“Paper Thin Ranks At Defensive Line”
September 14th, 2013
The table is set for the Bucs’ high-priced manbeasts
On paper, the Bucs should be able to manhandle the Saints in the trenches Sunday when Josh Freeman has the ball, even if the human armoire, Carl Nicks, doesn’t return at guard.
The Saints are that banged up at on their defensive line, per Katherine Terrell of Nola.com, and the Bucs’ O-line is supposed to be that good.
Whether the Saints’ defense can continue to exert that effort remains to be seen. The injury report hasn’t stopped growing, forcing New Orleans to re-sign outside linebacker Jay Richardson, who hasn’t played a regular-season snap since 2010.
The Saints will likely be starting rookie nose tackle John Jenkins in place of Brodrick Bunkley, who is out with a calf injury. The Saints were already facing paper-thin ranks at defensive line after injuries to Glenn Foster (ankle, questionable) and Tyrunn Walker, who’s out with a knee injury.
Things didn’t get better when Akiem Hicks (knee injury, questionable) and Tom Johnson (foot, questionable) popped up on the final injury report Friday.
With such attrition, the theory of easing young players into the game has stopped almost before it began. The Saints will likely rotate heavily between players, and between three and four down linemen fronts to compensate.
This, along with the return of Erik Lorig, bodes well for the Bucs establishing their running game, something they couldn’t do against the Jets. The Bucs’ odds of winning climb dramatically if Doug Martin can perform like the Pro Bowl talent he is.
September 14th, 2013 at 12:35 pm
Any guesses on the amount of sacks they will have against us? I say 5.
September 14th, 2013 at 1:04 pm
^^^^^^^
Man the comments on this site are so depressing.
September 14th, 2013 at 1:07 pm
@SeanyMac in SC
All the commenters on this site only comment on 2 subjects:
1.) How terrible Freeman is
2.) How “great” Glennon is going to be. Couch Fan even said the other day how Glennon was going to “unite the fan base and lead us to the playoffs.” No, I don’t know what drug he’s on.
September 14th, 2013 at 1:20 pm
Pound Muscle Hamster, and hope he has a game like he did against the Raiders last year.
Go Doug, Bo Gucs!
Walter- It is not about what Mike Glennon can do, it is all about what Josh Freeman can’t. Freeman is still our best bet, but for how long? Repeat last week’s performance or worse, and the boos will be in Ray Jay.
September 14th, 2013 at 1:34 pm
GREAT time for the O-line to get it together, 1st place on the line !!!!!!! STAY STRONG BUC FANS !!!!!!!
September 14th, 2013 at 2:01 pm
I enjoy watching the bucs play purely for entertainment. I feel like the media and the fans take away from that entertainment aspect by trying to dramatize the sport into some b!tchy soap opera. It’s all BS. Enjoy the game for what it is, they win some, they lose some. Sure losing is disappointing but expelling tons of negativity has never magically created positive results. If you can’t handle it then do every true fan a favor and just don’t watch it. Needless negative comments only make it worse. Don’t be selfish and try to ruin the experience for other fans. Some of us actually still have confidence in our team. I bet most of the negative fan base just lacks self confidence and the bucs don’t need that kind of support. If the fires too hot then stay out the kitchen. Can’t wait to watch the Bucs put up so all the media can shut up.
September 14th, 2013 at 2:10 pm
yep
September 14th, 2013 at 2:13 pm
I suspect this game will be as close as the last meeting at RJS. Go Bucs!
September 14th, 2013 at 2:15 pm
Glennon will do exactly that!.. This is a blog people. If you dont like negative opinions. Then simply dont read them. Simply concept right? Your bitching, moaning and crying about other peoples opinions is only going to make us do it more. Start Glennon. GO BUCS!!
September 14th, 2013 at 2:25 pm
They have an opportunity to circle the wagons and play well. The old us vs. everyone mentality.
I’m looking for a good ball game.
Gonna have to score 28 to win, and get Martin going as Joe points out.
Enough of the soap opera crap kick the thing off already.
September 14th, 2013 at 2:33 pm
Sorry didn’t mean to sound bossy but lately everyone seems more interested in arguing with each other on here than supporting the team. I support Freeman as he is our best option though his time is running out and you he just doesn’t look like the same guy anymore, it’s very realistic he could get replaced at some point this year. IF that happens I would support Glennon equally as I did Freeman. We WILL win Sunday. GO BUCS!! In Josh we believe!!
September 14th, 2013 at 2:59 pm
What’s this?? An actual buccaneer football topic? Are there no more Xxxxgates to report?
It’s been refreshing to read about football on here today. It’s almost as if that’s why I frequent this site!
Cheers
September 14th, 2013 at 3:07 pm
Finally…its Saturday and we can talk about the game tomorrow….POUND THE ROCK!!!!
but….for God’s sake, if it doesn’t work……STOP!!!
September 14th, 2013 at 3:09 pm
AGREED DallasBucs, UNFORTUNATELY these type of articles don’t generate many comments. thanks joe good stuff !!!!!!! GO BUCS !!!!!!!
September 14th, 2013 at 3:47 pm
8/9 men in the box and they will dare Freeman to beat them.
September 14th, 2013 at 3:49 pm
I am looking for our #9 offense overall to show up, finally.
Our offense *overslept*, and they missed the Jets game.
September 14th, 2013 at 3:49 pm
Scotty…that is everyone’s game plan until freeman proves he can make them pay. I expect greatness out of #5 on that score this weekend
September 14th, 2013 at 3:51 pm
@Scotty in Fat Antonio
I hope they do, V-Jax and Williams in 1-on-1’s would be lovely.
September 14th, 2013 at 3:58 pm
@Seany, looks like Im going back to the Ale House….its not showing local here. Not drinking a thing though, lol.
