I truly feel sorry for real..true Blue Buc fans. Yes, they really want a winner in town. A lot of national sportcasters try to support our Bucs. But we turn them off by losing a lot. US old Buc-ca.roos ( Yes IRA, I’m up ther with you) just srug it off and say, Its the SOB’S (sme ole Bucs) But it hurts. Us old fans have become, Comfortably Numb. We neither believe the hype or say for sure we are going to win. Hell, I didn’t even pick my Bucs in the barbershop football pool this week.!
Keep the faith IRA. A lot of us old timers..lost it long ago. One things for Deeyam sure..No superbowl for our Bucs..this year.
October 16th, 2017 at 2:37 am
If they’d kicked the extra points before the last TD, they could have tied with 1 successful 2 point conversion at the end…
October 16th, 2017 at 6:21 am
I disagree. There was quit in the bucs, the head coach quit before halftime. I love the players not quitting, but wow dirk should be ashamed. Running out of words for his day yesterday.
October 16th, 2017 at 6:29 am
N crazy coss
Yes NO reason to not kick fg before half. Not gona go thru the who scenario again but the first points are the hardest. Getting ball back to start second half, down by 21, n we had a game. It was clear from dirks decisions up to that point that he wanted no part of tbe rest of that game. We need someone to manage the game. Its clear now he is not the guy. No idea how u can make those decisions in your second year. No idea how u ever could. I firmly believe had arians not thrown the ball for a td, already up 24, dirk would have simply run tbe ball the rest of the game. He gave up, clearly.
October 16th, 2017 at 7:31 am
“I don’t care if you Seminole fans think he’s God, the Easter Bunny and Elvis wrapped up in one very inaccurate QB!”
LOL I wish there wasn’t so much truth in that sentence!!
October 16th, 2017 at 7:56 am
Hey, let’s just let them practice at a Club Med. No pads of course. And there had to be a reason Atlanta moved on. Now we know why. Butt we got talent.
October 16th, 2017 at 8:37 am
Good stuff IK
With the talent we have this is who we are.
We are a 7-9 team.
I also think this team got into
Some of Sabans rat poison
October 16th, 2017 at 8:42 am
Comfortably numb is an accurate description. I had high hopes coming into the season but damn if they don’t look exactly the same as they have for the past 5 years. Just finding ways to lose (Patriots) and getting smoked by lesser teams (AZ) and lesser players (Keenum). I honestly feel like every season is just a rerun. I don’t watch reruns on TV and I am getting close to just turning it off on Sundays. The stress and annoyance of losing year after year after year takes it’s toll.
October 16th, 2017 at 11:13 am
This one is on the coaches. Bucs players and fans deserve better. Koetter has the brains to be a HC and an excellent OC. When are we going to see it? Still have doubts about Smith. Murray looks good so that’s one small shining spot. Koetter, you’ve got 6 days before Buffalo to get your mental act together–just do it, OKAY!!?? Go Bucs!!
October 16th, 2017 at 11:21 am
What’s all the, they fought back hard crap and if we would of did this or kicked that talk? The Card’s were in Control, we got a little lucky with some turn overs and call’s but by then the cards were playing not too lose and maybe Licht’s buddy called off the dogs! It was over at half time, we gave it to them on a platter. Even if we were making a comeback thats still pathetic. We should have been ahead at half time. We always play up or down to the competition. Howard was a luxury pick, when you have so many needs on defense.
October 16th, 2017 at 12:20 pm
I don’t know how anyone who has any remote understanding of football can blame yesterday on Jameis.
Did he play poorly against the pats? Yes. Yesterday though? That was not on him.
October 16th, 2017 at 6:38 pm
I have been following the Bucs since their start(yes, reveals my age) and so want them to be a professional franchise. Unfortunately, in my opinion, it probably won’t start without a change from the very top which won’t happen anytime soon. I have been through all the bad years and thankfully the few good years leading to a Super Bowl win. I keep wanting to walk away, but always come back for more pain! Obviously, Mr. Koetter is not head coach material. It starts there and he has no concept of time management and just managing the game and his team. Watch other teams during a 2 minute drill and watch the Bucs. Absolutely no idea how to manage the clock and their timeouts. I won’t get into how they are always fighting to get in the game after a “slow start”, but it just falls back to coaching. Yeah, we will be in a coaching search soon and the circle begins again! I always want to be wrong about my team, but am always proven right unfortunately!