“I Put The Game On Me”
December 22nd, 2013
If you want to know why the Bucs lost, look no further than the rushing statistics. In the first half, Bobby Rainey’s longest run was four yards. He averaged 1.1 yards in the first half.
He damned near doubled that amount in the second half, finishing with 1.9 yards a carry.
The main reason Rainey had such putrid numbers was that time after time after time after time the Bucs tried to run the ball up the one hole, between Jamon Meredith (who was totally worked over by the Rams and benched for Ted Larsen) and center Jeremy Zuttah.
Despite banging their heads against the wall, Bucs offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan almost refused to try anything else. The few times he did, Rainey had a nice little runs.
By midway through the second quarter it was clear this play was not going to work. Yet time and time and time again, Sullivan (on orders?) kept pounding Rainey. It didn’t take someone running around with a white cane to figure out this play was dead.
Rainey is not Larry Csonka. He can’t run through a mountain of men. He was getting drilled by three guys by the time he got to the line of scrimmage. If everyone in the friggin’ Ed Jones dome could see this, if just about everyone half-sober watching on TV could see this, then why did not the Bucs coaching staff?
“I put the game on me,” Rainey said after the game, referring to his fumble that gave the Rams some life.
No, Bobby, the game was not on you. If was on the guys wearing black shirts on the Bucs sideline that were asking you to do the impossible.
December 22nd, 2013 at 6:15 pm
Every single person that cashes a check with the glazers signature on it should say the same thing
December 22nd, 2013 at 6:16 pm
Completely agree joe. Rainey did the best he could. There was no where to run. The rams knew where we gonna run and they stopped it. We didn’t do anything different from the past 14 games, and they are good enough up front to stop it.
December 22nd, 2013 at 6:21 pm
Run run for no gain. Third down, forget it, punting time. The cupboard is bare.
December 22nd, 2013 at 6:30 pm
I have never in my life seen such stubbornness on playcalling, and I’ve watched a lot of football. It doesn’t matter if we are winning or losing, we are going to run up the middle on first (and often second) down. It makes no difference if time and time again it either loses yards or has no gain. It makes no difference if the opponent has a great D-Line and has stacked the box. It makes no difference if we had previous success moving the ball through the air. It’s absolutely unbelievable, and incredibly frustrating. That’s all I have to say about that.
December 22nd, 2013 at 6:30 pm
TODAY WAS THE LAST STRAW. IF THERE ISN’T A HEAD COACHING CHANGE AT THE END OF THE SEASON, I’LL SEE YOU IN 2015 WHEN WE GET A NEW COACH. THIS COACHING STAFF AND PHILOSOPHY IS AWFUL.
December 22nd, 2013 at 6:30 pm
Just what are the chances that Sullivan gets the vacant HC job up north? Is there really a Santa Clause. or are we going to get HO, Ho, Hosed?
Merry Christmas, Joe, to you and yours!
Hawk
December 22nd, 2013 at 6:43 pm
It would be hard for me to believe that Schiano is “ordering” Sullivan to run and cramming the offense down his throat because Sully is a scapegoat….our Offense is a disaster..the defense….not so bad and would be much better if we could stay on the field on offense.
If Schiano is controlling the offense, then everyone will know and he has put himself in further jeopardy.
December 22nd, 2013 at 6:59 pm
@ Hawaiian Buc
“I have never in my life seen such stubbornness on playcalling, and I’ve watched a lot of football.”
Obviously you didn’t watch ‘The Dungy Years’. I pulled my hair so much, that by the time the Glazers (finally) gave him the boot, I looked like Yul Brenner. I know Sullivan doesn’t have a lot to work with, but if the logical course of action doesn’t work, then try the illogical. Sullivan may feel like he’s banging his head against a wall, but Rainey and Glennon are the ones feeling the pain. IMO, it’s too late for him to have an epiphany. Even if he came out with a wild, wide open offense, in the last game, *I* would consider it too late.
I’m not in favor of dumping Schiano, yet (the Glazers gave Dungy *three years* to straighten up), but I expect to see a different team (next year) starting with the preseason.
December 22nd, 2013 at 7:31 pm
Dingy went 10-6 his second year. Never had a losing season after his first. NFC championship game. Multiple playoff appearances.
Great coach, got us in the playoffs after 15 year drought.
One of the best defensive runs in NFL history.
Tampa fans are so ignorant it’s sickening.
December 22nd, 2013 at 7:31 pm
Dingy not Dingy! 🙂
December 22nd, 2013 at 7:44 pm
Coach Dungy did some very good things, but he cheated Buc players and fans out of three ‘Super Bowl’ caliber years with his allergy to offense.
“Tampa fans are so ignorant it’s sickening.”
I agree with this statement.
December 22nd, 2013 at 7:58 pm
@Hawk
Totally agreed, Warren Sapp, Lynch, Brooks, etc. have all said Dungy did not hold the offense to the same standards as the defense. Dungy was a very good coach and human being, great coach c’mon man.
Look at his decisions and first round losses with Peyton manning for God’s sakes. It really doesn’t matter because at least we would be in the mix if he was coaching for the last few years.
December 22nd, 2013 at 8:14 pm
Rainey is practice squad material nothing more.. Trade doug martin for draft pick and hope that mike james get back healthy..
December 22nd, 2013 at 9:42 pm
No one can rush behind this pitiful O-line Sick Of It
December 22nd, 2013 at 10:54 pm
Well the good news is that if no changes are made, we WILL actually have a shot at Winston in 2015. Of course there won’t be anyone left to watch him but…
December 22nd, 2013 at 11:24 pm
@Tampabaybucfan
Go look at “SoundFX” on NFL Network, the episode w/ Schiano mic’d up. He’s calling the shots and telling Sully what he wants him to call. Schiano can’t get a pass, it’s his philosophy and game plan