Red Zone Struggles Start Here
November 15th, 2018
Struggling.
One reason Bucs Bit-O-Honey-snacking, Ozark-watching coach Dirk Koetter gives for journeyman backup Ryan Fitzpatrick starting start is he gives the Bucs the best chance to win.
That, of course, overlooks that in his last four starts Fitz is 0-4. America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston? In his last four starts the Bucs are 2-2.
Sunday we watched one of the absolute worse vomit-on-your-shoes performances by the Bucs offense. In his first game taking over play-calling duties this season (to Joe’s knowledge), Koetter saw his offense rack up 501 yards of offense.
The Bucs scored three points. Three!
Obviously, red zone issues were a culprit. The Bucs would march into the red zone, then play as if the end zone was contaminated with cholera.
Per the good people at NFL Films, which does research for BSPN’s NFL Matchup, the culprit in the red zone is obvious. It’s the guy Koetter claims gives him the best chance to win: Fitz.
Only one quarterback, Case Keenum, is worse in the red zone than Fitz this year. Just one.
Joe just has a nagging feeling there is something going on behind the scenes to make Koetter want to throw Jameis overboard like this. What that is, Joe can only guess.
On the surface, it sure appears Koetter just got fed up with Jameis and essentially told Team Glazer and Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht that he was done with Jameis and if that means Koetter’s days with the Bucs are numbered, so be it.
November 15th, 2018 at 8:09 am
Many culprits to choose from. Fitzy is as responsible as anyone. You can’t turn the ball over.
November 15th, 2018 at 8:14 am
Maybe, just maybe Jameis is uncoachable? There could be a series of events that we don’t know about. Obviously he has made choices in play calling that didn’t go over well. The QB coach has NEVER come under fire and still has a job? You would think the guy who has sat on the bench at each game and gone over every bonehead play he has made still has a job?
I have a feeling that Jameis is his own worse enemy. In college you can get away with it. At this level it puts food on the table. I think it’s more the players have had enough of him… just my own thoughts….
November 15th, 2018 at 8:15 am
I don’t really want to see Winston running dork offense anymore. Fitz has a good day in the red zone against the panthers but beyond that it was mostly the deep balls he was getting touchdowns on. No one is giving that up any longer and forcing this team to drive the length of the field in hopes of breakdowns and bad throws and that is exactly what’s happening. If dork and Fitz can’t win the next two games they should both be gone
November 15th, 2018 at 8:19 am
WinSTUNNED sucks and will never “get it”….it’s simple as that, no need to make it complicated….
November 15th, 2018 at 8:20 am
Oh, you haven’t been reading Joe very much over the years. Joe has never been impressed with Mike Bajakian. So far the two highlights on Bajakian’s resume are Dan LeFevour and a first round quarterback who has regressed to the point he has been benched.
You would think if other NFL teams thought Bajakian was doing a solid job, he’d have been interviewed for an offensive coordinator position somewhere.
November 15th, 2018 at 8:22 am
This season is over and Fitz isn’t the future. I would think this is evaluation time for Griffin he’s been here way to long and never played in a real game.
The worst thing he could do is win a game and mess up our draft projection at this point.
November 15th, 2018 at 8:24 am
Have you ever considered that Jameis’ crotch-grabbing Uber lawsuit has not yet been settled? Perhaps that has something to do with the decision. Maybe Dirk (et al) know something more than we all do. Just a thought.
November 15th, 2018 at 8:25 am
What do you expect from a 36 year old journeyman QB
Who is on his 7th team, never been in a playoff game
50-74-1 career record
The Bucs are expecting him to lead them into the playoffs
LOL
This franchise is the biggest joke in all sports
November 15th, 2018 at 8:26 am
Oh I thought#14,was our best QB? Guess not Huh? You got what you asked for and your surely going to get what you deserve……LMAO!!!! BucLife!!!! 3-16…
November 15th, 2018 at 8:28 am
3-13
November 15th, 2018 at 8:39 am
All of our problems are being made worse because this POS Suckpatrick is starting thanks for the excuse of a coach we have.
