The New Company Policy
October 16th, 2018
BY IRA KAUFMAN
Take a seat, Mr. Anger.
Bryan Anger is one of the better punters in the NFL, but he needs to reduce his workload the rest of this season. The Bucs require maximum possessions to compensate for a historically bad defense.
Unless it’s fourth-and-9 from the Tampa Bay 22, Anger should remain on the sidelines. OK, that’s an exaggeration, but you get my point.
This team needs the football and if that means going against traditional protocol in terms of field position, so be it.
The Sunday night matchup between the Patriots and Chiefs was thrilling. The last team with the ball was going to win and the key to New England’s 43-40 victory was the winning FG came on the final snap.
Pat Mahomes never got the chance to respond. “This is what the league wanted,” says Richard Sherman, noting all the efforts to maximize scoring.
The mantra for the 1999 Bucs was “Give us 17 points, we’ll take care of the rest.” The new mantra? “Hold them to 30 and we’ll take our chances.”
Historic Power
Yes, we’re witnessing the most prolific attack in Buc history, eighth in NFL scoring and No. 1 in pass offense, almost 40 yards per game more productive than the Steelers at No. 2.
Tampa Bay’s 7.2 yards per snap is tied with the Rams for the league’s best mark, and all this is happening without benefit of advantageous field position. Through five games, the Bucs have registered only five takeaways, so this offense earns what it gets.
There’s no credible reason to believe this defense will turn around dramatically under Mark Duffner instead of Mike Smith.
Scoring is up all over Roger Goodell’s dominion and the five worst defensive clubs — Tampa Bay, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Oakland and San Francisco, combined for only seven wins through Sunday.
Yes, the rules of the game have changed, so the coaching philosophy must also change, If you have a defense you can’t trust, don’t punt unless it’s absolutely necessary.
“We’re seeing extraordinary numbers,” says Phil Simms. “Guys will catch the ball and I go, ‘Where is the defensive player?’ There’s nobody anywhere near him. We didn’t see that five years ago.”
The Bucs are still on pace to allow the most points in NFL history, 20 more than the 1981 Colts. And yes, Baltimore changed the head coach and defensive coordinator the following season.
Company Policy
Dirk Koetter can’t trust a defense that came off an introspective bye week and promptly allowed the Falcons to reach the end zone on their first three possessions.
This ravaged group has allowed 16 TD passes while registering one interception. The turnover ratio of minus-6 is disturbing, especially with the Browns boasting an NFL-high 16 takeaways entering Sunday’s matchup.
Protect the football and keep the football … that’s the ticket.
The Browns start an inexperienced quarterback, but we saw what Mitch Trubisky did to this defense a few weeks ago. Why should we believe Baker Mayfield won’t shred this secondary, like all who have come before him?
The Glazers are watching this carnage, thinking this offense is too good to go to waste.
The Bucs have scored at least 27 points in each game, yet the current record suggests this will be an 11th consecutive year without postseason play.
If ownership sits idly by, shame on the men who write the checks. Empower Koetter and Todd Monken to coach aggressively — field position be damned.
You want a positive stat? The Bucs are 3-for-3 on fourth down this season.
It’s time to stack your chips on Jameis Winston and a talented crew on pace to shatter the franchise’s single-season scoring record.
When in doubt, go for it. Trust the guys who are getting it done.
Sorry, Mr. Anger. It’s not personal, it’s strictly business.
October 16th, 2018 at 1:10 am
Remember if the Bucs are going for it on 4th down, you are supposed to be totally silent! So many jackwagons in the stands think that’s a time to cheer. So stupid! It’s my biggest pet peeve and drives me nuts.
October 16th, 2018 at 1:36 am
Yea Umm — NO…
Sorry Ira – That sounds like a good way to lose more games than we are already likely to…
Going against conventional wisdom with situational football decision making will lose more games than it wins over the course of a season.
