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Vinny Testaverde almost certainly will talk this week about making the most of his opportunity.
The Bucs, hopefully, will talk about how they didn’t do the same.
The Jets, by any measure, are simply not very good. Five weeks into the season, no one really knows if the Bucs are or not. But if they turn out to be, and they’re preparing for an imposing postseason road trip (sound familiar?), they’ll look back at games like this one to understand why Raymond James is vacant in January.
Four trips close against the Jets; four field goals. That’s how this game was lost. It wasn’t the steadiness of the 42-year-old quarterback on the other side; it was the Bucs’ own 30-something quarterback making still more questionable decisions when he was his team’s only hope.
Even without the threat of Cadillac Williams, Tampa Bay handily outgained the Jets. Meanwhile, the Bucs defense was solid as ever and covered for the offense’s lack of finishing power for most of the game. New York had one impressive drive, starting the third quarter, but the defense did enough to punish Curtis Martin and the Jets’ other playmakers (few as they may be) and keep the game winnable.
Brian Griese will be criticized for the Bucs having to settle for the last field goal (that, and seeming confused which team Ty Law plays for now). What might go overlooked, except by Jon Gruden, is that for the offense it was simply a case of more of the same. Given the Jets’ severe limitations on offense, the Bucs could have had control of this game by halftime simply by crossing the goal line on any of their three field goal drives.
They didn’t do it, and New York had just enough reason to believe they could be the team to take that pretty zero off the end of the Bucs’ record.
It shouldn’t have happened. Even with Williams out of the game and Michael Clayton playing with more pain than he’ll admit, the Bucs had enough firepower to win against such a mediocre opponent. Whether Griese can command control of this team when the competition improves – and it certainly will – should tell the real story of 2005.
Posted by Bruce Miller, St. Louis, Missouri on 10/10 at 06:57 AM
In evaluating this game, a couple things stand out. 4 times in the red zone, 4 field goals. 12 penalty calls,
how Ronde Barber wasn’t tossed, I don’t know. Greise HAS to show better judgment, another costly turnover. You win as a team and lose as a team and that includes coaching: Where was Alstott in the game? 42 pass attempts?? I think with Pittman, Alstott and Graham, you could have pounded the ball on the ground against a Jets team that is mediocre at best. Why the field goal with 4 minutes left?? You go for it on 4th down, if you don’t make it the Jets are deep in their own zone and our defense gets the ball back. By no means is it panic time, we’re still 4-1, you evaluate what went wrong, correct it and move on, bring on the Dolphins.
Posted by earl, tampa on 10/10 at 06:38 AM
Gruden. Offensive genius ????
Where ?? Does he have another
job ??? Well he got the players
he wanted. Now it is ALL on him.
Posted by Tony, Tampa on 10/10 at 05:59 AM
They don’t deserve to be undefeated with the sloppy play the they displayed on both sides of the ball!The defense held the Jets to only tweleve points,but they put no pressure on Vinny almost the whole game, and when they did he threw the int,being aggressive is a must!!!!With the team being one of the most penalized teams in the league they will lose some more if they don’t clean that up, as for the offense one word “CARNELL”. Hurry back son they need you.Brian is playing like he may still be a little woozy from the last game.
“GO BUCS”
Posted by Dave, Afghanistan on 10/10 at 03:50 AM
How many more games will the Bucs “throw away” this year? Turnovers (especially interceptions)are killing this team. Is Simms any better? Who knows? It is my opinion that an indecisive QB (as Simms has been called) is a better choice than a QB that continues to make poor decisions.
Stop the passing. Get back to running the ball!
Posted by Kenneth, Lutz, FL on 10/10 at 02:23 AM
I agree Alstott should get more carries. He’s an All Pro in my book. He has had the injury bug in the past, but he’s the best we’ve got with no C. Williams. I think Gruden lost hope with him because of his fumble to carry ratio in the past, but you have got to do with what you have, and if you remember back to the WD40 days, it was exciting. I mix of Williams and Alsott and limited throws by Griese will get us at least to the playoffs, I just don’t know how much further after that. Play Alstott!!
Posted by Chris Bugden, Brisbane Australia on 10/10 at 01:35 AM
Tke it for what it was. A lucky teams luck ran out. No TD’s and dubious play calling on both sides of the ball are the main culprit in this one. Clayton may be more seriously hurt than we know, and that could spell big trouble. If Griese is still the man, take more shots downfield and at least let him play himself out of a job while trying to score. We lost a very winnable game.
Posted by Jim Benedick, Sarasota on 10/09 at 11:15 PM
They should have benched Griese after his miserable performance last game. Every other throw is a potential interception. Where’s Brad Johnson? Why the field goal with four minutes left?
