Evaporating Excuses II
October 14th, 2020
Last night Joe enjoyed a Bromosa from Big Storm while simultaneously watching the Tampa Bay Rays move to within one game of the World Series and the Tennessee Titans embarrass NFL teams that make excuses.
Joe used the headline above because Joe wrote an Evaporating Excuses post last week after game announcers continued to talk about the Bucs offense still needing time to get used to each other in Week 5.
In these bizarre pandemic times, teams more than ever need to have a zero-excuses, highly-focused approach.
Locally, the Tampa Bay Lightning set that standard by winning the first major sports title during The Sickness. And now the Rays have risen to the top of baseball’s food chain after leading the American League through the shortened regular season.
Last night, the COVID-19 riddled Titans shocked the NFL world after 16 days off and many missed practices due to The Sickness. Tennessee pounded the then-undefeated Bills 42-16 and committed just six penalties and zero turnovers. They were sharp, even with former Bucs running back Snoop Dogg McPlaybook getting nine carries and lots of work as a third-down back.
Joe turned off those games and proceeded to pace the neighborhood while thinking about whether the Bucs would finally deliver 60 minutes of consistent play in a game for the first time this season against Green Bay on Sunday.
Joe is sick and tired of the Bucs’ inconsistency — win or lose. Joe almost would be ok (almost) with the Bucs losing Sunday, as long as they play at or close to their ability for a full 60 minutes. It’s not too much to ask from a veteran team with a veteran coaching staff.
It’s Week 6. There are no more excuses.
It’s time to play consistent football for the rest of the season. With the talent on the Bucs roster, consistency should be enough to get them into the playoffs.
October 14th, 2020 at 10:23 am
i have been waiting for that since 2003.
October 14th, 2020 at 10:34 am
Fully agree.
October 14th, 2020 at 10:39 am
One of your better analyses, imo. Focus on consistency. They have enough veteran players to do this.
October 14th, 2020 at 10:53 am
Realistically, if the Bucs lose, then one or more aspects of their team (Offense, Defense, and/or Special Teams) did not play well/consistently.
October 14th, 2020 at 10:55 am
the excuses went out the door with JW….
bucs are stopping themselves from playing a complete 60mins….imo, thats on BA….either the teams comes out flat or they dont finish strong….
tighten up BA….
GO BUCS!!!!
October 14th, 2020 at 11:01 am
813
But they are still making excuses and JW is out the door. This team hasn’t changed only interceptions are down and still getting their butts handed to them. So was JW was problem or nah? I think not and I knew that. 9 wins this year ill be happy tho
October 14th, 2020 at 11:02 am
Totally concur. Clean up the mistakes and play complimentary football.
October 14th, 2020 at 11:07 am
Joe youre making my stomache curdle. I been asking for just solid fundamental football for over a decade now. So yes, with this team, aparently it is too much to ask for.
Im just waiting for this Tom Brady effect to take place. Aside from a few flashes I am unimpressed.
October 14th, 2020 at 11:10 am
813 there is already a comment section talking about Winston. Why you gotta ruin a 2nd one?
Please try to restrain yourself and and leave some of the comment section for relevant Bucs discussion. Thank You.
GO BUCS!!!!!
October 14th, 2020 at 11:20 am
Thank you here Joe. us Buc fans have been sayin this ever since the so called, QB whisperer took over. he did not whisper that great to Jameis now did he? Every yr, more excuses. They went out and paid an aging Qb 50 mil. And to ne honest, his performance has been C plus at best. I don’t post here a lot anymore. Is the SOS. coulda/would/shoulda all day. If our O line does not improve. esp with the penalties and our D does not get more rush, we are Hit. All rodgers need is a dew secs plus..he is great at rolling out of the pocket. Its simple, An average Buc pass rush means the pack will be feasting on our secondary. We are only good back there at..tackling after the catch. Ruck up Bucs. No excuses.
October 14th, 2020 at 11:49 am
I hate to make excuses, this one especially, but almost all of Tom’s weapons have been banged up or seriously injured. Every week that goes by without Godwin makes me cry. All our receiver’s except for Gronk and Brate maybe has not been 100%. Very sad.
October 14th, 2020 at 11:52 am
Joe, you’re on fire today with great articles. I agree 100% that excuses are unacceptable.
