With the Bucs currently on a 10 game losing streak, you did read that right…10, I’m trying to lift the pessimistic nature that has overtaken me this season and look for ways the Bucs could pull out a victory tomorrow in London. Do I think we can win, definitely not, but there have to be a few ways that the Bucs could pull out a victory.
I preached this last week, and it looked like (at least for one half) that either someone had read this site, or just found their common sense, but the Bucs need to run the ball. Not just in the first quarter of the game, not just if the score is within 3, but the whole game. The Bucs ran the ball 14 times in the first half of last game, and 4 times the rest of the game (not including Josh Johnson runs) and that is unacceptable. We have actually, in my non expert opinion, run the ball an unacceptable amount of times in every single game thusfar. It is one of the reasons why I’m ready for the coaching staff to be gone, through only 6 games. Run the damned ball, and run it all game. Unless were down by 28 or more points, and the 4th quarter is about to begin, running the ball should be the way that the Bucs offense opens up everything else that we do. This is what our coach preached we would do all offseason right?
The Pats one weakness through 6 games, has been against the run, although the Titans did put up a lot of running yards in their ass whooping last week, so the numbers are a bit skewed. The Pats are allowing 112 yards a game on the ground, which ranks 20th in the league. The only way we have a real chance to win the game is to pound the ball, reduce the TOP for the Pats, and to milk that damned clock. Period.
With an offense throwing for 406 yards a game (4th in the league) and the Bucs seeming desire to give up big plays every game, you would think that the we are doomed in the passing game. I think if played correctly, we could stop their passing game. For starters, 2 deep safety, Cover 2 style looks need to be out of our defensive playbook. We don’t have the linebacker coverage or the SS coverage needed to stop any plays in which we don’t get an extraordinary amount of pressure, and we know good and well that we don’t pressure the QB anymore. The Bucs though, are allowing only 198 yards a game through the air (good for 11th in the league) and if you take out the 50 yard play we give up in every game, we’d be near the top of the league. We need to properly utilize the players we have on the field, something I’m not sure either Raheem Morris or Jim Bates is capable of doing. Cover 2 out, man to man, pressure, bump and run in.
If the Bucs can stick to two simple principles, and not just stick to them for one quarter, or one drive, then I think we could surprise people. We won’t though, and we will lose. We will lose big.
Prediction – Pats 38 Bucs 14