Can’t Blame Fitz
November 19th, 2017
Lauded by Bucs coach.
Ryan Fitzpatrick is not a scapegoat.
The offense of the Bucs went into hibernation in the third quarter today against the Dolphins. On the Buccaneers Radio Network following the game, Koetter confessed the third quarter “was not pretty.”
But Koetter emphasized it wasn’t because of Fitzpatrick.
The backup Bucs quarterback, starting for the injured Jameis Winston, didn’t exactly remind folks of John Elway. However, Koetter seemed to take the expected narrative that Fitzpatrick is a good quarterback and controlled the message by absolving Fitzpatrick, largely due to untimely penalties.
“It wasn’t Ryan’s issues that caused us to go backwards at times,” Koetter said. “We had a lot of opportunities and had some critical penalties [and] that is an unfortunate trend. I didn’t realize we had nine penalties but [Miami] had 17. It seemed like we had 40 [penalties] and they had 39.”
Koetter also said how he preached to his team that they will face adversities on the road and Koetter said of the third quarter today, “There was your adversity.”
Instead, the Bucs and Fitzpatrick made plays in the fourth quarter when they needed to. And more importantly, they won the game.
November 19th, 2017 at 5:13 pm
#WeaponsforWinston is now #WeaponsforFitz!
November 19th, 2017 at 5:14 pm
good backup Qb’s you hope go .500!!!!!! He is 2-0 so even if he loses the next 2 games he is still up considered good by NFL standards!!!!!!!
Good win to steal one on the road!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 19th, 2017 at 5:15 pm
We don’t need no stinkin’ Gruden!
By the way, if they got Gruden, he’d keep Fitz because he’s the second coming of Brad Johnson (wears same No. 14)…..Chucky would probably trade Jameis
November 19th, 2017 at 5:15 pm
No it was not Fitz at all but Dirk is saying that because only fans are pointing the finger at his sorry play calling abilities
November 19th, 2017 at 5:17 pm
Coach seemed to call a lot of vanilla little run plays. He was playing scared in that end half trying to milk the lead……..and what was with that AN sneak from the endzone? Dude, grow a freaking nut you pansy.
November 19th, 2017 at 5:18 pm
QB sneak*
November 19th, 2017 at 5:18 pm
Fitz is playing well given his innumerable limitations, however, the reason we’re 2-0 is because of great defense (outside of 1.5 qtrs of football) and solid kicking for a change.
November 19th, 2017 at 5:20 pm
No coach needs a “action figure hero”….
November 19th, 2017 at 5:25 pm
thank the ref’s for not calling a safety, that was a safety.
November 19th, 2017 at 5:28 pm
They’re playing for Fitz!!!!
Its amazing how a team can turn around when the retarded antics of the so called leader is removed.
Stick with Fitz and play this out Bucs!
November 19th, 2017 at 5:31 pm
Why would you blame Fitz?
It was the o-line. Simple as that.
Anyone with even an elementary understanding of football can see that.
November 19th, 2017 at 5:37 pm
unbelievable…..I agree and when you factor in all the investment put into this Oline(which includes OJ) there performance, especially in the run game, tells me this regime doesn’t know how to build a team
November 19th, 2017 at 5:38 pm
AGREE with MadMax
November 19th, 2017 at 5:40 pm
and the butt safety that wasn’t called helped out the bucs immensely,
November 19th, 2017 at 5:41 pm
How about the freaking play calling? Koetter neutered Fitz with that awful display in the second half. First half was OK but Koetter played the second half to hang on and almost snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. The offense was all on Koetter!!!! Not Fitz!!!
And NO the defense is not any better. When you can’t get off the field on 3rd down you’re not great. When you can’t get off the field on 3rd and ten and longer you suck and when you have a team down in the 4th Quarter by a full TD and you have them 3rd and ten in their own end of the field and you not only AGAIN allow them again to convert but to score the tying TD on the long bomb…you not only suck you are embarrasssing.
Please stop with the praise of the defense…they played every bit as poorly as the offense and they had the ONE big play at the end of the game on 4th and 1.
If the Dolphins had been smart they would have committed a penalty at that point to back themselves up to 4th and 10 then they would have had an easy conversion on our D No our D did not play well!!!
