The Most Ridiculous Play Of The Day

December 27th, 2009
Yo, Oley. Whats with throwing over the top to Earnest Graham? Thats not being your best self, and things of that nature.

"Yo, Oley. What's with throwing over the top to Earnest Graham? That's not being your best self, and things of that nature."

Joe’s giddy beyond words after the Bucs stuck it to the Saints today. How insanely awesome was that?

But Joe is still shaking his head at the most insane play call of the day, courtesy of Greg Olson.

With the Bucs trailing 17-10 late in the fourth quarter and driving for the tying score, Tampa Bay had 2nd-and-1 on the Saints’ 19 yard-line. Olson split Earnest Graham out in the right flat and Josh Freeman threw him a jump ball in the end zone.

The coverage was tight. Graham didn’t really make a play on the ball. And Graham, who probably stands 5-8 with his shoes off and has a miniscule vertical leap, was out of his element.

Run the damn ball, or at least throw that pass to one of the guys you’re paying tens of millions to make that kind of play. Funny, Joe only remembers Raheem The Dream and other coaches talking about the mismatches Jerramy Stevens and Kellen Winslow create in man coverage, never Graham.

The Bucs were stuffed on 3rd-and-1 and 4th-and-1, and then again after the do-over on 4th-and-1, when Freeman’s pass was batted down.

Thankfully, there was a happy ending. But Joe can’t shake how that 2nd-and-1 call was beyond foolish at a critical time.

Joe’s hoping Olson learns for next year.

2 Responses to “The Most Ridiculous Play Of The Day”

  1. Tennessee Bucs Fan Says:

    I think it was a shot worth taking. Graham one on one with a linebacker is a good match up. He showed good hands on several plays earlier in the game. 2nd and 1 is when you take shots like that because you can come back on 3rd down and run for 1, which unfortunately didn’t pan out.

  2. RastaMon Says:

    4th and 1…..run your 250lb QB……it drove me crazy watching him turn and drop back from the LOS