Dan Quinn was lucky his kicker made that final 57 yard kick. Damn lucky! If he pulled that same stunt 10 times he would likely lose 7 or 8 of those games….
The answer to this problem is that its time to get back to fundamentals on defense.
Run these guys ragged with tackling, coverage and pass rush drills at practice Wednesday, Thursday and Friday each week until results improve if that’s what it takes – but don’t throw up the white flag and settle for last in the league stats from these players on Defense. Much less radically adjust your situational decision making to try and compensate for said under-performing players because of “acceptance” that that’s just how it is…
There is too much talent on this defense to rank 20th in the league – much less dead LAST. WAY too much talent.
Time to rally the troops, demand more from the players who are here, focus hard on fundamentals and make enough “tweeks” in the scheme so that the talent we have on defense can be more successful.
October 16th, 2018 at 1:45 am
Taking it a bit literal, are we?
The only immediate hope I have now that we are on the Duff Train is if we are ever going to see Noah Spence on the field bending around a poor slow left tackle.
October 16th, 2018 at 3:55 am
I have absolutely no issue with this philosophy. I don’t see the point of playing the field position game when 1) the rookie are tilted to benefit the offense and 2) every defensive play we have has the other team catching the ball without a buc player even on the screen. Field position games work when you have a way of stopping the other team. The bucs do not. The offense has proven themselves, I say go with it. That would also allow for the run game to improve because 3rd down is no longer and obvious playing down when our team’s philosophy is that all 4 downs are offensive downs. Tampa has never been, and will likely never be, one to embrace progressive thinking and outside the box approaches to things but I think this would be great and I’d cheer my head off even more if we took this approach
October 16th, 2018 at 4:33 am
When conservative Lovie left I was like…yeah,look out “Sean Agressive Coaching Payton” here comes Koetter! Needless to say,I was wrong. Koetter does not know how to put players in position to play to their strength, maximize their skill set, get creative, or think outside the box. We have several players 6’6 or taller. Can they b put in on situational plays? Can 6’9 DDotson play defense during crunch time on field goals? He played basketball so with his height, within the five yard line can he or 6’7 CNassib b used as receivers? The great coaches would exploit that thought. Can Vita Vea b used on offense on the goal line or on 4th n inches as a cloned “William The Refrigerator Perry”? Can Justin Evans blitz, can the corners blitz? We r in desperation mode, so let’s go in fighting as warriors n not passive pessimistic push overs of the NFC
South. Koetter need to step up or step out. Case closed.
October 16th, 2018 at 5:51 am
And the offense need to quit turning the ball over
9 turnovers in 3 games isn’t smart football
Nor will it win you games…only hurt your defense
ACCOUNTABILITY!
October 16th, 2018 at 6:18 am
This “High Scoring” offense only scored 10 points against the Bears………..7 in garbage time
October 16th, 2018 at 6:23 am
Agree with much of what Ira is saying. I won’t go as far going for it on our own 20 or 30 yard line on fourth down. But absolutely weigh your options and never give the ball to the other team with time left on the clock at the end of the game.
Tackling and communication was very bad Sunday, especially in the first half.
IMO some of the problems were created by an overcomplicated zone system.
We are not getting enough pressure from our four down lineman when other teams are using max protect against us. I’m not sure bringing our our best cover
DB (Evans ) on blitzes is the only answer. Bring delayed blitzes from LB’s and use corners and strong safety also. Agree with Pickgren that fundamental football
has to be taught and emphasized more.
But protecting the football and keeping it has to improve . Most of the talent
on the team is on offense. It is up to them to limit turnovers and mistakes
and placing an extra burden on the defense.
