Sailing Around the World | Tampa Bay Bucs Franchise

[Mit]

Bucs Trample Over In-State Rivals

<img style="visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;" border=0 width=0 height=0 src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEyODI2NjU3MDE2MTUmcHQ9MTI4MjY2NTcxNDAxNyZwPTk1MDcxJmQ9Jmc9MSZvPWJmMzM4MzBlMjVjNTQ*ZWU5OTcx/ZjJkMWM3YzE2ODUxJm9mPTA=.gif" /><object width="640" height="360"><param name="wmode" value="transparent" valuetype="data" /><param name="movie" value="http://cdn.www.easports.com/static/194.20.4/flash/mdMediaPlugin/mediaplayer.swf?file=http://cdn.content.easports.com/media2011/madden11/35699873/551A0001_3_FLV_VIDEO_ctj.flv&link=http://www.easports.com/media/play/video/31861121&linkfromdisplay=true&linktarget=_top&image=" valuetype="data" /><embed src="http://cdn.www.easports.com/static/194.20.4/flash/mdMediaPlugin/mediaplayer.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="640" height="360" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="height=360&width=640&file=http://cdn.content.easports.com/media2011/madden11/35699873/551A0001_3_FLV_VIDEO_ctj.flv&link=http://www.easports.com/media/play/video/31861121&linkfromdisplay=true&linktarget=_top&image="></embed></object><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://www.easports.com/" target="_top" shape="rect">EA Sports</a>: <a href="http://www.easports.com/media/play/video/31861121" target="_top" shape="rect">Madden NFL 11 Video Highlight</a></div>​

A week after committing 7 turnovers in a loss against the Chiefs, the Bucs only committed one turnover. They were able to force three against the Jags. Josh Freeman was the one responsible for the turnover, which was an interception by Rashean Mathis.

Both Josh Freeman and Josh Johnson looked pretty good in this preseason game, as they threw for a combined 3 touchdowns and over 400 yards. Although, their completion percentage averaged below 40%. The Bucs were also hard to stop on the ground, as Cadillac Williams ran for 90 yards and Derrick Ward added 27 yards on 6 carries. Ward also had the lone rushing touchdown for the Bucs. The great passing game and rushing game were a winning combination against the Jags.

Arrelious Benn was the star of the game. He only caught three passes, but two were for touchdowns and he had 139 receiving yards. He had touchdown receptions of 54 and 69, which were both from Josh Freeman. This is definitely a good sign, as Freeman and Benn were on the same page in this game.

"I felt like Josh [Freeman] was giving me catchable balls and I was able to take advantage of the passes. He was able to put the passes where Rashean [Mathis] wasn't able to get them.", said Arrelious Benn in response to his and Josh Freeman's connection on the field.

 

[Mit]

Bucs Beat Texans 44 to 31
​

Josh Freeman was definitely on in the preseason finale against the Texans. Even though the Texans don't have a very good defense, Freeman lit them up for 3 touchdown passes and 200 yards just in the first half. Josh Johnson came in the second half to throw for 2 touchdown passes as well.

Cadillac Williams had another good game, as he ran for 95 yards on 12 carries.

Dan Orlovsky was picked off two times. Once by Elbert Mack, who brought the INT back to the house for a touchdown. Then, Myron Lewis got an interception against Orlovsky to close out the game, as the Bucs won 44 to 31.

 

[Mit]

By ESPN Analyst Adam Schefter

Impressions of Preseason

• Josh Freeman didn't look too bad during preseason, as he had 5 touchdown passes, along with 5 interceptions. In training camp, he was not particularly making progress in reading the defense or with his accuracy. His accuracy did not improve in preseason, but Freeman worked really hard in trying to read defensive schemes. After the loss against the Chiefs, Freeman sat down and tried to see the type of schemes the Jags and the Texans would bring. His work paid off, as he had great passing games against those two teams.
  
  It looked as though the QB position was wide open after training camp due to the lack of progress of Josh Freeman, but Freeman has secured his spot. He just needs to continue spending a lot of time in the film room. He also needs to start working on his accuracy, which is a big concern for him.

• Cadillac Williams and Derrick Ward have both been rushing the ball fairly well during preseason, which will hopefully carry into the regular season. The main concern for both RB's is their problem with fumbles. They fumbled for a combined 5 times during the preseason. There is a good chance that one or both of these guys won't be on the Bucs roster next year, as the Bucs are looking at Mark Ingram or Evan Royster for next year.

