Ira Kaufman’s 10 Takeaways From Bucs-Browns
November 27th, 2022
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BY IRA KAUFMAN
The Bucs got just what they deserved Sunday — a galling loss.
All the momentum gathered in Munich was missing when they took on a reeling Cleveland team that had nothing to play for. Instead, the Browns exhibited more intensity and physicality than the visitors, who forgot the bye was over.
You’ll need both hands to count the culprits in a brutal 23-17 OT setback.
Looking for a place to start? Try the coaching staff.
Chris Godwin was one of the few Bucs who played tough against a soft Cleveland defense. Special teams loomed as a problem … again.
No-show, says Ira Kaufman.
This was no highlight tape for Donovan Smith .For every good play turned in by Carlton Davis, there was a gaffe. Akiem Hicks was a no-show.
Once again, the only saving grace in this forlorn season is the deplorable nature of the NFC South, where Tampa Bay’s 5-6 mark leads the rotten roost.
Tom Brady’s stats weren’t bad, but few of his completions went downfield and even fewer resulted in first downs. The run game looked flat after a foamy beer run in Germany. Mike Evans couldn’t find separation and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka couldn’t find Jacoby Brissett.
Myles Garrett had his way with Smith off the right edge in the second half, yet Buc coaches never made an adjustment. You can’t ask Rachaad White to help out on one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers. He’s a rookie back not known for his blocking prowess.
Ready for this one?
Clock management bites Todd Bowles, says Ira.
After the Browns tied the score late in regulation, there were still 32 seconds remaining as Tampa Bay lined up at its own 25. But because Todd Bowles didn’t take a timeout following a 1-yard flip to White, the play took 17 seconds off the clock instead of 5. So when Brady found Julio Jones for 26 yards across midfield, needing only a FG, Tampa Bay had only 8 seconds to work with instead of 20.
After the game, neither Bowles nor Brady responded directly to the missed opportunity. Instead, Brady lamented for the 22nd time this season: “Too many plays not on the same page.”
Watching this pedestrian offense through 12 weeks, I say toss the pages and start a new book. Here’s how the Browns dropped Tampa Bay below .500 and returned the pressure on Byron Leftwich.
* This game should have been over when a wide-open Amari Cooper dropped a pass right in his hands with 8:20 left as the Browns rolled the dice on fourth-and-9 from the Tampa Bay 44. Instead, the Bucs failed to take advantage of their good fortune en route to a well-deserved loss.
* Devin White was dynamic from the start, leading all players with 13 tackles. Bowles should have used White more as a blitzer down the stretch instead of dropping him into coverage.
* Don’t blame White for Cleveland’s trying score. TE David Njoku made a fantastic one-handed catch in the back of the end zone, one of the year’s most spectacular receptions.
Another rough day for Keith Armstrong’s special teams unit.
* Tampa Bay’s coverage units were awful. Donovan People-Jones returned five punts for 75 yards. Jerome Ford brought back two kickoffs for 67 yards.
* Speaking of lost yardage, a critical snap in OT proved to be a massive play. When the Browns punted from their own 13, Buc fans anticipated excellent field position. Instead, Corey Bojorquez boomed a 65-yard kick that Jaelon Darden returned 13 yards to the 35. Not so fast. Rookie Zyon McCollum was flagged for a block above the waist, so the Bucs were pushed back to their own 19. That’s right, the Browns advanced the football 68 yards on a single snap.
* Keanu Neal also flashed for a Buc defense that played so well for so long before faltering. This group deserved better in an effort to compensate for an attack that went 3-and-out on six of 13 possessions.
* Another bad day at the office for Leftwich as the Bucs converted only 4-of-15 on third down. The Bucs generated eight first downs on their two TD drives and just eight more on their 11 other possessions. All this against a defense that was yielding 27 points per game, 30th in a 32-team league.
* Godwin caught 11 of the 12 passes sent his way and White, who didn’t have a reception in Munich, was 9-for-9. When targeting others, Brady completed only 9-of-22 throws.
* The great Tristan Wirfs was carted off the field and Buc fans are hoping for the best. With Shaq Barrett out for the rest of the season, losing Wirfs for an extended period would be another huge blow.
* It’s one thing to lose to Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers and Lamar Jackson. It’s quite another to lose to Jacoby Brissett, Phillip Walker and the dashing duo of Kenny Pickett/Mitch Trubisky. That’s how bad this season has been for a team that went 29-10 in its first two years with Brady under center. Now the Bucs have to go at least 4-2 to avoid Brady’s first losing season.
