The Morning After
November 13th, 2017
(Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.)
Welcome back Victory Monday. It’s been too long. What kept you?
So let Joe quickly dive into Jason Licht’s pool.
1. Joe was almost forgetting what a Bucs win was during this ugly five-game losing streak that snapped yesterday. Joe ran into safety T.J. Ward and asked if he almost forgot what it felt like to win. He sort of sighed and looked around and said, “I know! We have to keep this up.” The Bucs offense still looked s(p)itty, though DeSean Jackson had 10 targets (seems like a lot) and so too did rookie receiver Chris Godwin, who did nothing to suggest he won’t be a dependable receiver whenever he breaks into the starting lineup. But the defense? My, goodness. Six sacks? Joe cannot imagine the kind of odds one could have received at a Vegas book on whether the Bucs would rack up six sacks. And the defense only allowed the Jets to convert 20 percent of third downs. That’s amazing since opponents were converting 49 percent of third downs entering the game. That is a huge step up. Props to Mike Smith for inventing a solid gameplan.
2. Though there may not be a season to save any longer, Patrick Murray has been a godsend. He has made seven of eight field goal attempts. Pretty solid number. Joe can only imagine or guess how many wins Murray could have saved the Bucs had he been on the roster to begin with.
3. So Joe pulled up Game Pass on NFL.com and watched the sideline kerfuffle late in the game that centered around Robert Ayers and Kwon Alexander woofing at each other. Details are murky for what the hassle was all about. Kevin O’Donnell of WTVT-TV claims Alexander was irate that Swaggy Baker got flagged for roughing-the-passer, which led to the Jets’ lone touchdown with just seconds remaining. Ayers called out O’Donnell on Twitter for making things up. Let’s say O’Donnell’s information is accurate. The fact that a Bucs player was ready to throw down on a teammate for making a dumb play that led to a touchdown, well, that warmed Joe’s heart. If Bucs players are that peeved over a late score, that tells Joe they are locked in on what coaches are saying and haven’t thrown in the towel. Joe has written before how, if Koetter can keep his ranks together through the losing, that will bode well for his job security. The sideline jawing between Ayers and Alexander is evidence Koetter still has players’ attention.
4. It was good to see Godwin get so much playing time and targets. Kid has been sparingly used since being drafted as a hot shot prospect out of Penn State. Granted, there is a logjam at receiver on this team. Godwin looked as he if belonged on the field. Joe thinks Godwin is going to be a good one.
5. Boo to the patrons of the velvet-lined lounge of the greater Vero Beach Ramada Inn. Favorite son Freddie Martino was activated for the game and his impact sadly cost the Bucs six points. Bernard Reedy fielded a punt from Lac Edwards and returned it upfield along the right sideline for 44 yards. It was Edwards, the last man, who thwarted Reedy from scoring. And who was trying to block Edwards and failed, allowing Edwards to get Reedy out of bounds? Martino.
Trinkets: When Ira Kaufman’s favorite player, Charles Sims, ran for 20 yards on a third down in the fourth quarter, Joe swore he saw a yeti running down the left sideline. … Joe saw the same ol’ Stewart McClown he remembered with the Bucs. Once, McClown dropped the ball and he quickly picked it up and threw it (not away). Later, McClown was falling down and tried to complete a pass. If America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, tried those stunts, the screaming would be so loud that it would register as a small earthquake. … Yeah, Bucs fans quickly piled on left tackle Donovan Smith when he got a flag for holding that killed a 14-yard gain early in the third quarter. At least the penalty was entertaining. Joe didn’t catch the number of the defensive lineman, but Smith picked the guy up and threw him in mid-air to his left. The zebras didn’t like it.
November 13th, 2017 at 8:06 am
More like it….hopefully they are out of their funk….the talent has been there and the coaching has too….it has been attitude and execution
November 13th, 2017 at 8:20 am
Here’s hoping Koetter has an offensive game planning epiphany between now and Miami. His play calling is boring and stinks! Run up the middle yet again on the very first play. Give me a break! Team and players deserve better. Go Bucs next week and hook the Fins!!
November 13th, 2017 at 8:21 am
Had a lot of fun yesterday at the game….I’m sick as a dog now because of the rain but we got a much needed win…..let’s continue to stack these wins….offense still needs to get going but satisfied with the performance….GO BUCS!!!!
