Trying To Curb Enthusiasm, But…
August 10th, 2012
Tiquan Underwood’s theft of an interception for a reception was one play that jumped out for Joe this evening.
If Joe’s memory serves, it hasn’t been since the latter stages of the Chucky era when the Bucs put up two touchdowns in the opening quarter.
While Joe isn’t counting preseason games, the same trend held true tonight.
But what Joe had to do is to do a double-take at the scoreboard at SunLife Stadium in Miami Gardens. The Dolphins had a big, fat goose egg for a score in the first half.
Joe cannot remember the last time a Bucs team held its opponent scoreless in the first half.
Sure, Joe knows: It’s a preseason game. And the Dolphins looked positively miserable, sans Ryan Tannehill.
Imagine the difference a new coaching staff makes. Rather than figuring out what player to hang out with at a trendy south Tampa hotspot, or to choose which rap artist to entertain players with at practice, new Bucs coach Greg Schiano has the Bucs paying attention to the details, the football details.
Given the fact the Bucs were able to overcome a rash of offsides penalties and a stupid personal foul penalty by Preston Parker, the Bucs’ defense still pitched a shutout and the offense put together two, clock-eating long drives for touchdowns.
Yes, it is early, very early. But thus far, Joe is liking what he is seeing.
Even LeGarrette Blount seemed to like how good practices are resulting in a good game.
“Everything that we’ve practiced is coming to life,” Blount said. “We’ve been well-prepared for it and we’ve executed everything to almost perfection. We scored on our first two drives, and that’s what you always plan to do. We came out to put points on the board, and the offense is just clicking.”
August 10th, 2012 at 11:00 pm
Pretty good start. Team seemed much more focused, and Free looked a bit like 2010, although they hardly opened it up.
So far our Schiano looks like he belongs. Liked the way he kept it basic.
On a down note dolphins moved the ball and Reggie might have had a big day over four quarters. But who knows.
August 10th, 2012 at 11:55 pm
2010 Bucs 21 – 49ers 0
That was the last time we held an opponent scoreless in the first half.
August 10th, 2012 at 11:58 pm
Uh, last shutout was the 49ers in 2010. And that gives me hope for a huge turnaround, because in 2011 the niners made it damn near all the way to the big game.
August 11th, 2012 at 2:12 am
Actually we shutout KC in the preseason last year, so…
But to be honest the Offense looks as good as any Offense that has ever existed in a Bucs uniform. The defense at least was great in the Red Zone, and if you are going to build a Defense from scratch that is where you start. Hopefully there are no injuries as there is no depth on defense, none whatsoever. I also think we arent going to be seeing many sacks this year.
August 11th, 2012 at 7:56 am
It was a preseason game and everyone is looking for a sign that it will be a good year. Let’s hope so. The main thing that stuck out to me was that the team appeared to be very organized when they came up to the line of scrimmage both on offense and on defense. Not bad a thing considering the coaching staff is entirely new. Yeah, Parker had a few stupid penalties, but as overall, the team looked ready to play and the coach like like, er, a coach. Which is encouraging.