Raheem Criticizes Tackling
December 20th, 2010
At his afternoon press conference today, Raheem Morris said the Bucs had their worst tackling game of the season in the mind-numbing overtime loss to the Lions.
He also said the Bucs weren’t in all their gaps in the running game.
Joe’s sick to his stomach again knowing the Bucs turned out a defensive clunker in their biggest game of the season. It’s one thing to be overmatched. But playing poorly is hard to swallow.
The Bucs’ A game on defense seems to have fallen through a trap door that opened with the Falcons kickoff return for a touchdown on Dec. 5.
December 20th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
Raheem,
Your defense can’t tackle. PERIOD. This is how it was last year and it’s the same this year. The linebackers are undersized, we’re too young, there’s a lot of things to look at.
December 20th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
This team is a botched hold away from having lost its last four games. Tackling is one of many problems. Clock and game management errors is another area that was on display yesterday.
Did the HC really say that he was placing the game in the hands of his defense? Huh? What? Fwa? Has he been watching this team? Their defense is one of the worst in the NFL.
December 20th, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Patrick,
They’re too young??
No S**t Sherlock. It’s called rebuilding…
December 20th, 2010 at 2:57 pm
Thomas,
Actually the Bucs are ranked 20th as of today: http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats?tabSeq=2&defensiveStatisticCategory=GAME_STATS&conference=ALL&role=OPP&season=2010&seasonType=REG&d-447263-s=TOTAL_YARDS_GAME_AVG&d-447263-o=1&d-447263-n=1
December 20th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
That horrible defense had held the Lions to one TD the whole second half. Why shouldnt he trust them? Look, our pass-rush sucks, our star corner is hurt and we are on our 4 string safety. That said, as usual, they had been playing well in the second half but just couldnt put it together on an up-tempo drive.
December 20th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
mikeck +1
December 20th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
Sh!t happens. The Bucs are having a good year and a lot of “fans” are pissed.
Why exactly? Because we’re playing better than was predicted for a rebuilding team in it’s 2nd year? Because our drafts have been, thus far, fantastic? Is it that we’re still alive for the playoffs at Christmas time? Is it that the team LOVES playing for Raheem? Is it that we are still competitive after losing so many starters to injuries? Or is it that you have been a hater for so long now, you just don’t know what else to do?
December 20th, 2010 at 3:22 pm
Raheem is a moron.
December 20th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
Get to the playoffs or win the Division Title.
THEN you can talk about fantastic drafts and players loving Raheem.
Right now its all blah, blah, blah.
December 20th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
All, I think we can all agree that this team is at least one year ahead of schedule in this rebulding process. Admittedly, it sucks to lose games like the one yesterday, but going into the season, how many of us thought we’d be at 8-6 with a reasonable shot at the playoffs, thru 14 games? I personally figured us to optimistically be 7-9 to finish the year, and compared to others, I felt like I was being generous.
The point is, the team is moving in the right direction (and quickly doing so as well). Possibly as soon as next year (may be 2012) we’ll look like a team that is going to compete for a championship, year-in and year-out.
Rah said that last off-season was all about 5, this year’s off-season will need to be all about D.
December 20th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
Thomas…Going into the game they were ranked 16th overall in defense…Please tell me how that is “one of the worst in the NFL”. Last time I checked there were 32 teams in the NFL. That is right in the middele, which by defenition would make the defense average. The offense is actually ranked at a lower position. I did read you “ya boyee rah” post though, so I now know you are just a bigget and have nothing of substance to add to the conversation.
December 20th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
agree with T. show up for the Seattle game people!
December 20th, 2010 at 4:00 pm
@eric and Buc You, no offense intended here, but you must be under 19-20 and not understand football.
This team decided to rebuild last year – and.. It. Was. Ugly.
So ugly, in fact, it’s understandable for the fans to be pissed off. Especially when we, as fans, didn’t understand all the ‘logic’ that went into it. This season wasn’t projected to be much better, the pessimists hated and bashed, the optimists chose to look at the bright side – even though there didn’t seem to be one. So now we have this year. In comparison to what took place a year ago, this team is absolutely ahead of the curve. If it was just one or two players achieving, you could say it’s the individual. With the success this team is having, it’s more than just talent, it’s the coaching.
Pessimist, Optimist, whatever – look at the team objectively, look at last year, this year and the big picture. We weren’t expected to win more than 4 games or so. Yet, here we are, year two of a rebuilding project, loads of talent, injury riddled yet playing hard, and yes, a couple wins (and help) from the playoffs. It’s hard to find darkness through all the brightness that is this team.
