MORE
Most Recent Entries
Monthly Archives
|
The Bucs were 11-point favorites against San Francisco. Had they held the 49ers to minus-1, they would have at least earned a push.
The way they looked, Tampa Bay might not score 11 points in November. With near-obsessive attention spent monitoring the status of Cadillac Williams, many Bucs fans overlooked the real problem - the guy in front of him.
Through six weeks - during which they amassed a 1-5 record - the 49ers played with what many were saying was perhaps the worst NFL defense of this generation. Philadephia merely hung 52 on them. Arizona (Arizona!) embarrassed them on national television in Mexico.
Maybe it was the Montana-era uniforms they broke out Sunday, but San Francisco looked anything but historically bad against the Bucs.
The same shouldn’t be said for Chris Simms. For most of the game, Simms held onto the ball like it had laces of pure gold. When he bothered to let a pass fly he often short-hopped it to the point that the untrained eye would have sworn he was playing pepper with middle infielders.
Unfortunately for the Bucs, he wasn’t trying to hook up with Jorge Cantu or Julio Lugo. It was usually Joey Galloway or Michael Clayton, people compensated very well to help avoid the offensive morass Tampa Bay finds itself in.
Galloway, of course, gave Tampa a glimmer of hope with his long touchdown catch-and-run. But the fact that Simms threw the ball no more than 5 yards forward - leaving the rest up to Galloway - says everything about Jon Gruden’s confidence in Simms.
The game’s ending was the perfect embodiment of the entire day: Simms, peeling himself off the turf after yet another sack, his outplayed and dispirited linemen standing around him, wondering whether to even bother with another snap (they didn’t, by the way).
It’s not like the 49ers haven’t pulled this before. St. Louis came to town in Week 1 and received the same sort of humbling. Yet there’s something to be said for the psychological effect on a team when it realizes its limitations. That moment came for San Francisco in Mexico City.
This experience wasn’t as bad for the Bucs - they’re not horrendous, at least not at most positions. But the effect could be the same.
Posted by Ron Undieme, St Petersburg on 11/03 at 04:17 PM
Does anyone think that the Bucs have a chance of winnning another game this year? We know they will not beat Carolina, Atlanta or Washington. So that leaves a split with New Orleans and maybe a win over Chicago. So a 7-9 season seems to be the BEST a lousy team with a lousy coach can do. BRING BACK DUNGY.
Posted by Bear Mac, Lutz, FL on 11/02 at 01:10 PM
Everyone who says that Simms played like the worst QB in history Sunday (or even close to it) is a freakin idiot. Period. (This includes tipsy-turny sports writers who will say he is the next Montana when he plays great next week). He is young and hasn’t played enough. That he is a 3yr vet doesn’t matter. What, we were better off with Griese? BS. Griese was responsible for 4 turnovers in a game we should have lost thanks only to him. Last year, everyone said Eli Manning was a bust. This year, he’s “better than Peyton”. Give Simms a few more games - he showed some poise when nobody was open. Don’t tell me Griese would have made all of throws Simms did or that Griese wins with 43 yds on the ground and people in his face. No sir. So all of you “end of the worlders” take a breath. The Bucs will be in the playoffs for the first time in 3 yrs. How far they go depends on how Gruden corrects his offensive plan and our D. Simms will win v. Panthers - watch.
Posted by Ken, Ridge Manor on 11/01 at 10:20 PM
I honestly dont think a high school quarterback sitting in with the bucs could have played a worse game than Simms did.
Pray for us with Simms at the helm against the Panthers,we can only hope the Panthers have a really bad day,
if not we dont have a chance.
I realize the O lines sucked and Simms had alot of pressure ,but that is common for quarter back to experiance.
He must beable to play under pressure.
Gruden, mark my words ,you will be sorry you stuck with Simms.
I really hope Im wrong.
Posted by Chris Hoelle, Tampa on 11/01 at 03:46 PM
What’s the deal with Simeon Rice? Other than hearing that he missed a team meeting and was sent back to Tampa, as a result, what is really going on with a key member of the defense?
