Questionable Calls From 2nd-And-2
November 26th, 2017
Down on playcalling
Damn, was this frustrating.
There the Bucs were, 2-and-2 with 7:51 remaining, driving well and trailing 27-20 on the Atlanta 19 yard line — and they came up empty.
So maddening.
It was four-down territory for Tampa Bay, yet they didn’t run the ball at all.
Joe rarely questions playcalling. But c’mon, Dirk. It was right there for you to rely on your offensive line to nudge the pile just a little and move the sticks.
Heck, in Miami last Sunday, Koetter called a quarterback sneak from the Bucs’ own 1-yard line with Ryan Fitzpatrick succeeding up the gut. Jacquizz Rodgers was having success today, with eight carries for 31 yards. And Doug Martin had solid numbers before he got hurt.
Joe doesn’t get it.
Koetter went deep to DeSean Jackson. That was followed by a short-of-the-sticks throw to Adam Humphries, followed by another pass that was disrupted by the pass rush.
Yeah, if those plays work, Koetter is a genius. But Joe’s going to wag a finger here for no rush against a reeling Falcons defense.
The Bucs got the ball back with under two minutes to go with the game out of reach.
November 26th, 2017 at 3:57 pm
Dirk’s offense, Mike Smith’s defense, Jason’s team.
No confidence.
November 26th, 2017 at 3:59 pm
My poor Bucs in a hell blaze speed to a 5-11 season! Well, at least I can play Paul Simons..Me and Julio..down at the schoolyard today!!
November 26th, 2017 at 4:00 pm
Koetter is a stupid idiot!
November 26th, 2017 at 4:01 pm
This will not change with our current coaching staff.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:01 pm
Let’s hope the next coaching staff can get this team right next year.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:01 pm
I hated the call to go for it on 4th there. Should have kicked a FG.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:02 pm
There is something missing in Dirk Koetter the head coach versus Dirk Koetter the Offensive Coordinator. He’s out-thinking himself or something. I can’t believe that series of calls. Not that it would have mattered because the defense wasn’t going to stop anyone, anyway.
The Fire Koetter and Clean House Mob is in full throat again.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:03 pm
I saw both Dotson and Marpet limping during game.So I will give credit to them
gutting it out toward the end of the game. Also Rodgers was effective for 5 yards a carry with Hawley in. Marpet wasn’t at his best but I sure would like to see him back at guard if he is healthy.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:03 pm
Well, the Bucs finally arrived at the scene of their own train wreck that is this year. The bright spot is they can fully focus on next year now. Play Fitz one more game until they are mathematically eliminated, then put in Ryan Griffin next home game and let him get the last four games and experience under his belt. Sign Fitz for another year; he can spell Winston if he is suspended. If ties are cut with Winston by early April, draft a QB…and you have Fitz to mentor him. Yes, 2018 looks like another year in the basement. Playoffs three years away, at least.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:03 pm
The play that ruined it was Hump’s moronic move of running a shallow route short of the first down stick. The throw was wide open!!!! If Hump runs his route just a yard deeper that drive continues!!! It’s FREAKING TIME FOR GODWIN!!!!
November 26th, 2017 at 4:03 pm
Since Dirk has been here we haven’t been able to convert short yardage plays. This is something that better coaches identify and fix. Dirk is just not a good coach to allow short yardage to lose us games year after year.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:03 pm
That might’ve been the final straw for me. I really don’t want to be constantly changing coaches, but he’s had a history of questionable play calling but this is unacceptable. If he was just the coordinator he’d probably be gone tomorrow.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:03 pm
Clean it out!!!
November 26th, 2017 at 4:04 pm
Anyone here who expected something different??? Playcalling is horrible since week 2 because week 1 was our bye.
