Evans: Bucs Were Undisciplined
June 26th, 2015
Bucs WR Mike Evans suggests a lack of discipline doomed 2014.
The Bucs were so rotten last year, one almost had to watch the TV between fingers because of hands covering their faces, it was such a nightmare.
You know how dogs innately begin to freak out, and birds darken the sky flying away when an impending storm is approaching? That’s what happened each Sunday morning last fall.
Recently, when Bucs stud receiver Mike Evans appeared on “Late Hits,” co-hosted by Alex Marvez and Bill Polian, heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Evans summed up the putrid 2014 season in one word: “Discipline.” Specifically, a lack thereof.
“The main thing was discipline,” Evans said when asked to put a finger on the failure. “I think we were one of the most penalized teams in the league last year. That hurts. A lot of calls didn’t go in our favor. It hurt us. We have to be a smarter football team.”
The Bucs were a flag-happy team last year, but they were not the worst lot. Per NFL.com stats, the Bucs’ offense was pretty undisciplined, tied for seventh in offensive penalties with Detroit, whistled for 118 total. Defensively, the Bucs were 11th in the NFL in penalties getting flagged 106 times.
The difference there jumps out. The Lions have a decent if not good quarterback in Matthew Stafford. They were able to overcome penalties. Notice they had as many offensive penalties as the Bucs and still made the playoffs.
The Bucs had slop at quarterback and that the offense had to work to perfection in order to score. Any hiccup, and the whole offense was sent into a tizzy by a guy who played quarterback like a dizzy Labrador puppy.
The teams that had more offensive penalties than the Bucs and Lions? In order: Seattle, Buffalo, St. Louis, Denver, the Belicheats and Washington.
What separates Seattle, Denver and the Belicheats; playoff teams each, from Buffalo, St. Louis and Washington? Let’s see if Joe’s readers can do the math.
June 26th, 2015 at 12:25 pm
Saying that the Bucs offense was “undisciplined” is just a nice try to polish a You know what!!! By the way, isn’t that supposed to be Lovie’s strength??? a team that does not make mistake and does not take chances???
The truth of the matter is the lack of talent that lead to most of the penalties!! And the team knows it and that is why some players got run!!!
its year 7 and the rebuild continues!!!
June 26th, 2015 at 12:55 pm
What separates Seattle, Denver and the Belicheats; playoff teams each, from Buffalo, St. Louis and Washington? Let’s see if Joe’s readers can do the math.
Qb? Did I get it right?
June 26th, 2015 at 12:57 pm
It’s interesting to look at Team Rankings per year in various categories to get some insight into why some teams excel and some teams don’t. For instance, New England-Seattle-Denver all had significantly more offensive plays per game in 2014 (average) than the Bucs did. Thus, for those teams to have as many (or even more) penalties than the Bucs did doesn’t necessarily tell the whole story … they offenses had more opportunities to get hit with offensive penalties.
All three of those teams also had a significantly higher third down conversion rate than the Bucs in 2014. That’s certainly appears to be a key to having more offensive plays per game … and winning more games and thus making the playoffs.
All three of those teams have excellent QBs, certainly better than the QBs for the Bucs and Buffalo-St Louis-Washington. Wonder if there’s any relationship between better QBs leading teams with higher third down conversion rates and making the playoffs consistently.
June 26th, 2015 at 12:59 pm
@JOE
“Slop at QB.” LMFAO.
June 26th, 2015 at 1:01 pm
Dotson 14/ 127 yards. Leader of the pack.
June 26th, 2015 at 1:06 pm
And the answer is…..It’s gotta be the QB!
June 26th, 2015 at 1:39 pm
Yup. Those teams all have a QB who can bail them out. Gold stars for everyone!
June 26th, 2015 at 1:39 pm
Yes @20,
I remember Dotson’s name being called repeatedly last season, especially the killer penalties, the ones that would stop drives.
June 26th, 2015 at 2:35 pm
The good teams all ran many more plays than we did, wonder what our % of penalties per play were…..
As for the discipline or lack thereof, Greg Schiano is still available.
Seriously though, this is often what you get with a ‘players coach” like Lovie. Yet I remember the players praising him last summer for treating them like men. Be careful what you wish for.
June 26th, 2015 at 5:00 pm
The games against Atlanta and Baltimore last year in the blowouts really got me steaming. Those are the games that are hard to forget, the Bucs were the worst I have ever seen them. Lovie, those games are burned into my brain, that’s why you are a big question mark.
June 27th, 2015 at 6:57 am
Lovie was almost a bit too much like Raheem.
June 27th, 2015 at 7:48 pm
Lovie was not the problem last year, but the lack of a professional OC was. As we all know Lovie only knows defense and special teams and is horrid making offensive decisions. Had Tedder been healthy he would have made a big difference. However, the second problem was Lovie deferred to WarFLOP who is the worst OL Coach we have ever had. Add to that Tampa Two was a hard defense to learn but we saw the second half of the year it can still work. Lovie is a genius in that department. I expect this year this team will turn it all around and having a horrid year will be worth it because it gained us a franchise QB which we have needed ever since Williams.