SB Nation - Maurice Stovall

Whats wrong with the offense? Lets start with some coaching shall we...

Niko Houllis — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:52:09 -0000

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Expect a revolving door for Morris' assistant coaches on both sides of the ball this offseason.

Just not the one your thinking. After watching the Jets game over again (Yes it was more painful to watch the second time around), I thought about the reasons why we could be playing so bad here in week 13, when it appeared we had begun to play better. Well everyone was right...its coaching. But, not so fast; I'm talking about assistant coaching. Because before I am up for a wholesale change of coaches for a team that had zero to no talent to begin with, lets look at what was observed in game replay.

I'm not going to sit here and say that Offensive Line Coach Pete Mangurian is not doing a good job, because there is no way that I know enough, but if we are going to look at coaches responsible for getting players ready, dont we look at positiion coaches too? True Mangurian came from the Patriots, but he was the tight ends coach there for 4 years. Yes he coached the OL with Dan Henning in Atlanta before New England.

Another thing to consider about the O line, is the disaster that is/was the OC this year. First they were told to lose weight and learn the Zone Blocking scheme. Now that has been abandoned, and they seem to be getting dominated by a much better defensive front 7 than people give the Jets credit for. Not that the line had ever been considered a dominant rushing line. Its strength has always seemed to be pass protectiion (or false starts from the right tackle position) rather than run, and if anything, Aaron Sears was probably the best run blocker on the team. Still, if we can criticize Bill Muir......

Tim Berbenich is listed as the assistant wide receivers coach, but on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers own website, I do not see a Wide Receivers coach besides Berbenich. He has been with the Bucs for the last 4 years, prior to 2009 he was the quality control coach in 2006 and 2007, then in 2008 he was assistant running backs coach when the Bucs rushed for a 4.07 per carry average; 5th best in Bucs history. He partnered up with running backs coach, Richard Bissacia. Injuries have hit the WR corp hard this year, with Antonio Bryant, without argument the best WR, pretty much being missing everything from the get go this year. He seems to only now be in proper form. So just when we get our starting WR back, our second string one goes down(Clayton), and our third (Stroughter). Is it little wonder the offense did not acommplish much. AB was being canceled out by Jets shut down corner Darrelle Revis, so the heart of our passing offense was Brian Clark and Maurice Stovall. Again, not sure if coaching is the problem here, but WR position is weak enough talent wise, after you talk about AB that is. I expect some coaching changes at One Buc, and assistant coaches should not feel safe.

Speaking of running backs, why dont we run the ball more? Well, we are very inconsistant in our rushing attack, and I think you can bet that this seasons running backs coach will not be back in 2010. That would be Steve Logan, who before coming to Tampa Bay this season, was the Offensive Coordinator for Jeff Jagodzinski at Boston College.

Thats right, he was the guy who CALLED plays for Jagodzinski at Boston College, so I'm guessing the Bucs did not want to remove the Offensive Coordinator AND and Running Backs coach too. Jags was fired 10 days before the season started because he could not call/implement and NFL capable offense.

I do not think Mark Dominik and Raheem Morris, plus whomever else is responsible, had any idea how many dominoes would fall if they didnt get their picks as OC and DC right.

On the defensive side, expect the Bucs to go after defensive backs coach Jimmy Lake. It was probably felt there would be an uproar from fans if the Bucs stocked their defense with two assistants from an 0-16 team instead of the one: LB coach Joe Barry.

If you think the offseason is going to be about who we bring in for free agents, and the draft, think again. Coaches we pick up will be just as important as to how the Bucs far in 2010, when Morris WILL officially be on the hot seat starting with game one.

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

John B — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 21:03:42 -0000

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Rookie quarterback melts down. That was the story last week for Tampa. We know how they feel. In his first four starts, though, Josh Freeman had looked pretty good for a rookie with a 7 to 5 touchdown to interception ratio. Accuracy had been something of an issue as it is with many rookies. However, Freeman offered a glimpse of what he may become two weeks ago with a 20 for 29 250 yard game against Atlanta. You may remember I was against taking Freeman in the Draft last April because he threw a ton of interceptions in college and seemed to have a high bust factor. He's given the Bucs room for cautious optimism this year.

