Quick Hits on the Tampa Game
by 5Blings on Sep 14, 2009 3:16 PM CDT
75 comments
On the Plus side...
Special Teams coverage was much improved and David Buehler's net worth to this team increased drapatically after seeing him blast a couple off of the tee.
The 12 alignment works! The double TE set is the Wildcat of 2009. I hope we see more running out of it with Choice and wheel routes to Barber and screens to Felix.
Kudos to the offense for connecting on some big plays when the defense made some huge mmistakes in coverage.
No major injuries. We have to feel good about the fact that there were no Tom Brady-like injuries out there. I almost puked when I saw Ware laying on the ground with the burner.
On the Minus side...
The run defense was putrid. How much is scheme versus just being beaten up by a more aggressive opponent is unknown at this point.
Confusion on offense. Totally unacceptable as far as I am concerned. Bennett was in no-man's land and the entire offensive unit was out of sync.
Romo, despite his gaudy numbers, was generally off. His history of slow starts was again the order of the day. I'd like to think it was opening game jitters, but nothing suggests that this isn't a contiuation of what we've already seen and you just can't do that against the better teams in the league.
No pass rush at all. This one surprised me, but they locked Ware down and that was it for our ability to rush one of the more immobile QB's in the NFL. We didn't do anything exotic with the CB's and safeties. To be fair, the Bucs have one of the better young O-Lines in the NFC.
No turnovers forced by the defense. I truly think the secondary is poised to make some big plays, but without the pass rush of last year, it is all for nothing.
Overall...
If not for some key drops by TB receivers and Dallas' MVP of the day, Sabby Piscatelli, this could have been a different outcome. I'm not feeling good about the Giants game, given their physical dominance of the Redskins. I hope we have a week filled with lots of time in the film room, because we need to open Cowboys Stadium with a victory.
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Some good points.
But I think most games could go differently based on a few plays. The good teams capitalize when they have the opportunity.
The D did look out of sorts, but hopefully that can get cleared up.
The 12 did look good! I think it’s less of a gimmick than the Wildcat, though. I also think that a lot of the confusion was due to them not using this formation in the preseason games, so it was really the first live test of it for us. I expect that to clear up, too. That might also be part of the reason for Romo’s rustiness.
by Baked Potato Soup on Sep 14, 2009 3:34 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
True
…I’m just not sure if you think we’re a good team, or just played a bad one that made us look good.
Personally, I see Tampa as a 5-7 win team.
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
by 5Blings on Sep 14, 2009 4:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
THe Giants game
they weren’t totally dominant there. There were about 3-4 plays where I was wondering wtf Cambell was doing in the pocket, including the Osi strip and td return. Romo tends to make all the moves in teh pocket necessary to buy his guys extra time. That play really changed the game – the GIants didn’t look that great offensively an it gave them the big lead they needed.
Offensively, the run game for the giants looked great, but keepin mind they really didn’t put up to many points.
by foyesboys on Sep 14, 2009 5:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The run game for the Giants was completely mediocre
Jacobs and Bradshaw combined for 28 carries for 106 yards, or about 3.8 yards a carry. Without Bradshaw’s long run of 22 yards, they ran 27-84, or 3.1.
If the Cowboys hold those two to similar numbers, it’d be hard not to imagine a Cowboys victory.
by DavidH22 on Sep 14, 2009 5:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I personally think
the redskins are gonna field a REALLY strong run D this year. They shut down the giants twice on the goal line in the first quarter…to me the Giants run game looked as good as ever.
by foyesboys on Sep 14, 2009 6:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
-1
Don’t underestimate the difference Haynesworth makes on that team.
The Giants played their kind of game and won the way they usually do, with defense and ball control.
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
by 5Blings on Sep 14, 2009 11:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Also keep in mind...Albert Haynesworth
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
by 5Blings on Sep 14, 2009 11:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What, you don think they will even show up for 4 games
KICK ASS every day!!!
by squidlo97 on Sep 14, 2009 6:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I knew SOMEONE would read that wrong
Thanks Squidlo.
;-)
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
by 5Blings on Sep 14, 2009 11:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
have you seen the Giants blogger
with the name squid92, eerily similar…
by sduncan24 on Sep 15, 2009 9:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
haha you do this to get Terrys goat don't you?
Romo, despite his gaudy numbers, was generally off. His history of slow starts was again the order of the day. I’d like to think it was opening game jitters, but nothing suggests that this isn’t a contiuation of what we’ve already seen and you just can’t do that against the better teams in the league./blockquote>
by Musiccitynorm on Sep 14, 2009 4:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Well...
