SB Nation - Barrett Ruud

New York Jets Pass Offense vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pass Defense

John B — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 13:00:20 -0000

by Tony Gutierrez - AP

-- FILE -- In this Nov. 22, 2007, file photo, New York Jets quarterback Kellen Clemens looks to pass during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Irving, Texas. Clemens was considered the favorite to be the starting quarterback until the team traded up from No. 17 to No. 5 and took a player they believe is the future of the franchise. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez,file)

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The Jets do not want this game in the hands of Kellen Clemens. Part of this has to do with how well the Jets run it. Part has to do with how poorly the Bucs stop the run. As much as anything is how little faith this organization has in Clemens. The Jets wouldn't have traded for Brett Favre if they thought Clemens was ready to be their guy. They certainly wouldn't have traded up for Mark Sanchez. Last week's horrendous performance against the Bills didn't inspire much confidence.

If there's one thing I'd like to see the Jets do it's let Clemens work without a huddle. He's been in this system for four years. He knows it inside and out. If you remember back to 2007, Clemens did some of his best work in late game situations. In other spots, he seemed tentative and unsure of himself. Going no huddle speeds things up for him and doesn't give him enough time to overthink. It also limits the defense's ability to substitute and throw exotic looks at him.

In recent weeks, Tampa Bay has switched from Jim Bates' system into a Cover 2 scheme. I predict things will be a bit different this week. The Bucs will load up the box with a lot of eight and nine man fronts. They want to take away the run and force Clemens to beat them. Tampa has a quality starting corner in second year man Aqib Talib. The other starter, Ronde Barber, was formerly a top corner. At 34 his skills have diminished, and his best years are behind him. Talib should be able to hold his own against Braylon Edwards or Jerricho Cotchery. Whoever doesn't draw Talib should have an edge against Barber, and Clemens should look in that direction.

Also look for the Jets to target Dustin Keller. Think back to Mark Sanchez's midyear struggles. The Jets seemed to make Keller Sanchez's first read to make things safer. Without much faith in their quarterback, we could see a similar focus. The Bucs have some solid linebackers in coverage in Barrett Ruud and Quincy Black.

Chat with Canal Street Chronicles' Dave over Bucs/Saints game.

Niko Houllis — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:00:11 -0000

saints

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You can check out my convo with Dave over at their SB Nation blog site and see what He asked Me and what I answered, as well as checking out their comments!

Here we go...

Niko: Its pretty well accepted the Saints of 2009 are better because of improved defense. What do you think are the biggest changes on defense that have helped?

DAVE: Most of it has to do with Gregg Williams. He has completely changed the culture of this defense as a whole and gets a lot more out of the defense than former coordinator Gary Gibbs ever did. Williams' defense emphasizes blitzing, turnovers and populating the ball; all in an aggressive manner. Former defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs ran a very plain scheme but Williams has proven these guys are capable of so much more, and runs many different schemes including both the 4-3 and 3-4.

That's not to say the off-season acquisition of players like Darren Sharper and Jabari Greer haven't proved to be genius. Those two alone have made a huge difference. But I still think the coaching and culture change is the more overriding factor.

Niko: How has Reggie Bush's role changed over the last year or two?

Dave: It's been a roller coaster to say the least, even up to today, and it's a controversial subject among fans. The first two seasons he usually saw a fair number of touches on a very regular basis. I would often complain that the offense was built too much around Reggie. Earlier this season, however, his role was greatly reduced with the emergence of Mike Bell and Pierre Thomas, leading many to wonder whether he was being phased out of the offense. But he's stepped it up the last few weeks, culminating with his two touchdown performance this past Sunday. But even then, in a game when he's playing incredibly well and the Saints are in need of offense, his touches were curiously limited. He is also used as a punt returner but hasn't been as effective as in years past.

Niko: How do Saints fans feel about TE Shockey? What does he do for the team?

Dave: I think they like him. My wife loves him and he's her favorite player. I like him but I'm a Drew Brees man myself. Shockey brings great energy. I have season tickets and sit two rows behind the Saints bench. Shockey is always standing on the bench, waving a towel and trying to get the crowd pumped. After last year I think fans were a little pissed and would rather have kept the draft picks they gave up for him. Now I don't think as many fans would say that.

From an on-the-field standpoint, he does all the things you always hear the TV announcers saying. Shockey is a threat in the red zone. He's a better-than-average run blocker. He opens up the field for Drew Brees and the other receivers. All that stuff.

Niko: After the NFC Championship appearance in 2006, The Saints have been average at best. Now they are undefeated at week 10. Do you think they are more liekly to be the 07 Pats; undefeated and a trip to the Superbowl ? or 98 Vikings whos high powered offense got them a 14-1 record and homefield advantage but a loss in the Championship game?