I tend to think a second straight rough week is more likely than a bounce back this week. This is a really good Jets defense that will throw looks at him he has never seen. He's also going to have to do without his top wide receiver in any likely scenario. Our friends at Buc Em seem to think Antonio Bryant will be able to hold his own against Revis. I respectfully disagree with our friends. As they point out, Revis shut down Andre Johnson and Randy Moss. Is there anything Bryant can do that Moss or Johnson can't do better? I don't think so. I understand the pass rush does aid corners, but the reverse is also true. Part of the reasons the Jets have had so impressive rushing the passer has been that the coverage has held when blitzes have been picked up, which gives rushers extra time to get to the quarterback.

The Bucs will probably have Freeman focus on Kellen Winslow to make his throws safe. Winslow is Tampa's leading receiver with 58 receptions and 633 yards. This could be a game for Kerry Rhodes to reassert himself. I'm not sure I like the matchup between Winslow and Eric Smith. Winslow's way more athletic.

Beyond that, it's not clear what Tampa has in the passing game. Both Michael Clayton and Sammie Stroughter are battling injuries and quite possibly could miss the game, which would leave Maurice Stovall and his 18 receptions in the starting lineup. With Revis on Bryant, the Jets can scheme their coverage around Winslow because Lito Sheppard should be able to handle his assignment without much help.

Another problem will be protection. Tampa Bay's tackles, Jeremy Trueblood and Donald Penn, and center Jeff Faine are all in the top seven at their position in terms of pressures allowed. This could force the rookie to make a lot of mistakes. Guard Davin Joseph in in the top five while Jeremy Zuttah is in the top fifteen. It's a young line that is still a work in progress.

The 5 Things the Bucs need for a happy 2010

Niko Houllis — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:50:52 -0000

What the Bucs need to do to have a better 2010...

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In no particular order, here are five things the Bucs need to do to insure a happy Buccaneers 2010 season; with an extra point after the jump.

Continue to show improvement in play- The Bucs have been blown out by double digits in 5 of the first 7 games. In the last four? The Bucs lost one big, but won one, and lost the other two by a combined 5 points!.... in the last minute of each game! Josh Freeman is outplaying the other two big named rookie quarterbacks, as Josh is now 69 out of 125 (55.2%) for 793 yards 7 TDs and 5 Ints. His 76.5 QB Rating is higher than the 62.4 for Stafford or 62.1 for Sanchez. Both of those QBs have thrown for less completion %, and have a higher interception rate too.
Maintain continuity- Many fans want to see Bill Cowher coach this Bucs team. Yet Cowher's success comes from his ownership giving him 15 plus years to run the team, and not let him go at the first sign of a poor record or poor showings. The Quick Pull that fans want to do with Raheem is exactly the thing that would have ruined Cowher. Redskins QB Campbell is a fine example of what happens to a QB who gets a new Coordinator each year. Closer to home Bucs Shawn King had a new coordinator each year, Shula in '99, Les Steckle, Clyde Christianson, Jon Gruden was no. 4 in 4 years. Keep Raheem Morris, Greg Olsen, and remove the Bates defensive coaches so everyone is on the same page. We are seeing this improvement we have been looking for all year. If it continues, this offseason isnt the time to do it.s
Import more defensive talent, starting with the Defensive Line- Now that its obvious the Bucs return to the Tampa Two is a little more long term, the restocking of the Bucs defense is now on a lesser scale. Before the season is over, the defensive coaches need to assess if anyone on the roster is capable of taking over the undertackle 3 technique. If not, then this is a critical position on the roster that must be addressed in the NFL Draft, and Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh is a popular choice for that particular need. The secondary will need some attention too, as Ronde Barber is not getting younger, and Sabby Piscitelli needs to be assessed if he is the man to take the free safety position for the Bucs.
Punting is fundamental- Its not FUN though for Bucs fans, watching Dirk Johnson punt that is. The Bucs 'for real' punter Josh Bidwell's condition must be assertained to determine if his season ending injury is going to hamper his efforts in 2010. The last thing a struggling defense needs is a poor punter. Connor Barth seems to be the real deal in the place kicking department. When he misses, he misses by feet, not stadiums. Matt Bryant was similar.
Find a franchise running back- Take a moment to get your breath back after reading this one...and tell everyone which of the three running backs is a real, bonafide franchise back, that can be relied upon in a pinch. Cadillac? Love the whole story, its a great one, but he is 90% of what he was. A franchise back can break a 45 yard TD. Which one of our Backs do you see doing that? Derrick Ward has been a disapointment, but will be given another chance next year. Earnest Graham may be the real deal, but we need an LT, a Bettis, an........Alstott, to go with our Freeman.