By the way: Our D seemed to be surprised that they ran the ball late in the 4th quarter with a lead. I fear I’ll have a concussion from head shaking.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:05 pm
And yes Hump has been awful in clutch situations all year. Again, better coaching makes the adjustment and puts another player on the field. Dirk is a bad coach.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:05 pm
I’m a Koetter guy, but there’s there’s zero excuse here. He may have signed his own pink slip with that garbage. Nut up and run the ball man. You just told your linemen that you have no faith in them. It’s one yard man.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:05 pm
Once again, Dirk needs to watch the film, not for what we didn’t do but how to run an offense when you have short yardage and you have to move the sticks
November 26th, 2017 at 4:05 pm
Piss poor
November 26th, 2017 at 4:05 pm
Coach has gotta go. He is not a good playcaller and situational playcalling is awful.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:06 pm
The Bucs are not the worst team in the NFL as far as talent level
But the coaching staff is the worst or equally as bad as the worst in the NFL. Cut bait and start over.
GLAZER’S: Please, please find the best advisor who knows how to find the right GM and coaching.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:06 pm
That call has nothing to do with why they lost. Our inability to stop Julio Jones from doing whatever he wanted is an absolute travesty. At least make Atlanta try to go somewhere else with the ball. Smith should be let go immediately. That can’t happen.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:07 pm
Dirk is a sorry coach, this is what happens when this teams actually plays a decent football team. All year you have to question the coaching decisions on offense and defense. I can’t wait for them to get fired, the only time this team has any hope is when a new guy comes in. Stop trying to break the bank on platters and do it for a competent head coach, dirk is hot garbage and it’s no wonder Lovie Smith choose him, they both love field goals…. Useless coaches, horrible play calling and click management for Lovie 2.0
November 26th, 2017 at 4:07 pm
Koetter is NOT a good playcaller in the heat of the moment.
Koetter needs to hand over the playcalling duties to Monken or we need to #cutkoetter loose.
He’s holding our offense back.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:07 pm
Meanwhile the Eagles continue their overnight success.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:07 pm
Roy
We still have some talent we need some luck especially with injuries because we are not deep.
If we draft a true stud DE and he works out…50-50 shot…and becomes a starter who contributes…if Noah can get his shoulder fixed…all of the sudden our DL looks a lot better on the pass rush as GMC would be free in the center.
Our DB’s are getting better each week…Godwin and OJ are the real deal…we need to find a couple of young OL to push our starters.
Our kicking game is excellent.
Now Roy if your point is that we don’t really know who will be starting at QB the first week of the season…you have a point….we have to be exceptionally lucky at QB. But then think of Case Keenum…who would have thunk that?
November 26th, 2017 at 4:10 pm
I got no problem trying to score on fourth down, but Hump needs to get past the sticks on his critical play. A bigger receiver or TE would probably have made that play.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:10 pm
play calling has been horrible all year it is almost comical!!!
November 26th, 2017 at 4:10 pm
Koetter: insert square peg in round hole.
Please fire both Koetter and Smith now. They both fell apart this season.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:11 pm
Every year is next year by midseason when you are a fan of the worst ran sports franchise on planet earth.
There is absolutely no hope at all. They may never sniff a playoff game ever again. From owners to ball boys a complete and total embarrassment to league and football fans world-wide
November 26th, 2017 at 4:11 pm
And why is Hump starting over Godwin still.
That is idiotic at this point.
Hump has been playing like an UDFA this year. And not one that is playing above his draft status.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:11 pm
GMC needs to go. He sucks.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:11 pm
That lost was not on Smith, Ryan that is. Who can play Julio with no pass rush? Julio killed the whole secondary and he is legit. We knew they could score, the problem our offense forgot who they drafted in the first round, that Cameron Brate is also an excellent tight end, you have to move the chains and DK doesn’t know how.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:12 pm
Dork Koetter’s refusal to use guys that are getting it done is precisely why he will not be a head coach in 2018.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:12 pm
As bad as Dirks offense is his defense is just as bad……All first half we got abused on the edges and never adjusted. All year we have been giving up the sticks on third downs, again no adjustments.
