Embarrassing Missed Chances
November 13th, 2018
Impotent run game.
Joe is going to be using the word “embarrassing” a lot in the next seven weeks or so. Because that is what this Bucs team has become in so many ways.
Embarrassing.
Embarrassing for the owners. Embarrassing for the front office. Embarrassing for the coaching staff. Embarrassing for the players. Embarrassing for the Tampa Bay community. Embarrassing for the NFL. Embarrassing for Bucs fans.
The latest embarrassment? Missed opportunities with the offensive line and the run game. Sunday was a glaring example.
The Redskins had an offensive line put together with gum, duct tape and toothpaste. They were down three starters and a fourth starter was so hurt he was a gametime decision.
Most NFL teams would get wiped out with those injuries and no one would grumble. The Redskins beat the Bucs on the ground, running for 116 yards to the Bucs’ 103 (35 of which came from the friggin’ quarterback, too).
Why is Joe worked up by this?
The Bucs have had a glorious opportunity to build a running game this year because, per Greg Auman of The Athletic, the Bucs have four starting offensive linemen who have yet to miss a snap through nine games. They are Donovan Smith, Ali Marpet, Ryan Jensen and Demar Dotson. The fifth starter, Caleb Benenoch, hasn’t missed a start.
Think about that. In a position(s) where dudes get smashed and hammered and beat to hell by guys just as big as them if not bigger, get their bones crushed on every snap, they have been perfectly healthy at all positions. That is extraordinary!
Yet the Bucs’ run game is about as potent as a middle-aged man who forgot his ED medication.
Who is picking these running backs?
Who is coaching these running backs?
Better question is, who isn’t coaching these running backs?
But, yeah, Jameis is the problem, sure.
#BlameJameis
November 13th, 2018 at 11:09 am
Of course Jameis is the problem. He’s a metastasizing cancer, taking the whole team down.
November 13th, 2018 at 11:11 am
Jameis can apparently lose games he didn’t even play in.
November 13th, 2018 at 11:15 am
All I know is some people still think it’s the players despite 7 years of history of Dirk Koetter offenses that historically produce WAY more yards than points.
Koetter has 1 year in 7 with a top 10 scoring offense. He has 5 years with top 10 yardage offenses; and all those teams were average at best in scoring. In 2015 we had the 5th best yardage offense and 20th scoring offense for example.
So stop with the red zone = player execution argument. If I recall Dirk had Devonte Freeman available when he was force feeding Steven Jackson in Atlanta. 2 years after Koetter leaves Atlanta had the #1 SCORING offense in the NFL with mostly all the same personnel and weapons Koetter had available. The difference was Shanahan used them better.
Hell Shanahan has the 49ers averaging 23 points a game with weak sh1t at WR and RB and his QB hurt. We average 25.8 points with a completely stacked WR/TE corps / MUCH better QB room / and multiple years in the system and continuity on the O-line.
The above = example of what good coaching does.
The rams went from scoring 14 PPG to 29.9 PPG in ONE YEAR because of Sean McVay. Not because the players simply executed better. He created a system that Goff could run and that fit the skills of every player involved. He found a way to maximize Todd Gurley’s skill set a year after he looked like Drug Martin.
That’s coaching IMO. Not sure what else you can point the finger at.
November 13th, 2018 at 11:16 am
no beard in pic…looks good
November 13th, 2018 at 11:17 am
jim leavitt spotted exiting walmart on south dale maby with a bag full of bucs tees and caps
November 13th, 2018 at 11:18 am
Jenson is so overpaid Joe replaced his first name. lol
November 13th, 2018 at 11:21 am
Very, very, difficult to pick people to run your organization, however, what has happened to the Bucs is ridiculous!! I would suggest hiring some real pro’s like Bill Polian or Bill Parcells or tony Dungy, to help with the hiring of a new head coach and GM and with the next 3 drafts and free agency. It is for sure that no one the Glazers have hired to date can do it.
These are 2 people with winning records where ever they have been. They are both well respected in the football community. They know what it takes to b e a winner. Constantly changing HC and GM is no way to run a business. Too much constant change with no stability. Move on from Winston. He is not a top 10 QB!!! He is average at best. Certainly not worth the money that he will want. Bucs can get someone like him much cheaper and have more to build the rest of the team until they get the QB they really want.
November 13th, 2018 at 11:23 am
When you play finesse offense, it helps the O line’s health. Wonder how much it would take to bring in Logan Mankins as an O-line coach. He knows where all the good BBQ is.