Ira loves that lifetime warranty on new and used vehicles!
Flash poll posted at 6:49 p.m.
November 27th, 2022 at 6:50 pm
Best review yet by Ira. Right on the money.
November 27th, 2022 at 6:54 pm
How you have two weeks to prepare ( not to mention the 10 weeks prior) and still aren’t on the same page, is the direct fault of this humongous coaching staff.
Perhaps there’s too many chiefs, not enough Indians.
November 27th, 2022 at 7:05 pm
Worst coaching staff I’ve ever seen and I lived through Schiano and Lovie. WASTING BRADY!!
November 27th, 2022 at 7:07 pm
I will blame Devin White for Cleveland’s tying touchdown. He was lying on the turf after he let Njoku run past him.
November 27th, 2022 at 7:13 pm
Ira, I’m glad you’re calling it like you seen it. I know Arians was mad about your talk of the Bucs lately, but they deserve it and more. When you name all the talent on this team and compare against all the others l, it’s sad they can’t make 500.
November 27th, 2022 at 7:14 pm
X-rays on Wirfs were apparently negative and he was seen walking around in a boot. Hopefully just a high ankle sprain
November 27th, 2022 at 7:16 pm
Ira says: because Todd Bowles didn’t take a timeout following a 1-yard flip to White, the play took 17 seconds off the clock instead of 5. So when Brady found Julio Jones for 26 yards across midfield, needing only a FG, Tampa Bay had only 8 seconds to work with instead of 20.
so this statement is reason for Byron/bowles to get fired–this is garbage–BAD COACHING made this game not worth sh!T
November 27th, 2022 at 7:18 pm
It seemed like Mike Evans played at times like he was about 80 years old and was really bothered by a rookie defensive back who he normally would have roasted.
November 27th, 2022 at 7:21 pm
Irishmist Says:
November 27th, 2022 at 7:14 pm
X-rays on Wirfs were apparently negative and he was seen walking around in a boot. Hopefully just a high ankle sprain
———-
High ankle sprain at this point in the season could be a season ender – hopefully it was just Wirfs being so disgusted by the coaching he faked an injury to get off the field since he knew these loser coaches would blow the game.
November 27th, 2022 at 7:22 pm
At what point does the “not on the same page” stuff fall on Brady? It looked to me that Brady was commanding that last 32 seconds. BRADY chose to not call the timeout bc he wanted the advantage of knowing the defense and calling his shot on the next play. BRADY gambled and lost.
Mike Evans proved today why he’s not as good as his numbers. Donovan Smith got totally owned. The offense can’t stay on the field in the second half and the defense just wears out every time. Defense deserved a win today.
November 27th, 2022 at 7:23 pm
Brady to Rachaad White 9 times for 45 yards…….that’s 5 yards per completion……..woeful……do you think the Browns saw it coming?…..time after time after a failed 1st down run….a checkdown to White….
That was some sorry-ass offense……
I just can’t blame the defense when our offense is totally impotent….
November 27th, 2022 at 7:24 pm
LakelandSteve – If you want a non-whiny legit answer, I think that field was complete trash today, everyone, including Godwin, looked slow today. Godwin still got his catches, that were much easier receptions for the most part, but he still looked slow. Lots of Bucs were injured today, the field was coming up, a lot, so perhaps Evans hurt himself or maybe he just wasn’t getting traction.
Or maybe he tuned out over the break just assuming Leftwich would be gone when he got back, and he was very depressed to see him still in the building.
November 27th, 2022 at 7:24 pm
I think a critical series was when the Bucs got the ball back with 2.5 minutes left. Usually you run 3 times to make opponent use 3 timeouts. Or just keep running your offense. “Remember Lefty and Tommy, the goal here is 10 yards and them use their timeouts.” We need smart run plays to get 4-5 yards but Idiotboy got cute: 1’st down crappy run call for loss; 2’nd a pass, incomplete stop clock; 3’rd repeat pass. Result 14 seconds burned, 1 timeout and another punt. Complete and total failure by Leftwich and Mr Tom can’t hit the side of a barn Brady. They could have one the game here with 3 good smart run plays or even a 3’rd down RB pass check down. Btw, Wirfs got hurt in OT. Never should have went to OT. Coaching Heads need to roll. This was an embarrassing day to be a Bucs’ fan again. Thx Coaches, you all collectively suck.
