September 9, 2012; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (22) stuff arms Carolina Panthers strong safety Charles Godfrey (30) in the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE
25 Total Updates since September 3, 2012
8 months ago Update 0 comments
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are moving up in the latest and greatest SB Nation NFL Power Rankings. Coming off of an upset win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 1, the Buccaneers moved from No. 25 to No. 19 in SB Nation.com's rankings.
Here's what the SB Nation NFL experts had to say about Tampa Bay:
I wondered last week if ranking Tampa Bay 25th was too low. After one week, it appears it was. It avoided the basement in the NFC South, beating Cam Newton and the Panthers.
By contrast, the Panthers fell from No. 14 to No. 23 -- one of the bigger drops in the league.
You know, Carolina, you can run the ball. DeAngelo Williams led the team with six attempts. Hard to win putting it all on the passing game.
Tampa Bay faces a much bigger test in Week 2, as they head to New Jersey to take on Eli Manning and the New York Giants. If the Bucs can upset Big Blue, they'll certainly vault into the top half of next week's rankings.
For more on the Bucs, check out Bucs Nation.
8 months ago Update 0 comments
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are one of the NFL's biggest gainers in major power rankings after a surprise upset win over the Carolina Panthers. Over at the SB Nation mothership, Joel Thorman thought the debut of the Greg Schiano era looked so impressive that he pushed Tampa up from No. 25 to No. 19:
I wondered last week if ranking Tampa Bay 25th was too low. After one week it appears it was. It avoided the basement in the NFC South, beating Cam Newton and the Panthers.
Meanwhile, NFL.com has the Bucs up seven spots to a suddenly respectable No. 18 ranking:
The "Doesn't Look Anything Like 2011" award goes to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who entered this season with a 10-game losing streak, only to come out and completely handle the Panthers. (The same team that beat Tampa by a combined score of 86-35 last year.) Great job, Greg Schiano.
ESPN isn't quite as bullish, but still likes Tampa's win enough to jump them four spots to No. 21, thanks to their defense:
The Bucs averaged 8.6 yards per catch and 3.6 per carry, and still won their opener.
Tampa didn't move up a single spot in former Ravens head coach Brian Billick's rankings at Fox Sports, but that's because he was high on Schiano's makeover before the season even started, placing them a No. 19:
The Bucs looked decent in Greg Schiano's debut as head coach, but after getting off to an early 10-0 start on Sunday, I would have liked to see them put away the game a little more easily. Josh Freeman completed 16 passes, but for only 138 yards
For more on the Tampa Bay Bucs, check out Bucs Nation and SB Nation's NFL page.
8 months ago Update 0 comments
Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie running back Doug Martin has been nominated for NFL Rookie of the Week following his 95-yard rushing performance on Sunday in a win against the Carolina Panthers.
Martin is in good company, with Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III also being nominated due to his outstanding debut performance against the New Orleans Saints. Also, New York Jets wide receiver Stephen Hill and his two touchdown receptions against the Buffalo Bills get recognition on this list.
Other players nominated include New England Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones, who recorded five tackles and a sack in the Pats win over the Tennessee Titans. Minnesota Vikings kicker Blair Walsh is nominated after a 55-yard field goal against the Jacksonville Jaguars in overtime ultimately gave his team the win.
For Martin, it's been a good start to the rookie season, having taken LeGarrette Blount's starting job in preseason camp then coming out with an impressive debut.
Stick with SB Nation Tampa Bay for more coverage of the Bucs in Week 1. For all things Buccaneers, head over to Bucs Nation.
8 months ago Update 0 comments
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back LaGarrette Blount is reportedly uninjured, despite appearing to go down with a leg injury in the second quarter of Tampa Bay's win over the Carolina Panthers.