November 13th, 2018 at 11:26 am
Dewey:
His brother’s tweets are in Joe’s timeline so often, he reads the first name much more than the Bucs center. Subliminal.
November 13th, 2018 at 11:29 am
C’mon.
Bill Polian is commissioner and stakeholder in a new football league. He’s not going back to that grind.
The Dolphins are still trying to clean up Parcell’s mess — but let’s have a president of football operations even though those fail 90 percent of the time and is nothing more than a general manager with a cool title! Oh, goody, goody, goody, goody!
Tony Dungy??? Just what the Bucs need. Quarterbacks who can’t throw in a passing league and run the ball up the middle 80 percent of the time.
November 13th, 2018 at 11:31 am
Admin, Dungy did pretty good in Indy. You do know he coached AFTER he left the Bucs right? It doesn’t seem like you do. Other than that oversight, the rest of your post is pretty spot on.
November 13th, 2018 at 11:32 am
Instead of being embarrassing for the owners it should be embarrassing “because” of the owners. Lets stop pretending that they are not the main reason. Fix the root of the problem.
November 13th, 2018 at 11:33 am
LMAO @ Dewey….hahaha
November 13th, 2018 at 11:37 am
If you believe the owners are the problem, that problem will not go away. Joe doesn’t expect any sane person to unload a business that is an absolute river of billions of dollars of revenue just by turning on the light switch unless forced to due to sordid behavior (see: Panthers, Carolina).
November 13th, 2018 at 11:38 am
Started to post something, but then said nah! What could I possibly say that hasn’t already been said. My favorite sports team is an embarrassment.
November 13th, 2018 at 11:40 am
The pathetic Oline play has to be the biggest disappointment of the season. And that’s saying a lot when there’s so much disappointment to chose from.
November 13th, 2018 at 11:50 am
I thought Warhop is supposed to be one of the best o-line coaches in the league? Pass blocking is usually good, but we haven’t had a running game in how long now? wtf
November 13th, 2018 at 12:05 pm
Lets see..Cold and Windy in NYC+, Manning and Barkley at the ready+, Fitz at QB in NY..another check. All add up to..a 24 10 win for the Giants come Sunday.
November 13th, 2018 at 12:08 pm
Jameis is part of the problem even when he doesn’t play because we didn’t expect to get a #1 draft pick riding the pine before his first contract is up. Whatever may be the reason for his inconsistencies, Koetter was promoted because he and Jameis were showing signs of a good working relationship. But, Jameis couldn’t shake the bone headed plays with all his turnovers.
It’s telling when the offense is no better with or without your #1 draft pick. Now that’s embarrassing.
November 13th, 2018 at 12:14 pm
And people want to keep him in town because of passing. Demoted him to coordinator and go get a real coach. He’s responsible for the team not the offense. Really think this offense would be less potent with a new system. Panthers are in a new system and so many other teams are doing just fine, we won’t miss a beat without dirk
November 13th, 2018 at 12:16 pm
Joe, I respect your opinion but everyone and everything has a price. Owners do not have to sell simply because they are insane or forced to due to sordid behavior. In recent years, Wayne Huizenga sold the Miami Dolphins, Wayne Weaver sold the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Randy Lerner sold the Cleveland Browns. As far as I can tell, the were all sane and were not forced to sell for sordid behavior.I just do not understand with the right offer and climate why it would not be possible. Granted they would need to be willing but I do not think it would be impossible.
November 13th, 2018 at 12:28 pm
LC
i agree…..perfectly said…..
Mr. Blank told us who they were when he fired them….at that time, all he talked about was how soft the team was and how he wanted a physical tough team…..
there’s nothing tough or physical about smitty and dirk…..
wheres @realist?…….pricing out U-HAULS for dirk?…..
he was talking all that BS about the defense and then the defense plays good enough to win the game…..further exposing dirk…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
November 13th, 2018 at 12:31 pm
i remember when dirk was hired, i said winston made dirk look better than he really is and i got killed for it…..fastward to today, looks like i was spot on…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
November 13th, 2018 at 12:34 pm
JJV
There is no motivation for Team Glazer to sell… They make money on the stadium, via the sweetheart deal they were given.
They make money if ZERO Buc fans show up to games, they make money if the Bucs have zero wins.
I suppose if someone wanted to WAY overpay what the team is worth, they might consider it, but why would you take a one time payment when you can make money year after year after year….
