8 Things To Watch Against The Eagles
September 16th, 2018
Joe will keep an extra eye on certain things today against the Eagles. And here they are in no particular order:
*What a wonderful measuring stick today is for your revamped Buccaneers offensive line. They were damn good in New Orleans but now they have a massive test against the true beasts of the NFC. Fletcher Cox, Hloti Ngata, Michael Bennett and lots of friends will let Joe know what the Bucs have — for now — on their O-line.
*Roll the above right into running back Peyton Barber. The 24-year-old is a great story of 2018, and he was last year. He came out smoking against the Saints and his pass blocking was stellar. But he has much to prove as a true No. 1 back. Joe wants to see Barber look the part again, keep pounding forward for every blade of grass. This is probably the best defense Barber has ever seen as a professional. The holes might be smaller than ever.
*Rookie Jordan Whitehead, keep an eye on him. Joe suspects he could be playing more today with Justin Evans getting some key snaps at nickel cornerback, given the Bucs’ shaky cornerback situation. The Eagles don’t have a deep passing game right now and this feels like the right time to get a little creative with Evans and the hard-hitting rookie Whitehead.
*The Bucs broke from their Dirk Koetter/Jameis Winston tradition last week in New Orleans and started the game fast — on offense. It was stunning. But the defense was completely snoozing through the first half, allowing 24 points. The Bucs allowed the most points in the NFL in the first quarters of games last season. Mike Smith has to fix this. Enough already. Make the Eagles adjust their game plan because a couple of things aren’t working. Joe is worried how the defense will react against one of the most creative offensive minds in the NFL: Doug Pederson.
*Last week’s video-game result glossed over the missed 44-yard field goal by Chandler Catanzaro with 4:57 to play. That would have given the Bucs a 51-32 lead and put the game away. Coming off a slightly shaky preseason, Catanzaro has earned a little scrutiny, and the Bucs probably won’t survive a missed field goal today.
*20,000 Eagles fans making a lot of noise will probably have some of the new Bucs looking around wondering where they are. Sadly, Joe hopes the Bucs practiced a little silent count this week.
*Jason Pierre-Paul will have Joe’s attention quickly. He’s playing on a banged up knee and Joe wants to see if he really looks healthy. The film shows JPP had a crap game against the Saints. If he’s 85 percent, this extraordinary Eagles offensive line is going to neuter him.
*Eagles cornerback Ronald Darby is a name Bucs fans know well — for all the wrong reasons. He’s Philly’s top corner and he shadowed Julio Jones last week. Jones caught just 10 of the 19 targets that came his way and no touchdowns. Joe suspects Darby will draw Mike Evans this week, but he might be the only Eagles cornerback who can run with DeSean Jackson. Joe’s curious to see where Jim Schwartz’s defense allocates Darby.
September 16th, 2018 at 9:15 am
Haven’t heard yet for sure. Was that missed field goal tipped, or not?
September 16th, 2018 at 9:19 am
I’ll be watching for Cam Brate, held without a catch last week. Casual, it was not a tipped FG per someone who watched the all 22 review.
September 16th, 2018 at 9:20 am
FG was tipped, Julio Jones had just 169 yards.
September 16th, 2018 at 9:22 am
A lot of trash talk up here in Philly. Would love to shut them up. Let’s go BUCS!!!!
September 16th, 2018 at 9:28 am
Casual, yes it was tipped. I keep wondering why all the Talking Heads gloss over this fact. They act like it was just a pure miss. Dewey, really? It seems like trajectory was clearly changed. Notice how there were no reports of it being blocked, or NFL stats to back that up? –Joe
September 16th, 2018 at 9:30 am
Been waiting for this offense to come into its own. Bucs O versus Eagles D. A win would be YUGE! Go Mighty Offense!!
September 16th, 2018 at 9:46 am
NJ, we are damn sure gonna try to help you with that! Perhaps we will have “Eagle” for an early appetizer before dinner and stop the squawking heads!!! GO BUCS!
