Let's talk Tampa Bay and how they compare to us

[carolina-chuck]

We're just as good as them or any of the other two NFC South teams.

 

We have a better QB, TE, Dline, and LB corp than the Bucs.

 

The Bucs has a better running game (excluding Cam rushing for us), better Oline, and secondary than us.

 

At the end it comes down to coaching.

[xerxes]

I think it all comes down to Josh Freeman. He just hasn't been able to break out and wow people yet, and I don't know if he ever will. He needs to step up. I look at the weapons he has, and they look like enough to get the job done.

 

Freeman seems like the 1 NFL guy that would come out as gay (not that there is anything wrong with that). Just throwing that out there. Something about his demeanor that doesn't scream leader, and I think he is soft. But hey, prove me wrong.

I don't think this is what you were going for, but by putting these points in the same paragraph, it seems like you're implying that his lack of leadership and softness are someone connected to or an indication that he's gay.  

[xerxes]

Your first and second points are right on the money.  Your last point however is extremely short sighted.  Did Schiano get figured out?  What does that mean exactly?  He wasn't running some gimmicky scheme.  Thats like suggesting teams figured out the nickel package with corners playing man.  Its a bit ridiculous.  

 

What happend is what I stated above.    We had an undrafted rookie and EJ Biggers as our starting CB's.  One of our few legitimate pass rushers was out in AC and Bowers was just being eased back in after tearing his achilles.  We had Roy Miller at NT, he's alright against the run but non existent on passing downs.  We had no viable 3 tech behind McCoy so we could not take him off the field and Daniel Teo'Neshim at RDE.  Ronde Barber, bless his heart, was our safety and Barron was forced to play to his weaknesses because of it.  

 

Injuries + lack of talent in the secondary + lack of depth at d line = bad defense.  It's that simple.

Fair points. 'Figured out' probably isn't the best way to put it.

 

To try to put it another way, based on the way the team finished the season, I would be concerned if the players still buy into what Schiano's philosophy. He's a strict on the team, which they probably needed after Morris, but I imagine it'll get old if they don't win consistently. 

 

We give Rivera a lot of crap, which he's earned, but the players have fought hard for him especially at the end of the season. Since you probably watched the games, is there a concern the team gave up towards the end of the season?

[weymouthst]

I don't think this is what you were going for, but by putting these points in the same paragraph, it seems like you're implying that his lack of leadership and softness are someone connected to or an indication that he's gay.  

 

Not what I was going for. I didn't even realize I did that.

[BigSombrero]

Fair points. 'Figured out' probably isn't the best way to put it.

 

To try to put it another way, based on the way the team finished the season, I would be concerned if the players still buy into what Schiano's philosophy. He's a strict on the team, which they probably needed after Morris, but I imagine it'll get old if they don't win consistently. 

 

We give Rivera a lot of crap, which he's earned, but the players have fought hard for him especially at the end of the season. Since you probably watched the games, is there a concern the team gave up towards the end of the season?

Almost.  Questions were rising because once again since we had a late season meltdown (commonplace for the Bucs as you probably know).  Also as you already know the media loves to hate the NFCS teams outside of the Saints so they were chomping at the bit and already running with that dialogue.  But then Schiano did what Raheem and Chucky were unable to do, he was able to right the ship with a win to finish out the year against the Falcons, an Atlanta team that was playing their starters.  

 

That ended the "players mutiny" dialogue instantly.  Now I like Schiano and think he is the man for the job in Tampa and he has also stated that he plans on easing up this year since players know what he's about.  The only concern I have coaching wise is Bill Sheridan.  He got ran out of NYG when he fielded one of the worst defenses in Giants history.  Then he lands in Tampa and once again fields the 2nd worst passing defense in NFL history.  Suffice to say, he doesn't have a good resume.

 

Last season, Schiano, in my opinion, came in with the college mentality of "let teams beat themselves" i.e. pound the ball with Martin and don't turn it over, our opponents will make more mistakes than us and we will win.  That doesn't work in the NFL, outside of the bottom barrel teams (jacksonville, NYJ etc) teams don't beat themselves, you have to earn your wins.  It took Schiano and Co. a few weeks to figure it out but when they did, our offense exploded for a 6 week period that was better than any other team.  That is mostly due to Sullivan's scheme that he brought down from NYG and I am a big fan.  Not only can it work, it's honestly exciting as a fan to watch which is something Tampa Bay has never had.  So I like his philosophy on offense.

 

 Im still on the fence about his defensive style.  Im not sure it can work in the NFL.  With the amount of passing and the fact that offenses have an advantage due to the rules, constantly leaving CB's on islands while blitzing safeties and corners repeatedly just seems unfeasible to me.  But thats why they went out and got Revis, a guy that when healthy can go toe to toe, one on one with any receiver in the game.  He's perfect for what Schiano wants to do.  Im also not a fan of having our linebackers sell out for the run.  They are coached to bite on play action every time unless its 3rd and long.  I don't like that.  I know it helps give us the #1 ranked rush D but it allows teams to kill us across the middle of the field (see Lance Moore last season).  But i'm not a coach so i'm willing to give it another year before I judge.