Missed Opportunities
October 20th, 2021
Bucco Bruce Arians
Bucs sacks king Shaq Barrett should have eight sacks already, says his head coach. Instead, Shaq has four.
Joe wonders what Bucco Bruce Arians would say about Devin White having zero tackles for loss.
Arians made the comment about Shaq on his official team radio show yesterday.
It’s been a common theme for Arians this seaso: missed opportunities.
Joe suspects that even when a team is 5-1, noting unmade plays is a great way for a head coach to motivate.
Cornerback Jamel Dean still is needled at One Buc Palace for his dropped interception — a rather easy uncontested catch — against the Rams early in that Bucs loss. It could have been a major gamechanger, and it also would have meant Dean would now have three picks this season, tied for second-most in the NFL.
White, Jason Pierre-Paul and Joe Tryon Shoyinka also have missed sacks that seemed almost like routine tackles. There have been other missed big defensive plays.
Imagine what the Bucs would look like — on the field and on paper — if more of those plays were made. And Joe’s not even talking about the strip-sack referees stole from Shaq against the Falcons, or the forced fumble the zebras thieved from him in New England.
Man, if the Bucs can just play a 60-minute game agains the Bears on Sunday, and make the plays in front of them, they might win 49-14.
October 20th, 2021 at 2:45 pm
6-1 s the only relevant stat Joe!
First make the playoffs!
Then
Make those plays in the playoffs
October 20th, 2021 at 2:50 pm
Joe that would be nice, but just once as a fan of these modern day gladiators, give me the 50 burger!!! Never in our beloved and hardened time as Bucs fan have we been blessed with the mystical 50 point game. Please and thank you
Go Bucs
October 20th, 2021 at 2:52 pm
And Cockrells missed pick 6 !!
October 20th, 2021 at 3:03 pm
I agree with Biff. The only thing that matters is 6 and 1!!
October 20th, 2021 at 3:13 pm
As our secondary plays better, big plays and sacks will increase.
October 20th, 2021 at 3:18 pm
He is correct about shack. He’s had his hands of few fairly elusive quarterbacks. Give credit where is due, since shack said he needs to be better he has stepped it up.
As for Devon White, I haven’t really paid attention in detail.
Are they using him in coverage a lot?
Is he playing back spying on some QBs that run?
I’m not sure, but it seems they have not set him loose to play downhill for whatever reason.
Regardless, the defense has been getting better and better. The pass rush has been getting more consistent and the DBs have been playing tighter coverage. When they get everyone back healthy they are going to roll!
October 20th, 2021 at 3:27 pm
Interesting that every example BA & you gave of ‘missed opportunities’ focused on the defense. Why isn’t throwing deep on 3rd-and-2 … and having it be incomplete … on our very first series of Game 1 considered a ‘missed opportunity’? Maybe by running the ball we could’ve kept that drive alive instead of having punted? Actually you could say the same about every punt; a different play call here or there MIGHT have kept the drive alive & turned into points.
And why aren’t the offense’s 4 turnovers in Game 1 considered to be ‘missed opportunities’ on a par with Dean’s dropped INT in that game? And we’ve gone for it 5 times on 4th-and-short this season but only made 2 of them. Aren’t the other 3 ‘missed opportunities’ in BA’s book?
Coulda-woulda-shoulda is wonderful game. But it doesn’t change a danged thing. Missed opportunities happen in every single game, on BOTH sides of the ball.
October 20th, 2021 at 3:53 pm
Don’t see a 49-14 score. Haven’t seen that killer instinct from Arians. They were near the goal line in the eagles game and just took a knee on 3 plays to run out the clock. Another TD would have looked nice on the scoreboard.
October 20th, 2021 at 4:23 pm
They are getting really close and that does a lot even if it doesn’t make reportable stats.
That close and the QB can’t get a ball down the field. That helps our defensive backfield, and they need all the help they can get right now.
October 20th, 2021 at 4:59 pm
Sack counts are buncha horsesh!t. They look good on paper, but are just window dressing.
October 20th, 2021 at 5:14 pm
This will be another barn burner of a game as the Bucs just aren’t there yet. What did Clyde say after the Superbowl. Still 8 games away from blowing the doors off?
October 20th, 2021 at 5:20 pm
Why put extra pressure on players, about sacks?
They should just stay in their lane, and do their job.
October 20th, 2021 at 5:28 pm
For me, the biggest missed opportunity was the layup missed interception by Dean i the Rams game……there is no telling how much that meant.
And, we got whipped 15-0 in the second half of the Eagles game…..WTF was that?
October 20th, 2021 at 5:32 pm
Great analysis Defense Rules! We tend to get too caught up in singling out one side of the ball or the other. Ever make a mistake at your job ? Happens all the time,even with robots. We are 6-1. Bask in the glory. Coaches see aot more than us from our couches. Have faith that our guys will clean it up. GO BUCS!
October 20th, 2021 at 6:45 pm
Bucs are 14-1 since the bye week last year. (I think?)
They’re doing something right.
October 20th, 2021 at 9:05 pm
Just win the damn game. Ugly as hell is fine as long as it’s a W.
Beauty was hardly seen last year, down 17-0 against the Falcons in a must win game…..a game the Bucs we’re expected to dominate…..
This is still the Bucs, people. Nothing will ever be easy.
October 20th, 2021 at 9:33 pm
Ummm guys we are not 6-1 until we beat the bears.
October 20th, 2021 at 9:35 pm
I’m still waiting to see Bruce say: “that one was on me”!
October 20th, 2021 at 11:45 pm
They were near the goal line in the eagles game and just took a knee on 3 plays to run out the clock. Another TD would have looked nice on the scoreboard.“
This team is not for fun, the Bucs want to get the SB not run the score. Why do they want to risk a pick 6?
A lower stats may help them to because the opponents will underestimate the offense a bit.
October 21st, 2021 at 8:43 am
Playing Sunday for 6-1. But let’s bitch about stats and running the ball too much. Unbelievable.
October 21st, 2021 at 8:45 am
Spell check is a wonderful thing, Joe, lol. Lost some letters there!
October 21st, 2021 at 10:01 am
A WIN IS A WIN!!!! GO BUCS!!
Revenge for last years loss!!! Bucs 31 Bears 17.
October 21st, 2021 at 12:40 pm
I would think its up to the coaches to improving the tackling & containment & less penalties. Afterall isn’t thats what coaches are for. Lord knows the Bucs have a ton of coaches. Maybe they need one more like coach Green.