SB Nation - Aqib Talib

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)

View full size photo »

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.

New Orleans Saints @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Chat with the Enemy

Saintsational — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:00:14 -0000

The Saints are now just three days away from a crucial division game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, their first meeting of the season. In preparation for that matchup, I had a chat with with SB Nation's Tampa Bay blogger, Niko Houllis over at Buc 'Em. Read on to hear his thoughts on Aqib Talib, Josh Freeman and the disappointing season thus far. Niko also wanted to let you guys know that you might want to stop by Buc 'Em this weekend for enemy flashback and classic enemy flashback; some great Bucs/Saints video highlights. Some of our older fans might enjoy that.

CSC: Are you surprised at all by how the season has played out for the Buccaneers? It seemed like most people were expecting this.

BE: No one was really surprised, although I was one of the few on my site that felt we could be competitive more. It would have been easier if the Bucs had told us this was straight-up a rebuilding year, but that doesn't sell season tickets. Now that fans have seen Josh Freeman, most have calmed down a little as they see there is a future.

CSC: How are fans feeling about Josh Freeman? Must be excited. What do you see in him that makes you believe he will be the long term answer at quarterback?

BE: It's now obvious Morris knew what he was talking about when he said if he had the no.1 pick in the whole draft he would have taken Freeman. Josh shows nice poise, and leadership ability too. This is (two) more 4^th quarter comebacks in as many games as we had in the last few years! Its just too bad the defense let the team down, something we are not used to here. We have seen so many players fill the position over the last decade, so we are so happy to see a guy who may be able to fill this thing up for a decade or more.

CSC: Aqib Talib has been a man on fire lately with five interceptions in the last six games. Should Drew Brees be afraid?

BE: I don't think Drew Brees with throw his way, I think he will follow everyone else's suite and throw towards Mack who is struggling in his first year as a starter. Barber, too, is doing a great job shutting down receivers, but you don't hear about him as much. Talib has shut down major receivers, and if Brees and co. are not careful, someone could make him pay. Expect at least one pick Sunday but if there are more, the score could be closer.

CSC: What do you expect the Buccaneers to do to try and beat the Saints that other teams haven't been able to do yet?

BE: We've been able to beat you guys the last couple of years by controlling the clock and keeping your offense off the field. However we have not been running the ball as much or as effective as we wanted to. This will change as starting left guard Aaron Sears has reported to the team but he probably wont be ready to start until our rematch. Expect our running game to be better by then, but that's on the road; traditionally we run better at home.

CSC: Tell us something about the Bucs that would surprise Saints fans to know.

BE: In this age of Blogs and Internet access, there is little I could tell you that would surprise you. The Bucs have new confidence in their kicking game, and in fact, we have the no. 1 Special Teams in the league. Our return game is dangerous, and our cover teams do their jobs thoroughly. We don't Punt very well with 911 punter Dirk Johnson, but new kicker Connor Barth is an instant success with booming kickoffs that go through the uprights when he kicks off, and Barth tied four of the NFL's best of the best kickers to sink 3x 50+ yard FGs in one game.

CSC: Bonus: Care to make a prediction?

BE: "Prediction? I predict Pain!" Ok, That was my Clubber Lang. I don't give us much of a chance, however, I know my Bucs history, and NFL history, and this has upset written all over it. Divisional game, undefeated team, fantastic offense, terrible defense, team with one win, it all spells 30-17 win for the Saints. However, the one in Minnesota's 15-1 regular season record in 1998 was to Tampa Bay when they came in here 8-0. We were a better team in '98, but it was not our best year. If we were capable of running the ball as well as we did back then, it could be possible. It wont shock me but three things have to happen for us to have a chance...

1) If you guys have 90+ yard rushing by halftime, the game is over.

2) If Drew Brees has 3 TD's by halftime, its over.

3) If we are only down by ten points or less, or have rushed for 65 yards or more, or have 2 TD's by halftime, we have a good shot.

Transcripts, Baby!

Saintsational — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:30:29 -0000

Who loves ya!?

Sean Payton

From the New Orleans Saints official website

Opening Statement:

"A couple of notes in regards to the injury report, Jonathan Goodwin (ankle) did not practice;Lance Moore (ankle) did not practice; Jabari Greer (groin) did not practice; Darren Sharper (knee) was limited; David Thomas (knee) did not practice; Reggie Bush (knee) did not practice; Tracy Porter (knee) did not practice; Sedrick Ellis (knee) was limited. We signed cornerback Chris McAlister and waived quarterback Chase Daniel."

What do you foresee McAlister's role being?

"A lot of it will be based on the health of a couple of guys in front of him. But he's a veteran player that understands defense and is someone that we think can come in and help us. We worked him out yesterday and we signed him this morning."

How encouraging is it to have Sedrick Ellis back on the field?

"Anytime you're able to get a starter back - a guy that has been a good player for you at the three-technique and at the nose - it certainly helps. At the same time, we're still repping the other guys through in the rotation. Today he felt better and that was encouraging."

In Reggie's case, were you just resting the knee?

"Yes. In the game, a couple of these guys got nicked up. In his case, we backed off of it today and held him and held David Thomas for that reason."

Is punt return an area you're looking to improve?

"It's an area we have talked about and obviously it's an area we need to improve on. We had a decent return last week with a holding call that brought it back, but we're playing a real good team this week in special teams. They have a returner that is first in a lot of categories and when you look at it, that's an area that we have to do a good job with and emphasize. Those are field position, hidden yardage statistics that will be important in this game."

Why Chris McAlister and not some other players who were available?

"We had gone through our pro personnel reports and our grades, and he worked out yesterday and did a good job. A lot of it is based on how we grade and how we stack players that are available."

Did he come in with many other players to work out?

"It was he and another player. He did a good job."

Is there a chance he could help you out at safety or would it just be at cornerback?

