Scripted Plays Tipped Off?
March 16th, 2020
Playing defense vs. Jameis.
Last season when the Bucs went to the northwest to face Seattle, Mr. Entertainment, America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, had one of his best games.
Jameis threw for 335 yards with two touchdowns and no picks in a 40-34 overtime loss to the playoff-bound Seahawks.
So earlier this winter (it’s still technically winter for a few more days) Joe had a chance to talk to a guy who played defense against Jameis. That would be Pro Bowl safety and St. Petersburg native Shaq Griffin.
The Seattle Shaq had something interesting.
“He’s pretty dangerous,” Griffin said of Jameis. “I think the good thing about Jameis is, once he gets fired up and once he gets started, it is hard to stop a guy like that. I’ve got tons of respect for him.”
So Joe asked Shaq what he asked other NFL defenders: Is Jameis the kind of quarterback defenders believe is going to make a mistake at one point in the game and the defense just has to jump on that mistake?
“Mistake? Any NFL quarterback is like that,” Griffin said. “When they do make a mistake, you have to capitalize on their mistakes. With Jameis, once he gets started he is hard to stop because you have to get him early.”
Now notice that twice Griffin mentioned you have to get to Jameis early? How many times did Jameis throw picks on his first possession last season?
This sort of smells to Joe like defenses knew what was coming from the scripted plays in the Bucs’ first possessions. Or that someway the plays were being tipped.
March 16th, 2020 at 8:05 am
Must be National Reaching Day. š
March 16th, 2020 at 8:08 am
I think it was easy to predict the early plays in the game but I think that is because the coaching staff realized heās mentally not there the first drive so they have to call easy short passes. The problem was Jamies couldnāt handle those.
March 16th, 2020 at 8:09 am
2+2 = 37. Right Joe? You’re way out there on this one.
March 16th, 2020 at 8:11 am
Agreed
March 16th, 2020 at 8:12 am
again the “whisperer” does not get it through his thick head that doing the same thing week in and week out make you easy to defend! They don’t use the TE’s you can cheat a little towards the WR’s but no need to get technical here the Pee Wee All-Stars would not understand!
March 16th, 2020 at 8:14 am
Every team had the same game plan…..35 attempts = +2 turnovers. Winston put up yardage because that was the game plan….let him throw. For FIVE YEARS it worked exceptionally well for opposing teams. If it aint broke, don’t fix it. The league has Winston figured out. His best bet is start over elsewhere, particularly in a different style of scheme and new locker room. His issues will remain the same, he’ll hold the ball too long, stare down receivers and throw into windows he shouldn’t. The only fix is less attempts and play designs that force quick passes…..but then you have the element of Winston sometimes goes rogue and does whatever he feels like when it comes to plays. Whatever happens, its not our problem anymore.
March 16th, 2020 at 8:16 am
But…Teddy Bear will take Tampa to the playoffs/Super Bowl!
Brady has…like the Bucs…painted himself into a corner. Helmet in hand, tail between legs he will remain a Patriot.
Stinky situation…
March 16th, 2020 at 8:18 am
Why are we still talking about Winston? Heās as good as gone and thankfully this organization is showing the season ticket holders itās moving on after 5 years of being held hostage by this guys play and actions of the field !! Once again couldnāt be happier, but please Joe can we talk about other important issues on this team.. Iām truly hoping we can finally take the Y out and become the feared Bucs again
Sincerely,
Season ticket holder since 2000
March 16th, 2020 at 8:22 am
…… or JayMiss just threw very dumb passes.
But please Joe, keep digging for reasons until the #3 sh;t show gets shown the door.
March 16th, 2020 at 8:32 am
All I know is that absent JBF and Bucs Twitter, Iād be Googling āRussian Rouletteā…so regardless of the dregs in here who post negative garbage, oddly, I still appreciate you.
Sign meā
Boredomtined
March 16th, 2020 at 8:32 am
REACHING TODAY JOE!!!!
March 16th, 2020 at 8:39 am
How many quotes are there where the defensive player says āwe like to sit back and wait to see how a QB plays, itās better for us to make sure a QB is comfortable, warmed up and on a hot streak before we start playing hardā
For goodness sakes….
In BA I Trust!
March 16th, 2020 at 8:47 am
Did Shaq say anything about JayMiss mistaking his left hand for a W?
March 16th, 2020 at 8:50 am
defenses knew to stuff the run early and force JW to throw early and often….then sit back and catch your gift….lol….
plays werent tipped….they werent executed….
defenses and DCs know JW is off early in games….after his first INT or first couple bad throws he settles in….unfortunately, most of those throws end up being points for the other team….of those passes that were picked off on our first possession, how many were off target?….high or behind the WR?….
GO BUCS!!!!!
March 16th, 2020 at 8:51 am
Absolutely ridiculous…. no wonder nuthuggers come here so much. I hope we sign anyone just so I can stop reading excuse after excuse for a turnover prone quarterback who supposedly was in the perfect system but proceeded to lead the league in interceptions by a wide margin and pick 6’s whatever mofo keep the excuses coming hopefully someone else will buy them
March 16th, 2020 at 8:52 am
Not hard to figure out at all. He is going to whoever didn’t get enough touches the week before. Right out of the gate early and often even if he has to force it into triple coverage.
March 16th, 2020 at 9:30 am
@Joe … “This sort of smells to Joe like defenses knew what was coming from the scripted plays in the Bucsā first possessions. Or that someway the plays were being tipped.”
Wow, Conspiracy Theory #347. Griffin never said or even insinuated anything of the sort Joe.
March 16th, 2020 at 9:42 am
Tired of reading about Jameis Speculation about 5 years of turnovers and losing. Itās simple, he is a walking turnover machine and he has moments of brilliance and consistently keeps the opposition in the game.
