No Raheem In This Team
December 30th, 2012
The leader of the New Schiano Order had a lot to prove today. After the heinous shutout in New Orleans two weeks ago, Greg Schiano said “I know what to do” to snap the Bucs out of their freefall. But that didn’t happen last week.
Today was Schiano’s final shot to show he had true command of his Bucs and could get their minds and bodies right. And the Bucs responded by soundly beating the best in the NFC on the road. Very impressive.
Chucky couldn’t do it in 2008. Raheem imploded in 2011. Schiano found a way. And it was almost as if Schiano was more animated today and refused to let his team lose. Lip readers saw him screaming “do your job” while ripping and coaching Anthony Gaitor for allowing a TD to develop in front of him on 4th-and-7.
It was a bizarre 7-9 season, and better coaching probably leaves the Bucs with an even better record.
But Joe’s confident Schiano will improve. And if the Bucs can somehow duplicate their stunning 2012 offseason, they should be a very dangerous playoff team in 2013.
December 30th, 2012 at 5:55 pm
This team showed GUTS & FIGHT!!!!!! #22 & #54 are studs
December 30th, 2012 at 5:55 pm
last years team would have lost the game, so we are def better.
December 30th, 2012 at 5:55 pm
Very impressed with Schiano today. Bucs had NOTHING to play for and he rallied them. And you’re right, Joe, Schiano seemed more involved today. Bucs D showed up and played no doubt. As for Freeman, same ol crap. INT to Samuel was only thing that kept Atlanta in game. Oh, and the phantom holding call on Barber as Bowers was leveling Matt Ryan. Can we get a post on that? Notice Fox never showed a replay of it?
December 30th, 2012 at 5:56 pm
I agree with you about the coaching. I think overall it was a good season. Seems like we have something to build on now. And not so many holes to fill. I think the coaches might have cost us a game or 2. But i think you gotta expect that with a new staff. But anyways I like most of what i saw this year and i think next year we should be even better.
December 30th, 2012 at 5:58 pm
#22, #54 and #24 all showed up big today. Nice draft.
And lets face it, folks. Levonte is a F-in star. If he was on a big market team, there’d be hour long specials about him all over ESPN.
December 30th, 2012 at 5:59 pm
REALLY Joe? Better coaching? Did you forget about our pathetic pass defense that was only 15 yards away from being the worst in NFL history? That RIGHT THERE is the problem; not Schiano. Not his fault that we have an inconsistent QB either.
December 30th, 2012 at 5:59 pm
If we only had a QB….
Nice throw to Williams on that 2 pt conversion, Freeman. That’s proof enough he’s a garbage QB.
December 30th, 2012 at 6:01 pm
He’s got to learn to keep the foot on the gas or throat, whatever suits you best. You could sense the change in offensive philosophy once we got 13 pt lead. When their down, put em out of misery! Or play to win, and I think as the game went on, he did actually put the foot down just a tiny bit, as if to see how it feels to go for the kill. gonna have to go for the KILL every game!
December 30th, 2012 at 6:02 pm
@Patrick,
Joe will never blame that. to say that then he is saying the Rock Star is terrible. and Joe will never talk bad about the Rock star.
December 30th, 2012 at 6:02 pm
If we only had a good qb? We would still be in the same position we are in now. Because our pass defense is what cost us the most this year.
December 30th, 2012 at 6:06 pm
@the_buc-realist – Please don’t speak for Joe. The fact is the Bucs roster this season had enough talent to score more wins than 7. Schiano gets good grades overall, but he didn’t get everything out of this bunch.
December 30th, 2012 at 6:09 pm
TIM, there have been games where our defense has been decent but we still lose because of a poor performance by Freeman (like the ST. Louis game last week).
The Dallas game? Remember that embarrassment? Our defense slammed Romo to the ground all day but Freeman only mustered 37 frickin yards until the 4th quarter.
Don’t forget the Saints game. The Saints got 3 touchdowns returns off of Freeman’s picks.
Don’t forget the games where Freeman only played 1 good quarter of football and failed to wake up early.
Let Freeman play the last year of his contract. If he’s consistent next year and LEADS US to the playoffs; he gets a contract. If he doesn’t; he’s gone. I think that’s pretty fair.
December 30th, 2012 at 6:14 pm
This season was essentially getting over food poisoning. You have to spend 16 games in the bathroom vomiting and getting all that foul, YOUNGRY garbage out of your insides before you can get on with your day.
December 30th, 2012 at 6:16 pm
I dont disagree with you. And i think we should let him play out next year before we decide what to do long term. Sure Freeman cost us a couple games. Even the best Qbs have off games like he has had. But overall this year the defense cost us more games than our QB IMO. Some cant seem to see that. They just wanna bash Freeman and point out a few plays ina game where he had a couple bad throws. I thought he played decent today besides the pick. Receivers helped him out a few time. But they also dropped a few as well.
December 30th, 2012 at 6:29 pm
JF has to be more consistent and make better throws, receivers had to bail him out today on more than one occassion, either by making a great catch that should be routine or playing DB to prevent an INT. I hope that he can but also believe the O coordinator must play to his strengths, he can be a more mobile qb if they let him. Coaching wasn’t always the best, especially all the blitzing and still got limited sacks
December 30th, 2012 at 6:39 pm
Hats off to Lavonte, Martin, and the overall defense for hanging in there. Freeman needs help…ASAP. Thanks to Jackson for making catches when the ball was going to the ground. Josh continues to over and under throw open receivers. Continues to stare down receivers…tipping off the defense. Yes, he has a strong arm but is too inconsistent. His range of motion is just a Christmas gift for John Abraham and others that goes…my ball, after watching his stare down then bat the ball in the air then hear Josh go…my bad to his receivers. It doesn’t take Einstein or a rocket scientist to figure out…Rattle Josh You Win (RJYW). Atlanta slight off today…they had nothing to lose but injured players going in the playoff. Other than that, Josh lose this game also. Compare the accurate throws Josh makes vs over and under throws. I’m not sold on this guy. Thanks to Martin, David, Jackson, Barber, and good protection by the OL. I hope we bring in a QB that can compete with Josh during the off season. Kaperlin, Russel Wilson, Brady, Both Mannings, Brees, Romo, RGIII, college players, high school players all would hit the open receivers with the time Josh was given today. We need a leader for our offense.
December 30th, 2012 at 8:39 pm
When the Coach took this job, all he had was film and word of mouth to work with. Now he knows what he has, needs to get rid of and needs to find to fix the problems. We know one coach is gone. It will be interesting to see if any more leave.
December 30th, 2012 at 10:11 pm
Did you just say “few plays in a game”
Surely you meant to say 3 Quarters in a game when he disappears???
Even today as Joe said he was ‘OK’ at best yet people are going crazy and trying to act like he did amazing. Why? Because he’s done soooo bad lately that even avg looks great right now.
December 30th, 2012 at 10:50 pm
I don’t care for the Bucs to beat the Falcons in thehome when they’ve played 38 home games and only lost 4 since Matt Ryan and we took it with there starters in. Good Job Bucs!! That’s one way to show people something. Yes you had some bad games, but I feel next year will be the rise of the team. Love the direction were heading in. CBs didn’t look bad in this game. The defense played great. Still would like a little more from the offense. There is no reason we shouldn’t always get 3 on any drive with thetalent that’s there.