OK OK, Extra Point- It may not sound popular. But number 5 + 1; Re-sign Antonio Bryant- Forget the injury. They happen. Its not a career bug, but it was bad enough that it affected most of he season. Not really his fault. What did he do with it? Did he cause a disruption in the lockeroom? Wasnt that the worry after all about AB? Not that he could do the job, but that he wouldnt turn into a head case. Two seasons now, and the worse we have is Bryant saying throw the ball more please. Tell me he is wrong first before you let him go, because you can bet there will be a line at the Free Agency window if he is not given a long term contract. Also...start Sammy Stroughter and Maurice Stovall so 1) Sammy can show he is a serious #2 guy, or 3) Stovall can finally show us he is more than a special team star.

The Linc - Jason Avant is happy to pay his taxes

JasonB — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:45:15 -0000

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Didinger: The Sorry State of the Bucs
When you see the sorry state of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it is hard to believe that just ten months ago they were sailing along with a 9-3 record, leading the NFC South and on course for the playoffs.

Bucs unable to form an identity in 2009 - Buc 'Em
Who are the Bucs? That was a leading question coming into the 2009 season. With all new personnel manning the sidelines, a few free agent acquisitions, new playbooks and new schemes, none of us were sure what we would see or what are defining trait would be. Thus far, that defining trait has been inconsistency.

Buccaneers' Stovall working toward goals | Philadelphia Daily News | 10/07/2009
Local guy Maurice Stovall, a member of the Bucs, talks about playing in his hometown.

Paul Domowitch: Slots subject to 'tax,' but Eagles' Avant is willing | Philadelphia Daily News | 10/07/2009
"It's called 'taxing,' " Avant said. "You go over the middle, you're going to have to pay a tax. You can do business there, but you're going to get taxed. And that tax is getting hit. You get used to it."

EaglesFanCast - A Philadelphia Eagles Fan Podcast and Blog " EaglesFanCast 65 – Always Bleeding Green
The Philadelphia Eagles take a BYE week, but we are still talking all about the Birds this week, and it’s an even bigger show as Jason from Bleeding Green Nation joins us again.

More after the jump including how not to build a successful franchise, expectations for McNabb, Omar Gaither, and the Eagles guards.

Building a Successful NFL Franchise: What Not to Do - SB Nation
The Browns have put on a clinic on how to not build a winning team.

Expect McNabb to have a big day - NFC East - ESPN
Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb will be wearing a protective jacket Sunday to protect his injured ribs, but I don't think coach Andy Reid will be calling plays with McNabb's safety in mind. On Wednesday, McNabb announced to reporters that he would indeed be back in the starting lineup in a home game against the Bucs.

McDermott: Gaither still a big part of defense | Philadelphia Daily News | 10/08/2009
Eagles defensive coordinator Sean McDermott said linebacker Omar Gaither remains a big part of the defense regardless of the signing of Jeremiah Trotter. "His impact on this team will not change," McDermott said of Gaither.

Changing of the guards | Philadelphia Inquirer | 10/08/2009
The Eagles aren't supposed to have a deeper rotation at guard than the 76ers, but right now they do.

Bills Fantasy Friday: Week 2 Start 'Em/Sit 'Em

Kurupt — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:30:15 -0000

Welcome back to Week 2 of Fantasy Football Friday at Buffalo Rumblings. Week 1 saw a couple of Buffalo Bills put up nice fantasy performances against the Patriots, while a couple of others were total disappointments (cough, Lee Evans, cough). The Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit the Ralph this Sunday for a 4:05 tilt in the Bills' home opener. Once again, we'll be taking a look at the individual fantasy players of note and offering up some generic advice. Check out my suggestions for Bills and Buccaneers after the jump:

