SB Nation User Blog: The Bull Gator

Earnest Graham and Geno Hayes Placed on IR

The Bull Gator — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:31:12 -0000

With the news of running back Earnest Graham being placed on IR, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers now need Carnell "Cadillac" Williams to get ready to play as soon as possible.

Graham's ankle was severely sprained during the Bucs' game against the Minnesota Vikings, but there are now rumors that there could be some ligament damage as well. Either way, the running back's season is over. Heading into the home stretch, this is not the news the team wanted to hear.

Warrick Dunn will now become the primary ball carrier as the Bucs continue to prepare Williams to take the field. It's unlikely Williams will return completely to form over the next couple of games, but hopefully he can be ready for the final quarter of the year and possibly the playoffs. Dunn has shown flashes of great play so far this season, but it's clear the Bucs work well with a two-back system.

Rookie linebacker Geno Hayes was also placed on IR, ending the season of a player who had come on strong in recent weeks. The Bucs have signed RB Noah Herron and LB Matt McCoy.

John Lynch to Formally Retire

The Bull Gator — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:25:53 -0000

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneer great and fan favorite John Lynch will officially retire on Monday during a press conference hosted by the team.

I'm sure we'll talk a lot more about Lynch's play on the field and contributions off it in the coming days, but I wanted to go ahead and thank him for all he did for the team and the community. Lynch was a role model and I'm glad he was part of this franchise.

A Look at the Rest of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Season…

The Bull Gator — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:33:52 -0000

After a great comeback against a team the Tampa Bay Buccaneers shouldn’t have had to come back against and the bye week in the rearview mirror, we’re now in the home stretch. With a 6-3 record, the Bucs are in good shape to make something special this season, but the real question is can they? Is this a team with a good record that will flounder in the playoffs? Is this a team with enough talent and firepower to keep winning and even secure a playoff spot? Or is this a team that’s just teasing us and will be on the outside looking in when all is said and done?

First of all, I don’t believe it’s the last one of those. I do think this is a playoff team if only because of their 6-3 record. With the way the Bucs are playing and the remaining schedule, it’s safe to assume we’re looking at a 3-4 finish at worst. This would put Tampa Bay at 9-7 and hopefully give them a chance to claim one of the wild card spots. However, I think they will do better than that. And here’s why…

The Bucs still face the Detroit Lions and the Oakland Raiders. If Tampa Bay drops either of those games then maybe they don’t deserve to be in the playoffs. Not to upset any fans of those teams, but you know how good (or bad) your squads are this year and you should already be getting psyched for the draft. With those two wins, the Bucs would be up to 8-3 (yes, I know Detroit and Oakland aren’t the next two teams on Tampa Bay’s schedule, but bare with me here).

Next, let’s look at the other non-divisional matchups: the Minnesota Vikings and the San Diego Chargers. The Vikings are very beatable due to their shaky passing attack. The Bucs’ defense should give them trouble all day and be able to focus on stopping Adrian Peterson while forcing the Viking to beat them through the air. On the other hand, San Diego offers up an interesting matchup. The Chargers have to be the most talented team with a sub-.500 record. Which San Diego team will the Bucs get? The one that beat the New England Patriots by 20 points? Or the one that’s lost five games? I’ll play it safe and say the Bucs split these games. The Chargers are still a very talented team and with Peterson in the mix, you never know what you’re going to get with the Vikings. So now we’re at a conservative 9-4.

And now we’re down to the divisional matchups. Tampa Bay is currently 2-1 in NFC South games and has one game against each team remaining. Keeping with the "playing it safe" theme, let’s throw out the possibility of the Bucs going 3-0 or 0-3 in those games. Either could happen, neither is highly likely. The Bucs handled the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers rather easily earlier this year, but the Falcons are still a huge question mark (is anyone else amazed this team is 6-3?) and the Panthers have improved since then to the point they are leading the division. Then there’s the team currently sitting at the bottom: the New Orleans Saints. The Saints are below .500 but are similar in respects to the Chargers in that they are more talented than their record and could play the spoiler role for the rest of the year. Putting the three games together, the strong possibilities are 2-1 or 1-2. This would bring the Bucs’ final record to 11-5 or 10-6.

