Costly Decision
October 18th, 2018
Rare mistake. Or was it?
How much time did this cost the Bucs?
In looking back at all the ways the Bucs lost to the Dixie Chicks last week, not counting the horrid first half defense, could an aggressive decision by Mike Evans have doomed the Bucs?
Look, Joe is not going to harp on Evans. That’s nitpicking. He’s the best receiver this team has ever had and Joe’s not trying to pretend otherwise.
But did a move Evans made, perhaps trying to take advantage of a fallen defender in Desmond Trufant, cost the Bucs?
It was on the final drive of the game. Evans caught a pass for a first down from America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston. But with no timeouts, Evans should have stepped out of bounds along the right sideline.
Instead, he tried to take advantage of Trufant being on the ground. Evans was tackled inbounds by a swarm of Falcons.
One could argue that cost the Bucs 15-20 seconds, easily enough time to run two plays. Instead, the Bucs ran a high school play to try to win.
NFL analyst and former NFL offensive lineman Brian Baldinger believes this was the play of the game and it cost the Bucs a win in Baldinger’s eyes.
Again, Joe’s a big Evans guy. At the time, Joe wondered if so much pressure has been put on Evans’ shoulders about getting more YAC that it didn’t play a part if Evans’ move inside rather than stepping out of bounds.
As good as Evans is, his YAC or lack thereof really shouldn’t be an issue. That’s nitpicking.
.@Buccaneers WR has to get out of bounds here ASAP with no time outs remaining. It’s basic situational football. The clock is the enemy. 2 weeks prior the @AtlantaFalcons lost a game just like this to the @steelers #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/k0GGQmFtzz
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) October 16, 2018
October 18th, 2018 at 8:40 am
Cost 2 plays….bonehead play…total lack of game situation awareness
October 18th, 2018 at 8:41 am
It’s a team game…we could point to 10 or 20 mistakes that cost the Bucs that game.
October 18th, 2018 at 8:43 am
Evans can be a mental midget at times. Next time he will have a clear shot to the end zone and will step out of bounds. only problem it will be with 6:55 left in the 3rd quarter.
October 18th, 2018 at 8:45 am
Yeah we were yelling at the TV “step out”. And Jameis could have clocked the ball one more time to save more time. It is what it is.
October 18th, 2018 at 8:53 am
Though the same thing watching it live. And he tried to make a move!
Have to be Discipline Driven!
October 18th, 2018 at 8:54 am
Bad coaching of situational football is why they always wet the bed in critical situations. Hey dork you’re no longer calling plays so you should have making sure your guys are mindful of the clock BEFORE the mistake not after. This team is an embarrassment. That’s dorks fault for assuming Evans knew
October 18th, 2018 at 8:57 am
Situational awareness…….a Special Operations mantra…
October 18th, 2018 at 9:00 am
Djax did the same exact thing the play prior, if not for the penalty which stopped the clock we’d have the same convo about djax and he’s a 13 yr vet.
Where’s the coaching?
October 18th, 2018 at 9:01 am
The defense is the clearly the primary reason the Bucs lost.
However, there were a couple of things on the final drive that cost the Bucs precious seconds, including Mike not getting out of bounds and the throw to the ref to spot the ball(ref did not catch it and the ball was rolling around on the turf).
If the Bucs would have had one play to score from the 10 yard line I think they would have had a better than 50% chance of making it happen.
October 18th, 2018 at 9:04 am
One thing that made not getting out of bounds and not sure who saw this but Koetter also said that mike should have ran ball and placed on the hash. The reason Koetter said that is when the ref was running ball back to place it the ball fell out of his hand and hit his foot and rolled away costing the Bucs 7-8 seconds as they waited for the back to be placed. This is the 2nd time in 2 years this has happened to the Bucs.
October 18th, 2018 at 9:04 am
This is definitely not the first time he’s done this in terms of situational awareness. He’s definitely not the reason why that game was lost.
October 18th, 2018 at 9:07 am
I remember reading a quote about John Wooden, the legendary basketball coach at UCLA during all of those championship years. Even with those elite athletes, folks watching practices were amazed at how much time he spent on teaching FUNDAMENTALS. Do professional teams spend any time on this in the film room or on the practice fields?
No one will remember this play from years ago, but during a preseason game ME13 caught a pass on a crossing pattern from right to left, and was running down the left sideline with the ball in his right arm about to score.
You guessed it……………. he was stripped at the 2 yd line which rolled into the endzone for a touchback. What amazed me was that he stated after the game, that he had never been taught to carry the rock in the outside arm to protect it.