Quarterbacks
Byron Leftwich - As a real life quarterback, I think Leftwich is one of the worst starters in the league. That doesn't mean he can't be a decent fantasy option for a desperate owner. Against the Cowboys, Leftwich put up a solid line of 276 yards, completing 61% of his passes and adding one touchdown. As an offense, the Bucs put up 450 yards, much to the surprise of fans everywhere. Leftwich was a big part of that, but isn't a guy that fantasy owners should really be considering as an option. It's unlikely he'll be consistent enough to put up totals like that on a week-to-week basis. However, after seeing Tom Brady shred the Bills for 378 yards and a pair of touchdowns, the Bucs may be more than willing to establish the passing game this week. I expect the Bills defense to come after Leftwich in hopes of forcing him into mistakes due to his slow release and lack of mobility. With Antonio Bryant iffy, Leftwich could be without his best option. It's tough to envision him putting up big numbers this week, on the road, in a hostile Ralph. Unless you have Donovan McNabb as a starter and are in a deep league, you will have better options. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Trent Edwards - Edwards was one of the Bills who put up nice fantasy numbers in Week 1. It was a surprising effort considering his poor pre-season play, the move to Alex Van Pelt and a very questionable offensive line. He quieted the critics, at least for one week, but he needs to do more to prove he's worthy of being a weekly fantasy option. Edwards and the Bills' passing game does seem to have a great matchup this week, however. The Bucs defense allowed Tony Romo to throw for 353 yards on just 16 completions, with three 40+ yard touchdowns. Its safe to say the Tampa D just might be susceptible to the big play. With their best defensive back out again this week (Tanard Jackson), and young players still getting comfortable (Sabby Piscitelli, Elbert Mack), look for Alex Van Pelt to try to get the ball downfield more this week. Again, McNabb owners should consider Edwards as a fill-in, but owners of QBs with tough matchups (Matt Schaub @Tennessee, Jay Cutler vs Pittsburgh, Phillip Rivers vs Baltimore) may also look his way. It's a tough call, but it might be worth the risk. Verdict: Start 'Em as a fill-in

Running Backs
Cadillac Williams - I'm not going to lie, I root for Cadillac. It's tough to root against a good guy who's overcome so many injury issues just to be playing right now. He had an excellent performance in Week 1, shredding the Cowboys for 97 yards and a touchdown on just 13 carries. He's looked quick and healthy, and will likely see an increase in touches in closer games. I expect this game to be closer, and I expect the Bucs to go to the Caddy early and often. I'm guessing he gets 15-20 touches this week, and will still be the first option for goal line carries. He's a very good flex option and maybe even RB2 this week, even against a stouter looking Bills run D. Unfortunately, with Paul Posluszny out, it should be easier for the Bucs' run game. Verdict: Start 'Em as a flex or RB2 in deeper leagues.

Derrick Ward - Ward also had a nice Week 1, putting together 83 total yards on 14 touches and a touchdown. Ward and Williams will likely split the touches pretty evenly once again this week, with Cadillac likely to see more run and goal line opportunities. In PPR leagues, Ward is the better play. I probably wouldn't consider playing Ward outside of PPR leagues or as a flex. Verdict: Start 'Em as a flex

Earnest Graham - I like Graham and think he deserves touches in their offense. He only had one carry last week, though, so move along.

Fred Jackson - Jackson had an excellent game against the Patriots, putting together 140 total yards, 5 receptions and a touchdown. In PPR leagues, he's gold, but he's also proving to be a more than capable option as a RB2. The Cowboys gouged the Bucs for 4.9 yards per carry, so it's a good bet we'll see Jackson getting more carries this week. I like the matchup and expect Jackson to have another very good all around game. Again, in PPR leagues Jackson gets a major bump. Verdict: Start 'Em in all leagues

Wide Receivers
Antonio Bryant - Bryant missed practice on Thursday still trying to recover from his early August knee surgery. He played last week against Dallas, but was limping by the end of the game. Cryptic Raheem Morris says he is hurt, but not injured, whatever that means. I don't know if we should expect Bryant to play, and if he does, he obviously won't be 100%. I'd steer clear unless you're totally desperate. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Michael Clayton - Remember him? He of the 1,000-yard monster rookie season and zero 500-yard seasons since. He's only scored two touchdowns since scoring seven as a rookie. What happened to this guy? Every time I watch him, he's dropping passes like he's Braylon Edwards. Amazingly, he put together a 5-catch, 93-yard performance in the opener, and with Bryant potentially out, he could approach that again. I'd be nervous using him, but if Bryant sits, he could make a very good spot starter. Verdict: Sit 'Em in most leagues, Start'Em in deeper leagues with Bryant out.

Sammie Stroughter, Maurice Stovall - These guys were very good college players recently, but I hope you don't have to consider using them as fantasy starters this week. Once again, move along.

Terrell Owens - So much for opening game fireworks. T.O. looked visibly frustrated against New England, but they doubled him most of the game. Expect that to continue, but also expect Alex Van Pelt to find more ways to get him the ball this week. You don't bring a guy like this in and don't get him the ball. The fans will be fired up to see him make some big plays, and T.O. will be chomping at the bit. I have to believe we'll see more crossing patterns and slants with him this week, his bread and butter. I expect a nice bounce-back week from him, and would have no hesitation starting him if I were crazy enough to own him. Verdict: Start 'Em

Lee Evans - Like Owens, Evans was very quiet on Monday night, finishing with just 3 catches for 25 yards. And like Owens, Evans also saw a lot of double coverage over the top. However, when that happens, Evans seems to be effectively shut down. He still has yet to prove he can be a consistent underneath option, and for some reason, the Bills never utilize him over the middle. Expect Edwards to try to get it downfield to him more this week, but his inconsistency is too great to count on. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Josh Reed, Roscoe Parrish - Please don't have to start either, please.

