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The Bucs were 11-point favorites against San Francisco. Had they held the 49ers to minus-1, they would have at least earned a push.
The way they looked, Tampa Bay might not score 11 points in November. With near-obsessive attention spent monitoring the status of Cadillac Williams, many Bucs fans overlooked the real problem - the guy in front of him.
Through six weeks - during which they amassed a 1-5 record - the 49ers played with what many were saying was perhaps the worst NFL defense of this generation. Philadephia merely hung 52 on them. Arizona (Arizona!) embarrassed them on national television in Mexico.
Maybe it was the Montana-era uniforms they broke out Sunday, but San Francisco looked anything but historically bad against the Bucs.
The same shouldn’t be said for Chris Simms. For most of the game, Simms held onto the ball like it had laces of pure gold. When he bothered to let a pass fly he often short-hopped it to the point that the untrained eye would have sworn he was playing pepper with middle infielders.
Unfortunately for the Bucs, he wasn’t trying to hook up with Jorge Cantu or Julio Lugo. It was usually Joey Galloway or Michael Clayton, people compensated very well to help avoid the offensive morass Tampa Bay finds itself in.
Galloway, of course, gave Tampa a glimmer of hope with his long touchdown catch-and-run. But the fact that Simms threw the ball no more than 5 yards forward - leaving the rest up to Galloway - says everything about Jon Gruden’s confidence in Simms.
The game’s ending was the perfect embodiment of the entire day: Simms, peeling himself off the turf after yet another sack, his outplayed and dispirited linemen standing around him, wondering whether to even bother with another snap (they didn’t, by the way).
It’s not like the 49ers haven’t pulled this before. St. Louis came to town in Week 1 and received the same sort of humbling. Yet there’s something to be said for the psychological effect on a team when it realizes its limitations. That moment came for San Francisco in Mexico City.
This experience wasn’t as bad for the Bucs - they’re not horrendous, at least not at most positions. But the effect could be the same.
Posted by Bob, dunedin on 10/30 at 09:57 PM
Simms------ Trade him if someone will have him!!!No poise-- No talent---Luke should have always been next in line after Griese!--
Posted by Ken, Pinellas Park on 10/30 at 09:52 PM
I heard alot of praise for Simms after Griese went down saying he is better than he was last year.
As bad as Simms was last year I had zero confidence in him and I’m sorry to see I was right to feel that way.
This was a tactical error for Jon Gruden to not have a better second-string quarterback than Simms.
We are in deep doggie poop right now, I guess we will have to try Luke Mc Cown or Tim Rattay, only prob I dont think either of them know Jon’s system well yet.
Posted by Kenneth, Lompoc, CA on 10/30 at 09:39 PM
I purchased a ticket in the lower reserve for this game hoping to catch a Bucs game on the west coast. I got sick, and couldn’t make it 5 hours north for the game. After seeing the outcome I am sure happy I didn’t go. It looks like I would rather have spent the seven four dollars to not go then to have sit there and watch a total team failure. I am not jumping ship, but the defense held them to 0 touchdowns and we still lost. I heard Chucky had Rich Gannon and his broken neck on speed dial, after hearing that a couple weeks ago that may not now be such a reach. I would have liked to see Pittman get more carries. Back to the drawing board.
Posted by Gary, Florida on 10/30 at 09:35 PM
What an embarrassment! No enthusiasm by players! Not sure if penalties will ever be in control. Gruden - things are not improving! These guys shouldn’t be allowed on TV. Predict season of 50% losses if this is what we have left to work with. Excuses are no longer acceptable!
Posted by pat in palos, on 10/30 at 09:32 PM
is it me, or does Simms not drop back enough? Also he seems sluggish.
Also, wasn’t there still timeouts left during the final so-called drive; and if so why not use them and run a few more plays rather than just giving up.
Posted by mike jones, Tampa on 10/30 at 09:31 PM
Did I miss something? Did the Bucs do any of the following today....play action pass, screen pass, throw deep...answer? No. Why, when you know the 49er’s are going blitz all day, do you continue to have your QB take 7 step drops?
I blame whoever came up with the miserable game plan (assuming there was one) and Rice, who as a Leader on this team, let everyone teammate down.
Posted by David, Bucs fan in NJ, on 10/30 at 09:26 PM
Pathetic- Simms wasted the final seconds by not throwing the ball out of bounds to stop the clock. Anemic performance… he looked out of place; definitely not ready to lead this team into the back half of the season. He simply couldn’t get on track- most of the balls thrown were at the shoes of the receivers. Embarassing… and on national television. On second thought-pathetic doesn’t come close.
