JoeBucsFan.com analyst Jacquez Green, the former Bucs wide receiver (1998-2001) and All-American at the University of Florida (1995-1997), checks in with his breakdown of the Bucs offense, specifically the passing game.

Green, who won back-to-back Madden Bowls, is currently the offensive coordinator at Gibbs High School in St. Petersburg.

Joe: When the Bucs came out throwing long passes last week which was something that wasn’t happening with Brian Griese, does that get the receivers motivated?

Jacquez: All wide receivers want to make big plays. You get tired of five-yard passes all of the time. It helps to open up the offense. Tampa Bay can dink and dunk with the best of them. When they start hitting big plays that loosens up the underneath coverage even more which will also help the short passing game. It gives the quarterback more time to get into the groove also. It enables him to hit deep passes.

Joe: Since the Bucs seem to like short passes, would it be wise for them to go deep a few times?

Jacquez: Yeah. The long passes opens up the underneath passes even more. That’s Tampa’s specialty: getting the ball underneath. It loosens up the team even more.

Joe: In the past, you said the flip-flopping between Jeff Garcia and Griese prevented the receivers and the quarterback from getting into a rhythm, is that why deep passes were so rare? Now that Garcia is back at quarterback do you think they are getting into a rhythm?

Jacquez: That’s part of it. I think Garcia is more comfortable now. I think he was injured early in the year and that he is probably a lot more comfortable. Antonio Bryant has only been here four or five games now. He is probably more comfortable, too. Gruden’s offense is pretty complicated. I’m sure Bryant wasn’t really sure about a lot of his routes.

Joe: When Gruden is asked if Garcia is set at starting quarterback the rest of the year he doesn’t give a straight answer. Is that just gamesmanship?

Jacquez: Gamesmanship, man. It’s keeping both quarterbacks on their toes. You like to have competition at the quarterback position. That keeps guys fresh. Keeps them on their toes. Keeps them on top of things. You have two veteran quarterbacks in that offense. That’s great for an offensive coordinator.