November 27th, 2022 at 7:27 pm
BigPoppaBuc – The timeout in that situation comes from the sideline. Just like the trash first down call, which based on the blocking, was meant to be a garbage 1 yard throw to the RB.
Brady rushing to get off that 2nd down play probably screwed up Bowles plans as he was just wanting to run out the clock, and instead, Brady threw it downfield. Reminded me a bit of loser Dirk telling Winston to play for a FG vs the Saints, at home, in 2017 I believe, and instead Winston ignored him and threw a deep TD to Godwin to win the game. Loser coaches like Dirk and Bowles and Leftwich always want to do whatever is the most predictable and safest, because they’re losers.
November 27th, 2022 at 7:29 pm
Tampabaybucfan – I don’t really have an issue with the passes to White, yes, they are predictable, but you can predictable yourself right down the field at 5 yards a clip. The issue was those 5 yard passes would come after a 1st down run which would go for 0 yards, or maybe -3 yards, etc.
Leftwich is complete trash, but if Brady just went to shotgun, played the entire game from there and got 5 yards every time he threw to a RB, well, you don’t need a running game then, as that is your running game.
November 27th, 2022 at 7:39 pm
Wirfs injury is squarely on BL!
If he would pass it more than 5 yards down the field and not try to force the run non stop every single game, they could average 24 points a game or more. Hell, I will take that over the 30 everyone expected at this point. Even that would have them at 8-3 easily.
Basically, if he knew what he was doing, this game never would’ve gone to overtime. At this point, BL has accomplished to-
1. No one is looking at him as head coach anymore.
2. If Brady had any thoughts of returning next year, it’s not going to be in Tampa without major coaching changes
November 27th, 2022 at 7:47 pm
Arians quit. He left Bowles and Leftwich. I know he desperately wants them to succeed. But they are not good.
The owners can either admit that they made a mistake and fix it at the end of the season or they can watch the ticket sales decrease again. There have been so many bad coaching hires over the years. Schiano. Morris. Dirk. Lovie Smith. And now Todd Bowles. There is no time to give him a second year.
Fix it!
November 27th, 2022 at 7:55 pm
I’m sorry, but who the heck is “Craig”?
That was the most ignorant post I’ve seen on this site in a while, and that’s saying a lot. He blames Devon White?!? Seriously? Devin White had a fantastic game!
The defense is not the problem. Not even close. This offense averaged over 30 points a game the last couple years and now it is down to 18!!!
If they just scored 24 a game, they’d be 9-2!!
November 27th, 2022 at 7:58 pm
ModHairKen is spot on! Glazers have got to realize by now they made a crucial mistake and need to move on asap.
November 27th, 2022 at 8:04 pm
This effort coming off a bye ffs.
November 27th, 2022 at 8:05 pm
ModHairKen – You’re wrong on Arians quitting, he knew they had Brady back for one more season, and wanted to set up Bowles and Leftwich to be NFL coaches, and knew, once Brady was gone, there was no hope for this team. So he ‘retired’ so his two pupils could showcase their skills since Arians handed them a team that should be posed for a deep playoff run.
But Arians greatly overestimated the skills of these dullards, and all they’re proving is that without him, they’re not head coaching material. Bowles I think can still be a good DC, but Leftwich is hopeless, and has proved he shouldn’t be in the NFL.
November 27th, 2022 at 8:07 pm
Good article Ira even though the team doesn’t deserve to be written about at this point. We have far too much talent, despite some injuries, to put up such a dismal showing against a truly pathetic team. Neither Bowles nor Leftwich are worth a flying f at their jobs and both should be gone as soon as the season ends. If they bring back Bowles for next year, I’m going to wind up as one hell of a fisherman with all of the practice that I’m getting now and certainly next year if ownership doesn’t do the right thing.
November 27th, 2022 at 8:18 pm
THE MOST SURPRISING THING IS …
You’re surprised by the result of the game.
November 27th, 2022 at 8:26 pm
Arians retired and took the spine of this team with him. This conservative play not to lose doesn’t win games. Things start to work and they immediately go back to run on first downs and wr screens I don’t get it it hasn’t been terrible effective all season what are they expecting to change. What a sad bucs team with terrible coaching so undisciplined just hard to watch what a train wreak the bucs have become after recently being so damn good.
November 27th, 2022 at 8:32 pm
The gallingly gutless decision to punt on 4th and 2 says it all about this HC— along with the mindless/careless handling of TOs on the last drive—both should put the nail in his coffin.