With 10 or more wins, the Bucs are in a good position to get into the playoffs, which I think (baring a catastrophic collapse) will happen. But what do you all think? Is this a playoff team? Will the Bucs make it in, but be knocked out the first weekend? Or are we looking at a team that overachieved early and will falter down the stretch?

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly – A Statistical Look at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bull Gator — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:23:57 -0000

Well kiddies, it’s that time again. Time for The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly where we take a statistical look at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. We’re now at the midway point of the 2008 season, so I figured now was as good a time as any to review some of the things that the Bucs are doing right and some of the things they are doing wrong – all from a statistical perspective. So here we go.

The Good

We have quite a few more good than bad or ugly items, but hey, the Bucs are 5-3, let’s try to see the glass as half full for the time being.

5-3 – Tampa Bay is currently 5-3 and in second place of the NFC South. Included within that 5-3 is a 2-1 divisional record.

341.3 – The Bucs – mostly thought of as a defensive team – average 341.3 yards of offense per game, good for 13th in the league. Although that’s not off the charts, it does put them in the top half in the NFL.

277.6 – Of course there’s nothing wrong with thinking of Tampa Bay as a defensive team. The Bucs are 5th in the league in yards allowed.

15.0 – Even better, Tampa Bay allows the 2nd least amount of points in the entire NFL.

+3 – The Bucs have taken away the ball 15 times and only given it up 12. You always want to be on the positive side of this.

88.7 – Jeff Garcia’s quarterback rating continues to improve. Although he isn’t making any fantasy owners scramble to pick him up, he is a steady game manager who rarely turns over the ball. Garcia has only thrown 2 interceptions all season while completing 67.5% of his passes.

13 and 19 – Although they trailed off a little in recent weeks, running backs Earnest Graham and Warrick Dunn still rank among the top 20 in the league in rushing yards. Graham was expected, but Dunn has been a welcome surprise.

3 – Rookie cornerback Aqib Talib leads the team with 3 interceptions, which ties him for 6th in the league. Some local fans were hoping the Bucs would draft USF product Mike Jenkins, but it looks like Talib was the right choice.

The Bad

21.3 – Despite being 13th in total offense, the Bucs are 21st in points scored, putting them in the bottom half of the league.

3 – The Bucs are dead last with 3 forced fumbles.

55 for 485 – Tampa Bay’s 55 penalties are the 5th most in the league and the Bucs 485 penalty yards rank as the 4th most.

4.9 – Rookie Dexter Jackson was never able to crack the 5 yards per return mark and now seems to have lost his job. I hate to say it, but it’s starting to look more and more like he is much farther from being ready to contribute than the Bucs once thought.

The Ugly (or Weird depending on how you look at it)

.500+ - Every team in the NFC South is currently .500 or better. The division is tough this year and even the Atlanta Falcons are making some waves.

4 – Garcia has only thrown 4 touchdown passes so far this year. That’s not horrible considering he is completing a good number of passes and rarely turns over the ball, but it would be nice if the Bucs could get into the end zone through the air more. At this point, opposing defenses aren’t very threatened by the passing game.

37, 451, 12.2, 1 – Antonio Bryant’s 37 catches and 451 receiving yards both rank among the league’s top 25. His 12.2 yards per catch and 1 receiving touchdown are nowhere to been seen on the NFL’s charts. Bryant is getting the ball more, but the Bucs aren’t stretching the field and aren’t going to him in the red zone.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly – A Statistical Look at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bull Gator — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 20:39:46 -0000

I like statistics. I like them too much. I’m a stats junkie and can never get enough of the numbers. Years ago, I was that kid that got mad at his friends when they threw too much to one receiver in Madden. I got upset when the computer controlled teams put up unrealistic numbers in my franchises. The obsession never really went away. I did grow up and realize stats don’t tell the whole story and there is a lot more to the game than just the numbers, but I still love them. So for the rest of you out there that like the numbers, here’s a statistical look at what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have done so far this year.

