Not So Much
Yeah. So. The Bucs’ defense allows the fewest yards from scrimmage by a losing team in the history of the NFL playoffs. It’s that losing part that really hurts. And farewell (or not) to the outgoing ESPN Sunday Night Football crew. You guys were terrible. Don’t let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya. I’m really at a loss for anything else here… so let’s get on with it shall we?
You Gotta Be Kidding Me
After last week’s tirade about not blaming the officials for your team’s loss, the football gods have presented me with a challenge. How do I look at the Bucs’ loss without mentioning a key call in the game? The first thing is to mention that the game was really lost in the first quarter when we gave up (basically) two defensive scores right away. The only thing that bothers me about the pass to Edell Shepherd is that I thought the rule was different. To me he was coming down on his feet, took two steps, and then fell to the ground. Seems to me that in the end zone that equals touchdown. I know that if a receiver is diving, hits the ground, and the ball comes out that it is an incomplete pass. Again, the two steps he took are what have me all hot and bothered. And TALB still thinks the guy who ran back the fumble was down. And I also thought there was some rule about advancing a ball fumbled by your own team or something. Ah hell. At 11-6 we’re probably 6-8 wins better than anyone expected. That’s worth something right there. And we’re the 2005 NFC South Division Champions. No? Not doing it for you? What are you gonna do?
And again the ESPN announcing crew forgot to shut their pie holes after a call. The first thing that hit me when the spitting call was made was how the TV guys cut away from Mike Carey’s further explanation in order to vent their outrage over the call. And they continued to harp on it for minutes on end. Even as they saw Sean Taylor being escorted off the field. You would think that at some point the producers would be in their ears saying “We’re checking on it guys. Stop flapping your gums before you look even dumber than normal.” And of course once it was all explained the Three Stooges performed a typical about-face.
On the plus side, our defense held their offense to a single field goal while our offense mustered up 10 points. And for all of the badmouthing that TALB has done about Chris Simms in this space over the last two seasons I more than happily take it all back. As I’ll expand on in the post-season post-mortem (in a couple of weeks, I hadn’t thought we’d lose this early) I think the guy has finally made the turn. I was impressed time and again how poised he looked back there; even in the face of mad blitzes and poor execution by his team-mates. And this was a trend throughout the season. A full training camp as the starter should be just what this kid needs to get over the hump. Like no other season before it, TALB is so looking forward to the Bucs’ 2006 campaign.
BMOC: It’s All Over
Orange Bowl
You’d think that by now Saint Bobby would just stop carrying a kicker on his team. The Noles were downed 26-23 by Penn State in triple overtime.
Rose Bowl
Texas won. I knew it all the time. I was just messing with you or something. I didn’t watch the game or anything. Texas is your 2005 Mythical National Champion, woo hoo. Hook ‘em Horns. Though Texas does have a special place in my heart since their win back in 1996 in the Big XII championship game was part of the turn of events that led to the Gators winning their own MNC that season.
With bowl season complete, here is the carnage:
The ACC and Big XII both went 5-3 to compile the best record among the conferences. The SEC was even at 3-3 and the Big East limped into the new year at 1-3.
Here at home, Florida came out a winner; while Miami, Florida State, USF, and UCF all went down in defeat.
The BCS finally produced a complete set of great games with very little controversy.
… Like A Record
The NFL coaching carousel keeps on spinning. Highly regarded Washington assistant Gregg Williams was given a fat contract extension in order to keep him around. Former Bears great Mike Singletary has been called by the Lions. Norv Turner of the Oakland Raiders was shown the door late on Tuesday. The Vikings have already spoken to a pair of prospects.
Other candidates for open spots include Bears DC Ron Rivera, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz, and Jets’ DC Donnie Henderson.
Brad Childress, formerly of the Eagles, was named head coach of the Vikings on Friday.
Can You Hear Me Now?
Jim Mora was fined $25,000 for using that cell phone on the sidelines during the game against the Bucs a couple weeks back. The thing that makes it funniest for TALB at least is that he was trying to determine if it would be okay for his team NOT to win the game. Come on coach. If you really want to get into the playoffs, then PLAY TO WIN. TALB has been over the “play to win/play not to lose” thing more than once. And teams, players, and coaches who go with “play not to lose” generally don’t win championships.