"That's a good question. We're looking at him now and certainly he's a guy that has experience in the secondary and his role right now would be as a corner."

Was there any thought of moving Usama Young back to cornerback to help out?

"He's a guy that can do both, but nothing specific right now."

Was the signing also based on how Randall Gay played on Sunday?

"No. It was based on the injury to Tracy Porter."

How did Randall Gay grade out on Sunday?

"He graded out better than you would have thought. The one was a Cover-zero look on third-and-long; it was a full-blitz look and the quarterback had a half-second longer than you would like to throw it and the receiver did a good job. That's a tough coverage for a corner to be in. The next play was really a play above his head. But we have a lot of confidence in Randall Gay. Those were two good plays by St. Louis."

Is it good to be facing a rookie quarterback this week?

"We spend most of our time just on the game plan and getting ourselves ready to have a good week of practice and prepare. He's a guy that has a big arm. We've seen some other young quarterbacks this year. He has given them a spark. When you look at the tape and the way they played against Miami a week ago and their win against Green Bay, I think the players around him have responded and he's playing with confidence. Certainly we understand the strengths and weaknesses of when you play a younger player, but that being said, he's a guy that's elusive, can scramble to run and has a big arm. Especially after a couple of weeks now, we'll have a challenge."

Do you feel like you're getting Tampa Bay at the wrong time? Are they a team you would've liked to have played earlier in the year?

"You get the schedule and you play it. Certainly they're playing well right now. St. Louis was playing better and we caught them after a bye. Again, the focus for us starts with ourselves. Certainly we have to be mindful of the type of offense and defense and return game we're seeing and prepare accordingly on the film study, but they're playing better."

Was Tampa's more of a substantial rebuilding project than you'll normally see in the league?

"I don't know. I think you could make a comparison to a few other clubs that would be similar and there would be some others that wouldn't be as significant. They had a roster that they felt like they were going to move some players and begin to move on and start developing younger guys. Whenever there's a change like that at the top, you see a lot of different changes that go along with it. I don't think it's very uncommon in our league."

Do you see a completely different team on film than the Bucs from years past?

"There are a lot of differences and there are some similarities. They run well on defense. They're playing with confidence on defense. The return game is outstanding. You see some changes offensively with certainly a new coordinator and a little bit of new personnel, but it's a line that has been together for a while. The good thing is that you have a good portion of the season of film to be thorough and study and look at and get the nuances of what they're doing differently in all three areas."

Players have said recently that they seem to be getting opponents' "A-game" every week now. Do you feel like there's a bull's-eye on your back now?

"When you're playing good football, I think there certainly is a respect level from the opponent you play. But that's part of the challenge of winning each week in this league. You hope that you create a program and a team that is in that situation more often than the other."

Does the diverse attack that you have on offense help to neutralize the playmakers they might have in their defense?

"The one thing that you see on film is that these guys have good ball skills. Ronde Barber, looking at a veteran who is a smart player, Tenard Jackson, Sabby Piscitelli, Aqib Talib - all these guys catch the ball well. So it really forces you to be good with your location, your exactness in the routes in what you're trying to do. And if you're off a little bit, these guys contest throws very well. You can see that on film; they're athletic and they do a good job of defending the pass."

Talib has had some off-field issues. To what degree is the Saints' success due to not having to deal with players and off-field issues this year?

"I can't speak on behalf of a player for Tampa. We try to focus on improving and focus on getting guys that are able to do the right thing. We try to provide that structure. But he's an extremely talented player and he's having a good season."

Would you consider trading a seventh-round pick for David Thomas a steal?

"I think when you acquire a player, you're hopeful and you have a vision for the player and it isn't until three or four years down the road that you can put a grade or determine if it was a good acquisition or not. Certainly you hope to have more of those that fit what you're looking for and less that end up not being that and you understand that it's not an exact science. He has obviously filled a role for us and with the injury to Heath Evans, his role to some degree has expanded and we've been fortunate that way."

Were you surprised that you were able to get him that cheap though?

"It's all in just finding the right match with another team that was interested in a trade. Bill (Belichick) and those guys have done a great job of acquiring picks and drafting. Where one team might have depth and another team might have a need, generally there's a chance to begin discussions of acquiring a player. I don't think it was anything unusual."

Based on the injuries that you have on defense, how concerned are you with your defense being able to hold up until you get everyone back?

"I think that the key is preparing the guys during the week. I've said before that you're not going to go through a season where all 22 guys that start the season are going to finish and play every game that way. Already at this point we've had a number of guys step in that weren't opening day starters and I think that's fairly common. You could just go on and on with the players; if you started on offense, you'd look at Jermon Bushrod and Zach Strief and Kyle Eckel, who is a fullback that has played more and Darnell Dinkins' role has expanded. We've had some receivers who have filled in with Lance Moore's injury. Defensively you can go through the numbers there with the DeMario Pressleys and the guys in the secondary. I think it's the nature of a long year. When you play 16 regular season and four preseason games, that's a lot of football and I think that you're always in the process - we're always in the process - of developing all of our players; not just the starters. It's a challenge each week and that's what makes it interesting. And that's why you have to play each week and understand that there are changes happening with your opponent as well; guys are getting healthy, guys have been injured and you just hope to be on the lighter end of the injury note than the heavier end."

Based on what's going on in your secondary, do you think that teams will try to attack you through the air more?

"I don't know. We've had injuries in the front as well. How they approach us, I wouldn't know. You try to prepare for each opponent. When you're thin at a position or when there's a new corner on the field, certainly those guys understand that they'll get tested. We'd do the same thing on offense."

In regards to Chris McAlister, do you get him ready to play a game or do you get him ready for the rest of the season?

"We're getting him ready to play a game."

What has made you confident that your secondary will be able to handle this test of its depth?

