Wrongheaded Third-Down Call

October 25th, 2015
Why couldn't Jameis plunge into the end zone on third-and-goal?

Why couldn’t Jameis plunge into the end zone on third-and-goal from the one?

The Bucs were on the cusp of winning this game. No, really.

Clinging to a three-point lead with 7:29 left in regulation, America’s Quarterback, without Vincent Jackson or Louis Murphy, marched the Bucs 93 yards to set up a 3rd-and-goal from the one yard line.

Joe imagined Bucs offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter would call for Jameis to run up the arse of center Joe Hawley for seven. Or, perhaps a play-action pass for the touchdown that would likely seal the win.

But no! Instead, a pitchout to Charles Sims to the left side, it was a stupendous failure as the Redskins sniffed it out and Sims was gang-tackled for a two-yard loss.

So the Bucs settled for a field goal from Connor Barth and hoped and prayed their sieve of a defense could hold the rotten Redskins and Kirk Freaking Cousins.

As it turned out, Abraham Lincoln had a better chance of standing up from his monument and walking into FedEx Field.

Why on earth are the Bucs so allergic, even dating back to former Bucs commander Greg Schiano’s days, of running the quarterback up the middle on short-yardage situations?

Joe asked Bucs center Joe Hawley if he would have preferred to block for Jameis on a keeper. Hawley wouldn’t go there.

‘Every play that is called, we should execute and it should be a good play,” Hawley said. “Obviously, that [third-and-goal call] didn’t work out. You can’t question that kind of stuff.”

71 Responses to “Wrongheaded Third-Down Call”

  1. NJBucsFan Says:

    Lovie didn’t want to put any more points on the board at that time…

    Remember that quote last year? He’s a pathetic excuse for a head coach.

  2. Yungry Says:

    I never thought I would say this. Why didn’t they trust Winston to QB sneak. Also, why didn’t they play to win on 4th down instead of playing NOT to lose. This staff is WAYYY too conservative!

  3. Case Walk Says:

    #FireLovieSmith Let’s start the movement now!!! Thinking about creating a twitter account for it.

  4. Willy D Buc Says:

    This team wouldn’t skip a beat with Koetter at the helm and Frasier calling the defense.

  5. GhostofSchiano Says:

    #FireLovie

  6. unbelievable Says:

    THANKYOU JOE!!!

    I have posted and been hammering this point in at least 3 or 4 other threads today. That was the WORST play call at that spot in that position with the amount of time left.

    As soon as that happened, I knew we would kick a FG and the Redskins would drive down the field and win by 1.

  7. BucsFanForever Says:

    Worst case you’re stopped twice and cousins has to drive 65 yards to tie and 99 yards to win.

  8. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    If Lovie actually made that playcall…which I doubt….he doesn’t deserve a planeride back…..

    Surely, Koetter called the play & I expect whoever did to own up to it.

  9. pittbucfan Says:

    @ unbelievable: I felt the exact same way although I didn’t disagree with the field goal after the bone-headded pitch call. Is (supposed to be) harder to score a TD than a field goal for the tie. I am sure that bone-headded call wasn’t from Lovie. Koetter for HC? I am not sure about that one. Best let the disaster that this season is sure to be just play out. The Jags game is surely the last W we will see IMO.

  10. Eric Says:

    Well it was a tough loss. I didn’t like that call either.

    That said I still believe in Lovie and I think he has us improving.

    Delighted with Jameis, he is playing outstanding given his level of experience.

    Go Bucs. I refuse to join in the Lovie pile on.

  11. ElioT Says:

    How about the fact that they were cool with going to go into the half at 1:20 left with three freaking timeouts?

    I don’t care if you’re up 50-0, keep the gas on! Get your guys confidence up, give them more opportunities to grow.

    This team (except for a few players) is SOFT! Because their leader is a f*cking p*ssy who’s coaches scared.

    There is zero killer instinct or any semblance of confidence or swag on this team and its because of this meek, soft spoken p^ssy of a head coach.

    97 year old Tom Coughlin has more fire than Lovie. Is he on meds? WTF?