———————————–
Joe-
Do you really, honestly think that having Tony Dungy in the building would be a Bad thing?
Even if he were just a sounding board, there would be value in that.
I think it’s short sighted to say that if he were in an administrative role that the team would run up the middle 80% of the time, and have a QB who can’t throw. Tony isn’t stupid, he can see what goes on in the league.
It’s all moot anyway, the closest he would get to this clown show is his living room in Tampa. But you can’t seriously tell me that if he WERE hired tomorrow, you would start disparaging him…..
November 13th, 2018 at 12:38 pm
Jameis is a major problem but not the only problem. There is really nothing good about this team or organization.
November 13th, 2018 at 12:46 pm
Jmarkbuc, I understand it is unlikely with the Glazers financial position. It is just so frustrating when it is so clear that their management and decisions with the organization has been such a failure for being a winning franchise.
November 13th, 2018 at 12:49 pm
@813
I just want to win man. I just want a competent team. I don’t know who to hire but the idea of bringing an old school football mind here scares me. Koetter/Lovie/Mike Smith all are established veteran football minds… That wasn’t the problem. The problem is the NFL has changed and they haven’t apparently.
The only veteran staffs doing very well right now are super established HOF type coaches in Bellicheck / Sean Payton / Andy Reid / Mike Tomlin. The prior 3 being offensive minded coaches that have shown great adaptability to the modern game.
AFter that all the solid teams have newer coaching staffs with different approaches. Rams / Redskins / Bears / Vikings (I really wanted Zimmer back when he was available) / Chargers / Falcons / etc. 49ers are probably a playoff team with Jimmy G despite much less talent. Seahawks I guess are pretty established with that staff as well but they sure as f*ck know how to build a team there with that staff in general. Hell the Titans look better with Vrabel running things now. They just easily beat the Pats and are winning games without having their QB do much. I can’t even remember hte last time we won a game where it wasn’t on the arm of our QB.
November 13th, 2018 at 12:54 pm
I’ve ridden the owners as hard as anyone. Pre-2011, the latest CBA, they were among the miserliest owners. The first round they stayed with their minimalist approach, but they still have to spend the 89%. Some even think the weird Sweezy deal was an orchestrated way to beat the 89% minimum.
It seemed, though, that this year we came out of that. I envision a discussion among the four Glazers that occurred last year right before free agency.
D&B: “Look, we have a chance with Jameis under control to win these next couple of years. Let’s go for it.”
J&E: “I don’t know. Most of our revenue comes from TV rights, which is unrelated to how the team plays.”
D&B: “It’s just till the off year after the CBA expires.”
J&E: “Okay. But if it doesn’t work. We’re done with it. No expensive coach changes and we go back to hitting our 89% over the four year window.”
D&B: “Jason assures me this is our year. It’s gonna work.”
Now it looks like we go back to a rebuild. We wait till the premium coaches are hired elsewhere. Then, we hire someone who’ll do it on the cheap, a Hue Jackson type. We don’t upgrade anything. We let scouts who are really good move on to other teams. We don’t invest in Jameis or any other big names. We do a Gruden tank to get some as yet unknown college spread, bubble screen throwing, dual-threat phenom to be the savior. Then, we sit out 2021 because of the lock-out. 2022, though, we’ll actually have some hope.
November 13th, 2018 at 1:08 pm
JJV
Think about how the Glazers got their start.
If I’m not mistaken it was being landlords to low income trailer parks…
Making money by being slumlords. Kind of the same thing here and now. They don’t get anywhere near “the little people”, just put the money in the bank.
I do think Malcolm genuinely cared. That and he saw the massive amount of money that could be made. All of those car flags and Bucs gear that got sold from 97-02….
His kids got the big head and bought a soccer team, and it’s even more profitable to them now. The Bucs are just a cash cow.
November 13th, 2018 at 1:23 pm
Thanks Jmarkbuc for the consul, lol. It makes feel a little better understanding the situation but I am still disgusted with the owners.
November 13th, 2018 at 1:29 pm
That was probably the most FRUSTRATING Bucs game that I have ever watched. Seriously… over 500 yards of Offense…… and 3 points.
Any way this team could shoot themselves in the foot….. they did so.
So Frustrating….
(sigh)
November 13th, 2018 at 1:31 pm
Btw, they are fortunate to have so many loyal fans that are dedicated and passionate about our team winning. I wish the same could be said about them.