"I think we're deeper from a health standpoint in the secondary. We have a number of guys with playing experience and some young guys like Malcolm Jenkins who got some more experience last week. We're at a point where we're not early in the year now. We're heading into the 10th game and the 11th week. Whoever we line up out there in the base and in the nickel will have had a lot of practice snaps and a lot of work this week in preparation for this game. I think they understand the scheme well. It's different from a year ago. And I think that their play is often tied to the play of the front and their ability to hurry a quarterback and get pressure on a quarterback. I think it all goes together."

Tampa has reportedly been working some on the Wildcat formation. How surprised would you be to see them line up in that formation?

"There's nothing really that surprises you each week. You prepare for your calls and adjustments and you get ready for things that take place during a game that you may not have seen. Each week there's a twist that you see; whether it's on offense or on defense and you just have to be prepared to adjust."

Drew Brees

From the New Orleans Saints official website

Q: How much of the recent turnovers can be attributed to an aggressive mentality on offense?

A: "We've been able to overcome them, but that's really in large part because our defense has gotten quite a few, as well and then offensively, the drives we're not turning it over we're going out and getting points. It's not a good habit to get into. We are aggressive. There's being aggressive and there's being reckless and reckless is not what we want to be. I don't think we are. We just need to continue to make an emphasis on taking care of the football, because it is without a doubt the biggest statistic in football. If we keep going at the pace we're going then it will get us beat at some point, not once, but again and again. We need to fix the problem. I'm confident we will because we're making it a big emphasis. We're doing things to combat it. The first five games of the season we were very good in that regard. It's really been just the last four games. We know how to do it. It's just a matter off getting back to the fundamentals and that type of thing."

Q: It has been said before that turnovers on both sides come in bushels. Is the unit in a possible funk where you are turning it over in bushels right now?

A: "I think sometimes that happens. It will just kind of happen in spurts, just like a baseball player that hits a slump. You kind of hit a slump for a few games where you're 0-for-something. It could be similar to turning it over a few too many times before you kind of make the adjustments, do whatever you have to do to change it and get it on the right track and you kind of get on that roll of a couple of games where you're not turning it over. You're doing a great job of taking care of it. At times it comes in spurts."

Q: Are there specific drills you possibly do to combat them?

A: "Ball security drills. It's the way you practice too, just making an emphasis of the defense trying to take it away from our guys offensively. We're making sure it's tucked away and know that guys are coming to get it just like they would in a game, definitely just conscious when you're talking about fundamentals, how you're carrying the football, how I'm holding the football in the pocket and just being good with it when I'm getting pressure, all those things, all those little things."

Q: Are you guys getting different looks the last four games as opposed to the first five?

A: "Well, no. I think everything we've seen the last four weeks is pretty standard as far as nothing similar to what we saw in the first five games. Really the Jets were the only team that was very different from the rest in the schemes and the things they did, but really everybody else, as far as the turnovers go, I think that's probably what you're getting at. It's not what the defenses are doing to us necessarily; it's just the fact that we've had a little bit of lapse in concentration in regards to that."

Q: Whom do you credit for leading the NFL in Pro Bowl voting right now?

A: "I'd probably say (credit) the Saints fans. If they're as passionate and diehard about that as they are in the way they scream at the games and the way that they travel and support us on the road and the way that they are at the airport for us after we get home from road games then I'm sure they're the same way about the voting, going online and just hitting enter, enter, enter, which is a good thing that you have fans like that."

Q: Do you believe in motivational tactics and have any examples?

A: "This is one of the things that I think is one of Sean's (Payton) great strengths. He has many great strengths, the ability to motivate guys in ways that is either humorous, like he might just make a comment to you that will make everyone else around you laugh and will make you even laugh and then you kind of walk away and say I think he was taking a jab at me. I think he was challenging me, which gets some response out of you. I think he does a great job of knowing what motivates different guys and everybody's a little different. Some guys you might yell at, i.e. poor Billy Miller to get the best out of them sometimes and then other times it's pulling a guy aside. Whatever it might be, different forms of leadership in that regard, but also, I think in regards to each week, each game, so different. How do you find a way and it's one of the biggest challenges in the NFL to make sure your team is ready to play 16 weeks. It's a long season. It's a marathon. How do you make it to where your team is always concentrated and never having a mental lapse and you have to continue to find a chip to put on your shoulder, a motivational tactic of some kind that will get guys to simplify, because sometimes you sit up there and look at the stats between you and the team you're playing and sometimes all that stuff gets overwhelming. Sometimes you say how can I narrow this down? Sean does a great job, for example after today (he said), these are the three things we need to do to win this game. That simplifies it. Offense do this. Defense do this. Special teams do this. We'll win the game. That's a great way to handle it."

Q: Was Sean's example last week of discussing winning percentages of teams coming off the bye week a great example?

A: "Yes, 62 percent winner. Of all the things, that's the perfect example."

Q: Is it a coincidence that one week Sean mentioned how it would be a challenge for Darren Sharper to not only get interceptions, but return one for a touchdown?

A: "Exactly, that's just another one of those examples. That gets everybody laughing. It's funny. It's humorous, but I guarantee you Sharper, being the competitive guy he is, walks to his locker and is like ‘I have to prove that I can take one back' and he's taken three back, but it's just little ways to motivate you."

Q: Is part of Sean's effectiveness as a play caller related to that he seems to get the ball to a lot of different guys?

A: "I think that too, because he's able to take your strengths as a player and accentuate that within the system or give you the opportunities, put you in the positions to succeed. He's not going to ask you to do something that you're not comfortable with or you're not necessarily the best at. That's why you continue to see us just plug guys in and to their credit, they work extremely hard and we've brought in the right type of guys, but Sean puts them in a position to succeed. That makes guys play hard for you too, because you understand that everyone of us has opportunities. Every one of us plays a role in this offense. We're all a big part of it."