Posted by Al, Iowa on 10/09 at 10:30 PM
I have to agree with many of the comments about Brian Griese. He has been very lucky until today to not cost the Bucs more games. He really owes Kenyatta Walker a season’s worth of dinners for all the touchdown saves Kenyatta has made due to Brian Griese’s bonehead decision-making skills.
If he costs the Bucs another game, I would say take him out and put Simms in. Griese constantly underthrows Galloway due to his weak arm. Simms may hit more big plays, and make just as many mistakes as Griese, but at least there is an upside to Simm’s learning process and the future.
Posted by louis Q, tampa on 10/09 at 10:21 PM
WOW...what a wasted effort. We see Alstott rumble for 8 yards and then we never see him again except for a pass here or there. Defense was solid as usual; you should win when your opponent only scores 14 - that is unless you score 12. Griese is not the answer. He can easily lose 7 or 8 of the last 11 games if he does not improve or is not replaced. I vote for replacing...I miss Brad Johnson…
Posted by Dwight, Tampa on 10/09 at 09:59 PM
The Bucs wont go very far with Griese as QB long term. He doesnt know when to get rid of the ball and doesnt seem to be making any attempt to change the way he plays. From some of the quotes of his that I’ve read he doesn’t seem too concerned about it. He should be and so should Gruden.
Id rather see Simms as QB, warts and all. At least he seems willing to learn from his mistakes. I don’t believe the same can be said of Griese.
Penalties as usual were a problem for the Bucs. I dont know why Gruden can’t get his players to be more disciplined. You would think that he had learned his lesson after last season.
Also, as another poster mentioned, why is Alstott being shut out of the offense? It’s ridiculous that Gruden doesnt use him more often to soften up the defense, especially in the red zone.
Dungy’s big mistake when he was with the Bucs was letting Dilfer play no matter how badly he stunk up the joint. I hope Gruden doesnt go down the same path with Griese, contract extension or not.
Posted by Chris Lau, Tampa on 10/09 at 09:31 PM
While I believe we did play poorly on offense and not tackle the way we have this season on defense, we have to remember that it only counts as one loss. 4-1 is still good enough to lead not only the division but also the conference. The defense will tackle better in the coming weeks and I still believe that the offense will get better as the year goes along. A good solid showing next week will erase all the memories of this game and gets the Bucs back on the winning track headed into the bye and the rest of the season.
Posted by EB, NORFOLK, VA on 10/09 at 08:18 PM
Well, the Bucs’ luck finally ran out. As previously stated, we will go nowhere with Griese. He is below substandard at best. The QB drives and leads the team, and under Griese, we will be contenders for the dubious achievement of not making the playoffs with a 4 and 0 start. Starting for him should not be automatic. He needs to know that poor play is an opening for the backup QBs. Coach gets an “F” for poor clock management and unimaginative offensive. Cadillac is not the answer, and are there any other receivers than Galloway? Poor QB, one reliable catcher and mediocre coaching makes for a disappointing season. Where’s the energy and desire to win? The Jets provided many opportunities to take the lead and stay undefeated.
Posted by Charles Brayton, brooksville on 10/09 at 08:11 PM
There are so many things wrong with the way the Bucs played - where to begin? Let’s take the play of our starting QB… that’s going to become an ugly thing if it does not change. Passes to no one in particular and behind open receivers is no way to win.
The game plan was poor, the rush nonexistent.
Posted by Donna Spindola, Florida on 10/09 at 07:36 PM
I thought Gruden was an offensive guru. Man, to call a timeout with 4 minutes left and throw a 4 yard pass over the middle to make the field goal closer - wow, that’s brilliant. He needs to let Simms play and forget about Griese. If Simms was throwing those interceptions he would be on the bench already.
Posted by JIm Tancredi, Wilmington, DE on 10/09 at 07:19 PM
As a lifelong Buc fan, I hate to say it, but they could easily be 1-4 if not for a Culpepper interception, a missed point after for the Packers, and a reversed TD against the Lions. Our defense is in top form - what else is new? Griese has to go. His interceptions finally caught up to him. Cadillac looks good for the future. I say let’s move ahead with Simms now so he and Williams can get on the same page.
Posted by Scott Pearce, California, MD on 10/09 at 07:17 PM
Gruden hardly ever has anything bad to say, in public, about his players, but he has to know that the Bucs have been winning in spite of Griese. We’ve all heard the reasons that Simms is not playing: fumbles in the red zone, interceptions, etc. Sounds like Griese, except Simms is more mobile and has a lot more zip on his passes. Being in Maryland, I watch on TV. Every time Griese rolls out and has time to think about where he is throwing, I hold my breath. Give Simms a chance.
