Bad November? Don’t Worry, Says Bucs Assistant
December 9th, 2020
Bucs OLB coach Larry Foote.
Last week former Super Bowl-winning general manager Scott Pioli took to the NFL Network airwaves and explained how a team prepares for the stretch run of a playoff season.
“As you are ending November and beginning December, the last thing you want to do is not continue to build momentum and not ascend,” Pioli said.
Uh, oh.
The Bucs had an awful November losing three of their last five games. Not a good sign. But a Bucs assistant said yesterday just worry about tomorrow. And he speaks from experience.
Inside linebackers coach Larry Foote told his linebackers that his first ring came on a team that had an awful November, as well.
“I shared with my guys that [before] my first Super Bowl, we were 7-2 and lost three in a row,” Foote said. “We just had to wipe the board clean and just figure out a way to get in the playoffs.
“We’re at that same point [now]. Each game is a playoff. What happened in September and October [and] what happened last week – it [doesn’t mean anything]. You’re trying to get a ticket to the dance. Whoever believes and whoever is executing, they’re going to be the Super Bowl champions.
“They don’t care about your record. I know Tom Brady can speak to that – they were undefeated and lost in the Super Bowl. It’s just any given Sunday. But, most importantly, you’ve got to get a ticket to the dance.”
Well, Joe hopes Bucco Bruce Arians and Foote’s boss, Todd Bowles, figure out better gameplans than they had in November; don’t drag your feet until halftime before making adjustments.
In November on offense, the Bucs only scored one touchdown in the opening quarter. One! In five games. That’s borderline shameful.
And speaking of shameful, the Bucs defense in each of the three November losses was no better than Lovie or Mike Smith’s defenses; the Saints, Rams and Chiefs gashed the Bucs early in those games.
That has to change immediately if the Bucs hope to be playing meaningful games in January.
December 9th, 2020 at 9:37 am
No one in this organization should be talking Super Bowl. Their sole focus is Vikings and nothing more!
December 9th, 2020 at 9:44 am
Playoffs your talking playoffs come on man.
December 9th, 2020 at 9:48 am
Feed RoJo, focus on matchup problems for Vikings secondary, stop Cook, win turnover battle.
December 9th, 2020 at 10:07 am
Funny, that 2005 Steelers team that Foote referenced, played the Vikings (who had just won 6 straight games) and the Lions(whose coach got fired after the Thanksgiving game) to go on the 4 game win streak to end the season. Then won 3 playoff games on the road on their path to win the Super Bowl.
December 9th, 2020 at 10:13 am
Feed Rojo and don’t throw to the ball to the running backs you have plenty of other recievers to throw to. You want to do a screen pass do a wide reciever screen.
December 9th, 2020 at 10:17 am
IMO it’s ALL about the Vikings this coming Sunday. Win and be in great shape as far as making the payoffs. Lose and the playoffs are a much longer shot. As far as seeding goes? I don’t think it matters. If the goal is as it should be, to get to the Super Bowl and win, the Bucs are going to have to beat good teams on the road. Three of them to get to the SB. What matters is getting to the playoffs with all systems go.
Hopefully the bye results in a solid showing on Sunday. Because if they lose? They’re just not good enough to win against good teams anyway. Not this year.
JUST WIN BABY!
December 9th, 2020 at 10:20 am
33-15 69% win % versus 19-29 39% win %.
That is not an insignificant number nor is it misleading. Clearly our past four opponents dwarf our next four.
Minnesota is the only team at .500.
We can LOSE any and all of the remaining four.
We cannot be BEATEN by any of the remaining teams. We need to toss in a bad performance…AKA a choke to LOSE these games.
December 9th, 2020 at 10:41 am
Just execute on offense and defense. Play smart football. That is all.
December 9th, 2020 at 10:46 am
Joe – Brief, but your best analysis yet. Better game plans and adjustment strategies are the keys. Up to these coaches. They have the players.
December 9th, 2020 at 10:50 am
All the Tb12 hype, Gronk hype whatever. Im just happy to see my Bucs in the playoff hunt with a firm grasp. Not like we are ” in the hunt” and hoping for scenarios where we need certain teams to lose. Go BUCS !!! Handle our your business
December 9th, 2020 at 11:43 am
DanBucsFan. I like the positivity. Haven’t seen any for awhile.
If the season ended today, the Bucs are in the playoffs. With four average to poor teams ahead, the playoffs going to happen. Can’t wait!
December 9th, 2020 at 11:57 am
If Bowles finally has the light bulb go on and sees that the only way his DB’s will be able to cover anyone will be to BLITZ!! BLITZ!! and still BLITZ than we have a chance. As Joe said, these backs like 23 and 24 need a lot of work to be decent cover guys. 23 is totally lost out there and looks worse than Hargreaves when he was here pretending to be a defensive back!!
December 9th, 2020 at 12:49 pm
Larry Foote and the rest of FAILING staff…. why we should believe on your predictions!!! You never won as a coach, the Bucs coaching so far is been terrible.
You are no magician… you and the rest of the failing staff, got the job because of an other NEVER win ANYTNING coach BA.
Leave us alone with our sad reality….. and don’t BS us with your predictions…
December 9th, 2020 at 5:25 pm
Wow, Crazy, you really read into things, don’t you? Larry Foote made no predictions, so what are you talking about? What is the reference to being a “magician” all about? Where do you get this stuff? Are you, in your very sad reality, really crazy? OBTW, BA has earned 2 Super Bowl rings and won 2 NFL Coach of the Year awards. What have you won in your life?