The Good

4-2 – Tampa Bay is currently 4-2 and at the top of the NFC South – never a bad thing.

85.8 – Jeff Garcia has a quarterback rating of 85.8 this season. He comes up 6 attempts short to be included among the league leaders, but if he did, he would be 16th. Although that is far from spectacular, it’s also far from awful. Garcia has always been the type of quarterback that doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. He’s not ever going to be perfect, but in the 16 games he’s appeared in as a Buc, he has only thrown 6 interceptions. Brian Griese threw that many in 2 games this year.

11, 12 and 5, 6 – Running backs Earnest Graham and Warrick Dunn rank 11th and 12th in the NFL in rushing yards and 5th and 6th in yards per carry. Who says Gators and Noles can’t work together in harmony? Both are on pace to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark. These two have been a huge part of Tampa Bay’s success so far.

92.3 – Matt Bryant has connected on 12 of his 13 field goal attempts this season, good for 92.3%. He’s on pace for a career best in points.

16.2 – The Bucs defense is one of the league’s best again. They allow 16.2 points per game, tied for the NFL’s 3rd best.

The Bad

6 – Going back to Griese’s picks, he has thrown the same number of interceptions – 6 – as fellow NFC South quarterback Drew Brees. Problem is Brees has played in 2 more games than Griese and attempted 77 more passes.

291 – Wide receiver Antonio Bryant leads the Bucs with 291 receiving yards, ranking 38th. And it’s not because the Bucs have a handful of other guys right around there. Only two others – Ike Hilliard and Alex Smith – have more than 150 yards.

5.2 – Rookie Dexter Jackson averages 5.2 yards per punt return. Mark Jones – one of the Bucs' punt returners last year – gains nearly double that for the Carolina Panthers. Jackson did look a little better in the Bucs’ last game, but still took a nose dive into the grass on one return.

44 for 401 – The Bucs’ have committed 44 penalties for 401 yards, ranking 6th and 4th most in the league.

The Ugly Weird

We really should call this section the "weird" since some of these stats don't necessarily give "ugly" results to the Bucs, but then it just wouldn't sound right in the title, would it?

64.6 – Despite being 3-0 in the games he played from start to finish this year, Griese’s quarterback rating of 64.6 ranks 28th in the league. Although wins are obviously the most important thing in the end, I’m not sure how far the Bucs would’ve gone with the league’s 28th ranked quarterback. Of course, if Garcia ever loses a couple of games in a row, I might be whistling a different tune.

2 – Defensive end Gaines Adams has 2 interceptions so far this season – one he returned for a touchdown. This isn’t bad at all, but it is sort of weird consider Adams is the only defensive lineman in the league with multiple interceptions. He has looked pretty good when asked to drop back into coverage.

Buccaneers Add Depth at Linebacker, Sign Former USF Star Ben Moffitt

The Bull Gator — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 21:22:49 -0000

With Barrett Ruud still questionable for Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers, the Tampa Bay Buccanneers have added depth at the linebacker position. On Tuesday, the Bucs signed former University of South Florida standout Ben Moffitt to the practice squad. Moffitt was with the Houston Texans during the preseason, but was released during final cuts.

It's good to see the former Bull get another opportunity to make it in the NFL. I'm not completely convinced Moffitt has the speed to make it on Sundays, but I'm glad he's getting another shot.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Denver Broncos: Key Players

The Bull Gator — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 13:01:41 -0000

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers head to Colorado to take on the Denver Broncos today, who like Tampa Bay, are 3-1 on the season. The Broncos have a potent offense – 2nd in the league in points scored – but a dismal defense – 2nd in the league in points allowed. Here are some of the key players in today’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ game.

Brian Griese, QB, Tampa Bay

Despite not playing the Bucs’ first game, Griese is 6th in the NFL in pass attempts. Obviously the 67 attempts against the Chicago Bears make a huge difference in that statistic, but if he had played in the season opener, he would most likely be leading the league in attempts. Who realistically would’ve thought the Bucs would be passing the ball this much?

