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Bucs-Jags Tilt A Sloppy Mixed Bag

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By MARTIN FENNELLY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 23, 2008

The time was 7:34 p.m.

In the deafening bedlam that is Bucs-Jaguars preseason football, Jon Gruden turned to Jeff Garcia, at last, and told him to run the offense.

"Go get 'em, Brett."

OK, OK, it wasn't like that. But everything after that was a blur, though it was clear enough that the Bucs didn't look at all sharp against a good Jacksonville team. Like with most preseason football games, we don't know what it all means. It was some of this, some of that, most of it sloppy, in the Jaguars' pulsating victory.

To the B-List:

-- Garcia looked lousy, as lousy as you should look when you haven't played forever. Mind you, he hit his first pass of the preseason, a short one to Maurice Stovall. He badly floated his second one, over Stovall and into the arms of Jaguars safety and dear old Gator friend Reggie Nelson.

-- That wasn't even the first Bucs turnover of the game. Nor was it the last. Earnest Graham coughed up the ball on the opening series. The Bucs had been perfect in their first two exhibitions, no turnovers. They had three in the first 20 minutes Saturday.

-- Garcia threw his second pick on an over the middle end-zone throw intended for Michael Clayton. Reggie Nelson. Again. Go get 'em, Brian.

-- Brian Griese received thunderous applause when he entered the game. OK, everybody, relax.

-- Before the game, there was no moment of silence for former Bucs left tackle Luke Petitgout, let go because of his knee, oh, and because 119 seconds later the league suspended him for substance abuse. Luke, we hardly knew ye. Bucs, we know ye all too well.

-- From the I Like My Grapes Peeled Department: Anyone else tired of waiting on the great Joey Galloway? I don't know which is harder to find at this point, Galloway on the field or photos from a Chinese gymnast's Sweet 16 party. The Joey Watch hit three preseason games Saturday, with next to no chance that No. 84 will play the last exhibition next Thursday at Houston. You would think he could at least some out Saturday to practice leaving the field early, like last year against the Giants. See you soon, Joey!

-- How do you not like the way Sabby Piscitelli is playing? Against the Dolphins, it was a couple of sweet smacks. Last week against New England, it was that fumble return for a TD. Did you see him nail that punt returner Saturday? If you're serious about the preseason, this is how you do it. If you're not, you miss that tackle like Tanard Jackson did, allowing Jacksonville's first touchdown.

-- No Antonio Bryant on Saturday. We saw him on the sideline fanning Joey.

-- Luke McCown, not be left out, threw a pick, too.

-- None of this matters if Davin Joseph stays hurt. His injured foot may be the key to the early part of the season. This team was counting on the offensive line, Joseph in particular, to anchor this offense. The Bucs can't rush this guy back or it could kill the season - and so they will rush him back.

-- Scary moment: Bucs linebacker Antoine Cash carted off in a neck brace late. The team gathered around him, a tradition begun last season when receiver Paris Warren went down with a knee in the final preseason game. It's a good tradition. Godspeed, Antoine.

-- In the race for wide receiver, I still don't see anyone I'd go to on third down outside of veteran Ike Hilliard. And that's a problem.

-- Think it took John Lynch long to learn the Patriots' playbook?

-- The pass rush looked slightly better this week, and the legend of Jimmy Wilkerson lives. He got his second sack of the preseason. Is this another dream sequence or another Greg White? While we're on the subject, where's the old Greg White?

-- This just in: The first Jeff Garcia scoring drive of the preseason, probably the only one, unless Gruden uses him some in Houston. Garcia hit Mikey Clayton for a short score. Clayton also dropped a pass. Sigh.

-- A Ronde Barber interception - always nice to see.

-- For a guy the Bucs drafted in the second round for, among other things, his kick-returning abilities, Dexter Jackson has been a thudding dud.

-- For those playing scoreboard: Bucs lose, Rays win, Red Sox lose.

-- I hope there is a place in hell for the greedy beast who first got the idea to make fans have to pay for preseason games if they wanted season tickets. In my mind, this dude, for eternity, has to watch preseason game film - with Gruden. Hey, man, wake up, fifth team punt coverage is going in.

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