November 13th, 2017 at 8:28 am
Its clear that Godwin needs to be in the game more. And it doesn’t need to be at wideout. He can play in the slot also. Seems like Hump has had some trouble hanging to some of Jameis deeper passes . I don’t know if this is on Koetter or Jameis favoring Hump.
November 13th, 2017 at 8:34 am
Orlbucfan- totally agree. Dirk’s play calling is about the most predictive I’ve ever seen. He has to get more creative or we’re not winning more games. As for the defense, they played lights out! Hopefully they stop this Jeckyl and Hyde act soon. Go Bucs!
November 13th, 2017 at 8:41 am
Can someone who was at the game give me an opinion on this article? https://sports.yahoo.com/despite-threat-boycott-attendance-increases-sunday-nfl-games-234459264.html The NFL is claiming the stadium was 88% full yesterday and that the Bucs have been averaging 92% home attendance over the season.
Does that seem realistic? I have not gone to the stadium this year, but I have been attending games for decades, both in the old stadium and RJS, what I am seeing on TV does not look like 88% capacity to me. Are they giving away tickets that don’t get used or doing some other paperwork shuffle to give this number? Or is the appearance of the stadium just deceiving?
November 13th, 2017 at 8:47 am
88% is tickets sold…not in the seats….that stadium was preseason game full….sad sight
November 13th, 2017 at 8:54 am
Lest we forget, Bucs are 3-2 at home & our defense has only allowed an average of 15 pts/game at RayJay. Bucs could’ve been 5-0 actually … both the Pats game & the Panthers game were winnable IF our Offense had showed up. The only game on the road that was winnable IMO was the Bills game … in that case IF our Defense had shown up. But as bad as we’ve looked at times, this team could’ve realistically been 6-3 if 3 games had gone just a little differently. Ya, I know, if pigs had wings they could fly.
Point is, this season is almost surely blown, but the Bucs do have something to build on. A couple of good drafts (fix the trenches please Jason & stay away from kickers) and we could be competitive. And please take away one of Dirk Koetter’s hats … he’s not effective as BOTH a HC & OC.
November 13th, 2017 at 9:04 am
I have to say as bad as Fritz was/is he still has that NFL QB mentality/training/experience. I would not like to have him as a starter but did you guys notice how he knows when to run, throw the ball away or step up into the pocket to avoid sacks.
November 13th, 2017 at 9:09 am
FR….and deliver the ball where the receiver has a chance to YAC
November 13th, 2017 at 9:12 am
Glad to see the Bucs defense finally play well.
A bunch of reasons not many fans there.
The first is the team has stunk
Second reason is the kneeling of players kept people away
Third reason is the team has stunk
Fourth reason is the team has stunk
oh and the fifth reason is the team has stunk.
November 13th, 2017 at 9:16 am
O line? Running game? I don’t see how Koetter gets the thumbs up after yet another offensive nightmare. I’ve been saying all along- The problem was allways the offense. All the eggs were put in that basket this season yet they kept us in a hole each and every game making the defense throw the towel and give up.
The D was bad more often than not, dont get me wrong, but the offense was garbage 90% of the time, could not put points, couldn’t sustain drives until the D got frustraited and gave up. Somehow they kept it together and didn’t let go against the jets.
November 13th, 2017 at 9:17 am
Oh what could have been. Enjoy retirement next year Grimes. Please help bucs beat Miami next week. 2 picks at least!
November 13th, 2017 at 9:18 am
@AlteredEgo I find it hard to believe they actually SOLD 88% of the seats. I have no idea what the season ticket base is, but it seems crazy so many people would buy tickets and not attend. I would wager they are doing something else with unsold tickets to claim they “sold” them. I believe it was NBA teams that were giving away tickets no one wanted with corporate advertising, so they claimed the tickets had been “sold” as part of the ad package, but no one actually wanted the tickets and the seats usually went empty.
I don’t have any way to know, but I’ll wager something like this is going on with NFL numbers.
November 13th, 2017 at 9:24 am
So the offense is horrible and the Bucs have more weapons than most teams and an offensive head coach. Something just isn’t right at OBP.
November 13th, 2017 at 9:38 am
that holding call on 76 was pure bullspit! Glad the big fella came out with passion tho
November 13th, 2017 at 9:42 am
This is what happens when you have a quarterback that knows when to run , when to throw it away and when to try to make a throw . Granted , he is not perfect but he kept our defense off the field a bit which improves attitude . When we beat the fish next week it leaves the Bucs with a bit of a problem , no ? The idiots will probably put Winston back in…..lol.
