Bucs May Catch A Few Breaks
September 10th, 2014
After injuring his ankle last week, it is unknown whether stud Lambs DE Chris Long will play against the Bucs.
When the Lambs come to town Sunday, they will involuntarily give the Bucs a break. Too bad Tampa Bay got the same break last week and blew the chance.
For the second week in a row, a Bucs opponent will be without its starting quarterback.
Sam Bradford blew his knee in preseason (again), which likely ends his Rams days. Last week, his backup, Shaun Hill, was either benched or knocked out of the game, depending on who you talk to because Hill’s play was horrid beyond words.
But another key Lambs figure may not be in uniform. Stud defensive end Chris Long suffered an ankle injury in the third quarter of the Lambs’ opening day loss to the Vikings. As of this writing, it is unclear whether Long can play.
“We’re still doing tests on Chris. Hopefully we’ll have more information,’’ Lambs coach Jim Fisher said this week, documented Joe Lyons of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
If Long can’t go, you won’t see Demar Dotson shedding many tears. The Bucs right tackle would be assigned to shut him, and Dotson said yesterday Long, a former first round pick, is one tough SOB to handle.
“Me and AC [Bucs left tackle Anthony Collins] are going to have our hands full,” Dotson said about the stout Lambs defensive front. “Chris Long is better. Chris Long is a relentless guy. This year will be my third year going up against him. That guy just don’t stop. He is one of those guys that just gets under your skin. He’s a good football player. He keeps coming and keeps coming and keeps coming like the Energizer bunny.
“I have to be on my stuff from start to finish and I have to go to the echo of the whistle because that guy doesn’t stop. He will give you 110 percent on every snap. If you are going 90 percent and he is going 110, well, he will get you.”
Long’s status should be clearer later today when the mandatory NFL injury reports are released. If Long’s bum wheel is a no go, that’s really going to help the Bucs’ offensive line, and Dotson in particular.
When it comes to the Lambs defensive front, any help is big.
To hear more of Dotson, click the arrow below. Audio courtesy of Joe’s good friends at WDAE-AM 620.
September 10th, 2014 at 5:18 am
Remember Lovie’s words: a good defense will get a team to 8-8. Carolina showed that last week. The Rams’s front 7 is designed to do the same this week.
Remember, too: the enemy gets a vote. Bucs fans forgot about that last game.
September 10th, 2014 at 5:22 am
Bottom line is we need to win this game.
September 10th, 2014 at 6:01 am
Yeah. Another loss this weekend, especially if we play more embarrassing football, will flip the panic button around here. There are plenty of winnable football games on this schedule but not if we poop the bed like we did on Sunday. That was Raheem Morris era bad, circa 2011!
September 10th, 2014 at 6:10 am
Lou. Says:
September 10th, 2014 at 5:18 am
Remember Lovie’s words: a good defense will get a team to 8-8. Carolina showed that last week. The Rams’s front 7 is designed to do the same this week.
Remember, too: the enemy gets a vote. Bucs fans forgot about that last game.
————-
The enemy gets a VOTE? This isn’t a democracy, it’s football.
September 10th, 2014 at 6:35 am
The last regime here stressed getting points on the board quickly. It worked to a small degree.
Buc fans can not endure three straight quarters of inept offense before the fourth quarter heroics. Give the defense a break!
September 10th, 2014 at 6:53 am
I don’t know what DallasBuc’s definition of “plenty of winnable football games” is but the schedule looks quite formidable, especially when you eyeball the NFC North teams.
Last week was winnable with a backup QB, this week you may have the “third” QB. Good teams win the games they are supposed to win. That being said, that three-game road span looks frightening.
September 10th, 2014 at 7:03 am
This is a must win! If the Bucs lose this game the honeymoon is over Lovie will face reprieve from the same fans that called him a savior.
It’s not personal but just the nature of the business.
September 10th, 2014 at 7:04 am
So basically we are looking at Shaun Hill setting all sets of all time Rams passing records in a 21-3 win. I wonder what the Buc’s all-time record is against back up QBs who we seem to allow to set the world on fire in just one game. I can think of Geno Smith last year and then the year before Nick Foles lighting up the Bucs take the points and the Rams backup QB
September 10th, 2014 at 7:12 am
Can’t run a 4 minute offense for the entire game, doesn’t matter if one on one battles aren’t won, one player won’t stop that defense.
Ummm the last time i remember us beating a backup quarterback since the Dominick era is when we barely beat curioucurtis painter……..
September 10th, 2014 at 7:21 am
Except they can’t beat anyone’s back up QBs!!
September 10th, 2014 at 7:32 am
I’m not overreacting to Atlanta’s upset of the Saints. I watched all four teams closely all pre-season and I have to say the Saints defense looked nothing like it was last year. I know they lost a few players in the off-season but they definitely looked vulnerable and the Falcons just destroy them on defense.
Thankfully, the Falcons still suck on defense as well and Tampa Bay traditionally plays pretty well in Atlanta. I think if the Bucs can get the defense sorted and Tedford can have an opportunity start calling some plays on offense, they can beat Atlanta.
Pittsburgh isn’t the Pittsburgh of old. They nearly blew a 24 point lead to Cleveland….and Johnny Money Fingers didn’t even play.
Now the Saints…well, their defense may not be what it used to be but their offense sure is. That one will definitely be tough.
But they have to win this week. For the sanity of the team and the fanbase. And if you have any hope at all of being a playoff team, winning home games are a must.
Personally, I think to have a solid shot at the post-season, 6-2 at home, split on the road. That’s the formula most good teams use.
The Bucs have been horrid at Ray Jay for far too long. They need some W’s at the Pirate Ship.
September 10th, 2014 at 7:34 am
Not sure what the deal is with back-up QB’s and the Bucs. Going all the way back to the glory days; the Bucs have always played better against starters then they have reserve QBs. Wonder if someone has a stat supporting this or it just seems that way.
September 10th, 2014 at 7:41 am
So far we have had a back up qb.
September 10th, 2014 at 7:42 am
Can’t rely on breaks, have to execute. If you don’t you lose, these are professionals
September 10th, 2014 at 7:46 am
Taking bets on how soon the Bradford to the Bucs talk starts.
September 10th, 2014 at 8:09 am
Week 2 is never a “Must win” game. That’s silly panic talk.
September 10th, 2014 at 8:27 am
Atlanta looked tough to me against the Saints. Brees was 13-3 playing the Falcons. The Bucs will have to score at least 28 points to beat them a week from tomorrow night. That aint chicken feed.
September 10th, 2014 at 8:51 am
Atlanta and New Orleans will absolutely destroy us if we can’t mount a pass rush. All we’ll hear is “Play action fake…pass caught over the middle for a 15 yard gain.” The Tampa 2 only works if you get heat on the QB.
September 10th, 2014 at 9:26 am
Call me a doom and gloom if you want but no way we make the playoffs in this division Sorry..
September 10th, 2014 at 10:18 am
Is Jim Fisher a new Rams coach? What happened to Jeff Fisher?
September 10th, 2014 at 11:26 am
We should see a heavy dose of the Rams running game due to new QB starting. I thought Carolina’s running game did pretty well against us. This D needs to get it’s act in gear.