The 2011 season was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 36th in the National Football League (NFL), and their third and final season under head coach Raheem Morris. The team played seven of their home games at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida; the eighth was played at Wembley Stadium in London in week 7 as part of the NFL International Series.
Tampa Bay had high hopes for 2011. The team had not qualified for the playoffs since 2007, and that they attempted to build upon their success from the previous season. In 2010, Tampa Bay had finished with a 10–6 record, but lost out on tiebreakers and failed to make the playoffs. With the youngest head coach, and the youngest roster in terms of average age, in the league, and with anxious optimism, head coach Raheem Morris nicknamed the team "youngry." A close loss to the Detroit Lions on opening day was followed by a three-game winning streak and a fairly respectable 4–2 start with wins against their division opponent Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints. The Buccaneers were tied for first place in the NFC South in mid-October; however, self-inflicted troubles started affecting the season, leading to a brutal 10-game losing streak to finish the season, all but two of these losses being by multiple possessions. Turnovers, penalties and poor defense began taking its toll. Quarterback Josh Freeman threw 22 interceptions (second-worst in the league), more than triple his total from 2010. The once dominating Tampa Bay defense ranked 30th in the league in total yards.
Statistically, the Buccaneers defense was among the worst in the league in 2011. Tampa Bay allowed the most points in the league (494), the most yards per play (tied at 6.3), most yards per pass attempt (tied at 7.6), the most rushing yards (2,497) and the most rushing touchdowns (26). They also allowed the second most yards per attempt (5.0), the second most rushing first downs (135), the third most total yards (6,311) and fourth most total first downs (356) of all teams in 2011.Pro-Football-Reference.com: 2011 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics
Offseason
2011 draft board
After finishing the 2010 season 10–6 and narrowly missing the playoffs, the Buccaneers had the 20th overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft. A provision in the now expired collective bargaining agreement ensured that the draft still take place, despite the current lockout and lack of a new CBA.
2011 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Draft Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 20 Adrian Clayborn Defensive end Iowa 2 51 Da'Quan Bowers Defensive end Clemson 3 84 Mason Foster Outside linebacker Washington 4 116 Luke Stocker Tight end Tennessee 5 151 Ahmad Black Strong safety Florida 6 187 Allen Bradford Running back Southern California 7 222 Anthony Gaitor Cornerback Florida International 7 238 Daniel Hardy Tight end Idaho
Draft notes
Roster changes Sources: as of 09/28/2011 2:00 p.m. EDT Clubs are allowed 90 active players at the opening of training camp. Clubs must cut rosters to 80 active players by August 30. Clubs must cut final rosters to 53 active players by September 3.
Players re-signed
Ronde Barber Quincy Black Jeremy Trueblood Davin Joseph Adam Hayward Michael Bennett Demar Dotson Tim Crowder Frank Okam (cut) Micheal Spurlock Elbert Mack Corey Lynch James Lee Connor Barth E. J. Wilson (IR)
Players signed
Michael Koenen Devin Holland Zac Diles Raymond Webber (IR) Zack Pianalto (claimed off waivers) Chris Riley (claimed off waivers) Albert Haynesworth (claimed off waivers) Matt Clapp Collin Franklin Swanson Miller Nic Grinsby Daniel Te'o-Nesheim
Players released/losses
Carnell Williams (StL) Barrett Ruud (Ten) Maurice Stovall (Det) John Gilmore (Pit) Quintin Borders Josh Jasper Doug Worthington (Wash) Mike Coughlin Aaron Feld Deonte Jackson Victor Aiyewa Jose Cruz Brandon Carter Aundrae Allison Vince Anderson Brandon Gilbeaux Detron Lewis Robert Malone (Det) Jock Sanders Ashton Youboty Rendrick Taylor Tyrone McKenzie (Min) Kyle Moore (Det) Armando Allen (Chi) John Malecki Matt Allen Cory Brandon Thomas Claiborne Jonathan Crompton (Wash) Marc Dile Daniel Hardy Dominique Harris Brandon Heath Simoni Lawrence Alex Magee Nathan Overbay Maurice Price Ryan Purvis Nick Reveiz Jacob Rogers Al Woods (Det) D. J. Johnson (Min) Scott Albritton Ross Homan Will Barker (Mia) Allen Bradford (Sea)
Practice Squad
Chris Riley Ahmad Black Rudy Carpenter Collin Franklin Ed Gant Nic Grinsby Swanson Miller Matt Clapp
Injuries/reserve lists Andrew Economos was placed on the PUP list (Sept. 3); he was re-activated November 4. Cody Grimm suffered damage to the MCL in his right knee (week 3) and was placed on injured reserve. Running back Earnest Graham was placed on injured reserve after suffering a torn Achilles tendon during the game against Chicago. Gerald McCoy was placed in injured reserve with an arm injury (November 7)
Selected staff and personnel Head coach Raheem Morris – Club exercised two-year contract extension (fired January 2, 2012) General manager Mark Dominik – Four-year contract extension Pat Morris named offensive line coach. Keith Millard named defensive line coach. Grady Stretz named defensive line coach.
Preseason
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 at Kansas City Chiefs W 25–0 1–0 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 2 New England Patriots L 14–31 1–1 Raymond James Stadium Recap 3 Miami Dolphins W 17–13 2–1 Raymond James Stadium Recap 4 at Washington Redskins L 24–29 2–2 FedExField Recap On March 21, 2011, Aqib Talib was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon following an incident in Garland, Texas, in which Talib and his mother allegedly shot at a man. On August 23, Talib met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell regarding possible game suspensions regarding his charge. On August 27, it was announced that Talib would not be suspended for any games.
