The Post Game Review: Bucs vs Saints

After the Tampa bay Bucs got embarrassed in their own house in week 1. The Buccaneers fans base had at it with the Bucs all week long. Some doubted the draft pick and other had doubts about if Head coach Lovie Smith is the right guy for the Job. The Offensive line was just that Offensive. Rookie QB Jameis Winston 16/33 210yrds 2tds 2ints had a rough game as he threw 2 ints early in the game (1 for a TD on first pass) and really struggles to find his way. On the defensive side of the ball. Things seem to a lot worse. Rookie QB Marcus Mariota came in and did whatever he wanted to the Bucs defense and that had no answer at all for what the Titans where doing. So after a week long of question and doubts Head coach Lovie Smith Vowed that wasn't the team he knew they could be and that in week 2 they would play a lot better.

So we head to week 2. Bucs in New Orleans playing the Saints and Drew Brees who has struggled a bit in their last 5 home games all have come to defeat and Saints come in for their home opener looking to get on the right track after loosing to the Arizona cardinals in week 1. We knew we were in for a clash of NFC South Rivals. Right away you can see that the Tampa Bay Bucs wanted to establish that they were there and ready to play and establish that last week was an anomaly. Buccaneers defensive effort in the first series of the game was a good one. With the help of a few breaks and dropped passes by New Orleans wrs Bucs got what they wanted. All day long Bucs defensive in was in Drew Brees face and made him throw a lot of balls under duress. Bucs DE Jacquies Smith (3sacks and 2FF) and DT Gerald McCoy added another as the defense got after it. They played hard and also at times dominated the line of scrimmage. The whole defensive unit played well together a total of 4 turnovers in all. Sterling Moore (1 forced fumble) and Free Agent safety Chris Conte 5tkls 1 int 1FF Filled in great for injured Safety Major Wright who was inactive for the game. Lb Lavonte David was back to the way we are use to seeing after struggling in week one flying all over the field and making plays on the ball. He looked like a player looking to redeem himself as well as the whole defense. Saints really could get much going all day long. Bucs stopped the running game limiting the Saints to 323 total net yards and only giving up 19pts. Wasn't a great effort but was a step up from the previous week.Saints QB Drew Brees Bruised his shoulder early in the game and never really looked like his usual self throwing the ball. That was a hit from Jacquies Smith while he was throwing the ball.

On the offensive side of the ball I thought the Bucs game plan was set up perfectly. Run the ball and use the running game to set up the passing game. That’s just what they did in 39 carries for 139yrds 4.0 ypc avg. Doug Martin 21 carries for 78 yrds had another good game breaking off chunk runs and sometimes making plays out of nothing ran well. Charles Sims (8car 38yds) had a good game also showing some of that explosion that the Bucs liked when he was drafted in the 3rd rd last season. All of that set up the pass and Jameis Winston (13/21 194yrds 2tds 1pass 1run) looked like a different QB. Played a lot calmer. Made quick decisions getting the ball out of his hands quicker. He made some great passes. In the 1st qtr on a 3rd and 6. Jameis his Austin Sefarian-Jenkins in the seam that was a very good throw. He led a TD drive right before the half that resulted in a TD throw the Wr Vincent Jackson high and tight in the back of the end zone on a plays that Winston and Jackson talked about all week long if they found a certain coverage and they got it.After the Half Jameis led another TD drive went right down field on a drive. The Key play there was a throw on the run by Winston who hit Wr Louis Murphy on a 54 yard play in stride on the run to put them down at the 2 yrd line and on 1st down Jameis Winston got his easiest touchdown of the game on a walk in bootleg play that put them up 17-7 in the 3rd qtr. The offensive line played better this game. They did a better job of identifying the blitz from Saints Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan Picking them up and allowing for Winston to Throw the ball with confidence. Rookie Tackle Donovan Smith struggled again for the second straight game but Rookie Guard from division III Hobart Ali Marpet continued to play good football in the run and the pass game. Center Evan Smith was hurt in the game and free agent center from Atlanta Joe Hawley filled in and did a good job for the remainder of the game.

This was a very good effort for the Bucs but they have to clean up the sloppy play another game with 10+ penalties is something that has plagued them since last season and if they expect to win against better opponents then that is something that is going to have to be cleaned up. This week they have another big task. On the road in Houston where they get to see JJ Watt. Gonna be a tough game but they’re gonna need an even better effort as Houston is 0-2 and looking to get in the win column.