A Few Questions With... JScott, Bucs Blogger
by JScott on Dec 2, 2008 9:39 PM EST
31 comments
Hello Panthers fans, JScott here from Buc 'Em welcoming you to Buccaneers-Panthers week. As part of the cross-blogging that will be going on all week between Buc 'Em and Cat Scratch Reader, we figured we would create these FanPosts on each others sites to answer any questions that were out there about each team.
Got a Bucs question? Let 'er rip! I look forward to a great game Monday. I know this match-up will be a lot tougher than in previous weeks. Good luck, and ask me any questions about the Bucs, the game, etc!
I'll check back in regularly to get those questions answered!
The content of these posts are those of the person/idiot making the post only
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Jeff Garcia
has the fan base accepted Garcia as the QB of your team for the next couple seasons or is this a one year gig?
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
by Jaxon on Dec 3, 2008 8:39 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I’m not JScott…and I’m sure he’ll have a better answer but let me just throw my two cents in…
I believe Jeff Garcia is the QB of NOW. I don’t believe he has a future in Tampa Bay beyond 2008.
by JasonDLT on Dec 3, 2008 3:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Garcia's said all of the right things
since his initial benching to start the season, but I’m not sure he would return even if the Bucs wanted him back, which with Gruden at the helm you never know. I thought he was the perfect fit for this offense, but Allen and Gruden destroyed that union when they flirted and failed at attempting to bring Favre to Tampa this off-season..
I would be shocked if Garcia resigned with the Bucs this off-season. Gruden and Garcia deserve each other though with their antics…
For the sake of answering your question, i think this is a one year gig, but who knows with Chucky
Buc 'Em Your SBNation Tampa Bay Bucs Blog where Dull Boys are not allowed!!
by JScott on Dec 3, 2008 8:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
How did the Cadillac look in his first game back?
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
by Jaxon on Dec 3, 2008 9:07 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Cadillac looked rusty his first game in Detroit, but in limited opportunities on a soggy field in New Orleans, we saw the power and the burst that Buc fans remember. Caddy scored last week for the first time since September 07 on a beautiful stretch play, zipping around the corner and powering his way over a safety and into the endzone.
I think we’ll see a lot more Cadillac the last 4 weeks of the season.
by JasonDLT on Dec 3, 2008 3:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
JCat
said it all pretty much, nice synopsis…. Caddy is a true feel good story, i hope he makes a career out of this football thing, i’m holding my breath that he does, even if he weren’t on the Bucs i would wish the same as Carnell is a ridiculous competitor and has a huge heart/drive
Buc 'Em Your SBNation Tampa Bay Bucs Blog where Dull Boys are not allowed!!
by JScott on Dec 3, 2008 8:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Who's your starting RB now that Williams is back?
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
by Jaxon on Dec 3, 2008 2:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
As J Scott will tell you, with Earnest Graham injured, Warrick Dunn is shouldering the load of carries for the Bucs. Tampa Bay is slowly working Cadillac back into the line up but they’re trying their best not to rush him.
by JasonDLT on Dec 3, 2008 3:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
B.J. Askew is also
getting more and more reps now that he is back in the line-up. Warrick Dunn has been a breath of fresh air. I’d put a mural of his patented spin move in my living room if the wife would allow it
Buc 'Em Your SBNation Tampa Bay Bucs Blog where Dull Boys are not allowed!!
by JScott on Dec 3, 2008 8:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Who's your best De at this point in the season?
White, Carter or Gaines?
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
by Jaxon on Dec 3, 2008 2:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Not sure who JScott will go with, but for me – its none of the above. Don’t get me wrong, all three have played well, but the guy who’s been most impressive to me is Jimmy Wilkerson, who alternates between tackle and end for the Bucs.
by JasonDLT on Dec 3, 2008 3:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
i gotta go with Gaines Adams here
Jimmy has been a beast and a pleasant surprise, but Gaines provides that ‘Scary-Presence’ you need on the defensive line. Panthers fans will laugh, because Gaines leads the team with 5.5 sacks, go ahead laugh it up, BUT he also has two interceptions and a touchdown to add to his stats… I know you’re still not scared, but this season his instincts have taken over and he’s applied a lot of pressure on the QB whether it be with his quickness or his ability to disrupt the pass with his reach.
