Gameday Tampa Bay
October 31st, 2010
Week 8
Bucs at Cardinals
Kickoff: 4:15 p.m.
TV: WTVT-TV Channel 13 locally. DirecTV Channel 714.
Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network (in Tampa WFUS-FM, 103.5 and WDAE-AM, 620); Sirius Channel 158.
Weather: The game will be played in a soulless dome, otherwise known as the Birdcage. For those going tailgaiting in Glendale, per Accuweather.com, hey, it’s the desert. Tailgating will start out in the high 60s and rapidly to the mid-70s by kickoff. No clouds. Low humidty.
Odds: Per Bodog.com, Cardinals -3.
Outlook: This game scares Joe. Yeah, on paper the Bucs should win. As Joe likes to write, games aren’t played on paper. Joe just cannot get past the fact teams run through the Bucs defense quicker than Joe can open his front door for Rachel Watson. The Bucs know it’s coming and they still can’t stop the run. Now Beanie Wells isn’t Earl Campbell but Chris Ivory isn’t exactly Barry Sanders either. How’d Ivory do against the Bucs? Throw in the fact the Bucs offensive line is currently a shambles, with Keydrick Vincent being cut, Jeff Faine and Jeremy Trueblood being hurt… this frightens Joe. Of course, if the Bucs could run the ball and control the clock and keep the ball out of the hands of Wells, that would go a great distance to calm Joe’s nerves. That, too, hasn’t happened for the Bucs much this year, has it? Joe is praying LeGarrette Blount gets more carries and gains some yards, but can much be expected from him behind a band-aid offensive line? Again, on paper, this should be the Bucs’ fifth win. Halfway to the race to 10. This game is played on grass, however.
Video: NFL Films has a preview of today’s game. … a video weather report from AccuWeather.com. … and Raheem Morris’ contract status from the gang at TBO.com.
Links: Gerald McCoy’s growth. … Ronde Barber’s milestone with the Bucs. … Arrelious Benn and his brother. … Trueblood’s streak is over. … Bucs need a faster start. … Josh Freeman’s rapid growth.
Fun facts: Mike Williams leads all NFL rookie wide receivers with 365 receiving yards. … Cardinals running back Tim Hightower averages 5.7 yards a carry.
October 31st, 2010 at 11:17 am
Can anybody explain to me why they need a domed stadium in the desert ? Thunder storms maybe? Maybe to keep the vulture dung off there heads.
October 31st, 2010 at 11:19 am
This game makes me nervous too! Historically, we struggle when we cross the Mississippi. But, it’s all about Josh Freeman now. I think he can get us a win anywhere. He seems to like being on the road!
October 31st, 2010 at 11:59 am
Randy:
Same as the Rays “need” a domed stadium. Arizona in September can be brutually hot, often over 100 degrees. Hard to get people to pay money to sizzle on a griddle watching bad football (Bill Bidwill bad football).
If Joe remembers correctly, the dome in Glendale is retractable.
Like the “vulture dung” line. 🙂
October 31st, 2010 at 12:04 pm
Yeah and the turf is real grass. Apparently the field rolls outside to catch the sun. Why this is done if the dome is retractable, I dunno.
October 31st, 2010 at 12:20 pm
Pete 422:
Hard to grow grass in a dome.
October 31st, 2010 at 12:29 pm
Tampa is not hot, compared to out west. I can understand why they have a domed stadium.
October 31st, 2010 at 12:39 pm
Hopefully we do to Arizona what Iowa did to Mich State… That would make for a fantastic way to end October for myself. I just found out last night theres a group of like 10-15 Tampa Fans that get together every week and watch the games. I HAVE PEOPLE!! haha. I was at the bar and i looked over some chick had a Buccaneer Cheerleader jersey. Did a lil double take like no way. Sure enough. So i had to go talk to her and her dude.. That was the highlight of my night. just thought i would share. BUCC NATION UP IN IOWA! lol i told him about this site so hopefully he remembers.
October 31st, 2010 at 12:48 pm
Wow, that shocked me. Joe had a hunch Iowa would win (in a close game) only because Joe can’t remember the last time Iowa lost two straight games at home, but Joe never imagined that arse-whipping in the first half. It was like Sparty never showed up.
