Gameday Tampa Bay
September 29th, 2013
Game 4
Desert Rats (1-2) at Bucs (0-3)
Kickoff: 1 p.m.
TV: WTVT-TV, Channel 13 locally (the game is not blacked out). Outside the Tampa Bay area, DirecTV Channel 711.
Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network (in Tampa WFUS-FM 103.5, and WDAE-AM 620); SiriusXM Channel 112.
Weather: Per Kate Wentzel of WTSP-TV Channel 10, expect a sun-kissed Florida Chamber of Commerce day with a high of 87 under a bright sun with a slight breeze from the northeast which may affect field goals. For you hard core partiers, be careful. Kate believes there is a chance of rain around 5 p.m.
Odds: Per FootballLocks.com, Bucs -2.5.
Outlook: Today, the reign of franchise quarterback Josh Freeman officially ends as rookie Mike Glennon will start for the Bucs and the Mike Glennon Mob will be chugging beers toasting the Bucs’ first drive.
Obviously, starting a rookie quarterback, his first start, there’s really no way to guess what will happen. In the preseason, specifically against Miami, Glennon looked terrible. Now Bucs commander Greg Schiano likes to think his practices are about game-like speed and energy. But Joe thinks we all know now that’s a bogus concept. If Schiano is basing his belief that Glennon can help the Bucs win more than Freeman on practice, then it could be a long day.
Glennon is a stationary target. No shock there for Bucs fans. Good thing that Darnell Dockett, once a feared pass rusher, is a shell of his former self. Father Time is a cruel, cruel man. Joe believes the Bucs will do well against Carson Palmer. He, too, is past his prime and some believe should call it a career. If the Bucs can rattle Drew Brees, then they should do just fine against Palmer.
Key to this game is who is playing. If the Bucs are without Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams, or they are slowed by their injuries, then the Bucs will be lucky to break double figures. Expect Doug Martin to get the workout of his life today. It wouldn’t shock Joe if Martin got the ball on traditional passing downs if Jackson and Williams are unable to dress.
September 29th, 2013 at 11:07 am
Two more hours til everyone comes back down to earth, and all eyes turn to Schiano.
September 29th, 2013 at 11:08 am
No excuses. Glennon, I’m told by our coach is better than Freeman. If Freeman were playing the Bucs would be favored. Since Glennon is better then we should have nothing to fear, right? No excuses.
September 29th, 2013 at 11:12 am
^^^^^ agreed. The others might give Glennon a free pass, but Schiano said he gives us the BEST chance to win NOW, so I’m going to be judging him harshly. I’m a huge skeptic of Napoleon.
September 29th, 2013 at 11:15 am
I too will be judging Big Bird harshly. After all, he gives us the “best chance to win right now.”
September 29th, 2013 at 11:18 am
@RBellBuc
I hear what you are saying but it is not at all a fair statement. Bucs fans have given Freeman over 4 years and you expect equal success from Glennon who has yet to be given 4 hours. Freeman’s ceiling of play might already be reached. Glennon’s is just begining. Glennon now has his opportunity but he does not have to reach potential in one game. Progress is what’s important. And just to let you know I really am wearing my Freeman 5 jersey as I write this
September 29th, 2013 at 11:23 am
Yes, because Schiano put us in this position and he says adamantly that Glennon puts us in better position to win. Freeman would be favored to win this game and we could be 1-3, so Glennon better make us 1-3 no excuses. There is no way we should accept 0-4 and Schiano 1-10 in his last eleven games.
September 29th, 2013 at 11:23 am
@P’cola
It’s not about fair with some of these people. It’s not even about the team anymore. It’s about them needlessly needing to prove that they are right to the point that they wish failure on the team just so they could say “I told you so”. It’s rather sad. I wish people could just stay a fan.
September 29th, 2013 at 11:24 am
Wow, that sounds just like all the BS that went on all summer with t5he MGM.
September 29th, 2013 at 11:31 am
#5 to be inactivated today
September 29th, 2013 at 11:35 am
Look, if Glennon makes mistakes, at least he’s a rookie and has that to fall back on…..much better than a 4th year starter (#5) who may be having substance abuse issues!!
September 29th, 2013 at 11:42 am
If the team didn’t change the entire playbook in one week, I don’t care if Glennon IS better than Freeman or not. It won’t change the results. Expecting a QB, ANY QB, to consistently fit passes in to receivers 30 yards downfield that are covered pretty well in ISO routes isn’t going to happen. Until they start running routes with more than 1 or 2 receivers, running some crossing routes, underneath routes, having a receiver as an outlet pass, someone within 10 yards in case of pressure, a hot route that’s not a go or 9 route… I don’t see much changing today. They can’t just keep running slants as the short, quick passes or they’ll soon find LBs underneath.
September 29th, 2013 at 11:42 am
Both receivers are active. Awesome.
September 29th, 2013 at 11:44 am
Time for a Father Dungy intervention.
September 29th, 2013 at 11:48 am
I agree BamBam. I’m watching other teams play and they have so many different concepts on offense it blows my mind. And these are all run out of base or 3wide personnel! Nothing crazy! I’m digging the ‘deep screens’ (as I like to refer them) where the outside WR runs a deep in to have the inside receiver(s) and/or TE already setting up blocks on DBs and LBs downfield. We do not use the middle of the field at all and do not know how to gauge talent at the TE position. EVERY SINGLE TE ON THE TEAM IS NOT A STARTER IN THE LEAGUE. The 3rd TE for the Falcons shows more promise than any TE on the Bucs.
September 29th, 2013 at 11:48 am
Most teams starting rookie QBs look to a big, underneath target like a TE to be the safety net, the go to guy, the outlet, the QBs best friend… We don’t have a reliable TE.
September 29th, 2013 at 11:51 am
@BamBamBuc
Then you agree? If we lose today because of Schiano’s playbook the loss still lands on Glennons shoulders. Regardless of how well Glennon performs. And that is exactly what Schiano and company are banking on. If we lose that the fans and media will just shrug it off, cause after all he’s only a rookie. We should be 1-3 today. I expect us to 1-3 today and every fan out there should expect us to be 1-3 today. That’s not betting against my team.
September 29th, 2013 at 11:57 am
Freeman interview coming up on bspn
September 29th, 2013 at 12:02 pm
RBell, let me say that I expect the team to win every week. Every player on the team should feel that way so why not, as a fan, feel the same?
I think Glennon can lead this team to a win. The defense needs to play like it has shown it can play and the QB needs to throw to the open receiver. Receivers need to catch the football, especially when it hits both hands.
The team needs to EXECUTE! That should be today’s mantra. Go Bucs!
September 29th, 2013 at 12:10 pm
Freeman banned from the sideline….
September 29th, 2013 at 12:26 pm
I will say this though…..man if only Dom wouldve listened to a few of us who were clammering for him to resign Bennet and bring in his TE Brother…..oh well, shoulda, woulda, coulda!!!! Dmn DOM!!
September 29th, 2013 at 12:37 pm
Best of luck Mr. G.
Tough spot, but a great opportunity.