Sunday, We’ll See If Rush Defense Is Good
September 15th, 2010
As Joe and just about any Bucs fan who got to watch the game knows, it was a pleasant surprise the way the Bucs’ run defense manned up in the second half and controlled the Browns.
Quite possibly the worst area on the Bucs’ roster last year was the interior defensive front. Whether that has been solved with rookies Gerald McCoy and Brian Price, well, a lot will be learned this Sunday.
It seems Tampa Tribune Bucs beat writer eye-RAH! Kaufman is of the same mind. He believes how the Bucs defense handles the rugged rushing attack of Carolina will be a robust early test.
Despite tightening up against the run in Sunday’s season-opening victory against Cleveland, Tampa Bay’s revamped defensive line faces a far different challenge heading to Charlotte, where the Panthers come off a 31-18 road loss to the Giants.
Carolina’s ground attack has embarrassed Tampa Bay in each of the past three meetings, averaging 241 yards per game. The barrage began on a Monday night in December, 2008, when the Bucs and Panthers met on national TV in a matchup of 9-3 clubs vying for NFC South supremacy.
The Panthers ran for 299 yards that evening, triggering a shocking 4-game slide that ultimately cost Coach Jon Gruden and GM Bruce Allen their jobs.
How cool would it be if the Bucs were able to stuff the Panthers on their own turn in their own stadium? Yes, a lot of will be learned this weekend. Joe hopes it’s not a flunked pop quiz.
September 15th, 2010 at 8:19 am
I’ll be there…let’s bring it.
September 15th, 2010 at 8:30 am
You are asking alot from Rookies, Joe.
September 15th, 2010 at 8:44 am
Given our recent past and the opponent, under 150 yards should be considered a victory.
Especially since I expect us to shut down whoever their QB is.
September 15th, 2010 at 8:53 am
They need to watch the Giant’s tapes closely, they pretty much shut down both runners last weekend.
September 15th, 2010 at 9:20 am
The offense will have to step up for this one and outscore the Panthers. They left about 14 points on the field Sunday and if they can score 31 pts against the Panthers, it should be enough.
September 15th, 2010 at 9:26 am
31 points, seriously? There is no chance we score 31 points.
If we win the game, the scores will be in the low 20s, at most.
September 15th, 2010 at 9:44 am
We left 14 points on the field last week too. With EG’s fumble and missed pass to a wide open Williams. Carolina has played good defense and I expect more of the same. But I think their offense has become even more one-dimensional with the changing of the guard at quarterback and no clear #2 receiver. Their O-line is dinged up and missing some starters. I believe this is a winnable game for us. If we play defense like we did last week in the second half.
September 15th, 2010 at 9:45 am
Panthers defense has actually been really good this year, surprisingly. But their offense couldn’t do sh!t and it made the defense tired and dejected. Not too mention the Giants brutalized Moore.
If we have average success against the run, we should win. Moore is now concussion prone and Clausen is raw.
I like our chances.
September 15th, 2010 at 9:57 am
Matt…Never say never, maybe it is not probable, but it is possible.
September 15th, 2010 at 10:16 am
Someone asked me why the Bucs would spend their first two picks on DT’s. I answered them it was for this opponent. We are tired of getting run over by Carolina every time we play them. Hopefully they succeed
September 15th, 2010 at 10:19 am
They played fairly well against a good O-line in Cleveland. I like our chances. There still isn’t a line posted in Las Vegas on this game. That should tell you something there.
September 15th, 2010 at 10:23 am
This will be a very interesting match. The Carolina offense is one dimensional meaning Raheem will have some tricks up his sleeve. I think Black will break out this game!!! GO BUCS
September 15th, 2010 at 10:53 am
Gonna be hard to get lucky two weeks in a row…………
September 15th, 2010 at 11:08 am
Hey eric wierder things have happened!
September 15th, 2010 at 11:23 am
Eric- true! But hopefully you do get lucky two weeks in a row! That way you’ll be in a better mood to watch the Bucs win this weekend, instead of being so depressed all the time!!!
September 15th, 2010 at 11:41 am
We did not leave 7 points on the field with the overthrow to Williams. We scored 2 plays later on the TD pass to Spurlock. We did leave 7 on the field on Freeman’s not passing to Gilmore. He was plenty open enough. Either way 14 points is a lot to assume. 6 points for sure. Split the difference and call it 10 left. But chit happens, Graham fumbled and we scored 17. That was enough. A good win.
September 15th, 2010 at 1:27 pm
I don’t buy all this “luck” talk. Luck happens due to skill. Good teams get “lucky” opportunities, bad teams do not. Did New Orleans get lucky that Minnesota fumbled so often in the NFC championship? No, they created those opportunities. We beat Cleveland because we were better than Cleveland, and if we beat Carolina it will be for the same reason, period.
September 15th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
Hawiian…You are right. I am sick of the so called Bucs fans saying the Bucs just got lucky. They created their luck. Besides, like the old saying goes, I’ll take luck over skill all day. I just do not get why fans of a team find problems with a win, it makes no sense to me.
September 15th, 2010 at 2:13 pm
I would just like to see more swarming to the ball carrier, one on ones with CB’s(Barber steamrolled in 2008 with no other player within 15 yards) will tell me all I need to know about the progress.
September 15th, 2010 at 3:50 pm
TAC…I did not watch the game, but according to the radio that was happening last Sunday. I also watched the NFL channel, and they pointed out the Bucs swarming to the ball. I forget who said it, but he said this is what I like to see, six white jerseys making a tackle. If that continues, I believe we will be in good shape.
September 15th, 2010 at 4:08 pm
To me, the equation from last years game was simple, Big, Young Powerful Men (Carolina) vs tired older men(Tampa). McCoy and Price will not gas like we did last year, especially in the second half. IMHO, we are a vastly improved team from last year. I like our chances against Carolina. Our young players are aware of our hate for Carolina, and their mutual hate for us. I look for many of them to make a statement this Sunday. I think they will let Carolina know these are not the “Same Old Bucs”.
September 15th, 2010 at 4:36 pm
I have the Sunday ticket where I am Mcbuc, and the Browns ripped off some big gains on some missed tackles with their Alstott cloned RB(including fumbles). Overall I got the feeling they played the run well against Cleveland, and the Dline looked really improved.
But, man the Panthers Oline has been great the last couple of years, that play where Barber got rolled by Dwilliams may have been a screen, but I have just never seen a play so well blocked, and one guy left to make the tackle in the bucs D(or still not used to it). Just a play burned into my brain, and hope not to see it again, ever. Play may be exaggerated by me somewhat, but damn they have run that rock down their throats the last couple of years.
September 15th, 2010 at 4:40 pm
TAC…No doubt, I agree. The Bucs did tighten up in the second half, and that is when Dave Moore mentioned it on the radio, as well as the play the NFL network was showing. They are going to be tough, and I am tired of those cats as well. I would love to see the tables turned, and we somehow run the ball down their throats, but we will probably win with defense and a short passing game.