Here’s the problem, he also is tied with Derek Anderson with a league-worst 6 interceptions. Many will point to Griese’s 3-0 record as a starter this year and say the rest doesn’t matter. It’s very true that wins are the most important thing there is. You play to win. Plain and simple. But there’s no way the Bucs will keep winning if the starting quarterback is throwing 3 picks a game. Griese has led the Bucs to their 3-1 record, but he needs to tighten up his game if he hopes to lead them further.

Warrick Dunn, RB, Tampa Bay

You all know Earnest Graham is having a great year so far and the starter is on pace for 1,300+ yards. But did you also know that Dunn is tied for 26th in the league in rushing, has only one game with less than 49 yards, and is on pace for nearly 800 yards on the season?

When Dunn came back to the Bucs in the offseason, fans were excited. There were mixed expectations of his play on the field, but fans were glad he was back in a Tampa Bay uniform. So far, Dunn has proved he has a lot left in the tank. He still has some of the speed and agility that has made him so good during his career. Initially thought of as a complimentary player, Dunn has proved vital to the offense. He is the perfect lightning to Graham’s thunder and creates a number of mismatches when subbing in for the starter.

Michael Pittman, RB, Denver

I’ll just give a quick mention of the former Buccaneer, but he’s worthy of bringing up. Pittman has only 23 carries this season, but has scored 4 times. The only game he didn’t get into the end zone, the Broncos lost.

Eddie Royal, WR, Denver

In 3 games this season, Brandon Marshall has 31 catches for 398 yards and 3 touchdowns. I’ll let you do the math, but those equate to some pretty impressive per game averages. So if Marshall is the superstar receiver, why am I listing Royal as one of the key players? Because the Bucs can’t forget about him. Opposing teams are quick to identify Marshall as the key the Broncos’ offense. But the rookie out of Virginia Tech – Royal – has been very good himself. In the Broncos first game of the season, Royal caught 9 passes for 146 yards with Marshall out. Many thought it was a fluke since Marshall wasn’t in the game, but last week against Kansas City, with Marshall in the lineup, Royal had 2 more catches and 27 more yards than Marshall.

At times, the Bucs’ pass defense has been very shaky this year. Ronde Barber has even seemed to lose a step from time to time. Tampa Bay needs to be ready for the Broncos because they are a pass happy team and one of the receivers will have a big day.

D.J. Williams, LB, Denver

The Broncos defense is nothing to write home about this year, but they still have one of the best young linebackers in the game. Williams is a quick, sure tackler linebacker who can set the tone early for the Denver defense. The Bucs running game has looked great at times this year and has been able to eat up a good chunk of yardage despite who’s on the other side of the field, but they still have to keep certain personnel in mind. Williams is one of those individuals. He has a great combination of speed and size and is the type of tackler that rarely gets run over. In one-on-one situations, he will make the tackle. A key for the Bucs will be to tire out the Broncos’ defense early by pounding away and getting Graham and Dunn into a good rhythm.

Green Bay Packers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Key Players

The Bull Gator — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 21:20:06 -0000

I’ve switched it up a little and instead of key matchups, I’m going to be focusing on key players for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ game this week. Which really isn’t all that different, but hey, why not.

Earnest Graham, RB, Tampa Bay

The Green Bay Packers has the fourteenth ranked rushing defense in the NFC. Yes kids, that’s out of 16 teams. They’re coming off a week in which Marion Barber put up 142 yards against them. That’s what the Bucs need from their starting running back.

Graham is coming off a game in which he only produced 16 yards on 12 carries. But that was kind of expected against the Chicago Bears’ defense. Now he’s going up against a team that allows 151 yards per game on the ground and he has a chance to define the flow of the game. If Graham can get going early and often, it could be a long day for the Packers. The Bucs need to play clock control because we all know Brian Griese isn’t going to put the ball in the air 67 times again anytime soon.

Antonio Bryant, WR, Tampa Bay

10 catches?!? 138 yards?!?