    I hate to keep shuffling coaches, but what’s worse? Keeping a uninspired loser who can’t motivate his team, or changing regimes again?

    Siege this!

    Go Sucs!!!

  12. Mr Magoo Says:

    I’ve been a Bucs fan since 1976. Back then I’ve watched 10 + years in row of double digit losing seasons. Back then I’d huddle around the radio during all the blacked out home games hanging on every play hoping that this would be the year things turned around. Even during the Dungy and Gruden years I rarely enjoyed a game because no matter the lead I knew that my Bucs could always find a way to lose. When the Bucs let Washington score a TD before half time I became worried. When they lost the on side kick I started thinking here we go again. When they failed to score the TD after 1st down on the 5 yard line with 2 minutes to go I knew the game was lost. I knew that somehow Washington would be allowed to march down the field and score the winning TD. I’ve seen it do many yimes before. It doesnt matter who the players are or who the coach is. I’m tired of being a Bucs fan. I dont enjoy it any more.

  13. Michael Johnson Says:

    Say here….Lets see what Lovie’s made of. If he does not finish close to 8-8,he could be history next year. This lost hurts fellow Buc Fans. 31pts is enough to win in this league. Where is that Defense? We once..were feared. Not so any more. Lovie runs the ship. the Glazers will let him finish the year until the end.
    of the year. This team is penalty infested and not disciplined in their approach.
    He has got to get our Defense better. If not? Lets move on.

  14. Seminole Bill Says:

    Toward the end of the first half it was apparent that the Bucs simply thought the game was in the bag and went overly conservative. The problem was that our defense was never going to hold the Skins scoreless.

  15. Silverhorse Says:

    Very very disappointed, very disappointed. We will have to watch the tapes and get this corrected next week.

  16. cmurda Says:

    Well Eric, that makes one of us. Koetter screwed the pooch on the 3rd down call from the goal line. It’s asinine to pitch the ball but with that said, he called a great game. Lovie’s defense and conservative decision not to go for the TD is the reason for this loss. The man is stuck in the NFL 20 years ago. He should be canned right freaking now and have Koetter interim coach. This is inexcusable. We are reduced to hoping for what 5 or 6 wins if we are lucky. That’s crap. This team is no better than last year.

  17. tmaxcon Says:

    Tampabaybucfan

    its very clear lovie has tied Koetters hands and is holding back the offense. Koetter has a history of high scoring games look at they way he ran up the score on the bucs last year 50 plus points. on the other hand, lovie has a long history of going into prevent winning aka (conservative mode) with a 3 point lead in the first quarter. Loive is in charge it is his offensive staff NOT koetters therefore even if kotter made the call it’s because of the philosophy of his boss to turn turtle with any lead. There is a reason lovie has a career .217 winning percentage against teams above .500 he does not and never has coached to win. he coaches not to lose and that leads to loses more than not especially second half collapses. Lovie putting on the brakes and not showing confidence in his offense kills momentum. very similar to popping a balloon. glazers don’t care about the product on the field nor do they care about owning the most embarrassing franchisee in sports that is very clear so we will be stuck with lovie and this soft team for a year or two more… I miss malcom hell even culverhouse won more than the galzer kids. . .

  18. Case Walk Says:

    “You know who the Bucs are? They’re the Raiders. They’re the Browns. A bad team that’s always bad. A bad team that bumbles its way from week to week and year to year finding new levels of incompetence. A bad team that you expect to lose games like Sunday.”

    “You know who the Bucs are? They’re the Raiders. They’re the Browns. A bad team that’s always bad. A bad team that bumbles its way from week to week and year to year finding new levels of incompetence. A bad team that you expect to lose games like Sunday.”

    Mr Tom Jones hit the nail on the head in this article on tampabay.com. Fire Lovie NOW!! Dirk K. for HC!

  19. orlbucfan Says:

    I am starting to get really PO’ed about posting on here. I’ve been a die-hard fan for 36 years. I know my way around all the blogs and pre-blog sites. I have tried to post at least 3 times on here today. I am getting nowhere. My posts are NOT posting! That’s JoeBucsFan’s fault, not mine. So fix it.