September 16th, 2018 at 10:08 am
“He’s Philly’s top corner and he shadowed Julio Jones last week. Jones caught just 10 of the 19 targets that came his way and no touchdowns.”
………..
Oh yeah just gloss over the fact that JJ got 169 yards in those 10 catches!!\
And 23 FF points for me
SMDH!
September 16th, 2018 at 10:08 am
I’m watching two players for the Eagles
RB. Corey Clement
CB. Sidney Jones
I’m watching two players for the Bucs
DE. Noah Spence
C. Ryan Jensen
September 16th, 2018 at 10:20 am
Koetter said in a press conference he didn’t think it was blocked, but I hope it was tipped. Otherwise it’s a worrying miss.
September 16th, 2018 at 10:21 am
I know this is crazy talk, but it’s winner talk. This game is key for several reasons, not the least of which it’ll be a head-to-head tiebreaker at the end of the years when playoff implications are in play. A conference win and head-to-head win could make this game more important than most are thinking at present. With our offense, I expect us to be in the race as the season winds down. GO BUCS!!!
September 16th, 2018 at 10:28 am
Madcon – thanks. If the FG was tipped, maybe the criticism of our kicker (by Joe and others) is a bit unwarranted. So far.
September 16th, 2018 at 10:36 am
Jensen/Marpet vs Cox and Dotson vs Long and good matchups for me to watch along with Barber vs the Iggle LBs.
September 16th, 2018 at 10:41 am
So many Eagle fans in the area. A win today would shut them up. Please Bucs, hold it down at home.
September 16th, 2018 at 10:43 am
I can’t believe we’re talking about playoff tie breakers one week into the season. It was just one game folks. Just a month ago we were going to be 0-3. Let’s just take one game at a time and see where we stand at mid season. Then we can talk either playoffs or the 2019 draft. Cheers! Go Bucs!
September 16th, 2018 at 10:43 am
Kick was not tipped, he just missed it.
September 16th, 2018 at 11:20 am
@ joe
Was Koetter also ressponsible for Jameis’s slow starts and turnovers in his last year at FSU? Koetter gets the blame for hanging on to Martin too long. But Jameis gets the blame for starting slow and turnovers that sometimes get the team behind by 14 points or more early in games.
September 16th, 2018 at 11:26 am
But when you watch the broadcast Moose Johnston clearly says it was tipped and then they show it on replay. Clear oversight by someone cause the NFL never gets anything wrong.
September 16th, 2018 at 11:32 am
WR Mike Wallace will have to step his game up for the Eagles. The Bucs O-Line has to have a great game. The Eagles secondary has to be discipline and stick with the game plan. The Bucs D-Line can’t afford to let the Eagle O-Line control the line of scrimmage.
September 16th, 2018 at 11:38 am
My Predictions:
Fitz throws 2 picks.
Stewart is Game MVP.
Davis has much better game.
Conte saves a TD.
Defense scores 12 points.
It will be a battle of defenses.
Who wins? I hope us. But I have no clue on this one.
Saints kill the Browns and show they do have a good defense.
September 16th, 2018 at 11:50 am
I don’t want to hear any bitchin about the opposing fans taking over the stadium.
The Bucs have to become consistent winners.
I fear for our secondary. Drew Brees lit them up for 40 points last week. A half decent QB should get 17-20 points.
I don’t expect the Bucs “Light them up” offense to drop 40 points. I’d be happy with 1 more point than our loose defense gives up.
September 16th, 2018 at 11:57 am
Wearing my Ronde jersey out here is Center City Philly today. Wish me luck, I’m certainly going to hear a lot today and may get beat up too. Let’s go Bucs, I know we can beat them.
September 16th, 2018 at 12:30 pm
And BTW – A REQUEST:
PLEASE STOP EMBEDDING TAKE 2 IN OTHER POSTS.
(or fix the autoplay)
The autoplay on the homepage is bad enough, but to have it in a half dozen other pages is driving me crazy. I’m not making any threats, but it is sucking the joy out of visiting the site.