• The receiving corps looked pretty good during preseason. Josh Freeman had found a favorite WR in Arrelious Benn. Mike Williams has not been passed the ball very much, but should see a lot more passes as Benn will be going up against #1 receivers. Slot receiver, Reggie Brown, has proved to be useful out of the slot. He has shown to be exceptionally deadly during short slants. Kellen Winslow has not been too big of a target during the preseason for Josh Freeman, but should be his go-to-guy in the regular season, as Freeman has rookie WR's starting.

• On the D-Line, rookies Brian Price and Gerald McCoy have looked very well. Price has shown that he can be a good run-stopping force in the future. McCoy showed that he can be dominant against the run and the pass, as McCoy boasted with a team-leading 3 sacks in the regular season. Tim Crowder and Stylez G. White will be the two starting DE's when the regular season rolls around, but they are definitely not in the Bucs' long-term plans.

• Aqib Talib has shown in the preseason that he is ready to become an elite corner. He held Brandon Marshall to only one catch in the first preseason game, Dwayne Bowe to 2 catches, Mike Sims-Walker to one catch, and Andre Johnson to one catch. He has been jamming the receivers at the line and has shown his physicality. Ronde Barber did decent in the preseason and should be the #2 CB on the depth chart. The #3 CB position is up for grabs, as Elbert Mack and rookie Myron Lewis have both had good preseasons. Both ended preseason with two interceptions and the next week will determine who will be the #3.

 

[Mit]

 

[Mit]

Putting scores on next page.

 

[Mit]

Browns Edge Bucs in Season Opener 38 to 31

<img style="visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;" border=0 width=0 height=0 src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEyODI4NTQwNjA*MzYmcHQ9MTI4Mjg1NDA2Mjg5NSZwPTk1MDcxJmQ9Jmc9MSZvPTEyN2EzN2JjNDliODQ4ZDRiZWFj/Mzc5NWQ1YWZlOGMwJm9mPTA=.gif" /><object width="640" height="360"><param name="wmode" value="transparent" valuetype="data" /><param name="movie" value="http://cdn.www.easports.com/static/315.3.3/flash/mdMediaPlugin/mediaplayer.swf?file=http://cdn.content.easports.com/media2011/madden11/35699873/551A0001_1_FLV_VIDEO_LuI.flv&link=http://www.easports.com/media/play/video/32756174&linkfromdisplay=true&linktarget=_top&image=" valuetype="data" /><embed src="http://cdn.www.easports.com/static/315.3.3/flash/mdMediaPlugin/mediaplayer.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="640" height="360" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="height=360&width=640&file=http://cdn.content.easports.com/media2011/madden11/35699873/551A0001_1_FLV_VIDEO_LuI.flv&link=http://www.easports.com/media/play/video/32756174&linkfromdisplay=true&linktarget=_top&image="></embed></object><div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://www.easports.com/" target="_top" shape="rect">EA Sports</a>: <a href="http://www.easports.com/media/play/video/32756174" target="_top" shape="rect">Montario Hardesty's 22 yard TD run</a></div>​

The Bucs players were excited to take the field in the first game of the season against the Browns. Too bad the game ended in a loss for the Bucs. The Bucs played a great game, though.

The Browns got to an early 14 to 0 lead after the first quarter. The first score was led by a long drive that was capped off with a 1 yard touchdown run by Jerome Harrison. On the ensuing possession, Clifton Smith fumbled the ball at their own 26 yard line. Jake Delhomme took advantage of the turnover, as he was able to find Mohamed Massaquoi on the first play of the drive for a 26 yard touchdown grab. Massaquoi outjumped Bucs CB Aqib Talib on the play to come down with the touchdown.

The Bucs got the ball after the touchdown and were able to make the most of it. They led a 14 play drive, which continued into the early parts of the 2nd quarter. Cadillac Williams finished the drive off with a nice 5 yard touchdown run, where he broke 3 tackles.

Jerome Harrison added a 45 yard touchdown run on the next Browns possession, as he broke 5 tackles on the play. Josh Freeman responded to the touchdown by hitting Reggie Brown for a 22 yard touchdown pass with 2:23 left in the first half.