I would appreciate your comments more, as would others, if you would provide a mature, intelligent explanation with your, thus far, baseless hatred comments towards the Bucs. Anything else is, well, childish – but maybe that fits.
December 20th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
bucfanjeff:
THE PESSIMIST and THE OPTIMIST are not nor are capable of looking at the Bucs objectively.
THE OPTIMIST is giddy as a cheerleader even if the Bucs lose 16 games.
THE PESSIMIST is perpetually outraged at nothing less than a Super Bowl ring.
December 20th, 2010 at 4:24 pm
THE OPTIMIST is giddy as a cheerleader even if the Bucs lose 16 games.
How dare you use the word cheerleader and not include a Rachel pic!
December 20th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
I’m the biggest Kool-Aid drinker as there ever was but that was just awful game planning/management yesterday and that falls right on the head coaches shoulders.
I’m a big Raheem fan but that was unacceptable.
December 20th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
@Joe – I didn’t mean “the pessimist” or “the optimist” specifically, I was referring to a fans mindset in a general sense.
December 20th, 2010 at 4:52 pm
@d-money, you help my point. Nothing wrong with not liking something about a game specifically, but for someone to call Raheem a moron, well..we all make mistakes. No it wasn’t his best game, but for someone to hate on the Bucs because we’re ahead of the curve and doing well in the grand scheme of things – that’s just non sense to me.
December 20th, 2010 at 5:05 pm
bucfanjeff ,
I agree. I don’t think he’s a moron like Buc You says.
I do however think that if we’re going to heap praise on him for getting the Bucs where they are then we need to call him out win he doesn’t meet expectations.
December 20th, 2010 at 5:12 pm
I know that there are glass half full people and glass half empty people as well so I try to respect everyone’s personal views of this season and the past game. Rah is not perfect and made some mistakes. We all do last I checked…at least I will admit that I make mistakes in my job performance from time to time as well as in life in general. My view is this and it lines up with bucfanjeff, and that is that this has been a great year compared to last season and the Bucs have performed better than expectations this year but the truth is that you can’t destroy a tank with a sword. The Bucs need to keep improving the skilled players that we do have, replace the duds with studs, and get quality depth to fill in for injured reservists. Also keeping out of trouble and suspensions is a must for the future. I do see a bright future with this young team but some of you are so impatient that you will always be misserable. I for one am quite content and it is great because my team that I have been a fan of since I was about 6 and that was 30 years ago is doing better than I really expected and I do see the upside. Glass half full is my chosen route with this team and there is plenty of reasons to take that approach. As far as all of the impatient doom and gloom fire Rah now and hire Cower goobers…well I respect your views and feel sorry for your misery. The Bucs will be a playoff team next season…right on schedule.
December 20th, 2010 at 5:24 pm
sunrisejeff:
To that end, Dan Lucas of WFLA-TV spoke with Joe today to inform Joe that he will have a very special Dec. 26 Sunday night show co-hosted by at least one and maybe with two Bucs cheerleaders.
Joe strongly encouraged Dan to draft one specific cheerleader. Joe will mention who (and why) that was next week. 🙂
Let’s just say Dan was quite receptive to Joe’s suggestion.
December 20th, 2010 at 6:11 pm
Bucfanjeff: I don’t think Eric is a 19 or 20 kid….I think he is a 60 something lawyer who can’t cope or move on with his life because Jon Gruden in no longer in Tampa. He will always view Raheem as the man who took Gruden away from him and hate him for it. His mancrush for Gruden is only surpassed by his loathing and jealousy of Raheem for ruining what he once had……a dream of a future life, together with his Chucky.
December 20th, 2010 at 6:34 pm
Joe will let eric speak for himself. Joe does know eric is a very successful professional in his chosen field.
December 20th, 2010 at 6:43 pm
mcbuc: what is the defense ranked now? 20th i think, so one of the 12 worst in yards allowed. their schedule is full of teams with inept qbs and weak offenses, which influences the rankings.
i think that they are 29th in rushing d.
also, although i dont proofread my comments and often make grammatical and spelling errors based on typing mistakes, please make sure that you are able to spell the insults that you levy against people. I would chalk this up to a typo but the letters are not close on the keyboard.
BTW – the comment that you found offensive was of course a joke that I tend to make from time to time for effect.
