As a fan, I also appreciate the fact that I’m finally hearing a sports writer recognize that the empty stadium is more a reflection of several economic indicators – not a lack of fan support. We are cheering and supporting our Bucs as much as we can. I tire quickly of radio and print media types that derive fan loyalty from the attendance of home games during one of the worst economies in recent history. I and my friends often wonder how many media types who are married, have a mortgage, car payment, kids in college – would actually GO to games if they had to buy their own way into the stadium…?

More fans are making plans to purchase some ticket packages next season due to the above-average/ahead-of-schedule play of this team. Times are tight, and signs are NOT pointing to better economic conditions next year – so we’re weighing inluding ticket prices in next years household BUDGET. I’m guessing that isn’t a conversation in EYE-Rah’s, Woody’s or Anwar’s households…

At any rate – seeing the long ball a few times per game is very exciting…knowing we’re BUILT for that game isn’t lost on us either. We know we’re good at it – it’s good to see that the shackles are coming off of Olie and Freeman.

Besides – we’ve been decimated by injuries and our defense has payed a heavier price in personnel – we HAVE to aggressively take it to the opponents defense if we’re going to win down the stretch. Fortunately Shanny’s time-management and McNabb’s lackluster/sloppy execution handed this one to us…

Now, if we can just get the Lions and Seahowaks to cooperate…

Nice article.

I agree with jfgobucs and reading Steve White’s blog, he has continuously mentioned the Saints play that the Skins used very effectively on us. He said its almost indefensible without a extraordinary individual effort.

Can you break that play down for us from your perspective? Why aren’t we running this?

Mr. White’s Blog – “6:48 1st and 10 The NFL being a copycat league, the Redskins featured that Saints play I drew up a while ago with a new twist. Instead of using two tight ends they used two wide receivers. And instead of both of them going to the flat on the snap, this time the receiver that was wide and the one that was close to the tackle in the slot criss crossed. The effect this had was the slot receiver still took one defender, usually an outside linebacker, out of the box while heading out to the flat, but the receiver that was out wide had the opportunity to come back in the box and help double team the middle linebacker.

Let me say this, I watched those plays over and over and tried to come up with a defense to stop it and short of calling a blitz, which obviously you can’t do every play, I had a hard time coming up with an obvious way to stop it. So kudos to the Redskins for their ingenuity. (of course I STILL wonder why the Bucs aren’t using the same play which gives their own defense fits)”

“I like how you pointed out the ill-alignment that Raheem keeps putting the defense in piss-poor positions from the get go.”

LMAO dude. You immediately go to bashing Rah’s entire body of work when we don’t/can’t really know who’s responsibility the misalignment was and, as far as I can remember, this is the only game where I’ve seen this cock-eyed alignment meaning…

a) Perhaps it was Rah. Ultimately, he is responsible for the defense. In the game planning phases, he may have seen something leading him to line the 7 man front up the way he did. If this is true, he fixed it at halftime and held Torrain to minimal gains and forced the Skins to go away from the run. 1+ for Rah.

OR

b) It could be that the quarterback of the defense, the man responsible for the alignment of the defense on the field got them lined up improperly. That man is Barrett Ruud. Isn’t it possible that he simply misdiagnosed the formation? Is it possible that He had the wrong strength call? Is it possible that the defensive linemen were lined up incorrectly?

The point is: We don’t really know. Rah and Barrett should be bashed for their performance in the first half but lauded for their recovery in the 2nd half. To me, it’s a wash but for you continually beat the “Rah KEEPS putting these guys in bad positions” drum is entirely inaccurate. This is literally the 1st time all year we’ve lined up incorrectly. Despite your delusions, we ARE a well coached team fundamentals-wise, penalty-wise, situations-wise, and emotions-wise.

I mentioned this in the gameday chat here on JBF! I’m glad I wasn’t the only person to see this.

I like how you pointed out the ill-alignment that Raheem keeps putting the defense in piss-poor positions from the get go. One of these days, someone is going to have to blame Raheem and not the young guys for not executing.

A losing Buc team would be quick to say, “Hey, don’t blame me, blame the freakin coach’s moronic defensive play calling.” But we have the luck of the Irish this year, so, it all gets glossed over.

Oh well.

I just wish we had some kind of info. on whether anyone in the org. that matters visits this site.

Come on Joe, you have done several interviews, I know you have asked this question… tell us!