hagan714

Doug Miller, NewOrleansSaints.com
Monday, September 10, 2007 - 2:40 PM
The Pirate Ship beckons.
The New Orleans Saints (0-1) travel to Tampa Bay this weekend to face the Buccaneers (0-1) in a key early season NFC South divisional game (12:00 CT; Fox Sports; Saints Radio Network).

Both the Saints and the Bucs were on the road for their first games of the 2007 regular season, as the Saints traveled to Indianapolis to square off against the Colts on Thursday night (41-10) and the Bucs traveled across the country to face last season’s NFC West champions, the Seattle Seahawks, and dropped their opener, 20-6, in Qwest Field. The Saints, Atlanta Falcons and KC Chiefs each own the distinction of starting their 2007 seasons with two consecutive road games.
The Saints swept the season series in 2006 against their rivals, defeating the Bucs on October 8 in the Superdome, 24-21, and then less than a month later, traveled to across the Gulf of Mexico to Tampa Bay on November 5 and won, 31-14.
In the first game of the season between the two teams last season, RB/PR Reggie Bush scored his first NFL touchdown in dramatic fashion, returning a punt 65 yards for the game-winning points with 4:17 left in the contest. RB Deuce McAllister picked up 123 yards on the day rushing, including a 24-yard scoring run, and also snapped off a 57-yard jaunt. QB Drew Brees completed 21-of-33 passes for 171 yards and scoring strike to TE Ernie Conwell. In the first game, the Bucs were paced by then-rookie QB Bruce Gradkowski, who made his professional starting debut, and completed 20-of-33 passes for 225 yards and two scores. RB Cadillac Williams had 20 carries for 111 yards and WR Joey Galloway had four receptions for 110 yards and a score.
In the second game between the two teams, Brees threw for 314 yards on 24-of-32 passing and three scores (WR Marques Colston and two TD passes to WR Devery Henderson). Colston, with 11 receptions for 123 yards, had his third 100-yard receiving day of the season through eight games. The Saints’ running game, despite being limited to 49 yards on the day, still managed to churn out a touchdown when Deuce McAllister bulled his way into the end zone in the third quarter from three yards out.

But the Bucs are a new look team in 2007, featuring former 49ers, Lions and Eagles QB Jeff Garcia at quarterback, former Seahawks TE Jerramy Stevens, former Colts LB Cato June, DE Kevin Carter and the usual cast of play-makers such as WR Joey Galloway, WR Ike Hilliard and former LSU star WR Michael Clayton on offense, and such defensive stalwarts such as CB Ronde Barber, LB Derrick Brooks and S Jermaine Phillips.
On Sunday in Seattle, Garcia completed 19-of-27 of his passes for 201 yards and was sacked three times. Garcia also suffered an apparent “ding” when he scrambled in the third quarter and was taken down by a hard-hit from LB Leroy Hill. Garcia, through, returned to the game after heading to the locker room for an examination and said after the game that “I just got my bell rung,” according to the St. Petersburg Times. “It was one of those things where I took a shot to the head, and I think the combination of (the hit and) my head bouncing off the ground didn’t create a real positive effect.”
Garcia was not alone after the game nursing an injury, as starting RB Carnell “Cadillac” Williams was crunched by Seattle LB Lofa Tatupu in the third quarter on an inside run. Williams suffered bruised ribs and didn’t return to the game and was replaced by Earnest Graham, who had 11 yards rushing on four carries.
Before the game even started, WR David Boston injured his foot in pre-game warm-ups and didn’t play in the game. And CB Brian Kelly, one of the Bucs’ starting corners, said after the game that he had injured his groin, according to the Tampa Tribune. “It happened on a swing to the tight end and I stayed in for one more play,” Kelly said. “I never had a groin pull before, but its just football.”
Brooks said after the game, “To be honest with you, there’s no silver lining in losing, and I’m not going to sit up here and tell you that.”“It’s one game,” the 13-year veteran said. “You can bounce back, and we will bounce back against New Orleans at home.”
Notes: The Saints signed DE Josh Savage to their practice squad today and waived DE Willie Evans. Savage was in training camp with the Tennessee Titans this season and has also spent time with Tampa Bay, Atlanta and the Titans. The move comes on the heels of the Saints' other roster move today, which was the signing of DL Renaldo Wynn and the release of QB Tyler Palko.

Saints vs. Bucs (2006)
Tale of the Tape: Head to Head Stat Lines for the Two Games

1st Downs:
Saints averaged 17 first downs in the two contests
Bucs averaged 14.5 first downs in the two contests

3rd Down Conversions:
Saints were 12-of-29 (41.1 %) on third downs
Bucs were 9-of-27 (33.3%) on third downs

Total Yards:
Saints averaged 338.5 yards per game offensively
Bucs averaged 316.0 yards per game offensively

Passing Yards:
Saints averaged 242.5 yards passing in the two games
Bucs averaged 188.5 yards passing in the two games

Rushing Yards:
Saints averaged 96.0 yards rushing in the two games
Colts averaged 127.5 yards rushing in the two games

Penalties:
Saints averaged 6.5 penalties for 37.0 yards
Bucs averaged 6.0 penalties for 45.5 yards

Scoring:
Saints averaged 27.5 points per game in the two games
Bucs averaged 17.5 points per game in the two games

New Orleans Saints - Tampa Bay on Deck


Buccaneers | Boston tests positive for GHB
Mon, 10 Sep 2007 14:14:52 -0700 Roy Cummings, of the Tampa Tribune, reports the Pinellas Park, Fla. Police Department has revealed that Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR David Boston tested positive for GHB after he was arrested for driving under the influence. The Buccaneers have not commented on the situation since they said they were confident Boston was innocent two weeks ago. Boston faces a misdemeanor DUI charge.
Buccaneers | Boston day-to-day
Mon, 10 Sep 2007 14:04:18 -0700
Roy Cummings, of the Tampa Tribune, reports Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR David Boston (foot) is considered day-to-day after injuring his foot Week 1.
Buccaneers | Kelly day-to-day, may miss Week 2
Mon, 10 Sep 2007 14:01:46 -0700
Roy Cummings, of the Tampa Tribune, reports Tampa Bay Buccaneers CB Brian Kelly (groin) is considered day-to-day after straining his groin Week 1. Kelly may not play Week 2 because of the injury.
Buccaneers | C. Williams day-to-day, may miss Week 2
Mon, 10 Sep 2007 13:58:27 -0700
Roy Cummings, of the Tampa Tribune, reports Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Cadillac Williams (ribs) is considered day-to-day after bruising his ribs Week 1. Williams may miss Week 2 because of the injury.



Time to move on guys and gals. We got a ship to take

"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins

Saintsfan4ever

It`s going to be a hot in Tampa. Hopefully conditioning with 2-a-days in August at camp in Jackson,MS will payoff.

LongTimeFan

IMO the heat won't be a factor for the Saints, it will be can they get back on track and play good football as they did last year, I think the answer is yes and that the Saints will take care of business and beat them Bucs.
Gotta Da !!!!

Turbo Saint

if we don't destroy the bucs, which we will....there is a LARGER problem.

saintsrule

The offense will play great.

redwolf_5

if anybody is curious, weatherchannel says a 40% chance of thunderstorms that day,too. we'd better be able to run in the slop.