I’m still waiting for Gaines to put it altogether, when he does he will be sick, but he’s still the best DE we possess IMO
Buc 'Em Your SBNation Tampa Bay Bucs Blog where Dull Boys are not allowed!!
by JScott on Dec 3, 2008 8:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The Bucs have 25 sacks total
one more than the Panthers so there is nothing to laugh about. You have more people that get sacks
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
by Jaxon on Dec 4, 2008 12:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Is Joey Galloway back to his Pro Bowl form?
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
by Jaxon on Dec 3, 2008 2:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I’m sure J will agree with me in saying not even close. Galloway rarely even sees the field right now and the few opportunites he’s had he’s either been a decoy or dropped the ball. At his age, it may be over for Joey G.
by JasonDLT on Dec 3, 2008 3:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
yeah
Joey Galloway has been all of ‘Non-Existent’ this season for the Bucs… He missed the majority of the season with a broken ankle and to be honest you would never know that he’s returned. It truly amazes me as he was our BEST Receiver the past couple years and i know you’re saying that’s not saying much as our Receiving Corps is one of the weakest units in the league, but like JCat said, Galloway’s best days may be behind him… Which is odd considering the success he’s experienced the past few years
Buc 'Em Your SBNation Tampa Bay Bucs Blog where Dull Boys are not allowed!!
by JScott on Dec 3, 2008 8:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
What do the Panthers need to do to stop the Bucs offense & QB Garcia?
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
by Jaxon on Dec 3, 2008 2:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I know J Scott will give you a much more detailed answer than I can, but for me – its turnovers. The Bucs offense is something I like to call “Death by a thousand paper cuts”. It will slug away and slug away, eventually wearing you down until you sitting there wondering how the hell they just scored on you. The beauty of the Bucs offense is that there is no one thing to stop. You shut down the run, Garcia will scramble, make plays, and move the chains. You take away the pass, Warrick Dunn, Cadillac and now Clifton Smith will tear you a new one. The key to stopping the Bucs offense is forcing them into errors. Turnovers, holding calls, illegal motion penalties have killed Buc drives. Also, in the red zone, make sure Tampa Bay kicks field goals, not scoring touchdowns – the Bucs biggest weakness on offense is their red zone performance. They are abysmal in the red zone.
by JasonDLT on Dec 3, 2008 3:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
well said
All i would add is that the Panthers need to swarm Garcia early and often. He LOVES to leave the pocket and that leaves him susceptible to some of the hardest hits to date and off target throws… If your defense doesn’t wrap up our runners it will be a long day (as you’ve seen). Warrick Dunn and now Clifton Smith provide shifty bodies for the defense to tackle. Blanket Antonio Bryant and put a man on Hilliard on 3rd downs and you should be good.
Be leery of the Bucs when they are at your own 40 to 30 yard line as a long touchdown is in the cards. If the Bucs enter the red zone consider yourself lucky as its been the kiss of death. With tall receivers and tight ends Gruden has not found a way to exploit opposing defenses. It’s typically two runs (a prayer to Dunn), and a 3 yard pass or overthrow to the end zone and then 3 points are on the board.
By the way, I cant WAIT to see the Panthers Offensive Game plan…
Buc 'Em Your SBNation Tampa Bay Bucs Blog where Dull Boys are not allowed!!
by JScott on Dec 3, 2008 8:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I'm sure tackling will be a focus of the defense
That was our downfall to the Falcons as well.
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
by Jaxon on Dec 4, 2008 12:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
What is the Bucs defense biggest weakness?
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
by Jaxon on Dec 3, 2008 2:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Tough, tough question. Hopefully J has a good answer, I don’t really. Perhaps the pass rush? The Bucs pass rush from the front 4 is adequate, but not spectacular. There are times during games when the pass rush just dissapears, other times when it seems unstoppable. The are a very inconsistent pass rushing team. The problem is, the fear is instilled in the QBs and they typically rush throws when they don’t need to. It happened to Brees a few times last week.
