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Self-Inflicted Wounds Doom Bucs In 16-13 Loss To 'Skins |
 The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were downed by the Washington Redskins Sunday, 16-13 (Getty) |
UPDATED: Tampa Bay fell to 0-4 on the season by losing on the road to Washington, 16-13. The Bucs saw a 10-0 halftime lead vanish after the Redskins outscored them 16-0 in a lifeless third quarter. Two missed field goals by Mike Nugent in the first half and two second-half turnovers doomed the winless Buccaneers.
One of these days, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will actually beat one of their opponents. Until then, they will continue to beat themselves and remain winless at 0-4, and that’s exactly what happened in Washington as the Redskins came back from a 10-0 deficit at halftime to win, 16-13.
“Obviously, we’re disappointed with the outcome of the game,” said Raheem Morris, who is looking for his first victory as head coach of the Buccaneers. “We played a lot better at a bunch of different areas. We had an opportunity to win that football game and we should have. No … actually, I take that back. [The Redskins] came out and won that football game.
“We’ve got to become better managers. We’ve got to become better finishers. We’ve got to become guys that come out of halftime and absolutely draw blood when we have the ball. We didn’t smell it today. We didn’t take advantage of an opportunity and we had a big one.”
The Bucs left six critical points on FedEx Field in the first half as Mike Nugent missed two field goals from 49 and 48 yards that would have increased Tampa Bay’s halftime lead to 16-0 and made a difference in Sunday’s outcome.
“You get the two missed field goals and we’re not going to blink,” Morris said of Nugent, who is only 2-of-6 (33.3 percent) on the season. “You can’t blink. You’ve got to keep moving on. We still had a chance to win that game with the missed field goals. It’s our job to win the football game. He’ll get his opportunities again. We’ve got to make those things. There’s no doubt about it.”
Those missed field goals weren’t the only mistakes the Bucs made against the Redskins. With 55 seconds left in the fourth quarter and Tampa Bay needing a field goal to tie the game, seldom-used running back Clifton Smith saw his fumbling problems from a year ago resurface at the worst time possible as he picked up a first down on third-and-1 with a 2-yard gain only to fumble away the game. Smith coughed up the ball after being hit by Washington defensive end Jeremy Jarmon. Safety Chris Horton recovered the ball at the Tampa Bay 29 with 48 seconds left to end the game.
“He’s our two-minute back,” Morris said of Smith. “We were in a two-minute situation. He got the first down. He picked it up. He’s just got to hold on to the football. That’s his job. That’s his situation.”
The Bucs had a chance to regain the lead on a 12-play, 48-yard fourth quarter drive that ended at the Redskins’ 4-yard line after a quarterback draw from Josh Johnson only picked up four yards on third-and-goal. Instead of going for the go-ahead touchdown with 4:25 left, Morris sent Nugent out to kick a 22-yard field goal to cut Washington’s lead to three points.
“I felt really good about the defense at that point,” Morris said. “You get the three [points] and you get the ball back like we did with two minutes left, and having the ability to get a field goal to score in the two-minute drive or we get another field goal to put that thing into overtime – I felt really good about it. … That was the decision we made. That was the decision we rode with.”
Yet had the offense failed to get a touchdown, the Bucs defense would have had a much better chance to give the offense better field position with Washington starting at its own 4-yard line.
Johnson, who was getting his first NFL start at quarterback, got off to a great start in the first half, completing 8-of-13 passes for 81 yards and a touchdown, but was a dismal 5-of-9 for 25 yards passing in the second half and also threw a momentum-turning interception to DeAngelo Hall in the third quarter that allowed Washington to put points on the board.
Johnson and the offense struggled mightily on third down, converting just 2-of-13 opportunities (15 percent) on Sunday.
“Gotta get better on third downs. Gotta get better in some of the passing game areas,” Morris said of Johnson’s game. “The turnover was one that came back and got us today. He’ll get better. He’s a young guy.”
Tampa Bay’s inconsistent running game didn’t help matters. Although the Bucs were playing without Derrick Ward due to a knee injury, the Bucs did show some signs of life running the ball after being held under 50 yards rushing the last two weeks, producing 129 yards on the ground and a 4.3-yard average against the Redskins.
The Bucs lost control of the game in the third quarter, gaining just 16 yards rushing on five carries, including a 6-yard scramble by Johnson. The lack of running success in the third quarter contributed to three straight three-and-outs that allowed Tampa Bay to be outscored 16-0 heading into the fourth quarter.
Tampa Bay’s defense, which had forced only two turnovers in the first three games, managed to force three in the first half against Washington, but the Bucs couldn’t capitalize on all of them and only produced seven points from them. The Bucs finished with four takeaways, thanks to a banner day from cornerback Aqib Talib, who had a career-high three interceptions of Jason Campbell.
Those three picks tied the franchise record set by cornerback Ronde Barber against New Orleans on two occasions – December 4, 2005 and December 23, 2001. Despite Talib’s heroics, he did get beat by wide receiver Santana Moss for a go-ahead 59-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
“Aqib Talib had a heck of day, but I bet if he could go back and have one play back he would give the other three [interceptions] back for that one,” Morris said.
Tampa Bay’s 31st-ranked defense easily played its best game of the season, holding the Redskins to 277 yards, which was the first time this year a Buccaneers opponent has not achieved 300 total yards. Tampa Bay also produced three sacks, which matched its output from the first three games.
However, the defense wasn’t perfect, and allowed the Redskins to regain their confidence and take the lead in the third quarter by surrendering two touchdowns and a field goal as the pressure on Campbell that was there in the first half was nowhere to be found. Campbell started the game 5-of-12 for 60 yards with two interceptions, but was a different quarterback in the second half, completing 7-of-8 passes for 110 yards with two scores and one interception.
While the offense did manage to generate 144 yards at halftime against the Redskins and eclipse last week’s total of 86 yards throughout the entire game, the Bucs offense was held to only 85 yards in the second half. Greg Olson’s playcalling seemed timid and Johnson was adverse to throw the ball downfield. His longest completion of the game was a 27-yarder to Antonio Bryant, who had four catches for 44 yards.
On Washington’s first two pass attempts, Tampa Bay’s anemic pass rush came to life as Adams sacked Campbell on the Redskins’ second play of the game, followed by a sack-fumble by defensive tackle Jimmy Wilkerson. Adams recovered the fumble at the Washington 10-yard line. Two plays later on Johnson’s first pass attempt of the game, he threw an 8-yard strike to Bryant off play action for a touchdown, giving Tampa Bay a 7-0 lead with 13 minutes left in the first quarter.
The Bucs’ touchdown on their opening drive was the first since opening day against Seattle on October 19, 2008 – a span of 12 games. Tampa Bay’s touchdown represented the first time the Bucs have scored in the first quarter all season.
The Bucs had another chance for points in the first quarter after fielding a punt at the Washington 40. After Cadillac Williams, who rushed for 77 yards on 16 carries, picked up a first down on the ground, the Bucs’ drive stalled at the 31 due to a delay of game penalty, forcing Nugent to attempt a 49-yard field goal. However, Nugent’s kick hit the right upright and was no good with 3:01 left in the first quarter, leaving him with a 0-for-3 start to the season.
Talib picked off his first two passes in the span of six minutes, the second of which happened at the Tampa Bay 12 and was returned 21 yards to the 43-yard line. Johnson hit Bryant for a gain of 27 yards down to the Washington 30. However, the drive would stall there and with 8:01 remaining before halftime, Nugent was brought out to attempt a 48-yarder, which was wide right.