Tight Ends
Kellen Winslow - With a gimpy Antonio Bryant, Winslow is the Bucs' No. 1 receiving option. After seeing Ben Watson torch the Bills in the fourth quarter Monday night, I expect Winslow to be targeted early and often by Leftwich. The Bills will obviously key on him, but he could still be in line for a nice afternoon. He'll surely get a lot of targets, and maybe receptions. Verdict: Start 'Em

Derek Schouman, Shawn Nelson, Derek Fine - The Bills utilized Schouman and Nelson to the tune of 5 catches for 52 yards and a touchdown on Monday. Pretty solid production for a unit that in years past hasn't been much more than an afterthought. The production is directly associated to the double teams Owens and Evans saw. With that likely to continue, these guys will get some looks. Unfortunately, all three will rotate in and out of the lineup, so it's impossible to predict what any of them will do, and in turn it's impossible to rely on any of them. Maybe down the line, Nelson will grow into the big-time receiving option we hope he can be, but that time is not now. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Kickers
Mike Nugent - If you're in a 32-team league, I'd say start Nugent. Otherwise, leave him on the waiver wire.

Rian Lindell - Lindell only averaged six points per game in home games last year, while averaging almost 10 on the road. I don't know if that's significant, but it is worth noting. I only consider starting kickers who put up consistent numbers and/or play for consistently good offenses. I'd avoid Lindell until the Bills prove that they're legit. Verdict: Sit 'Em

Defense/Special Teams
Both teams' defenses gave up a ton of yards last week, and only had one sack of the opposing quarterback. Neither pass rush is expected to consistently pressure quarterbacks, and right now, neither defense looks all that opportunistic. There are much better options available, and I'd consider one week fill-ins like Washington (vs STL) or Atlanta (vs CAR) before either the Bucs or Bills defense.

Sleepers
Michael Clayton - I mentioned Clayton could be a nice option with Bryant out. He earns my sleeper label for that.

Bills D/ST - After talking about how I wouldn't start them, this might seem odd, but they look like a solid sleeper option this week. With a fired up home crowd behind them and a slow-footed, windmill wind-up Leftwich susceptible to turnovers/sacks, they could put up some nice fantasy stats this weekend. Leodis McKelvin will also be hunting for a big return to make up for Monday's mistake.

*****

Hope this can be of some help to at least a few of you out there. Please use this as your end of the week fantasy open thread. Good luck to everyone once again this week.

Grading out the Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Special Teams

Buc Wild — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:30:10 -0000

Last piece of the "Grading out the Tampa Bay Buccaneers" columns. This one focuses on special teams and their performance.

Short intro, short piece. Hit the Jump for more.

Special Teams

Kicker

Mike Nugent - Can't continue to go 1 for 2 and make team. No competition at this point. For someone with a strong leg, again, he didn't reach end zone once on kickoffs. His field goal tries have sufficient distance, and until I see Bryant kick from the same spots, I'm still not willing to say Bryant's leg is weaker. Grade: C

Punter

Dirk Johnson - Has been overwhelmingly average. Punting from Jax 45 yard line, he dropped a kick at the 20. Not acceptable. That ball has to be on the 10 or give the coverage teams a chance to down it inside the 5. Other kciks were decent, but not changing field position. Grade: C-

Return Units

Sammy Stroughter - We've got several options at KR/PR thanks to SS. Showed good agility, good vision and ability to hit the seam quickly. Danced too much at times. Good ball security and good speed. If he can learn that sometimes its best to take the 5-7 yards and not dance, he will be VERY good at this role. Grade: A-

Clifton Smith - Is a great asset on special teams. Still had good vision and ability to get upfield. Delivered a good hit on coverage team. Grade: B

Maurice Stovall - I'll chalk this up to being a preseason game, but that was an idiotic move he made by not downing punt. Not going to help his cause any, though I'm 99% sure he is one of the gunners on opening day. Grade D-------

Overall the special teams unit was above average, thanks to a few returns. Funny after all these years our return game may be the better part of special teams with the way the kicker/punter are performing. Grade: B

The Point After - Grading out the Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Offense

Buc Wild — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:00:17 -0000

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Saturday night proved to be the baptism by fire for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Fielding so many new players and coaches, the only way to evaluate what we have, and see how they hold up is to have live game action. Though the final score didn't total in our favor, the game did feature some bright spots. In this edition of The Point After, let's take a look at how the offense performed and grade them out.