As posted yesterday, they don’t need to play “perfectly”, but it would help a lot if they all played smarter.
tickrdr
October 18th, 2018 at 9:14 am
I’m gonna be honest…M.E is a professional and He should recognize sitiutional football as far as the importance of getting out of bounce. both he and DJAX did the same thing during that drive. I feel as if they both did it intentionally and it is funny to me neither player or any team leader or coach brings it up. I feel as if they threw the game away by their effort in favor of The falcons based on this play and the final play where you have the same two guys being unable to throw a lateral and the other being unable to catch it with everything riding on this final play.. By the way DJAX second sport was baseball and so was M.E. no excuse he didn’t try to field it properly … # sabotaged
October 18th, 2018 at 9:14 am
Yet it’s all Jameis fault
October 18th, 2018 at 9:16 am
As noted yesterday the QB has to play perfect football. Why? Because of these plays by the rest of the Bucs. Not getting out of bounds, missing a PAT, hands to the face on third down, false start on opponents two yard line, the list goes on……………..
October 18th, 2018 at 9:16 am
I thought the exact same thing when that play happened. Not sure where his head was at.
October 18th, 2018 at 9:18 am
Baldwin, do you want to know why Evans didn’t step out of bounds: see Dewey’s answer.
We have some dumb players and probably some inept coaches as well. In any event, at this stage in his career (or as a H.S. Soph., for that matter), Evans should have situational awareness and we continually fail in this area.
Could you imagine any of Belicheat’s players being so dumb and what his reaction would have been?
October 18th, 2018 at 9:21 am
This is the thing with this team that is so frustrating. Even their best players don’t understand how to win in this league. The difference between the athletes on the Patriots and the Bucs is minimal if any at all.
The difference is truly attitude and intelligence which is a product of coaching. There can’t be any question in Evans, he has to get out of bounds. There can’t be any question with JW in the red zone, he can’t make that throw when there’s an easy check down. Adams can’t drop back 20 yards when it’s 3 and 10.
These are things that high school football players should know.
October 18th, 2018 at 9:24 am
Evans is a fantastic talent but all of the chatter about is lack of YAC is in his head. It cost us when he fumbled earlier in the year and it cost us even more here. There’s simply no excuse. He’s a multi-million dollar professional football player making the kind of goof you don’t see much of at the High School level- maybe you see at Pop Warner. He cost his team precious time and another down/play. Dirk’s nonsense at the presser is exactly what’s wrong with this team- no one held accountable, ever. Hey, just like the great ones, sometimes you have to simply OWN IT MIKE.
October 18th, 2018 at 9:28 am
JimmyT- Is it possible to contribute intelligently to the topic at hand?! Not one time above is fault placed on Jameis.
This play was one of many that contributed to the loss. He needs to be more aware of the situation.
It might also point to poor coaching as tickrdr implies. Wouldn’t the coach be in Jameis ear to remind his WRs to get out of bounds?
These things need to be tightened up! (I’m looking at you Coach Koetter!)
October 18th, 2018 at 9:28 am
When you lose a football game
Every player, every coach contributed to that lost
________________________________________
When you win a football game
Every player, every coach contributed to that win
October 18th, 2018 at 9:30 am
Tickerdr, unfortunately, we do remember that play.
It also reminds me of the instance when McCoy (it was probably in his fourth year at the time), stated that he was never taught how to tackle properly before Shano came to the Bucs.
How do these players play so much, for so long and still be so ignorant?
One thing Schiano did do well, I believe, was that he taught the fundamentals. It’s a shame we long for the days of a Schiano-lead defense?!
October 18th, 2018 at 9:36 am
This game had plenty of boneheaded plays-
Missed xpoint, Auclair false start, McCoy hands to face, Jameis throwing to triple covered Godwin in end zone- this team is soft and undisciplined
October 18th, 2018 at 9:51 am
Winning is not a sometime thing; it’s an all the time thing. You don’t win once in a while; you don’t do things right once in a while; you do them right all of the time. Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.
October 18th, 2018 at 10:04 am
The play of the game was that forced pic in the back of the end zone from the 5 when hump was alone in the flat on the 1
October 18th, 2018 at 10:08 am
Evans is way overrated and has lots of drops. Sometimes he plays as if he’s not interested. His 1st down drop in the Bears game pretty much set the tone and his fumble in the Eagles game almost cost them the game. He also flipped the ball in the air after that catch against the Falcons costing a few more precious seconds. Lots of really sharp situational players on this team!
October 18th, 2018 at 10:10 am
the defense is to blame but mike should know better….he has to know game situation….stop listening to the folks that say you need more YAC mike…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!!
October 18th, 2018 at 10:15 am
It should be discussed in the huddle during the 2 minute offense. If you catch the ball near the sideline step out. But hey maybe it was discussed.
