Drive analysis for Packers - Buccaneers

With yet another loss, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are now sole owners of the first overall pick after 15 games, boasting a record of 2 - 13.  The "bend, but don't break" Tampa 2 was in full effect for second consecutive week. The façade of what we call an offense had its worst output for the season with only three points.

= Offense =

I will list a few statistics that will make you cringe as well as create an impression like you were the Grinch:  6 first downs, 93 yards passing, 16 yards rushing, sacked 7 times, and had possession of the ball for a little more than 20 minutes. The net yards gained in respect to offensive drives is only 89 yards total.

The Green Bay Packers run a similar offense to the Bucs, but they execute it quite efficiently, including run blocking:  310 yards passing, 121 yards rushing, and only 1 sack given up.  Mind you, that the Bucs starting center, Evan Dietrich-Smith, played center for the Packers last season. The Packers' starting center this year is a fifth round rookie, Corey Linsley. There is only one starting offensive lineman drafted in the first round for the Packers' offense, at right tackle; the rest of the linemen were drafted fourth round and below. Green Bay's total offense ranks 6^th overall in yards.

After denoting such wonderful things about the Packers, it should make Buccaneer fans wonder about our pro and amateur scouts as well as head evaluators. After I post this game's offensive output with the rest of the season, the offense will reveal itself inept like never seen all season.

And just to drive the point that our offense has slipped dramatically with no signs of improvement, the breakdown before and after the bye week.

= Defense =

For the second week in a row the Bucs' defense has giving up a plethora of yardage, but not giving up a lot of scores.

Green Bay's offensive average point per game (ppg) average is 30.4 ppg. Even though the defense did give up over 400 yards, the defense held the Packers' offense 10 points below their average.

I will make it easier on the eyes by separating these stats into before the bye and after the bye week to identify a pattern that many have already noticed, but not as many who ask for Lovie Smith to be fired.

Here is another chart that will reveal how amazing the defensive turnaround has been.  This next chart accounts the previous two seasons where the bye season occurred after week four for both seasons.

Allowing only 19.6 ppg against the defense would rank the Bucs as the eighth best defense in the points per game allowed category. That statistic is for a nine game stretch, which is a much larger sample to track.

= Conclusion =

There is no saving this offense and the Bucs' organization should have feelers already about with the public notification that offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford's services will no longer be required weeks ago. If there is not going to be a change, then it is beyond epic fail with two sides of face palms to assess this organization's evaluation for the offense. Green Bay's offense is what our offense should come close to trying to execute, but obviously we are not fielding it correctly in any capacity nor proximity.

What everyone should be ecstatic about is the tremendous turnaround by the defense. This defense is still putting up great work as the season is ending. There will be great anticipation as to what the front office will do to improve the defense via free agency and possibly in the draft.  We have not seen a defense like this in the past few years.

Put down the pitchforks and signs to fire Lovie Smith.  We can be sure our defense will improve next year, which could be a top 5 defense.  Yet, we should still hold Lovie accountable on what he will do for offense.  Lovie will get a pass for this season only because of the heart ailments that initial offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford went through.  And if we draft yet another running back early in the draft, then I will have lost all confidence in Lovie Smith.