One question you left out Jaxon was special teams – where I think there may be a big difference. Clifton Smith has been phenomenal for us since coming up from the practice squad 5 weeks ago. He wasn’t on the team when the Bucs and Panthers last met…but you’ll get to know him this week on punt and kickoff returns. He’s been almost “Devin Hester-like” for us. Not quite at that level…but he is certainly dangerous. Watch out for him – he may make a big play that will turn a close game.
by JasonDLT on Dec 3, 2008 3:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
i'd say the biggest weakness
lies in the secondary. It doesnt happen often (as our record shows), but Ronde Barber and Company tend to allow the Big Play. The Saints took advantage in Week 1 and the Chiefs followed suit at Arrowhead.
The linebackers are stealth like spies, they are our strongest asset on defense. Barrett Ruud sacks, tackles, intercepts, and strips the ball carrier/Quarterback. Derrick Brooks is still Derrick Brooks when he’s not lined up on a Wide Receiver, and Cato June quietly takes care of business.
Nobody along the defensive line is pushing for the league lead in sacks, but collectively they are carrying their weight. Their greatest quality has been their ability to stuff the run. It’s probably the most improved portion of the defense, they have absolutely stuffed the competition and the competition has been stout….
If the Panthers can figure out how to get Steve Smith in space (hint: attack Ronde Barber often, even if it hurts at times) and how to throw the ball over the middle, the Bucs will be on their heals… If the Panthers run the ball with stubborn abandon the game will be over quick. I’m hopeful that the REAL Panthers show up and not the clowns in jerseys that showed up earlier in the season…
Buc 'Em Your SBNation Tampa Bay Bucs Blog where Dull Boys are not allowed!!
by JScott on Dec 3, 2008 8:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I’m hopeful that the REAL Panthers show up and not the clowns in jerseys that showed up earlier in the season…
So are we.
by LittleKing on Dec 3, 2008 9:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Sounds like a good plan to me
So Phillips is the better CB than Barber? Interesting
I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com
by Jaxon on Dec 4, 2008 12:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
at this point in the season yes
Don’t get me wrong though, Barber has been great at times, but he has shown a propensity to get burned that he never has in the past
Buc 'Em Your SBNation Tampa Bay Bucs Blog where Dull Boys are not allowed!!
by JScott on Dec 7, 2008 7:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
How important is Jovan Haye?
He was listed as questionable on yesterdays injury report and from what I’ve read could either be out or very limited on Monday. If he’s out what impact does that play for the front line? Or have you heard differently and will he play?
by LittleKing on Dec 4, 2008 9:34 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Not as important as he once was – with the emergence of Wilkerson (who plays both end and tackle) and the steady platooning of Ryan Sims, Jovan has already been losing some snaps. It’s been a rough year for him, I think his injuries have hampered his effectiveness.
by JasonDLT on Dec 5, 2008 8:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
our strategy
Every time I see our teams play, it seems the winner is decided by the end of the 1st quarter. If we come out playing flat and have a handful of three and outs, I don’t see us having a dramatic change in the second half. If we cause a couple turnovers early and take a double digit lead, then I doubt the Bucs will out score us the rest of the way. Either way, we either get off to a fast start and have some big plays early, or we lose.
I think we need to do some things we haven’t done too often in the past like maybe a flea flicker, end around with Smitty, and have Peppers and Hilee Taylor on the same side rushing the QB. We need to throw in a couple screens to D-Will and blitz Marshall on Garcia’s blind side. We have to hit them hard because I truly believe the winner of this game gets a 1st rd bye.
by usana_gaines on Dec 5, 2008 5:12 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Keep in mind that the Bucs have come from behind to win in All of their road victories and have had the ball with chances to win in the final moments of each of their losses. In the past, the Buccaneers haven’t been able to overcome double digit deficits on the road, but this team is a lot more resilient.
by JasonDLT on Dec 5, 2008 8:47 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
That's why this game is going to be so awesome.
The Panthers are known for the exact same thing. We got a early lead against Green Bay, they caught up to us, and then the game became a shootout between the Panthers and Green Bay until two long throws to Steve Smith sealed the deal.
"Once again the trowsers of evil are yanked down by the mocking hands of justice!"-Revshawn
by Revshawn on Dec 5, 2008 7:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
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