Posted by David, Maryland on 10/30 at 09:16 PM
Is Tim Rattay Ready yet? Does anyone have PHIL Simms Cell Number, heck, I even miss Rob Johnson. Why could we not have one of Archie’s Kids instead of Phil’s? This could be a long season!!!
Posted by Jeff Cole, Valrico, FL on 10/30 at 09:13 PM
Can’t pin this entirely on Sims, although he deserves his fair share of the blame...the O-line looked like they were half-asleep, and the D-line got no penetration at all...looks like sending Simeon home gave everyone the day off...absolutely the worst performance I have seen in some time...should have worn the Creamsicle throwback uniforms...2 weeks to prepare for arguably the worst performing team in the league, and this is the best we could field? Some heads need to roll…
Posted by Tom, PC on 10/30 at 09:12 PM
This team stink, always will. GO STEELERS
Posted by Dwight, Tampa on 10/30 at 09:04 PM
I commented a few weeks ago about how Griese was a bit arrogant despite not having done much in this league but when I read Simms’s comments the last couple of weeks he seemed just as bad if not worse.
The kid hasnt done jack squat in the NFL but he talks like he is Phil Simms.Like his name gives him the right to act cocky.Three years in this league and he hasnt done anything.
He may turn things around yet but until he has actually done something more than talk,I wish he would shut the hell up.
Thats what I really liked about Brad Johnson.If he ever talked he would back it up but for the most part the guy stayed humble.Simms would do himself a big favor by following that example.
Gruden still has no idea how to make his
team play disciplined football.Almost every other team in the NFL has a better handle on the penalty situation than the Bucs.Same old story and its getting very old.
Posted by Andrew J., Largo, FL on 10/30 at 08:57 PM
Simms was not ready to play Sunday.
Posted by TS, NJ on 10/30 at 08:56 PM
Can Tim Rattay play? Simms is just garbage. He couldn’t beat Oklahoma in college and will never be more than a good clipboard holder, if that. Simeon Rice has a lot of explaining to do. His absence hurt the team and if he can’t realize that then this team may really have problems. I just hope the Bucs somehow muster up enough game to beat Carolina this week or the 5-1 start will be just a mirage. This week is a chance to prove the doubters (and there are a lot) wrong. Will the real Bucs please stand up? We’ll find out next Sunday.
Posted by Drake Carlisle, Clearwater on 10/30 at 08:55 PM
Being prepaired coming off a bye week is expected. This team was everything but. No energy, No enthusiasium, No confidence, equals bad coaching. For having the best record in the NFC they sure didn’t carry themselves with pride and respect. This was a total team loss. This kind of attitued will create repeated results so… put this one behind and play like you belong.
Posted by Alan, Tampa on 10/30 at 08:50 PM
Was I watching a Univ of Texas football game of 4 years ago? I’ll never understand what the Bucs management see in Simms. He’s the Shawn Bradley of the NFL.
Posted by Adam Locascio, Tampa on 10/30 at 08:50 PM
I’m not going to blame this all on Simms because it’s tough to throw when you’re on your back.
I will say that we played well enough to earn a squeaker, but my real question is, in TWO losses, against 1st time starting QBs, why has Monte Kiffin REFUSED to bring the house to rattle a new signal caller? The base defense with NO blitzing was stopping the 49ers easy. BLITZ! GO AFTER HIM! FORCE A TURNOVER! What’s wrong Monte? the Niners receivers SCARE you? You don’t trust Barber and Kelly in coverage?
That plan of attack seemed to work for San Fran and they are the WORST D in the league. Imaging what we could have done.
Posted by jimbo, on 10/30 at 08:39 PM
This game was a joke! Simms really sucks. Let’s not put Cadillac in the hall yet. He did nothing. I hope Gruden sits Simms on the bench next week. He is really bad!
Posted by Gerry, Boston, MA on 10/30 at 08:20 PM
CAN we still trade Simms to the jets for a 1st round draft pick?
He sucks. Period. So many chances… so many ints. so many fumbles..
he aint his daddy.
Posted by Donna Spindola, Florida on 10/30 at 09:58 PM
When you are 5-1 and playing against a team which has nothing to play for you are suppose beat them and beat them bad, just like the Redskins did to the 49ers last week. Why do we play not to lose against these types of teams(jets and Niners)? It has to be Gruden, he is the head coach, the offensive guru, if you will, and after a bye week the team looks flat and gets beat by a team that would of quit had the Bucs just played winning football instead of not wanting to lose football..UGH!!!!!!!!!