Also, did you guys hear Rah admit the coaching mistake that you argued against earlier. I give him credit for that, the admission of course. He is more fairly critical of himself than you sheep. So who is subjective? The sheep or the hater? Rah’s admission supports that the sheep ia in fact less objective.
December 20th, 2010 at 7:23 pm
Yep, I’m sure there were guys missing tackles and assignments. That’s what we get when we lose our starting DT, SLB, CB, and FS, not to mention some backups at those positions as well. Okam was cut from a practice squad at the end of October, and signed early to mid November. Yeah, that’s right, he had a few weeks to learn the defense and start a game. And he’s not even good enough to stay on another teams practice squad. Lynch is FAR from being even close to as good as Cody Grimm who was a 7th round draft choice. Missed tackles? Missed gaps? Yeah, I can see that happening.
I know Detroit is working through their own injuries as well, but the quantity and severity is no where near what the Bucs are dealing with right now. Our O-line held up pretty well, considering the shuffling they’ve had to do. Think about it…. Hardman actually had a pretty good game against Suh. That doesn’t mean we’re gonna be able to stuff the ball into the endzone from the one though. Having a good game against a very good DT is one thing, but expecting Zuttah, Larsen and Hardman to punch through for Blount/Freeman/Caddy/or Graham is another.
Expecting Okam, Lynch, and Watson/Hayward to stop the run or even be in the right place all the time is somewhat of a stretch. Biggers did pretty well in coverage, and had to face Megatron quite a bit. He didn’t give up a big play, and was always right there when the ball arrived. It’s just not easy to keep that beast from catching the damn ball.
December 20th, 2010 at 7:36 pm
Just teasing eric a bit Joe…he along with a few others seem to love pouring a little salt in the wounds to all of the fans on this site every time the Bucs lose..
December 20th, 2010 at 7:51 pm
Sorry Thomas, I did not want to go as far as say racist, and I must have not been thinking with my misspelled word. I admit to being a huge fan of the F7 key. You really should remove the joke from your posts, it is insulting. I did not disagree that the game plan was flawed; I simply think you have some sort of agenda. Your “joke” pointed out what a tool you really are. I should have typed BIGOT, but I was a bit upset at the time. It is not groups like skin heads and Klansman that keep prejudice opinions moving forward, even people like you know they are extremist. It is every day people making their little “jokes” that keep the cycle going.
December 20th, 2010 at 7:56 pm
Oh, and yes I see that the D dropped to number 20, so if you would have said one of the worst 12 teams it would be true. Do you disagree with NO and ATL ranking as well? I am asking since they play the same schedule as well, which win or lose would make their number inflated by your logic.
December 20th, 2010 at 8:15 pm
@Squadoosh1
No problem with anyone taking a shot at me. i take mine for sure.
Makes it fun and interesting IMO.
But, aside from the almost 60 with no life your assesment for why I am pissed at the Glazer Boys isnt far off (minus the gay inference of course).
I will continue my journey as the unnofficial Joebucsfan.com Chucky apologist, taking whatever incoming the position requires.
Just don’t get your feelings all hurt like a schoolchild as I make my case.
December 20th, 2010 at 8:26 pm
McBuc: thanks for going to dictionary.com.
You need to lighten up buddy. the ya boyee joke was directed not at color but toward a slang way of speaking that includes all races and involves age. i dont need to say again that i am huge dungy, tomlin and lovie fan. my dissatisifaction with rah has ZERO to do with color.
Now to correct your errors. ATL and NO and TB do not play the same schedule. The bucs play a fourth place schedule, the falcons a second place and bucs a fourth. For example, the Saints had Minnesota and Dallas scheduled, two teams that were projected to be good, but had disappointing years for various reasons but are talented. the bucs got washington and detroit both last place teams. also, the teams dont play themselves so about a quarter of the schedule will be different based on last year’s order of finish.
The saints played the steelers with big ben, big batch.Also, the falcons played vick and the eagles and rodgers and the packers. So the schedules aren’t “the same” as you suggest.
If you don’t think the bucs yard per game average was impacted (which is the basis for the rankings you cite) by playing Max Hall, Jimmy Clausen and Troy Smith and the like this year you are as far off as your spelling of insults (see above).
Can you, or anyone, not say that this defense is one of the worst? I don’t think so. You can take the BamBam road and admit that the D is terrible but just look for an excuse like injuries. The losses of Black, GMC, Price are meaningless for this year. Yes, Frank Okam is not much if any of a stepdown from your over-hyped and forced-glorified tackle mccoy.