November 27th, 2022 at 8:34 pm
The energy they play with matches the energy Bowles has as the HC. Leftwich and Brady have no synergy. The alpha was BA, this team doesn’t have IT
November 27th, 2022 at 8:40 pm
Bruce is partially to blame. He knew Brady had one more year. And rather than be the HC one more year, he uses the team… Bucs fans…the Glazers… as recipients of his grand experiment. It has failed miserably. Bowles is the same HC that had the job in NY. You screwed us Bruce…this team…this franchise. Thanks for the SB victory, but time to make yourself and Bowles, scarce.
November 27th, 2022 at 8:40 pm
Munch
The Glazers have hired four black HC’s and fired two. More than most any team.
They are not going to be looked upon in any particular way for firing these two because they suck at coaching.
Perpetuating that false mantra is weak.
November 27th, 2022 at 8:48 pm
Biggest take away this not a good football team
November 27th, 2022 at 8:50 pm
mark2001 – I disagree with you on that, Arians THOUGHT he was handing HIS guys a SB caliber team (which is also what Vegas thought). But he greatly overestimated HIS guys. They’re gutless cowards.
I don’t know how you can be around Arians, with no riskit, not biscuit, attack, attack, attack, and pick up on none of it. The moment he left, Leftwich and Bowles reverted to what they are, conservative, boring, bland, moronic, play it safe, don’t rock the boat, losers. That’s how they kept their jobs that long, was doing whatever they were told. You can’t take losers like that and then give them a bunch of freedom, they don’t know what to do.
November 27th, 2022 at 9:00 pm
Clueless Todd strikes again! Now we know why Todd-o couldn’t get a HC job anywhere else. Clueless Rube!
November 27th, 2022 at 9:09 pm
I have 2 huge Buccaneers tattoos on my forearms. A huge skull and crossbones ☠️ with swords and the updated ship full mast. I’m embarrassed today. I’m a old school die hard and been through the worst of the worst. Growing up in Brandon Fla since I was 2. I am embarrassed at the utter cowardice that Bowles displayed. It’s on him Wirfs is hurt. It’s on him for inexplicably not using our time outs. Glazers you got money coming out of your pores. Especially after you sell M.U. Make a drastic move get rid of Bowles. His sissy Dungy crap offensive philosophy is outdated and has got to o go. Pay Arians whatever it takes to either be our H.C. or O.C. at least he’s got some eggs to win. Bowles is terrible. Look at our roster now tell me is it being maximized? That’s a stunning disturbing indictment on the head football coach.
November 27th, 2022 at 9:17 pm
Rod…who basically put Bowles in a position he doesn’t seem to be able to handle? Who vouched for him? You know who.
November 27th, 2022 at 9:18 pm
I’m completely done with this team. I guess I’m spiteful because I hope they lose every game left.
This is who they are. A BELOW average team with no purpose. No motivation. No pride.
No self respect. The 2022 Tampa Bay Buccaneer organization are LOSERS. You own it BOWLES.
November 27th, 2022 at 9:19 pm
BTW Rod. Almost every prognosticator chose this team to be a major player in the SB race. The talent didn’t disappear. But as I’ve tried to tell people over the years, Coaching does make a huge difference. And we don’t have good ones at the helm right now.
November 27th, 2022 at 9:37 pm
Worst coaching staff since Leeman Bennett and Ray Perkins. Afraid to go at 4th and 2 from the Brown’s 37. If I was the Glazers I would make a change just for that not to even speak on the miss use of the timeouts. What ever happened to No risk it No biscuit??? Definitely was Arians philosophy not Bowles.
I’ve seen virtually every Buc game ever and never have I seen such a miss use of talent. I originally thought it was Leftwich but this has Bowles fingerprints all over it. Clean house of this pathetic coaching staff.
November 27th, 2022 at 9:46 pm
And this was off a bye week too.
It’s starting to look like Seattle just wasn’t ready to play in Germany. The Bucs looked good only because Seattle was just off.
November 27th, 2022 at 9:56 pm
IRA – As a professional journalist you still have not made a statement in writing regarding the results of a horrific football season. This ghastly team falls directly on the Glazers . The OWNERS knowingly , willingly and recklessly hired Todd Bowles . In fact several candidates (names not to be mentioned) were highly more qualified . However, because they did not get the same ample opportunity do to nepotism, favoritism the results of this recent Super Bowl champion are in downward spiral . The owners must make a statement immediately.
November 27th, 2022 at 9:57 pm
Man, if it ain’t the half ass effort of the players, it’s the incompetence of the coaches, usually both! The franchise is right back in the dark ages at record speed. In the off season, they need to clean house, including the GM, trade Evans and get players in the trenches.