    The Bucs did not lose today. The refs beat them. Anyone with half a functioning brain can see it in the stats regarding the penalties. That’s a pattern Dungy’s team figured out how to beat. Result: we won a SB. Same here. The one difference is the offense. If it continues to develop like it’s doing..whoa, nelly. It will blow the 2002 SB team outta the water and Tampa Bay. Hopefully, Lovie has the brains to see this.

  20. Yungry Says:

    If Lovie trusted both his offense and defense he would’ve gone for it on 4th down. He clearly doesn’t have confidence in the offense to go up by 2 possessions and get 3 yards.

  21. Bucs fan 76 Says:

    The team plays with no fire because are head coach has no fire. Also, Lovie doesn’t play to win the game he plays not to lose which never works. Enough is enough fire Lovie now!!!!

  22. Bucs Fan Since '76 Says:

    The Glazers must fire Lovie. NOW. He’s not adding anything of value to the team. The D played better down the stretch last year under Frazier. Let’s see if he can do better over the final ten games. In the meantime the G’s can start searching for a president / CEO. Disgusting.

  23. Bucs Fan Since '76 Says:

    Btw – the Raiders are 4-2.

  24. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    @tmaxcon

    I agree that Lovie has influence over the calls…..perhaps he called for runs instead of passes…but I doubt very seriously that he made that specific play call.
    As for going for 3….sure, that’s his call.

    I would have rather gone for the TD and failed leaving them at the 1 yd line with 70 yards to go to get the tying field goal….much more difficult when you are backed up like that…
    Also, I think that would have sent a more urgent message to the defense.
    I have never liked our “prevent” defense….It has rarely prevented anything except a Bucs win.

  25. Eric Says:

    The team is miles better cause we have Jameis, who is our leader and playing very well. The future is very bright for the most important position on the team. Thanks to Lovie. 68 points in two games.

    Yeah we have defensive issues but Lovie has had limited resources to fix it. Only one draft choice for defense in two years.

    If we keep rebuilding with new coaches every two years we end up permanent bottom dwellers.

    Heartbreaking loss. I know it sucks. But I say stay the course.

  26. Tampa Tony Says:

    If Lovie trusted his offense as much as his d the Bucs would’ve won

  27. tmaxcon Says:

    Tampabaybucfan

    it should be labeled Prevent Winning… It’s frustrating to watch. Unfortunately I truly believe the glazers don’t care enough to hold people accountable and to demand results. Bucs are just a cash cow for their other hobbies and business interests.

  28. Razor Ramone Says:

    The point has been made its no fun. That’s valid. You can make a case for losing when the other team whoops your butt but you drag ass out there week after week with undisciplined play and penalty after freaking penalty and watch these garbage teams celebrate in your face? Man ,this no fun anymore.

  29. Yungry Says:

    Lovies quote week 2 season 1 should’ve been the termination date. “We didn’t want to score anymore points before halftime.” I never thought I would hear any coach on any level ever say that. Then, today’s 1st half again, Deja Vu. If we kept our 3 timeouts in the 2nd half we could’ve setup the winning field goal. Poor coaching=Lovie

  30. Tampa Tony Says:

    Eric- he has complete roster control. Choose a rookie untested kicker over a proven vet. Clock management and his passive nature kills this team. When loser Lovie took over he inherited a all pro CB in Revis, a all pro LB in David, a pro bowler in GMC, a former Pro Bowler in Goldson and a 2nd round CB in banks who was developing nicely.

    Then he had complete control of free agents to bring in whoever he wanted. These excuses for him and his poor d are laughable.