Grades are indicative of the players performance in this game only.

Quarterbacks

Luke McCown -Was the starter of the first preseason game. Had a very underwhelming performance behind a very poor offensive line. Went 4 of 8 for 19 yards. Made some nice plays with his legs, but was not sharp in his delivery. A dropped pass may have hurt his numbers, but he was by no means stellar. Was bailed out of a terrible fumble and bad sack by a facemask penalty. Grade: D

Byron Leftwich - Second QB in. His slow wind up was evident, but delivered the only passing touchdown of the game. When had time, was able to throw strikes and showed fairly good decision making skills. Dumped ball off when needed to. No speed and once touched by a defensive player, the play is dead. Final numbers: 6 for 14, 61 yards, 1TD. Grade: B-

Josh Freeman - First live action in NFL. Displayed good poise in the pocket generally, though he did scramble right into a sack. Telegraphed passes which lead to an interception. Maintained the short throws. Showed a live arm and above average accuracy. Bounced back from interception well. Successful first attempt on the field. Final numbers: 5/9 for 52 yards, 1 INT Grade: C

Josh Johnson - Last of the 4 QB's in. Showed a nice zip on his passes, good decision making, and accurate throws. Scrambled well in a 43 yard TD run. Competition was weak, but didn't show a glaring weakness. Good effort to build on. Final Numbers: 3 for 5 for 15 yards. 1 Rushing TD. Grade: B

Running Backs

Earnest Graham - Poor first showing in 2009. Though the OL did him no favors, did not show any burst or good read abilities. Didn't make anyone miss. Had chances to fall forward or make defense miss and made no progress. Got a pass out of backfield and fumbled it away. Final Numbers: 4 carries, 1 yard, 1 catch for 1 yard and a fumble Grade: D

Derrick Ward -First run was best of bunch, for 7 yards. Again, OL provided no support, but was able to manufacture a few yards. Showed good burst and tenacity when hit. Moving forward all the time. Final Numbers: 4 carries for 9 yards, 1 catch for 7 yards. Grade: C+

Clifton Smith - Showed good ball security, a change from last year. Made several players miss with good jukes and agility. Showed good receiving skills out of the backfield. Was able to find holes and make most of time with ball. Only question could be durability or ability to handle blitz pick up assignments. Final Numbers: 5 carries for 27 yards, 1 catch for 7 yards. Grade: B

Kareem Huggins - Showed good receiving skills, good burst with ball, and ability to hit hole and rack up yards. Not much hesitation, good for a young player. Did not go down without a fight. Final Numbers: 9 carries for 43 yards and 3 catches for 14 yards. Grade: B+

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Bryan Clark - Was the recipient of the only Bucs TD pass. Made an nice adjustment to haul it in. Had a drop, also caused a holding penalty resulting in safety. Not spectacular but made the play when it mattered. Final numbers: 2 catches for 29 yards and a TD. Grade: B

Maurice Stovall - Not hard to see why he isn't a force in regular season. Disappeared for most of the game. 1 catch for 8 yards. Will need to rebound to factor into future plans. Grade: D

Cortez Hankton -Will end up simulating other teams on practice squad. Several drops on balls that should have been caught. Not impressive in the least. Grade: PS as in get to the practice squad

Sammy Stroughter -Good debut for the rookie. Looked shaky on a kick return early on, but rebounded well. Displayed good hands and ability to run with ball in hand. Looked comfortable at every level on the field. Final numbers: 3 catches for 42 yards. Grade: B

Kellen Winslow -Didn't play much. As a blocking tight end was just average, if that. Didn't get many opportunities in passing game. 1 catch for 5 yards. Grade: Incomplete

The rest of the bunch - The remaining receivers didn't do much to stand out. As a group they were below average and will struggle to make an impact. Truly shows the lack of depth at WR. Pray that AB or Clayton don't get hurt (again). Grade: C-

Offensive Line

The Big Guys - First string had a terrible performance. Didn't open any holes in the running game. Penn was overmatched at points. Provided little to no time for quarterbacks. Running game was a non-factor. This zone scheme is either very complicated to pick up, tough to master, or we might be in over our heads. Not ready to jump ship after 15 plays, but didn't give me much confidence. Grade: D