November 15th, 2018 at 8:54 am
look at the nfl qb rating …Fitz is top 10..blows Winston away. Might be the play calling in the red zone??
November 15th, 2018 at 8:55 am
Fitz is superior to Jameis this year, statistics show.
Jameis is the former #1 overall pic and has played worse the actor. Add the self inflicted suspension, and here we are.
Jameis should have high expectations coming into his fourth year, but he took a step back.
Fitz has less talent, but he’s executing better.
November 15th, 2018 at 8:55 am
Red zone struggles start with the lack of a running game and it’s been that way for years.
November 15th, 2018 at 8:58 am
Exactly, sunshine!
Real tangible statistical figures+ the good old fashioned eye test say that Fitz is better than Jameis today, November 15, 2018.
Some fans are clinging onto hope and the investment put into Jameis, but facts bear different truths.
I wish Jameis was a franchise QB, alas he is not… yet.
How is Jameis better when he turns the ball over at a much greater rate?
November 15th, 2018 at 9:01 am
I think Dirk exposed himself this past weekend, All last season we sucked in red zone, this year Todd calls plays and we were able to score in the red zone. Then Dirk called the game on sunday and we get in the red zone numerous of times and we only come away with three. What say u guys ?
November 15th, 2018 at 9:09 am
With our Buc’s situation that being a big s–t pie and were now all going to have take a big bite my prediction from day one was finishing 5-11 this year if all the stars in the sky lined up so it was said so it is written.
November 15th, 2018 at 9:20 am
Red Zone issues. Take a look at OJ Howards usage in the red zone and then reconcile the futility. We’ve got one of the biggest targets/mismatches at the TE position in the league and he gets almost NO LOOKS from inside the 20 yard line. That’s a damn shame.
November 15th, 2018 at 9:21 am
The Jameis thing is temporary. He’ll be back. Maybe not this year, but I’ll bet we see him next year throwing it for the mighty BUCs!
November 15th, 2018 at 9:22 am
🙁
Can just imagine. Ryan Jensen looks in the huddle, doesn’t see O.J. Howard, and tells himself, “I better roll the snap to Fitz like a snowball down a hill because that will make up for Howard being on the sideline.”
Mike Evans, just as the ball comes to him, reminds himself that Howard isn’t on the field and then in a split-second, tells himself to drop a touchdown pass.
🙁
November 15th, 2018 at 9:25 am
Hate to agree with the fact others have said, as of right now Fitz is executing the offense better than Jameis. That really hurts when you look at how the franchise went all in on Jaboo. While I don’t expect Jameis to fix his decision making issues I never the less will cling to foolish fan hope that somehow a miracle happens and Jaboo’s production finally matches his potential. The guy shows just enough flashes of brilliance to get our hopes up only to make mistakes worthy of Jamarcus Russel or Ryan Leaf. It’s maddening!
November 15th, 2018 at 9:32 am
it you cant run the ball between the 20’s what makes you thing you can run it in the red zone……teams know this….that is why we struggle in the red zone…..offense is too predictable…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
November 15th, 2018 at 9:42 am
The fans are saying that Fitz is better than Jameis Winston
So one turnover machine function better than the other
One career record is 50-74-1
The other career record is 19-29
Bucs fans has accepted losing
FitzTragic is their Savior
Mediocre is their salvation
November 15th, 2018 at 9:55 am
By winning, Koetter means best draft position…
November 15th, 2018 at 10:05 am
SteveK Says:
“Fitz has less talent, but he’s executing better.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is absolutely no way that Jameis would have been held under 24 points in that Redskins game. Fitz had 3.
November 15th, 2018 at 10:16 am
@Joe, Hilarious, but the #s don’t lie. Just look at the line from last week.
2 targets 1 reception for 15 yards. That’s PATHETIC for someone of his caliber.