I’ll answer that this way;
I called the balls and strikes as I saw them, but if it conjures up some good conversation with one of my fellow BTB’ers about our QB and his difficulties early in games, all the better.
Plus, let’s admit it. He played like a Vince Young in the first half.
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
by 5Blings on Sep 14, 2009 4:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
wrong Romo was on the field and he doesn't have a confidence issue!
by bad knees on Sep 14, 2009 4:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
+1
That says something about our guy right there.
by Chris in Va on Sep 14, 2009 5:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
and he hasn't tried to off himself...
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
by 5Blings on Sep 14, 2009 11:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Vince Young wishes he could be 9-14-115-1-0
like Romo was in the first half!
That said, yeah, his accuracy was off on a few throws. Now, where do we get one of those QB’s who is perfect with every single throw?
Tony, next time I see you in another team’s stadium against a fast, hard-hitting defense, I want you to have a higher passer rating than 147! And I want fewer than no turnovers!
by DavidH22 on Sep 14, 2009 5:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
bling wants perfection..like a lot of unrealistic cowboys fans
In Romo we Trust
by Terry on Sep 14, 2009 8:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No
I want accurate passes that are delivered on time in concert with good decision making when things break down.
Is that perfection in your eyes?
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
by 5Blings on Sep 15, 2009 6:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
you couldn't be more wrong
If Romo played like Young, we wouldn’t have been leading at half. You embellish like no other.
In Romo we Trust
by Terry on Sep 14, 2009 8:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gotta be the best at something...
Is there some sort of cash prize that comes with this honor?
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
by 5Blings on Sep 14, 2009 11:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
"generally off"
is an exaggeration, but he could’ve played better early.
He was VERY close on most of those passes, usually we’re a lot more inconsistant early.
by foyesboys on Sep 14, 2009 5:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
beyond exaggeration, simply ridiculous
In Romo we Trust
by Terry on Sep 14, 2009 8:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
"VERY close" is often the difference between a completion and a PIC 6
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
by 5Blings on Sep 14, 2009 11:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No pass rush at all
True if you only count sacks. They did rack up 9 Quarterback hits
by One.Cool.Customer on Sep 14, 2009 4:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
most of those
came in the second half when we got the bigger leads and didn’t need to worry about the run game. It wa a big concern for me.
by foyesboys on Sep 14, 2009 5:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
As always...
OCC is statistically correct.
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
by 5Blings on Sep 14, 2009 11:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
but his point
is not the number of hits, just that we did put pressure on Leftwich. Just because you don’t sack the QB doesn’t mean that he isn’t feeling the pressure and thinking about the hits. I too am disappointed that we didn’t get more sacks because I thought we would tee off on him, but we did get pressure.
On the up side, I saw us lay some crushing hits on Leftwich that I haven’t seen us do in a long time. Eli is a much smaller QB, and if we hit him the same way his game will be affected, I predict greatly.
by sduncan24 on Sep 15, 2009 9:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If Eli got hit like Bowen hit Leftwich
they would have to have Jacobs and some trainers peel him off the ground.
If I had a nickel for every Super Bowl the Eagles have won, I would have zero nickels.
by Cowboyfan729 on Sep 15, 2009 12:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
But it is doubtfull he will...
as the G-men still have the most highly regarded O-Line in the league.
We’ll have to do much better to get pressure on Eli.
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
by 5Blings on Sep 15, 2009 6:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
9 hits on 41 attempts isn't really that awesome, either.
Where can we find the hits and hurries stats?
by Baked Potato Soup on Sep 15, 2009 9:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
In the gamebook on nfl.com, page 5.
by One.Cool.Customer on Sep 16, 2009 4:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Did they not call a single screen all day?
If not, that is very disappointing.
5Blings, did you write several posts about the Cowboys WRs being woefully inadequate? If not, please excuse me. If so, I am not calling you out on it, but the early returns are sort of maybe, quite possibly, proving those who worried so much about T.O. leaving perhaps a little bitty incorrect. Not that there’s anything wrong with being wrong occasionally.
by DavidH22 on Sep 14, 2009 5:25 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Nope, wasn't me...
but I would caution people not to go raving about our WR’s until we’ve seen them play a team where Romo is under duress and he has to have them get consistently clean releases and gain separation in fast-developing plays.