Dave: Neither. Both of those teams failed to win a Super Bowl. The Patriots lost that 2007 Super Bowl; certainly nothing I want to see for the Saints. The one goal for every single Saints fan is to see the team win a Super Bowl. As for going undefeated the entire way, I think that would be cool but only as icing on a Super Bowl championship cake. Maybe made by Duff from Ace of Cakes or the dude from Cake Boss.

Niko: My standard no.5 q- Who on the Bucs would you like to have, and who would you be willing to trade to get him if you could?

Dave: Barrett Ruud. I know he plays the inside of a 3-4 but if he was versatile enough to play in the Saints system, I think he would really round out the defense. If I have to be serious about a player I would be willing to trade I guess it would probably be a receiver. Saints have enough talent there to afford. Choosing one is the difficult part. You can have anyone but Colston. But I'll throw in Randall Gay just to sweeten the pot.

The Juxtaposition of Reality and Hope

LeeCaz — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:21:45 -0000

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Now that we’ve all come down from the high that goes along with such a big win, I thought we would initiate a little reality check before the Miami game. Now many will say that I am being a negative Nancy, but don’t get it twisted, I was screaming along with all the other Buccaneers fans on Sunday at RayJay. In fact my throat is still sore, and no, it’s not from eating all that crow as Bucem user Danny 180 so eloquently put it yesterday. The fact of the matter is, that despite the first and long awaited win, there are many problems that still plague this team. As the resident pessimist here on Bucem, I feel that it is my duty to point out these disturbing trends and recognize them for what they are, a detriment to winning more games. Read all about it after the jump...

I won’t get into Freeman’s play. It has already been discussed quite a bit over the past couple of days. I will simply say that I was more than happy with his first outing. It was extremely surprising, and I hope that he can continue to perform at a high level.

With all of that being said, here are 5 things that concern me going into Miami this week.

1. Our linebackers inability to cover the short to intermediate routes. Is it just me or does it seem like every time the opposing team needs to convert a 3^rd and short that all they have to do is run some type of crossing route right past the first down marker. Our young linebackers are constantly getting torched on these type of routes. Hayes and Black have shown promise at some points this season, and they are both undersized and fast. Logic would lead you to believe that this fact would translate into them being better than average in pass coverage, not worse. Odds are that one or both of them will be back on the special teams unit next season. This leads me to my next point.

2. Barrett Ruud. What’s his deal? He is currently tied for 6^th in the NFL with 68 total tackles. This stat actually seems pretty good, until you take into consideration that our defensive "scheme" is designed to filter everything back towards the middle of the field, where Ruud will clean everything up. I was more than a little surprised to see Ruud get absolutely trucked on the goal line Sunday by none other than…… Aaron Rodgers? I don’t know if his contract situation has got him down in the dumps or what, but in my opinion he is a shadow of his former self. He just seems to lack any fire while on the field. Are we going into the offseason looking for two or three new linebackers?

3. The secondary’s bad habit of giving up the big play, especially early. Luckily we were able to quickly answer the 74 yard TD pass given up to James Jones on their second play from scrimmage. Is it just too much to ask that these guys get some safety help every now and then? The refusal of Bates to adjust his scheme in regards to the secondary is extremely frustrating. Every time the opposing QB is looking downfield I find myself holding my breath and praying that they make a bad throw. Now, it is a given that the defensive line hasn’t done the secondary many favors, but they actually had a decent game on Sunday, dragging Rodgers down for six sacks. The fact that we held the vaunted Green Bay aerial attack to 234 yards is all for naught when you give up one or two big plays. It only takes one as they say. Talib and Jackson are the lone bright spots in the secondary. Talib is currently tied for 2^nd in the NFL with 5 interceptions on the year. At least we’re competitive in something I suppose.

4. Before we start handing out awards to the defensive line, let’s examine the porous run defense. They are still allowing opposing running backs to get through to the second level far too often. Green Bay, who is not exactly known for running it down anyone’s throat, managed to put up a startling 170 yards rushing on us, for 5.3 yards per rushing play. This does not bode well for the game this week vs. the "Wildcat" (A clichéd term that I could honestly go the rest of my life without hearing and still hate it). I don’t think it would be out of the realm of possibility that Miami puts up 300 rushing yards on us. Let’s just say that serious adjustments need to be made in practice this week, or we mightbe covering our eyes by the 3^rd quarter.

