By Tom Krasniqi

 

The coaching staff has to do a better job and so do the players.  That’s the word from Bucs coach Greg Schiano on Monday as the team tries to get past the 35-28 loss to the Saints.  “We made too many critical errors that we haven’t made”, says Schiano.

Schiano pointed to the lack of a pass rush as well as coverage issues against Drew Brees and the Saints.  “The pass rush and the pass coverage go hand in hand…..we gotta get it cured quickly because you can’t make mistakes like that in critical situations.  We have to coach it better and we have to execute it better”.

The Bucs have been in every game this season, which is a far cry from last season.  But make no mistake about it, there are no moral victories.  “At the end of the day, it’s a win or a loss”, says Schiano. 

Defensively, the Bucs are struggling and it showed in pass coverage without Aqib Talib.  Schiano says “our Achilles heel has been the deep ball” and getting “whupped one-on-one” in coverage.  That was certainly evident in the Saints game with Lance Moore having his way with E.J. Biggers.  Moore finished with 9 catches for 121 yards.  Six of those catches came on third down and were converted to first downs when the Saints needed a big play.

Now, it’s on Minnesota Thursday night to take on the surprising 5-2 Vikings.  The Bucs had better improve defensively or Adrian Peterson and Percy Harvin could have a field day in front of a national audience.

News & Notes:

  • Schiano wouldn’t rule out DE Da’Quan Bowers being activated for Thursday night’s game at Minnesota.  Schiano did say it was a “medical issue” and until Bowers is cleared by the doctors, he won’t play.  The Bucs have gone without a sack in their last two games.
  • Schiano was still seething about the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on a Saints’ field goal attempt that cost the Bucs 15 yards.  Schiano says it was a legal play that the team used against the Redskins but says he may not use that tactic again.
  • Despite getting stuffed three times at the goal line against the Saints, Schiano believes in RB LeGarrette Blount.  He did say that every situation is constantly being evaluated.  Blount finished the game with 5 carries for -2 yards.
  • Doug Martin says he was healthy enough to play at the goal line and hinted that he wouldn’t mind more opportunities there.  “I’m confident in my goal line game”.
  • Catch the Bucs-Vikings game Thursday on 620 WDAE, your home of the Bucs.  Our pre-game coverage begins with Steve Duemig at 3pm.