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
by 5Blings on Sep 14, 2009 11:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well if Romo is under duress consistently,
and I do expect it to happen more than just a few times this year based on what I saw from the Tampa game, then it won’t be the WR’s fault now will it? Now, if they fail to recognise the blitz and don’t ajust their routes ( hot route) then I guess they could be at fault. buit really, in the long run it’s up to coaching make the adjustments needed.
by bad knees on Sep 15, 2009 9:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree
you must take everything with a grain of salt, but at the very least it is encouraging. And, the best part is when teams watch this tape they are going to probably have to decide to back off or blitz the house. The key will be how our offense adjusts from week to week for each defense’s choice. If they blitz, time to break out the screens (something I agree that we didn’t do enough against TB). And if they back off, now we can run the ball.
If I had a nickel for every Super Bowl the Eagles have won, I would have zero nickels.
by Cowboyfan729 on Sep 15, 2009 12:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
the irony there is amazing....
Talking about how we need to see our receivers get off the press when a blitz is coming, when TO was pretty poor at this his last year with us.
But I do agree with you lol. Its too early to say for sure they’ll be adequate. But Early signs are good. I personally feel they’ll be more than adequate considering we have two TEs that will be VERY tough to stop if healthy.
by foyesboys on Sep 15, 2009 3:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good point about T.O. Foyes
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
by 5Blings on Sep 15, 2009 6:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Speaking of seeing Ware on the ground
I got up from the couch and told my wife that if he is seriously hurt, this season was over. Thankfully we didn’t have to find out if that was true.
"So you can’t stiff arm at all? What about the throat?"- Marion "Barbarian" Barber
by DC_fan on Sep 14, 2009 6:40 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I’m worried about Brandon “mouth” Jacobs. He always seems to step up his game against us. Hopefully we shut him down!
by maxdallasfan on Sep 14, 2009 7:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
uhhh...yeah right
we couldnt stop his ex-backup and a guy with 2 re-built knees. Just a little worried about this Giants game
by fretman on Sep 14, 2009 10:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
They were double teaming Rat and moved him out of the play on every rushing play
The DE’s need to collapse and the ILB’s need to fill much more forcefully.
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
by 5Blings on Sep 14, 2009 11:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am I the only one who isn't particularly scared of Jacobs...
I know he lit us up in the first game last year in which we were just overmatched as a whole, but other than that (he had 117 yards), I don’t really recall any of these huge games. I see that he had 95 yards (on 24 carries) in the second game of 2007, but these were the only ones that were of any substance. To be perfectly honest, every since I saw Ware pick him up and throw him down on 4th and one in 2006, I haven’t particularly been fearful of him.
If I had a nickel for every Super Bowl the Eagles have won, I would have zero nickels.
by Cowboyfan729 on Sep 15, 2009 12:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I just want to smack him in the gut.....
I can’t stand his trash talking. I remember him in the playoffs hitting our star or time clock after scoring. I also, remember him on the kick-off taunting Burnett into a personal foul penalty. Sorry for the rant, but I say let’s take him down and smash him-LOL
by texstar on Sep 15, 2009 12:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Shutting him down will shut him up
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
by 5Blings on Sep 15, 2009 6:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm with you.
14-54 and 24-95 are solid workhorse performances; not dominant.
by MadMick on Sep 15, 2009 1:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
im not either
We generally play him tough. Taking the one game where we looked helpless offensively doesn’t describe how we usually play them (and not just helpless, we gave the ball away too).
by foyesboys on Sep 15, 2009 3:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Bucs O-Line is VERY underrated
And zone blocking schemes have always given us fits.
What confusion on offense?
As far as slow starts, you obviously didn’t watch Matt Ryan, Aaron Rodgers, or even Tom Brady play this weekend because they all had slow starts too. At least Romo didn’t throw any picks like Peyton and Cutler!
by ChrisRichey on Sep 14, 2009 11:09 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Also
If not for a bogus PI call on Sensi, we do have a pick and TB has less points. If Flo doesn’t get called for whatever he got called for, the reverse stands and we might score.
Little things can change the outcome of ANY game.
by ChrisRichey on Sep 14, 2009 11:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What confusion on offense?
Really chris? Watch that first quarter again.
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
by 5Blings on Sep 14, 2009 11:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Look at all these other offenses around the league..
they all are having this problem this first week! We saw a little confusion on about 2 drives. I think you exaggerate the negatives sometimes…
by foyesboys on Sep 15, 2009 12:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Like I said
You didn’t watch many other games this week if you think our offense struggled that badly in the first half.
by ChrisRichey on Sep 15, 2009 3:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The perspective is this...
