TAMPA - It was late on the night before the University of South Florida football team was to play Auburn University last month. As is his custom, Coach Jim Leavitt gathered his team for a meeting before sending his players off to their rooms. They talked about the game and the challenge of facing a program like Auburn. ...more

October 9, 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