5. The kicking game. Dirk Johnson punted a ball on Sunday that I honestly think went about 25 yards. It wasn’t even high. I can kick it further than that consistently. The return teams have been doing a phenomenal job all season. Heck, the guys covering Johnson’s punts should love him, they don’t have to run nearly as far as they would with a real NFL punter. He needs to go. There has got to be someone better out there than him. Barth made one and missed one. As I watched him miss the 45 yard FG on Sunday, I remember thinking to myself that maybe it’s not such a great idea that we picked up a guy that got cut by the Kansas City Chiefs. He did make his 38 yarder. As a fan, I appreciate the fact the team is bringing in new guys who can hopefully get the job done, but isn’t there anyone out there better than these guys?

Like I said at the beginning of the post, I appreciate Sunday’s win vs. Green Bay just as much as any other fan. But now that I’ve got a taste of winning, I want more, lots more, and that isn’t going to happen unless something is done to address the issues above. Some of these things are probably not fixable during the rest of the season. Some of them are. All I ask is that the team takes steps to fix what is wrong.

I’m excited to watch the rest of the season now. Freeman showed me something last week, and I hope that it was a standard to which I can expect from him every week. The defense and special teams showed up in a huge way. Opinions differ on just how many wins Raheem needs in order to keep his job, but even with just this one, I think he may have bought himself another year. Whether or not that will be a good thing remains to be seen, but for the first time in a long time, I feel the slightest twinge of hope creeping up my spine.

2009 NFL Trading Deadline- Open Thread

BigBlueShoe — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:42:03 -0000

More photos » by Scott Heckel - AP

about 1 month ago: Cleveland Browns' Joshua Cribbs leaps defenders as he rushes for 18 yards after taking a direct snap from center in the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/The Repository, Scott Heckel)

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The deadline is in 2 hours and 20 minutes. Will a big deal go through? So far, the only major trade is the Chiefs sending defensive tackle Tank Tyler to the tackle-starved Panthers in exchange for a 5th round pick.

Will the Colts make a move for Joshua Cribbs, Barrett Ruud, or anyone else?

Use this thread to chat away about rumors, possible trades, and actual trades as they happen.

2009 NFL Trade Deadline: What will the Colts do?

BigBlueShoe — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:59:20 -0000

More photos » by Jim Prisching - AP

3 months ago: Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Cribbs, right, attempts to fend off a tackle by Green Bay Packers safety Anthony Smith (29) during the first half of an exhibition NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jim Prisching)

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If rumors are to be trusted, we've seen two pretty reliable sources say the Colts have actively worked to trade for Cleveland Browns kicker returner Josh Cribbs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Barrett Ruud. I think it is pretty safe to say that the Colts will try to do something before the deadline ~~today~~ tomorrow at 4PM Eastern. The last three seasons, the Colts have made two significant trades just prior to the deadline (with one going through and the other getting voided because the Buffalo Bills tried to pawn an injured player on us).

So, factoring all this in, here is a bit of analysis:

Trading for Cribbs would be an absolute coup. Cribbs had a TD on a return yesterday against the Steelers, and if you give this offense the kind of field position Cribbs gains on a consistent basis, watch out! Cribbs would immediately energize a rather stagnant return game, and provide another weapon in the arsenal for a 5-0 team.
Ruud is, arguably, the best Tampa-2 middle linebacker in football right now. The problem is, the Bucs don't play Tampa-2 anymore. Gary Brackett is a great Tampa-2 backer, especially in coverage (where he is arguably the best). But, whereas Brackett struggles in run support, Ruud seems to thrive. Ruud also brings size to any linebacking corps, at 6'2 245 pounds. He's essentially Philip Wheeler, except good. If Indy trades for him, they will likely move him to strongside backer, meaning Wheeler's days in Indy are numbered.
People keep yapping about Glenn Dorsey of the Chiefs. Yes, he'd likely play much better in a Tampa-2 4-3 defense. And likely, Dorsey is the under tackle. However, Eric Foster and Daniel Muir have played very well, and Fili Moala is now in the rotation. So, for me personally, I don't see a need for Dorsey.
Terrell Owens. Um, no. If the Colts wanted an old, overpaid wide receiver, they'd have kept Marvin Harrison.
Another Buffalo Bills player to think about is Roscoe Parrish. Parrish is a better wide receiver than Cribbs and, in some ways, just as dynamic a returner.
Left or right tackles. It is very, very rare that a offensive lineman is traded before the deadline. So, I don't expect this.

Of course, it is entirely possible that the Colts will simply stand pat. They are 5-0 after all. However, we've seen to much activity from them to suggest they will simply "take it easy" today. So, for someone like me, I expect a trade. I mean, what ease do I have to look forward to today, a Monday after a bye week?