Posted by al, belleview on 10/09 at 06:58 PM
Isn’t it about time we address the coaching issue? Gruden, the explosive offensive legend, hasn’t shown up at Tampa. We have another tentative coach who won’t go upfield and stretch the defense. No-touchdown teams seldom win. We need offense; the defense can hold the score down. If we don’t score touchdowns we lose!
Posted by Emanuel, Orlando on 10/09 at 06:47 PM
What happened to Michael Clayton? Last year: 7 touchdowns. This year: 0. What a sophomore slump!
Posted by Paul Wartenberg, Gainesville, FL on 10/09 at 06:15 PM
I want to point out a few items:
1) The Bucs were called on 12 penalties and when your team is playing that sloppy it will hurt. Those penalties killed drives and kept the team in lousy field position;
2) Our Red Zone offense needs to produce better than FGs. Just one FG from the 3 inside the Jets 20 traded in for a touchdown, just one, and the Bucs win;
3) Gruden needs to draw up a better 2-minute offense. Any scheme that has people receiving in the middle of the field is just asking for trouble;
4) Gruden also has to rely on better offensive balance. Either he’s running the ball too much or throwing too often. Today Griese had 42 pass attempts. I’m sorry, but I’m pretty sure Pittman/Alstott and Graham were able to get positive yards on their meager carries, wouldn’t it have helped to try a few more run plays, especially inside the 10 yard line?
Posted by Kenneth, LUTZ, FL on 10/09 at 06:02 PM
Where’s my friend John F.? I figured he’d sound off by now. Anyways, lets not panic; one loss, even if it is to the Jets. If we lose only every fifth game during the regular season, we’ll only have three losses. How many teams would like to be in the Bucs’ shoes? Griese will be ok; Simms hasn’t even proven himself as reliable as Shawn King was (where is he now?). There will be growing pains for the road back to the playoffs. It’s a good loss, as long as we kick Miami’s butt next week going into the bye week, we’ll be sitting pretty. After all the Falcons did lose, no ground lost.
Posted by Mindi Fitch, on 10/09 at 05:57 PM
Fourth and five and we go for a field goal that means nothing. Even if we don’t get the fourth down, the Jets are deep in their end zone. Let’s take some risks to try to win the game.
Posted by J Fitz, Valrico, FL on 10/09 at 05:52 PM
The mighty Bucs have fallen hard from the unbeaten ranks. With more penalty than rushing yards, scoring 12 points was quite an accomplishment. Without the aid of generous referee calls, the Bucs were forced to rely on Mr. Inconsistency, B. Griese, to provide the winning edge (will not happen this season). Over the Bucs’ 30 year history, opening season winning streaks are usually followed by losing streaks (1979,1997, 2005??).
What happened to Mike Alstott today? Did Gruden give him the second half off to visit NYC? Did Michael Clayton do anything today? What about Griese??
After vacationing this week against the Jet offense, the Buc defense should be well rested for the next challenge.
Posted by Chris Fisher, Lakeland on 10/09 at 05:42 PM
Is this really a surprise, Buc fans? As you all chanted “4 and 0, 4 and 0” as we left the stadium last weekend, I just shook my head and said, “We escaped another one.” The Bucs could easily be 1-4 as opposed to 4-1. We simply are not that good. Brian Griese looks bad. He’s looked bad all year. Is it time to go to Chris Simms? Well, why not? Then again, why did we sign Griese after he threw away numerous games last season? Oh sure, he has a great completion percentage. Yea, he throws 2-yard passes and those that he does miss, he throws right to the other team. There should have been 3 interceptions in the first half! We escaped one by a penalty and one that the Jets dropped. And guess what Buc fans? We haven’t played a good team yet. We don’t play a good team until Nov. 6 when we play Carolina. And they will eat us alive if we continue to play like we are.
Posted by al, on 10/09 at 05:37 PM
I think the coaching left a lot to be desired in this loss. In the next to last drive, why not go for it on fourth down when you are deep in Jets territory instead of kicking the FG? And on the last drive, which began on their own 10 with no timeouts and 1 minute left, why not use the sidelines? They didn’t have the luxury of the 5 yard passes down the middle that ate up valuable clock.
Posted by Nick Perkins, Melbourne Beach on 10/10 at 08:15 AM
Griese, tosses another win away and I wonder what plays were called on that final drive? There NEVER should have been a receiver thrown to in the middle of the field with seconds left. Was that Grudens call or Griese’s? Either way one more bad outing and its time for Chris Simms. We can keep getting by in spite of Griese and maybe make the playoffs but there is no way we will get out of the first round where defenses will feast on these passes Griese keeps throwing up! He locks on receivers way too early.