Washington used that missed field goal as motivation as it drove into Tampa Bay territory on its next possession. A 12-yard catch by running back Ladell Betts on third-and-6 moved the Redskins past midfield. An 11-yard catch by fullback Mike Sellers drove Washington down to the Tampa Bay 34. Yet on third-and-10 from the 34, linebacker Quincy Black sacked Campbell for a 4-yard loss, knocking the Redskins out of field goal range and forcing a punt.
The Bucs took over at their 21-yard line and Johnson led his team to a scoring drive right before halftime. On third-and-2 from the Tampa Bay 29, Johnson hit tight end Kellen Winslow for a 6-yard gain out to the 35. After Sammie Stroughter hauled in a 10-yard catch to move the chains to the 45, Johnson found Winslow for a 15-yard gain down to the Washington 37. Johnson, who had a 5-yard scramble to start the drive, rushed for 15 yards down to the 22 with less than a minute left in the second quarter. The drive stalled at the Washington 19 where defensive end Brian Orakpo, the Redskins’ first-round pick, sacked Johnson on third down for a loss of 1. With two seconds left, Nugent made his first field goal of the season, a 37-yarder, to give Tampa Bay a 10-0 lead at halftime.
Johnson’s impressive start was stymied on the Bucs’ first possession when Hall picked off a deep pass intended for Bryant at the Tampa Bay 41. On third-and-7 from the Bucs’ 38, Campbell scrambled for nine yards to pick up a first down and move the Redskins into field goal range. The ‘Skins would pick up a few more yards, but on third-and-4 from the Tampa Bay 23, Campbell’s pass to Moss was incomplete and Washington had to settle for a 42-yard Shaun Suisham field goal. With 10:36 left in the third quarter, Tampa Bay’s lead had been cut to 10-3.
Washington would use its next series to drive deep into Tampa Bay territory once again. Campbell looked for his Pro Bowl tight end, Chris Cooley, several times on the drive, including a 17-yard pass play to push the ball to the Tampa Bay 44. On fourth-and-2 from the Tampa Bay 36, Cooley picked up 12 yards down to the 24-yard line. On first-and-15 on the Bucs’ 17, Campbell threw a touchdown pass to Cooley, who hauled in the ball behind linebacker Geno Hayes and in front of safety Will Allen. Cornerback Ronde Barber blocked Suisham’s extra point attempt, so with 3:32 left in the third quarter, Tampa Bay held a slim, 10-9 lead.
The Bucs offense stalled again on its next possession after Johnson was sacked for no gain by linebacker London Fletcher, and that would cost Tampa Bay as Washington took a 16-10 lead with 1:22 left in the third quarter when Campbell hit Moss for a 59-yard touchdown on the first play of the Redskins’ next possession. Moss beat Talib in coverage with a double move.
Washington got the ball after another Tampa Bay three-and-out, but for the third time on Sunday, saw its drive end with another Talib interception. On second-and-8 from the Washington 48, Talib stepped in front of Moss at the Tampa Bay 20, returning the pick 13 yards to the 33-yard line. An illegal chop block penalty on center Casey Rabach gave the Bucs an extra 15 yards out to the Tampa Bay 48.
Johnson threw two passes for 10 yards to Williams to move the chains to the Washington 42. Williams picked up 13 more yards on the next two snaps to drive the ball down to the Washington 29. The Bucs kept feeding the ball to Williams, who had gains of eight and 17 yards to pick up two first downs and set up the Bucs with a first-and-goal at the Redskins’ 7. However, the Bucs’ lost two yards on Williams’ second down carry and Johnson’s 4-yard run failed to get a touchdown on third-and-goal from the 8. Nugent’s 22-yard field goal with 4:25 left in regulation cut Washington’s lead to 16-13, which proved to be the final score.
PEWTERREPORT.COM PLAYER OF THE GAME
The temptation is name cornerback Aqib Talib as the PewterReport.com Player of the Game and he is certainly worthy of that distinction with a career-high three interceptions against Washington. However, his big day is greatly overshadowed by a key, 59-yard touchdown catch he gave up to Santana Moss in the third quarter that proved to be the game-winner.
While PewterReport.com recognizes Talib’s efforts, the choice for this week’s Player of the Game actually goes to defensive end Gaines Adams, who easily played his best game all year and his best game in quite some time dating back to last year. Adams, who has taken loads of deserved criticism for his shortcomings as a pass rusher, fought through a sore groin and played inspired football against Washington. He recorded his first sack of the season on Washington’s second offensive snap, and recovered a fumble by Jason Campbell at the Washington 10-yard line that led to Tampa Bay’s only touchdown of the game.
While Adams didn’t get to the Campbell for the rest of the game, he did record a quarterback hurry and deflect a pass at the line of scrimmage to end Washington’s second series on third-and-7. He also drew a holding call on center Casey Rabach in second quarter on an inside twist. Adams went against Pro Bowl-caliber left tackle Chris Samuels for most of the game and played with more physicality and vigor than he has all season. Adams was aggressive against the run too, finishing with five tackles, including a career-high two tackles for loss.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Led by a second-year quarterback in his first NFL start in Josh Johnson, the Bucs didn’t have much of a chance – but they still had a chance – to come back and either tie or win the game with the two-minute drill. With 1:52 left and starting on their own 19-yard line, the Bucs advanced the ball to the 30-yard line and pick up a first down with 55 seconds left. However, on Clifton Smith’s 2-yard run on third-an-1 from the 28, defensive end Jeremy Jarmon stripped Smith of the ball and the Redskins recovered to keep the Bucs winless at 0-4.
STATS THAT COUNT
Cornerback Aqib Talib recorded his first interception of the season when he picked off Jason Campbell in the first quarter. He added two more throughout the game to finish with a career-high three. … Defensive end Gaines Adams notched his first sack of the season when he sacked Campbell in the first quarter. … Defensive end Jimmy Wilkerson recorded a sack and leads the team with two. … Strongside linebacker Quincy Black recorded the first sack of his NFL career on Sunday. … Middle linebacker Barrett Ruud led the Bucs with nine tackles. … Cornerback Ronde Barber blocked the first extra point of his career on Sunday. … Earnest Graham had eight yards on five carries. … Michael Clayton, who had a drop on Sunday, was held without a catch for the second straight week. Clayton was also without a catch against New York. … Tampa Bay lost despite having a 4:2 edge in the turnover department. … Josh Johnson (23 years old, 142 days) became the youngest quarterback to start for the Buccaneers since Shaun King (22 years old, 191 days) started as a rookie on December 6, 1999. … Cornerback Elbert Mack made his first NFL start as the Bucs opened the game in nickel defense.
SUNDAY’S STARTING LINEUPS
The announced Tampa Bay starting lineup for Sunday’s game was as follows:
BUCS STARTING OFFENSE
WR Michael Clayton
LT Donald Penn
LG Jeremy Zuttah
C Sean Mahan
RG Davin Joseph
RT Jeremy Trueblood
TE Kellen Winslow
WR Antonio Bryant
FB B.J. Askew
RB Cadillac Williams
QB Josh Johnson
BUCS STARTING DEFENSE
LE Jimmy Wilkerson
DT Ryan Sims
DT Chris Hovan
RE Gaines Adams
WLB Geno Hayes
MLB Barrett Ruud
SLB Quincy Black
LCB Aqib Talib
RCB Ronde Barber
FS Will Allen
SS Sabby Piscitelli
MISSING IN ACTION
Here is a list of Tampa Bay players that were declared inactive for Sunday’s game:
QB Byron Leftwich (emergency QB)
C Jeff Faine
CB Marcus Hamilton
DE Kyle Moore
DE Dre Moore
OT Demar Dotson
OL Marc Dile
RB Derrick Ward
BUCS IN-GAME INJURIES
Buccaneers left guard Jeremy Zuttah was sidelined with an ankle injury with 9:30 left in the third quarter. He was replaced by Marcus Johnson, but returned on the next series. With 1:48 left in the third quarter, right tackle Jeremy Trueblood had to leave the game with a right shoulder injury. Trueblood returned on the next series.