Unfortunately, the Bucs defense could not do anything to stop the Browns aerial assault. Jake Delhomme ended up hitting Josh Cribbs for a 5 yard touchdown pass, which forced the Bucs to be going into halftime on a bad note.

For the most part, the 3rd quarter was relatively unexciting. The only exciting moment came with about 2 minutes left in the quarter. Browns Punter Dave Zastudil punted the ball to the Bucs 32 yard line. At first, it looked like Punt Returner Clifton Smith was going to get hit hard by Browns Safety Abram Elam, but Smith was able to spin out of the tackle. He had good blocking upfield and took advantage of it, as he juked defenders and spun out of more tackles to scamper in for a 68 yard punt return TD. The Bucs went into the 4th quarter only down a touchdown.

The Browns and the Bucs flip-flopped field goals to start off the 4th quarter. Then, things got more exciting. Josh Freeman led a long drive, which was capped off by a 3 yard touchdown pass to Reggie Brown with 1:57 left. All the Bucs had to do now was to force the Browns to punt the ball. It was definitely a tough task, as the Browns offense lit up the Bucs defense all day.

The Bucs failed this. The Browns drove up the field and eventually Montario Hardesty came into the game for Jerome Harrison and ended the game with a 22 yard touchdown run. It was a heartbreaking loss for the Bucs, which will be felt throughout practice next week.

"My heart sank to the ground when Montario [Hardesty] scored that touchdown. I honestly thought our defense was gonna step up, but they didn't. F*** this.", said an angry Josh Freeman after the game. ​

 

[Mit]

 

[dMerch]

damn jackson played like a beast

 

[Mit]

damn jackson played like a beast

Yeah, he did alright. Didn't matter, him or anybody else couldn't stop Harrison.

 

[dMerch]

yeah it looks like it, tough loss

 

[Mit]

 

[Lumpkin]

tough loss to open the season, hopefully you can bounce back against the Panthers

 

[Miami Flash15]

You should try putting Cody Grimm at LB. He's useless as a safety.

 

[Mit]

tough loss to open the season, hopefully you can bounce back against the Panthers

Yeah, it was a tough one. I honestly thought I had a chance against the Browns, but Hardesty put the game away late.

And no guarantees against Carolina. We all know how terrible the Bucs run defense is and how good the Panthers rushing attack is.

You should try putting Cody Grimm at LB. He's useless as a safety.

Hmm...I don't even see him on my roster. Might be because I'm using the old roster? Not sure.

 

[Mit]

Panthers Run Away with Victory Led by Deangelo Williams

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This game pretty much belonged to the Panthers from the get-go. Even though the Bucs were the first team to score on a 5 yard run from Cadillac Williams, the Panthers retaliated with a 9 yard TD reception by Tony Fiammetta from Matt Moore.

Then, Deangelo Williams really set the pace for the Panthers in the second quarter. Williams got the handoff and saw a crease and exploded for a 99 yard touchdown run. This was at the beginning of the quarter and no more scoring happened until the last minute, when John Kasay hit a 20 yard field goal. The Bucs Clifton Smith ran back the kickoff 103 yards for a touchdown, as he spun, juked, and trucked his way towards the end zone. On the ensuing Panthers possession, Kasay added on a 52 yard field goal as time expired in the first half. The Panthers led 20 to 14 at the end of the first half and they ended up outscoring the Bucs 25 to 14 in the second half to take the game 45 to 28.

Deangelo Williams finished the game with 314 rushing yards on 21 attempts, along with two touchdowns. The pesky Panthers defense also frustrated Josh Freeman in the loss, as Freeman threw 3 interceptions. On the bright side for the Bucs, Cadillac Williams rushed for 124 yards on 15 attempts, which is a good sign for the oft-injured Williams.

"There were many times where the O-Line were giving me great blocks. Holes would open up and I would just run the ball through those holes. The Bucs did not tackle very well either, so it was easy for me to pick up 7,8,9 yards every single time I rushed the ball", said Deangelo Williams in response to his superb rushing performance against the Bucs.

​

 

[Cody]

Nice win for the browns!

 

[Mit]

Nice win for the browns!

Yeah, it was.

 

[Mit]

 

[Cody]

Beat then Steelers!

 

[Mit]

Beat then Steelers!

That can be done. :smug: