Most consistent part of the Bucs offense vs. Falcons? The penalties
TAMPA — Ugly is bad enough. When you add sloppy, it’s even worse.
The Bucs compounded their usual offensive problems Sunday with a rash of penalties that thwarted drives and left them in poor field position. Tampa Bay finished with nine penalties for 66 yards.
“We had more penalties than the law allowed,” coach Todd Bowles said. “All three phases had a hand in it.”
Bowles was being diplomatic by including the defense and special teams in his criticism. The truth is, most of the penalties were committed by the offense, particularly the line.
Guard Matt Feiler was called for two false starts, center Robert Hainsey had a false start and a holding penalty, and guard Cody Mauch had a holding penalty. Rookie receiver Trey Palmer also had a false start and a holding penalty, including one that wiped out a 17-yard run by Rachaad White, which would have been his longest of the season. The offense also had an illegal formation penalty that was declined.
“A lot of penalties we shouldn’t have, a lot of penalties we can’t have. Hard to win games that way,” Hainsey said. “A lot to address, a lot to clean up, a lot to improve on, which we will. Every time you guys talk to me, it’s always the main focus: Learn what you can from the previous (game) and improve upon it.”
Running in place
The Bucs came into the game with an NFL-low 78.8 yards rushing per game and still managed to underperform.
“We’re going to have to be able to run the ball, we’re going to have to be able throw it and execute better in the red zone all the way around,” Bowles said.
They finished with 73 yards rushing, and that was only because Baker Mayfield had a 31-yard scramble on their final drive. White and Ke’Shawn Vaughn combined for 41 yards on 17 carries. If there was a bright spot, Tampa Bay’s yards per carry increased from 3.0 to 3.1.
“We’re a little bit too one-sided right now, like one-dimensional,” said receiver Chris Godwin. “We have to do a much better job all around to make our running game go. It’s not just the O-line, it’s not just the running back, not the calls — it’s all of us.”
One bright spot
Mike Evans is Atlanta’s recurring nightmare. With his 82 yards receiving, Evans now has 1,399 career yards in 17 games against the Falcons. That is the second most by any opponent versus Atlanta, trailing only Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, who had 2,731 yards in 30 games.
Evans, who had a 40-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter, is also tied for third on the all-time list with 11 receiving TDs against the Falcons, trailing Rice and Terrell Owens. “It was one-on-one coverage,” Evans said of the touchdown. “Baker did a great job of looking off the safety and throwing a great ball.”
Odds and ends
After only 13 receptions in the first five games, tight end Cade Otton had a season-high 43 yards on five catches … First-round draft pick Calijah Kancey has recorded a quarterback hit in all three games he’s played this season. Since it became an official NFL stat in 2006, Kancey is just the second Bucs rookie to record that feat, joining Antoine Winfield Jr. … After getting six interceptions in their first four games, the Bucs have now gone two games without picking off a pass.
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