Turtleball
September 24th, 2019
When Matt Gay missed his would-be game-winning field goal Sunday night, Joe had indigestion.
Still, Joe isn’t sure it came from watching the Bucs offense play scared football in the fourth quarter or from a halftime Cuban sandwich.
Joe particularly was depressed if not angered when the Bucs had the ball on the Giants-9 with 13 seconds left, the Bucs didn’t try a shot in the end zone, maybe two, that would have sealed the deal.
Instead, the Bucs lost seven yards — on purpose! — to set up a field goal attempt from a kicker who already had a case of the yips that day.
We know the result.
But Aaron Schatz, the patriarch of FootballOutsiders.com, was also outraged at Bucco Bruce Arians settling for a field goal, only earlier. In the Bucs’ first possession after America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, threw a pick, the team went full-blown turtle and didn’t once try a pass as the drive stalled on fourth down at the Giants-2.
That, Schatz said, is when the Bucs should have gone for a touchdown instead of a field goal.
Bucs kick a field goal to go up six. Kicking a field goal to go up six is the worst. Just go for it. Fourth-and-2 on the Giants 5.
Have former Bucs commander Greg Schiano and inept Lovie Smith so poisoned the Bucs’ sideline that whatever coach walks on the same ground suddenly is overcome with fear? It may be.
What a rotten biscuit Sunday was!
September 24th, 2019 at 5:03 pm
Can we trade no risk it no biscuit for riverboat Ron?
September 24th, 2019 at 5:05 pm
Whoooooooooo…. cares!!! Go get Ramsey! Licht, you won’t you bum! Useless
September 24th, 2019 at 5:12 pm
This happens all over the league. Not just Arians.
September 24th, 2019 at 5:15 pm
Settling for a FG at the 2 was gutless. So you could go up by 6 and give them the ball back with a chance to win? Not what I expected from BA.
September 24th, 2019 at 5:15 pm
we were stunned in 219 – key point in the loss – we have been gashing them all game and we cant get 2 yards?
Gave them confidence by punking our own offense
So many sideline errors in the first three games, its like he was out of football for 10 years…
September 24th, 2019 at 5:17 pm
That sinking feeling long time Bucs fans have experienced before over the years revisited again, it was as ugly and spirit crushing as ever. My stomach turned a little bit typing this. However
The Bucs will upset the Rams Sunday! This team has something to prove, something they have not be capable of in many years… they ARE capable!
September 24th, 2019 at 5:18 pm
Thomas Bassenger made that very same point in his piece this morning.
The FG we made cost us the game not the one we missed.
Bassenger added that several coaches did go for it on fourth and short Sunday and eventually got a TD out of it.
September 24th, 2019 at 5:23 pm
It’s really no surprise. Gump hired him. He can’t draft or hire with success. Sadly folks, I think we are in for another season looking forward to a draft that Gump will botch. I hope they prove me wrong. Really I do. I don’t want the Bucs to fail but I have zero confidence that they will have a good season or any winning seasons in the near future.
September 24th, 2019 at 5:32 pm
Buc cheeks
You have the best poster name by far
I wish I would have thought of that
September 24th, 2019 at 5:44 pm
I agree about the first FG instead of going for it….but I strongly disagree with Joe on the chip shot to win the game……we were only down by one and here is the key…..there was no time left for NY to score.
I realize Joe wanted Jameis to throw the game winner…..so he can be “America’s QB”……but at that time Arians trusted Gay more than Jameis. Going forward, maybe not.
There is no way we should risk one or two passes….a penalty running off 10 seconds……many bad things could happen.
Arians said it….Gay had made 5 straight…..you kick…..
I do question the delay of game….
September 24th, 2019 at 5:45 pm
I really don’t see why some of you call yourselves fans.
I remember when Dungy was hired…we had a losing season the first year and no fans were ready to give up on the team or the coaches after every loss that year.
Now all we have a quitters. Crybabies who expected instant gratification when the season started.
This team was bottom of the league the past few years, and yet you expect instant results when we have a new defense, new offense and a new rookie kicker?
Come on, bandwagoners. Give it 5-7 games at least.
September 24th, 2019 at 5:51 pm
Tampabaybucfan, I agree. That’s a pretty good insight you have.
I would also add that the only way Matt Gay will get better is thru experience. If he would have made that kick, we’d all be cheering the decision.
It was the defense who cost us the game, plain and simple. If they had played a full 60 minutes like they were supposed to, we would have won, regardless of missed kicks.
September 24th, 2019 at 6:06 pm
Bird Says:
September 24th, 2019 at 5:32 pm
Buc cheeks
You have the best poster name by far
I wish I would have thought of that.
