Bryant Questions Coaches’ Commitment To Win
November 23rd, 2009
Antonio Bryant, fresh off his three-catch return to the Bucs starting lineup against the Saints yesterday, is not a happy guy when it comes to the Bucs playcalling.
Tom Balog, beat writer for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, had a post-game chat with Bryant, where the Bucs franchise player was frustrated by the lack of balls thrown downfield against a depleted Saints secondary.
Bucs wide receivers caught just four balls.
“He’s developing. Right now it just seems that’s what we’re going out there doing _ developing Josh more than really trying to compete,” Bryant said. …
”For the two weeks I sat out, it was like ‘Bombs away,’ ” Bryant said. “Then today it’s kind of like very, very conservative.
”I never felt like we made the adjustments we could have made, to go there and make the plays down the field to beat them deep. Especially with the situation given. They weren’t even in their first team completely. That was kind of weird to me. But it is, what it is.”
Joe can’t disagree completely with Bryant, but it’s just way over the line to come out and say your offensive coordinator and coaching staff might not be doing all they can to win.
Bryant’s got six games left in his Bucs contract. It’s hard to imagine a scenario that has him returning to Tampa Bay.
November 23rd, 2009 at 11:32 am
To me, this just sounds like him wanting to throw the ball more. Coming into the game the Saints also allowed 5+ ypc. You could just as well assume that we weren’t trying to win because we gave up on the running game. While it sounds nice to throw down field against a depleted secondary, Malcolm Jenkins and the other cornerback (they kept saying Randall Gay, but it wasn’t that name I usually saw on the jersey) were doing a fine job in coverage.
I particularly found it amusing once when Freeman tried to force the ball to Clayton on 3rd down in between three defenders. If you look at the replay, if he had thrown it on target, it would have been an easy catch (well, that’s questionable for Clayton, I guess). However, the game announcers questioned him not throwing it to the open Kellen Winslow on a dump off about 3 or 4 yards behind the first down marker. If he had done that and not gotten the first down, they would have talked about gutless play-calling and not throwing to the sticks.
Freeman was taking chances. Bryant noticeably slipped twice, once leading to an interception. I can’t really blame Freeman for not trusting Bryant to be in the right place when he releases the ball.
November 23rd, 2009 at 11:32 am
*wanting more balls thrown his way.
November 23rd, 2009 at 11:52 am
For whatever reason, they definitely didn’t throw the ball deep yesterday (until the last pick). I would have thought they could have exploited the backups in the secondary, but Freeman’s accuracy was an issue.
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Honestly, If Bryant learned to stay on his feet during the game he might have alot more balls thrown his way. Instead whenever the camera would turn to him or you see a replay Bryant was continuously getting up off the field as he tripped himself constantly.. Hard to trust and throw deep when your star receiver has a problem with staying on his feet.
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:42 pm
He’s exactly right, 4 balls caought by the WR’s when the Saints CB’s are both injured. Any other team would attack the weakness of the defense, but not this team. Bryant’s absolutely right! And to John, Bryant was slipping running SHORT CROSSING ROUTES AND SHORT OUTS, NOT DEEPS ROUTES WHERE THERE ARE NO HARD CUTS!
November 23rd, 2009 at 1:03 pm
The field was tore up from the USF game Saturday with sod patch’s on it.
Bryant just speaking the truth.If you seen his whole interview he seemed fairly humble and with the team in what they were doing for Freeman’s development………..he was frustrated but he understands you gotta develop the QB and cant do somethings with a 3 game rookie you can with an exp vet.
November 23rd, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Excuses, excuses, excuses – doesn’t anyone get tired of it?
1. the Bucs play calling sucked. The abandoned the run way too early. Remember that the first drive was more running than passing.
2. The QB rating for shotgun was 80+ vs. 19 for under center. but Olsen continued to put Freeman under center. His footwork wasn’t clean and he was off balance
3. Receivers were NOT running hard – too much caution due to wrong cleats (maybe it was the field right then why weren’t the Saints fallig as well?)
Bryant has only HIMSELF to blame for a crappy season. Take your 9.7 million and leave already.
November 23rd, 2009 at 1:48 pm
While I think Bryant’s departure after this season will be mutual, I have a feeling he’ll be a productive WR for someone else for the next few years.
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Who can blame Bryant or any other player for that matter for not wanting to return another season with this horrific coaching. With coaching like this the Bucs may go years without even making it to an 8-8 season. Much like the Lions, Rams, Raiders, Chiefs and Browns the past few years. (UGH!)
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:16 pm
The reason for the under center snaps is this, Freeman needs to be able take snaps from under center(trying to still develop the kid I assume). You can’t play the shotgun every play.
I did go to the USF game also and it was causing slipping in that game too(Bulls playing on it made it worse, which didnt help).
Thank U2 for this!
They should have not rushed Byrant back. That knee surgery needed 6 weeks not 4.
November 23rd, 2009 at 7:16 pm
Karl with a “K” If you SEEN his whole interview. Please don’t ever knock my grammar again.
November 24th, 2009 at 1:58 am
Maybe Antonio needs to call the plays. He can’t be any worse.