Was A Towel Thrown In?
November 14th, 2011
Now Joe is not about to call NFL players “quitters.” To do so is to suggest an NFL player has no soul and is more morally bankrupt than Tim Curley.
Watching yesterday’s, um, exhibition on the stadium on Dale Mabry Highway, it sure didn’t look anything like the team that beat both the Dixie Chicks and the Saints at home earlier this season.
During a live chat in the midst of Sunday’s exhibition against the Texans, St. Petersburg Times reporter Stephen Holder suggested the Bucs defense has accepted the depressing realization that the team cannot stop a cool breeze.
Stephen F. Holder: I don’t even see a sense of urgency from this defense. I think they have resolved themselves to conceding that they cannot stop the run. This is an embarrassing effort.
At this point in the season, the Bucs’ secondary is average. The defensive front, largely because they are so young, is a work in progress (though Joe is very geeked over the play of Adrian Clayborn).
Simply put, the Bucs have no play from their linebacker corps. Rookie Mason Foster looked like a stud early this season, but hasn’t played to that level of late, probably because there may be a book out on him from opposing NFL offensive coordinators.
To be fair, Foster is a one-man linebacker unit. Joe has to be reminded when Quincy Black is on the field and when Geno Hayes doesn’t play, well, there’s a massive void.
No, this defense isn’t very good. Not now. It was getting the job done earlier in the season.
What happened in the past month?
November 14th, 2011 at 11:32 am
The secondary is not even average. Nothing on this team is average or better outside of special teams.
November 14th, 2011 at 11:32 am
Maybe the oline too.
November 14th, 2011 at 11:32 am
You know it’s bad when even Gene Deckerhoff throws in the towel. He didn’t come right out and say it, but you could tell in his voice the that he knew this teams was giving up and there was absolutely no hope of a comeback even from 9-0. It’s good to hear ex players like Dave Moore and Lynch call players out instead of sugar coating the obvious lack of urgency this team has been showing since last year. Lack of effort is a disease that will travel through the entire locker room. I think it’s time for Ronde to hold a players only meeting because Raheem is not getting through to anyone.
November 14th, 2011 at 11:33 am
We have no LB’s other than Foster and maybe Watson. The rest of them are finess and not physical – at all.
Defensively, zero effort and no heart for the most part – where was the pride?
Offensively, it has to be hard for a young team to look at it’s defense stoppig nothin and feed off that.
Mike Williams needs to be benched. Benn, Parker and Briscoe need to be starting – at least they can catch.
If we can’t get up for the defending SB champs, the season is over. I hope I see a rebound performance(win or lose).
November 14th, 2011 at 11:41 am
Only running Blount ten times is throwing in the towel.
November 14th, 2011 at 11:49 am
We also lack at strong safety…Sean Jones is a below average safety and rarely makes plays against the run. I give Foster a break..as a MLB, he is often left out in pass coverage. He should not be a MLB. I would rather see Black at Mike and Foster as the Sam
November 14th, 2011 at 11:51 am
When Albert Haynseworth gives the best defensive effort……………………………………….
Joe, its not a month old problem, the deficiencies have been chronic on defense. worsened yes, but they really havent been “getting the job done”. Check the stats.
Admitedly, the Falcons and NO games had much better defensive efforts.
But the Detroit, Vikes, and Colts games exhibited the same sorta problems.
And there was plenty of it last year and of course in 08 too.
poor pass rush, atrocious run defense, blown secendary coverages etc, etc. etc. It was masked a bit with some superhuman Josh Freeman comebacks.
At some point we have to face the facts. Raheem Morris is not a good defensive coordinator.
November 14th, 2011 at 12:02 pm
Its amazing how much this,team has regressed in a month! Its finally obvious that our linebackers are horrible, even mason. But hes a rookie, but strong and weak backersare veterans and have no excuses! I was boarder line on jones but now its obvious, sucks. Our line I belive is the best unit our d. Al was a great pick up, really disruptive. I really hope we start picking fa. We have to address olb and secondary in draft and free agency, our d needs help, vet help. A real dc will be vital too. Maybe demote rah and get established hc.
November 14th, 2011 at 12:02 pm
Bucfanjeff,
I’m not saying the defense is doing much, but when the offense is going three and out especially on the first series of the game; it puts the defense in a very tough situation. Most of the time the Bucs D is defending half the field.
November 14th, 2011 at 12:07 pm
What happened?
1. McCoy’s presence in the middle has been huge with regards to sacks and stopping in the runs
2. Clayborne, Bennett, Bowers, Price are all learning still
3. Foster is damn good, but a rookie and hurt in his lateral movements
4. Price is a year away from being 100%
5. ALL the other LBs are not worth a damn except maybe Watson as a backup and blitzer on 3rd and long
6. Talib is mentally distracted this year.
7. TJax is just getting back into the mix.
Defensive needs: health, another year older, and draft TWO LBs and a CB.
