Bucs dominated by the Vikings
To all the Buccaneer fans who had visions of the Super Bowl Trophy being raised in February, this game should have been a reality check and showed everyone just how far the Bucs have to go to be an elite football team.
The Bucs were dominated both offensively and defensively as the Vikings beat up the Bucs 34-17. Granted, the Bucs were missing three starters on defense who were out with injuries. Brent Grimes (shoulder), Kwon Alexander (hamstring), and Chris Baker (flu).
During the game Noah Spence left with a re-separation of the shoulder that was injured last season. Lavonte David left late in the game with a high ankle sprain, and Gerald McCoy battled all game with a lower body injury and was in and out most of the game. As Dirk Koetter says It’s next man up. Every man has to be ready to play and have the mindset that at some point during the game his name will be called. The Bucs were not ready yesterday.
Case Keenum continues to be a Hall of Fame QB against the Bucs as he shredded the Bucs for 369 yards passing and three TD’s. I thought the Bucs would do a better job against Keenum being this is the third time in three years they have faced him. Keenum continues to have the Bucs number and that was evident yesterday.
If the Bucs were to win this game, one of the keys to victory had to be the containment of Dalvin Cook. Cook gashed the Bucs for 169 all purpose yards, 97 on the ground in the 34-17 Win. After allowing the Bears 20 yards rushing in last weeks victory, it was disappointing to see the Bucs ripped by the Vikings Running game. It reminded me of the first half of last season when the defense had trouble stopping anyone. The Vikings ended the day with 494 yards of offense.
Offensively, Jameis Winston showed us he is still learning how to be an elite QB. Winston threw three picks in this game, not all were his fault, but he still has a tendency to force the ball into places he has no business throwing the ball. Winston still has to learn how to throw the ball away, and when it is best to just take a sack.
The chemistry and timing is still off between Winston and his receivers on the long ball. It does you no good to have speedy receivers if the QB can’t connect when the receivers get behind the defense. Although the stat sheet showed the Bucs were 1/1 in the red zone, It his extremely frustrating to see the offense move the ball quickly and efficiently down the field to start the game and then stall right around the 20 yard line and settle for a FG. The Bucs have to get this fixed.
The running game, if you want to call it that was non-existent. The Bucs got behind early and had to abandon the run game for more of a passing game. Jacquizz Rodgers had 5 carries for 15 yards. The Bucs had 26 yards of rushing offense and averaged 2.9 yards a carry. The Bucs offensive line was out-played by the Vikings front seven and demonstrated how much improvevent the Bucs offensive line has to make to play at a consistent level every week.
The other very important line on the stat sheet was in the turover column. The Bucs had three three turnovers, all Winston picks, and the Vikings zero turnovers.
Lots of work to be done at One Buc Place this week. The schedule is about to get a whole lot tougher with games against the Giants and the Patriots right around the corner. Both the offense and defense have work to do if this team is going to reach its potential in 2017.
