Freeman........ "We're cracking down on that right now"

[michael89156]

Bucs aim to reduce costly penalties


CLIFF McBRIDE/STAFF
Josh Freeman (5) says the Bucs are "cracking down" on eliminating penalties that can erase first downs and scores.



By ROY CUMMINGS | The Tampa Tribune
Published: October 13, 2011

TAMPA --
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the youngest team in the league once again this season and, according to quarterback Josh Freeman, their lack of experience is showing up in the form of yellow flags.

The Bucs enter Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium as the second-most penalized team in the league. Freeman believes youthful exuberance is the reason for it.

"We're a young team and, obviously, you've got guys that are eager to go out and make plays, and they're just not patient enough to wait for the shifts and the motions and that's coming back to get us,'' Freeman said.

The Bucs have been penalized 19 times for 202 yards the past two games. The worst part about it is the penalties have erased first downs and touchdowns while improving scoring chances for opponents.

"This is the NFL, and you have to take care of the things you can control and pre-snap penalties are one of them,'' Freeman said. "We're cracking down on that right now. It's on the receivers, on me, on everybody.''

The crackdown will only go so far, head coach Raheem Morris said. While he's determined to reduce the number of penalties his team can control, he's less concerned about some others.

"We had a couple of uncontrollable ones (against the 49ers), like the playing hard by Sean Jones one that got us misconstrued as a personal foul,'' Morris said. "Those are some of the ones I kind of look at and say, 'Well, I don't want to slow that man down.' But you do have to do something to taper some of those things.

"So we'll look at it, and the ones we can clean up – the illegal procedures that stop third downs, the jumping offsides on defense – those are things we have to be able to stop and be able to control.''

[BerubesBucs]

I'll believe it when I see it.

[BTownBucFan]

some penalties are just going to happen, its the really bone headed ones like Myron Lewis catching that punt that just leave you scratching your head.

[BucDaFackUp]

I'm curious.....how do you "crack down on that right now" in practice?

[Tommy]

I'll believe it when I see it.

Amen! Hopefully we had  a coming to Jesus after last weeks game

[Biggs3535]

Hey, whenever you can get around to it.  It's only week 6.

[MUSCLE_HAMSTER]

^+1

[GrimmReaper]

Maybe they should 'crack down' on those turnovers while they're at it.

[Benchwarmer#1]

I'm curious.....how do you "crack down on that right now" in practice?

They bring in pro refs and have them call it during scrimmage.

[The Anti-Java]

Hey, whenever you can get around to it.  It's only week 6.

LOL

[JavaRay]

They need to crack down on the unsportsmanlike conduct calls against the head coach.

[GrimmReaper]

"This is the NFL, and you have to take care of the things you can control and pre-snap penalties are one of them,'' Freeman said. "We're smoking crack right now. It's on the receivers, on me, on everybody.''

This explains a lot.

[jerseybucsfan]

LMAO. At 245 EST, you need a joke like that. Dang if it wouldn't be nice as heck to win this week, eh Grimmy?

[GrimmReaper]

LOL. I'm delerious.

[BucDaFackUp]

I'm curious.....how do you "crack down on that right now" in practice?

They bring in pro refs and have them call it during scrimmage.

Ahhhhh yes....like the days of Gruden.....if memory serves correct, that didn't work out so well.