We get abused by better coaching in the league as everything just looks so easy for the other offenses.
This coach is bad and he is making a joke out of this franchise. Mike Evans(just like in 2015) has taken a step backwards with unreliable skills. Dude is a scrub with talent.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:13 pm
I’ll never do it but it’s days like this that makes you want to jump ship, im a 45 year old guy that remembers watching the 9-0 NFC Championship game back in 79and I have it on tape, but Koetter should have kicked the FG, I’ve been drinking and hopefully this post makes sense but he does not call good plays, I say blow it up and bring Gruden back, at least RayJay would sell out next year
November 26th, 2017 at 4:13 pm
Stpete
There is zero hope until glazers sell or league does bucfan a favor by contraction starting with bucs and chargers
November 26th, 2017 at 4:15 pm
No playoffs AGAIN.
8th straight year post Gruden.
A city of morons…..
November 26th, 2017 at 4:17 pm
Another thing the team doesn’t give up behind Fitz as much as they do behind Jameis. I have not seen this team keep fighting when we get behind as much as when Jameis starts.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:18 pm
I have to double down. We are always good when we are in desperation mode. As soon as it gets to planned plays we suck. Sorry to say, but this is on coaching!
Maybe our so called OC will be the scapegoat – but a move has to be made now!
November 26th, 2017 at 4:20 pm
Not to pound on the obvious, but with the personnel this offense has they should be running up and down the field but they have not. Something somewhere is just not right. Don’t know if it’s bad chemistry or a bad play system, but they ‘re majorly under-achieving. Might be time for a major reboot
November 26th, 2017 at 4:23 pm
Everyone was happy with the coaching staff before the season. Just sayin.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:25 pm
The way Barber was running the ball why not give him the ball twice for two stinking yards? Dirk didn’t even have him in the game? You see Joe, Koetter is a loser, not a winner.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:26 pm
The worst call since dirk has been coach
November 26th, 2017 at 4:28 pm
Joe is right that this was a critical point in the game. They had an effective, methodical drive going after the fumble recovery deep in Bucs territory. But as I recall, the Bucs offense couldn’t get out of the huddle in time and had to call a timeout on a 3rd and 2. They killed their own momentum. What was going on? And, on defense, on a 3rd and 8, with the possibility of getting the ball back, they had Julio Jones one-on-one against Ryan Smith! The result was expected.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:29 pm
Jon Gruden? lol what a joke. The team was 22-26 during Gruden last 3 years here. That Idiot started the roller coaster that the Bucs are on.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:32 pm
No need to panic we “played hard”
November 26th, 2017 at 4:35 pm
If y’all cant tell the coaches are responsible for the problems with this team, I feel sorry for you. I swear most of y’all only watch one game a week (the bucs game) because you can look across the league and clearly see lesser talented teams out performing our Defense or Offense any given week. We haven’t put together a complete game all year. All the experts who picked the bucs to be good this year weren’t crazy. They just seen the raw talent and assumed the coaches would be able to get way more from the team. That’s why every announcer comments about Dirk’s play calling being vanilla week in and week out
November 26th, 2017 at 4:35 pm
Ive been saying to the next wife all season long. Koetter can get them to the red zone and all of a sudden his play calling ablilites go out the window. Licht (if he doesn’t get canned) needs to sit down with koetter at the end of the season and tell koetter he either gets an offensive coordinator to call his plays or he’s fired. I will be voting no confidence this week in koetter.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:36 pm
In grudens last four years, three winning seasons two division titles.
Haven’t been to playoffs since.
But it might be hard for a Polk county resident to figure that out. Typical pathetic, ignorant, moronic bucs fan.
Deserve every bit of this fiasco u jack asses.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:38 pm
Lakeland on Gruden? lol what a joke. The team was 22-26 during Gruden last 3 years here. That Idiot started the roller coaster that the Bucs are on.
I agree!!
November 26th, 2017 at 4:39 pm
GRUDEN TIME!