Bucs fans are still in shock over Bryant’s performance against the Bears. A career underachiever who was out of football in 2007, Bryant caught a career high 10 catches against the Bears and suddenly Bucs fans had dreams of a big wide receiver that holds onto the ball.

Here’s the problem. In the previous two games, Bryant had 3 total catches. The Bucs also threw the ball only 41 and 31 times n those games – or 26 and 36 less times than they did against the Bears. The issue for Bryant is those attempt numbers from the first two games are much more likely to happen consistently than the 67 against the Bears. So expect his production to dip. However, the most important thing for Bryant to do is CATCH THE BALL! Against the Bears he looked like an All-Pro. Against everyone else, he’s looked no better than a 4th or even 5th option based on his drops.

Bryant probably won’t get 10 catches again, but if he can hold onto the ball, 6-8 is realistic and he definitely can be a game changer.

Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay

Repeat after me. Aaron Rodgers is not Brett Favre. Go ahead. It’s okay. Aaron Rodgers is not Brett Favre. One more time. Aaron Rodgers is not Brett Favre. Okay good. So the Bucs have absolutely nothing to worry about. They are facing the Rodgers-led Pack. Not the Favre-led Pack.

Wait. What? Rodgers is playing better than Favre so far this year? No way. You’re kidding. Rodgers has a higher rating and hasn’t thrown an interception this year? Seriously? Yes seriously. Rodgers has shown in three games that he isn’t a bad quarterback. Far from it. But like I’ve said about other players, he can’t keep this up every game. Even league MVPs have off games from time to time and the Bucs main goal is to make sure this is an off game for Rodgers. He has the receivers to stretch the field, the running game to help him move the ball, and the patience and intelligence to not make bad throws. Since Rodgers isn’t going to make plays for them, it’s up to the Bucs to force him too.

Gaines Adams & Greg White, DEs, Tampa Bay

I’m going to the mall today and purchasing a white Adams jersey and a red White jersey! Okay that’s probably not a good idea considering the poor jersey choices I’ve already made during my lifetime. But I am in love with these two.

Along with the venerable Kevin Carter, Tampa Bay has put together one of the league’s top defensive line rotations. Don’t believe me? White is fifth in the league in sacks and Adams is one of only two defensive lineman to return an interception for a touchdown. Oh and for good measure, Carter leads Bucs’ defensive ends with 9 tackles.

Anyway, Adams and White are crucial in this game. Rodgers has looked very good in three starts, but here’s the key stat: Rodgers was sacked only once in the two wins, but five times in a loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Anyone can put two and two together. GET TO RODGERS! Statistically speaking Rodgers had his worst game against Dallas and it’s no coincidence that the Packers lost. Adams, White, and even Carter must come at him over and over and over and over and…

Son of Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Kicker Matt Bryant Passes Away

The Bull Gator — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:28:51 -0000

Our thoughts are with kicker Matt Bryant and his family. Bryant's infant son passed away in his sleep.

Bucs' general manager Bruce Allen issued the following statement: "The entire Buccaneer family is deeply saddened by this tragedy. The Bryants have been an inspiration to our entire community through their commitment to their family and their exhaustive efforts working with children and those in need in the Bay area. Our thoughts and prayers are with Matt and Melissa during this difficult time."

I'm sure I speak for all Bucs' fans in wishing only the best for Matt and his family during this tough time.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Chicago Bears: Key Matchups

The Bull Gator — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:34:43 -0000

Each week we’ll take a look at a few of the key matchups for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ upcoming game.

When the Bucs have the ball…

Warrick Dunn vs. Bears’ Defense

So far this season, the Chicago Bears have completely shut down their opponents’ starting running backs. In week 1, they held Joseph Addai of the Indianapolis Colts to 44 yards on 12 carries for an average of only 3.7 yards per carry. Against the Carolina Panthers in week 2, DeAngelo Williams only managed 2.8 yards per carry, running the ball 11 times for 31 yards. Since Earnest Graham has been so effective during the Bucs’ first two games, you have to think the Bears’ defense will key in on him. They have forced opponents to beat them through the air and if they can take away Tampa Bay’s run game, they stand a good chance to come out with the win.

