Greg Schiano's latest questionable tactic backfires too

TAMPA -- One of the against-the-grain coaching tactics of Greg Schiano's staff came back to bite the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday during a critical sequence which contributed to a Bucs' loss.

The home team was down 28-21 when a New Orleans drive, which began at their own 5-yard line, stalled on 3rd and 9 at Tampa Bay's 33. New Orleans was about to attempt a 50-yard field goal when the Bucs' defensive line abruptly shifted and, according to Saints players, shouted in unison.

The shift earned Tampa Bay a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for trying to draw the offense offsides, a rarely-enforced infraction which set up a Pierre Thomas touchdown run four plays later. New Orleans eventually won 35-28, and Saints players later said they'd never seen teams try to draw them offsides to the extent that the Bucs did.

"I haven't seen it in the pros, because it's against the rules," said defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis. "You're allowed to do your shifts but you're not allowed to yell to try to get the offense to go offsides."

Saints guard Jahri Evans said game officials were notified of the practice before the play.

"I think that's just what they're being taught," he said. "And that's what we told the refs -- they can't try to draw us offsides in that situation or in any part of the game. I haven't seen that in a long time. I played Division II, and they didn't even do that in DII. It was definitely done to draw us offsides and we all knew it."

Schiano wouldn't address the play in post-game comments beyond saying, "I believe I know that rule, and I'll leave it at that."

Schiano has been criticized this season for instructing players to rush aggressively when opponents are kneeling on offense to run out the clock on a victory.