November 13th, 2018 at 1:35 pm
BucTown Says:
“Of course Jameis is the problem.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Most embarrassing Bucs game ever.
First comment of course blames Jameis. (who didn’t play)
That is hilarious.
November 13th, 2018 at 1:43 pm
You know how fans can get the Glazer’s attention & force positive change??? Organize a strike…Stop buying Bucs tickets & merchandise…Openly boycott the team… Protest at OneBucsPlace & alert the media in advance…That will get the Glazers attention. (A potential lost of revenue always gets bean counters attention!)
I love the Bucs…Have since 1976….(It’s been a rough ride!)
However, I have no issue spending my entertainment $$’s at a college venue on SAT’s, instead throwing $$ into the wind on SUN’s!
It’s a better return on my investment & I have a day to recover from tailgating
– hard – before heading back to work on MON’s!
November 13th, 2018 at 1:56 pm
So I saw a stat that we blitzed a total of 3 times last week…….against a team that had 3 new offensive lineman in the game a couple of which were flipping burgers the week before. THAT is coaching- you cannot tell me that Dirk is not trying to sabotage this team. As the head coach, he shouldn’t have taken the play calling duties from the offense, he should have from the defense. And BTW the defense did play better, but they did not create a turnover again. We should have blitzed from everywhere, those guys had 3 days of practice together, JMO
November 13th, 2018 at 2:02 pm
@jjbucfan
SO glad you brought that up, man. How fricking ridiculous that we blitzed that little against an OL that was completely decimated and prone to making mistakes in blitz coverage. == We are such a mess. I just don’t get it.
November 13th, 2018 at 2:04 pm
Pretty sure Barber averaged near 5 yards per carry. No reason not to give him 20+ if he can keep it going.
13 carries is inexcusable unless score dictates passing.
This is not the first time Dirk got away from an effective running game for no good reason. The Patriots game last year comes to mind…….That game will forever be burned in my memory. We had that game, we had matchups that we’re largely in our favor and our coach could never see it and change up his game plan/adjust. That was the day I knew we could never win with this guy. I been hoping I’m wrong ever since.
November 13th, 2018 at 2:05 pm
Fitz, 0-4 in his last 4 starts
Winston, 2-2 in his last 4 starts (or 3-1 with a competent kicker)
November 13th, 2018 at 2:07 pm
the Glazers get a huge check from the league for their share of the tv money.
Not going to the games won’t hurt their bottom line very much at all. Plus lots of fans from other cities to fill up the stadium anyhow.
November 13th, 2018 at 2:54 pm
Hey, Bucs lead the NFL in YPG, we just can’t score. Let that sink in…
November 13th, 2018 at 3:05 pm
When everyone thinks its the quarterback, and they change, and the same thing happens.
It aint the qbs.
November 13th, 2018 at 3:11 pm
Jameis has simply not held up his end of the bargain on or off the field. Is he the sole reason we suck…of course not.
But it’s time to take off the blinders!!! Despite his recent decent play I do not consider MM a better player than JW. I really don’t want either of them QBing my team.
But it wasn’t as if it was Jameis or MM. We could have followed Luv’s advice and traded down. With those TWO qbs we could have gotten a ransom in return. We could have done a Bobby Beathard big time. What if we had gotten a couple #1s and a 2nd and 3rd…perhaps even better?
What if we had plowed all of those picks into our two lines and started building from the front back.
Yeah I know I’m wasting time discussing that which can never be…this time….if we ever get faced with this again…TRADE DOWN.
November 13th, 2018 at 3:22 pm
Wow Joe, seeing a side of you in 2 of those responses that I didn’t know existed. Apparently you’re dead-set against a President of Football Operations AND you’re convinced the Glazers are who they are … and we’re stuck with them.
@Joe … “president of football operations even though those fail 90 percent of the time and is nothing more than a general manager with a cool title! Oh, goody, goody, goody, goody! Couldn’t find any current listing of which teams used a President of Football Operations (or similar position), but did find a 2014 Washington Post article that said 26 of the 32 teams used a similar position (President or President & CEO) in addition to a GM ( https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dc-sports-bog/wp/2014/05/27/jerry-jones-and-bruce-allen-are-the-nfls-only-presidentgms/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.62f91577365f ). And some of those teams were pretty successful. Of course, some weren’t.