Good morning, Sunshine! Welcome to bye week football

BigBlueShoe — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 14:35:30 -0000

More photos » by Tony Gutierrez - AP

about 1 month ago: Oklahoma staff assist quarterback Sam Bradford (14) after being injured on a sack in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Texas, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009, in Dallas. Bradford did not return to the game. Texas won 16-13. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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I feel sorry for Sam Bradford, re-injuring his shoulder against Texas. And while nutsacks like Mike Florio are laughing at Bradford for not entering the draft last year, where he surely would have been a top 10 pick, I think it was a smart move.

Bradford's "knocks" are his durability and the system they run at Oklahoma (spread offense). If he's had declared for the draft last year, he'd have come into the NFL as a sophomore (age 21). Sorry, but you throw a 21-year-old rookie QB out there, safeties like Ed Reed and pass rushers like Dwight Freeney won't give Bradford a bruised shoulder. They'd tear his arm off. If Bradford's injury shows anything it's that he is not ready, physically, for the NFL.

Sure, if he wanted a quick payday, not caring about whether he becomes a great QB or not, then the advice of a sleaze bag like Florio makes sense. However, if you are Bradford, and you are looking for a long and fruitful career in the NFL, your body must be able to take the pounding. This newly injured shoulder will allow him to rest, heal up, and (hopefully) help him come back to Oklahoma next season for his senior year, where he can prove he is durable and gifted enough to play NFL-style football. Because, seriously folks, professionals in the NFL hit a lot harder than the pampered Longhorns in Texas.

OK, enough college football. Today, the pros play. I'm looking forward to Giants v. Saints along with Ravens v. Vikings.

Some interesting trade rumor news:

Chiefs are looking to trade Glenn Dorsey, maybe.
Some idiot at FOX Sports thinks the Colts should trade for Terrell Owens. I personally wouldn't take that slow, washed-up, pass-dropping clown if YOU paid ME. Seriously, what have we seen from Owens in two years that shows he is better than Pierre Garcon, Anthony Gonzalez, or even Hank Baskett? Guy drops more balls than your blind cousin in a flag football game.
The Browns do not want to trade Josh Cribbs to the Colts or any other team.

In case you are wondering what I think on this (because I know you do), I do indeed think the Colts will make a trade before tomorrow's deadline. For two of the past three years, the Colts have made a major trade just prior to the deadline. They traded a second round pick for Anthony McFarland in 2006 and a 3rd rounder for John McCargo in 2008. The McCargo trade was voided after he failed a physical with the Colts, a move I still find a little dubious on the part of the Bills.

The current needs for the Colts are tackle, kick returner, and maybe a pass-rushing DT.

Open threads coming soon. Until then, chit-chat here.

Oh, and congrats to shake n bake, whose Iowa Hawkeyes are still undefeated. It's crap like this that makes me hate college football. How an undefeated Big 10 team is not ranked in the top 5, I don't know.

[UPDATE]: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand speaking of trades the Colts, right on cue, we have news from Pewter Report that the Buccaneers are talking with the Colts about trading linebacker Barrett Ruud to Indy. Ruud is Tampa Bay's middle linebacker and is 6'2, 240 pounds. If Indy gets him, they will likely transition him to SAM backer.

With game 5 coming up, a look at some Top 5's.....

Niko Houllis — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 19:00:19 -0000

game 5

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Some Top 5 things from our 5th game of the season, at the Linc in Philadelphia!

5 BEST PLAYERS ON THE FIELD FOR THE BUCS-

The new 2009 Cadillac Williams looks BETTER than the 2005 model!
Tanard Jackson returns to help out at safety. Is he just sticking his thumb in the dyke?
Chris Hovan is becoming a vocal leader on the defense.
Geno Hayes and Quincy Black are quickly catching up to Barrett Ruud. Linebackers are becoming best unit on the team.
Ronde Barber's body is in a state of temporal flux. His body is in his 30's, while Barber's legs are in his 20s.

5 PLAYERS STRUGGLING TO KEEP THEIR JOBS BASED ON PERFORMANCE-

Gaines Adams received a stay of execution from the govonor last week, but one quarter does not a season make. He may not get a chance this week with an injury bug.
After week one, Michael Clayton had Raheem Morris and Steve Duemig daring anyone to call and ask why the Bucs resigned him. Both signed up for unlisted numbers this week.
Kellen Winslow has 5 catches for 35 yards over the last two games. Young Quarterbacks best friend my BEEP!
Jeremy Trueblood is supposed to be part of the strongest unit on the Bucs. Instead he is becoming the weakest link with 4 false starts in 4 games. This after leading the Bucs in penalties last year.
Josh Johnson may not exactly deserve to be on this list as he only has one start for the team, but this team has already got a QB that it expects to have to deal with growing pains for. Johnson looked sharp on his first pass, but looked every bit the roll of the young first start QB afterwards. Going against the Eagles defense will not be J.J.s fault, but a very poor outing could bring Leftwich back up to 1 on the depth chart; at least until Faine returns and/or the bye week when we could see Josh Freeman. more after the jump...

