After Game Bucs Bits (Week 1 vs. Carolina)

This was a solid start for a new coaching regime as the young Tampa Bay Buccaneers showed they want to win now. In come the Carolina Panthers a team that was on the rise and was predicted to make a possible push for a 2012 playoff spot. These Buccaneers had different ideas and wasted no time taking control of this game quickly running out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter. They came out with an aggressive defense and an offense that when given their first possession drove down the field 13 plays-80 yards on a touchdown drive that used up 7:20 off the clock. The Buccaneers set a tone for a very hard fought 16-10 victory in front of an excited crowd at Raymond James Stadium.

Game Review:

Positives

Doug Martin 1^st NFL start was a success – 24Car-95Yds/4Rec-23Yds –

Being a big part of the offense on the ground and making the “catch of the game” showing his incredible receiving ability out of the backfield

Gerald McCoy was disruptive all game constantly pushing his man into the back field creating havoc on Cam Newton and his offense. It may not show in tackles (2-both were tackles for losses and recorded 1 sack)
OG Ted Larsen was solid in his replacement of injured OG Davin Joseph
SS Mark Barron showed why the Buccaneers wanted this young man with a few bone-crushing hits. And a huge pass deflected away on a critical 3^rd down play when Carolina was trying to gain momentum and take the lead
Lavonte David – was the leader of this team making the defensive calls and making sure everyone was in position And leading this team in tackles for the game (6)
Mason Foster played very well and had 3 tackles for losses- totaling 5 tackles (Tied for 2^nd on the team)
Josh Freeman played effective and managed the game with no turnovers. His best quarter was the 1^st quarter throwing for 85yds-1TD
Buccaneers defense only allowed 10 yards rushing for the game-(Note: Carolina had -1 rushing yards at end of 1^st half)
Ronde Barber had an interception in his 200^th consecutive start for the Buccaneers
Vincent Jackson was targeted 10x and finished with 4Rec-47Yds (Had a big gain called back on a penalty)

Concerns/Need for Improvement

After passing for 85 yards/1TD Josh Freeman finished with only 138 yards passing. That’s 53 yards for the next 3 quarters. (Josh did have a huge completion to help end game on critical 3^rd-3 late in 4^th quarter-completed to Vincent Jackson) More balance and consistency from the passing game throughout the game is critical against better teams
Defense needs to be better on TE coverage something that will be exploited in the future if not corrected. (Olsen 7 targets- 6Rec-56Yds-9.3 yards per catch)
Dallas Clark more utilized in offense just 1 reception for 33 yards (1 Target)
ROT Jeremy Trueblood needs to pick-up his game thought he had struggled at times causing penetration into the backfield

Play of the Game

Mark Barron dove to deflect a pass to Louis Murphy on 3^rd – 9 on the Tampa 48. It could have been a huge gain but the Panthers were forced to punt which was “blocked” that lead to a Buccaneer FG increasing lead to 16-7.

All in all the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a team played a tremendous game and accomplished many key factors needed to win this game. They came out with enthusiasm and did what they needed to start this season in the right direction.

GO BUCS!!

-Richard J Dudkiewicz Jr (Twitter @Rook33)