KICKOFF CONDITIONS
The announced attendance for the Buccaneers vs. Redskins game at FedEx Field in Washington was 86,412 The kickoff temperature was 69 degrees under sunny skies with 64 percent humidity.
UP NEXT
The Buccaneers (0-4) continue on the road by traveling to Philadelphia to square off against the Eagles (2-1 with a bye week this week) at Lincoln Financial Filed on Sunday, October 11. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. ET and will be televised on Fox.
“Obviously, we’re disappointed with the outcome of the game,” said Raheem Morris, who is looking for his first victory as head coach of the Buccaneers. “We played a lot better at a bunch of different areas. We had an opportunity to win that football game and we should have. No … actually, I take that back. [The Redskins] came out and won that football game.
“We’ve got to become better managers. We’ve got to become better finishers. We’ve got to become guys that come out of halftime and absolutely draw blood when we have the ball. We didn’t smell it today. We didn’t take advantage of an opportunity and we had a big one.”
The Bucs left six critical points on FedEx Field in the first half as Mike Nugent missed two field goals from 49 and 48 yards that would have increased Tampa Bay’s halftime lead to 16-0 and made a difference in Sunday’s outcome.
“You get the two missed field goals and we’re not going to blink,” Morris said of Nugent, who is only 2-of-6 (33.3 percent) on the season. “You can’t blink. You’ve got to keep moving on. We still had a chance to win that game with the missed field goals. It’s our job to win the football game. He’ll get his opportunities again. We’ve got to make those things. There’s no doubt about it.”
Those missed field goals weren’t the only mistakes the Bucs made against the Redskins. With 55 seconds left in the fourth quarter and Tampa Bay needing a field goal to tie the game, seldom-used running back Clifton Smith saw his fumbling problems from a year ago resurface at the worst time possible as he picked up a first down on third-and-1 with a 2-yard gain only to fumble away the game. Smith coughed up the ball after being hit by Washington defensive end Jeremy Jarmon. Safety Chris Horton recovered the ball at the Tampa Bay 29 with 48 seconds left to end the game.
“He’s our two-minute back,” Morris said of Smith. “We were in a two-minute situation. He got the first down. He picked it up. He’s just got to hold on to the football. That’s his job. That’s his situation.”
The Bucs had a chance to regain the lead on a 12-play, 48-yard fourth quarter drive that ended at the Redskins’ 4-yard line after a quarterback draw from Josh Johnson only picked up four yards on third-and-goal. Instead of going for the go-ahead touchdown with 4:25 left, Morris sent Nugent out to kick a 22-yard field goal to cut Washington’s lead to three points.
“I felt really good about the defense at that point,” Morris said. “You get the three [points] and you get the ball back like we did with two minutes left, and having the ability to get a field goal to score in the two-minute drive or we get another field goal to put that thing into overtime – I felt really good about it. … That was the decision we made. That was the decision we rode with.”
Yet had the offense failed to get a touchdown, the Bucs defense would have had a much better chance to give the offense better field position with Washington starting at its own 4-yard line.
Johnson, who was getting his first NFL start at quarterback, got off to a great start in the first half, completing 8-of-13 passes for 81 yards and a touchdown, but was a dismal 5-of-9 for 25 yards passing in the second half and also threw a momentum-turning interception to DeAngelo Hall in the third quarter that allowed Washington to put points on the board.
Johnson and the offense struggled mightily on third down, converting just 2-of-13 opportunities (15 percent) on Sunday.
“Gotta get better on third downs. Gotta get better in some of the passing game areas,” Morris said of Johnson’s game. “The turnover was one that came back and got us today. He’ll get better. He’s a young guy.”
Tampa Bay’s inconsistent running game didn’t help matters. Although the Bucs were playing without Derrick Ward due to a knee injury, the Bucs did show some signs of life running the ball after being held under 50 yards rushing the last two weeks, producing 129 yards on the ground and a 4.3-yard average against the Redskins.
The Bucs lost control of the game in the third quarter, gaining just 16 yards rushing on five carries, including a 6-yard scramble by Johnson. The lack of running success in the third quarter contributed to three straight three-and-outs that allowed Tampa Bay to be outscored 16-0 heading into the fourth quarter.
Tampa Bay’s defense, which had forced only two turnovers in the first three games, managed to force three in the first half against Washington, but the Bucs couldn’t capitalize on all of them and only produced seven points from them. The Bucs finished with four takeaways, thanks to a banner day from cornerback Aqib Talib, who had a career-high three interceptions of Jason Campbell.
Those three picks tied the franchise record set by cornerback Ronde Barber against New Orleans on two occasions – December 4, 2005 and December 23, 2001. Despite Talib’s heroics, he did get beat by wide receiver Santana Moss for a go-ahead 59-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
“Aqib Talib had a heck of day, but I bet if he could go back and have one play back he would give the other three [interceptions] back for that one,” Morris said.
Tampa Bay’s 31st-ranked defense easily played its best game of the season, holding the Redskins to 277 yards, which was the first time this year a Buccaneers opponent has not achieved 300 total yards. Tampa Bay also produced three sacks, which matched its output from the first three games.
However, the defense wasn’t perfect, and allowed the Redskins to regain their confidence and take the lead in the third quarter by surrendering two touchdowns and a field goal as the pressure on Campbell that was there in the first half was nowhere to be found. Campbell started the game 5-of-12 for 60 yards with two interceptions, but was a different quarterback in the second half, completing 7-of-8 passes for 110 yards with two scores and one interception.
While the offense did manage to generate 144 yards at halftime against the Redskins and eclipse last week’s total of 86 yards throughout the entire game, the Bucs offense was held to only 85 yards in the second half. Greg Olson’s playcalling seemed timid and Johnson was adverse to throw the ball downfield. His longest completion of the game was a 27-yarder to Antonio Bryant, who had four catches for 44 yards.
On Washington’s first two pass attempts, Tampa Bay’s anemic pass rush came to life as Adams sacked Campbell on the Redskins’ second play of the game, followed by a sack-fumble by defensive tackle Jimmy Wilkerson. Adams recovered the fumble at the Washington 10-yard line. Two plays later on Johnson’s first pass attempt of the game, he threw an 8-yard strike to Bryant off play action for a touchdown, giving Tampa Bay a 7-0 lead with 13 minutes left in the first quarter.
The Bucs’ touchdown on their opening drive was the first since opening day against Seattle on October 19, 2008 – a span of 12 games. Tampa Bay’s touchdown represented the first time the Bucs have scored in the first quarter all season.
The Bucs had another chance for points in the first quarter after fielding a punt at the Washington 40. After Cadillac Williams, who rushed for 77 yards on 16 carries, picked up a first down on the ground, the Bucs’ drive stalled at the 31 due to a delay of game penalty, forcing Nugent to attempt a 49-yard field goal. However, Nugent’s kick hit the right upright and was no good with 3:01 left in the first quarter, leaving him with a 0-for-3 start to the season.