October 18th, 2018 at 10:18 am
Not blaming coaching here, because these guys are professional know the rules, but I can assure you it is culture, no way this happens in New England. It’s situational football, that we claim to emphasize every practice and press conference.
October 18th, 2018 at 10:33 am
Yes Joe, blame anything but your sex offender turn over machine. Yes if Joe keeps insisting on unearned nicknames Ill keep giving him a real one. Hes not Americas QB and only reason he sniffed a pro bowel is as an alternate because other QBs declined. 2 Turnovers in scoring position. Not blaming Winston for the loss but that was a bad defense. Lets see how he plays this week and how many excuses Joe will give him.
October 18th, 2018 at 10:34 am
@911
Excellent point about discussing the importance of making the team aware of the time constraint in the huddle.
And to that point:
@JimmyT
Who but JW would be more responsible for making sure that happens?
He should have used that ENORMOUS football IQ I’m always hearing about.
October 18th, 2018 at 10:36 am
Something is always costing our..Snake Bitten Bucs to lose a game. We find ways to lose games. We find ways to make our fans not like us. We are the..Tampa Bay SOB’S (same ole Bucs)!
October 18th, 2018 at 10:51 am
Mike Evans by far the bucs best player and along with JPP only elite player on the team but this is an organizational problem that puts the bucs in the bottom 5 in the league because they do not address the little things that bill beleicheks of the world do address….from this situation to drafting a kicker in round 2, its dumb things the bucs do that keep them down
October 18th, 2018 at 10:56 am
Evans is physically gifted but he lacks between the ears . His yac yards are horrid . He is a posession receiver . He is only one of the reasons we lost . Missed PAT , two interceptions , Swiss cheese D , poor coaching , Jackson not laying out for a TD catch etc …. etc …. same old crap from this team .
October 18th, 2018 at 11:00 am
Only clowns like dooshlarue would somehow turn mike Evans not running out of bounds into Jameis fault. Just stop trolls. You’re embracing yourself.
October 18th, 2018 at 11:00 am
DD55-Right on!
October 18th, 2018 at 11:01 am
Huuuge Mike Evans fan, possibly my favorite player on the team.
But I was very disappointed in his error there. Cmon Mike, you are so much better than that. Gotta keep your head up and completely situationally aware in those kind of moments.
I believe in Mike #13 and know he will get it right next time.
October 18th, 2018 at 11:14 am
@jabooBuc
These are things that high school football players should know.
I would imagine that any half decent High School coach would have them knowing just that…
#DeadDirkWalking
October 18th, 2018 at 11:22 am
@911
It should be discussed in the huddle during the 2 minute offense. If you catch the ball near the sideline step out. But hey maybe it was discussed.
Don’t know if you saw the post game interview with Packers WR Monday.
Reporter asked “ what was Rodgers telling you guys in the huddle, during game winning drive”
“ He was just telling us to make sure we get out of bounds, and to get back to the line immediately “
These are obvious things..Dork is not a good coach. It’s on Him to have his players prepared. Instead he asks them for “feedback” on how to do his job. Or wants them for a shoulder to cry on. Think these guys have any respect for him?
In the second week of this season, Joe put up an article about Dirk having complete control of the locker room.. I thought then that was a kiss o Death.
October 18th, 2018 at 11:35 am
DB55
Winning is not a sometime thing; it’s an all the time thing. You don’t win once in a while; you don’t do things right once in a while; you do them right all of the time. Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.
————–
You channeling your inner Dungy today?
Cgmaster
——————————
You ever seen Marino chew out a WR?..Or A A Ron on Monday night?
QB’s ARE supposed to be leaders too….
October 18th, 2018 at 11:49 am
I think Mike Evans gets a little too complacent at times when it comes to focus. He leaves you scratching your head every now and again. I think this also relates to the dropped passes he has. I have never seen a receiver that can catch so many incredible passes that most players in this league can’t make or even dream about making, but then drop so many that hit him squarely in the hands. I think this is what stands in his way of being an elite receiver in this league. Very good yes, elite no. Would love to see him turn that corner.
October 18th, 2018 at 12:14 pm
it is not as though Evans had time to sit down and diagnose possible outcomes of a decision. Instincts took over and it turned out bad. If he would have gone for a touchdown no one would have said, he should have gone out of bounds
October 18th, 2018 at 12:38 pm
He saw the defender fall and was trying to score. Question answered.
October 18th, 2018 at 12:50 pm
The defender never fell James Walker and he was tackled by 2 Falcons with a third right there. He immediately caught the ball and turned inside instead of outside. Because this is a bad team EVERYBODY is trying to be a hero instead of doing their job. It’s plain to see. Youtube has the game for those who want to see it again.