November 19th, 2017 at 5:44 pm
The team plays better with Fitz? Blahahaa. That’s funny. We won 2 close games w 2 of the sorriest teams with the sorriest qbs in the league. WE BETTER WIN THESE GAMES with the talent we have
November 19th, 2017 at 5:47 pm
To Calvin cook/ yea we won because of a good effort from defense and special teams..and steady play at qb.its not complicated.
November 19th, 2017 at 5:48 pm
Lamarcus for the W
November 19th, 2017 at 5:49 pm
I’d say jw has inumerable limitations also if you want to go there.
November 19th, 2017 at 5:51 pm
The offensive performance the past two weeks should show that the problem is not Winston
November 19th, 2017 at 5:59 pm
Looking forward to more Harvard to Harvard connections!
November 19th, 2017 at 6:05 pm
I agree with you St Pete……Was nice to see some splash plays but that’s about it. Matt Moore has been wildly ineffective against decent defenses. You can shut that guy down if you don’t blow coverages and make his job eady(Stills TD).
And you are right about the 3rd and long conversions against us. We have been giving these plays up for the last several years. I don’t need to look up stats to know that we are one of the worst teams ever to defend third and long. This is unacceptable and highlights how porous our defense truly is………….The problem I think is our front office doesn’t know how to build a team. Why bring in M.Smith when his defense is predicated on the same thing L.Smith’s defense was with 4 man pressure………It didn’t work then. No reaso to think it would work now with drastic moves along the front.
As I from that the bigger problem is our puke of an offense. Then have spent the better part of 4 seasons building this team around offense. The offense is supposed to be carrying this team yet most of our wins come from the back of our defense…….While some of our losses have been embarrassing this team was built to have an ability to play shootout type games and that has never happened.
I’m convinced that our front office does have a clue how to assemble or build a team. You can’t fix that problem by throwing talent at it.
November 19th, 2017 at 6:06 pm
Thats the best offensive first half in forever
All you FSU tools go root for your trainwreck college team. Jimbo lost his magic now that his hoe wife and he divorced. How can his players even take him serious. Youre college allegiences supercede yoy being Buc fans.
November 19th, 2017 at 6:07 pm
doesnt*
November 19th, 2017 at 6:21 pm
Too early for celebrations. They was celebrating after beating the winless Giants, then went on a 5 game losing streak. They still have the Falcons twice, Panthers, Saints. Just win one game, and focus on the next game.
November 19th, 2017 at 6:30 pm
You have a lot of liars on this corner of the web. The Bucs won two games in a row for two reasons: Josh McCown and Jay Culter. When Matt Moore came into the game he changed the dynamics. If Moore had started the Bucs would have lost that game. For those of you throwing your support behind Fitzpatrick, today he was inaccurate and did not get the ball in the end zone. The Bucs settled for field goals instead of getting touchdowns. Last week, Fitzpatrick was inaccurate, threw interceptions, and he did not get the ball into the end zone while in the red zone. I forgot to mention that he did not connect with Jackson for a fifty-yard touchdown. No doubt you are liars, and you know who you are, but why do you lie?
November 19th, 2017 at 6:30 pm
Stpete, dude pass me what you’re smoking…..the D had a lot more going on….3 interceptions and a fumble recovery in the first half!!!! You on something?
November 19th, 2017 at 6:39 pm
The playcalling was fine. You run the ball to open up the pass. Even if the run game isn’t producing.
And if players had completed the plays, things would have been fine.
A win is a win.
November 19th, 2017 at 6:40 pm
MadMax, he was talking about the second half.
November 19th, 2017 at 6:41 pm
Fitz was making some nice plays!
November 19th, 2017 at 6:42 pm
Hah! Think whatever you want….they weren’t playing like this with retardo out there…..they’re feeling like a different team now with Fitz….but go ahead and deny it….I see it all lol
November 19th, 2017 at 6:43 pm
I thought the Defense played a GREAT first half but the second half looked like they started coaching scared and called a lot of bend but don’t break plays. Once Miami got momentum they had a tough time slowing Matt Moore down.
November 19th, 2017 at 6:44 pm
That was to loggedon. Slow connection right now
November 19th, 2017 at 6:44 pm
2 nice back to back wins against the Jets and the Dolphins!
