Tampa Bay Buccaneers Must Reduce Penalties in Week 11

By David Rumsey @davidrumseynfl on November 13, 2014

David Manning-USA TODAY Sports

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are bad — everybody knows that. They have played some close games, but just haven’t been able to hang on for a win since they miraculously beat the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road in Week 3. While riding this four-game losing streak, the Bucs have done many things wrong. What have hurt the team tremendously, though, are penalties.

The Bucs have committed the 12th-most defensive penalties in the NFL, so they could be worse on that side of the ball. Where they are really hurting themselves is when they have the ball. They have committed the fifth-most offensive penalties in the league, being penalized for the third-most yards. The Bucs are pretty disciplined before the snap, but they really kill themselves with the holding penalties.

Not only do the Bucs hold the opposing team often, they seem to do it at the worst times, usually negating a first down or backing the team up to second- or third-and-long. Holding penalties are drive-ending mistakes the Bucs simply can’t afford. I wrote earlier this week that Josh McCown would have to play great to offset the mistakes that his team (definitely his offensive line) would undoubtedly make. However, too many holding penalties could make it too much for McCown to overcome, no matter how he plays. The Bucs can’t be caught holding in a situation that would take a first down or big play away.

Playing nearly mistake-free football is hard to do, but it’s not impossible. A team that has many other problems, like the Bucs do, must keep a clear mind and play smart. Post-play personal fouls can’t be tolerated (i.e. using the ball as a prop to celebrate a touchdown). Being disciplined is something the Bucs haven’t done, but it’s something that, if done, will surely contribute to a successful game on Sunday.

With the way penalties are being called on the defenses (more pass interference and especially illegal contact/use of the hands), committing no penalties may not be possible. However, the Bucs have to be as careful as possible and make sure they aren’t shooting themselves in the foot every drive. If they can give McCown and his fairly talented receiving corps a chance to score some points, I think the Bucs can really do some good things on offense. If the playmakers are making plays that just get negated, though, there’s really not much they can do.

David Rumsey is a Tampa Bay Buccaneers writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter, and Add him on Facebook or Google.