Q: You guys have run through quite a few tight ends since 2006. Can you talk about David Thomas?

A: "You talk about a great (trade) and obviously if Billy Miller doesn't get hurt it probably doesn't happen, obviously. What he's been able to do especially with Heath (Evans) getting hurt a couple weeks back, his ability to be so versatile and play multiple tight end positions as well as fullback position. We ask him to block out of the backfield, block as an in-line tight end. We ask him to do a lot in protection in the backfield. We ask him to run routes from the tight end position as well as split them out and have them run routes. He caught a few in the game last week basically as a split out and then check downs out of the backfield, he had a couple of big third down conversions. He's as versatile as they come. He's so smart and he gets it. He picks it up very quickly. He works at it and he's been a great, great addition."

Q: You guys don't pay attention to how guys were acquired, but do you consider acquiring him for a seventh round pick a good transaction?

A: "Absolutely, if you basically say we drafted this guy in the second round, would we be happy right now? Yes. It's like finding (Marques) Colston in the seventh round a couple years back, just a guy who can do so many different things, play at a high level, great in the locker room, just everything you want in a teammate and a player."

Q: How hard is it to switch from being the hunter to the hunted?

A: "We're still very much the hunter, but I know what you're saying. The fact is we're going to get everybody's best game, but that doesn't change our mentality as far as being aggressive and going out with a lot of confidence and swagger, but just understanding that especially early on in games and especially on the road, you're going to get a team's best punch and there's times where things maybe don't go your way and you have to weather the storm a bit like we had to at Miami, Monday night at home against Atlanta, and then Carolina and then even last week a little bit, but yet you know that when it comes time for that fourth quarter to finish strong that's something we've proven we can do and hopefully we can continue to do."

McAlister Hits The Ground Running - New Orleans Saints official website

"I came in here yesterday and had a good workout, now it’s time to ready to help out any way I can,"

-Chris McAlister

"The thing I picked up as soon as I got here and got around the rest of the team was the feeling of ‘Team.’ You hear guys around here talking about ‘we’ and nobody talking is talking about themselves," McAlister said of his initial impression of the Saints. "The players have been very helpful and welcoming. I only have played for one other team, Baltimore, so I don’t know what it’s like to be in another locker room."

-Chris McAlister

"Everything has a new name, so that’s an adjustment," he said. "But at the end of the day, playing cornerback is about making plays and trying to stop the other team. This week, that’s the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. How or if I will be used will be determined during the week and into the game. Everything leading up to that is getting ready for if and when my number is called."

-Chris McAlister

"I didn’t want to sign with any team just to play," McAlister said. "I wanted to join a winning team and a winning organization, unfortunately a couple guys got nicked up. But when the Saints called, I was ready. I have kept in shape and knew that I could come in and show them that I still can play and obviously I did that during my workout. I’m looking forward to helping out."

-Chris McAlister

Raheem Morris

From the New Orleans Saints official website

Q: When you put on film of the Saints this year, does number 91 stands out on defense?

A: On defense, what's impressive is how much movement you get from everybody and how active they are on defense. 91 is playing well. Charles Grant is playing well. They are all playing well up front. With that improved secondary, Tracy Porter unfortunately got hurt, a guy that I know really well and a guy that I like a lot. I don't know if it was unfortunate for me, but it was unfortunate for the Saints, but he's out and whatever happened to him I hope he gets back fast, but just the speed of the whole defense and the continuity they're playing with is just impressive.

Q: Did you guys install Josh Freeman as the starting quarterback because it's part of a rebuilding effort or because you thought he gave you guys the best chance to win right away.

A: He gives us the best chance to win. We knew that. It was his time. It was time. We went through Byron Leftwich. We didn't get a win. Byron Leftwich did a great job for us when he was out there. There were some other factors involved and then also we went to Josh Johnson. Josh gave us a chance to win at the time. Our offensive line was a little banged up and he gave us a chance to move around with his feet. Now we're back up to full strength with our o-line and we have those guys out there and with Josh Johnson in the pocket, there would be some balls on the field. We've had a little bit more success on offense, especially in the fourth quarter with the young man out there. He's doing a good job. There are going to be some growing pains. We have to be patient. We have to go through all that with him.

Q: Did his insertion add an element and something for the team to get excited about?

A: I wouldn't really use any ploys. It's Josh Freeman's team. Once we drafted him in the first round, we knew that would be the case. It was just time to unleash him and let him learn how to play this game. It was a great opportunity to get him out there to go against five games in his division that has traditionally been a great one, throughout the whole process.

Q: Can you use the word rebuilding and not offend fans?

A: I really haven't used the word rebuilding. We had a makeshift deal in the beginning here. We had a wholesale wipeout, went to a youth movement. We really wanted to win. We wanted to come out and win every week. We really felt like we could still go win against some quality and good teams like we did against Green Bay. We have to come up with those kinds of efforts every week and we put ourselves in a position last week against Miami to win. Unfortunately it didn't come out that way. We'll come out and give our best effort against a really good New Orleans Saints team.

Q: What do you know about Chris McAlister?

A: He was a great corner in Baltimore. I don't know what he's been doing recently, but I'm sure when you have that kind of background and you understand defense and understand what you want to do, he'll help the football team right away. He'll give his best effort and we look forward to seeing him coming out there and doing that.

Q: What do you know about Drew Brees? Have you been encouraged by some of his recent turnovers?