    Givin Loser Lovie credit for Jameis is not a positive as he and his bad moves are the reason they were 2-14 and got to draft Jameis

  31. tmaxcon Says:

    Eric

    lovie has had limited resources… are you kidding me because you are kidding yourself if you truly believe that. Lovie has wasted over 42 million in bad free agent signings and the secondary are all hand picked lovie guys… I get you like lovie that’s all warm and fuzzy but to say he has had limited resources is laughable. Lovie needs to be held accountable for HIS bad decisions and mistakes. He has created over 42 million in dead cap space and bad contracts from his free agent signings. That’s almost as much as Raheem’s total team payroll talk about limited resources and he won 10 games. Remember lovie has final say on every free agent, draft pick and trade… It’s Lovie’s guys that are screwing up. There is no defense for Lovie and no one is piling on Lovie. Lovie made his own bed with horrible coaching and even worse personnel moves he gets no free pass… wake up…

  32. Lovie Is Dog Poo Says:

    Lovie is a good loser. He doesn’t get mad, he takes losing in stride. Todd Bowles today said “Show me a good loser, and I’ll show you a loser”. And that sums Lovie up.

  33. Yungry Says:

    You need a coach that will work the refs, like the other 31 teams.

  34. Eric Says:

    Lovie has had to use the most valuable available resources, draft choices, to address the offense.

    I’d say that has been a success. Unless you preferred the Glennon version.

    A rookie QB and two rookies on the oline and were scoring a lot of points.

    You would have to agree that side of the ball looks a lot better and appears to be set for the future.

    Stick with Lovie.

  35. Tampa Tony Says:

    I think we saw Lovie’s offense last year. I’ll give the offensive credit to Koetter. Loser Lovie is a defensive minded head coach with a bad d

  36. tmaxcon Says:

    Lovie Is Dog Poo

    you hit the nail on the head sir…. “Show me a good loser and I will show you a loser!!!!” that could be said about a lot of Lovie’s choirboys…

  37. Brent Says:

    Coach sucks? Yeah probably. What about all you sorry ass fans crying like 10 year olds. Threatening to not support team. Why don’t you move somewhere where there is no nfl and see what that’s like.. Booorriinngg.. At least this team has some young talent, Evans jw Martin gmc David. One thing to be pissed but all this woe is me is sickening. If you quit bucs please stop posting to wusses.

  38. Lovie Is Dog Poo Says:

    Eric. we get embarrassed by every average QB, and humiliated by any above average or better QB. These are Lovie’s CBs, he apparently didn’t need Revis but needs Jenkins over Verner (the guy he used some of the Revis money on). At some point he gets held accountable for how atrocious this defense is right, and how a decent coach would have this team 4-2 or even 5-1 instead of 2-4?

  39. Yungry Says:

    4-18! Is that acceptable?

  40. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    @Eric

    I would love to be able to join you but I simply can’t. Sure, I’ll root for Lovie to turn things around and I agree that churning coaches doesn’t work well……but this is his scheme….his players and his defense and it is truly awful….

    My thought is that Koetter as Head Coach with Frazier DC until the end of the year….then let Koetter choose his DC.

    Any other way….chosing a new head coach (other than Koetter) at the end of the year….and Koetter will be gone.

    Maybe….the Glazers should do to Lovie what he did to Jennings…..make him stay in Tampa vs. Atlanta.

  41. Eric Says:

    Lovie had a lot to do with drafting Jameis, against a sea of naysayers. And, I’ll bet he has had a lot more to do with his good play, overcoming the shaky start, than you folks give him credit for. I’ll bet Jameis would say the same thing.

    Lovie didn’t panic and stuck with the kid when many on here were all ready to pounce and proclaim him a bust after one game.

    I don’t want another rebuild. Lovie took over a disaster and I see a team on the upswing with a lot of potential.

    Give it time. Look at the Rams they stuck with Fisher. Starting to pay off.

    It sucks but it is the only way IMO.

  42. Yungry Says:

    Jim Leavett, 49ers are toast. Come be TB DC position.Ignite some fire in this team.

  43. Tampa Tony Says:

    Brent- fans complain that’s what you do when you are passionate about something and aren’t happy with the results.

  44. williejes Says:

    How many teams do you believe Lovie could out coach their coach? Do you think this team could win a game because of Lovie? Ask yorself and you will realize this dude is horrible.

  45. Brent Says:

    @tampa tony. I agree I complain as much as anybody. All these guys who say their not gonna support team gets old. Like I said put these fans in a non nfl city and they’d miss our bad team.