November 19th, 2017 at 6:46 pm
@SPBF
I feel your frustrations. I have been much less active on JBF due to my frustrations. I am not happy or mad anymore. I am apathetic at this point after being so hyped up leading up to the season. Nice to win but it was not impressive at all. I also totally agree about the coward play calling. The winning teams don’t let off the gas.
November 19th, 2017 at 6:46 pm
And lamarcus
November 19th, 2017 at 6:49 pm
Hey loggedonallday, you got to stop mainlinin that jw koolaid..bucs won cause no jw to squander it.
November 19th, 2017 at 6:51 pm
Play calling way different with Fitz in there it should be noted. Lot’s of creative screens and misdirecections like last year.
November 19th, 2017 at 6:58 pm
Fitz is pretty good.
He’s been playing at least as well, if not a little better than Winston was.
Howard vehemently defends Winston from parasitic accusations because it’s the right thing to do , not because Winston is a great QB.
November 19th, 2017 at 6:59 pm
This is a sincere message from TBBF to Dirk Koetter (former losing coach)
Dirk……play action on 1st & 10 until the other team begins to believe you will not run……as Lovie would say “Simple as that”…..
November 19th, 2017 at 7:01 pm
Actually, let Howard re-phrase that:
Fitz is playing a little better than the INJURED Winston.
Howard think a healthy Winston would outplay Fitz any day.
November 19th, 2017 at 7:01 pm
This was bad play calling along with penalties. Two runs and a freakin screen is one example. Run up the middle on your own one yard line when you can’t run all day? That’s not trusting your QB to throw.
It was clear the Bucs wanted to sit on 10-13 points, and play “not to lose.” Almost bit ’em. When I saw Matt Moore, who got robbed of the starting job anyway, I knew a spark was coming. It was nice to see the Fins implode in the end in Bucs fashion.
November 19th, 2017 at 7:02 pm
Fitz plays with what’s there…very patient with each series…he’s an experienced vet that doesn’t get overly juiced or shoots for heroics…Sometimes what’s effective isn’t statistically flashy. Winning is what fans enjoy most and he’s delivering
November 19th, 2017 at 7:03 pm
Chris Says:
November 19th, 2017 at 6:06 pm
Thats the best offensive first half in forever
All you FSU tools go root for your trainwreck college team. Jimbo lost his magic now that his hoe wife and he divorced. How can his players even take him serious. Youre college allegiences supercede yoy being Buc fans.
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Chris,
This is what psychologists call defensive mechanism of reflection. You internalize a situation such as Jimbo and his wife, but your internalization mirrors you. It is too painful for you to address your issues; therefore, you project them on to someone else. Now Chris, If you think that is deep, you do, it gets even deeper! See, you have suspended the fact that in a chat site, people can only identify with your words, and you have chosen this forum to express your pain. You are alone Chris. No one else is in your cyber world but you! Remeber Chris, there is no such thing as internet sex. You are just jacking off!
November 19th, 2017 at 7:04 pm
Fitz did his job as a backup and for once didn’t throw an interception. He deserves his props because he plays with heart the same thing Jameis. You Jameis haters really need to go away. He’s not going anywhere so why don’t you?
November 19th, 2017 at 7:29 pm
Jbravo
I did not type anything that supports Jameis Winston. I only made factual observations. You suffer from what psychologist call defensive mechanism of denial. This is exciting! Social norms, ethics, and morals differ from your internal core beliefs. For example, some want people to be considered bad because of their gender, race, or social status; however, they lack any specific or tangible evidence to support their true feeling. Were the turnovers not a result of bad play by Culter? Did Matt Moore not turn the ball over? Did we not score as a result of the turnovers? You deny the facts because they conflict with your core beliefs. Denial will cause you to be very angry, very dangerous, and very suicidal. I am concerned. Have you had any suicidal ideations recently?
November 19th, 2017 at 7:32 pm
DavidBigBucsfan99 Says:
November 19th, 2017 at 7:04 pm
Fitz did his job as a backup and for once didn’t throw an interception. He deserves his props because he plays with heart the same thing Jameis. You Jameis haters really need to go away. He’s not going anywhere so why don’t you?
________________________________________________________________
A true and honest opinion that can be back by factual observation. However, please do not run off people who are in such bad need of help!