Those two teams usually play really close games against each other.
October 31st, 2010 at 1:27 pm
I don’t think there is real reason to be worried about the O-line Joe. This is the line that had the only TD drive of the game against the Rams and the same line that put together the best half of rushing the football all year. I think Vincent was cut because the Bucs realized their young lineman were ready to step up and play and that even their practice squad guys like Hardman and Barker were ready to be up on the big club so someone had to go. And Vincent was the oldest veteran with least upside. Lets be honest. Zuttah hasn’t really missed a beat playing at center for Faine. Clearly that is where the guy belongs on the line. And as I suspected the bad center\QB exchanges that were occuring regularly seem to have stopped. Looks like those were Faines fault. As far as the run defense goes I don’t have much medicine for ya there.
October 31st, 2010 at 1:32 pm
Thank you Joe for your break-down and insight and providing this forum for us!! I keep hearing about how we cant stop the run, but what did we do in the last half of last weeks game? We SHUT THEM DOWN! Not the first time this season that we did that to an opponent btw! If the Bucs play well on both sides of the ball, we win! You never know with the Bucs though…
October 31st, 2010 at 1:39 pm
anyone know if the packers game goes past 4:15 will they switch to our game or stay with the packers game?
October 31st, 2010 at 2:11 pm
Bucs are favored and they have to win this one. They lose and it will be a huge letdown.
October 31st, 2010 at 2:17 pm
I was going to buy a freeman jersey and saw the price. Ouch. Can anyone tell me if a replica jersey is worth buying? I heard they don’t last long. Never owned a jersey before and I’m real excited about getting a #5. Just the price is so step. Thnx.
October 31st, 2010 at 2:18 pm
@Buc You,
I agree that if we lose it’s a letdown (for me, that goes for every loss), but we are not favored. Arizona is by 3.
October 31st, 2010 at 2:21 pm
@Blackmagic00,
There are other sources to get jerseys. There are some “knockoff” jerseys you can buy for much much cheaper than the replica ones, and they are even stitched like the authentic.
October 31st, 2010 at 2:24 pm
will fox switch to our game at 4:15 because this packers game is taking forever or will i have to watch the 1st quarter online
October 31st, 2010 at 2:55 pm
They will switch over if you are in the home teams’ market.
I have no clue how today’s Buc’s game will go. I want to believe in them so much, but am being realistic how we rank statistically near the bottom in so many categories. Wins are wins but things tend to even out over the course of a season.
October 31st, 2010 at 2:55 pm
justin f:
Those replay reviews are painful to “watch” aren’t they?
October 31st, 2010 at 2:57 pm
Thanks Hawaiian buc. I’ll do some searching.
October 31st, 2010 at 3:19 pm
I wonder what out record would look like if we had last years schedule and this years team?
October 31st, 2010 at 3:31 pm
Joe Says:
October 31st, 2010 at 12:20 pm
Pete 422:
Hard to grow grass in a dome.
———————————————————————–
Joe, I was saying, if the dome is retractable, then why not use open it up and grow the grass. However, I know that isn’t possible because of other issues of having a “dome.” I’m sure it can’t be open that much. I wasn’t being entirely serious.
October 31st, 2010 at 3:50 pm
Joe, maybe you should just stop responding to comments for a bit… There seems to be a sensitive atmosphere created since you bounced that one guy who gave you are hard time.
October 31st, 2010 at 3:52 pm
It’s the light angles, Pete…Even with the dome retracted, you only get a few hours of direct light on the corners of the field.
Also, I have been in the Southwest in the summer, and it IS hotter, but doesn’t feel significantly hotter than it does in Florida. Lower humidity.
Honestly, though…I think some communities just talk themselves in to domes because they seem flashier.
October 31st, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Just bought my authentic #5 jersey. Oh ya, can’t even sit still till’ it gets here. GOOO BUCS!!!
October 31st, 2010 at 4:08 pm
Pete:
A lot of Bucs beat writers are asking the same question via Twitter.
October 31st, 2010 at 6:00 pm
Joe, I woul;d think they would have to keep the dome closed for maintenance issues and cost as far as a/c.
BTW, how do I reply with quotes on here, or is it possible?