Talib picked off his first two passes in the span of six minutes, the second of which happened at the Tampa Bay 12 and was returned 21 yards to the 43-yard line. Johnson hit Bryant for a gain of 27 yards down to the Washington 30. However, the drive would stall there and with 8:01 remaining before halftime, Nugent was brought out to attempt a 48-yarder, which was wide right.
Washington used that missed field goal as motivation as it drove into Tampa Bay territory on its next possession. A 12-yard catch by running back Ladell Betts on third-and-6 moved the Redskins past midfield. An 11-yard catch by fullback Mike Sellers drove Washington down to the Tampa Bay 34. Yet on third-and-10 from the 34, linebacker Quincy Black sacked Campbell for a 4-yard loss, knocking the Redskins out of field goal range and forcing a punt.
The Bucs took over at their 21-yard line and Johnson led his team to a scoring drive right before halftime. On third-and-2 from the Tampa Bay 29, Johnson hit tight end Kellen Winslow for a 6-yard gain out to the 35. After Sammie Stroughter hauled in a 10-yard catch to move the chains to the 45, Johnson found Winslow for a 15-yard gain down to the Washington 37. Johnson, who had a 5-yard scramble to start the drive, rushed for 15 yards down to the 22 with less than a minute left in the second quarter. The drive stalled at the Washington 19 where defensive end Brian Orakpo, the Redskins’ first-round pick, sacked Johnson on third down for a loss of 1. With two seconds left, Nugent made his first field goal of the season, a 37-yarder, to give Tampa Bay a 10-0 lead at halftime.
Johnson’s impressive start was stymied on the Bucs’ first possession when Hall picked off a deep pass intended for Bryant at the Tampa Bay 41. On third-and-7 from the Bucs’ 38, Campbell scrambled for nine yards to pick up a first down and move the Redskins into field goal range. The ‘Skins would pick up a few more yards, but on third-and-4 from the Tampa Bay 23, Campbell’s pass to Moss was incomplete and Washington had to settle for a 42-yard Shaun Suisham field goal. With 10:36 left in the third quarter, Tampa Bay’s lead had been cut to 10-3.
Washington would use its next series to drive deep into Tampa Bay territory once again. Campbell looked for his Pro Bowl tight end, Chris Cooley, several times on the drive, including a 17-yard pass play to push the ball to the Tampa Bay 44. On fourth-and-2 from the Tampa Bay 36, Cooley picked up 12 yards down to the 24-yard line. On first-and-15 on the Bucs’ 17, Campbell threw a touchdown pass to Cooley, who hauled in the ball behind linebacker Geno Hayes and in front of safety Will Allen. Cornerback Ronde Barber blocked Suisham’s extra point attempt, so with 3:32 left in the third quarter, Tampa Bay held a slim, 10-9 lead.
The Bucs offense stalled again on its next possession after Johnson was sacked for no gain by linebacker London Fletcher, and that would cost Tampa Bay as Washington took a 16-10 lead with 1:22 left in the third quarter when Campbell hit Moss for a 59-yard touchdown on the first play of the Redskins’ next possession. Moss beat Talib in coverage with a double move.
Washington got the ball after another Tampa Bay three-and-out, but for the third time on Sunday, saw its drive end with another Talib interception. On second-and-8 from the Washington 48, Talib stepped in front of Moss at the Tampa Bay 20, returning the pick 13 yards to the 33-yard line. An illegal chop block penalty on center Casey Rabach gave the Bucs an extra 15 yards out to the Tampa Bay 48.
Johnson threw two passes for 10 yards to Williams to move the chains to the Washington 42. Williams picked up 13 more yards on the next two snaps to drive the ball down to the Washington 29. The Bucs kept feeding the ball to Williams, who had gains of eight and 17 yards to pick up two first downs and set up the Bucs with a first-and-goal at the Redskins’ 7. However, the Bucs’ lost two yards on Williams’ second down carry and Johnson’s 4-yard run failed to get a touchdown on third-and-goal from the 8. Nugent’s 22-yard field goal with 4:25 left in regulation cut Washington’s lead to 16-13, which proved to be the final score.
PEWTERREPORT.COM PLAYER OF THE GAME
The temptation is name cornerback Aqib Talib as the PewterReport.com Player of the Game and he is certainly worthy of that distinction with a career-high three interceptions against Washington. However, his big day is greatly overshadowed by a key, 59-yard touchdown catch he gave up to Santana Moss in the third quarter that proved to be the game-winner.
While PewterReport.com recognizes Talib’s efforts, the choice for this week’s Player of the Game actually goes to defensive end Gaines Adams, who easily played his best game all year and his best game in quite some time dating back to last year. Adams, who has taken loads of deserved criticism for his shortcomings as a pass rusher, fought through a sore groin and played inspired football against Washington. He recorded his first sack of the season on Washington’s second offensive snap, and recovered a fumble by Jason Campbell at the Washington 10-yard line that led to Tampa Bay’s only touchdown of the game.
While Adams didn’t get to the Campbell for the rest of the game, he did record a quarterback hurry and deflect a pass at the line of scrimmage to end Washington’s second series on third-and-7. He also drew a holding call on center Casey Rabach in second quarter on an inside twist. Adams went against Pro Bowl-caliber left tackle Chris Samuels for most of the game and played with more physicality and vigor than he has all season. Adams was aggressive against the run too, finishing with five tackles, including a career-high two tackles for loss.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Led by a second-year quarterback in his first NFL start in Josh Johnson, the Bucs didn’t have much of a chance – but they still had a chance – to come back and either tie or win the game with the two-minute drill. With 1:52 left and starting on their own 19-yard line, the Bucs advanced the ball to the 30-yard line and pick up a first down with 55 seconds left. However, on Clifton Smith’s 2-yard run on third-an-1 from the 28, defensive end Jeremy Jarmon stripped Smith of the ball and the Redskins recovered to keep the Bucs winless at 0-4.
STATS THAT COUNT
Cornerback Aqib Talib recorded his first interception of the season when he picked off Jason Campbell in the first quarter. He added two more throughout the game to finish with a career-high three. … Defensive end Gaines Adams notched his first sack of the season when he sacked Campbell in the first quarter. … Defensive end Jimmy Wilkerson recorded a sack and leads the team with two. … Strongside linebacker Quincy Black recorded the first sack of his NFL career on Sunday. … Middle linebacker Barrett Ruud led the Bucs with nine tackles. … Cornerback Ronde Barber blocked the first extra point of his career on Sunday. … Earnest Graham had eight yards on five carries. … Michael Clayton, who had a drop on Sunday, was held without a catch for the second straight week. Clayton was also without a catch against New York. … Tampa Bay lost despite having a 4:2 edge in the turnover department. … Josh Johnson (23 years old, 142 days) became the youngest quarterback to start for the Buccaneers since Shaun King (22 years old, 191 days) started as a rookie on December 6, 1999. … Cornerback Elbert Mack made his first NFL start as the Bucs opened the game in nickel defense.