November 15th, 2018 at 10:22 am
Joe Says:
November 15th, 2018 at 9:22 am
Mike Evans, just as the ball comes to him, reminds himself that Howard isn’t on the field and then in a split-second, tells himself to drop a touchdown pass.
https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s–xjjCwtMj–/c_scale,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/evctio5z5uiylypj45bi.mp4
Watch that video Joe. Yes that ball should’ve been caught but Fitz-Tragic has a 6’5″ receiver WIDE OPEN IN THE ENDZONE and he throws it in the dirt. Again, Evans should have caught it, but the red zone dumb-assery can be summed up by looking at THAT play.
November 15th, 2018 at 10:22 am
Pretty sad you have to resort to such blatant cherry picking of stats in order to skew a true perception of Der Wunderkind. You chose the last four starts (instead of the last six) so that you didn’t have to include Fitz’s 1st two games in which he had a QB avg. rating of 150, throwing for over 400 yds and 4 TDs in each game. Pretty convenient. That way you also don’t have to include two more of Winston’s last starts, which in that case would have made them both 2 – 4. Not as effective, eh.
Oh, and to even facilitate your desired result, you had to reach back to last season? Using a game that the Saints weren’t even that interested in winning, thinking that by losing that game they would actually improve their playoff matchup.
But if you want to go back to last season, why not look at the whole season where Fitz went 2 – 1, while Winston went 3 – 10. Now that IS impressive, isn’t it? That’s a winning percentage of 67% vs 23%. But I’m sure you don’t want to talk about that.
But I can’t see that you’d want to talk about this season either since Fitz has a QB rating of 107.2, while Winston’s is only 74.7 (32.5 pts lower). Fitz has thrown for over 400 yrs in four games. Winston has thrown for over 400 yrs in zero games.
Fitz has 17 TDs to WInston’s 6 TDs, while throwing 9 INTs to Winston’s 10.
Plus, Fitz’s wins were much more impressive, hanging the only loss on the Saints this year, on the road in a tough venue, and beating the defending Superbowl champs. Winston’s only win came in a home game against the lowly Browns, barely, and that in overtime thanks to a miracle 59 yd field goal by a kicker who’s not even on the team anymore.
Finally, as far as the Skins’ game, yes, he did throw an INT in the red zone (something Winston’s done a multitude of times, including INTs in the end zone, plus certain INTs in the end zone that were dropped). But he certainly moved the team, as evidenced by the 400+ yds he threw for. But here are the facts of the matter: Mike Evans dropped a certain TD on his hands in the end zone. Jacquizz Rodgers fumbles in the red zone which should have surely produced another TD or at least a FG. “Old Reliable” missed two FGs that for any other kicker would be routine. Take out those mistakes, which had NOTHING to do with Fitz, and we win that game either 23 – 16 or 19 – 16.
November 15th, 2018 at 10:31 am
I love how the Jameis haters who used to rip him and say stats don’t matter only wins, those same folks are now saying statistics show that Fitz is better even though he has lost his last 4 games. Be careful, your cluelessness is showing again.
Prime Example below:
SteveK Says:
November 15th, 2018 at 8:55 am
Fitz is superior to Jameis this year, statistics show.
November 15th, 2018 at 10:33 am
You people act like the Bengals game is the only game Jameis has ever played. You must have forgot the Atlanta game of the last 5 games last year.
November 15th, 2018 at 10:34 am
If it’s Fitz we get a guy that spreads it around and throws INTs in the Red Zone. With Jameis we get a guy that only throws to Evans, just like he did in college with Benjamin, throw INTs in the Red Zone. Can someone explain what the difference would be an why are we even debating it? The fact there’s a debate about it, means the problem is bigger than these two chuckleheads. We are going nowhere either way. Sure we can show a meaningless stat comparing Fitz to Case Keenum, but the fact is Jamies can’t seem to push Fitz out of the way. That just says neither of them are Franchise guys. They are not. Jameis is exactly the same as he was in college. Like Coach Green famously said (paraphrasing) “He is who we thought he was” . Fitz is exactly what we expected. Our QB position, as it currently is, will not make it to the playoffs let alone win a Super Bowl. That means, without a doubt, something has to change. Period. Other teams seem to manage the impossible, find a Franchise QB, like EVERY team in our division for example. We can too. It’s neither of these guys, that much is evident and proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
November 15th, 2018 at 10:37 am
For the record I am tired of hearing Evans dropped a ball in the endzone. He was WIDE OPEN and the ball hit him in the ankle from 7 yards away. That is not a drop that is a horrible pass lets get it straight cause there is not one person that would not rip Jameis to high heaven if he made that throw.
