Buccaneers Still Searching For Red Zone Answers

After five wins in a row the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are as hot as any team in football. However, red zone woes could cost this team dearly moving forward.

Heading into the Saints game – one that many believed would be a high scoring shoot-out – I wrote about the Buccaneers’ offense and that it needed to be fixed. Luckily, the game wasn’t a shoot-out. However, there is still work to be done offensively if this team is going to keep winning and put themselves in a position to win their first postseason game since the Super Bowl in 2002.

And Koetter knows it.

When speaking to the media on Monday, Koetter was asked about the red zone issues and why the Bucs are all of a sudden having trouble getting into the end zone;

“Well it’s a variety of things, it’s never one thing. On the very last time down there, third-and-seven on the seven, we couldn’t have had a better thing up. It’s the same exact thing we played at Philly last year to [wide receiver] Russell Shepard, it was wide open and we just missed it. That puts the game away, that makes it a nine-point game if we make the extra point. That’s just one example, there’s something different on every one of them. Sometimes it might be the play call, it might be execution, it might be a penalty, a combination of all those things.

Trust me, we’re working hard on it over on that side of the building as we speak and I guess the thing that – it’s very concerning, but at the same time, I know how these guys can play on offense and I know when we get there, at least these last two games, they really didn’t need to be this close if we’re playing better on offense. But, we didn’t and we still won. So, we can’t forget, the object of the game is to win and now we’re wanting to win prefect. Some of us are.”

There is no doubt the red zone efficiency has to improve if the Buccaneers are going to steal one in Dallas against what is sure to be a very angry Cowboys team who is coming off just their second loss this season. The continued reliance on Roberto Aguayo to outscore the opponent is not only as risky as it gets, but also adding to the heart problems of Bucs fans across the map.

Bucs fans have been asking – begging – for national recognition. Well, it’s here. Three consecutive flexed games and a prime time special against the Cowboys. IF the Buccaneers are going to prove they’re worth the time slot, these red zone issues have to be corrected.

Immediately.