“It’s A Different Place”
December 3rd, 2010
Pat Kirwan, the former NFL personnel executive turned guru for CBS Sports, Sirius NFL Radio and NFL.com, doesn’t see the Bucs winning Sunday against Atlanta.
Nope. Kirwan doesn’t think they’ve evolved enough to beat elite teams.
Kirwan, a fan of Raheem Morris and the young Bucs, Kirwan delivered the following Bucs rant this week on Miller and Moulton on 770 AM in Fort Myers.
“Here’s the reality of Tampa: They haven’t beaten a team with a winning record. We know that. Everyone’s been talking about it. Now they’re up against their fifth team with a winning record.
“What happens to these guys, they’re young, they’re excitable, they’re going to be very good someday. But in the crunch of the last few minutes of a game when you’ve got to make that play, whether it’s “O” or “D,” they’re not really ready to do that as much as a team like Atlanta ,who learned and then suffered a little bit last year and built their resolve and cleared up what they are.
“If you look at last week’s game with Tampa, the coaches are still learning about these kids. They don’t have enough information. …You were in Baltimore. You were playing a very good football team poised for this playoff run, and your coach is trying to figure out how much you can handle. It’s a different place.”
Kirwan went on to say Atlanta is the best team in the league because it’s the most balanced.
Joe can’t argue with Kirwan’s slap of reality. The immature Bucs are a work in progress, nowhere near a finished product like New Orleans or Atlanta, for example. And that is why Raheem is coach of the year to this point — because simply beating every team at or below their level has been a near miraculous accomplishment with this roster.
However, all that written, Joe surely believes the Bucs have the playmakers in place to beat Atlanta at home.
December 3rd, 2010 at 5:02 pm
“However, all that written, Joe surely believes the Bucs have the playmakers in place to beat Atlanta at home.”
I agree. On paper, in a probable world of statistics, the Bucs should have lost every game this year. Reality is that you can’t measure heart and determination with everyday statistics. The Bucs have these traits in spades, and it starts with Coach Raheem. He deserved to catch the flak he caught last year as a rookie HC, but this year he has grown ten fold. I was high on this team immediately after the draft. When we got word that Freeman was camped out at 1 Buc early and often, you just had to know that this team would overachieve, and they have. The bad thing, like some other teams is how many players they have lost in 11 games. I think the winning will continue but every player has to be at the top of his game to win these next few games. There were too many missed opportunities in Baltimore, and that can’t happen against the Falcons and Saints. To be the best, you have to beat the best. It may be too much to ask this year, but they are doggone close and you can take that to the bank. Go Bucs!!!
December 3rd, 2010 at 5:44 pm
“But in the crunch of the last few minutes of a game when you’ve got to make that play, whether it’s “O” or “D,” they’re not really ready to do that as much as a team like Atlanta ,who learned and then suffered a little bit last year and built their resolve and cleared up what they are.”
HUH? Was Pat asleep when Talib picked off DA to essentially ice the Cards game? What Pat cutting the grass when Free threw that dart to Spurlock to win the Cleveland game or when Free threw that dart to Spurlock to set up the game winning FG @ Cincy? Was Pat watching HGTV when Free rolled out and threw the game-winning TD pass to Caddy against the Rams with a scant few seconds left?
Listen Pat, youre one of the few guys that don’t make my eyes glaze over when you speak so I’ll just let this one slide…but seriously, c’mon man. This team has shown that it has the propensity to come back on anybody by making big plays in any one of the three phases of the game.We’ve taken two straight close losses to Atlanta and I’m sure everybody in the Org is getting sick of “learning” from them. I think we’ll take it to them this weekend.
December 3rd, 2010 at 5:47 pm
Blount will get 200 yards this Sunday.
Bucs win 30-20
December 3rd, 2010 at 5:52 pm
Jdouble…I like the way you think!
December 3rd, 2010 at 5:56 pm
Beating the Falcons is a stretch. Beating the Saints much less so. I’d be quite happy (and confident) if we go into New Orleans for the last game with both teams at 10-5. Of course beating the Falcons would be a great bonus – I just don’t think it’s a realistic expectation. Still – that’s why they play the games.
December 3rd, 2010 at 6:44 pm
“Nope. Kirwan doesn’t think they’ve evolved enough to beat elite teams.”
I don’t think the Bucs can beat elite teams either.
The Falcons are not an Elite team.
Bucs 28 Falcons-less than 28
December 3rd, 2010 at 8:13 pm
Ravelston, If you think we stand a better chance of beating the Saints in thier dome than we do beating the Falcons in our own house….I don’t know what to tell you. All I can say is that the Falcons are very over-rated and the Saints are probably the better team.
The Falcons are really mediocore on both sides of the ball. They’ve had the same weak schedule as us and they have been playing mistake free which is a great accomplishment, but in the end I think the Falcons are no better than the Bucs. We are both good teams (not great) that have been executing very well and not turning the ball over. If we had got that one yard and won the fist Falcons game….we’d all be sitting at 8-3 right now after playing the same teams all year.
The Saints on the other hand, while inconsistant this year, can explode on you and be the most amazing offense in the NFL at any moment. They have been no better than the Falcons or Bucs this year, but there is always that potential for them to blow up. We all know Brees can be amazing.
December 3rd, 2010 at 9:09 pm
I agree and not like what Kirwan says in his statement; ” But in the crunch of the last few minutes of a game when you’ve got to make that play, whether it’s “O” or “D,” they’re not really ready to do that as much as a team… ”
Not ready YET! I am thinking! Yes we have a Young team, very young. I like how these guys never give up! 60 min they are giving it there all. When we where down how ever many to Steelers and Johnson come is in and goes for a long drive for a TD.. This tells me that we finally have a #2 team that wants to win as bad as the #1 team.. yeah it was mostly against the steelers #2-3’s but our guys came out and did what they needed to do to score. Our Defense has gotten better the more games these guys play together. With us as close as we where in the last game with Atl (lucky I have heard it called) these young guys that don’t know how to finish out a game YET!! only need to learn it. Most of the players we drafted where all Captains on campus and very few risky players. We haven’t YET! learned on “O”or “D” how to put away games on a steady pace.. YET! Sunday is a good day for taking what we have been learning and to put it into finishing this game.
Go Bucs
December 4th, 2010 at 3:37 pm
JDouble, The Saints are pretty much tied with the Rams for the weakest NFL schedule to date. The Falcons’ schedule has been considerably stronger. (Remember the Falcons are 9-2 without having played the Panthers yet – we and the Saints have had the gimees already.) Brees is brilliant, but he throws interceptions. I just think that, given the way our defense is now performing, it’s a pretty good matchup – particularly if the offense can find some form. The Falcons are a different matter. They’ve had some luck, but good teams make their own luck. I’m not saying that we can’t beat them, but I do believe that our chances are much better against the Saints.