November 19th, 2017 at 7:40 pm
The Buffalo Bills benched starter Tyrod Taylor and went with rookie Nathan Peterman. Peterman threw 5 INT in the first half, then the Bills went back to Taylor. But the damage was already done, they was down 37-7 at the half. The Bills went on to lose 54-24.
November 19th, 2017 at 7:42 pm
Joe,
Where’s the article that says ‘If Fitz somehow leads us to 4-5 victories in a row and then Jameis gets healthy… Do u insert Jameis as the starter immediately or do u ride with Fitz thru the end of the season?’
See how our offense opens up when a QB is making solidly accurate throws fairly consistently??!?
Jameis might need to watch and learn til next year, but we’ll see how it plays out
November 19th, 2017 at 7:46 pm
@Jbravo … “we won because of a good effort from defense and special teams..and steady play at qb.its not complicated.” You’re right Jbravo on the defense & special teams, but it really is more complicated than that. Miami imploded in the 1st half thanks to Cutler; this loss was squarely on his shoulders. But not just his … Miami’s 18 penalties also cost them the game because it cost them big-time by killing some of their drives & keeping some of ours going. Had Moore played the entire game, I seriously doubt Bucs would’ve beaten them. Our defense played lights out at times, but the lights were truly out at other times. Some of Miami’s long 3rd down conversions in the 2nd half were unacceptable. Kenny Stills racked up 180 yds receiving, and Jarvis Landry added another 95. Moore threw for 282 yards … in only one half. Sorry but that’s not playing consistent defense.
November 19th, 2017 at 7:55 pm
Lamarcus.
That’s a classic comment there about fitz only beating crappy team /qb
Jameis beat the bears and Giants. 2 of the worst teams in the nfl.
November 19th, 2017 at 8:00 pm
Some of you are really stupid for thinking we are playing better because of fitz. This offense is below average with above average talent because of the play caller. Most quarterbacks misfire but he’s not better than Winston because we barely win two games against garbage teams.
November 19th, 2017 at 8:03 pm
All this Fitz talk is nonsense. Fitz couldn’t hold a candle to Jameis. I’m not sold on JW at this point but I’m not going to call for his head until the off-field stuff plays out and his eventual return unfolds. Fitz also made some bonehead decisions and missed easy passes. We just beat 2 bad teams. Let’s see how Fitz handles the next 2 games before he is the anointed replacement.
November 19th, 2017 at 8:09 pm
When you are Winning, you don’t F it up!! Fitz might not be jameis. But alls I know is with him as a starter, we have Won 2 games. Thats 2 more than with Jameis. Ride him out. Keep playin him. What have we got to lose? A stepdown to maybe no 8 draft pick? I..like Fitz. Play da man!
November 19th, 2017 at 8:22 pm
Max
As Bonzai pointed out I was primarily referring to the second half but let’s be honest…bratty Jay Cutler GAVE us two ints…we did nothing to earn them other than catch balls thrown right to us.
How many wide open passes did Cutler complete on our great defense.
Neither side is playing great right now….it is what it is. And again even though I’m the blog optimist I’m worried for our future.
I believe in #3’s talent. But there is something that is worrisome. We may not have our QB situation answered like we all believed. First there is the arm…what if he’s the next Andrew Luck.
Second #3 has horrible judgement!!! And that’s an area I’m not seeing great improvement….he’s made a couple of boneheaded plays this year that simply shouldn’t still be going on. Either he’s hard headed and going to do things his way or hes not all that coachable. Same thing off the field….he should have never been out…loaded..with Darby at 2:00 AM in an Uber. He’s a multi millionaire if he’s still that desperate to party…hire a couple of good bodyguards to babysit him and protect him from himself and his moronic posse….you know guys who have recorded him having sex with a drunk girl…at sometime you HAVE to grow up.
Do we seriously not think the Glazers are now thinking long and hard about dumping a 125 million his lap next year. How’s that going to work out.
So ask yourself the question. If you heard about an unidentified Buc who was charged with some sexual impropriety who is the FIRST player you’d think about? Why are the grifting gold diggers ignoring our other millionaire famous athletes….could it be they are smart enough to not leave themselves vulnerable.
Between his arm and his bad judgment we are really left dangling about next year? #3 is a good perhaps one day great QB…but is he really worth all the headaches and aggravation that come with him…the finger eating…the comments to the little girls…he’s starting to look like a permanent loose cannon….and I’ve been a big fan of #3. But he’s really stretching my patience.