Regular season Schedule The Buccaneers' regular season schedule was announced April 19. Tampa Bay played Chicago at Wembley Stadium in London, England, on October 23 as part of the NFL International Series, with Tampa Bay serving as the host team.
The team's Ring of Honor induction ceremony took place during the December 4 game against Carolina. The team honored Jimmie Giles at halftime, and wore their orange throwback uniforms.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 11 Detroit Lions L 20–27 0–1 Raymond James Stadium Recap 2 September 18 at Minnesota Vikings W 24–20 1–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Recap 3 September 25 Atlanta Falcons W 16–13 2–1 Raymond James Stadium Recap 4 October 3 Indianapolis Colts W 24–17 3–1 Raymond James Stadium Recap 5 October 9 at San Francisco 49ers L 3–48 3–2 Candlestick Park Recap 6 October 16 New Orleans Saints W 26–20 4–2 Raymond James Stadium Recap 7 October 23 Chicago Bears L 18–24 4–3 Wembley Stadium (London, England) Recap 8 Bye 9 November 6 at New Orleans Saints L 16–27 4–4 Mercedes-Benz Superdome Recap 10 November 13 Houston Texans L 9–37 4–5 Raymond James Stadium Recap 11 November 20 at Green Bay Packers L 26–35 4–6 Lambeau Field Recap 12 November 27 at Tennessee Titans L 17–23 4–7 LP Field Recap 13 December 4 Carolina Panthers L 19–38 4–8 Raymond James Stadium Recap 14 December 11 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 14–41 4–9 EverBank Field Recap 15 December 17 Dallas Cowboys L 15–31 4–10 Raymond James Stadium Recap 16 December 24 at Carolina Panthers L 16–48 4–11 Bank of America Stadium Recap 17 January 1 at Atlanta Falcons L 24–45 4–12 Georgia Dome Recap LEGEND: Indicates that the Buccaneers wore their white jerseys at home. Orange indicates designated throwback game.
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Detroit Lions
Detroit scored two touchdowns in the second quarter, and led Tampa Bay 27–13 late in the game. Josh Freeman suffered through some cramping issues, but rallied the Buccaneers to score a touchdown with under four minutes remaining. The subsequent onside kick failed, but the Buccaneers were able to get the ball back in the final two minutes. Freeman drove Tampa Bay to the Lions 42-yard line in the closings seconds, but they were unable to score.
Week 2: at Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota led Tampa Bay 17–0 at halftime, but the Buccaneers rallied for the 24–20 victory on the road. In the final four minutes, Josh Freeman drove the Buccaneers 61 yards in 9 plays, capped off by a game-winning 4-yard touchdown run by LeGarrette Blount with 35 seconds remaining.
Week 3: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Tampa Bay led Atlanta 16–13 with 1:49 remaining. The Buccaneers faced 4th down & 1 at the Atlanta 44-yard line. The Falcons had no timeouts remaining, and were looking to get the ball back for one last drive. Josh Freeman and the Buccaneers lined up for the fourth down play, and the Falcons flinched on the hard count. The Falcons were penalized 5 yards for Offsides, the Buccaneers received a first down, and were able to run the clock out the secure the victory.
Tampa Bay snapped a 5-game losing streak to their division rivals, and coach Raheem Morris won his first game against Atlanta.
Week 4: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Tampa Bay hosted the winless Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football. Miscues and penalties nearly cost the Buccaneers control of the game, but Josh Freeman threw for 287 yards, and LeGarrette Blount rushed for 127 yards, as Tampa Bay won the game 24–17. Curtis Painter started at quarterback for the Colts, his first career NFL start.
The Colts led early after an Adam Vinatieri field goal. Tampa Bay then sacked Painter and recovered the fumble. Connor Barth's field goal attempt, however, bounced off the upright, and the score remained 3–0. Late in the first quarter, Freeman connected to Arrelious Benn, who ran 62 yards for an apparent touchdown. However, the touchdown was nullified since Benn has stepped out-of-bounds before the catch (illegal touching).
In the second quarter, the Buccaneers pinned the Colts at their own 2-yard line. Painter threw to Pierre Garçon, who ran for an 87-yard touchdown, and 10–0 lead. Tampa Bay answered with a touchdown, and trimmed the score to 10–7. In the final seconds of the first half, Freeman drove the Buccaneers to the Colts 19-yard line, but was sacked with 20 seconds to go and counting. The field goal unit hurried on to the field, and the field goal was initially good. Tampa Bay, however, was penalized for 12 men on the field, and the score was nullified.
Tied 17–17 in the fourth quarter, Tampa Bay received a punt with just under 7 minutes remaining. LeGarrette Blount blasted for a 35-yard touchdown run, and a 24–17 Tampa Bay lead. In the final three minutes, Tampa Bay ran out the clock, including a "4th & Inches" quarterback sneak by Freeman, to seal the victory.
This was Tampa Bay's first appearance on Monday Night Football since 2008, and the first home Monday night game since 2003. This MNF telecast was notable in that Hank Williams, Jr.'s "All My Rowdy Friends" opening was omitted due to comments he made on Fox & Friends earlier in the day where he compared a golf outing involving Barack Obama, John Boehner, Joe Biden, and John Kasich to "Hitler playing golf with Netanyahu."
Week 5: at San Francisco 49ers
Josh Freeman threw two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), as Tampa Bay was routed 48–3 at San Francisco. Tampa Bay was held to only 86 yards rushing, had three turnovers, and suffered 9 penalties for a total of 96 yards.
Week 6: vs. New Orleans Saints
Josh Freeman threw for 303 yards and two touchdown passes, as Tampa Bay rebounded from the previous week, and beat divisional rival New Orleans by a score of 26–20. Drew Brees threw three interceptions, and the Saints lost a fumble, and Tampa Bay scored 10 points off of turnovers.