September 14th, 2013 at 3:59 pm
Manziel is throwing a beat down on Bammy, man!
September 14th, 2013 at 3:59 pm
This is a big silence the critics moment for Freeman. I really hope he can make it happen. The daggers are out and really bearing down right now
September 14th, 2013 at 4:07 pm
Just saw your email Seany, yeah, lets go again….you know my spot 🙂
September 14th, 2013 at 4:24 pm
From “whodatdish”… Absolutely nasty:
http://touch.whodatdish.com/whodatdish/#!/entry/saints-look-good-heading-into-tampa-freeman-doesnt,5234b5c0da27f5d9d01fe9b5/5
September 14th, 2013 at 4:32 pm
Lol daaaaaaaaamn, McCarron pulled out the flea flicker.
September 14th, 2013 at 4:33 pm
I hope free knows what time the game starts!
September 14th, 2013 at 4:33 pm
Then we run the hurry-up against them so we get the DL gassed a bit. Hammer the rock outside as well as inside. I’d like to see the 44 22 backfield some this game.
Going to Ashville NC tonight heading to Jack of the Wood pub for a pint or two… I will be in my 40 Jersey Wife in 55 looking for the game tomorrow while we roam around A’ville some.
September 14th, 2013 at 4:34 pm
@Harry….eh…
We’ll see though. Everyone expected us to win last week, now they’re expecting us to lose. Thats cool. We play better as underdogs. We usually play the Saints very good anyway…(remember their superbowl year?)
September 14th, 2013 at 4:43 pm
Say what you want about Johnny Football, but this kids a baller. How did he get rid of that rush??? His coaches let him play to his mobile strengths and he extended that play and came up with a huge pass.
Let Freeman move! 1 Day!!! GO BUCS!!!
September 14th, 2013 at 5:01 pm
Tonytwocents,
I concur, Maniel is a baller.
We need to have that kind of a feeling with our QB out there.
September 14th, 2013 at 5:05 pm
Why did we sign a fullback that we desperately needed on Monday just to release him a day before we NEED HIM??????????? Schiano wants to scuttle this team!!!!!!!!
September 14th, 2013 at 5:08 pm
A FB that can help in the middle of the field and BLOCK!
September 14th, 2013 at 5:29 pm
Manziel is a scrub, and his style of play won’t work in the NFL. He’s Tim Tebow: Athletic enough to dominate college players, lacks the throwing abilities to play QB in the NFL. Also, his arm is weak as hell, his size is a huge negative, and don’t even get me started on his intangibles such as his cockiness and refusal to work on his pocket passing. Basically, he’s going to bust hard when he hits the NFL. Hopefully he saved up the money from those autographs.
September 14th, 2013 at 5:42 pm
Hey the game starts at 4 right?
September 14th, 2013 at 5:51 pm
Big Fan of #DB Vinnie Sunseri (Alabama), Hope to see the young man in a Buccaneers uniform someday
September 14th, 2013 at 6:13 pm
Gates open at 12:30 Sunday so I think I’ll get there around 12:29. I like our chances tomorrow. Need to turn the tide and get on a roll. Haha.
September 14th, 2013 at 6:14 pm
I happen to live in Arizona now. It’s really quite funny how the first thing out of peoples mouths here to me is what’s up with Freeman? This is no joke it’s happened about half a dozen times in recent weeks. I’m starting to chuckle about it.
September 14th, 2013 at 6:16 pm
Walter,
I’m not sold on Manziel at all. Not NFL material
September 14th, 2013 at 6:47 pm
Holy Hairy Monkey Balls! SteveK and me found something to agree on!!
The sky is falling people! The apocolyse is near! Start bangin everything that walks!!! Start cuttin your lines of yay, and start hunting the homeless because youve always secretly wanted to hunt people for sport…. what was I talkin ab, oh yeah…. The Apocolyse is here!!
September 14th, 2013 at 6:50 pm
that throw was sick. Ill be got damned if he pulls off this upset.
September 14th, 2013 at 6:51 pm
Oh my bad, I guess Johnny Manziel is nfl material
September 14th, 2013 at 6:51 pm
No
No
The load the box, because we only have two recieving options- Jackson and Williams. Those two are great!!
But that’s it. No slot Reciever. No TE. Martin can’t catch.
No one to attack the middle of the field. That’s how everyone shut us down last year, in the last half of the season. They took away the sidelines- and left no Freeman with no options to throw two.
John lynch pointed that out several times a game.
Yet our “brains” did absolutely nothing to correct this huge deficiency. And the lowly jets used the exact same strategy to humiliate us again. And so will New Orleans. Clog the run, guard the sidelines- game over.
Of course, you have to know something about football to know that
Easier to be stupid, and blame the QB
September 14th, 2013 at 7:28 pm
@911Buc
Over half his yards went to one receiver, #13 Evans, and the majority of his throws to him were jump balls, Evans is a former basketball player matched up against a 5’10” CB, that was a complete mismatch. Manziel is not an NFL caliber QB, he only dominates in college because the defenders can’t catch him, much like how Tebow dominated college because he was too big for LB’s and CB’s to tackle, to quick for D-Lineman to catch. Neither has an NFL caliber arm.
September 14th, 2013 at 8:44 pm
Joebucsfan should be called censorbucsfan for dissent. Shameful!
Huh?? Joe encourages and enjoys dissent, just not misrepresentations of Joe, lies about Joe, personal attacks not related to football, and attacks on Joe’s media partners at 620 WDAE-AM.–Joe
September 14th, 2013 at 8:56 pm
Take the points and play the bucs.We win this one straight up.
September 15th, 2013 at 7:02 am
Hope we can take advantage of this and run a fast tempo offense and get some good matchups since they’ll be shuffling back ups..