For those saying he was terrible during this past several seasons, it was a lack of PERSONNEL issue not a coaching issue.
This team has more weapons than Gruden has ever had.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:40 pm
Oh yeah, and I guess the #Stickcarrier movement is officially dead now…
Wow, that was short-lived.
Thanks, Koetter.
You’re fired! – Trump
November 26th, 2017 at 4:41 pm
57-55 record with the Bucs and he’s Vince Lombardi. Some stupid people in this world.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:42 pm
There was no reason to kick a field goal at the end?
How does losing by 11 make it any better than losing by 14?
You had to tie the game right there with the amount of time that was left.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:43 pm
I didn’t mean to insult the stupid people of the world. These Gruden lovers are beyond stupid.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:44 pm
I so agree with Roy T Buford. I’ve been calling for BUCS to draft a QB with the first pick. This team is a complete mess and I’m dumping my season tickets after 15 years of driving from Orlando to Tampa and back. It will take at least 3 drafts to clean up this horror story and I’m not going to finance it. It’s a BUCS LIFE. SLUMPBUSTERS on display
November 26th, 2017 at 4:45 pm
It was NOT 4 down time or territory there.
The decision to go for it on 4th was even more baffling…
You KICK the FG there!!!!!
A TD doesn’t give you the lead but a FG at least gives your defense some breathing room, and much better odds at keeping it to a 2 score game.
That sh*t was full-ret*rd by Koetter and proves that his situational football decision skills are horrific.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:47 pm
*1 score
November 26th, 2017 at 4:48 pm
How can you run on 2nd and 2 when Barber was averaging 1.4 yards per carry? Where was the All-Pro DT? Did Jones break the fantasy points record?
Hello, Quizz just ran for 8 yards on 1st-and-10!
November 26th, 2017 at 4:50 pm
As much as I would like to bash Koetter on this (although if you are going deep, why not play action on after an 8 yard run), go back and look at Rodgers out of the backfield on 2nd and two. For all that love to bash Winston on this stuff, I’m ready to hear the same regarding Fitz. For him to throw the ball away, without checking out Rodgers….. pretty bad. Rodgers might not score, but he gets inside the 5.
The third down call was just a bad design in that situation and a poor play from Fitz. Watching Humphries the entire time. Just directed the entire team to him.
Fourth down, terrible play design. No quick routes available???? Only needed 1 yard why run everyone deeper?
November 26th, 2017 at 4:56 pm
I don’t understand all this hate with the Glazers, they are trying to put together a winning team. They are just as pissed off as us. They had a moment when Raheem was running the show when I had concerns about their commitment to the team but since then they have been good owners. I don’t think Jason Licht is the problem either. Dirk Koetter and Mike Smith are the problems. Yes the players play a part in it too, however when your coaches continually put you in bad positions like putting a rookie safety on the number one receiver in the league how are they supposed to succeed? A guy both of you used to coach so you know how dangerous he is. I tried to defend these coaches. I’m done now. I continuously watch other coaches in the league find a weakness and exploit it, yet when teams play us their weakness because their strength. That’s poor coaching. How does a coach let that happen if he know what he is doing? I have enough time to see these coaches don’t know what they are doing. They don’t know how to teach, evaluate, or come up with a game plan, and are to stubborn to change. I hope they are looking for new real estate because some if not all of them willl be goon soon.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:57 pm
The Bucs made the playoffs 4 times out of 5 years, before they hired Jon Gruden. And Gruden made the playoffs 3 times out his 7 seasons in Tampa. And these Idiots are crying to get Gruden back.
November 26th, 2017 at 4:59 pm
@StPete…I agree, DE is top need for draft. Yes, my point was figure out the plan for QB before the draft, and need a viable plan that does not include Winston, and one that does.
November 26th, 2017 at 5:02 pm
The play calling really was terrible. That play to Hump running a pattern that didn’t even pass the first down marker. The 4th and 2 play should have been a roll out. Why not move Fitz and cross OJ, he’s huge. Instead you drop Fitz straight back and throw a 10 yard throw right in the middle of the field.