A: Are you kidding me? He doesn't make mistakes. He gives his players opportunities to catch the ball. They either catch them for him or they don't. He's the ultimate quarterback. He's kind of like a robo-quarterback so to speak. He gets the job done. He has a bunch of good guys around him like Marques Colston, who's from Hofstra, Lance Moore, some of those other guys, Devery Henderson and Robert Meachem that's come along this year that's really been the guy standing out from the receiver corps, because he's the one guy I haven't seen as much due to injuries the last couple years, but he's been stepping it up this year. Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas has really carried the load as far as some of the running plays that Deuce McAllister used to do for you guys and some of the guys in the past. That offense just in general has been lights out. Everything's going the way it should go and I would expect nothing less from a Sean Paytoncoached football team.

Q: What would beating the Saints mean to your first year program?

A: That's really what we're trying to do. We're really trying to be out there as spoilers to everybody else. We were given, I don't know what the rankings were, top four in schedule if you want to talk about it being hard and those things. It's been fun. Now we have a chance to play all the best teams because at one point in this league, if you want to be good enough to compete against anybody in this league and when you can go out there and get an opportunity to play against some of these guys and get some confidence against guys like the Saints and go out there and play well, we're going to try to win the football game of course, but we want to get out there and give our best efforts enough to perform well enough to win and go out there and be our best self.

Q: Has it been a hard sell to get everybody on board or has there been a lot of enthusiasm?

A: There's been a lot of enthusiasm. I have a tough football team. Mentally tough and physically tough as well. I don't know if you watched it on tape, but these guys played hard and we haven't come out and won a lot, but they're a hard playing football team. We were really outmatched one game against the New York Giants. That was the one game where I don't feel like we competed as well as we could, but for the most after that, it has been really competitive, intense games. We just haven't come out on top as much as we'd like to. The last two weeks have been signs of where we can go and signs of what we can be. These guys are starting to buy in and do some of the positive things to do to compete at this level.

Q: Have you changed much of your defense from the previous regime?

A: The previous regime we worked with we tried to transform it a little bit to this package we're in right now. We just transformed over to it. There's not much difference. There's a lot of the same coverages, little different verbiage, different teachings and some more understanding of different things we may not have talked about before. We have all the stuff we had before. We've just added some things we needed to add from before and now we're just putting it all together. We have a bunch of young guys that have to buy into it and grow into it together and see where we can go.

Q: They say that once a rookie has made it through a number of games he's not a rookie anymore. Are you still a rookie head coach?

A: I don't' know. You have to ask my team that. I'm getting better and better every day as well. If there's something...There's no handbook for head coaching. You go into the job, you have to be your best self. What I'm doing is going out there and trying to lead men and that's my job. My job is to lead men to come in here and give our best effort and put them in a position to win.

Q: Are there any surprises to the job?

A: Not really surprises. The only thing that's different is the amount of media presentation that you have to deal with. Other than that, it's been like leading a big DB room. That's how we take it and that's how we approach. All those guys feel that way.

Q: Are there any plans to use the Wildcat against the Saints?

A: I haven't shown any wildcat on tape yet. I don't think we have any plans to use the wildcat. If we do, I'm not telling Sean Payton anyway.

Josh Freeman

From the Times-Pic

What have you learned over the course of two NFL starts?

"I've learned a lot. Whether it be learning about myself, what defenses are trying to do to me, speeding up my game to make it a little even, because sometimes there are instances like last week where I was scrambling and I felt like I had more time. Some of those d linemen ended up closing on me pretty fast and ended up stripping it out."

What have you learned about yourself?

"My preparation week to week, just what it takes to give your team a chance to win."

Does Will Smith stand out to you at all?

"Yes. They have a lot of guys that that stand out. They play a really aggressive style. They have a lot of standouts. We haven't really gotten into a ton of personnel. There's a whole lot of schemes and looking at the pressures."

Did everyone seem to be on board with the rebuilding effort?

"I guess. You have to go along with it. Everybody wants to be successful. That's the way the management is going along with it. Everybody's bought in and going in the same direction."

Was it hard for the club to go through the start to the season?

"Yes. It's always miserable when you're not winning. For me in particular, not being in the game, being on the bench and having your team lose is really tough."

What have you seen in the growth of Raheem Morris as a head coach?

"Coach Morris has done a good job. He demands respect from the team. The team respects him, and everybody plays hard for him. He's found a way to be a player's coach, but at the same time maintain the respect he has for everyone."

Have you noticed growth in him from week one to week ten in how he goes about things?

"I don't know. I don't really know what being a head coach all entails, but from what I've seen he's been doing a great job."

What additional things do you want to get better at after your first two starts?

"I definitely say fumbling. Versus Green Bay we had a fumbled snap. This week we had one where I fumbled and one where I dropped a shotgun snap. It's definitely being more ball secure."

How long did you expect to wait before playing? Did you expect to not play this season or expect to get a chance?

"I really didn't know at first going through camp because Luke McCown and Byron Leftwich, they were the showcase competition. They ended up trading Luke and moving Josh Johnson to second string. At that point, I was thinking I might get to play. Then they made the switch to Josh, played me at second string. That's when I really felt like I would get an opportunity at some point this year."

Was it everything you hoped for?

"It's definitely very emotional for me, not necessarily because it's the NFL, but because it's the thrill of competition, always trying to find a way to win and putting all you have into it."

New Orleans Saints @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Game Preview

Saintsational — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:15:20 -0000

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (9-0) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (1-8)

SERIES

	SAINTS	BUCCANEERS
SERIES LEADER	20-14
STREAKS		3 of past 4
COACHES VS. OPP.	Payton: 3-3	Morris: 0-0
LAST WEEK	W 28-23 at Rams	L 25-23 at Dolphins
LAST GAME	11/30/08: Saints 20 at Buccaneers 23. Tampa Bay K Matt Bryant kicks game-winning 37-yard FG with 1:55 remaining. Buccaneers defense registers 2 INTs in final minutes of win.
LAST GAME AT SITE	11/30/08
BROADCAST	FOX (1:00 PM ET): Sam Rosen, Tim Ryan. SIRIUS: 126 (NO), 158 (TB). XM: 103 (NO).

