Strange Call At 3rd-And-A-Foot
September 9th, 2012
Joe’s drinking cold beer. Joe’s as fired up as the next Bucs fan by the Bucs playing a near perfect game, but Joe can’t ignore a play-call today that had Joe reaching for his trusty pack of Tums.
Leading 10-0 in the second quarter, the Bucs had fluidly moved the chains on a long drive from their 8 yard line to about 10 inches from the Panthers goal line.
It was third down.
And rather than let Josh Freeman run a sneak behind Carl Nicks, or stamp their new physical identity for the home fans with a different running play, the Bucs opted to pass the ball. Nobody was open in the end zone and Josh Freeman dumped the ball off to Erik Lorig, who was tackled for a loss.
Joe was furious. That was not the Bucs who came out in the preseason opener and ran four times on 1st-and-goal for a score. Joe didn’t think the Bucs should have gone for it on fourth down. Don’t be mistaken. But the pass call on 3rd-and-a-foot was not good. Not for this team.
Yeah, Mike Sullivan’s a genius if it works, and he called a good game, but Joe didn’t like that one call.
September 9th, 2012 at 10:32 pm
I’m sick of not sneaking it in on short yardage or inches situation
September 9th, 2012 at 10:36 pm
Joe isn’t this the same scenario as I think two years ago versus the falcons where it was two tries and neither was a QB sneak and we didn’t convert and ended up losing to the falcons. I don’t understand if freeman is as physical and competitive as we think he is why isn’t that the call or why doesn’t freeman force that issue.
September 9th, 2012 at 10:39 pm
I would’ve handed it to Lorig.
September 9th, 2012 at 10:46 pm
Seriously Joe? Let it go! WE WON!!!!!!!!!
September 9th, 2012 at 10:50 pm
I think Sullivan over thought that one. He probably thought the Panthers would go all in on the sneak, and that he could have an easy, walk-in TD. I’m with you, just pound the damn ball 2 straight plays. I would bet that will happen the next time.
September 9th, 2012 at 11:08 pm
I was afraid that was going to come back to haunt…agreed, Joe.
September 9th, 2012 at 11:09 pm
We won. We might go 1-3 in the first quarter of the season…but we won. I don’t see us selling out the next home game either, unless we manage a win against the Giants or Cowgirls. I think it’s unlikely, but possible.
We broke the streak. We won the game. The offense started fast. The defense finished great. Barber had an almost perfect game on an important day. There were no key injuries.
That makes it a great day, so dwelling on one play sounds kind of petty.
September 9th, 2012 at 11:18 pm
Strange indeed, but the coaches are new and are learning too! Nobody is going to be happy tomorrow when they go back and look at points coming after turnover. Lots of room for improvement.
But it’s a signature win tonight so all is forgiven!
September 9th, 2012 at 11:38 pm
Nah I disagree we tried two times and got stuffed both times at some point you gotta change it up if it’s not working. The PA was a nice attempt to fool them, could have been executed better. Freeman’s not the big guy he once was, that advantage he once had is now gone. He would have been stuffed and I don’t believe it was and inches it’s was more than that.
September 9th, 2012 at 11:42 pm
or rather didnt cross the plain on either
September 10th, 2012 at 12:03 am
@Pete
I loved the way you stated it just like a check list of what needed to happen today and the bucs delivered check them all off. New schiano order has begun go bucs.
September 10th, 2012 at 12:16 am
@Rican — I was there. It was inches. And how does Freeman losing 20 pounds change his ability on this kind of play? You make no sense. It’s about stretching out and breaking the plane, as well as maybe absorbing a shot. Josh is no less capable. He showed that running today.
September 10th, 2012 at 12:31 am
Blount would have made that play. Not saying Blount is better…saying in this instance he should have been used.
September 10th, 2012 at 1:04 am
My bad I forgot that its just that easy, there’s no resistance at all on QB sneaks. Forgot. Sorry.
September 10th, 2012 at 7:35 am
Alstott made those look easy
September 10th, 2012 at 8:31 am
Couldn’t agree more…a horrific call IMO, when we’ve been talking “pound the ball” and “break their will” type talk. Also, had we not made it, we could’ve possibly gone for it on 4th. Honestly, I thought that call was gonna cost us the game. Agree with other poster…dont think a pass play will be called in that same scenario next time.
September 10th, 2012 at 9:16 am
All the fans in my section were in agreement with WTF? but other than that Sulli was solid all day long. Free’s alarm clock in his head also didn’t go off a couple times, but that’s to be expected. I believe this team will continue to improve and get better, even against the better teams like the Giants,
September 10th, 2012 at 9:44 am
The play action would have been much more convincing if they had put Blount in the backfield…
September 10th, 2012 at 9:55 am
The thing that gets me the most excited is that this team isnt even where they want to be yet on both sides of the ball. Still going in and getting an early win shows signs of a bright future.
September 10th, 2012 at 11:11 am
I had the same reaction, Joe. Prior to the play (I am not big on ex post facto criticism as a result of efficacy) I said to the TV, “Sneak it! You have the biggest quarterback in captivity!” Then the pass & I groaned. Sullivan must have channeled his inner Greg Olson. Sometimes you can get too cute.
September 10th, 2012 at 12:05 pm
1 and under You allway’s sneek it with Freeman.No longer big enough lol please dude. Brady sneeks a lot and he’s a lot smaller.You might not gain any yards on a sneek but you should never lose yards.How about this for a short yardage play line Blount up as the fullback and hand it to him.This would elimanate his dancing behind the line lookin for a hole.Get out of the block’s take the hand off a launch over the pile
September 10th, 2012 at 1:47 pm
Win or lose, still need to keep it honest. That was a head scratcher to me to. Thought Lil Hamster should have been given another crack at it. I’m sure it will be discussed this week.