Plus they need the offense to sustain some drives and put some points up early… AT LEAST ONE F***ING TIME!!!
oh… wait… sorry….. hard to do that when you can’t run your Blount Back due to the fact that ANOTHER penalty happened and it is now 3rd and 16 at the 20 (AGAIN!!!!) instead of 1st and 10 at the 45.
People can get on Olsen for not running Blount but as far as I see it: PENALTIES are taking 7-10 carries away from him every single game.
November 14th, 2011 at 12:07 pm
I’ve seen more impressive plays made my high school football players. I am really dissapointed in the team right now..some people in the locker room have to step up and say, “Hey guys you do know these games count right? And you do know it’s not pre-season anymore right? And you do know this isn’t college right? You do know that if you continue to suck you will get fired right? Well then step up your game because your stealing money right now!”
November 14th, 2011 at 12:08 pm
As I’ve posted earlier, it’s the “one bad apple” problem. Raheem and the coaches give the young guys hell for mistakes. Then they watch Black, Hayes,and Talib treat the whole thing as a joke, giving halfhearted efforts at best- then this is what you get. Eight guys trying to do a good job, and three guys laughing at them, and collecting a check!
Raheem has let his friendship with three terrible players cost him the respect of the team. Sad
November 14th, 2011 at 12:11 pm
I agree with you Eric…Nothing else to add…still sick from yesterday.
November 14th, 2011 at 12:14 pm
And as for Dominick. We should get a blank book, the size of “War and Peace”. Then Tampa fans should get an opportunity to write” we only build thru the Draft, Free agents are Baaaad”
Then we take the book, and attack the tape Fromm yesterday’s game. Then we stick them straight up his arse.
That way, he can read it and review, while his head is up there.
This is probably more his fault than anyone’s!
November 14th, 2011 at 12:27 pm
It really DID look like the Bucs not only could not stop the run, but were not willing to try for fear of getting hurt. It was THAT bad and most of the fans there were aghast at the terrible way it looked. Awful.
November 14th, 2011 at 12:29 pm
Hmmn…problems on defense, lack of discipline…when do the Bill Cowher rumors kick into high gear?
November 14th, 2011 at 12:30 pm
I’m going to support whoever is coaching the Bucs. That being said though; from a business stand point the Glaziers will probably make a few moves if this team can’t win four more games. Raheem promised three things that fans can expect from this Bucs team: To Play fast, Play smart & Play Physical. As a fan let’s take a look at where we are to this point.
Play Fast: Could be one of the slowest teams in the league and that’s not being sarcastic. No speed on either side of the ball!
Play Smart: After yesterday; this could be the most penalized team in the entire NFL. Even more than the Raides. This is not smart football! Not even close!
Play Physical: When the best and hardest hitting player on Defense is a 36 year old CB; then there is a serious problem. This is a coaching and motivational issue.
I guarantee you that these are some of the main issues that ownership will be looking at between now and the end of the year. Not sure if Raheem has it in him to turn this around. We’ll see though! I’ll be rooting for everyone on Sunday vs. the Packers.
November 14th, 2011 at 12:36 pm
IMO the Buccaneers were slow, played very stupid and were afraid to hit and get hit yesterday. Not ALL of the players but enough to make the entire TEAM look like they just don’t give a damn about themselves or their fans.
November 14th, 2011 at 1:09 pm
Face it guys, our season is OVER. This will be Raheems last year, and perhaps Mark Dominick’s as well.
The only “race” left for Tampa will be to avoid the NFC South Cellar.
Tickets are not selling well, and lifelong fans are bailing out on this sinking ship.
Is it not obvious by now Raheem does not know what he is doing ?
Let’s see ?
He hires and fires both Jagodzinski and Bates, then he fires both the O and D Line coaches from last years winning 10 and 6 team.
Tampa has an opt out agreement with Raheem, surely they will use it when the season is over.
Maybe Dominick will survive, because we did win last year with players he obtained, although both McCoy and Bowers appear to be busts.
Tampa should have never wasted such a high draft pick on McCoy who has a tendency to arm tackle, making him injury prone.
WHERE was the “thorough film study” on McCoy Mark Dominick ?
November 14th, 2011 at 2:33 pm
I’m sorry but there is nothing I believe in less than this team having the courage to tackle….
November 14th, 2011 at 6:04 pm
Apple Roof Cleaning….dude, he fired Jag and Bates because posters like yourself were screaming about how bad our D-line was last year since we couldn’t stop the run and our O-line is actually better than last year. If you’re gonna post at least have a clue about football OK? McCoy and Bowers a bust?? You just sealed the deal with that idiotic comment. Bowers is a rookie with hardly any playing time and McCoy has been very impressive when he’s healthy. He’ll heal up and be ready for next year. Are you related to Thomas 2.2??
November 14th, 2011 at 6:37 pm
they should peel the 63 stickers off the helmets……..
got it !
get it !
November 15th, 2011 at 7:56 am
“dude, he fired Jag and Bates because posters like yourself were screaming about how bad our D-line was last year”
Bobby, I know you’d like to think it, but Raheem Morris does not read JoeBucsFan comment section.