Posted by Bob, dunedin on 11/01 at 01:03 PM
Hey!!!!!!! Luke has always been a poised, “get it done” Q Back!!!!He deserves the chance to skip some off the turf!!!
and Coach—We do have a right side of line to try a run , expecially after missing 7 in a row on the left side!!!
GEEZZZ!!!!
Posted by Bee, Tampa on 11/01 at 11:34 AM
Gruden is a sadist. Simms just doesn’t have it at this time. The game against the Panthers maybe too grueling to watch.
Posted by Slick, Clearwater on 11/01 at 10:59 AM
Let me first say, I love the Bucs, I am behind Chris Simms.
Daniel said it best yesterday. The Bucs seemed to have looked past the 49ers as a pushover.
Secondly, everyone agrees the running game broke down. Did anyone other than me notice that the vast majority of the running plays were to the left side of the line? I don’t remember seeing any to the right in fact. Isn’t the right a natural way for lefty quarterback anyway? Doesn’t it make sense to change up the plan when 6 runs in a row to left guard are stuffed for no gain? Am I missing something here?
I am no coach but I’d sure like to see the team mix things up a bit, be a little less predictable in the play calling, and use some weapons like Pittman, Alstott, Cook and Graham in the running game.
C’mon Bucs, let’d whoop those Panthers this Sunday!!!!
Slick
Posted by David, Zephyrhills, Fl on 10/31 at 11:54 PM
i can’t believe we lost to the 49er’s… Simms was part of why we lost. 2 picks, 5 sacks.... Also, Gruden, what is with him calling 2 timeouts 15 seconds before the 2 minute warning? i we lose next week, I say start Rattay. And the OL sucked, they didn’t gives SImms an easy game.
Posted by CurtDog, Tampa on 10/31 at 11:33 PM
Chris Simms rocks!! If the rest of our team didn’t suck he would be the best QB in the league. Maybe if he had some blockers he would do better. But thats not why we lost. We lost because every team is scared of the 49ers. Those 5 super bowl trophies mystified us. We cant help it but throw interceptions and miss tackles because the 49ers make other teams nervous with their legendary status. It’s the same way with the Lakers. You could put 5 rookies out there on the court in Lakers uniforms and any other team will bow down to the purple and gold. We fell victim to the to the red and gold history.
Posted by bret, florida on 10/31 at 08:12 PM
awsome game go 9ers. alls i can say is ha ha ha.
Posted by Warren, Tampa, Fla. on 10/31 at 07:58 PM
Say what you want about Simms. Yes he did not play as well as we would have liked but the bottom line is that the offensive line was mainly to blame. Bottom line is that they didn’t block period. How the you expect any quarterback to play well under those circumstances. The run game was totally shut down and the quarterback was expected to carry the team by him self. Remember, Griese was throwing interceptions when the offensive and the running game were at their best.
Posted by Nina D. Small, Tampa on 10/31 at 06:54 PM
I dissagree with Gruden, sending Simeon
Rice home had a lot to do with the bucs
lost to the 49’s. The team played like they had more on than winning the football game, remember it all starts in the locker room.
Posted by UCF_Bucs_Fan, Orlando on 10/31 at 06:15 PM
WHOA!! Ok, has everyone finished venting? Yes, that was a miserable performance, but lets revisit what we should have EXPECTED this season. No on in preseason gave the Bucs any love, when we were 4-0 no one gave the Bucs any love. When we went 5-1 everyone was still talking about McNabb and Brady. It’s important to remember that the offense is young, (especially minus Griese). The Bengals are about 2 years ahead of us in that department, and look at them now. I have been a Bucs fan from the Testaverde days and we have NEVER stretched the field. Some things to remember: 5-11 last year moving to (at worst) 9-7 or 8-8 this year isn’t bad. Secondly, we are in the NFC. A record of 9-7 could potentially mean the playoffs. Finally, we could be Browns fans, they lost to the Texans!! This was our trick, maybe we get our treat come January, if not, remember Football’s Motto: There’s Always Next Year…
Posted by toni ericson, zephyrhills on 10/31 at 06:14 PM
Simms should not be our starter qb, nor
should he be our back up qb. if so make him THROW the pig skin,and not to
be afraid of the ball he is suppose to be in charge of. The The defense line
could do better to protect him as well.