5 WAYS THE BUCS CAN WIN THIS SUNDAY-

Eagles veterans get 2002 NFC Championship flashbacks and drive to the Veterans Stadium location instead of the Linc.
Matt Bryant releases the Matt Bryant Day Curse and new kicker Shane Andrus makes all his kicks.
Josh Johnson is able to find K2 and Jeremy Stevens 7-10 yards downfield consistantly.
Our fully restored 2005 Cadillac Williams is featured by Morris in the run & short passing game.
Bucs defense continues to show improvement and faith buying into Jim Bates' system.

5 REASONS TO WATCH THE ENTIRE GAME-

Your a Bucs fan, die hard, and you dont miss a single game.
Your a glutton for punishment.
You were the one screaming for J.J. to start this preseason, and here he is.
You enjoy watching the 2 guys who make the most money on the team get overpaid to not do their job.
Your part of the 10% that does NOT root for the underdog, and will scream "NO MERCY" in the 4th Quarter.

and last but not least...

5 THINGS WERE TIRED OF HEARING FROM THE FOX BROADCASTING TEAM

How the Bucs don't have Derrick Brooks on the team anymore.
The fact that fantasy football players pick every opponent vs the Bucs to win.
Our 28th or 31st rankings in either catagory.
That Monte Kiffin isnt on the team anymore. And finally...
Anything from Tony Siragusa!

Week 2 Preview: New York Giants (2-0) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-2)

Buc Wild — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 19:00:15 -0000

More photos » by Brian Blanco - AP

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Two games are in the books. The Bucs record is 0-2. We knew the schedule was tough coming in to the season, but I didn't imagine that our biggest opponent would be us. The Bucs have been beaten with the help of some self destruction. The trend has to be stopped or the season will get out of hand.

Next in town are the New Yok Giants, fresh off of a last second win against the Dallas Cowboys. New York rolls into town a crisp 2-0 and looking to continue their streak. The last meeting the Bucs and Giants had seems like ages ago, but it was January of 2007 when the Giants came into Tampa as the wildcard winner and walked out of the stadium a winner, on their way to a Super Bowl win.

Both teams have changed drastically since then, so let's take a look at some of the keys to the game.

As previously mentioned, the Giants are coming off of two big wins over division opponents. The Bucs are coming off two huge losses against non-division opponents. This would seem to be a case of two teams heading in drastically different directions. The Giants are led by (almost) $100 million dollar man Eli Manning. They feature a run game with two speeds; run you over and run by you. Their receivers aren't household names, yet, but are getting the job done. I'll get into some basic stats later in the column.

The Bucs seem to be a hodge podge team thrown together at the last minute. Our offense can be efficient when the run game is working, and our defense, well, I can't even come up with a joke here. Let's just move on.

When the Giants have the ball.

Pick your poison against the Giants. They can run the ball down your throats with bruiser Brandon Jacobs and back up Ahmad Bradshaw. This used to be a team that needed Jacobs and crew to run well to win. But with Manning growing up, and with no prima donna to appease, the passing game is clicking. They have several options to use on any play and are seeing a true deep threat in Manningham emerge with a classic possession guy in Steve Smith come of age.

The targets over the first two weeks have been evenly distributed. It's ahrd to shut a guy down when Manning shows no favoritism. It will be important for the Giants to mix up the play calling and keep the Bucs on their toes. The more they feature all receivers, the tougher it is to stop someone.

On the Bucs defensive side, it's still all about the big plays. There was improvement from Week 1 to Week 2, but the big plays were still there. WIth Phillips out, we wil be relying even more on backups to help shut down the deep stuff. I almost wonder if going to zone coverage for half the game would benefit us. You have to be disciplined in zone coverage and can't sneak up (Sabby), but it takes the island responsibilities away from each guy.

Of course, man to man coverage works fine when there is a pass rush. The good news? The Bucs recorded a few sacks last week against the Bills, so it can be done. The bad news? The Giants have given up one sack all year. Adams and company have to get in the backfield. If we have to blitz, then so be it, but thus far I think we've seen that bringing four and dropping seven hasn't worked. It's time to adapt Mr. Bates.

When Jacobs gets the ball, we need the early 2000's Bucs to come to play. We need multiple people hitting and holding the carrier. Play through the whistle. Wrap up. Bring help defense to the game. Or, as we can now call it, play Pop Warner football. Everyone runs through the play. If the Bucs don't tackle well, you will see alot of Mr. Jacobs bouncing around in our secondary.

