Looking back on the Bucs loss to the Falcons

by Gary Shelton on October 5, 2024

in general

5 Thoughts

  1. Every time I watch the Bucs’ secondary, I’m reminded of the Minions. Only, you know, not as physical.
  2. Five hundred and nine yards? And they say real estate comes at a price.

3. So Todd Bowles’ team had the ball four times in the fourth quarter trying to run down the clock. The result? Fourteen yards passing for Mayfield. Twenty-two yards rushing for Rachaad  White and Bucky Irving.

4. Is it legal for a cornerback to fair-catch a receiver 35 yards downfield?

5. Yeah, the Bucs tackled like they had no interest in it. But suggesting that was the Bucs’ biggest problem is a little short-sighted, no?

5 Comments

(From Todd Bowles’ day-after press conference)

(On the defense being on the field for a lot of snaps and giving up yards in the middle): “Yesterday, just looking at it, our eyes were roaming in different places. We have to have more discipline in our zone drops, especially in the middle of the field and that’s kind of what we got lost at a few times with our eyes.”

(On how they can start getting more sacks and pressures)

“We got pressures up front, first of all. They go hand and hand with covers. Sometimes we have to cover better and we’re getting back there, and sometimes we have to get back there and we’re covering better. It goes hand and hand, but we made some progress last night. I thought we should’ve had a couple more, but the ball was coming out and there were missed opportunities all over the field.”

(On what he saw from CB Zyon McCollum on the last play): “The aggressiveness was fine. He actually tipped the ball, but he went with his left hand – he could’ve made the tackle with his right hand. We don’t have a problem with his aggressiveness. He was trying to make a play, he was in position to make a play and it just went through his hand.”

(On if there was a lack of situational awareness on the last play of regulation): “We should’ve laid on them more. We kind of got up and let that second tick off and we should’ve laid on them.”

(On if calling a timeout before the fourth down would have helped the defense): “No, it wouldn’t have helped. We had the right call on for the right play. We just didn’t play it right. The guy made a play. We knew what the guy was going to do, we had him doubled, we knew the tempo was coming the whole night, we knew it before the game. We had the right call on, we just didn’t make the play.”

(On why they’ve scored less in the second half of games this season): “It’s just finishing plays. Third down in the second half – we have to finish third downs. We shoot ourselves in the foot, penalty-wise and we go backwards a little bit, and we can’t get out of that. We have to just [be] penalty-free in the second half and we have to make plays.”

Game Balls

Offense: Chris Godwin may be designatec as the Bucs’ No. 2 receiver, but on big downs, he’s No. 1. 

Defense: Who knew? Logan Hall still plays for the Bucs.

Special teams: Zyon McCollum’s field goal block had the Bucs in position to win. Of course, that last play kind of sucked ruined it, huh?

Grades

Quarterback: Mayfeild is tough, but the Bucs need more than 180 yards passing. Grade:  B.

Running back: Yes, White had a long run. There are still too many times the Bucs struggle to gain inches. Grade: C.

Offensive line: The line was okay for a half, but they were beaten in the second half: Grade: D+.

Defensive line: Fifty eight passes, four sacks. Not a good ratio. Grade: D.

Secondary: There are kitchen appliances who could get open against these guys. grade: What’s below an F?:

5 Goats

1. Zyon McCollum missed a tackle on the winning touchdown.

2. Bucky Irvin’s late fumble was costly.

3. The Bucs might have won if Trenton Gill’s last punt wasn’t a touchback.

4. Todd Bowles’ needs a refresher on how to run out a clock.

5. Vita Vea wasn’t in the game on the last drive.

Power Rankings

  1. Kanas City

2. Minnesota

3. Buffalo

4. Seattle.

5. Detroit

— 

14. Tampa Bay

Bottom 5

32. Jacksonville

31. Carolina

30. N.Y. Giants

29.  Tennessee

28. New England

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