After the T-Jack Pick, there were more Miscues than plays made.The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made it a regular thing t his year of making bone headed mistakes at key times to kill their opportunities. So today, were going to go over them, including a look at Josh Freeman, and what was, and wasn’t, his fault.
When Earnest Graham left the game early, the Bucs had to change their game plan, which called for a two back approach to run all over the Bears. Erik Lorig was the Fullback, and he was lost in the first half too. So the whole plan was destroyed due to injuries. Earnest Graham, Tanard Jackson, and Mason Foster were all lost in the first half, as Jeremy Zuttah was injured in the second half. No word yet on them, however, Graham appears to be lost for the season.
Minuses: Bucs miscues on the day
In what was surely an omen, Michael Koenen, arguably the Bucs most dependable player, starts the game- he kicks off. Out of Bounds, and it wasnt even close; the crowd erupted with boos.
After a Tanard Jackson INT, Mike Williams fails to bring in pass at the 1 yard line. INT not Freeman’s Fault.
Check out the Mike Williams Catch Fail video in HD
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After Free Punt following Safety, Ball at CHI 47, False Start Jeremy Trueblood, Zuttah Holding erases first down Lumpkin run, Hands to the Face Jeremy Trueblood, all on the same drive to kill the post safety drive.
Watch the Penalties Clip in your Browser in HD
Kregg Lumpkin secured his position as a third string running back. Taking a pass on 3rd and 3 from the Bears 18, Lumpkin catches the ball at the 15.5 yard line. He is wrapped up by one Bear, Lance Briggs, and cannot find a way to extend, or push another half yard to get the first down. Bucs settle for a FG, and are down by 9.
watch the Lumpkin video in your browser in HD here
Start of the 4th quarter, the Bucs are driving efficiently down to the Bears 14 yard line. Freeman gets picked off by Urlacher, one of 4 Interceptions on the day for Freeman, 3 of which were his fault. Within a few minutes Lynch would get his Interception and the Bucs would score, but this is a waste of 5 minutes off the clock.
watch the Freeman INT right in your browser in HD Here
After Dezmon Briscoe’s Touchdown to bring the Bucs within 3 points, they gave up a rediculouly easy drive to the Bears. First Devin Hester gets wide open, then Bears WR Roy Williams catches a ball that he played volly ball with before catching. Then Matt Forte is forgotten about.
Aqib Talib. Before I get on him too hard, I need to see what he did, because I saw nothing, but Talib has earned his reputation, and he is not going to get any calls go his way. This is the mistake of the game though, because with three minutes on the clock, the Bucs, and more importantly Josh Freeman, have more time to drive the field.
Josh Freeman’s passes can almost be predicted now. When he throws the ball too quick, its surely going to be an interception. But when he takes his time, the ball is always completed. Parker, Williams both caught good yardage passes. But on 3rd and 10 with 37 seconds left, he was picked off by a pass slightly underthrown that would have been complete to Preston Parker at the 20.
General Problems-aside from the obvious, the team not waking up until the second half, Bucs defenders seem unable to shed blocks to make tackles. When they do, they are so streaky. How does the Bucs defense SHUT DOWN Matt Forte on 6 straight downs inside the 10 yard line when the game is on the line, but cant lay a hand on him during the rest of the game.
Where was Arrelious Benn? Could he not get open? Or have Parker and Briscoe passed him up on the depth chart?
ON THE PLUS SIDE
Watch the Video in HD in your browser HERE
After his initial drop at the two yard line, Mike Wiliams rebounded for 6 catches and 75 yards, by far his best outing on the year. The Bucs will need the 2010 version of Williams to make a playoff push.
Josh Freeman found Kellen Winslow finally, with four catches and a Touchdown in the second half.
Bucs Safety Corey Lynch had his hands on three passes yesterday, including his game altering interception in the 4th quarter. On the Bears goalline early in the 3rd, Lynch breaks up a pass, and then again late in the game during the defenses 6 down and goal series, Lynch could have gotten a turnover right there with 3 minutes left.
Dezmon Briscoe with his 6 catches and 73 yards is getting harder and harder for the Bucs to ignore. He has great hands and speed.
The Offensive Line contines to make time for Josh Freeman to throw the ball. If only Freeman would take it all.
After the Bucs score to make it 21-11, the Bucs defense wakes up, and shuts down the Bears running game on 3rd and short to force a punt. With a penalty on the return, the Bucs get the ball to start their drive at the Bears 48 yard line.
I like the Michael Spurlock play. It was a little OVER thrown, if that ball comes down a bit, its a deep completion. Also, I can see that working against a sleeping defense.
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