Fact is: the defense stinks. yes, talib makes it better but they still stink. Until they add a pass-rusher or two, a thumper and pursuer at LB and a replacement for Barber (I love Ronde but he has maybe one more year) in the secondary – they will continnue to stink. With the exception of Talib (and McCoy given the investment and maybe Price b/c we dont know) I think that you could scrap the whole D, start over and be better.
December 20th, 2010 at 8:40 pm
Rah is no Monte Kiffin.
His allegedly ingenious modifications of the Tampa-2 are nowhere near as good as the original authentic genius.
December 20th, 2010 at 9:35 pm
amazingly, i dont think you’re too far off with your assesment of everybody except those 3 getting scrapped on defense thomas. i would argue that biggers and grimm are also worth saving though. lb’s and de’s are all jokes.
December 20th, 2010 at 9:40 pm
gotbucs:
I agree on Grimm, that was an omission on my part, thanks for pointing that out.
December 20th, 2010 at 9:44 pm
eric Says:
December 20th, 2010 at 8:40 pm
Rah is no Monte Kiffin.
His allegedly ingenious modifications of the Tampa-2 are nowhere near as good as the original authentic genius.
==============================\\
Monte wasn’t Monte after his first two years either…
December 20th, 2010 at 10:16 pm
ok fair enough, but u would have to agree that all the talk of Rah “improving” on Monte’s defense was total BS.
But, since when do pro football teams have this on the job training program? For Head Coaches and coordinators?
December 20th, 2010 at 10:45 pm
thomas,
I’m not gonna apologize for the defense this year. Yeah, they’re pretty bad. Have been all year. There were signs of improvement for a bit, until the injuries started killing us. Just look at the San Fran game, then everything after. When Grimm went down, when Talib went down, when McCoy went down.
I’m not sold on Black, I think Watson/Hayward played as well when he was hurt earlier this year. But Watson is a rookie 7th round draft choice. He might turn out ok, but it’s highly likely that he’ll be no better than Black.
Elbert Mack should have been released in the preseason. Even Myron Lewis (who doesn’t yet have very good technique) is better than him. At least Lewis is where he’s supposed to be (unless he falls down coz he turned the wrong way.. again, technique).
Sean Jones is not the answer, but he hasn’t done bad. Obvious room for improvement there. Ruud may not make splash plays, but he’s almost always where he’s supposed to be. Just read Steve White’s blog and even he talks about Ruud and how he’s where he’s supposed to be. Just because he comes in late to drag down a guy, doesn’t mean it was his responsibility, just that he’s cleaning up someone else’s mess downfield to save a TD.
All the DE’s can go. None of them are worth anything more than backup duty in my opinion. Yes, that includes Stylez.
So, when you take Grimm, McCoy and Talib out due to injury and are left with backups (Okam, Lynch, and Mack have to play) and the other starters weren’t that good to begin with (All DE’s, Jones average, etc.)… yeah, the D’s gonna suck, even against the Lions.
I didn’t say they weren’t bad before, but I will say they looked to be getting better. More pressure, more sacks, shutting down some quality RBs… then the injuries.
December 20th, 2010 at 11:20 pm
Very good analyisis.
One thing the defense did do well at times which does not show up on the stat sheet – getting the opportune turnover.
Not sure what caused it, but even within games they went from absolutely horrid to borderline good.
December 21st, 2010 at 12:58 am
Raheem is a motivator. His x’s and o’s need work in the front 7 he can Coach the hell out of that secondary though. But he needs to bring in better guys to coach the linebackers and the dline
December 21st, 2010 at 7:37 am
eric, does it bother you that you get lumped into the buc you, thomas, zero expectations group of lowbrow’s? I suspect your posts, while funny, wouldnt be lumped into the short bus crowd if you blasted the site half as much after a win.
December 21st, 2010 at 9:35 am
Thomas
Two team difference, you win!
Just so you know, I do not think you are a racist, based on reading what you right most of the time. In fact, you help the converstion move on JDF which I like. I do think you are an arse. You should just be aware that some people find the “boy” reference offensive. BTW, I did not go to dictionary.com. I also am educated and have a professional job. I do admitt to not being a great speller; however, I speak in front of hundreds of people a month. I am admitably much better with the spoken word.
December 21st, 2010 at 9:39 am
Thomas:
I also agree that ATL and NO are better teams, but two game differences is not much different. I guess we will have to agree to disagree.