Slow Starts Have To End
December 12th, 2010
Over and over and over the Bucs have had trouble early in games.
They might be the best second-half defense in the league, but the ghost of Jim Bates has haunted them in many first halfs, including in today’s 17-16 win.
It’s all great when you get the “W,” but Joe’s looking for a playoff standard at this point, and the Bucs have to fix all this.
Joe nearly punched a hole in the wall watching Greg Olson get away from the running before it started.
On the first series, Blount ran for six yards to open the game, then Freeman slipped dropping back to pass on second down before scrambling for three yards. And then the Bucs had an incomplete pass on 3rd-and-1. Punt.
On the Bucs’ second series, the Bucs threw on first down for 12 yards. Then Blount punished Washington for 18 yards before a four-yard run on the next first down. Then the Bucs had a five-yard pass to set up a 3rd-and-1, where they then abandoned the run for a failed Mike Williams slant. Punt.
On series 3, Blount ran for three yards and the Bucs threw two incomplete passes. Punt.
That was the Bucs’ first quarter on offense.
Of course, the player have to execute, but Joe’s just not getting the playcalling. It’s not playoff caliber.
December 12th, 2010 at 5:41 pm
Ok, I’ll agree with Rah4LCOY today. We got awful lucky this game. The redskins lost more than we won. But hey, a win is a win.
But how bout Rejus “the bust” Benn? 122 yards receiving and 17 rushing yards??
December 12th, 2010 at 5:43 pm
someone really needs to punch Olsen in the head when he ABANDONS one of the few things that really work for us…THE RUNNING GAME !!!!!!!
December 12th, 2010 at 5:43 pm
I haven’t heard any talk about Washington getting an extra down on their last drive. If the Bucs lose this game that would have been ridiculous. They try to say the one catch on the 3rd yard line resulted in a first down when the guy was clearly a yard short. Need some commentary on this.
December 12th, 2010 at 5:45 pm
They don’t trust Blunt in short yardage, especially behind this makeshift line. Those back-to-back shotgun passes on 3rd and 1 were frustrating though. The priority should be to sustain drives.
December 12th, 2010 at 5:46 pm
Shhh don’t raise the question are the refs making bad calls on the field….. Someone might hear it and say no
December 12th, 2010 at 5:47 pm
I meant Blount. Sorry, LaGarious (Arizona game).
December 12th, 2010 at 5:48 pm
Yeah I cant understand passing out of the shotgun on 3rd and 1. Who does that? Who? There has got to be something more high percentage to get one yard then that. I mean if you dont want an i-form run up the gut then how about a wildcat formation or something for christs sake?
December 12th, 2010 at 5:49 pm
The extra down theory may be bogus; the announcers claim the refs stated that the first play of that sequence was actually a first down (not second and one) so the plays add up. I’m not saying I’m totally on board with that but I’m sure we’ll find the truth in the next day or two.
But why the focus on the offense; how the hell do the ‘Skins have a hundred yard back in the FIRST FREAKIN QUARTER? I know it’s not one guys fault but I thought I saw a lot of Ruud being pushed around in the run game….
December 12th, 2010 at 5:49 pm
Freeman has to stop launching it downfield on 3rd and short. Winslow wasn’t even open. Fletcher is one of the best LB’s in the game and he continued to go at him.
December 12th, 2010 at 5:52 pm
Scott-
Please don’t start with blaming Ruud for the run defense. Did you not notice the defensive line being blocked all the way off the field and into the stands?
December 12th, 2010 at 5:52 pm
Scott I agree that Ruud was being man handles today and was always out of a position. As far as the extra down.. I rewound and watched the plays and the catch they said resulted in a first down was so bogus. If the guy would have been rewarded a first down from rolling after the catch he should have been rewarded a TD. Which it wasn’t he was down by contact on the 3 which was a yard short of the first.
December 12th, 2010 at 5:53 pm
i agree with this post and “HIRE GREG” 100%
December 12th, 2010 at 5:55 pm
The worst part about it is not only is the idiot passing on 3rd and 1, but he’s doing it out of the shotgun. Dumbest designed plays ever so early in the game.
Raheems defense is even worse.
I am losing interest in watching the Bucs real fast spending a Sunday afternoon seeing them get owned over and over again. Raheem is downright a terrible coach.
December 12th, 2010 at 5:56 pm
I don’t get how the run D can be so bad in the first and then relatively solid in the second. And it’s a repeating pattern. I’ve long thought that they just don’t have the talent yet, but they can shut down the run at times. I could see if they were stout in the first and then got worn down, but this is backwards.
December 12th, 2010 at 5:56 pm
This is hands down the luckiest buccaneer team in the history of the organization… raheem is an aweful coach.
December 12th, 2010 at 5:58 pm
The adjustments either come from a higher power or that horrible coach people keep griping about. The thing I do not understand is how a coach can game adjust well but gameplan so poorly (Morris)
Olson is just bad. I have not verified but we may have been in gun on every third down and we are regularly in over 9-% of our third down plays. If you do not just LGB, then line EG up.
December 12th, 2010 at 6:01 pm
IF they are going to pass on 3rd and short, they need to PLAYACTION to high percentage passes i.e. screens and clear outs routes with passes thrown to the vacated underneath areas, backs out of the backfield, etc. Just please do not bring back the vintage Gruden 1 yd passes when you need 3, damn that sucked to watch… I know this is offense 101 and they know way more than I do, but the bucs tip their hand on every third down with Freeman in the gun. How about running it occasionally on 3rd and short? Even if it’s to keep the d honest
December 12th, 2010 at 6:09 pm
You guys are fools. Olson called a very good game today. The long pass to Benn was on 3rd and 1. Was that a “No no no….yes yes yes great call!” ? Of course not every call was good, but if Josh doesn’t fumble and the defense shows up in the first half, the game is not close.
December 12th, 2010 at 6:11 pm
OldSchool, that’s a great question tomorrow for Rah. Could it be that he has too much HC responsibility during the week to really game plan but is a “natural” at in game-time adjustments? Mark of a great coach is in game adjustments, maybe he needs an assistant DC for game planning and installing the D.
December 12th, 2010 at 6:17 pm
Earl, foolish is continuing to attempt low percentage plays on third down when your defense is getting ripped. Everybody wants the big play, but stretching the field on third and short is not “playing smart”
December 12th, 2010 at 6:20 pm
gitarlvr; we know the D-line has holes and is now missing two starters from a group that was young and thin to begin with. But what excuse do we have for the linebackers? It’s one of the most veteran units on the team and yet they look spotty, particularly Ruud. I’ll be the first to admit I may just be noticing his every mis step because I have become fixated on him, but he looks like a guy that is just too weak against the run to be a starting middle linebacker.
December 12th, 2010 at 6:34 pm
The excuse is that Ray lewis would not have stopped the run with the way the d-line was blocked. Get that through your heads. Ruud does his job against the run when the defensive line does its job. I fail to understand how people don’t realize there is nothing linebackers can do when a defensive line plays that poorly.
December 12th, 2010 at 6:36 pm
Im not saying Ruud is a pro-bowler or shouldn’t potentially be replaced but its just ignorant when our defensive lineman are getting completely owned and the first name out of people’s mouths is Ruud.
December 12th, 2010 at 7:23 pm
did not the Redskins have a …
Fast Start…