3 reasons why the Buccaneers need to ring the alarm bell
By Rob Leeds
Penalties are far too common
This is another issue that comes down to the coaches, but the players do have control over this issue as well. Penalties happen in football, and sometimes they aren’t perfect, but the Bucs have been heavily penalized so far this season and that is hindering their success.
Carlton Davis is one of the top offenders in the NFL. His play has reached an impressive height, but the constant pass interference calls have crippled the Buccaneer defense at awful times. Interceptions are a great step in the right direction, but the penalty yards have been killer in the secondary.
On the offensive side of the ball, Ryan Jensen should not have received the personal foul later in the game. Still, he has to recognize that the calls are falling in a ticky-tacky way and and has to avoid making any contact with the opposing team after the whistle.
The coaching staff and players have to take responsibility for the rampant penalties that occurred last night. The Bucs dug themselves into 20 and 30-yard holes on numerous occasions during the game, and there is almost no way to convert first downs on distances like that.
Tampa Bay will have to lock it in moving forward and play disciplined football for the rest of the year; otherwise, penalties will stifle the offense like the play-calling.