November 15th, 2018 at 10:47 am
Not so. Look at the tape, he had his hands on the ball.
Every former player and coach who looked at that play said that he should and that he has to make that catch.
November 15th, 2018 at 11:03 am
“If Jameis this…”
“If Jameis that…”
Who cares?! We’re getting the same crappy results from the BACKUP!
Neither is good enough. We can speculate all day long. It doesn’t change the results.
As a Buc fan, how can you be happy with the play of either QB right now?
I want to WIN and I don’t give a rat’s a$$ who the QB is!
November 15th, 2018 at 11:04 am
Ndog and TBDemon,
I wish Winston was our best option. The only thing supporting Jameis playing is the investiture, as Ira refers, and a four letter word: hope.
Stats support that Fitz is playing better than Jameis. Jameis’ suspension messed up his play and we can’t win with a $20 million albatross for a QB we “hope” will be better than Fitz.
Jameis lovers are hating Fitz. It’s not Fitz’s fault he’s a very good backup QB. Blame Licht and Jameis for having no kicker, run game, and for lying to the team and being an immature brat.
Koetter’s offense is legit. It works. Koetter may well get canned, but he is of the least fault, with Jameis and Licht neck and neck.
Licht could very well be worse than the Rockstar, Michael Bennett cutting, mark Dominik.
November 15th, 2018 at 11:05 am
Agree bucfanman,
We don’t have a long term QB on the roster.
With that said, I hope we can find one.
November 15th, 2018 at 11:11 am
Wait ,I thought people like Ben and sunshine told us fitz was better int he redzone than Jameis? And now sunshine makes playcalling excuses for him. Haha you cant make this clown stuff up. Some bucs fans are about as smart as poster boardm
November 15th, 2018 at 11:12 am
Ludicrous Speed Says:
November 15th, 2018 at 10:47 am
Not so. Look at the tape, he had his hands on the ball.
Every former player and coach who looked at that play said that he should and that he has to make that catch.
You can say what you would like but I know what I saw and we will just ignore the Fitz himself said after the game that he threw it at his feet but sure keep acting like it was a good throw.
November 15th, 2018 at 11:14 am
But SteveK stats don’t matter remember?
November 15th, 2018 at 11:15 am
Steve we dont hate fitz. Not like you and others hate Jameis, we can all just see the obvious, thay fotz is a joke. Outside of his first two games, hes been horrible and yet you anti jameis fans make excuses for him at every turn. 0-4 in his last four starts no matter what stats you make up.
November 15th, 2018 at 11:16 am
Ndog not sure why they keep bringing up Evan’s “drop” hes 6’5 and the ball was thrown at his damn feet. It was a horrible throw to a guy wide open. But the fitz nut huggers got to find every excuse.
November 15th, 2018 at 11:25 am
Ndog,
You’re right that wins ultimately are the only stat that matters, however it would be recklessly foolish to overlook the TD: Turnover Ratio.
And, NDog, do you think Jameis’ regression is on himself for lying to the team last year and getting suspended?
As Bill Parcells says: “your best ability is availability”. And, Jameis was unavailable bc of poor behavior off the field, and since coming back from suspension he has been a turnover machine.
Ndog, lastly, shouldn’t a #1 overall pick going into his 4th year be clearly outplaying a 15 year, 7th round pick, back up. The fact that our backup QB threw the team on his back at the beginging of the year and had us at 2-2 before going back to Jameis.
And, NDog, Jameis’ play in the fourth quarter/OT against Cleveland and the following week at Cinci show that he sucks, especially vs Ohio.