Thanks Bird… I’m losing my sense of humor by the game tho! I just want to see this team succeed. We all do, well lol MOST of us do!
September 24th, 2019 at 6:09 pm
Coaching scared when you know you can’t trust your qb
September 24th, 2019 at 6:09 pm
I think the main problem with Bucs fans is that we are full of sooooo much hope that things will change, we just wanna see SOMETHING.
We miss the positives when the NEGATIVE is so overwhelming!!!
One of the best posts preseason is Below:
Before you read he was “SPOT ON” with Rojo and we are seeing this facet of the game change.
One facet WAYYYYY behind is Bowles. Maybe Bowles needs more time, but I simply DON”T agree with not bumping the guy in BUMP and RUN coverage. I don’t agree with so called EXOTIC blitzes that never get home. Thank God For S. Barrett or this D would be HOT Garbage.
PriMech54 Says:
August 28th, 2019 at 11:43 pm
But, Joe, it’s not as simple as that. In fact, that’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. It has nothing to do with a who’s who running back not being on the roster. It has nothing to do with whether or not Peyton Barber or Ronald Jones or Andre Ellington or Dare Ogunbawale can be a franchise back for the Bucs. It’s about their skill tree and how smoothly it fits into the offensive machine – like a jigsaw puzzle. Think about it, when was the last time the New England Patriots had a franchise, game breaker, Zeke Elliott type guy back there? Or anyone even CLOSE? Never. 9 Super Bowl appearances later and it’s always the same… James White? Danny Woodhead? Rex Burkhead? Legarrette Blount? Brandon Bolden? Stevan Ridley? BenJarvus Green-Ellis? Lawrence Maroney? Sammy Morris? Jonas Gray rushing for 250 yards in a game……?
These are the guys winning super bowls. Look at that list and tell me which of these backs isn’t Just A Guy that Bill seamlessly fits into his gameplans and exploits mismatches with.
Move the chains. Keep the defense honest enough to take some heat off of the passing attack. Don’t kill yourself with penalties. Make your routine kicks. And finally, but most importantly, play average defense at the very worst and come up with big stops.
This is the kind of stuff BA has been speaking on but you guys keep coming up with these surface level takes. He says he likes the RB room, not because he’s blowing smoke up your @$$, but because each guy fits one aspect of his scheme or another, and they’re all somewhat versatile.
But, yes, RoJo needs more carries. My prediction is that he’ll look like a bust again for the first few weeks of the season as they learn and gel (and everyone will panic of course) but then he’ll have one or two noteworthy performances by season’s end.
September 24th, 2019 at 6:15 pm
Bonzai
I take your point but it’s hard. Sunday’s game featured EVERY bad thing that has plagued the Bucs for a decade.
I like BA and Bowles but we were totally outcoached. I usually put most of the blame on players but coaching was clearly involved on Sunday.
Our QB was good Jameis the first half bad Jameis the second.
Our kicking game is the same ole same ole….our ST’s were horrible.
We did have two GREAT players on the field in ME and Shaq.
Outside of that it was the SOS. Nothing new.
September 24th, 2019 at 6:18 pm
Who are we kidding it’s Jameis’s fault.
September 24th, 2019 at 6:21 pm
Bonzai … Respectfully disagree that ‘It was the defense who cost us the game’. The entire Bucs’ TEAM contributed in various ways to that loss.
The offense moved the ball very well I thought, but we ‘settled’ for FOUR FGs instead of going for the throat. That’s the kiss of death in today’s higher scoring NFL.
The defense played well MOST of the game, but they gave up several BIG PLAYs, another kiss of death in today’s NFL.
The special teams also played well MOST of the game, but TWO missed extra points and a missed FG can’t be overlooked. That’s the kiss of death in today’s NFL.
Our Bucs, once again, managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. But it was a TEAM effort to do so. It usually is.
September 24th, 2019 at 6:28 pm
Watching the Ravens go for it every 4th and short is like crack after years and years of dinosaur football.
September 24th, 2019 at 6:41 pm
Sure seems like a lot of playing not to lose rather than playing to win on BA’s part.
I hope he looks at this game with that same perspective and comes back with a whole new ‘tude for the rest of the season!!
September 24th, 2019 at 7:03 pm
Bucs always play to lose their record doesn’t lie. Only the sheep believe Jameis is the best, and Licht knows how to draft. We’ll be talking draft, and firing everybody before Halloween. BA is no different, Licht’s the worst GM in football, Jameis will never be a franchise QB, and the Glazers are clueless. Add it up, we’ll be lucky to win 5 games. Do you think the K.C. fans are saying give Mahomes more time to see what they’ve got?