I’m sick of this dark ages offense that doesn’t open up the field for players to have any open space. I’m sick of a defense that can’t come up with a double or triple cover scheme to keep Julio Jones from carving them up. It’s disgusting watching Matt Ryan play an entire game and never being hit.
It’s so bad being the only team in the super competitive NFC South that is loaded with good players who don’t have it together on game day.
Sure no one wants to see coaches get fired but the Bucs need some people running the team that know what the he’ll they are doing. Jacksonville was wandering around in the desert of losers until they brought in Tom Couglin to bring toughness to the team. The Bucs are actually worse than their record because they have at least 8-10 players that would start on most teams that play don to the level in their boneheaded coaches.
November 26th, 2017 at 5:09 pm
Yeah who needs Super Bowls and division titles.
Better never to make the playoffs again….
November 26th, 2017 at 5:10 pm
No everyone was not ok with the coaching staff before the season. We were happy with hard knocks, that head coach we saw on hard knocks is not the guy we’ve seen on the sidelines and no wonder we can say the same thing about the players
November 26th, 2017 at 5:50 pm
Why not just run a qb sneak? It seems like Koetter is always trying to “outsmart” everyone and try something that the opposing D is not expecting yet somehow they always sniff it out like a when Blake Snell of the Rays got into that horrible habit of tipping his pitches and got hammered. Snell solved his isues with the help of Jim Hickey but alas there is no one to help Koetter sort out his trainwreck of offensive schemes except for maybe the Glazers who could take away his playcalling ability in one of two ways; relieve him of his OC duties and bring in another OC (unlikely) or simply fire the guy and start anew (very likely unless Dirk wins at least 2 or 3 more games)….. This seemed like a game where the ATL could be caught flat footed yet the Bucs looked like the team that played MNF in Seattle not the Dixie Chicks….
November 26th, 2017 at 6:04 pm
Okay: one other thing: when do Koetter and Licht start going to the excuse card to avoid the pink slip? Has it started already? I can see several things they can go to: the injuries on the D and Jameis, Irma disrupting the month of September and the movement of the bye week from week 11 to week 1, Licht blaming Koetter for gameplanning, Koetter blaming Licht for poor talent acquisition, DC Mike Smith, etc, etc….. What do you think Joe, will it start getting ugly at One Buc?
November 26th, 2017 at 6:21 pm
What the BUC was that about?!
November 26th, 2017 at 6:29 pm
Lajeland
Dungy the pathetic cliwn failure ine 2 playoff games in six years and gruden won 3 in his first year… gruden is not the answer living in the past is for losers but you presented a flawed argument
November 26th, 2017 at 6:32 pm
Lakeland it does not count if you make the playoffs with no hope of winning because you are great defense on a horrible teamand. One and done dungy style
November 26th, 2017 at 6:50 pm
Harbaugh please!!!….GO BUCS!!!
November 26th, 2017 at 7:53 pm
If you don’t play your best wide receiver ( GODWIN) with the best hands on the team then you deserve to continue to Kick field goals and lose games.. With A Bucs defense ranked last in NFL you need to put up 30 points a game to win. Need new head coach and assistant coaches ASAP. Very realistic that the Bucs will not win another game in 2017 season.
November 27th, 2017 at 1:07 am
I don’t think Licht is the problem,yes he’s made a few questionable ( bonehead draft day decisions) but ultimately this team has talent, and loads of it, except d-end….the coaches on the other hand need to play the best players and put them in position to succeed…Ryan Smith one on one vs Julio, not a good idea and thats more about who Julio is, not a knock on Smith because I believe he has played well since he got back in the starting role..koetter is not a head coach, the talk has been why doesn’t jameis start faster, well jameis hasn’t played the last three weeks and we still start as slow as molasses… Get me a defensive head coach and put Mike McCoy in the press box as of next year as oc