Pressure Largely Removed From Bucs
November 14th, 2013
There is always pressure for all employees in the NFL — pressure to win, pressure to make the team, pressure to put players in position to play well, pressure to coach players up.
It is all about winning. It’s why there is a scoreboard. It’s why there are standings. It’s why some coaches are held to lofty heights while others are eviscerated for losing.
With the Bucs this season, loss followed a loss followed another loss followed yet another loss. Week after week after week. Eight weeks in a row, in fact. Each week, Bucs coach Greg Schiano suggested, the noose got tighter, the blood pressure ratcheted up, the blood sugar rose. Headaches never left.
So the biggest thing that happened for the Bucs, in Schiano’s eyes, following the win over the Dolphins on Monday Night Football is the extreme pressure has widely evaporated for the team.Schiano spoke about this while appearing on “Late Hits,” co-hosted by Alex Marvez and Gil Brandt, heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio Wednesday night.
Alex Marvez: Nice win over the Miami Dolphins, you are in the win column, finally. What does a victory like that do for the team as you prepare to play the Atlanta Falcons?
Greg Schiano: Well, I think it was important, as the season goes on and you continue not to have a win, that pressure mounts on the players and coaches alike. You get that one off of your back and it frees them up a little bit and you just go play. We have a ton of injuries on offense but on defense we are relatively healthy, so, if you are going to have injuries, I always believed it’s better to have them all on one side. We had some guys step up in a big way so going into Atlanta, we are a little short-handed offensively but we have some young kids who are finding their way.
Another thing that worked in Schiano’s favor, speaking of freedom, was allowing Bucs pass rush specialists on the defensive line to, you know, actually rush the passer. Imagine! And look at the result on the final defensive stand: two sacks and a pick. That’s old school Bucs defense.
It will be interesting to see how this relief of pressure helps the Bucs, as Joe believes Sunday’s Dixie Chicks game, despite their record, is hardly a slam dunk.
November 14th, 2013 at 10:14 am
Well, I’d like to think that after a win against the 4-4 Dolphins, the Bucs should be able to handle themselves against the Falcons who have a worse record. But let’s not forget that we already played them this year, and lost that is, when their wings had been clipped with the injuries to Roddy White, Julio Jones, and Steven Jackson. That 3rd string WR Douglas kid made a fool out of the Bucs DB’s, a disgraceful performance. Now they have Steven Jackson back (and Roddy White?), plus this time it is the Bucs who are beaten and battered with injuries. I’d like to see a win against “#RiseUp” nation, because no matter how good or bad their team is doing, Falcons fans never seem to be able to shut their traps!
November 14th, 2013 at 10:16 am
Getting rid of that ‘ZERO’ was a massive mental relief for everyone involved.
November 14th, 2013 at 10:34 am
From someone who was there for 0-26….I can feel a huge relief….I think having the pressure off should help going forward….It may stop some of the penalties from trying too hard. I think we can and will beat the Falcons Sunday as I predicted 2 in a row.
November 14th, 2013 at 10:46 am
Vegas believes otherwise. They believe that now that the pressure is off, the Bucs may relax. The line opened as a PK and since the Bucs have won, has moved to -1.5 in favor of the Falcons. I think the Bucs win this one because they are the better team at this point.
http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Week-11-Las-Vegas-market-report.html
November 14th, 2013 at 10:52 am
Will the coaches continue to let the DL pin their ears back? I think we revert to the tex games. I would LOVE to see a predominantly straight rush game.
November 14th, 2013 at 10:57 am
I’d like to see Ryan on the turf 5 or 6 times and we desperately need turnovers! Winning teams take the ball away.
November 14th, 2013 at 11:38 am
It’s interesting how 1 win can bring the heat level down. Even with a horrible record of 1-8, the pressure is off and the team has a week to enjoy the win.
Although the criticism is still there, just not as loud this week. After all, they still committed bonehead penalties and gave up points late in the first half. Hopefully the coaching staff has learned a thing or two and will let the defensive line play north/south. It’s just frustrating that it takes so long for an NFL coaching staff to see their mistakes and make adjustments.
November 14th, 2013 at 12:18 pm
Joe says
“Another thing that worked in Schiano’s favor, speaking of freedom, was allowing Bucs pass rush specialists on the defensive line to, you know, actually rush the passer.”
I’m not sold it will become the norm.
Also, it was unexpected, which is likely why it succeeded so well. When and if the Bucs do it more often, teams will plan for it.
Still, it was might sweet seeing those sacks. And on the Revis pick it happened because they were pressuring the QB as well.
November 14th, 2013 at 12:23 pm
One of two things will happen after this win. The players will either be energized and have confidence after getting their first win or they will have a letdown now that the pressure and monkey is off of their becks. We’ll see which way it goes
November 14th, 2013 at 1:49 pm
Whew! That was close!