When the Bucs have the ball

18 carries last week. If we have less than 20 carries in a week, call it a loss. This goes hand in hand with throwing more than 35 times. We aren't built for it. We have to establish the run. We've got three great backs, including an ex-Giant. I bet he'd like to run wild this week, let's give him the chance. Stay in the game plan. If we're down 7-10, so be it, run the effing ball.

With Leftwich enjoying a statuesque performance in the backfield, the Bucs OL and RB/TE's have to pick up the blitz. When the heat is brought, we need to protect Leftwich. He has shown that with time, he will deliver a strike. The Bucs may luck out and not have to face Justin Tuck, but the Giants DL is as deep as any in the league. It will be important to pass block well and I wouldn't be opposed to going to a shorter passing game to start. Use Clayton, Stevens and Stovall in the short stuff. Keep Leftwich clean. Run the ball. Then go deep off of that. Easy enough to say, let's see what Olsen cooks up.

We have to find a big play threat in the absence of Bryant. Winslow stepped up last week, but while he led the team in targets, I was surprised we didn't go over the middle more. To be blunt, Stovall won't get it done as a go to guy. He might work as the red zone threat, or a chuck and pray type of offense, but we need to get Winslow and the RB/s more involved. We ran one screen last week. It failed. Let's use the whole playbook here. Keep the Giants guessing. This only helps Leftwich as he won't be getting slaughtered in the pocket.

Playaction passing has to be part of the plan. This means establish the run. Please see the first paragraph of this section.

The Giants have to do one thing to beat us. Make us one dimensional. If I'm the Giants, I load up early, stop the run, and let the DL loose to hit Leftwich. If he gets hit, he gets antsy and starts mis-firing. The run game makes our offense go. WIthout it, we're severely handicapped.

Traditional Team Stats

Bucs	Stats	Giants
20.5	Points Per Game	28
33.5	Points Allowed/Game	24
401.5	Yards For/Game	389
286	Pass yards/game	289
115.5	Run Yards/game	100
31:50	T.O.P.	35:28
450	Yards Allowed/Game	325
282	Pass Yards All/Game	157
168	Run yards All/Game	168
2	Sacks against	1
3	Sacks for	3
0	Turnover Ratio	+4
31.03%	3rd down % For	42.86%
31.81%	3rd down % against	47.83%

Oh man. They gain alot of yards through the air, we give up alot of yards through the air. Wonder how they will attack us? Their defense has been pretty stingy also, so this will be a good test for our new offense. 3rd downs will be key, check out the differences there.

Advanced Team Stats (remember positive good for offense)

Offense

		DVOA	Pass	Rank	Run	Rank
8	TB	16.90%	27.80%	14	16.10%	8
9	NYG	15.70%	68.70%	3	-29.40%	29

Pretty close in total offense, but look at the differences in pass and run. We're above average in pass offense, but the Giants are excellent in the air. On the ground, this almost seems backwards. The Giants are near the bottom. It should be noted they have zero rushing TD's currently.

Defense (negative good for defense)

		DVOA	Pass	Rank	Run	Rank
13	NYG	-1.60%	-36.20%	4	32.80%	32
32	TB	42.60%	69.00%	31	16.80%	28

See that 32 next to TB? That's not good. We are 31st against the pass in adjusted value over average. The only good news here is the Giants are awful against the run thus far and should allow us to exploit the ground game.

Traditional Player Stats

	Comp %	TD	INT	Sack	Rating
Byron Leftwich	56	4	2	2	80.5
Eli Manning	67.2	3	1	1	103.2

	Carries	Yards	YPC	TD
Derrick Ward	21	94	4.5	1
Cadillac Williams	20	106	5.3	1
Brandon Jacobs	32	104	3.3	0
Admad Bradshaw	21	97	4.6	0

	Rec	Yards	YPC	TD
Kellen Winslow	12	120	10	2
Michael Clayton	7	120	17.1	0
Steve Smith	16	214	13.4	1
Mario Manningham	13	208	16	2

Key Matchups

Penn/Trueblood vs Giants DE - If Justin Tuck is out, this gets a bit easier. But the edge rushers on the Giants are no joke. The tackle duo has to keep the pass rushers at bay. A one sack day from these two will be a win. Anything more and Leftwich might be an on-field casualty

Derrick Ward vs his old team - Truth is, Ward as one of our lead RB's has to get going. There's no doubt he wants to show well this week. He, Cadillac and Graham need a minimum of 30 total touches (carries and receptions).

