Buccaneers Beat Themselves, Fall To 1-3

Welp…a quarter of the way into the season and the Buccaneers are an all too familiar 1-3. The problems remain the same, yet have not been addressed nor fixed.

Pathetic. Putrid. Uninspired. Unfathomable. Disgusting. These are some of the words that come to mind when you think about the Buccaneers’ performance against the Denver Broncos. Yet another loss at home for a team that couldn’t get out of their own way. The defense, for once, stepped up and did just about everything you could’ve asked of them while the offense were the ones who couldn’t get their act together. Let’s pick six;

Six Topics Suitable For Discussion

Where Did The Offense Go? I realize they were playing the best defense in the NFL, yet this team would find things that worked then completely abandon them. Jacquizz Rodgers was an effective runner between the tackles, yet they kept giving the ball to Charles Sims. Vincent Jackson was involved early and getting some momentum, then he stopped getting targets. Cam Brate was effective and reliable early, yet only had three targets in the second half. Stick with what works, guys.

Get Chris Conte Off This Team! He can’t cover, he gave away first downs when the defense held because of stupid penalties, and he has no clue what his assignments are. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see a busted play and realize that Conte was out of position and is running frantically to try and catch up. He’s nothing but a liability and needs to be relegated to the bench. He is flat out the worst player on this defense and it’s not even close.

Don’t Let Charles Sims Run Anymore.

He’s not a running back. Period. He is lucky to gain one yard on a carry up the middle and – as I’ve been

screaming

– he’s only effective in space. He can’t make anyone miss at the line, he has now garnered the label of turnover prone, causing three turnovers in as many weeks. This is why

Doug Martin

needed to be re-signed. This is why

Luke Stocker

is vital to this team. If you can’t finally understand that, no one can help you understand football.

More from Bucs News

Culture, eh? You want to change the culture, Dirk? You wanna find that oh so elusive culture? Don’t punt down 20 points when you’re at midfield! You leave Jameis Winston in a 40-7 beatdown against the Cardinals but you punt on fourth down from the 50 with ten minutes to go in the game? You’re throwing in the towel and quitting. Yeah, it was going to result in a loss, but at least try to put up a fight. Not going to change the losing culture or mentality that way.

Injuries Have Killed This Team. Let’s run through them – Doug Martin, Luke Stocker, Robert Ayers, Cecil Shorts and during the Denver game? Gerald McCoy, Noah Spence, Brandon Myers, Lavonte David, Joe Hawley. The defense was fire until Ayers went down. Then they were dominant against Denver, getting three sacks in the first half then lost McCoy and Spence, killing what pass rush they had. The defensive line was gassed from all the depth being picked off one by one. And you know about the run game suffering from injury…no need to elaborate any more on that.

Piss-poor End Of Game Management AGAIN! Last week you couldn’t use a single timeout with the game within reach and on the line, yet this time, down 20, you use all three timeouts? Not only that, but left Winston in the game to get obliterated by the Denver defense?! Inexcusable. Know when to hold them and know when to fold them. Down three scores with under two minutes left is time to fold them. And don’t give me any of this “captain going down with his ship” crap. There is absolutely no good reason Winston should’ve been hung out to dry like that in a meaningless finish.

Six Numbers To Consider

-4 – Number of yards the Buccaneers offense had in the third quarter. And yes, that is a negative symbol.

156 – Total minutes in weather delays in Bucs’ first two home games.

1 – Receptions by Adam Humphries following back to back career weeks

1.9 – Yards per carry by Charles Sims. Not cutting it.

3 – Buccaneers wins in their last 19 home games

7 – Career rushing touchdowns by Jameis Winston, second all time behind Doug Williams (13)

Six Ways Your Time Would’ve Been Better Spent Than Watching The Bucs

Oct 2, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) catches the ball against the Denver Broncos during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

6.) Learning how to knit

5.) Taking all the neighborhood kids to Chuck E. Cheese

4.) Listening to cheesy romance novel audio books

3.) Painting your garage

2.) Watching that garage paint dry

1.) Binge watching anything on Netflix. Literally anything.

Six Key Performers

Again, this is where I’d list the top players for the Bucs. Outside Clinton McDonald, Will Gholston, and Gerald McCoy (before he was injured) no one deserves praise after this one. This team is a dumpster fire.

Six Super Bowl Favorites

1.) Denver Broncos – This team has no weakness

2.) New England Patriots – 3-1 without Tom Brady? They’re on a mission

3.) Pittsburgh Steelers – That Philly game was a fluke. They’re dominant

4.) Seattle Seahawks – Back on track and heating up.

5.) Green Bay Packers – Off this week, but still extremely dangerous

30.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Lucky to beat Cleveland or Tennessee right now. In fact, how’d they beat Atlanta?

Next: Buccaneers Winners And Losers: Week Four