Offense Must Step Up
December 2nd, 2015
Need to rebound.
So the Dixie Chicks come to town Sunday and it very likely is do or die for both teams. The winner remains in the running for a wild card berth. The loser probably starts looking at the draft.
Last week, the Bucs melted down offensively — bad drops, worse penalties and the offensive line caved in during the final 30 minutes.
Dixie Chicks coach Dan Quinn expects stud running back Devonta Freeman to return to the starting lineup. But needing a solid offense may have more to do with the Bucs defense.
Joe will try to get an update later today, but the status of middle linebacker Kwon Alexander is uncertain due to his apparent appeal of testing positive for a PED in training camp. Throw in Bruce Carter’s bum hamstring, and there could be a serious hole in the middle of the Tampa Bay defense.
The old Bucs secondary rose its head Sunday, which is to say Lovie Smith’s version of the Cover-Two — Cover-Nobody — returned with its predictably frightening results.
So combine all of those factors, and it is understandable how Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune believes the Bucs’ offense must work out its wrinkles in a hurry, so he told Miller and Moulton on WWCN-FM 99.3 in Fort Myers yesterday.
“This is a game the Bucs are going to have to dial it up and get back on their game offensively because it looks like the defense may take a hit this week,” Cummings said. “It looks like Devonta Freeman will be back. Matt Ryan, I will always think will have a good game. I would never think he will continue to struggle like he has at times.
“Look, I think it will be up to the offense to stay up with the Falcons in this one.”
In particular, Cummings singled out the offensive line. For weeks, the line played fantastic, maybe over its collective head. The Colts had 14 sacks entering Sunday’s game against the Bucs, but the O-line allowed five sacks of America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston.
That has to be fixed and fixed quickly.
December 2nd, 2015 at 7:50 am
Yep
December 2nd, 2015 at 8:02 am
The o-line allowed 3. America’s tent revivalist allowed the other two. Either way the tone of the article is right. Offense probably has to put up 30 for us to win.
December 2nd, 2015 at 8:05 am
Kwon’s been our best defensive player this year. Losing him might really hurt!
December 2nd, 2015 at 8:05 am
Bad timing for our december run
December 2nd, 2015 at 8:12 am
Spot on!!! It was the offense that lost the Indy game not the defense and the same thing might be true this Sunday.
Hopefully Ali’s ankle is better, certainly the rest of his body will be well rested and that will help.
I also believe #3 is going to have a great game. He’s to the point now where he’s not going to have two bad games in a row. It wasn’t that he sucked or anything in Indy…he just didn’t have his rhythm and he’s still learning when to expect the heat so he can get rid of the ball.
It’s very tough with #3. On one hand we love when he extends plays and then completes a pass or run ala Ben Roethlesberger. OTOH his rookie inexperience sometimes still clouds his judgment. #3 gets better by leaps and bounds right before our eyes. He’ll be ready.
I hope Koetter and #3 are also ready for Quinn. Obviously we want to control the ball and clock and keep Ryan, Freeman, and Jones off the field and that seems like lots of Dougie. Maybe. If Quinn game plans to stuff the run we need to be able to dink and dunk and complete a lot of 4-5 yard passes. Those move the chains and use up clock just as effectively as a running game and it protects #3’s health if he unloads it quickly. The deep ball is not yet our strength and our greatest threat has suspect hands.
December 2nd, 2015 at 9:12 am
Have you ever noticed when the team needs to get back on track in some aspect of the game, a game against the Buccaneers is all it takes to correct the course of the ship?
December 2nd, 2015 at 10:20 am
Like when trooper?
December 2nd, 2015 at 12:27 pm
When is Marpet aka “Nasty” expected to return??
December 2nd, 2015 at 1:00 pm
Ryan will probably have a field day throwing for over 300 yards against the Bucs holes be plenty defense.