The second string and beyond provided some good time for Leftwich and other QB's. Running game got going as first stringers left game. Still tough to gauge depth on team as running plays routinely had defense in backfield. Grade: C+

Overall

The offense looked lost. It's tough to determine how things are going after one preseason game, particularly after a game where the opponent has one more game than you and was one of the better defenses in 2008. All the hype surrounding the new offense, the new scheme, and the addition of Ward and Winslow left in a hurry. While those two players were not the main culprit in the futile efforts of the offense, the offense as a whole failed (first string). Other squads (the backups and beyond) looked decent, though competition was not of the same level and I don't count on those guys to make an impact during the year. I won't be surprised if the Leftwich/McCown loser is cut if Johnson keeps this up. There is alot to work on going into Jacksonville. Final Numbers: 17 first downs, 5/15 on 3rd downs (33%), 138 yards rushing, 118 yards passing (256 total). 2 TD's and 2 Turnovers. Overall Grade: C-

How did you grade out the Bucs offense on Saturday night? Hit the comments section below and let us know.

A look at Tuesday afternoon's practice

Buc Wild — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:41:33 -0000

Another round of training camp looks. This time we take a look at Tuesday afternoon's practice and a look ahead to Saturday's game against the Tennessee Titans.

- Starting with injurie. A few more than this morning, but nothing serious. Geno Hayes, Clifton Smith, and Matt Bryant are the additions to the list. Ronde Barber and Kellen Winslow sat out also, but not with any noted injuries. Might be resting Ronde and making sure K2 stays healthy.

- Pads were off this afternoon, a much needed break in the heat. Clayton and Trueblood were on the field, though Clayton was running off to the side. Doesn't sound like he'll push it by playing on Saturday.

- Not a good afternoon for the QB's. Though the team was going at about half speed, Leftwich looked off most the afternoon, and Freeman had a pass picked by E.J. Biggers. (Editor's Note: I was not too thrilled with drafting Freeman, but I gotta say, after writing all these articles on him and realizing what we have invested in him, it's hard not to root for him to succeed).

- Cadillac lined up as a kick returner. He probably has to factor into special teams to stay on the roster, and if he's healthy, this may not be a bad thing. He was pretty good on special teams at Auburn, maybe he can contribute in the NFL in the backfield and return teams.

- Josh Johnson did throw a TD to Maurice Stovall to close out practice. Not saying it happens, but what if JJ outplays Freeman? You keep 4 QB's (I hope not)? You just flat out cut him? Good be a tough call, if that happens.

Wednesday has one practice scheduled, from 2:30 to 4:20 PM at One Buc Place. Buc 'Em will keep you updated.

Special teams practice at training camp

Buc Wild — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 22:37:13 -0000

Tuesday was day 4 of training camp, and a day for special teams only, while the position players had a break for a day with lifting or running sessions before resuming two-a-days on Wednesday. There are a few battles going on with the special teams units which will definitely shape our football team. Let's take a look at some of the stories and news from Tuesday's practice

- Matt Bryant had the day off with a slightly tweaked leg injury from Monday's practice. Though not expected to have him miss any real time, it did leave all the kicking duties to Mike Nugent. He kicked well, but he did miss two kicks. One was with most of the team around him in a semi-circle screaming and yelling at him. Tough circumstances, but I'm willing to bet stadiums are just as loud.

- Several players including Carnell Williams (Cadillac), Clifton Smith, Sammy Stroughter, and Kareem Huggins have all been fielding punts and kickoffs. Good to get a bunch of guys some looks back there.

- Maurice Stovall, noted special team standout the last few years, and Elbert Mack took some reps as flyers on punt coverage.

- Right now the team is trying to adapt to the new rules (no wedge on kickoffs, and new placement rule).

- I'd imagine that Clifton has both return jobs locked down, but will see some new faces occasionally. With Caddy, Stroughter and (maybe) Dexter Jackson, I like that alot better than having Ike or Galloway drop back. Ike had great hands, but he was good for a fair catch, maybe a 2 yard return. These other guys have some explosiveness.

- A change in practice as every player had to be on the field today. Typically on special teams days, the position players have the day off. Raheem Morris has made it mandatory for everyone to be there. He's calling special teams the "We-fense" as in it's about the group. Interesting strategy.

- Josh Bidwell looked sharp. Hopefully he can keep it going. It often goes unnoticed but a Pro Bowl type punter can help your team in so many ways.