Posted by Terry, Clearwater on 10/31 at 05:22 PM
What’s going to happen when the Bucs have to play someone with a winning record?
Posted by Ron Kurlander, Sarasota, Fl. on 10/31 at 05:00 PM
I am a 30 yr season ticket holder, I have sat and watched inept quarterbacks, that we were blessed with, but never after a bye week,and playing a last place team, have I ever witnessed a worse quarterback than I saw Sunday. if this is what I have to look forward to....there will be empty seats in my section!!!!!
Posted by Parris, Arlington, TX on 10/31 at 02:11 PM
Is Major Applewhite availabe?
Posted by John Higgins, Dade City, FL on 10/31 at 01:00 PM
Well, it’s cut and paste isn’t it? What can we put together for next week..hmmm...we’re supposed to win so let’s just be cool and see if anyboday really wants to play. No??? Oh well, there’s always next week.
Posted by Greg Garcia, Biloxi MS on 10/31 at 12:58 PM
As a Buc’s fan living in Saints Country, post-Katrina Biloxi, MS, I was hoping the Buc’s could keep their winning ways going. A little good news is welcome around here these days.
Alas! Not to be! Beaten soundly - not by the NFL’s worst team, but by their own mediocre coaching - the Buc’s revisited their losing tradition.
This is what millions of dollars brings us: an “offensive genius” who keeps two dozen quarterbacks on the roster and puts in 20 hour days in order to produce ten points against the 49’s.
And, let’s see, wasn’t the reason the back office got rid of Tony Dungy because he couldn’t produce sufficient offense? Hmm.
Here’s the bottom line: All our wins this year have been against teams considered “weak” by the pundits. Not so with Carolina, a club many consider the best in the division. So, here’s your chance, Buccaneers. Beat the Panthers decisively or give up the excuses and face up to your mediocrity. Starting with you, Coach Gruden.
Posted by Jay, Los Angeles, CA on 10/31 at 12:52 PM
Major Applewhite is still better than Simms and he hasn’t played in years. Pathetic loss… Simms should have been yanked in the 1st qtr. Does he understand the offense; wait, better question is, does he even know the plays??
Posted by Joe Davis, Wesley Chapel, FL on 10/31 at 12:36 PM
Chris Simms most accurate pass was when he hit that ref on the head with the ball.
Go Devil Rays.
Posted by Ra;lph Henry, LAKELAND FL. on 10/31 at 12:13 PM
WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT ANY PROFESSIONAL TEAM WOULD EVER MISS GRIESE?
Posted by Erik, Sanford, Fl on 10/31 at 11:36 AM
I can only imagine the mind set of the Bucs going into the Game at San Fran:
“Hey, we’re 5-1, we have one as many games as last year, no longer any need to play to win!”
This was one of the most lackluster, pathetic excuses for a ball game. At least the Orange and White Bucs lost despite their best efforts, these Bucs lost because they just didn’t care.
Posted by Daniel, Tampa on 10/31 at 11:06 AM
It seems everyone wants to blame Simms for this defeat. While it is true he threw interceptions and took some sacks and hit the turf with his passes more than he hit his recievers, the Bucs winning formula the first part of the season has been run the ball and stop the run; in San Fran the Bucs did niether. Both offense and defensive lines played their worst game of the season. It seems like Coach Gruden left the playbook at One Buc Place. I didn’t see a screen pass to slow down the 49rs rush, we never threw deep, we never ran outside. All we did was throw swing passes, the out, and run up the gut to the 49rs strength. It is obvious the Bucs did not take the 49rs serious, why else would Rice miss a team meeting? Heck, the Bucs were so confident they sent Rice home figuring they didn’t need him, unfortunatly the rest of the team took the day off too. You can blame Simms if you want, but the reason for this loss is much deeper than that.
Posted by Former Fan, on 11/06 at 10:08 AM
The Carolina scoresheet:
Carolina 24
Bucs 9
Steve Smith 173 receiving yds
Sims: 3 interceptions
Cadillac: 31 yds; fumble
This is only the trend for the remainder of the season.
Peace.