  46. tmaxcon Says:

    Eric

    please explain your complete faith in Lovie and NO lovie has had nothing to do with Jameis resilience or ability to overcome adversity. Jameis had those qualities way before loser lovie came into his life. He has proven he can withstand ups and downs both in life and on the field on a big stage. Giving lovie credit for that is asinine. I would bet Lovie did not want jameis over mariota and that the glazers had enough of lovie wasting their money last year in free agency to the tune of over 30 million so giving lovie credit for things you have zero direct knowledge of is wrong. this is lovie’s mess just like he made a mess of chicago’s roster. 10-6 coaches don’t get fired unless there is a problem and lovie is a problem. he has basically had one good season in nearly 12 years as a head coach which he lost to the biggest big game choke artist of all time peyton manning and dungy who blew multiple super bowls title opportunities in both tampa and indy. lovie is lifetime 3-3 playoff coach how does that instill faith and confidence, he has not won a play off game since 2007 and has a less than .250 win percentage against teams over .500 again, please explain to me why you have so much confidence in this below average coach and horrendous personnel man mr lovie smith. bucs will not turn the corner until he is gone and the glazer boys hire a real football executive and not some player or coach from the past. living in the past has put the organization in this hideous position..

  47. tmaxcon Says:

    oh and Eric lovie took over a bad team and made it much worse… remember lovie’s own words “Fans should not be patient we have a lot of talent” – lovie smith….

  48. youngjameis Says:

    Joe i had to grab a bottle of that liqour after this game, we had it bro, why not let the young jameis win it for us, 3 straight runs on the goal lines, im just sick to my stomach after this loss, i think my football season may be over, kudos to jameis for a great game.

  49. JAB83 Says:

    What makes a fan a fanatic??? Is it negative support when a team is bad or positive support when a team is good???

    Let’s be real honest… All you fire Lovie and this team suck people are not fanatics… Your fans of kicking kittens because its what makes you feel good…. Your points are pointless and your “concerns as a fan” are fabricated to justify and hide your real desire as wife beaters…

    A real fan realizes the dog days just make the glory days that much sweeter…. A real fan sees improvement and looks for corrections to issues… A real fan sees this team has direction for a change and knows calling for the coaches head would usher in more of the same….

    So to all you sad sorry fake fans… You really do a good job of abusing the true fans and mixing your hatred in with the real fans whos concerns and disappointment is valid….

    I just wish you trolls would get a life but I realize bottom feeding garbage eating scum like you all get off on feeding on what you call a “garbage bottom dwelling team and franchise”. It just so happens by saying that about the team means you also feel that way about this city and your life… Can’t wait for you all to choke……….. On your words…

  50. Lovie Is Dog Poo Says:

    Eric Says:
    October 25th, 2015 at 8:52 pm
    Lovie had a lot to do with drafting Jameis, against a sea of naysayers.
    _______________________________________________________________

    Well he did by going 2-14 last year. Too bad Leonard Fournette is not available because he might be “having a lot to do” with getting another number 1 pick.

  51. passthebuc Says:

    The reason is that Winston is so slow, that he may not have gotten to the line before time ran out.

  52. cspann Says:

    The pitch toss was a bad call. I dont understand why not run a qb sneak. The Pats do it all the time with Brady! Even when we has freeman we would barely run sneaks. The moment they took the FG, I knew we lost. I dont see how Lovie can trust this defense. This lost hurt more than getting blown out. We wasted a good game from our 3 young stars jw, dm, and me! We have to change the defensive scheme cause it cant stop anything

  53. Ed Says:

    Doug Martin could have picked up that yard for a TD. Sims is a solid open field burst runner but he isn’t the physical runner Martin is.

    Big mistake giving it to Sims. How about the quick snap and QB sneak, with a tall guy like Winston, that’s the easiest way to score.

    Pitchouts are fine when you are at midfield and defenders are playing honest but when the D is bunched up on the goal line you can’t take advantage of cut back lanes.

    The Bucs are what they are, losers. The officiating crew for this game should never be allowed to do another Bucs game. As long as Inhave been watching football, I’ve never seen offensive pass interference when a defender had his back turned and didn’t even know where the ball was.