October 16th, 2018 at 6:37 am
You miss the conversion and the other team is basically in the red zone. Because other teams red zone is expanded by twenty yards when they play the bucs always scoring from 20 to 30 yards out
October 16th, 2018 at 7:03 am
When you have an offense that has turned the ball over 9 times in 3 games
And the defense has created zero turnovers in those 3 games
The results are…..0-3
In games 1-2, the Bucs defense created 4 turnovers, the offense had 2 turnovers
And the team went …2-0
The solution
Quit turning the ball over…….create more turnovers
Accountability on both…the offense as well as the defense
October 16th, 2018 at 7:40 am
When your defense allows the other team to score on every possession it forces the offense to be super aggressive hense creating the mentality that they have to put up point every possession as well. Instead of pointing out how many turn overs the offense has had or how many take aways the defense has we need to get back to the basics. Duffer has been a defensive coordinator hopefully he will instill just the basic mentality that make them earn every yard they get, wear their offensive line down till it starts creating holes for our LB and DL to start getting to the QB, that in it self will help our young secondary to learn by fire not learn by blast furnace.
October 16th, 2018 at 8:10 am
And maybe if the defense does not let the other team drive the length of the field and score with less than a minute? Either in the half or the end of the game.
October 16th, 2018 at 8:27 am
Well I would say this. Instead of vh3 plus vita V I’d take Khalil Mack 100x over. That guy was worth the ransom and we would be a far better defense with him. The idea of first round picks being the gold of tomorrow is a shimmering mirage, half are busts. What it’s about is having to pay the proven players instead of taking chances on the cheap- but we would have 2 more victories right now with him- Steelers and Falcons, and who knows maybe we wouldn’t have wet the bed against the Bears. .
October 16th, 2018 at 8:29 am
Whatever the problem is
They better fix it
30th in turnover ratio
You want win games at this rate
October 16th, 2018 at 8:29 am
There is an old Yiddish proverb, “let it be worse but let it be change”. It cannot possibility be worse than last in the league so change will only reveals the truth of the problem. Was it him or lack of talent/drive? We could never get an answer as long as it could have just been Smith.
October 16th, 2018 at 8:38 am
IMO we need to score more on offense when we have the opportunities.
Time for Koetter and Montgen to sit our fourth year QB down and make it clear that forcing the ball, especially in the redzone is unacceptable. Jameis has to realize his mistakes hurt the team. At the same time they need to make clear how critical
he is to the team. He still needs to calm down a knotch at critical times in the game. Unless your Cam Newton a fumbled snap or other fumble is a lost opportunity.
October 16th, 2018 at 9:07 am
I find myself less and less interested in the game as defenses become neutered and offenses soar. It’s one of the reasons I don’t care much for CFL up here. One less down also means lack of consistantg ruNing game but through rules we are seeing the same when passing is so favored. Missed the days of solid running games, good defense, big hits and interceptions. I can’t stand watching guys running free. Just roll my eyes when defense is that bad. Hard rooting for a team that had lost its way so badly on d
October 16th, 2018 at 9:16 am
Koetter is not that type of coach. He is never going to be aggressive on 4th downs, and will always play the safe percentages of punting on the + side of the 50 and attempting field goals.
October 16th, 2018 at 10:47 am
Speaking of Brian Anger, has anyone noticed that the placekicking game has deteriorated with him as the holder?
October 16th, 2018 at 11:50 am
Phil Simms says what has been driving me nuts with the Bucs!!!
According to Simms though it’s not just the Bucs.
“Guys will catch the ball and I go, ‘Where is the defensive player?’ There’s nobody anywhere near him. We didn’t see that five years ago.”
It’s just been amazing with this year’s Bucs. Guys run WIDE OPEN through our D. It can’t be all talent…or all coaching…what the hell is going on that defenders are constantly out of position.
JJ…other great NFL WR’s and TE’s are going to win their share of individual matchups due to their advantage in talent…but I’ve never seen so many guys so wide open there is not a defender in the same freaking zip code. Why don’t the players know where they are supposed to be? Can it all really be coaching? Are players just not as smart these days? Not trying as hard as they should? What the hell is going on?
October 16th, 2018 at 2:20 pm
Dirk Koetter and aggressive playcalling are like oil and water..