STATS

PASSING	Brees: 199-291-2,559 (1C)-19 (1C)-9-104.6 (2L)	Freeman (R): 32-63-417-4-2-79.9
RUSHING	P. Thomas: 94-492-5.2-5	Williams: 106-418-3.9-3
RECEIVING	Colston: 39-613-15.7-6	Winslow (TE): 42-454-10.8-5
OFFENSE	426.1 (1L)	276.3
TAKE/GIVE	+6 (3C)	0
DEFENSE	343.0	379.2
SACKS	Smith: 7.5 (T3C)	Wilkerson: 5.5
INTs	Sharper: 7 (1C)	Talib: 5 (T3L)
PUNTING	Morstead (R): 43.0	D. Johnson: 41.4
KICKING	Carney: 73 (40/42 PAT; 11/14 FG)	Barth: 17 (5/5 PAT; 4/5 FG)

NOTES

SAINTS: Are 9-0 for 1st time in team history. Average 36.8 points per game, most in NFL...QB DREW BREES aims for 4th in row vs. division with 300+ yards. In past 3 vs. division, has 1,024 yards, 7 TDs, 3 INTs & 104.1 rating. Since joining NO in 2006, leads NFL with 16,469 pass yards. Has 2,636 yards (329.5 per game), 24 TDs, 7 INTs & 118.9 rating in past 8 vs. NFC...RB-PR REGGIE BUSH had rush & rec. TD last week. Has 2 TDs vs. TB (65-yard PR-TD & 42-yard rec. TD). Has 30 career TDs (17 rush, 9 rec, 4 PR) & is only Saint to score via rush, rec. & PR. RB PIERRE THOMAS aims for 4th in row vs. division with rush TD. Had 20-yard TD catch in last meeting...WR MARQUES COLSTON had 6 catches for 106 yards in last meeting. Has 10 TDs in past 12. WR ROBERT MEACHEM aims for 3rd in row with TD. TE JEREMY SHOCKEY has 458 receptions since 2002, 3rd most in NFL by TE. KR COURTNEY ROBY had 97-yard KR-TD last week, his 1st TD since 2005...DE WILL SMITH has 5 sacks in past 3 & aims for 4th in row with sack. S DARREN SHARPER has INT in 2 of past 3 vs. TB, incl. 88-yard INT-TD. LB JONATHAN VILMA had sack in last meeting...

BUCCANEERS: QB JOSH FREEMAN has 4 TDs in 1st 2 NFL starts...Team is 10-0 when RB CADILLAC WILLIAMS has 22+ carries. Has 3 rush TDs in past 2 meetings. Rushed for TD last week. RB-KR CLIFTON SMITH is 2nd in NFL with 30.1 KR avg...WR ANTONIO BRYANT has rec. TD in 2 of past 3 vs. NO (48 & 39 yards). Has 19 catches for 345 yards (115 per game) & 3 TDs in past 3 division games. WR MAURICE STOVALL had 33-yard TD reception last week. TE KELLEN WINSLOW had 7 catches for 102 yards last week, 2nd 100-yard game of season. Since 2006, ranks 3rd among TEs with 256 catches. WR SAMMIE STROUGHTER is tied for 3rd among NFC rookies with 15 1st down receptions...Defense has 198 INTs since 2000, 2nd most in NFL. S TANARD JACKSON has 3 INTs in past 4, incl. 2 INT-TDs. CB RONDE BARBER has posted 3 INTs in game 2 times, both vs. NO. Has 13 career return TDs. Is 1 of 4 players all-time with 20+ sacks (24) & 30+ INTs (37). CB AQIB TALIB has 5 INTs in past 6. LB QUINCY BLACK had 1st career INT last week...K CONNOR BARTH became 4th player in NFL history with 3 50+ yard FGs in game last week.

Friday Injury Report: Green Bay Packers at Tampa

Brandon — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:18:28 -0000

The week's list is long for the Green Bay Packers. While a lot has gone wrong for the Buccaneers during their 0-7 start, injuries have not been their biggest problem.

For the Packers, a couple players (Lang and Allen) were injured during practice this week. Chillar is out for a couple weeks after having surgery on his broken hand. Driver (neck stinger) and Rodgers (feet) were held out all week, until Friday's practice, but they're almost certain to play through the pain. Clifton was back at practice all week, apparently his practice on Friday was limited just as a precaution, and he should start on Sunday. Hall was back in practice, after missing a couple weeks, but he was still limited and a good candidate to be left inactive on Sunday. Maybe the same can be said for Martin. There was nothing written, at least that I read, about Woodson's injury, so it's apparently not serious and he should start on Sunday. Again this week, Finley, Nelson, and Spitz are all out.

For the Bucs, their starting WR Antonio Bryant is likely to miss the game due to the knee injury he aggravated while flying coach. Maybe they'll be without 2nd year CB Elbert Mack, but since he's only started 1 NFL game, he's probably not a key part of their defense.

The complete injury lists, for both teams, are after the jump.

Player	Pos.	Injury	Friday Participation	Friday Status
Jake Allen	WR	Quadricep	Limited Participation	Questionable
Brandon Chillar	LB	Hand	Out	Out
Chad Clifton	T	Ankle	Limited Participation	Probable
Donald Driver	WR	Neck	Full Participation	Probable
Jermichael Finley	TE	Knee	Did Not Participate	Out
Korey Hall	FB	Calf	Limited Participation	Questionable
T.J. Lang	G/T	Oblique	Limited Participation	Questionable
Derrick Martin	S	Concussion	Limited Participation	Questionable
Jordy Nelson	WR	Knee	Did Not Participate	Out
Aaron Rodgers	QB	Feet	Full Participation	Probable
Jason Spitz	C/G	Back	Did Not Participate	Out
Charles Woodson	CB	Hip	Full Participation	Probable


Player	Pos.	Injury	Friday Participation	Friday Status
Antonio Bryant	WR	Knee	Did Not Participate	Questionable
Michael Clayton	WR	Wrist	Full Participation	Questionable
Elbert Mack	CB	Ankle	Did Not Participate	Questionable
Aqib Talib	CB	Ankle	Full Participation	Probable
Jeremy Zuttah	G	Shoulder	Full Participation	Probable

Bucs lose as expected, get 1st glimpse of future.