SUNDAY’S STARTING LINEUPS
The announced Tampa Bay starting lineup for Sunday’s game was as follows:
BUCS STARTING OFFENSE
WR Michael Clayton
LT Donald Penn
LG Jeremy Zuttah
C Sean Mahan
RG Davin Joseph
RT Jeremy Trueblood
TE Kellen Winslow
WR Antonio Bryant
FB B.J. Askew
RB Cadillac Williams
QB Josh Johnson
BUCS STARTING DEFENSE
LE Jimmy Wilkerson
DT Ryan Sims
DT Chris Hovan
RE Gaines Adams
WLB Geno Hayes
MLB Barrett Ruud
SLB Quincy Black
LCB Aqib Talib
RCB Ronde Barber
FS Will Allen
SS Sabby Piscitelli
MISSING IN ACTION
Here is a list of Tampa Bay players that were declared inactive for Sunday’s game:
QB Byron Leftwich (emergency QB)
C Jeff Faine
CB Marcus Hamilton
DE Kyle Moore
DE Dre Moore
OT Demar Dotson
OL Marc Dile
RB Derrick Ward
BUCS IN-GAME INJURIES
Buccaneers left guard Jeremy Zuttah was sidelined with an ankle injury with 9:30 left in the third quarter. He was replaced by Marcus Johnson, but returned on the next series. With 1:48 left in the third quarter, right tackle Jeremy Trueblood had to leave the game with a right shoulder injury. Trueblood returned on the next series.
KICKOFF CONDITIONS
The announced attendance for the Buccaneers vs. Redskins game at FedEx Field in Washington was 86,412 The kickoff temperature was 69 degrees under sunny skies with 64 percent humidity.
UP NEXT
The Buccaneers (0-4) continue on the road by traveling to Philadelphia to square off against the Eagles (2-1 with a bye week this week) at Lincoln Financial Filed on Sunday, October 11. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. ET and will be televised on Fox.
Comments
sunrisejeff
Strange decisions by the coaching staff today on numerous occasions. Proud to see the defense start to step it up a little bit today but again disapointed in the end result. Remind me again why we thought Nugent was the answer? and why oh why are you putting the ball in your 4th string backs hands that late in the game......
3:58pm, October 4, 2009
pewter2
(Expletive)
I'd like to thank the following individuals:
Mike Nugent - for being the worst kicker in the NFL
Michael Clayton - for leading the league in drops
The O-Line for some great holding penalties
Olsen for some very predictable play calling
The Glazers for keeping their money
The Buccaneers for crapping on my Sunday 4 weeks straight.
I'd like to thank the following individuals:
Mike Nugent - for being the worst kicker in the NFL
Michael Clayton - for leading the league in drops
The O-Line for some great holding penalties
Olsen for some very predictable play calling
The Glazers for keeping their money
The Buccaneers for crapping on my Sunday 4 weeks straight.
4:02pm, October 4, 2009
gg72049
Again cannot figure out why there is no blitzing going on even though the defense played well enough to win.
The offense play calling looked like Gruden was still behind the headphones again. There was no imagination on any calls and did not take advantage of Johnson's abilities. Where was the bootleg or roll out to give him a better look at the defense?
As bad as we were on offense, if he had a field goal kicker we still would have won this game. Nugent, your a complete joke!!!!!!
The offense play calling looked like Gruden was still behind the headphones again. There was no imagination on any calls and did not take advantage of Johnson's abilities. Where was the bootleg or roll out to give him a better look at the defense?
As bad as we were on offense, if he had a field goal kicker we still would have won this game. Nugent, your a complete joke!!!!!!
4:04pm, October 4, 2009
ezbucrider
Through the numerous issues our team has, we are beginning to see the common denominator...it's not a QB problem, or a Defense problem, or a Youth Movement problem - it is a COACHING problem.
What was with all of the weak @$$ run playcalls and then to not go for it on 4th and Goal?!?! Even IF we turn the ball over on downs, we put the Skins in their end zone and let the D go to work. While tackling still struggled - we had some great turnovers.
Those are some of the worst calls our coaching staff have made in years - we conceded the game somewhere in the 3rd quarter.
And somewhere today, Matt Bryant is laughing his @$$ off.
What was with all of the weak @$$ run playcalls and then to not go for it on 4th and Goal?!?! Even IF we turn the ball over on downs, we put the Skins in their end zone and let the D go to work. While tackling still struggled - we had some great turnovers.
Those are some of the worst calls our coaching staff have made in years - we conceded the game somewhere in the 3rd quarter.
And somewhere today, Matt Bryant is laughing his @$$ off.
4:04pm, October 4, 2009
jcarruth
Thought the effort was much improved, several coaching decisions/calls left me scratching my head.
Could someone let the coaching staff know that your 3rd/Emergency QB is actually supposed to wear a uniform in case he is needed.
Could someone let the coaching staff know that your 3rd/Emergency QB is actually supposed to wear a uniform in case he is needed.
4:06pm, October 4, 2009
tsweet87
pewter2: I'd like to thank the following..
You- For putting into words what i have felt for the last four weeks.
You- For putting into words what i have felt for the last four weeks.
4:07pm, October 4, 2009
boktor53
Number one 2010 Draft pick coming up. We look bad against one of the worst teams in the league... so what does that make us? I don't know how the Bucs Season Ticket Holders do it. Defense played better, but got burned enough to lose. It's nice how we got deep into the Redskins territory and missed field goals and couldn't put it into the endzone except for the gift turnover. To bad we can't cut the kicker and use that roster spot to have 12 on defense. Do they have 5th graders calling the offensive plays. I love the draw play with 57 seconds left and the fumble to end the game. This is going to be a hard season to watch, and I just got Directv. I thought I saw the Redskins QB with camping gear in the back field in the second half.
4:09pm, October 4, 2009
gg72049
pewter2, again Clayton's dropped ball was big but did you see the block he put on the safety to spring Caddy for that long run at the end. They need to make him a tight end since Winslow and Stevens are so pathertic at blocking. You might as well take their asses out of the game on running plays since they have no idea how a block is done!
4:11pm, October 4, 2009
Gatorbait36
Morris is clearly, clearly in over his head. The Glazers need to do SOMETHING immediately or face even more fan base erosion. The stadium was 30% or more blue last week, and it's going to get worse quickly. Let's get Freeman in there and see what we have. My guess is nothing....
At least if we decide Freeman sucks, we will have a shot at Bradford, McCoy, Tebow, or Clausen.
At least if we decide Freeman sucks, we will have a shot at Bradford, McCoy, Tebow, or Clausen.
4:13pm, October 4, 2009
MIke Nugent
I suck!!!!!!
4:16pm, October 4, 2009
jross78
I don't understand how we can be first and goal and not even attempt a fade route by putting in the 6'5" Stovall. Was I missing something?
4:17pm, October 4, 2009
MIke Nugent
Did you guys hear me?
I said I suck!
I said I suck!
4:18pm, October 4, 2009
Mike Nugent
Matt Bryant - where are you?
4:19pm, October 4, 2009
jross78
Trust me Mike, we saw and no need to tell anyone the obvious.
4:20pm, October 4, 2009
pewterpirate99
I have news for you Gatorbait36, this is what the Glazers are doing. This is exactly there plan. They don't care whether the Bucs win or not, they get the revenue sharing regardless.
4:20pm, October 4, 2009
Mike Nugent
I can kick into the endzone on kickoff's AND fieldgoals.
4:20pm, October 4, 2009
pewter2
Where's that actor that played a kicker from the replacements? He might not be a kicker, but at least he acts like one.
I'll take him over this imposter.
I'll take him over this imposter.
4:21pm, October 4, 2009
pewterpirate99
Thats why they made Raheem the Dream the head coach. Instead of going out there and going after a real proven coach like a Shanahan or a Cowher, or even take a shot it the dark and go after Mike Holgrem. No, instead they go with a nobody with no experience thats going to come cheap.
4:23pm, October 4, 2009
PanthersSuck!
Faine - please get better...
Sears - where the heck are you???