September 24th, 2019 at 7:40 pm
Good point SPBucfan. Even if the Bucs fail on the 4th and 2 the Giants have 98 yards to win. I see OT likely at worst even if they got to 4th and 7 as they did. Bucs likely win in other words but they went turtle and the D gagged along with the coaches and kicker. Harbaugh had some stone with the Ravens 3 for 4 on 4th down but 1 for 4 on 2 point conversions which is somethings Bucs might have to consider if Gay continues to get the yips.
September 24th, 2019 at 7:48 pm
This comment is for Defense ’cause i really respect his POV. If you need 5 field goals to win a game, you have a problem: The offense isn’t finishing. The Bucs rank 31st in scoring TDs when in the Red Zone…
September 24th, 2019 at 7:49 pm
MY PREDICTION….. RAMS 37 BUCS 19
AND THE BUCS WILL SPIRAL DOWN FROM HERE TO THE BOTTOM .
WHERE THEY WILL TAKE THEIR PLACE AT
THE BOTTOM OF THE DUMPSTER.
WHERE THE TROLLS LIVE…..
THIS SEASON BUCS 3 -13
NO HOPE…….!!!
September 24th, 2019 at 7:51 pm
Buc cbeeks.
Sure get a headache who will divide a team. And one wholl eat up a lot of the cap. Great idea. If the coaches make the decisions theyve been making it wont matter what players they have.
September 24th, 2019 at 8:09 pm
How many coaches would go for a TD with 13 seconds left and down by only 1 at the 9 yard line? I say none.
Apparently not Coach Joe though. He must have seen coach after coach go for the throat in that situation. I don’t know what league you’ve been watching then.
The field goal attempt was the right call and same one even Billchick himself would make!
September 24th, 2019 at 8:13 pm
I’m not feeling us out in LA. Not at all. I wish I could. But..my faith is dwindling fast. At least I get a chance to select some new..Libations to keep me numb on Sunday. GO BUCS.
September 24th, 2019 at 8:14 pm
Kicking the last FG was the right call. Even though he missed it was still the right call. Imagine if something goes wrong on that play. We would never let BA forget how dumb it was to take a needless risk.
The other drive was not turtle mode until the final set of downs. RoJo was tearing them up running the ball and they could not stop him. The playcalling inside the red zone was atrocious though. Anytime you get in the red zone and take zero shots to the endzone I got a problem. That’s unacceptable.
September 24th, 2019 at 8:15 pm
We go for it and make it the it’s game over. We miss they have to drive 95 yards for the win. If they drive like they did and it’s 4th down they kick the field gold. tied ball game. At worst we go into over time.
September 24th, 2019 at 8:21 pm
Yet another season, of good enough to lose close.
The team gets better, but the results are the same.
It feels like another train wreck- and looking forward to the draft by week 6.
To quote Led Zeppelin-“ the Song remains the Same”
September 24th, 2019 at 8:28 pm
I have not followed this super closely and forgive me if it was mentioned earlier. What’s up with the neon cleats on Gay? The color was one thing but they were almost hightops. Did he practice in these? The way he hit the turf before impact on his misses made me wonder. Were the cleats too long?
September 24th, 2019 at 8:32 pm
Do Arians get credit for having a Gay in the locker room?
September 24th, 2019 at 8:36 pm
That’s what myself and others have been saying ever since the game. They had their own destiny in their hands.. Wouldn’t have mattered what giants did after. I feel like we already lost after that and gays kick was just a reflection of that. Even before he kicked I let wr didn’t deserve to win even if I went through
September 24th, 2019 at 9:14 pm
It’s so incredibly stupid to still be talking about throwing the ball into the endzone when you have a sub-30 yard FG you’re setting up.
Even if the Bucs scored a TD they’d have given the ball back to the Giants with a chance to win. No one in the NFL is doing that, every single team is running down the clock and setting up the very short FG that every kicker is expected to make 100% of the time.
This is such an absurd line the Joe’s keep pushing out – literally no one in the NFL is trying to get a TD there and giving the ball back with a chance to still lose the game.
September 24th, 2019 at 9:35 pm
100% correct Rod this narrative he is pushing is ridiculous but who are we kidding it’s Jameis’s fault anyways.
September 24th, 2019 at 11:20 pm
He’s 100% correct.
Dumbest fan base in the league…
September 25th, 2019 at 12:54 pm
Woulda, coulda, shoulda. If, ands & buts. C’mon people.