Time Of Possession, Alex Smith’s Carving Will Give Washington A Chance?
January 8th, 2021
A guy who is a friend of Washington quarterback Alex Smith and also a former Patriots coach thinks the Bucs will have a real game on their hands Saturday night — against a 7-9 football team.
Eric Mangini once was Bill Belicheat’s right-hand man and his boy-wonder figure who followed Belicheat to the Browns, the Jets and the Patriots. Then, at just 35 years old, Mangini took the Jets’ head coaching job (2006) in what represented a bad breakup with his mentor.
Mangini left football ago for a media career and he now finds himself in a bit of conflict because of the Bucs-Washington playoff game, so he explained this week on FS1.
“This is a hard [game] for me because I love both quarterbacks,” Mangini said.
Apparently, Mangini watched the Indianapolis 500 with Washington QB Alex Smith and fell in love, and he knows Tom Brady extremely well. But it’s his knowledge and appreciation of Smith that makes Mangini think the Bucs could be victims of a major upset on Round 1 of the playoffs.
He agrees with Bucco Bruce Arians; Washington has a shot because of Smith.
“It’s because he will make good decisions with the football and he’ll put them in a position to have long, sustained drives, which will keep Brady and that offense off the field,” Mangini said. “And he’ll give that young [Washington] defense a chance to go and affect the game. I see this being close into the fourth quarter and at that point it’s definitely anyone’s game. Yeah, they absolutely have a chance because of Alex Smith. I’m not saying he’s going to light it up offensively, but the fact that he can control the ball through shorter passes gives them a real chance.”
Joe believes that over 60 minutes the Bucs have too much talent to lose to Washington. But Mangini’s premise is not too wacky.
Joe has watched the Bucs play bend-don’t-break defense all year long. If Washington can eat the clock and make field goals, maybe they can find themselves in the fourth quarter trailing by nine points. That would represent a fighting shot to steal a win.
A shade over 50 hours from kickoff!!
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January 8th, 2021 at 7:00 am
The only chance Washington has is if Bucs turn it over 3+ times and commit 100+yards in penalties- possible but extremely unlikely.
January 8th, 2021 at 7:06 am
I posted a similar comment earlier in the week…..Smith is a crafty QB, reminds me of a Foles or Fitzpatrick except Smith has generally been less turnover prone and a better game manager. There’s not a ton of film on him…..this defense tends to struggle in those scenarios (reference Chargers/Bears game). The major deciding factor is their o-line is terrible and we have elite pass rushers and blitzers. Also Smith has never been one to take the top off of a defense…..he’s more dink and dunk. I’d like to see Bowles come right of the gate with pressure when there’s time to make up ground if needed.
January 8th, 2021 at 7:08 am
This may come down to the vital three……Turnovers, Penalties & Special Teams
I think you will see short passes from Brady also……and don’t sneeze on our defense…..
January 8th, 2021 at 7:11 am
Alex can’t run, if we pressure him ….We win
January 8th, 2021 at 7:28 am
The Vikings also ate the clock and still we won… not enough (even with the kicker making all his attempts).
It’s a good gamble to go with the weakest team, in case of a miracle (WFT win) you look like a genius! All folclore, nothing more!!
January 8th, 2021 at 7:31 am
Try as I might, I just cant see us losing to Washington, in any scenario.
January 8th, 2021 at 7:38 am
Horrible matchup for the Bucs. Washington 27 Bucs 20. Todd Bowles is Tony Dungy stubborn and refuses to play man. He’s going to let Alex Smith pick them apart. I just can’t see this going any other way. This is the Bucs people. This is a cursed team.
January 8th, 2021 at 7:45 am
Smith cannot throw the long ball. He throws short screens and 10-20 yard short passes to receivers from crossing routes / slants which we seem to struggle against. I think matt ryan ran the same dang plays 10 times last week it seemed for first downs. And How can we not cover the running back out of backfield who catches a ball
Again …i am trusting the plan And coaching and players but i think this game will be close.
—-
Now on the flip side , maybe im wrong for the following reason – suh blows up like he normally does in playoff time and he chucks people around. That has been MO in recent years in playiffs. Jpp ups game in playoffs cause he has been there too. Shaq barrett wants 2 sacks a game cause he was scratched from last game of year and did not reach 10 sacks in biggest upcoming contract of his life next year. And lvd and others play lights out football cause they have been waiting for this moment for too long. And they just lock down everyone and everything
January 8th, 2021 at 8:18 am
Can’t play man of your people don’t match up. Think Tyreek Hill
January 8th, 2021 at 8:31 am
@Jeff: if it’s true Smith is hobbled, some penetration can get him off his read spots.