Manningham vs Ronde/Talib - I couldn't tell you who will be on who. Smith seems like the number one receiver, which means he would draw Talib, but with Manningham having the speed, Talib might shift over there. This will be a battle to watch. The Bucs can't let Manningham run deep. He has the speed to beat us.

Players to Watch

Sean Mahan - It's a different OL with him instead of Faine. This will be a huge test. He has to lead the line and open up holes for the running game. The Giants DL will bring it, let's hope Mahan is up to the task.

Gaines Adams - I want one sack. That's all I ask. Get started this week.

Bo Barrett Ruud - Ruud has to be leading the attack on defense. Needs to be quick to the ball, be decisive and wrap up. Jacobs isn't a guy to be tentative with.

Brandon Jacobs - WIll just wear a defense out. He knows players like to go low on him once he gets outside, so don't be surprised to see a few low tackles that are missed. He could make this a long day for the Bucs.

Kenny Phillips - He may draw Winslow at times. Let's see if he can keep up.

Things to watch

Line of scrimmage - We've all heard it. You win the line of scrimmage, you win the game. Well, the Giants DL looks to be a menace, the Bucs OL has been fairly stout but will miss Faine. On the flip side, our pass rush is pretty weak. This doesn't set up well.

Field Position - Our offense can move the ball but our defense can't stop anyone. If the Giants have to move the ball 80 yards on every drive, I think we can get a stop or two. If they are starting around the 50, look out.

Assignments - This has been an issue I've harped on for both games. With Phillips out, our safeties are in the msot precarious position. Keep an eye on Sabby and Will Allen. Stay true to the scheme guys.

Prediction

Well, I've never been a rose colored glasses kind of guy. I've seen the Bucs play two games with the offense being a shade above average overall and the defense just allowing plays to happen at anytime. The Giants are still one of the elite teams in the NFC. I don't see this being pretty. Giants 28 Bucs 17.

Five Questions with Big Blue View

Buc Wild — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:30:17 -0000

Each week, we've had an opportunity to ask and answer five questions from our opponent's SBN blog. This week, with the Giants on tap, we shipped off five questions to Big Blue View and answered the give they sent us. We tend to focus on the upcoming week, who's out, who to watch out for, how certain players are doing etc. This week, we turned over the question asking to the users here at Buc Em. You guys threw a few questions our way, and in turn, we asked Ed over at Big Blue View.

Be sure to hop over there and check out their take on the game this week, as well as their Q&A with us.

1) With Plaxico gone, has this helped or hurt the evolution of Eli Manning as a quarterback? Do you feel the 2007 playoff run was the coming of age of both Manning and the team?

How much more does Eli need to 'evolve' before people -- even some Giants fans -- will acknowledge that he is a card-carrying member of the Elite Quarterbacks Club in the NFL? A Super Bowl MVP performance in '07 in which he outplayed Jeff Garcia, Tony Romo, Brett Favre and Tom Brady. A Pro Bowl season last year in which he had the best completion percentage of his career. He's not his brother, but he is elite. As for coming of age, I do think this is a very mature team that seldom gets rattled, and 2007 has a lot to do with it. Sunday's Dallas game, playing in front of 105,000 people in the first game at JerryWorld, and winning on a last- second field goal, was a great
example.

2) With Derrick Ward gone, has this hurt the running game. Zero rushing TD's through week 2, is this a sign of Jacobs slowing down, missing Ward, just a fluke, or teams daring Eli to beat them?

Ward is a good back, but it's not his absence that has hurt the ground game. To be honest, I'm not sure what the issue is with the run game right now. Teams might be loading the box a little, but I also think part of it is that the two teams the Giants have played Washington and Dallas -- are among the best run defenses in the
league. Ahmad Bradshaw can handle the No. 2 role behind Jacobs -- and a lot of Giants fans have long thought he is a better player than Ward. The only issue at running back right now is that Danny Ware, the third back, is out for a couple of weeks with an elbow injury. I'm confident that in the end the Giants will run the ball just as
well as they have the past couple of years.

3) With Tuck out this weekend (assuming he is), who should the Bucs look out for? Is their a primary pass rusher or blocker that has to be accounted for on every play?

Well, of course you need to account for Osi Umenyiora. I have the 'who is better, Tuck or Osi?' argument with Giants fans all the time. Tuck is a better run defender and a more consistent guy who is a force on every play. Osi is more of a guy who might not show up for most of a game, but in an instant can make a spectacular, game-changing play. If Tuck is out, Mathias Kiwanukawill play and, to be honest, I think he is every bit as good if not better than Umenyiora.

4) Tom Coughlin was on his way out a few years back but with a Super Bowl win has settled in. How long will he make it in New York?