November 13th, 2017 at 9:49 am
We won that game because Mike Smith finally got aggressive. He did this last year and we won 5 straight. Then inexplicably stopped again for 2 games (lost both and a certain playoff spot), and he dialed it back up against the Panthers in the last game of the year. This year absolutely nothing until this game. WTF took you so long? You a little slow brother? Anyway- good job. We won in spite of play calling- run run pass, SMDH!
November 13th, 2017 at 10:01 am
I wish I couldve seen the look on Dekemper or however you spell his names face when Sims scored that TD.
November 13th, 2017 at 10:04 am
@JJBucFan
It worked yesterday because they had Kwon (playing well) in the middle and Grimes giving good coverage!!!!! Also you have to have a team the is susceptible to the blitz!!!!!!!!!! They did bring an extra man in the New Orleans game, but it got stonewalled at the line the Brees ate them up for a big play, so they backed off!!!!!!!!
It has to have an effect and you have to have the personal!!!!!! Coach Smitty does not want to “die” by the blitz so he reverts back to the “bend don’t break” defense!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 13th, 2017 at 10:25 am
I️ called this one. Typical Bucs bounce back. A win, but not impressive enough to make you feel truly better. They’ll do the same thing next week which will have the Jameis haters sharpening their pitchforks and uninformed barbs. Then Fitz will do Fitz things and blow a game and all of a sudden it’s a cry for Jameis’ return. With 7 losses and zero pressure, Jameis will rally the bucs to do just enough to raise the off-season hype levels just high enough to have the boards filled with 2018 playoff talk all offseason.
Rinse. Repeat. Carry on.
November 13th, 2017 at 10:32 am
Grimes and lavonte were savages on defense
November 13th, 2017 at 10:42 am
I saw and predicted 4+ sacks for the game. Why? Josh McCown. He takes a lot of sacks. Always has.
I also predicted 2 interceptions for Fitz, which happened, but one was called back on a penalty, so the record won’t show it.
I’m not naive enough to think that we’ll start getting a ton of sacks now. I doubt that will happen.
All in all, a win is a win and it broke the losing streak, so hopefully things will get better.
I hope Jameis is paying attention. Fitz isn’t the best QB in the world (nowhere close) but he moves the ball with a lot of low risk, high reward passes. If Jameis does the same, he’ll do much better.
November 13th, 2017 at 10:44 am
You know…people try to say how the full back has been phased out. I’ve been screaming for one for years now.
Nothing else is working for our run game. Bring in a good full back and watch things get better!!!!!
November 13th, 2017 at 10:52 am
Realist- I understand that, however early in the year when we blitzed he had (or allowed) his CBs to play 15 yards off the line. Hot reads/slants killed us. This week he rushed Beckwith off the edge and David and Alexander through the middle. He mixed it up beautifully. They never knew where we were coming from. My question was, what took you so long. Of course it helps having Kwon and Grimes back, but I would rather a quick death than a slow painful one, LOL
November 13th, 2017 at 10:53 am
Bonzai- Alan Cross is missed on this team, OMG I can’t believe I just said that, but it is true.
November 13th, 2017 at 10:55 am
Altered who are you kidding. His accuracy was god awful. Just stop. Knows how to lead my a$$
November 13th, 2017 at 11:05 am
If anyone watching that game now thinks that Fitz is the answer over Jameis then you are simply brain dead. Couldn’t hit a deep ball, made some really poor throws and decisions. Sounds like all of the same criticisms of Jameis. Hard to be good when they know you can’t run the ball.
Difference was they were playing the Jets and defense came to play (against a very limited offense). Only positive to come out of this game is that hopefully the defense can gain some momentum and confidence.
November 13th, 2017 at 11:31 am
Fitzpatrick was not good, but he did enough.
The Bucs actually played good defense and that is the reason for victory.
A healthy Jameis would’ve most likely torched the Jets.
November 13th, 2017 at 11:35 am
Wow!!! folks excited about a win against a really bad football team.
November 13th, 2017 at 11:43 am
Where’s Lorenzo Neal when you need him?!
This game was “Exhibit A” as to the woes of this offensive line. Martin was constantly having to break tackles in the backfield and while he may not have missed any games, Donovan Smith looks like a liability to me.
Watching our offense is like watching paint dry! Guru?!
November 13th, 2017 at 12:06 pm
MORE GODWIN PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I watched him at Penn State. Wait until you see him in the open field.
November 13th, 2017 at 12:14 pm
^^^Yes.