Tom Crabtree’s Fatal Hold

November 4th, 2013

Tom Crabtree made a nice catch of Mike James’ jump pass for a touchdown, but his holding penalty in the third quarter killed what looked to be a promising Bucs drive.

Joe has harped on the Bucs getting away from the one thing that worked as beautifully as anything had all year. That was Mike James having his best game since high school and the best game by a Bucs running back this season.

But the blame wasn’t totally on Bucs coaches, at least, not directly.

On the Bucs’ second possession of the second half leading 24-14, James ran through the Seahawks defense for 17 yards for what looked to be a first down on the Bucs-40. Not bad field position at all. But wait. There was a yellow hanky lying on the ground! Holding on Bucs tight end Tom Crabtree. Play nullified.

Instead of the Bucs with the ball at their own 40 with a first down, the Bucs were backed up to their own 30 with a first-and-20. And the Bucs never recovered from that penalty.

Whether it was because Crabtree, due to an injury, had not played a whole lot or if it was simply undisciplined play, Crabtree’s penalty killed what looked to be a promising drive that could have put the Bucs over the top.

Instead, the Bucs are still winless. And Joe asks a rhetorical question once again: How can such a disciplinarian like Greg Schiano have a team that plays so undisciplined?

16 Responses to “Tom Crabtree’s Fatal Hold”

  1. Justin Says:

    How come nobody is talking about the blatant no call on Russell Wilson’s game tying TD pass?

    AC and McCoy both were held. The OL had a fist full of AC’s jersey. Awful no call. And it was right in front of the QB.

  2. BuccaneerBonzai Says:

    Here’s an idea…instead of pointing fingers try looking at the bright side. We took the best team in the nfc to overtime.

    It was the best game of the year. In fact, you might say that from game to game things are improving.

    We sawxa good game and STILL remain as contenders for the #1 pick. I would think most of you would be happy with that…escpecially since 98% of you claimed the Bucs had no chamce at all heading into the game.

    Hypocrisy at it’s finest.

  3. Splengo Says:

    This changed the momentum of the game. Not the Crabtree hold, the two stupid running plays that was called after that!

  4. Bobby Says:

    A holding penalty is undisciplined football?? I think those happen to every team every game Joe. Seems like Seattle had at least one. Not equating those with ‘undisciplined’. Bad technique maybe. The Casillas hit to the head on Wilson..yes, but holding? C’mon.

  5. Gt40bear Says:

    Seattle was holding all day and not getting called for it. Guess they used their NFL allotted number of penalties in the first quarter! That said, should have never come to that…you don’t BLOW a 21 point lead damn it!

  6. Andrew 1 Says:

    there were some very strange penalties and reviews in that game. very strange, like that challenged “catch” that would have been overturned by anyone with 2 working eyes. the Bert Emanual play strikes again!

  7. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Agree with Bonzai….lets focus on some positive for a change….we took one of the best teams to the mat on their turf and it was the West Coast at that….I enjoyed seing our team competitive….sure I’m dissappointed….but we had some great performances from backup & younger players…Glennon, Wright, James….
    And..a great game from Revis…went almost unnoticed.
    For me the game-changer was the Tate punt return….

  8. Bobby Says:

    “For me the game-changer was the Tate punt return….”

    Yes. That was ridiculous. Horrible angles and tackling. Reminded me of the Raheem days.

  9. Joe Says:

    Here’s an idea…instead of pointing fingers try looking at the bright side. We took the best team in the nfc to overtime.

    Sorry. Joe cannot see a “bright side” to a team that has lost 13 of 14 games, unless you are talking about next year’s draft.

    Spinning a loss into a positive is Little League mentality where everyone gets ice cream after a game just for showing up.

  10. BucFanForever Says:

    Players generally follow the example that is set by coaches. Since Schiano is still HOLDING on to a job, it makes sense that the players would follow.

  11. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    @ Joe

    For fans…there is always a bright side….its just human nature for most of us…its wthat keeps us going in the darker days…its not just about next year’s draft…its about next year’s players also.
    What would you have us do….be nothing but negative?
    I’ll leave that for the press….

  12. d-money Says:

    I could see taking a game like yesterday as a positive if the Bucs had come back from being down and came up just short.

    But there are no positives in blowing a 21 point lead. Any excitement that you could bring away from the 1st half is completely negated by the play in the 2nd half.

    I’m more inclined to believe that Seattle had more to do with the way the first half went than the Bucs. They were more off their game than the Bucs were on theirs for most of the 1st half.

    Once the Seahawks woke up from whatever funk they were in the Bucs didn’t have a chance.

  13. Marksalot Says:

    I wanted to like him…..I really did….looks like a hardcore NFL coach, but up by 21???

  14. Nickellbag Says:

    That final statement is crap, Crabtree didn’t hold because of lack of discipline, he held because he got beat and his talent level.

  15. Capt. Tim Says:

    There are no positives about being 1-14. None

  16. kennyc Says:

    You can call holding on EVERY play in the NFL, crabtree just got called. I agree, McCoy and AC got held lke a MOFO on that TD pass. Even my wife said “oh the guy with dreads just got tackled” It was bad!!

    Side note: did anyone see that targeting penatly on the jets corner against brees’s? It was a PERFECT form tackle shouldler was in his gut and he wrapped around his thighs, no where near his knees. Just another example about the NFL protecting the “stars.”