October 14th, 2020 at 12:07 pm
Bottom line, if they play disciplined football in Chi-Town, the Bucs are 4-1. The sky is not falling. They were embarrassed on national TV for a lack of discipline. BA visibly embarrassed when being peppered in Press Conferences with questions about lack of discipline. So on to the Green Bay Buzz saw coming in to RayJay. We will see if there is change or not. GO BUCS!!!!!!
October 14th, 2020 at 12:08 pm
yaaaawn….go check the old boommark.Called ut the day he was hired.
Weak link leftwich is almost as bad as freddy kitchens calling plays for the browns. Hes the mike smith of our offense, Arians best bud just like it was koetters best bud, and arians wouldnt dare tell his best bud he cannot call plays anymore.
At this point I think you fore Arians, Fire leftwich and name Tod bowles the new head coach and name brady qb/playcaller.
October 14th, 2020 at 12:09 pm
Tennessee should have had to forfeit the steelers game. Huge difference between 1-2 positives and 20+. And they were holding illegal practices to boot. Steelers got hosed, lost a bye week because titans didnt follow the covid guidelines. Shoot, Bills until 2 days prior were preparing for titans and their next opponent, ast they werent sure that game was even happening. They didnt know until friday? if they were playing titans or their next opponent on thursday.
October 14th, 2020 at 12:11 pm
Yes, I second that, facts, “excuses are for the incompetent and the Bucs”
October 14th, 2020 at 12:17 pm
jimmyjack
sorry…lol….
fell right down the rabbits hole…
GO BUCS!!!!!
October 14th, 2020 at 12:19 pm
lamarcus
huge difference…
this year with excuses, we’re tied for 1st place in the division….
last years excuses, we’re tied for last place in the division….
once again, you know nothing…
GO BUCS!!!!!
October 14th, 2020 at 12:20 pm
and yes lamarcus, the previous qb was the problem…
GO BUCS!!!!
October 14th, 2020 at 12:35 pm
I agree. It should be clicking by now.
October 14th, 2020 at 12:46 pm
Yep. Preseason is over. We got to see even backups start a few games.
Time to bring the wood!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!
October 14th, 2020 at 12:57 pm
I would say more disciplined play is needed in terms of fundamentals and not beating yourself with penalties. Play calling also needs improvement. In a game of mismatches, there is zero reason why Scotty Miller had zero catches in that game.
October 14th, 2020 at 1:07 pm
Agree Joe; playing consistent football is key. Bucs have been consistent in one thing for years now: beating themselves. PSL Bob put it best … “Clean up the mistakes and play complimentary football.”
Bucs have a solid, experienced starting roster. There’s no excuse for the excessive number of mistakes we keep seeing game-after-game. And especially turnovers & penalties. IMO that’s on coaching.
The other thing that’s ‘on coaching’ is play design and play calling. Coaches have to design AND call plays that maximize their players’ strengths & minimize their collective weaknesses. This season I haven’t been seeing that from BA or BL, and I’m very unimpressed. Also haven’t been impressed with our S/Ts performances; need to tighten up in that area.
Todd Bowles & our D was on fire in the first games, but in these last 2 something’s changed … the killer instinct has left the building & we too often look like we’re playing scared. A rookie Chargers QB lit us up (20-for-25 for 80% completion & 290 yds), while a journeyman Bears QB picked us apart with short passes (29-for-34 for 85% & 229 yds in the short game). Granted we ‘only’ gave up 51 pts in those 2 games, but that’s more than it should’ve been since our D was only on the field for 116 defensive snaps total in both games.
We’re better than that, and this team needs to get its act together quickly to stay in the hunt. And that starts with less talk & better coaching …
October 14th, 2020 at 4:26 pm
Are you saying that Brady is not the cure?
October 14th, 2020 at 4:45 pm
Don’t put it past Bruce to come up with some doozie excuses if we loose this week.
October 14th, 2020 at 5:35 pm
He never was the cure. You got an over the hill QB who’s very best is behind him. he has a 2yr window..at best. I do not nor did I ever see it. Bucs should have kept Winston one more yr and went after the Qb the chargers have now. Brady is taking mega hits right now. How many more do you think he can take/ Better hope not many. because..All world Gabbert is gonna really stink it up.
October 14th, 2020 at 6:26 pm
Coaching.
October 14th, 2020 at 9:33 pm
SOEBUCS NO BODY GAVE JAMIES THAT EXCUSE WHEN EVANS AND GODWIN WENT DOWN … SO WHY BRADY GETS THAT EXCUSE ?????
October 15th, 2020 at 12:27 am
Spot on Joes!