Bucs Scouting Updates
 

How about all developing news items about Bucs personnel in one thread as we look forward to the game...

Buccaneers | Joseph suffers illness, setback
Tue, 3 Oct 2006 09:41:33 -0700

Buccaneers.com reports Tampa Bay Buccaneers OG Davin Joseph (knee/illness) has missed four weeks with a knee injury, but head coach Jon Gruden expressed optimism he would return to practice prior to Week 5. However, Joseph was sent home ill with a virus Monday, Oct. 2, and he is a long shot to play this week.

The Bucs are reportedly more concerned about Carnell Williams' back problems than they will admit.

The real test will come this week. If Williams' explosiveness isn't back after a bye week, he may struggle to be 100% all season. Williams denies that his back is a problem.

Bucs CB Brian Kelly (turf toe) will start in Week 5 after missing two games.

Tampa's secondary has missed the underrated corner greatly because it's a big drop-off to Juran Bolden. "I hope this time I've taken off will buy me 10-12 weeks," he said. "If I can get that far in, I'm good to go." Kelly will help cover Marques Colston and Joe Horn.
Source: Tampa Tribune

RE: Bucs Scouting Updates
 

thats why I hated to get them after the bye week. they know now the D is going to carry them more than ever before. Jon will have some surprises ready for the dome that's for sure.

bye week or not this is a team we should beat. They have a rookie quarter back making his first start of his carrer and a team that has not run the ball at all..yea they might play a little better but having a hard time seeing this team coming in the dome and beating us..plus there defense hasn't looked good at all prediction: saints 31 bucs 13

If we can run between the tackles the Bucs are dead meat.



8)

I hope we don't underestimate Gradkowski. While he is a rookie & no superstar by any means, he is a sound QB.......probably more sound than Simms. Pressure, pressure, pressure!!! We didn't put any on Delhomme & it hurt us. I would hate to see another QB sit in the pocket all day & pick our below average CB's apart again.

we don't have below average CB's. Ok, I'll give you Craft. But the starting corners, especially Thomas, have done a pretty commendable job on the WR's they've faced. With the rules that favor the passing game, one should never expect that these guys would shut down all the quality receivers they face, but with the low yardage given up in the air so far this year, I'd say that being ranked in the top 6 for passing defense means that our corners are above average.

My apologies to Freddie Thomas......he has played well. McKenzie & Craft have played horribly all season. If you want to attribute the ranking of our pass defense to someone, give credit where credit is due. Our D-line has played exceptionally well & rushed the QB every game (except Carolina) & our LB's & young safeties have been outstanding in pass coverage. Calling our CB's "above average" is a huge reach! C'mon man.....Favre torched McKenzie & Craft in game 2. Hell.....Braylon Edwards mistreated McKenzie in game 1. You can't really count Atlanta, because everyone knows Vick won't beat you passing the ball. Game 4? Did McKenzie not get beat like a drum again? That's the point.......the d-line, LB's, & safeties have all played great so far this year, but let's be real......our CB's (Thomas excluded) have been mistreated by opposing WR's all year. That's just fact, man. Hopefully they will improve, but for now......they're the weakest link!

Did you see what the Packers did to Ahman Carroll? He stunk up the place on Monday night and was sent packing on Tuesday MORNING. It looks like McCarthy finally has developed some gonads!

Agree that our corners rate average when they are playing at their best. I think McKenzie would be much improved if he was the #2 guy across from a shutdowner.

Another thread perhaps but i think it would be reflective of where we think the holes are...

If a draft was tomorrow, what position do you think would be our biggest need. I would pick cornerback. Ideally, we might sign a established top notch corner in the offseason and then draft another on the first day of the draft. We're more than set at safety, two good DEs (if CG resigned), Thomas can do for another year maybe, a higher level vet or first day draft pick at LB would solidfy that... I could actually envsion defense becoming a real ongoing strength. Wow, how long has it been since even able to imagine that.

McKenzie's usually got #1 WR priority, so, of course he'll get exposed more often. No arguments on Craft. However, our safeties are somewhat swivel headed and lose TE's way too often. I'm absolutely not saying that this is a superior unit, but I am saying that based on what we've seen thusfar, they make plays and keep receivers contained to the point where the pass defense unit is top 6. It also helps that the pressure on the qb is pretty good, but even when there wasn't much pressure, Carolina still didn't move the ball at will against the secondary - only 169 yards in the air.

Against TB, the gameplan looks to be similar to the one used against the Falcons, only the TB qb isn't as mobile a threat so outside containment won't be as much of an issue. As such, forcing them to run between the tackles will bog them down and make them attack our cover 2 to the outside or get a "mismatch" on the outside. I'm not liking TB's chances against our D.