The Bucs need to keep pounding away, but not necessarily with Graham. Against the Panthers, the Bears showed fatigue in the second half. Jonathan Stewart had 1 carry for 1 yard in the first half, but in the second he totaled 76 yards on 13 carries with 2 touchdowns. In the past, the Bucs have shied away from the running game if their primary ball carrier can’t get it going. Against the Bears, they can’t do that. This year, Tampa Bay is in a good situation where their backup can be just as effective. Although he’s a different type of player, Warrick Dunn has shown he still has something left in the tank. The Bucs know the Bears will be ready for Graham, so they need to mix it up early to keep them guessing. Get Dunn in the game right away and work the short passing game and the outside toss plays.

When the Bears have the ball…

Matt Forte vs. Barrett Ruud

Matt Forte has played very well in his first two NFL games, but can he keep it up? The Bucs’ defense has been good against the run for years now. The Bears appear confident that Forte can – and will – be their primary ball carrier. He had 23 carries in each of their first two games and they will continue to give him the ball as long as he performs. Chicago got what they needed at running back, but Forte won’t keep up his current pace. Raise your hand if you really think he’ll finish the year with his projected 1,700+ yards. I know I don’t. Not that Forte can’t be a good back in this league, but he’s still a rookie and will have a few stumbles along the way.

It’s key for the Bucs to be one of his roadblocks. Chicago has a shakier passing attack than Tampa Bay and against this defense Kyle Orton isn’t going to win this game with his arm. The Bears will have to rely on the running game and the Bucs will have to stop it. It all starts with middle linebacker Barrett Ruud. Hardy Nickerson was instrumental in turning around the Tampa Bay defense in the 90’s. Shelton Quarles performed at a much higher level than anyone ever expected. But Ruud has more talent than either one of them. He is a superstar in the making and games like this let him showcase what he can do. Ruud must make sure the defense knows where Forte is whenever he’s on the field. Sure tackling and keeping Forte from breaking a big one will keep the Bucs in this game.

Bears’ Offensive Line vs. Greg White

The Bears’ offensive line has only allowed Orton to be sacked three times in two games and has helped pave the way for a running game averaging 4.4 yards per carry. Anchored by Olin Kreutz and John Tait, Chicago has a solid offensive line that can neutralize most defensive front sevens. The last time these teams faced each other the Bucs sacked Bears’ quarterback Rex Grossman 4 times, but lost in the game in overtime. However, that was a much different Bears team who made it all the way to the Super Bowl.

The Bucs also didn’t have Greg White back then. White had 8 sacks last season – his first in the NFL – and already has 2.5 this year. He’s also just signed an incentive-laden contract this week and will be ready to show everyone the Bucs were smart in giving it to him. White creates a problem for offensive lines because they can’t focus just on him. They also have to key in on Gaines Adams, who continues to improve. If the Bears double one, the other will have a big day.

Special Teams…

Devin Hester vs. Bucs’ Special Teams

Devin Hester has a problem. He knows he’s possibly the greatest returner to ever play the game. He thinks he can take every kick to the house. Confidence isn’t a bad thing, but something similar happened to Dante Hall and he virtually disappeared. What made Hester so great was not thinking about it as much as just doing it. If he saw an opening, he took it. Now he wants to beat everyone to prove he can do it. Luckily for him and the Bears, it’s early enough in his career that this can be corrected and he has more than enough talent as a returner to overcome this. He just needs to realize when downing the ball might be the best option.

Regardless of Hester’s state of mind, Tampa Bay needs to treat him like he can score on every return. It’s true that the best kick returners have talent and speed, but it’s also true that most returns for touchdown occur because someone on the other team blew an assignment. So to the Bucs: STAY IN YOUR LANES! Tampa Bay has to stick to its plan regardless of who’s back there returning kicks. Stay in your lanes and make the tackle. Don’t go into every kick thinking you’re the one that’s going to stop the best returner in the NFL. Just make the smart play.

What was thought to be a serious injury earlier in the week, is now being labeled as just some bruising, so there’s a good chance Hester will be ready to go on Sunday.