And just because an OLine is healthy doesn’t mean they’re good. Peyton Barber’s not the greatest NFL RB, but he’s certainly adequate. The rest of our RBs? Meh. Has the coaching sucked? Most assuredly. Has our OLine also stunk it up this year? Pretty much. They’ve had ‘flashes of adequacy’ but that’s about it. What I keep seeing is that they’re not playing as a dominating unit … on far too many plays, someone screws up big time. And they seem to enjoy taking turns at it. Benenoch has certainly had his problems, but he hasn’t been alone, by any stretch of the imagination. Jensen’s looked terrible out there at times, and so has Dotson & D Smith. Marpet kinda of a steady performer, but even he seems to be having a rough year. It’s as if they all lack any enthusiasm for the game. I’d love to see just one of them get really fired up one of these days.
November 13th, 2018 at 3:30 pm
Sure Bucs fans are stuck with the Glazer family if you believe they are the root of all evil. Don’t recall any legal (keyword, legal) business being forced to sell out because it produced a poor product. We don’t live in Stalinist Russia after all.
Sure, Jerry Richardson was doing foul things that opened the door to both the Stinking Panthers and the league being sued and the NFL forced him to sell. Have never heard a whisper that Team Glazer has ever done anything of the sort. So until they want to sell — and why would they when NFL teams are a license to print money? — they will continue to operate and run the team as they choose.
November 13th, 2018 at 4:46 pm
Lord Corn,
Lot of good points. One thing that I have to point out is the idea that shanahan came in and took the Falcons team to the 1 spot. With the same personal. That’s not true.
Alex Mack, Sunfu, Gabriel, etc etc. The Falcons upgraded receIvers and oline. In fact, the oline that year played the entire season injury free.
One thing that is missing is the play calling by shanahan cost the team a superbowl ring.
That’s the knock on koetter by many buc fans, yet the same fans hold up shanahan as the model for excellence. Even a visionary Oc like shanahan can screw up and the lead the Falcons had and lost was historic and the blame is on shanahan.
November 13th, 2018 at 4:56 pm
D1
True. The O-line for sure was upgraded a bit and lucky to last a full season together.
That’s really mostly it tho. Koetter’s first 2 years in Atlanta he had Tony Gonzalez. Also had Roddy White 2012-2014. I’d take White & Tony over guys like Sanu/Gabriel.
As for the Superbowl yeah that was bad but Matt Ryan has choked a lot historically lol. I’ll pin it on him 😉
In general it’s not all on the coach or anything; but this pattern with Koetter just seems too consistent for it NOT to be the coach. In the end he’s the only consistent variable in all these underachieving offenses for 7 straight years.
November 13th, 2018 at 6:22 pm
Its amazing that people think that JW won’t be better with a different Coach. They were ready to say Goff was the worst while with Fisher…..What a difference a Coach can really make….once he is away from Koetter. I bet JW will be much better. For the cost it takes to keep him for a year, I am hoping they keep him, with a better Coach and then decide.
November 14th, 2018 at 12:10 am
Lord Corn,
I tend to agree with your summary. I have to think that it’s also player acquisition because if you look at the similarities on how the offenses were built it’s too similar to be coincidence.
Basically I am on the same page with you.
AZ,
The Goff McVay line is becoming more and more a reflexive excuse. If only…fill in the blank…
There’s been many excuses for winston and the goff McVay is just the latest most popular one. The problem is , it’s not that similar a situation to draw the conclusions you guys want to make. I don’t expect anyone to actually think about it that’s why it’s just a repeated phrase vs anything resembling thoughtful analysis. At some point, the sum of the parts just keep piling up and knocking down the numerous lines in the sand. JW won’t be benched, He will play lights out, there’s so many things that have happened that winstonites were adament would or wouldn’t happen. Each time that line was crossed, Winstonites retreated to another position.
The Goff McVay is just the latest and best one because it’s always going to be winston just needs the right coach.
At some point, you should consider the problem is winston. Gosh it’s hard not to think about his numerous incidents over a long time span and at least for a few seconds entertain the idea that these incidents are completely contrary to what you think He is. Maybe just maybe winston is a bit more complicated a person than what you see in a 10 sec TV clip.
November 14th, 2018 at 2:56 am
I wouldn’t mind seeing Tampa trying to pull arians out of retirement I hunk he would be worth the money
November 15th, 2018 at 9:31 am
Yes. You want this guy having any influence over the Bucs offense??? Think about it.
So far Dungy advised the Bucs to draft Marcus Mariota (gag) and hire Chip Kelly. ‘Nuff said.