October 18th, 2018 at 12:58 pm
passthebuc
“it is not as though Evans had time to sit down and diagnose possible outcomes of a decision”
The situation should be diagnosed in practice, so much that it is “instinctual”
Pee wee league practice
High School practice
College practice
Even Buccaneer practice
No Time outs, little time on the clock. If you don’t have a free path to the End Zone..GET OUTTA BOUNDS
Everybody knows that.
October 18th, 2018 at 12:58 pm
That’s called unprepared football. What happened in our last meeting with the Falcons?…….We ran out of time. Just like last week. We always run out of time, that’s our thang…..That’s how we do business.
You ever hear great offenses described as ‘clockwork’ or ‘robotic’?
Only one thing earns you and adjective like that…..preparation.
But that’s cool we got our own thang we do down in Tampa. We run out of time…….then get commended for effort or stats.
October 18th, 2018 at 1:08 pm
Is no one going to comment on how bad the ball placement was on that pass? ME turns to the sideline but the ball was thrown inside NOT outside towards the sideline that would carry his momentum out of bounds. YES it was a completed pass by Jameis but an top tier QB puts that ball towards the sideline NOT towards the inside. ME has to come back inside to make that catch which also didn’t help the situation at all.
Jameis gets a huge pass on his ball placement which is no where close to elite. Yes he completes a lot of passes but rarely hits receivers in stride and put them in a position to get YAC.
Look at the tape of ME’s first year in the league with McCown. He had a lot more catch and run opportunities.
Jameis is an average QB with terrible decision making that is masked by top tier skill position talent
October 18th, 2018 at 1:13 pm
asdf
I agree
October 18th, 2018 at 1:16 pm
Posted yesterday, so please ignore.
tickrdr Says:
October 17th, 2018 at 12:23 pm
…………………………………
I gave Winston a “B” for his overall performance, because he threw with better anticipation leading some receivers etc., but his lateral on the last play of the game was nowhere near Humphries, and I would like to know if he said anything in the huddle like “Remember, we need TIME more than a few yards, so get out of bounds, and hustle back to the LOS”; before ME13 wasted precious seconds.
They don’t have to play “perfect” just smarter.
——————————————————————————–
So, yes, I am blaming Winston IF he did NOT state something similar in the huddle. Who else should remind everyone of that if it is not HIM???
You can ALWAYS play smart, even though you can’t entirely eliminate physical mistakes like missing a kick, dropping a pass, or missing a block. But there is no excuse for a false start because you forgot the snap count.
tickrdr
October 18th, 2018 at 1:35 pm
@asdf,
I just watched that ME pass completion again for the 10th time. The ball was not thrown inside. Looks more like over his left shoulder as he turned to face Winston. All ME had to do was turn for the sideline but HE choose to turn inside to try to be a hero. Even Mr Magoo can see what is happening with this team. Everyone is trying to ‘win the game’ instead of doing your job.
October 18th, 2018 at 1:50 pm
Uh… yes.
Of course it was mistake.
Myself and many others were screaming about it during the game on the open thread when it happened. And we’ve all talked about it sends. A little late on this one Joe.
As soon as he caught the ball he had an opportunity to pick up a couple more yards and still get out of bounds. Instead he fought for an additional 3 yards and stayed in bounds which cost us at least 20 seconds that we direly needed.
October 18th, 2018 at 2:00 pm
All boils down (again) to coaching, or lack thereof…
Also, why didn’t Koetter challenge the spot on Hooper’s 3rd down catch?
Even if he was wrong, if he had thrown the red flag immediately, it would have stopped the clock, no? Instead he doesn’t challenge and burns the timeout anyway….
October 18th, 2018 at 4:48 pm
@Tickrdr
So you blame Winston if he didn’t remind grown ass men how to do their job!!
October 18th, 2018 at 5:17 pm
So, one of the Bucs’ playmakers, Mike Evans, tried to make a play, isn’t that what he gets paid for, and it didn’t work out so well? Plays don’t always work out as diagrammed. That’s why they play the game. Otherwise, we could dispense with using up our Sunday afternoons and just diagram plays on a chalkboard. What do you guys want to do, cut Evans? No! I Didn’t think so.
October 18th, 2018 at 7:16 pm
Sunday_44 Says:
October 18th, 2018 at 4:48 pm
@Tickrdr
So you blame Winston if he didn’t remind grown ass men how to do their job!!
————————————————————————————-
Short answer: Absolutely YES.
Who else should do it?
Question: IF ME13 and JW3 are out at the club, and for some reason Mike forgets to zip up his pants after a trip to the john, should Jameis say something or let it go??? After all he is a grown-ass man, isn’t he?
tickrdr