Of course, Smith’s supposed injury could be Liar’s Poker, of which Rivera is a master.
The Bucs success will depend totally on three things: 1) Deal with the weather, 2) Slow the FTFKATR pass rush (Bucs need to run, do play-action, and quick 3-step pass hits in large doses, and 3) Make Smith move.
My heart would sing of Jones can gash to a big game.
January 8th, 2021 at 8:35 am
Jeff- yeah, and Bears are beating Saints, too
January 8th, 2021 at 8:45 am
PROTECT Brady and the Bucs win. GO BUCS!!!
January 8th, 2021 at 8:56 am
TOP doesn’t matter if you can’t put it in the endzone. As long as we keep them out of our redzone the most they’ll have are field goals and they’re not beating us with those. If Detroit put 30 points up on the great Chase Young then even if we struggle in the beginning, Brady will figure out that defense and put up 31 points in the 2nd half. This ain’t the Bucs of old or the “Bucs curse”
January 8th, 2021 at 8:59 am
Bucs need to play up. We always keep these DBs back or blitzing against these teams that sound easy, then they dump it off all day eating yards and make stars out of practice players.
January 8th, 2021 at 9:13 am
Tommy likes cold weather, Tommy no like playing on road at night in wild card round. Too bad cause the grass will be slippery and also Washington has better than average O line. Better worry bout protecting Tommy.
January 8th, 2021 at 9:55 am
“IF smith is hobbled” and “Liars poker?” I hardly think Rivera is limiting his last remaining decent QB from practice the week of the playoffs for some elaborate rouse. He’s riverboat Ron, not master of deception Ron.
January 8th, 2021 at 10:34 am
The 2 teams that beat us with short passes taking advantagr of the bend and dont break system were the rams and saint.
WFT does not have Drew Brees
WFT does not have robert woods and cooper kupp.
I cannot count the bears game in that category. The bears won because tampa chose not to play that week. Penalties lost that game.
January 8th, 2021 at 10:43 am
Joe believes that over 60 minutes the Bucs have too much talent to lose to Washington.
i sure hope the players and coaches dont think like you do….lol…
thats how you get smacked in the mouth….gotta believe if your talent doesnt show up and play like its no tomorrow, you’ll get embarrassed…
GO BUCS!!!!
January 8th, 2021 at 10:48 am
Wash is not just a 7 and 9 football team. They are a 7 and 9 team in the Worst division in Football.
January 8th, 2021 at 11:57 am
We must be careful of a wounded animal who has nothing to lose.
January 8th, 2021 at 12:18 pm
You know what you do do wounded animal??? You put it out of your misery! I believe that BL and Brady are finally on the same page. We throw a lot of wide receiver screens now, a great way to negate the pass rush for our receivers a quick 5-7 yards. Rojo should have a productive day against them since they’re not too good there.
January 8th, 2021 at 12:20 pm
STOP the “Don’t overlook the WFT” chatter. You are just a fan. They suck and they even know it.
STOP with Chase Young. 7.5 sacks. All but one against teams with LOSING records.
STOP with Alex Smith. SMH. He’s played in 7 post-season games. He’s won 2. Brady has 30!
STOP acting like butt-hurt, PTSD, perennially disappointed, pessimistic losers.
START having a little confidence.
START having a little swag.
THE BUCS WILL WIN. This will be a copy of the Denver game. Steady domination from start to finish. A great warm up but a joke of a game. 28-10.
January 8th, 2021 at 1:23 pm
Amen, SlyPirate!!! The negative nancys are everywhere.
January 8th, 2021 at 2:28 pm
SlyPirate – Say it louder for those in the back. Why call yourself a fan if you’re just going to be a Debby Downer the first time we make the playoffs in 13 seasons? If someone doesn’t believe the Bucs have what it takes to beat the WFT, there are 31 other teams to choose from, they should go “support” one of those teams.
January 8th, 2021 at 2:35 pm
Can anyone name Washingtons receivers? Tyree Hill is not on that team. Smith chokes in the big gam. Smith had Hill his rookie year and Kelcie. No rings on his finger. He sucks and blows. TB12 or Smith, I know who I’m betting on. I might take the over on 2 int from Smith.
January 9th, 2021 at 4:54 pm
SlyPirate — your post presents the perfect message (thank you!), one that we all need to hear and to heed. Go Bucs! Get ready for the win. Accept that we CAN.