Niko Houllis — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:49:45 -0000

More photos » by Matt Dunham - AP

Randy Moss was held scoreless with 5 catches for 59 yards.

Browse more photos »

For those who were waiting for the Freeman watch, you got your first sighting. Rookie Josh Freeman was inserted into the game once the Patriots extended their lead to 4 Touchdowns. Freeman neither excelled nor disapointed; completing a nice pass to Brian Clark, and extending a play with his legs while also getting rid of the ball when pressured.

Josh Johnson on the other hand could not have started the day out any worse, converting a few plays into first downs, but staring down his receiver which resulted in a Pick 6. On the day he was 9 of 26 for 156 yards; 3 interceptions and one TD.

The Bucs defense did not really allow the Patriots to enjoy anything they didnt earn. Aqib Talib had another pick, and the defensive line applied some pressure at times with rookie Roy Miller in the game, but gave up 107 yards rushing along with 307 yards passing; somewhat moderate for New England. The line even pressured Brady into a few turnovers.

Special Teams continue to improve as a partial block was recorded, and several other Bucs came close to stopping some others.

In the end, the Buccaneers were not able to make enough plays, and the New England Patriots were.

The Buccaneers will fly home to Tampa and enjoy the week off as they resume playing in two weeks at home VS Green Bay. This will be the throwback game where Bucs fans will join in celebrating Lee Roy Selmon's induction into the new Tampa Bay Ring of Honor by wearing 1976 Orange uniforms, and perhaps a change in quarterbacks.

Enemy Flashback Video & Conversation with Pats blogs!

Niko Houllis — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:15:09 -0000

Last time we played the New England Patriots, Chris Simms was our Quarterback, and we were headed to the playoffs. Oh how much has changed in 4 years for the rematch! The Bucs head to Wembley Stadium in London, England to take on the Patriots without out so much as a win to show for themselves. Before we get into our conversation with not just one but TWO Patriots Blogs, Lets take a look at the highlight of that game...

Today we have answers to our questions from not just one, but TWO New England Patriots blogs. Not only SB Nations' David from PatsPulpit.com, but Bruce from www.Patriotsdaily.com as well! We will compare their answers side by side to our panel of author's questions!

BucWild) Did losing Josh McDaniels shake up the coaching staff, or will the team respond in the next few years (positively) like when Charlie Weis left?

David) I think it's a question of Bill O'Brien, the current quarterbacks coach and heir apparent to the OC job, getting comfortable with the role. That and there was a lot of turmoil on offense. Tom Brady's return has been a bit rocky, but Peyton Manning's return in 2008 had the same flavor. I expect things to settle in a bit once the coaching staff and players have some stability with personnel and figure out what plays work with the group of guys on the field.

Bruce) He was a big loss, no doubt. Not only was the the OC, he was also the QB coach, and we saw what he did with Matt Cassel last year. His departure is one of the many things you can put on a list to explain Tom Brady's struggles in the early going this season. One interesting thing that we learned in the week prior to the Denver game was that Bill Belichick and McDaniels both realized that McDaniels was going to be a head coach, sooner probably than later, so last year they each spent a lot of time getting ready for that. Belichick would give McDaniels tips on what to expect as the head coaches and dealing with various issues. McDaniels would give Belichick and Bill O'Brien, the new QB coach, his thoughts, techniques and ideas on being an offensive coordinator. O'Brien isn't the OC, but he's calling the plays this season, which is exactly what McDaniels role was in the year after Weis left.

BucWild) Seems like a different running back is in the backfield on every play. What are their roles and how does the coaching staff manage the rotation?

David) NE has a "backfield-by-committee" ground game out of necessity - we don't have a solid workhorse back. Laurence Maroney was supposed to be that guy, but he's struggling. Currently, I'd consider him a general purpose back. Sammy Morris and falls into this category, but has better hands and can be used in option or checkdown situations. Kevin Faulk is predominantly a third down specialist due to his receiver-like abilities. BenJarvus Green-Ellis is the young buck of the group and appears to have all the qualities of a good back and an option guy when needed.

Bruce) With Fred Taylor and Sammy Morris both injured now, there will obviously a bit less of a rotation. I think it's a combination of matchups and trying to avoid wear and tear. With lead back, Morris would be the short-yardage back and fullback, Kevin Faulk the third down back, Laurence Maroney the change of pace back and BenJarvus Green-Ellis the insurance policy. Now it seems like Maroney is going to be the guy, with Green-Ellis spelling him, and Faulk remaining the 3rd down back. The Patriots also do a lot of short passes to receivers like Wes Welker which serves almost the same purpose as the running game.

Niko)You've got the 3 Rings in this decade. Since free agency, no team has won 4 like the Steelers and 49ers did. Do you feel the Pats have cemented themselves as a dynasty, or need 1 more SuperBowl win to lock down the same Status those Steelers and 49ers have?

David) As Tedy Bruschi said when he retired, one more would be nice, but let's not get greedy. ;-) I do feel like one more before Tom Brady retires would certainly quiet the most vocal rivals (Colts fans).

Bruce ) I'd like one more just to be sure. And to shut up the Steelers fans who are trying to make a play for team of the decade.

Niko) What did fans think of Joey Galloway when you got him? What about now?