It’s time for him to tone it down and play football. All this finger eating and rah rah is getting old.
November 19th, 2017 at 8:23 pm
Great win Bucs! But let’s just be clear the Winston will be back and I think he is going to be a major force to be reckoned with! Go Bucs!
November 19th, 2017 at 8:28 pm
The thing to learn in the game was teamwork and family. It’s time for the fans to also step up or get out! Go Bucs!
November 19th, 2017 at 8:39 pm
Coach nailed it. Untimely penalties stopped this from being an easy win. Not a fan of saying “If Moore had played the whole game..we would have lost”. Team game. Their coaches make decisions and we play who they field. If they had not traded Ajaye he would have run for 200 yards and 3 scores. If we still had Reedy he would have returned a kickoff for 6. See how silly “iffing” is to the NFL? Enjoy the win. We need more. Go bucs!
November 19th, 2017 at 8:46 pm
StPete, it sounds like you’re having the same second thoughts that I am about Jameis. Keep trying to put myself in the place of our Bucs players & can only wonder what they’re thinking right now about ‘America’s QB’. These guys are ‘la creme de la creme’ and their livelihoods depend on each other. Most are likely questioning Jameis’ leadership & judgment at this point. And I keep thinking the same thing about the Glazers. What do they think of not just this latest situation but also about the cavalcade of various incidents that he seems to spark, for whatever reasons. In the final analysis, the decision concerning Jameis’ future with the Bucs is really up to them though, not us.
November 19th, 2017 at 9:03 pm
It would be really funny if Fitzpatrick led this team to a five game win streak. I would laugh my ass off. Real dilemma for this collegiate coaching staff. Why does Koetter keep feeding the ball to a running back that looks completely lost out there? What point are they trying to prove?
November 19th, 2017 at 9:44 pm
Hopefully Jameis is watching Fitz very carefully while he is injured because he can learn a LOT from him. Fitz’ s experience really shows. Hopefully Jameis is watching very closely
November 19th, 2017 at 10:26 pm
Really SMH….
Are we watching the same games? Again Fitz makes a good backup, but he DOES NOT play better than JW…we are just playing the same teams that if defense and kicker was playing then like they are now, we would have won these same games. Fitz misses and have some mishaps but of course you will glorify him until we lose again. Altho since I truly want the best for the team I hope we continue to win.
How quickly we forget the bad kicking games, no defensive support and Jameis been playing with a bad shoulder, but because it is Jameis that would be an excuse.
Dirk plays scared anyhow, but he is terrified with Fitz under center!
Jameis should be an a…hole and then no one would try to accuse him.
It really gets my blood boiling because some of these perfect people on here who could not last a day in JW shoes since he was marked by Kinsman, her Aunt who concocted his mess with her vulture lawyer friend!
The rest is JW… is not to be emotional while playing this violent sport WE Love. Just show no pain, emotions, excitement just PLAY!!! The only time you can get away with showing any human emotions we better be winning!!!
Actually when JW leaves the only time I would watch the Bucs is when he is kicking the Bucs tail QBing the opposing team.
The Bucs was losing way before JW and he still gives them the best chance. It amazes me how people on here can past judgement about him when, you never been famous or trying to grow up while the nation is watching you and waiting for you to make a mistake. Give me a freaking break!
November 19th, 2017 at 11:00 pm
Yeah, my bad StPete. And Im 100% with your sentiments on JW3. You know i respect you, you’re always well spoken here….but dammn are we in a conundrum …bucs life i guess….love it or leave it and Im still here lol
November 19th, 2017 at 11:44 pm
Fitz is 2-0 against two horrible teams. Too bad they didn’t play Fitz the whole game against the Saints so you can all be quiet.
The Phins got a safety and should have been down 20-15 with the ball being punted to them (which would have been a loss for us).
Bring back Jameis as soon as possible (as long as his shoulder doesn’t effect his aim/velocity obviously).
November 20th, 2017 at 9:43 am
Nole4JabooANDdbucs Says:
“Actually when JW leaves the only time I would watch the Bucs is when he is kicking the Bucs tail QBing the opposing team.”
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Spoken like a true jaboo nut-hugger. You’re not a Bucs fan.