November 27th, 2022 at 10:00 pm
Only takeaway is this coaching staff should be one and done. Glazers need to clean house after this season, especially if they miss the playoffs.
November 27th, 2022 at 10:13 pm
mark2001 – I think we’re saying the same thing, just the motivation we disagree on. I don’t think Arians tanked the team on purpose, I think he thought these two clowns COULD do the job. He was wrong, but I don’t put a sinister motive to it.
If you want to make anyone out to be the villain, it should be Jacksonville. If they just give Leftwich what he wanted, his hand picked GM, then he takes that job and we’re finally done with that trash. Instead, Leftwich is so low IQ, he thinks he’s actually good at his job and could name his price next offseason. If you want any proof of how clueless Leftwich is, just consider that, he (reportedly) turned down a head coaching job because he thought he was good enough to be picky.
November 27th, 2022 at 10:28 pm
Even if this dumpster fire of team makes the playoffs simply due to the laughable division in which it plays, politely decline. Then fire this pathetic coaching staff, all of it, then Licht goes and start chopping this weak roster to pieces. The D is awful only trumped by one of the worst Buc offenses in the last decade.
November 27th, 2022 at 10:36 pm
The coaching on this team is in over their heads. Everyone watching knew that Garrett couldn’t be stopped by one OL but the coaching completely failed to adjust. Simply incompetent coaching. Brady has played behind some average lines over the years but his coaches always adjusted and kept an extra big body in there to slow down the pass rush. Just imagine what Brady was thinking when the coaches failed to call a timeout with time running out and two timeouts left. Gross incompetence. Time to give Sean Payton a call as this would not happen if he was coaching this team.
November 27th, 2022 at 10:38 pm
The coaching on this team is in over their heads. Everyone watching knew that Garrett couldn’t be stopped by one OL but the coaching completely failed to adjust. Simply incompetent coaching. Just imagine what Brady was thinking when the coaches failed to call a timeout with time running out and two timeouts left. Gross incompetence. Time to give Sean Payton a call as this would not happen if he was coaching this team.
November 27th, 2022 at 10:41 pm
This coaching debacle has to be addressed. I doubt it’s only Bucs fans who believe the losses come down to coaching directly. I would love one sound, objective summary of the team’s problem that does not boil down to Leftwich or Bowles’ ineptitude. Call me crazy but when Mike Evans got ejected vs NO, the team played inspired. Right now all the Bucs have for leadership is the equivalent of a bowl of mushy steamed cauliflower directing the team on the sidelines, and his persistently hardheaded and predictable, unbending OC straddling the greatest QB who ever played the game. Two minute offense mode proves that when the QB and not the OC are in charge, this team has a high-octane offense that can steamroll defenses. Someone has to address this and answer the call for an honest assessment that the Glazers might be compelled by.
November 27th, 2022 at 11:09 pm
markbuc Says:
November 27th, 2022 at 8:40 pm
Munch
The Glazers have hired four black HC’s and fired two. More than most any team.
They are not going to be looked upon in any particular way for firing these two because they suck at coaching.
Perpetuating that false mantra is weak.
Completely disagree with this statement. Don’t you rember the talking heads about Lovie being fired? This staff after one year? Cmon
November 28th, 2022 at 1:50 am
Brady will stick it out to the end of this season and then begone. The rest of the division is rebuilding now and we are late to the game. If they dump the Chumps then it will be fun to watch the rebuild. If they keep the chumps next year at least we can watch the Fish. Before the Bucs I was a big Fish fan when Shula was the coach, Even the Jags are on the upswing as the Bucs self destroy themselves. I just wonder how the players feel about the Clown Coaching?
November 28th, 2022 at 6:18 am
i’d rather hear about cosmo hosing down a couch or fancy rug at this point
November 28th, 2022 at 11:12 am
“Another bad day at the office for Leftwich as the Bucs converted only 4-of-15 on third down. The Bucs generated eight first downs on their two TD drives and just eight more on their 11 other possessions. All this against a defense that was yielding 27 points per game, 30th in a 32-team league.
For all the stat geeks. These are simple unarguably glaring stats!
What a fubing mess they have made of our Bucs!
November 28th, 2022 at 11:27 am
Todd Bowles is the worst. Conservative play and HORRIBLE clock management. Can’t believe we have to put up with Todd and Byron the rest of the year and probably next year when the wheels fall off.