I wouldn’t want to give Brees, Manning, McNabb, Rodgers, Ryan, or Hassleback that many first quarter opportunities to get up on us early and make us one dimensional.
Halftime adjustments aren’t as meaningful when you’re down 24-10.
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
by 5Blings on Sep 15, 2009 6:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
YOU made the claim that they looked confused
So YOU can rewatch the 1st quarter and provide examples to back up your argument.
by ChrisRichey on Sep 15, 2009 3:11 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bennett not knowing where to line up on 3 plays isn't a MAJOR concern either
by ChrisRichey on Sep 15, 2009 4:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why not?
…because you don’t are about 1st half timeouts?
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
by 5Blings on Sep 15, 2009 6:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
are = care*
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
by 5Blings on Sep 15, 2009 6:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bennett is a 2nd year player
Who has seen his role expand dramatically this season. He is now being used all over the field, including in the backfield and out wide. If he’s still having trouble remembering the plays in November, then yeah.
But like I said before, it’s the first week. He’s already shown the desire and discipline to continually improve, maybe give him a chance before citing it as a problem?
by ChrisRichey on Sep 15, 2009 7:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't know how anyone can say the Buck's O-line is under rated at this point in the season!
Could it not be that the Cowboys run defense might be a bit over rated? Really how can you even give an opinion on either this early in the season? They may both suck! It will take more games than this to sort out where there O-line and our run defense stand.
We better hope it was an apparition, because the team coming to town this week has a proven O-line and can play smash mouth football. ( Speaking of smash mouth football Oakland sure can play it, their QB lost that game for them. ) If we have to sacrifice our blitz packages to be consistent aginst the run, oh well I guess thats how we fix it, but who else thought we looked a little the “07” pass rush? I know we got 9 pressures and forced some errant throws, but sacks are nice. :-)
by bad knees on Sep 15, 2009 9:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Um, the Cowboys can't be over rated.
The Cowboys themselves are never over rated. They can only be under rated. Other teams can only be under rated when they play the Cowboys, or over rated if they are considered as good or better than the Cowboys. Even if teams play horribly against us, they are probably under rated.
by Baked Potato Soup on Sep 15, 2009 10:05 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're right
It’s early in the season, we can’t possibly know anything about the teams or players. Please.
by ChrisRichey on Sep 15, 2009 1:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
So I watched the game again...
and I’m not sure why, because the 1st quarter was putrid…again. The offense was out of sync and it’s funny, many of you were making that same comment on the in-game thread. Now, maybe the final score has revised your view of history. Fine by me.
No sacks and no turnovers against a last-place NFC South team. Trying to pump up the Bucs is the same kind of excuse-making that happened last year. If this team is going to have any playoff success, it’s time for them to dominate lesser opponents from kickoff to gun.
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
by 5Blings on Sep 15, 2009 6:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's underrated only because
…they are not mentioned in the same breath as the Giants, Pats, Vikes and others.
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
by 5Blings on Sep 15, 2009 6:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jason LaCanfora stated in a pregame article
TB’s LT(don’t know his name)was the only Cowboy opponent left to block D Ware largely 1-on-1 last year. And held his own. He predicted Demarcus would not be much of a factor.
How much that had to do with his efficiency and how much that might have been #94 getting his bell rung is unknown. But it does speak volumes as to how much they believe in his skills. Hope we see more of the force that we know Ware is this week – we’ll need it
The 7th Rule of "Fight Club": Fights will go on as long as they have to.
by tdships on Sep 15, 2009 10:06 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Donald Penn, undrafted player from Utah State
In Romo we Trust
by Terry on Sep 15, 2009 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
thats amazing....
And hes not even the guy they generally talk about when people talk about their young, improving line….I guess hes like our Columbo in 2007 lol.
by foyesboys on Sep 15, 2009 3:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
not really
Colombo was a first round pick, this guy was an undrafted free agent, makes the fact he blocked Ware all day even more amazing.
Just goes to show you that there are really good players that go undrafted each and every year.
In Romo we Trust
by Terry on Sep 15, 2009 3:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What we haven't talked about is how the O-Line will be tested this week
Umenyiora looked like he was all the way back and they will bring the house against Romo this week.
Are they ready?
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
by 5Blings on Sep 15, 2009 6:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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