- Back to the kickers. Don't look too much into Bryant not kicking today. They were set to alternate days as it is. For the big scoreboard, Nugent is at 2, Bryant at 0. Lower is better here (total of misses). Morris said before camp

You line up the ball, you snap it, you tee it up and you let them kick. Whoever gets the ball between those two yellow bars the most wins

Keep that in mind as the pre-season goes along. We'll see how it plays out.

Tomorrow resumes the full team practices. We'll keep you updated at Buc 'Em.

Essentials On The Eve Of Purdue and Notre Dame Squaring Off

CW — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 09:00:06 -0000

The initial video we have to show is from my first of many truly traumatizing home game experiences as a Notre Dame student. Going into this game, the Irish had upset Michigan and womped Washington in the Stadium, meaning that the in-state clash with number fifteen Purdue felt like a big-time game. Kyle Orton and Taylor Stubblefield kindly disagreed, with led to this.

Of course, as you all know, retribution was only a year away. Turning a twenty-five point loss into a twenty-one point win, Charlie Weis orchestrated a turnaround of nearly fifty points when the Irish traveled to West LaFayette in 2005. Joe Tiller's timeout tactics led to All-World play-by-play man Ron Franklin's All-World comment to Hurricane Proof Holly Rowe, forever immortalized in this fantastic highlight video. (WARNING: This video will make you miss MoSto.)

The last two games have been pretty entertaining contests won by the home team, but I think my favorite Purdue-related moment of the last thirteen months came in a reply to the Her Loyal Sons post that Purdue was "the most boring college football program in the nation." This seems like a somewhat justifiable claim, as I think if you polled most college football fans across this great nation of ours on their opinion of Purdue, most might ask if that is where Drew Brees went and then shrug their shoulders.

Obviously, some Purdue fans disagreed, leading to this Hall of Fame post from Boiled Sports which contained a slew of gut-bustingly hilarious lines. Included:

Really? In-state rivalries are that boring to you? I suppose so if you know a beatdown is coming. I hate to break this to Notre Dame, but USC doesn't really consider you guys a "rival" the way you do. They see you as a nuisance from the midwest. You don't matter to them, you're a W on their schedule and then they move on to actually challenging opponents. Your best try still wasn't good enough a couple of years ago. Long grass, home-field, hometown refereeing... and you still lost. So why not embrace an in-state rival that has actually been a good series in recent years?

I wish we didn't matter to Southern Cal, but people like Dwayne Jarrett found some way to get all hyped for it every year. Plus, like everything else, the series is cyclical, and I don't think the most ardent Trojan supporter would predict the Irish will never defeat USC again. The current streak of six Southern Cal victories hasn't come close to the run from 1983 to 1995, a run where the Irish went 12-0-1, or between 1940 and 1954, where Notre Dame went 10-1-1 against their West Coast foes.

I wish we had "hometown refereeing" in the 2005 game, as that might have helped, but don't you know, they were PAC-10 officials! Also, Purdue is an in-state opponent, not an in-state rival. I will agree that there have been good games in recent years, but rivals that does not make.

Um, oh, hey, I have something: We're 4-0, bitch. We have a top ten offense... in the nation. We're ranked. Our QB has 16 TDs and one pick. We're averaging almost 50 points a game.

I don't know what else could have followed the ellipses after "offense" except for in the nation, unless he was proudly going to boast that it was a top ten offense....in the Big Ten. The gaudy numbers accumulated in the first four games of the 2007 season were against Toledo, Eastern Illinois, Central Michigan and Minnesota, and Sir Painter ended up throwing only 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions the rest of the way, leading the "ranked" Boilermakers to the Motor City Bowl.

This would be a vastly more interesting week if we’d dump Purdue from the schedule and take on a team like, say, ITT Technical Institute. Do they have a football team?

I'm sure you boys would love to "dump Purdue" from the schedule -- who wants a team that can beat you and perhaps even steal some recruits? You guys only have 6 or 7 gimme wins a season on your schedule so ITT Tech would fit right in with the plan.

A) Those "6 or 7 gimme wins" included ten teams that went to bowl games, and B) A Purdue fan making fun of another's team schedule isn't the pot calling the kettle black, it's the color black calling the kettle black.

What, hate the difficulty of playing for a team that people might actually look up in the Sunday papers?

What does this even mean? College football is on Saturdays. But these guys haven't seen something resembling college football in a while so it's easy to see how they might be confused.

HLS made reference to looking up a college football score the next day in the Sunday paper. That statement apparently caused confusion. I love this post so much, and hope you do, too.

Go Irish, Beat Boilermakers.