Sears - where the heck are you???
4:23pm, October 4, 2009
pewterpirate99
CHEAP being the key word!
4:24pm, October 4, 2009
Retinaldoc
Let's see if I remember my high school logic course:
The Lions beat the Redskins,
The Redskins beat the Bucs,
Therefore the Lions are better than the Bucs
and the Bucs are officially the worst team in the NFL
The Lions beat the Redskins,
The Redskins beat the Bucs,
Therefore the Lions are better than the Bucs
and the Bucs are officially the worst team in the NFL
4:25pm, October 4, 2009
pewterpirate99
Now not only are these two ass clowns cheap, but they don't know what it takes to run a winning team.
4:25pm, October 4, 2009
ezbucrider
Question: How bad does it get before we start printing the "Chico's Bail Bonds" ad on the back of our jerseys?!?
Gotta 2nd the "crapping on our Sunday's" - if the team actually made it an EXCITING and spirited game which ended in a loss, I'd be half OK. I mean
But with these pitiful games rife with poor plays called in from the sidelines and high school level fundamentals displayed on the field - I'm just left empty and pi$$ed off after these games. Now's when you have to remind yourself it's just a game - the mantra of losers.
Gotta 2nd the "crapping on our Sunday's" - if the team actually made it an EXCITING and spirited game which ended in a loss, I'd be half OK. I mean
But with these pitiful games rife with poor plays called in from the sidelines and high school level fundamentals displayed on the field - I'm just left empty and pi$$ed off after these games. Now's when you have to remind yourself it's just a game - the mantra of losers.
4:26pm, October 4, 2009
pewterpirate99
the Bucs are also the next in line for the 0-16 season, because I don't see any other game on the schedule that they can win.
4:28pm, October 4, 2009
Mike Nugent
Dont really feel like kicking fieldgoals anymore. I think I'll take next week off.
4:28pm, October 4, 2009
Gatorbait36
PewterPirate...I agree with you to an extent. They get revenue sharing, but they also budget for merchandise, concession, and parking revenues. If we, the fans, act accordingly and show our lack of support by not contributing to those revenue streams....maybe things will change. It's a big "maybe" but Im think it's the only shot we have.
4:30pm, October 4, 2009
Louie
pewter2, great summary! Couldn't have said it better myself.
Now an "I told you so" moment... After the Cowboy game, I said the Bucs should be trying out kickers before Nugent costs us a game. Well, that game was today.
Will someone tell me where we can get a win this year? The Skins gift wrapped that one, but the Bucs wouldn't take it.
Now an "I told you so" moment... After the Cowboy game, I said the Bucs should be trying out kickers before Nugent costs us a game. Well, that game was today.
Will someone tell me where we can get a win this year? The Skins gift wrapped that one, but the Bucs wouldn't take it.
4:30pm, October 4, 2009
jross78
I have a headache.
4:32pm, October 4, 2009
pewterpirate99
It's very appropriate that the Bucs are bringing out the creamsicle uniforms for the Packer game. They're playing like the putrid Bucs of old and the Packers should whoop there asses by 14-21 points.
4:33pm, October 4, 2009
Mike Nugent
I quite!!!
4:38pm, October 4, 2009
lalvarad
This is the first game were I don't feel so bad the Bucs lost. Aqib stepped up with 3 interceptions, Hayes was getting in the back field. Josh did well for his first start and only 1 week getting first string work. The d line got more pressure, Gaines played better. There is a lot more that I would like to see, including better, more diverse playcalling. but still I am more hopeful now that this will be a rebuilding year and more potential for next year. JJ for quarterback of the future??
4:39pm, October 4, 2009
MIke Nugent
Did anyone see me kick that fieldgoal!
4:51pm, October 4, 2009
Southwest Airlines
Mr Nugent-
Please pick up your tickets at the departure desk....
Please pick up your tickets at the departure desk....
4:56pm, October 4, 2009
pewterpirate99
I wish I could be as optimistic as you lavarad, but I can't. I see a team with no direction. I mean I don't have any confidence in Rah or Greg Olsen or Mark Dominik. I don't see the dominance on the defense or the offense. As far as Gains Adams goes, don't go putting him in the pro bowl yet. The guy has done nothing yet in the league to justify his draft pick.
4:56pm, October 4, 2009
bucsmaniac
D played great...Hayes is turning into that FSU LB we wanted...Gaines did ok...3 picks for AT and one burn mark on the back of his jersey that was the game decider...much improved!!! JJ looked ok he is young really couldn't find the open receiver in the second half...got rattled and yeah giving a fumbler the ball at the end...not wise! but if he doesnt lose it its a first down.
we get Tanard back finally so are soft secondary middle will be fixed some.
stop blaming the owners every team not doing well this year and there are many...fans blame the owners...skins have spent a half billion on there D...wow they really looked it!!
we get Tanard back finally so are soft secondary middle will be fixed some.
stop blaming the owners every team not doing well this year and there are many...fans blame the owners...skins have spent a half billion on there D...wow they really looked it!!
4:57pm, October 4, 2009
pewterpirate99
Gains is a bust, one descent game every 4-6 games doesn't count as doing anything in my book.
4:58pm, October 4, 2009
dmuse2
I enjoyed watching the future than the past. Johnson will get better as will the defense. Not happy with our running game. And yes, we need to bring back Matt Bryant and I hope he holds out for a big raise. :-)
4:58pm, October 4, 2009
pewterpirate99
At least dumb ass Snyder is making an effort to win, these two jerk offs are making an effort to line their pockets and put more money into ManU. Eddie Debartalow where are you?????!!!!!!!!
5:01pm, October 4, 2009
bucsmaniac
Our dominate D left with the greatest DC of the last 20 years...partially its the young players...the rest is on Bates who most likely will be moving on again at the end of this year...need that killer instinct back!!
5:02pm, October 4, 2009
tsweet87
can't wait for cowher to get here...he may not hi-five his players...but he can will us to get the wins we need.
5:04pm, October 4, 2009
pewterpirate99
Don't think Cowher is coming here, these cheap ass owners won't spend the money to sign a coach of his caliber. Not anymore anyways, I mean they did with Dungy and then Gruden, but I think they're done spending money on experienced winning coaches.
5:08pm, October 4, 2009
pewterpirate99
Case in point...... Raheem the Dream
5:10pm, October 4, 2009
annjosephson
An uneducated observation here... Josh Freeman might make a damn good receiver (if he can catch the ball) or running back (if he's big enough). He is not a good quarterback, or even a moderately acceptable one. Of course he's probably better than Sluggo or Freeman or he wouldn't be playing.
Fire Raheem, and hire somebody to make good use of the #1 pick in 2010!
Fire Raheem, and hire somebody to make good use of the #1 pick in 2010!
5:19pm, October 4, 2009
charlespoupot
things :
- 1. one of his missed fieldgoal against dallas was blocked
- 2. another missed fieldgoal today was due to bad snap
- 3. Matt Bryant was horrible last year for big distance (over 40 yards) Don't you remember ???
Nugent has a lot of hard work to do, but I'm sure Matt Bryant wouldn't have done it better ...
- 1. one of his missed fieldgoal against dallas was blocked
- 2. another missed fieldgoal today was due to bad snap
- 3. Matt Bryant was horrible last year for big distance (over 40 yards) Don't you remember ???
Nugent has a lot of hard work to do, but I'm sure Matt Bryant wouldn't have done it better ...
5:24pm, October 4, 2009
bucfan47
charlespoupot - I'll argue that with you all day long. Even the kicks he's made, have looked very bad. He's got alot of work to do. I'm starting to see why the Jets didn't try to resign him.
