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The Bucs have lost starting center Jeff Faine for the next 4-6 weeks due to a severe triceps injury. This will really hurt the Bucs as the center is the only player other than the QB than touches the ball on every single play of the game. The Bucs have re-signed Sean Mahan to help replace Faine but that’s a huge dropoff.
The Buccaneers just couldn’t keep up with the Cowboys in this game. Byron Leftwich had a solid first start for the Bucs as he completed 25 of 41 passes for 276 yards with 1 TD pass and 0 INTs. Cadillac Williams was outstanding in this game as he carried the ball 13 times for 97 yards (7.5 ypc) with a TD run. Derrick Ward was also very effective in carrying the ball 12 times for 62 yards (5.2 ypc) with a TD run. He also caught 2 passes for 21 yards in this game. Michael Clayton had a solid game with 5 catches for 93 yards (18.6 avg). Kellen Winslow pitched in with 5 catches for 30 yards (6.0 avg) and a TD. The Bucs had possession of the football for 33:32 of this game and they rolled up 450 total yards on offense (174 rushing, 276 passing).
Safety Sabby Piscitelli led a poor effort by the Bucs D in this game with 8 tackles. The Cowboys only had the ball for 26:28 of this game but they still rolled up 462 total yards on offense (118 rushing, 344 passing).
The Cowboys have a new look and they have a good team to try it out on tomorrow in the Tampa Bay Bucs. With T.O. not in Dallas anymore look for Tony Romo to spread the football around more. His favorite target will be his pal TE Jason Witten who should have a good game tomorrow against the LBs and safeties of the Bucs. But Romo will also have to get the football to Roy Williams, Patrick Crayton, Sam Hurd and Miles Austin in the passing game. The Bucs could blitz a lot tomorrow to try to rush Romo into some mistakes. The Cowboys will also run the ball a lot tomorrow with Felix Jones, Marion Barber and Tashard Choice who will all be a pain for the Bucs’ D.
The Bucs gameplan should revolve around running the football tomorrow, period. Derrick Ward, Earnest Graham and Cadillac Williams should get a lot of carries right up the middle to negate the speed of the Cowboys D. Byron Leftwich probably won’t have a lot of time to throw against the Cowboys especially with OLB DeMarcus Ware chasing him around. With that in mind look for Kellen Winslow to get targeted a lot.
PREDICTION: DALLAS COWBOYS 23, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 13
The Buccaneers didn’t finish the pre-season too strong last Friday Night. Josh Freeman looked like a deer in headlights once again completing 7 of 17 passes for 85 yards with 1 TD pass and 2 interceptions. He did run the ball well however carrying the rock 3 times for 27 yards (9.0 ypc). Josh Johnson looked solid finishing up the game as he completed 12 of 21 passes for 182 yards with 1 TD pass and 1 INT. He also carried the ball 5 times for 43 yards (8.6 ypc) in this game. Clifton Smith led the Bucs’ in rushing with 43 yards on 9 carries (4.8 ypc). WR Brian Clark led the way in the passing game for the Bucs with 70 yards on 4 grabs (17.5 avg). The Bucs finished up this game with 387 total yards on offense (124 rushing, 263 passing).
The defense was led by linebacker Bo Ruud (7 tackles) and CB Torrie Cox (7 tackles, INT). The Texans finished up with 343 total yards of offense in this game (103 rushing, 240 passing). The Buccaneers finished up the pre-season with a 1-3 record.
The Buccaneers have fired offensive co-ordinator Jeff Jagodzinski and replaced him with QB coach Greg Olson. Under Jagodzinski the Bucs were averaging only 16.7 points per game in the first three pre-season games. The Bucs rushed for 141.3 yards per game (6th in NFL) and passed for 154.7 yards per game (31st in NFL). It was the passing numbers that concerned head coach Raheem Morris and almost forced him to make this move. Greg Olson was offensive co-ordinator for the Lions in 2005 and the Rams in 2006-2007. In two of those seasons (2005, 2007) Olson’s teams only averaged 16 points per game. In 2006 though the Rams averaged 23 points per game and 248 yards passing and that must be the season that Morris was looking at when he promoted him. This was a very odd thing to happen this close to the start of the season.
The Buccaneers have signed 27-year old T/G Marcus Johnson to a 1-year deal. Johnson is a big guy at 6’6″, 320 pounds so he fits into the physical specimen that the Bucs want. He played in 7 games (0 starts) for the Vikings last season. He has played in 47 games (18 starts) in his 4-year NFL career. This was a good signing for the Bucs.
The Bucs have released 29-year old C/G Sean Mahan. Mahan played in 15 games (0 starts) for the Bucs last season. In five years with the Buccaneers, Mahan played in 72 games (36 starts). The Bucs want to be a very physical run blocking team and Mahan doesn’t fit the mold.
The Buccaneers have released 23-year old WR/KR Dexter Jackson who was a 2nd round pick in last year’s NFL Draft. Jackson didn’t catch any passes for the Bucs in his rookie season. He also returned 20 punts for 97 yards (4.9 avg) and 14 kickoffs for 327 yards (23.4 avg). Jackson often looked like a deer in headlights last season with the Bucs. Maybe the Bucs should have watched more game film of Appalachian State than just the win over Michigan where Jackson shined. He might be the worst pick ever in the 2nd round in Buccaneers’ team history.