They can't keep winning this way. Conventional wisdom says so, but Coach Jon Gruden will remind you that they did win big this way once. ...more

October 16, 2007

Imagine Michael Vick, but only bigger. That's pretty much what the Titans have in QB Vince Young. He's got Daunte Culpepper-like size and a big-time arm, but he's not a real accurate thrower. He's dangerous, though, because he can get outside the pocket and turn up field. That's what the Bucs have to be concerned with. Young doesn't have a game-breaking receiver or anyone who truly stands out above the rest of his targets, so he makes defenses pay by breaking their containment and running for critical yards. Because he's so big, he's very tough to bring down. The best way to keep him from hurting you is to keep him trapped inside the pocket. The Bucs have faced this type of quarterback before and they usually do a pretty good job against them. The reason is they tend to be very disciplined in their rush. They cut off the escape routes to the side and up the middle and force the quarterback to throw. If they can remain disciplined today, they can neutralize Young's effectiveness and keep him from hurting them with his feet. ...more

October 13, 2007

Who knew? When Bucs fans glanced at the 2007 schedule and saw four games against the AFC South, it was a given that the Colts would be a league power. Jacksonville had a talented defense undermined by an unsettled quarterback situation. ...more

October 9, 2007

17 Yards rushing for the Bucs on 12 carries. They had averaged 137 per game through the first four games. ...more

October 8, 2007

WHAT WENT RIGHT FOR BUCS: Jeff Garcia passed to Joey Galloway for a 5-yard gain on their first play from scrimmage. ...more

October 8, 2007

Lacking the offensive balance Tampa Bay fans have grown accustomed to in recent weeks, the Bucs quickly found themselves tumbling out of a carefully crafted game plan Sunday. ...more

October 8, 2007

If you haven't gotten a call yet from Bruce Allen, just be patient and keep your cell phone handy. He is probably about halfway through his Rolodex by now, with most of the conversations going something like, 'Hey there ... say, you wouldn't have a spare running back you'd like to trade, would you?' ...more

October 8, 2007

The Buccaneers spent a long afternoon under a surgeon's care Sunday and went home numb. ...more

October 8, 2007

The Bucs faced their first real offensive challenge of the game just three plays into it when they lined up for a third-and-6 play at their 28-yard line. Quarterback Jeff Garcia dropped back to pass, but he never got the time to set up and throw as Dwight Freeney and Raheem Brock came rushing through the right side off a stunt to sack him 5 yards behind the line of scrimmage. Eight plays later, the Colts were ahead 7-0, the result of a seven-play drive engineered by Peyton Manning. The Bucs would go on to run just six offensive plays for a total of 2 yards in the first quarter. Talk about tough sledding. ...more

October 8, 2007

Peyton Manning is the best quarterback in the game today. Given time to set up in the pocket and throw, he is arguably the best ever. It is imperative the Bucs make life in the pocket miserable for Manning. That's a tall order for a team that has struggled to generate an effective pass rush, but the Bucs must find a way to do that. By mixing up their coverages, looks and blitz packages, the Bucs can force Manning into some mistakes. A key player likely will be CB Ronde Barber. When he lines up in the slot, Barber is a very effective blitzer who often surprises teams with his burst off the ball. Another player to watch is S Jermaine Phillips. He is playing at the top of his game and has been a punishing hitter. If he can get into the backfield, he could force Manning to make mistakes. ...more

October 6, 2007