The Defense had a good game for the most part or did they? They were able to hold the Saints to only 10 first downs for the game, which was less than half of the Bucs offensive total of 21. The Saints only managed 133 yards rushing and 124 yards passing. Aaron Brooks only completed 13 of 29 passes for a 44.8 completion percentage recording 1 touchdown pass and one interception. That's a very unimpressive quarterback rating of 56.97. Michael Lewis was the Saints leading receiver with 3 receptions for 69 yards and he caught the team's only offensive touchdown. Deuce McAllister led the Saints in rushing with 110 yards on 26 carries. Ronde Barber led the Bucs defense in tackles with 8 and Simeon Rice recorded another sack, bringing his sack total for the year to 9. Derrick Brooks recorded the Defense's only turnover with an interception. For the most part the Bucs Defense looked good. So what happened? Let me tell you what happened, the Bucs let Aaron Brooks drive down the field with just seconds remaining so they may kick the winning field goal. Did we get pressure on him that last drive? NO! We played that same prevent defense that let the Colts beat us at home only weeks earlier. Didn't we blitz Brooks knowing he had to throw the ball to keep him off balance or did we rush only four? You guessed it, we sat back, kept the receivers in front of us and let the Saints move right down the field into field goal position. That was really a poor coaching job by Monte Kiffin. Then when Saints kicker John Carney comes in to kick the winning field goal, Jon Gruden calls a time out to ICE the kicker. Give me a break! This is Pro Football not College Football, these kickers are professionals and you think calling a time out is going to get into their head? I don't think so! The Bucs offense looked very sloppy. Let's start with Brad Johnson. He completed 27 of 46 passes for 333 yards and a 58.7% completion rate with a 77.54 quarterback rating. Looks good so far, but we mustn't forget about the two interceptions he threw to Ashley Ambrose. One was taken all the way back for a Saints touchdown. Brad also recorded a turnover with a fumble, but he wasn't the only Buc to fumble in the game. Michael Pittman was carrying the ball like a loaf of bread when he fumbled and Tim Wansley and Cornell Green didn't do a good job of taking care of the ball. So let's recount, that's four fumbles and two interceptions for a total of 6 turnovers for the Bucs to the Saints one. I will take the team with one turnover over the team with six to win, and will be right most of the time. Keyshawn Johnson looked healthy going for 124 yards on 10 receptions. Michael Pittman was the Bucs leading rusher with a very unimpressive 48 yards on 16 carries. He did however make a good play with the ball scoring a touchdown on a pass from Brad Johnson in the fourth quarter. I still don't think Pittman is the best choice at running back for the Bucs. Jon Gurden must have his doubts also. It's been reported that retired running back Jamal Anderson was in town this week for a tryout. Keenen McCardell scored the Bucs second touchdown on a pass by Brad Johnson late in the fourth quarter. It was on a play when a penalty was called on the Saints. Johnson new it was a free play so he took a shot in the end zone and connected with McCardell for the tying touchdown. Great job by both players keeping their heads in the game and taking advantage of that opportunity. So what's the bottom line? The Bucs played poorly on offense and defense and turned the ball over six times and still had a chance to win the game. We didn't win the game so it makes this week's game against the Panthers very important. This is really a must win game if we are going to win the NFC South. The Bucs should start to feel the pressure. Now let's see how they respond. A win in Carolina will go a long way in calming down the Buccaneer fans. To Jon Gruden, if I may borrow a saying from his last boss, "Just WIN Baby". My prediction is Tampa Bay 21 and Carolina 10. |