And that sound you hear from Hotlanta? It’s the sound of ankles breaking as people jump off the “Jim Mora Jr. Is The Best” bandwagon. (Click the picture for a bigger version. I don’t know what Vickie has to do with this story, but the picture is funny.)
The Super Bowl XL Tournament
With three of four division champions falling on Wild Card Weekend, things have been turned upside down for the next round. Based on seeding alone, one would pencil in trips to Seattle and Indianapolis for Championship Weekend, but TALB thinks otherwise. I’ve gone on record about how I think the Seahawks aren’t as strong as their record would indicate. And the Bears with their anemic offense are going to have trouble. Washington at Carolina for the NFC would not be surprising to me. Not one bit. Though I think that with Washington’s depleted defense Seattle’s explosive offense will find a way.
In the AFC, things are not as clear cut as they seem. Like Washington, Pittsburgh is peaking at just the right time to make a run deep into the playoffs. Though getting past Indy is a challenge. They have a shot with their defense and their power running game. Both of those things can give the Colts’ offense trouble (by alternately keeping them off-balance and off the field). Denver is still my pick in the AFC. And you can never underestimate the Champs in January. But I really do think the Broncos are the sleeper team (at the two seed??) in this tournament. The Patriots’ magic will finally run out.
NFC - Divisional Round
Carolina over Chicago
Seattle over Washington
NFC - Championship Setup
Carolina at Seattle
AFC - Divisional Round
Denver over New England
Indianapolis over Pittsburgh
AFC - Championship Setup
Denver at Indianapolis
Look At This!
So, Paul Maguire of ESPN’s outgoing Sunday Night crew thinks that the networks need a 3-man announcing crew for the “big games” each week. His contention is that there is too much going on for only two guys to talk about. Well Paul, I’d like to agree with you, but your insight comes down to imploring us to simply “look at this” as a replay is shown and you provide no further explanation. You’re just fishing for another NFL job. Guess what short-stack, it ain’t happening. You are a bad football announcer.
And we watch the games, FOR THE GAME. Not for what you morons are saying.
Running Items
WTF?
So, I was reading a story about some guy’s fantasy of Brett Favre giving up the cold of Green Bay to finish his career “at home” with the Saints, and a little tiny nugget of information was tucked in the article that set of the WTF-o-meter.
Chicago wants another NFL team? Further research shows that is the case. I didn’t even know Chicago was looking to be an Olympics host either. To Chicago I say, good luck with that, the NFL has a big woody going for Los Angeles. So any team that moves or is added will be under great pressure to be located there. So says The Tags.
Worst. Call. Ever.
Conference USA reviewed the Outback Bowl and determined that the Iowa player was NOT offsides on the late kickoff. That sucks for Iowa. But I think Jeremy Foley, somehow, said it best:
Errors in officiating occur in all sports at all levels. The University of Florida has certainly been on both sides of this conversation as most teams have.
An interesting tid-bit from the story is that the NCAA chooses the crews, not the bowl organizers as TALB had suggested last week. And that the NCAA will review the process during their spring meetings. If anyone cares, I reiterate my opinion that officials should be from a conference on “equal standing” with the teams playing.
The Trib printed a couple of letters from angry Iowa fans. One guy asked (to Gators fans) something about if a “tainted” victory is as sweet as a “real” one. Hey sparky, Iowa is not the first and only team to get the shaft by the zebras. Sorry to rain on your parade there fella. See Foley’s comments above. And why not ask Ron Zook about officiating next time you play Illinois. He might still be head coach at Florida if not for the “Dallas Baker Incident”. Get over it corn-boy. And remember, you guys got away with a few too.
Super Bowl XL
Broncos vs. Panthers
King Of Football
As always, feel free to submit your entry for TALB’s King Of Football 2006. It will appear during the off week between the NFL conference championships and the Super Bowl (January 31). Time is running out! Get your entries in before the deadline (the 30th-ish…). Even if all you have is an idea without a write-up, I can figure it out.
Next Week: The penultimate playoff games. WWAD? (What Would Alstott Do?). And very little else.