5:41pm, October 4, 2009
charlespoupot
bucfan47, I'm agree with you, but my point is : I really don't think Matt Bryant is the answer too ... We have (had ?) no solution for kicker this year ...
GO BUCS !
GO BUCS !
5:48pm, October 4, 2009
sunrisejeff
For once we agree Bucfan Nugent has looked very bad and one thing that is well known is that a kicker with shaky confidence = bad news. And unfortunatly with a young struggling team you can not afford to leave points on the field.
5:53pm, October 4, 2009
scubog
Got to agree with you there BF47. But, I wonder if Bryant is even asked to kick the ones Nugent missed from those distances. He can't possibly look as bad in practice as he has in these games. It sure might have made a difference to be up by 16 going into the half.
If that was an example of our half-time adjustments. I suggest we stop tinkering.
Did someone report a case of identity theft? I know that wasn't the real Gaines Adams we've been seeing out there in the first half. But it did resemble him in the second.
I thought JJ did alright for his first start. But I thought he did too much of a Jeff Garcia impersonation.
I wonder if George Yarno can still kick. It sure was funny when John McKay said "Capece is Caput!" and ol' George kicked the PAT. How about "Mike take a hike."
If that was an example of our half-time adjustments. I suggest we stop tinkering.
Did someone report a case of identity theft? I know that wasn't the real Gaines Adams we've been seeing out there in the first half. But it did resemble him in the second.
I thought JJ did alright for his first start. But I thought he did too much of a Jeff Garcia impersonation.
I wonder if George Yarno can still kick. It sure was funny when John McKay said "Capece is Caput!" and ol' George kicked the PAT. How about "Mike take a hike."
5:59pm, October 4, 2009
charlespoupot
Anyone notice all these horribles "gruden style" playcalling. It was never designed to go downfield ... Josh Jonhson seemed way better than leftwich, but he has to throw downfield. It never happened. Is this a WR problem ? Are they enable to split form their corner back or is it Josh Johnson who scramble too much ???
6:08pm, October 4, 2009
dean11
where's the "idiot kicker" these days? (vanderjagt) he's got to be better than the nuge.
6:42pm, October 4, 2009
michaelb
Bucman47, we do not agree on much, but we do agree on Nugent. He kicks bad and way too low. I would take a weaker, but more accurate and direct kick from Bryant any day of the week.
7:00pm, October 4, 2009
jongruden
To all those dumbass fans who were calling for Gruden to get fired after a 9-7 season, KISS MY ASS!
7:02pm, October 4, 2009
brooks55hof
WELL SAID, pewter2..Only one correction - the Glazers are not keeping "our money" but sending it overseas to Manchester United. Curses to the NFL for allowing such an obvious conflict of interest.
Congratulations to Boy Blunder and the Slumpbusters
Congratulations to Boy Blunder and the Slumpbusters
7:08pm, October 4, 2009
kennys
josh johnson is not the answer, he is a west coast quarterback, just dinks and dunks, no arm to go down the field
7:50pm, October 4, 2009
seat26
Wow. what a change.
There is hope. Bucs offense looks like it might have found its legs, and defense looks like it does not want to be remembered as a first to worst group.
Johnson wasn't perfect, but he really surprised me. Good to see Bryant getting some plays in. And how about Caddie ?
This season may not be as bad as I thought.
He still has it.
There is hope. Bucs offense looks like it might have found its legs, and defense looks like it does not want to be remembered as a first to worst group.
Johnson wasn't perfect, but he really surprised me. Good to see Bryant getting some plays in. And how about Caddie ?
This season may not be as bad as I thought.
He still has it.
7:55pm, October 4, 2009
Horse
I thought we didn't to bad.
I saw improvement.
Go Bucs!
I saw improvement.
Go Bucs!
8:08pm, October 4, 2009
tsweet87
I really can't see us winning a game this year...maybe Miami or Carolina...but damn this is a low place to be as a fan in Philly.
8:59pm, October 4, 2009
gg72049
Jongruden, with Gruden still here and Morris as your DC do you honestly think this team would be better than what we have seen so far??? HELL NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gruden said his QB would be Johnson, and his play calling would be no better than his protege Olson! Monte wouldn't be here and with Morris running the defense like Bates is doing, we wouldn't be any better there either. And please don't tell me that Brooks and June being here would have made a difference! I can see what value they still have as they are playing nowhere!
The only thing that Gruden would have done differently is not draft Freeman and instead be out looking for some 35 to 40 year old retread QB like he has done in the past. Even a great 1st rounder still wouldn't make that much of a difference on this team. But with Grudens draft history we would have probably gotten another D. Jackson or G. Adams!!
With the talent Gruden had on the defensive side of the football, he should have been in the playoffs every year if he was any kind of offensive genius that everyone portrayed him as being!!!!!!
Give me a freaking break!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gruden said his QB would be Johnson, and his play calling would be no better than his protege Olson! Monte wouldn't be here and with Morris running the defense like Bates is doing, we wouldn't be any better there either. And please don't tell me that Brooks and June being here would have made a difference! I can see what value they still have as they are playing nowhere!
The only thing that Gruden would have done differently is not draft Freeman and instead be out looking for some 35 to 40 year old retread QB like he has done in the past. Even a great 1st rounder still wouldn't make that much of a difference on this team. But with Grudens draft history we would have probably gotten another D. Jackson or G. Adams!!
With the talent Gruden had on the defensive side of the football, he should have been in the playoffs every year if he was any kind of offensive genius that everyone portrayed him as being!!!!!!
Give me a freaking break!!!!!!!!!!!!
9:28pm, October 4, 2009
jongruden
Yes we would have been better we will win one game this year maybe and you don't think we would have been better with Gruden- hilarious believe what you you want then
9:34pm, October 4, 2009
Louie
Gruden would probably be 2-2 now.
I don't know where the Bucs can get a win. Carolina at home? Maybe. At Miami? No way after seeing them dismantle Buffalo today. At Seattle? Maybe, but the Bucs historically don't play well on the west coast. Green Bay? Doubt it, but wouldn't it be ironic to win in the orange uniforms.
The Bucs might be able to win one game. How can Morris keep his job with 2 or fewer wins? I'm sorry, that's pitiful.
I don't know where the Bucs can get a win. Carolina at home? Maybe. At Miami? No way after seeing them dismantle Buffalo today. At Seattle? Maybe, but the Bucs historically don't play well on the west coast. Green Bay? Doubt it, but wouldn't it be ironic to win in the orange uniforms.
The Bucs might be able to win one game. How can Morris keep his job with 2 or fewer wins? I'm sorry, that's pitiful.
10:36pm, October 4, 2009
Louie
I hope the Bucs have Graham Gano coming in tomorrow for a tryout -- along with whoever else they can find. Nugent should have been left in Washington.
10:43pm, October 4, 2009
jvance
kicker Xavier Beitia is in Tampa and should be brought in to kick. He ran circles around Nugent in the Jets camps....
11:19pm, October 4, 2009
jimb32
There's been quite a bit of bad moves:
Trading Luke McCown was a HUGE mistake - with McCown in they win this game and possibly Dallas for a weak but acceptable 2-2
Bad Coaching: The game day decisions on FG tries is horrid, if the Bucs had punted on both FG attempts the Bucs likely would likely have won. This Nuggent stinks, but he's all we have right now, fine - but don't have him kick a 49yrder - it aint happening. And to do it twice is just plain inexcusable.