As long as he wants to. It's funny, the folks from 'Hogs Haven' asked me the same thing a couple of weeks ago and I don't even know why that's a question at this point. He's got the Super Bowl title, a good shot at another one this year, and is working on four straight playoff appearances. He is going to go down as one of the three
greatest coaches in Giants history, along with Bill Parcells and Steve Owen.

5) You asked us, now I'll ask you. If you could take one of the Bucs players and put him on your team, who would it be and why?

This is a question I am going to have a difficult time answering -- I simply don't know the Buccaneers' roster very well. I might take Barrett Ruud since the Giants don't have an obvious long-term replacement for Antonio Pierce. I know he is getting up in age, but considering how thin the Giants are these days in the defensive backfield I would take Ronde Barber for a year, as well.

Thanks to Ed and Big Blue View for their time and answers.

An incomplete effort, from top to bottom.

Buc Wild — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 05:00:16 -0000

It's always tough to try and remain objective when you're not only writing about your favorite team, but writing in a place where a few other folks will read it. I've done my best to remain impartial, and would like to think I'll continue to do so. This column is one of those from a disappointed fan. I've never been blindly optimistic or blatantly pessimistic instead trying to remain objective and as impartial as I can. I'm not sure how this will go over, whether it will look like whining after a loss or a quick look at some big issues with the team. Take it for what it's worth.

That being said, I was pretty fired up after the recent loss to the Bills. The Bills beat us, hats off to them. I can handle being out-manned, out-coached, out-schemed, but I can't handle sloppy play, blown assignments and undisciplined play. You all are probably sick of me using that word, undisciplined. It's not a buzz word, or one of those exciting football terms. It's something that we all have to have in our job, and it also falls in the realm of being an NFL player.

But I'm not an old timer calling out the team to play more like the olden days with leather helmets and no forward pass. A well coached, well disciplined team always shows well, win or loss. Like I said, I can handle losing, I can handle mistakes, but not when they come in bunches. And right now, I see a lot of sloppy play.

I don't even want to dive into the Dallas game. The blown assignments there have been beaten to death. We know about Sabby and his exploits, Phillips and his ability to seemingly miss every other tackle. We know about the wide pass rush that leaves open cut back lanes and room for QB scrambles.

This week should have been different. Doesn't mean a win was on the way, but I thought for sure I'd see a better coached, better prepared, better disciplined team. And there were times were the Bucs looked as such. But the bitter taste that still resides was one of amateur hour.

I lost track of how many missed tackles there were. And it started on the first play when Flip tried to blow up T.O. rather than tackle him. Sure, that tackle won't get you on Sportscenter, or on Jacked Up, but it saves yards. Fundamentals guys, geez. That lone missed tackle was a microcosm of the entire day.

I saw Flip miss more tackles, I saw Sabby take poor routes to the ball and miss tackles. I saw Barrett Ruud get faked out of his jock strap. I watched Quincy Black give a tight end the edge, the list goes on. It was a pathetic showing. I wish i could blame it on old habits, but a lot of these guys are new starters. I wish I could blame it on regime, but Gruden and Allen are quietly collecting paychecks while unemployed.

We had over 100 yards in penalties (13 for 112 yards to be exact), including 4 facemask calls. That's ridiculous. We saw Gaines Adams yet again throw his hat in the ring for a few penalties. Jeremy Trueblood decided to re-visit late last year and get a few penalties called. Illegal touching, blocks in the back, you name it, the Bucs did it. Especially aggravating.

Blown assignments. I'm happy to say no one ran free down the middle of the field, at least, not that we saw or were beat by. But we saw pass rushers go up field with no idea where the play was, we saw underneath coverage break down and we saw a few over the top plays where other options were open.

Again, getting beat isn't what I want, but I can handle it. What I can't stand to see is this lack of effort. I'm not calling anyone lazy, but to see Fred Jackson continually turn up field and blast through our guys while they had given up on the play is ridiculous. It's just not understanding the play isn't over.

I'll get off the soapbox in just a second, but want to make something clear. I have no issue with another team or player being better than the Bucs. I just don't want to see guys standing there instead of wrapping up, or flying in trying to make the highlight reel and costing us 7-9 yards. If this were a movie, there would be a big locker room scene with the coach yelling at the players, and the players getting back to basics with tackling drills with some hit song in the background.

The blame is spread equally amongst coaches, players and front office. The players have to play and finish, the coaches have to hold them accountable and the front office has to deliver the message from the top down.

Hopefully, this is the last article I have to write on this topic. Teams that turn the ball over, commit excessive penalties, and don't stick to their assignments aren't successful. Fix it now Bucs.