March 16th, 2020 at 9:51 am
Neither Jameis nor Tom Brady is the answer for the BUCS in 2020. Building a stronger defense along with a stronger running game will defeat the Saints and head the BUCS into the playoffs. Brady would sell tickets but not a playoff opportunity and after 5 years we know what Jameis brings to the table.
GO BUCS!
March 16th, 2020 at 10:03 am
Has anyone ever done an article or a post about what plays we used and how well they worked? If there is a tendency there I would be surprised this LARGE coaching staff didn’t see it as well.
I also wonder if you sow a tendency do you have other plays that run out of the same formation in your playbook – in order to capitalize on an aggressive defense
March 16th, 2020 at 10:04 am
Love JBF and the Bucs. I am also a UCF alum and die hard UCF football fan. I normally don’t respond, but I felt compelled to point out some issues with this post. The picture you posted IS one of the Shaq Griffin twins from St. Pete, but that is Shaquem not Shaquill (Shaquem lost a hand due to amniotic band syndrome at 4 y/o). Shaquill made it to the pro bowl in 2020 as a CB, not a safety. Shaquem (in the pic) is a linebacker, though. I know that Shaquem was at the PB to support his bro, as they are wont to do on most occasions. Both brothers spoke to the media, so you may have had an opportunity (dare I say honor) to speak with either or both. I just wanted to set the story straight about UCF royalty. These guys, especially Shaquem, are more beloved than Daunte Culpepper to UCF fans. Like statue-worthy beloved. Charge on!
With respect to the Jameis aspect of the post. While I went to UCF, I was raised Florida State. I was a Jameis sympathizer. I’d make excuses after every suspect game for the past 5 years. Always thinking this is the year he’s going to put it together… I still think he CAN, but I am tired of waiting.
With what Shaq said, “when he gets fired up,” I can only assume he means when he is on his game, because Jameis is always fired up. That being said, I don’t want a guy that has to find his game every day. I want a guy who can be slightly off his game and still not lose it for his team. When games were good, they were monumental. When they were bad they were calamitous. The problem was, it was as if the stars had to align for Jameis to have a good game.
Never thought I’d say it. Its time to move on.
Go Bucs. Go Jameis. I will always root for you.
March 16th, 2020 at 10:16 am
Yeah, you have to get to Jameis early. Or late. I seem to remember pick sixes at the beginning and end of games. Turn the page.
March 16th, 2020 at 11:13 am
That Seattle defense might have played their worse game of the year for their defense. That was pitch and catch all day long for Jameis. Good playing by Jameis but there was no pressure on him all day and our receiver separation was outstanding as well.
If there were more days like that, there would have been no question about him be resigned.
March 16th, 2020 at 11:21 am
Why not. Sounds good as anything else.
March 16th, 2020 at 11:43 am
Uh, can we invoke the GMC clause early? No more Jameis nonsense please.
Let his next team worry about all things Jameis: predictable scripted plays, staring down receivers, vision, Uber account status, knees, weight gain, weight loss, deep-ball accuracy, short-ball accuracy, accuracy accuracy, ballin, eatin Ws, what exactly is trying to do too much, where exactly do you pee from the front porch, etc.
Its been quite a run of highs and lows the last 5 years. Next.
March 16th, 2020 at 12:16 pm
Spot on Joe. The Bucs scripts were either too predictable or being tipped.
March 16th, 2020 at 12:16 pm
PS — I am back home hence the different IP address.
March 16th, 2020 at 12:47 pm
LEFTWICH SUCKS!!!!!! HE IS THE MIKE SMITH OF OUR OFFENSE!!!!
I guarantee thar is the ONLY reason Arians wanrs Brady is because he is too loyal to Leftwich and doesnt want to tell him he wasnt a good enough OC, and that if Brady comes here he will basically desigb and run the entire offense from the line of scrimmage.
March 16th, 2020 at 1:01 pm
Letās be real Joe you know more than what youāre leading onto and thatās the consummate professional, Iām very very very confident that early in the games and other situations the answer is yes.
March 16th, 2020 at 2:37 pm
The Joeās have been a homer since day one. Iām not a Jameis homer or hater. Iām a buccaneers fan. Sorry but 5 years in Iāve heard almost every excuse. Arians now is the problem for scripted plays? Or itās too many pass attempts?
Carson wentz player with grocery baggers at receiver and threw 600+ attempts and had like 25 TDs to 8 INTs. And the entire team was depleted of injury.
No excuses. No more. Winstonās problem is he telegraphs passes. His eyes are easy to read.
March 16th, 2020 at 2:44 pm
They’ve been tipping plays for years.
Jameis is not good at disguising things, unfortunately. Dude still can’t do a pump fake to save his life. Never understood it…
March 16th, 2020 at 2:45 pm
weird comment to get sent to moderation… but ok?
March 16th, 2020 at 3:05 pm
I agree that based on Griffin’s comments alone, Joe’s conclusion is a bit of a reach.
However, we have seen enough data to prove UNEQUIVOCALLY that there is something fundamental about this new offense & the play-calling that has maximized both Winston’s big-play ability and his turnover rate.
March 16th, 2020 at 6:02 pm
The main problem with taking any over the hill QB is we will likely have to move
up in the draft to get a top QB to be our future Franchise QB. That will force us to miss out on a top OT, and the long term QB better have an accurate strong arm, have great durability, and can take a beating with all the sacks from our OL, and will be a great runner too. We will need a big back to block on third down to stop blitzes, and can get first downs in short yardage situations, and a great blocking TE, and find a deep threat WR, and a Free Safety with great range, and resign the rest of our free agents. It is a TALL ORDER!