This cost the Bucs the game IMO - major chg in field position and you chg the whole dynamic, plus put more pressure on your O vs your D. That's not good with a newbie QB
Other mistakes this year:
Late firing of O-coordinator
Switching D schemes - s/h hired marinelli and kept the Montiesq D.
And:
Not firing Gruden before the 2008 season and putting Monti in a Headcoach and groom Raheen as D-coordinator for 2 years
Trading Luke McCown was a HUGE mistake - with McCown in they win this game and possibly Dallas for a weak but acceptable 2-2
Bad Coaching: The game day decisions on FG tries is horrid, if the Bucs had punted on both FG attempts the Bucs likely would likely have won. This Nuggent stinks, but he's all we have right now, fine - but don't have him kick a 49yrder - it aint happening. And to do it twice is just plain inexcusable.
This cost the Bucs the game IMO - major chg in field position and you chg the whole dynamic, plus put more pressure on your O vs your D. That's not good with a newbie QB
Other mistakes this year:
Late firing of O-coordinator
Switching D schemes - s/h hired marinelli and kept the Montiesq D.
And:
Not firing Gruden before the 2008 season and putting Monti in a Headcoach and groom Raheen as D-coordinator for 2 years
11:47pm, October 4, 2009
The White Tiger
The wounds were self-inflicted?
Well, the first place to look for a suspect would be in the coordinators office.
'cuz it's definitely an inside job.
Plenty of offensive talent - just not a lot of talented play-calling putting it in position to make plays...
Whoda thunk that when you bring in the Detroit Lions play-caller you'd actually Detroit Lions results?
Well, the first place to look for a suspect would be in the coordinators office.
'cuz it's definitely an inside job.
Plenty of offensive talent - just not a lot of talented play-calling putting it in position to make plays...
Whoda thunk that when you bring in the Detroit Lions play-caller you'd actually Detroit Lions results?
2:12am, October 5, 2009
PoundThatRock
Improvement, sure. But that was the most winnable game on the schedule so things look fairly bleek. Maybe we give it to Carolina at home but I don't really see the point in winning a couple of games this season.
We need to draft a moster DT in the first round this year.
We need to draft a moster DT in the first round this year.
10:07am, October 5, 2009
legion3
Word is new Bucs offensive coordinator Greg Olson — who replaced Jeff Jagodzinski shortly before the start of the season after Jagodzinski quickly proved to be an admittedly terrible hire who was in way over his head — had long believed that Leftwich was incapable of efficiently running the Bucs' offense and felt the team needed to go in another direction.
Our sources tell us the quarterback Olson actually preferred to run the offense was Luke McCown, who was traded because Buccaneers GM Mark Dominik said he could not afford to give backup reps to McCown and needed to get Freeman groomed. We hear Olsen absolutely loved McCown but was overruled by the three people who have the most authority in personnel moves at present — Dominik, Morris and coordinator of pro scouting and former Bucs QB Doug Williams, who jointly decided that Leftwich's leadership was the key point in his favor.
"They had a statue back there and they knew it," one league insider told (us). "If you took every quarterback in the league, Josh Johnson might be in the bottom 10, and he was one of the starting 32 this week. They screwed it up. They just gave McCown $2.5 million to start, and now he is somewhere else.
"It's a mess."
http://www.profootballweekly.com/2009/10/05/buccaneers-dolphins-toting-heavy-baggage
Our sources tell us the quarterback Olson actually preferred to run the offense was Luke McCown, who was traded because Buccaneers GM Mark Dominik said he could not afford to give backup reps to McCown and needed to get Freeman groomed. We hear Olsen absolutely loved McCown but was overruled by the three people who have the most authority in personnel moves at present — Dominik, Morris and coordinator of pro scouting and former Bucs QB Doug Williams, who jointly decided that Leftwich's leadership was the key point in his favor.
"They had a statue back there and they knew it," one league insider told (us). "If you took every quarterback in the league, Josh Johnson might be in the bottom 10, and he was one of the starting 32 this week. They screwed it up. They just gave McCown $2.5 million to start, and now he is somewhere else.
"It's a mess."
http://www.profootballweekly.com/2009/10/05/buccaneers-dolphins-toting-heavy-baggage
10:32am, October 5, 2009
tjones
should have gone for it on fourth down chicken spit.
10:35am, October 5, 2009
legion3
Part two ot the above link/article
Morris is being questioned in league circles for many other reasons.
"Morris is not well-thought-of as a schemer, X's and O's coach," said one insider who hinted that the Bucs' beleaguered head coach was nearly fired by Kansas State for that reason before returning to the Bucs. "Morris is all hype. They thought he was a players' coach and the next (Steelers head coach) Mike Tomlin, but he's not nearly as football-smart or savvy as Tomlin and has made one bad decision after another."
Added a veteran personnel director: "Ownership (the Glazer family) should be realizing they misevaluated the previous coach, and that Jon Gruden can coach after all. The ownership is not committed to the Bucs, and the money shows it. (Dominik) is just a puppet."
Speaking of money, the Bucs have been widely criticized for their frugal spending habits, ranking last in the league the last four seasons in committed cash. Widespread speculation that the Glazers are much more committed to keeping their Manchester United soccer team in the black won't go away any time soon.
Morris is being questioned in league circles for many other reasons.
"Morris is not well-thought-of as a schemer, X's and O's coach," said one insider who hinted that the Bucs' beleaguered head coach was nearly fired by Kansas State for that reason before returning to the Bucs. "Morris is all hype. They thought he was a players' coach and the next (Steelers head coach) Mike Tomlin, but he's not nearly as football-smart or savvy as Tomlin and has made one bad decision after another."
Added a veteran personnel director: "Ownership (the Glazer family) should be realizing they misevaluated the previous coach, and that Jon Gruden can coach after all. The ownership is not committed to the Bucs, and the money shows it. (Dominik) is just a puppet."
Speaking of money, the Bucs have been widely criticized for their frugal spending habits, ranking last in the league the last four seasons in committed cash. Widespread speculation that the Glazers are much more committed to keeping their Manchester United soccer team in the black won't go away any time soon.
10:40am, October 5, 2009
jimb32
legion3
Thanks for the link - I forgot about PFW used to get it years ago. Anyway, that makes sense about Luke McCown and they are paying dearly for it. A better than average receiver corp with no QB is not good.
But the point they make the Gruden could coach is dead wrong. Kiffin kept Tampa in contention not Gruden whose play calling and QB moves weren't much better. At least Raheem has no experience as an excuse.
I remember the 2005 playoff game in which TB's Defense gave up only 126yrds of Offense and still lost! Least yds allowed ever in a playoff loss - that's all you need to know about the boy wonder Johnnie Boy.
Add to that the 2008 4 game collapse once Monti was known to be gone and saying Gruden knew how to coach just doesn't resonate.
Thanks for the link - I forgot about PFW used to get it years ago. Anyway, that makes sense about Luke McCown and they are paying dearly for it. A better than average receiver corp with no QB is not good.
But the point they make the Gruden could coach is dead wrong. Kiffin kept Tampa in contention not Gruden whose play calling and QB moves weren't much better. At least Raheem has no experience as an excuse.
I remember the 2005 playoff game in which TB's Defense gave up only 126yrds of Offense and still lost! Least yds allowed ever in a playoff loss - that's all you need to know about the boy wonder Johnnie Boy.
Add to that the 2008 4 game collapse once Monti was known to be gone and saying Gruden knew how to coach just doesn't resonate.
12:27am, October 6, 2009
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