    The Bucs defense lost them the game. Taking those 6 points away from Winston and Evans was criminal. I really believe if this was the Cowboys or the Broncos or any winning team the officials would have huddled and picked up that flag.

    That one bad call on a scoring play effected the games outcome. If ever a reason to have the NFL review scoring on an offensive pass interference call, this one and the one on Kellen Windslow years ago are reasons for a rule change. I hope the competion committee considers scoring reviews that can be reversed when a penalty like that is called in error.

  54. Eric Says:

    Yeah right Lovie didn’t want Jameis and the Glazers forced him to draft him.

    Pure lunacy.

    First time I can remember we have a franchise QB that looks the part so far.

    Darn right Lovie deserves credit for that. He not only drafted him but defended him with vigor.

  55. Capt. Tim Says:

    Eric- in a disheartening momeny- youvare the voice of intelligence and reason.
    This team is beter than it has been in years.
    True talent at QB, WR,Rb, and O-line

    Now, we focus on defense.

    Today sucked. I wont watch another football game or TV show, until the Bucs take the field next week. Cant stand to be reminded

    But this team looked incredible in the first half of the game
    This team has looked like Sh*t, every game, for the last ten years!!!!

    Lovie has taken a huge pile of Crap, and in One and a half years- you can already see glipses of the future.

    He is doing a great job. I know some of you are really stupid- and think you can undo 22 years of horrible drafting and personel moves, in eighteen months.

    But I dont post for you to read. Dont care what idiots think.

    The real, intelligent Buc fans are bummed today. But still see how much this team has improved- and will improve

    Back to the Wild Turkey

  56. Capt. Tim Says:

    12 years of horrible drafting and personel moves

    Not 22

  57. tmaxcon Says:

    Capt Tim

    You clearly are a Lovie smith fan not a bucs fan. I’d consider putting the bottle down permanently if you truly believe that laughable Lovie is doing a great job. Lovie is a failure periid. He has never won nor contended consistently his entire carrer.3-3 career play off record during a nearly 12 year career is laughable not legendary.

  58. Couch Fan Says:

    He is doing a great job. I know some of you are really stupid

    ————————————-

    You say he is doing a great job with a 4-18 record then go on to call other people stupid. LMAO…

  59. Dave Says:

    This is stupid. The offense put up 30. I’m not faulting anything with them except all the penalties – they could have had 40+.

    A couple blocks, Simms scores, it’s s good call. Whatever. I hate second guessing calls. It’s about execution. They executed enough to put up 30.

    This was on the defense.

  60. Capt. Tim Says:

    No, Tmaxcom- you arent a bucs fan.
    Every coach gets 18 months, before the local clueless scream for his replacement??

    Yeah. Intelligent fans
    Lmfao
    Critique a defense, that he hasnt had a chance to address???

    Again- are you expecting the magic suitcase, that is filied with enough all -pro players, to undo 12 years of horrible Drafting and personel decisions??

    Again- you been watching To many Reruns of “Mary Poppins”

  61. Marvelous Mayhem Says:

    On Martins long run in the 4th quarter, i was so hoping he would score, because i had no confidence the bucs would or could score in the red zone. Bucs were one block away from Martin scoring on that great run. Also Washingtons biggest come back in franchise history, says it all. Never should of happened. Special teams gave up the onside kick. Shifted momentum. Maybe Skins just got lucky or maybe Special team coaching is suspect??

  62. FortMyersDave Says:

    Whatever can go wrong will go wrong as long as Lovie runs the Bucs…. I knew that the Bucs would not get the TD on 3rd and goal and actually thought there would be a very good chance that something bad would happen on the FG attempt….. QB sneak? Why not try that??? Martin up the gut???? Oh no, too easy! Whta was Koetter thinking? About moving up in the 2016 draft order?????
    Look: fans expect Tampa to lose every week now, this has been happening since the Glazers canned gruden…. Fans start to expect the worst thing imaginable when your team is 4-18 in since 2014 as it has been under L&L…. And it is disgusting that the owners allow this to happen unless they want the team to lose which is idiotic or simply do not care as was he case of Hugh Culverhouse….

