“Cupcake” Bucs Will Be “Preseason Game”
September 23rd, 2009
You think the Bucs stink? Imagine what some scribes in Gotham think.
Take Tom Rock of Newsday for example. Not only does he think the Bucs are little more than a tasty pastry, he thinks Giants coach Tom Coughlin should only play his starters for a brief amount of snaps in order to rest them.
There’s no reason to think the Giants won’t be 5-0 after devouring three straight cupcakes. They play at Tampa Bay, at Kansas City and then host the Raiders in the next few weeks. Realistically, it should be like preseason games, when Tom Coughlin is asked how much he will play his starters.
But this lull in the schedule gives the Giants just what they need: a little time to work out some of the issues that haven’t cost them a game yet but are still serious concerns. It’ll be a chance to try a few wrinkles, put a few plays on tape, and figure out where they go.
In short, Rock is advising the Giants that whatever the team needs to work on in order to shake off the rust, the Bucs are the team to practice against.
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:21 am
I BEG the Giants to come into the game thinking that! Any given sunday any team can be beaten.
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:39 am
Well after the dismal performances that the Bucs have put up on defense can you blame them? If I were the Giants I would use my starters until half-time. If the Giants are leading by 10+ points then use my back-ups and give Brandon Jacobs a rest.
As for the Bucs – their defense is decimated. I can’t believe that Phillips is out for the year 🙁 . The offensive line can’t protect Leftwich worth a damn when it counts.
Sure the running backs can produce and I’m sure Derrick Ward will have something to prove but if the G-men put 8 or 9 in the box WTF?
This would be the perfect time to use Josh Johnson with some type of wildcat formation at times and let the kid have a shot.
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:48 am
Joe here,
Gotta say the Giants couldn’t run the ball on the Cowboys and we could. Brandon Jacobs hasn’t gotten off yet. Maybe we’re the team with 8 in the box with lots of blitzing. They have to take some chances, cuz what they got now ain’t working.
Regardless, agree that the Giants will make Leftwich throw the ball and hope their pass rush does the job. Sadly, that’ll probably work for them just fine.
September 23rd, 2009 at 11:08 am
Mr. Lucky:
Though not a Wildcat formation (too many non-college football fans think inserting a quarterback anywhere than quarterback is “Wildcat”), Johnson did line up at wide receiver a few times Sunday.
September 23rd, 2009 at 11:14 am
I guarentee the NYG and their coaches do not think that, not in this league. If they do, they will be shocked by a loss against one of these “cupcakes.”
They better look out because teh Bucs can run on the NYG and should run the ball 40+ times. It is the only way they can win. Last week they threw 50 times and they were never completely out of it where that was warranted.
STICK TO THE RUN and you will be in the games Raheem.
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Dave – “stick to the run”
I agree that the Bucs gave up on the run against Buffalo WAY TOO EARLY. Byron isn’t the one to win the game. The first int was Byron’s fault – trying to make something out of nothing.
The 2nd int wasn’t Byron’s fault – heck it wasn’t even an INT! Poor throw yes but the ball hit the turf before the defender got it (was a nice defensive play BTW)
Joe what I mean is to have Johnson in the game for his running abilities and POTENTIAL passing. Heck using Josh Johnson in the WR slot only means one thing – reverse. The kid has wheels – let’s use them. From the shotgun and sweep left over Donal Penn. Pull the R guard, Ernest leads and off they go!
If the Bucs can control the clock with the run and keep the G-men off the field they may stand a chance, however slim.
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:53 pm
That article should be on the Bucs locker room door. Joe, make it happen.
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Jeff:
The One Buc Palace crowd reads Joe.
September 23rd, 2009 at 1:31 pm
On other hand, cupcakes are tasty!