November 15th, 2018 at 11:25 am
@SteveK
It has nothing to do with “Fitz Hate”… I love Fitzy and wish he was playing better right now…
All I am saying, is that based on what I have seen of Jameis, there is no way in HELL that he would have been held to single digits in that Washington game. I believe he would have scored 24 or more, which would have won.
You are definitely entitled to your opinion, I just wanted to clarify mine.
November 15th, 2018 at 11:30 am
But I thought sunshine and Ben were telling us every week how good fitz is in the redzone. Just goes to show the fitz supporters have the IQ of poster board. He sucks get over it people. We wont win another game with him as ourQB, but you anti jameis people will make excuses for him I’m every week.hes been awful since the Steelers game.
November 15th, 2018 at 11:32 am
Ndog agreed that pass to Mike Evan’s was awful. Hes 6’5 and fitz throws it at his feet when hes wide open. Oh and let’s not forget fitz allergy to first down. Got to run the other way like mike Vick. Or his mind numbing forward pass 10 yards past the first down. But hes a Harvard guy right so hes soooo smart?
November 15th, 2018 at 11:34 am
ndog Says:
November 15th, 2018 at 10:37 am
For the record I am tired of hearing Evans dropped a ball in the endzone. He was WIDE OPEN and the ball hit him in the ankle from 7 yards away. That is not a drop that is a horrible pass lets get it straight cause there is not one person that would not rip Jameis to high heaven if he made that throw.
—————————————————————————————
Completely agree, Evans was only able to get one hand on the ball as it was thrown behind him and at his ankle.
November 15th, 2018 at 11:34 am
Thanks Demon!
I love a good debate about football.
I wish Winston was a franchise QB, and I wish Fitz was better so we could win I’m just tremendously disappointed that we picked Winston #1 overall and he most likely won’t get a contract extension from the Bucs. We have to start over.
I am all for giving Winston another chance, but based on his play since the suspension he looks bad.
I just want equal judgment and critique of players, and I want Joe to acknowledge that Winston’s poor design making on and off the field net us down.
Winston May get another shot this year, but I doubt it. He sold us out by getting suspended and initsllynpying about it. Come clean, be honest, be humble, and execute.
I wish that all Buc fans would ask for better play from the team, especially those that we’ve invest 1st round picks in.
November 15th, 2018 at 11:37 am
Ndog,
It was a meh throw, but Wvans got both hands on it. Top 5 WRs make that play.
Brate had a crucial drop, and the highest paid center in the game rolled a snap.
The high investment players: high draft picks, expensive free agents, have stunk w the exception of JPP. You mean to tell me GMC is a $16m man? Or that Velcro Vea is better than the two players drafted directly after him: Both better d-linemen?
This debacle should be on Licht for sucking at draft and FA.
November 15th, 2018 at 11:49 am
^^ Thanks for bringing up Ryan Jensen, @SteveK. — I am so unbelievably disappointed in how he is playing. I was really excited about his signing.
November 15th, 2018 at 11:52 am
This has been a season of many mistakes and lousy production by MANY well-paid players.
November 15th, 2018 at 11:53 am
Joe after reading your blog I’ve concluded one of two things must be true:
1. you are a blatantly biased Winston Homer that shouldn’t be taken seriously as an objective sports reporter
2. You have a deal to get kickbacks from Winston if he signs a new contract in return for pro-winston propaganda style journalism
keep up the good work!
November 15th, 2018 at 12:04 pm
Has it occurred to anyone that many players don’t want Winston as the starter?
November 15th, 2018 at 1:09 pm
Ineffective running game + hit or miss kicker = poor red zone results
November 15th, 2018 at 9:46 pm
Dirk and Jameis genuinely do not like each other. Dirk sabatoged Jameis’ comeback by throwing the whole playbook at the first two teams rendering it useless and predictable when Jameis came back. Jameis should’ve never been put in the Bears game. Koetter is an absolute HAck! Can Koetter. Fire Licht!