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/200...y-counts/4334/

This is really a more interesting read on the Saints D against the Panthers last week. But, I think it does provide some insight into the D and for looking forward to the TB game in that there are some things the D will need to improve on if we hope to pull out a W.

I'm sure I've read this before on the board but I'd like to see the D blitz more against TB. It seems to me that we didn't blitz much against the Panthers b/c of the respect for the passing game and who wants to see our DB's in one on one coverage deep! Saying that I hope we can take advantage of TB's rookie QB by blitzing the crap out of him.

obviously the saints must apply pressure to gradkowski, as well as control the line. But Brees must take advantage of the Saints defense and score and not settle for FG's. Also Deuce needs to have 100+ yds rushing.

Deuce always does well against the Bucs. They never seem to have an answer for him, and I'd like to see the Saints exploit mismatches with Bush in the short passing game, lining him up in the slot and such. It can only help Colston and Horn and Deuce. Pass to set up the run?

We have to win this game and we will, we're at home and coming off a loss, we're a much better team than the Bucs, if the Saints play there game they win, this would be a huge let down for the players, they were flying just high 2 weeks ago, if they lose this one I'm worried that they'll quit believing in themselves and that as we know could be a bad thing, but I think Payton will have his players ready come Sunday and will stress just how important this game is..
4-1 would be huge for this team and will carry them going against the Eagles the following week.

good call about setting up the pass with colston and horn to free up some running room for deuce and reggie. TB so far has had an underachieving defense this year and we need to exploit that this weekend. also we can not allow long runs to Cadillac, because they will most likely come out running for a while to keep Gradkowski out of pressure.

more good news for us...

October 4, 2006 @ 5:30pm
Tampa Bay starting right tackle Kenyatta Walker will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing knee surgery during the bye week. Rookie T Jeremy Trueblood will start at right tackle in place of Walker. In addition, the Bucs signed rookie OL Donald Penn from the Minnesota Vikings practice squad.
The Bucs offense could also feature another rookie in the starting lineup on Sunday. First-round pick Davin Joseph, who has been sidelined with a knee injury since the first week of the regular season, returned to practice for the first time Wednesday and is listed as questionable on the team’s injury report.
However, although Joseph could be ready to play Sunday, Gruden suggested he would not start in place of Sean Mahan at right guard and would be limited to special teams play vs. the Saints.

http://www.pewterreport.com/articles/view/2502

As a buc fan I unfortunatly cannot argue any of the points made so far on this thread. However, I have a co-worker that is a Saints fan and he says something like this..." This is a game the Saints should win. These are the games they usually lose." I know it aint much, but as a Buc fan these days... well... what else do I got??!! I mean, sooner or later the team that was predicted to challenge for the division title will show up and atleast win a couple of games. Here's to no injuries. Good luck.

Gotta win this one to have some momentum for the rest of the home stand....If we can beat TB and then Eagles (long shot)...then I think with the bye to prep the Ravens will get thrashed by our D

Good to have a friendly visitor. May the best team win.

As to the point made, what is looking so different about the Saints this year is stability and focus. Past seasons I always griped about that characteristic (up-down erraticness). Most typical was 2002, beating the Bucs twice in a year when they were Superbowl champs but then losing the last three games to teams that were 1-13, 3-10, and 6-9 and miss the playoffs. The approach of the coaching and team seems much improved this year. We'll see, it is now an "on any given Sunday" NFL more than ever.

LKelley67,
You know I could say the same thing about the Bucs this year... only in reverse. What is looking so different this year for the Bucs is the instability and lack of focus. This years defence is the same as last year... when they were ranked #1. Go figure. But, unlike you guys, I cannot point to a coaching change or a substancial player turn-over as an excuse/reason. As a long time Buc fan, trust me, an 0-3 or 0-4 start is not anything new!! Disapointing, yes. New,no.
By the way, and despite the rest of the country not giving kudos to you guys, that thing you did to the Falcons.... A thing of beauty it was!!!! I was actually worried that you guys might hurt Vick... and then we all would be in trouble.
Good luck... and I hope the Bucs atleast cover the spread.

Ever notice how Buc and Panther fans are almost universally polite and actually know a good amount about football? Not so with the Falcon fans. :D

BTW, I don't think the Falcons will beat the Bucs the second time 'round. Now that they know how to beat the Falcons O and honestly have better personnel to use that scheme, I don't see Vick and Dunn doing the same thing.