The Missing Piece

September 8th, 2019

Making America great.

Former Bucs quarterback Chris Simms is a big shot broadcaster with cake gigs like “Pro Football Talk Live” and Notre Dame football broadcasts. Simms might be higher up the broadcast food chain than his dad and he talked to Joe earlier this year.

Joe and Simms, of course, talked about America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston. Simms noted the following are why Jameis hasn’t taken the next step in his development and why former Bucs coach Dirk Koetter is now in Atlanta.

“The biggest thing, the No. 1 thing, is the lack of a running game, consistently, to help out a young quarterback. It is always crucial, Simms said.”

Simms added that Jameis could be lethal on 15- to 30-yard pass plays off play-action, something that was non-existent last year.

As Joe was going back through the recording, this hit Joe right in the grill. In the offseason, the Bucs quite literally ignored the running game in the draft and looked the other way in free agency. Yeah, yeah, yeah the Bucs signed Andre Ellington. He went back to running football camps after the Bucs released him eight days ago.

Of course, Arians has already stated he thinks the running backs are just fine and will be able to execute what the Bucs want them to do. Joe doesn’t know of too many plays in a playbook that call for a running back (Peyton Barber) to run to the line of scrimmage, pause, bounce back and forth and rope-a-dope, thereby giving linebackers ample time to react and drop him behind the line of scrimmage. But hey, you learn something new every day.

Let’s just say Joe is very suspicious of the running game. And if Arians is able to squeeze lemonade out of the lemons he has on the roster in the backfield, not only will that buttress Arians’ reputation as an offensive guru, it will really be damning as to how Koetter manages a running attack.

22 Responses to “The Missing Piece”

  1. Bob in Valrico Says:

    What we have here is an untold story. You don’ know how its going to end until the final chapter. Agree with Simms take on the intermediate passes. If we could get more balance from both sides of the line ,it would also help the run game. Dot’s age and struggles to run block downfield is a weakness, IMO.

    Glad to get this season started, Go Bucs!

  2. ITS ABOUT TIME !! Says:

    dink and dunk take what the defense gives … keep moving the chains and control the clock …. keep the extra defender out of the BOX

  3. Pittsshore Says:

    Hey shoe: this is news worthy and very questionable. Why in the h-ll did the Bucs choose to wear their dark red jerseys for a home game in which it will have a feel like temp of 100 degrees??? The San Fran coaching staff has even made comments about it…” they can’t change it now”! The niners are coming from low 70’s as a high. The darker jerseys to make a difference

  4. Chris l Says:

    Joe – there are a plethora of reasons why Koetter isn’t here. I’m not confident either in the running game but even if Arians can’t figure it out, Koetter needed to go. He had no stones to stand up to anyone including djax and allowing mike smith to continue and potentially being forced to finally fire him. He is gone and that war is over. Let’s start anew and forget about dirk until we play them. It’s time to raise the flags!!!

  5. Pittsshore Says:

    ^^^^Hey Joe. Siri has not had her first cup of coffee yet.

  6. Bob in Valrico Says:

    If nothing else, Arians has chosen the high contrast color. C,mon Jameis hit the streaking red guy,you can do it!

  7. Clw JB Says:

    TB Rush O rankings:

    2016 – 24th
    2017 – 27th
    2018 – 29th

    Dirk didn’t give a crap about the run game

    we have the profiles on the roster, now its time to find out if they are players

    A good D and a run game makes all QB’s better, not just JW

  8. Architek79 Says:

    1 pro bowl as a rookie and multiple 5-11 season qualify you as a “pro bowler”?

  9. orlbucfan Says:

    Pittsshore Says:
    September 8th, 2019 at 6:40 am
    Hey shoe: this is news worthy and very questionable. Why in the h-ll did the Bucs choose to wear their dark red jerseys for a home game in which it will have a feel like temp of 100 degrees??? The San Fran coaching staff has even made comments about it…” they can’t change it now”! The niners are coming from low 70’s as a high. The darker jerseys to make a difference
    ——————————
    Stupid, and on top of the fact that the Bucs unit are atrocious looking to start with. UGH! 🙁

  10. Buc believer Says:

    @Architek…. yes it does. The same way as never winning a playoff game or even GOING to the playoffs but having the last name of SIMMS qualifies you as a broadcaster and an analyst. But it’s turning out ok for young Mr. Simms.

  11. Just Sayin’ Says:

    Joe you are absolutely correct. “Joe doesn’t know of too many plays in a playbook that call for a running back (Peyton Barber) to run to the line of scrimmage, pause, bounce back and forth and rope-a-dope, thereby giving linebackers ample time to react and drop him behind the line of scrimmage. But hey, you learn something new every day.” That’s what a RB does when his o-line is so bad they never open a running lane or hole to run through. But for some reason you still think there is nothing wrong with the line.

  12. TouchDownTampaBay Says:

    Actually Archie that is how it works. Kind of like how they refer to past presidents as presidents even where their terms are over.

  13. passthebuc Says:

    Nothing will change on offense until JW learns to take what is available instead of looking for something to possibly open up. He is his own worst enemy.

  14. Ozzie the Sports Junkie Says:

    Simms is very good with Florio in AM. but REALLY good on the televised podcast where he goes uncensored and takes no prisoners..I guess all his personality wasn’t in that spleen..Hes allready 10 times better than his blow hard pops who no one would work with at CBS….

  15. Señor Harry in Costa Rica Says:

    If PB is our featured RB we are doomed. That is like bringing back Martin on a big contract and thinking he is going to be better than the 2.5ypc he did the previous year. What is wrong with these people?! Its deja vue all over again!

  16. Barack's Crack Pipe Says:

    I am not panicking. I thought that our run-blocking showed plenty of promise during the pre-season. Well get to see our 1st team play a whole game today, and get into a rhythm with PB. I’m more worried about our line with the new pass-blocking responsibilities (as in don’t count on RB and TE to help us out much any more). Our offense is going to rely on Jameis to get the ball out quickly from now on. Ugh.

    Go BUCS!!

  17. Conte Piscatelli Says:

    I have to wonder how drunk Joe has been for our games the last year or so. You perfectly described a Doug Martin running play, Barber had never been a twinkle toes in the backfield type of runner and I would argue he rarely gets dropped got a loss as he usually finishes runs falling forward. His problem has been that he is a consistent 2-4 yes per run. He doesn’t create chunk plays. If you want to criticize a guy, at least be accurate in your critique.

  18. Bob in Valrico Says:

    No real problem with Phil Simms. Tony Romo is so insightful to the booth,that it was a no brainer to make him the lead colr commentator. H

  19. unbelievable Says:

    Joe still can’t understand why a running back getting tackled behind the LOS is the fault if the o-line, not the back?

    Lol, maybe this season 😂

  20. Bob in Valrico Says:

    Continued: tony calls often tells the audience what play will be run. Also think he would be a great offensive coordinator.

  21. The Coroner Says:

    Chris Simms was a warrior.
    I can still see him in my mind’s eye playing with a ruptured spleen .
    It doesn’t get any tougher than that !

  22. Bucsace Says:

    So……Now I get it…..the reason Jameis is not accurate is because he has trouble seeing the receivers when they are wearing the lighter colored jerseys!!!……Can BA fix that?