David) Galloway was cut this past Tuesday prior to the NFL trade deadline. When he joined, us fans were a little skeptical that a guy at his age had something left in the tank. But, in Belichick we trust, so we hoped he'd provide a nice long ball alternative to Randy Moss and help spread the field. Unfortunately, Joey had a tough time picking up the system and never really connected with Brady. Two critical mistakes in redzone situations made him a healthy sit for the last 3 games.

Bruce ) We thought he might be an upgrade over Jabar Gaffney and give the Patriots someone to stretch the field opposite Randy Moss. What we got was someone who couldn't learn the playbook, and wasn't where he was supposed to be on the field at the time he was supposed to be there. A huge disappointment.

Buc'Em Standard) If you could, what Buc or two Bucs would you like to have from our Roster? For fun since its the trade deadline, who would you be willing to give up for him/them?

David) I've always liked Antonio Bryant. He doesn't get a lot of touchdowns, but gets good yardage stats and helps to move the ball. Plus, we could use another look for Brady now that Galloway is gone and rookie WR Julian Edelman has a broken arm. We're pretty deep on the defensive line, so I could see us handing over a Ron Brace or Myron Pryor.

Bruce ) Aqib Talib. Cornerback is seemingly always a position that the Patriots are looking to improve at. This year is a whole lot better than last (Deltha O'Neal, anyone?), but Talib would like nice back there. A trade would probably consist of a draft pick, but if we're talking a baseball-style player for player deal, maybe someone like Laurence Maroney, who has all the potential in the world, but probably needs a fresh start to get his game fully back on track.

Video of the Day Part 1 - Smith KOed in the 2nd......qtr.

Niko Houllis — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:00:26 -0000

Watch the video closely, not only does Wesley commit the foul, but he punches Aqib Talib! Look at :36 in, you'll see Talib's head jerk back.

Locker-room stuff for the rematch in Queen City?

Also: Two Comments

1) This is a tight team. There was no hesitation, the Bucs cleared that bench in a few seconds.

2) Aqib does a good job of not going ballistic after getting punched. Dancing around is one thing. If he wanted to get Wesley, he could have.

One game in, Adams replacement a marked improvement

Niko Houllis — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:00:30 -0000

Now appearing in the stat line; The Right Defensive End.

View full size photo »

He's only one number higher in the grand scheme of things. But #91 added much more to the game than #90 has all year. Styles G. White, a name you have to check twice before you finalize any document, started Sunday in place of Gaines Adams who was traded midweek to the Chicago Bears. Several games this year Adams was not even able to appear in the stat line whatsoever. In his first start since the trade, White did not catch the NFL on fire, but he at least brought something to the table. When Adams can go games without a single tackle, White's first one as a starter produced eight tackles, one sack, a quarterback hit, and two tackles for a loss. Basically half a season's worth of stats for Adams.

Kudos to Aqib Talib:

The effort will probably go lost, as the defensive line gave up a second straight 250+ yard rushing performance to Carolina, including a final drive in which the Panthers passed the ball on only one play, a pass to Steve Smith; Smith's only reception of the game. Blanketed by Talib, Smith was unable, or unneeded to make a game changing play on Sunday. This marks 3 consecutive games that Talib has dominated in the secondary, also blanking young phenom DeSean Jackson to one catch for 4 yards last week, and grabbing 3 interception against the Redskins, despite giving up a touchdown deep. Its the last time Talib has given up a score, as he is starting to provide dividends for his high draft status in his first season as a full time starter. Tanard Jackson with his Pick 6 and Talib are showing Bucs fans a glimpse into the future.

The good and bad of the Gaines Adams trade

Mocking Dan — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 05:07:55 -0000

On Friday, four days before the NFL trade deadline, the Bears traded their 2010 second-round pick to the Buccaneers for defensive end Gaines Adams.

The fourth pick in the 2007 draft, Adams has largely been considered a disappointment. Buccaneers head coach Rahemm Morris called Adams out earlier this season for a lack of production

In 37 career games, including 29 starts, Adams has 13.5 sacks. Many expected more out Adams, 26, but his desire and he doesn't have the physicality to play end in the NFL.

In Adams' defense, he is clearly athletic and was maybe playing out of place for Tampa Bay. At Clemson, where he had 28 career sacks, Adams was at his best when he could line up wide outside and just get after the passer. He still has a good burst, but has basically had one good quarter this season, and that came against a Redskins team that is below-average in pass protection.

The good for Chicago is that connects Adams with defensive line coach Rod Marinelli. Considered one of the best line coaches in football, Marinelli almost drafted Adams second overall in 2007 when he coached the Lions. Also for the Bears, end Adewale Ogunleye is a free agent after this season and the team can save some money by not re-signing him.

Adams is set to make $1.08 million in 2010, $1.1 million in '11 and $1.15 million in '12. That's a relative bargain since Tampa paid his rookie signing bonus.

On one end, the Buccaneers aren't at a complete loss for jettisoning Adams. The team, and its fans, no longer have to worry about the failing expectations of a high draft choice. And although no one will probably admit it, Morris was clearly not a fan of Adams'.

But at some point, you have to question the workings of Tampa Bay's front office. General Manager Mark Dominik might be trying to make his mark in his first season, but it's just another Tampa Bay draft failure. Some recent Bucs draftees include Josh Freeman (considered a reach), Aqib Talib (decent corner prospect with character flaws), Dexter Jackson ('08 second rounder now on Carolina's practice squad) and Arron Sears (frequently hurt).

So even with another pick in next year's draft, does Tampa Bay have the front office acumen to make a sound selection? Also, what kind of security could a Buccaneers players feel after the fourth pick in the draft was given up on after 29 starts?

For the Bears, if Adams fails, the team is left without a pick in the first two rounds of the draft for the second consecutive season. At some point, that could catch up to the Bears. After all, just ask the Redskins how well trading draft picks has gone.