    I thought about springing for tickets to the Bears match up but after watching the Skins rip Lovie’s D to shreds why should I pay money to watch jay cutler do the same???? Hey Joe: maybe if the Glazers realize that the bafoon known as Lovie is costing them walk up sales they could actually be proactive and can him and name an interim… Martin Fenelly is on board, how many more losses can you take?????

  63. Bill G. Says:

    And what about going for the TD on fourth down? If they score, they have a two score lead. If they don’t, they still have a one score lead and the Redskins have to go 95+ yards.

  64. FortMyersDave Says:

    Bill G makes a great point, go for the gusto and the W on 4th down, if not you are still up 27-24! Unless (a big UNLESS) that Lovie knew his D would let DC get into FG range to tie in that case and likely lose when his bad luck resulted in a bad coin flip… Turned out Lovie was right but if the Bucs were only up by 3 perhaps the Skins would have not been so aggressive on O as they are as badly managed as tampa and settled for a FG and we would have had OT. I could then see both teams trade FGs and end up in a tie. Better for the Bucs as 2-13-1 or 3-12-1 is better than 2-14 or 3-13! Lovie blew another key decision, how many more until you give him his walking papers????

  65. Lovie Is Dog Poo Says:

    Capt. Tim Says:
    October 26th, 2015 at 2:03 am
    Critique a defense, that he hasnt had a chance to address???
    _____________________________________________________________

    This guy is another loser like that Bonzai guy. Hasn’t had a chance to address? Is this for real? The entire secondary besides Banks is his. The entire DLine besides McCoy and Spence are his. Entire LBs his except LVD. He’s already addressed the D, and this is what we get. Nevermind Revis…

  66. Aaron Says:

    I’ve been trying to be patient and not give up on Lovie – i am really not sure what good quality coach would want to come here…? for the life of me – I don’t understand how a coach can watch a team walk up and down the field on his defense for their last 4 drives and the “right” decision is to kick a field goal (to go up 6) with over 2:30 left and 3 timeouts. If the D had controlled the game and cousins was struggling (maybe) – but that wasn’t the case.
    We’ve seen QBs and backup QB(s) on final drives do what they want against Lovie’s D for a year and half…this secondary almost lost the Jacksonville game. We have to be up 2 scores or the O has to run out the clock for us to win.

    I don’t critique football teams for a living but this is my eye test

    Lovie as a talent evaluator
    1) Other than Banks do we have another legitimate NFL corner? I can’t believe that our front office looked at each other and said YES – this is the group of corners that gives us the best chance to win.
    2) Need more juice on Offense

    Lovie as a head coach
    1) Undisciplined team (penalties)
    2) Bad Game management (i.e. – yesterday’s decision to let his D win it)
    3) Bad time management (used all 3 timeouts – with 4min to go)
    4) Players out of position (constantly)
    a. 2 corners covering the same guy that allowed a receiver to run wide open in the end zone
    b. Linebackers that don’t seem to get deep enough in the passing game

    OC Koetter – you see growth and potential. He hasn’t been here long enough to get his players, but you see O-line improvement. His plays have great design and you are starting to see the players execute them more often than not…they comment bad penalties at times, but understandable with the age / experience and a new system.

    1) Rookie QB
    2) Rookie O-lineman
    3) Limited at Wr

  67. OAR Says:

    …..and everybody is a karate expert, when they walk into a spider web!

  68. OAR Says:

    “Lovie has taken a huge pile of Crap, and in One and a half years- you can already see glipses of the future.”

    You have mistaken peanuts (or possibly corn kernels) for glimpses of future.

  69. Richard Says:

    I think if the pitch hadn’t lost yardage, they might have done for it on fourth and goal from the 1. I still would have gone for it anyway; hell, a jump ball to Evans seems like a no-brainer.

  70. crazy Says:

    I liked it better when Sean Payton was the only one who ran plays like this on critical downs that fool everyone except the opponent.

  71. Costa Rica John Says:

    Marti Schottenheimer is still available. Great coach that fell short with the Browns and Chargers. I bet he could restore the Bucs in one year.