Bucs show fighting ability
TAMPA — After an opening week loss to division rival New Orleans, Tampa Bay rebounded with back
to back victories over Atlanta and Chicago respectively.
Despite the sloppy play to start the season, the Buccaneers found themselves with a winning record
after three contests. With a difficult schedule still ahead, the Bucs need to take better care of the ball
and more consistency on offense.
Offensively, the Buccaneers have looked, well honestly, like I expected them to look under Gruden. Jeff Garcia was given one game to regain his Pro Bowl form after missing training camp and the preseason. When
“Mission: Impossible” was not achieved, he was reduced to the third string quarterback. Brian Griese has looked decent, not great. He avoided costly turnovers against Atlanta but missed a lot of receivers. Against Chicago, he threw three interceptions and still missed a lot of receivers. However, to his credit, Griese
also threw two touchdowns and passed for 407 yards against a tough Bears defense.
The running game has been as good as advertised with Dunn and Graham but has anyone seen
Michael Bennett? The guy was tearing things up in preseason and hasn’t been seen since. Chicago held the running game in check, as was expected, but the same can’t be said for the Falcons. Graham and Dunn
combined to gash the Falcons’ defense on the ground for 165 yards and two scores. Good thing too, because the receivers are as inconsistent as ever (Hilliard excluded of course, . . . the man is the definition of consistent). Antonio Bryant, the Bucs’ “prized” off-season acquisition, took three games to remember how to catch a football. He had a good game against the Bears in Week three though, catching 10 balls for 138
yards and a crucial catch at the end of the game to set up the winning score in OT. Michael Clayton put forth a good effort against Chicago, recording several “big” catches of his own, something we’ve all been waiting
a long time for, and may well again.
Man, I bet the Bucs would like the 2008 second round pick they wasted on Dexter Jackson, back. The “return specialist” has a gift alright, he eludes tackles like no one I’ve ever seen by diving to the ground before they can get to him and that’s usually after running backwards first. Dexter, I know you’re trying but you can’t be
afraid to get hit in the most violent game in America.
Moving on, I’m having a hard time putting my finger on the status of this defense. Statistically, they look weak and Chicago’s mediocre offense thrashed them for more than 400 yards. Now I’m a big Ronde Barber fan. The
guy has been great for this team and city for a long time but he was Brandon Lloyd’s whipping boy in Chicago. Barber was used and abused in that game like I’ve never seen before. He will be just fine, though. We know he’ll bounce back and keep on making impact plays just like he’s always done. On the brighter side of things however, Gaines Adams has looked good in two straight games now. With two sacks against Atlanta and an interception for a touchdown in Chicago, Gaines could be catching on and that would be HUGE for this defense.
Overall, the defense needs to stiffen up as they are allowing an average of 359 yards a game. The Bucs won’t win many shootouts so that has to improve. There were plenty of things that I could have ripped this team for, especially in the Chicago game, but the heart they showed to claw back against a tough Bears team and steal a win is all that matters for now. After a bad start, the Bucs have fought to hold a winning record.
How long it stays that way, is yet to be seen.
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