Per Rick Stroud, it was a coaching decision to have Blount less involved in the offensive gameplan, and not an injury:
Regarding the status of running back LeGarrette Blount, who briefly went down in the second quarter on Sunday, the Bucs reported no injury, which suggests his lack of involvement was a coaching decision only. With the addition of Giants free agent D.J. Ware, who took many of the third-down snaps after just one week on the roster, there are even fewer reps up for grabs after Doug Martin gets done doing his thing.
Apparently, Blount exited the locker room prior to media access, so nobody was able to ask Blount himself about the injury.
For more on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, head over to Bucs Nation and join the discussion.
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8 months ago Update 0 comments
After falling to the Carolina Panthers twice last season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers finally figured out Cam Newton. The 16-10 win came in the NFL head coaching debut for Greg Schiano.
Over at Bucs Nation, the team was praised for returning to its roots under Schiano.
The effort wasn't perfect, and there was room for improvement, but this was a solid debut for Greg Schiano and his version of Buc Ball was prominently on display. The Bucs ran the football well, played disciplined football for the most part on defense, and were fundamentally sound. If the Bucs can keep this up, they'll have a chance to win a lot of games in the fourth quarter. Buc Ball is back in town -- and it's off to a good start.
Meanwhile, over at Cat Scratch Reader, Panthers fans weren't too thrilled with the play of Newton.
QB Cam Newton didn't help his case for avoiding the sophomore slump. Newton went 23 of 33 for 303 yards, TD and 2 INTs which actually sounds much better than it was. His INTs were both the result of bad decisions to through the ball.
Tampa Bay should have a tougher time next week when it plays the New York Giants in Schiano's return to New Jersey.
Stick with SB Nation Tampa Bay for more coverage of the Bucs in Week 1. For all things Buccaneers, head over to Bucs Nation.
8 months ago Update 0 comments
Tampa Bay combined a ball control offense with an opportunistic defense in a 16-10 win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 1. The Buccaneers held the football for over 37 minutes and still needed to run the clock out in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.
Tampa led 13-7 heading into the fourth quarter and extended the lead to 16-7 with a 40-yard field goal from Connor Barth. The Panthers would threaten but a couple of nice plays by the Bucs' defense on runs by Cam Newton forced Carolina to settle for a 21-yard field goal to cut the lead to 16-10.
The Panthers elected to kick it deep rather than go for the on-side kick with just over two minutes remaining but were unable to get the ball back. Tampa converted two first downs, one on a nice completion to Vincent Jackson and another on a 15-yard run by Doug Martin to help seal the victory.
Josh Freeman did a good job of managing the game finishing 16 of 24 for 138 yards and a touchdown. Martin finished with 95 yards on 24 carries while Jackson hauled in four passes for 47 yards. The most important stat for the Buccaneers however was zero turnovers on the afternoon.
Cam Newton got rolling late but two interceptions proved costly in the loss. Newton finished 23 of 33 for 303 yards and a touchdown to go along with those two picks. Steve Smith hauled in seven passes for 106 yards but was held out of the end zone. Carolina's ground game without Jonathan Stewart was non-existant rushing for 10 total yards on 13 carries.
Next up for Tampa Bay is a trip to New York to take on the Super Bowl champion New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.
Stick with SB Nation Tampa Bay for more coverage of the Bucs in Week 1. For all things Buccaneers, head over to Bucs Nation.
8 months ago Update 0 comments
The Carolina Panthers got on the board in the third quarter but it is the Buccaneers who still hold a 13-7 advantage heading to the fourth quarter. After being bottled up for much of the game, Cam Newton and company finally got on track with a 70 yard drive that resulted in a 22-yard scoring pass to Brandon Lafell.
Despite not being able to put any points on the board in the quarter, Tampa Bay kept control of the game by forcing two turnovers coming on a pair of interceptions by Newton. Ronde Barber came up with the first pick while Ahmad Black closed out the third quarter with a pick of his own.
The Buccaneers still don't have a turnover in the game and now have about a 12 minute advantage in time of possession.
Stick with SB Nation Tampa Bay for more coverage of the Bucs in Week 1. For all things Buccaneers, head over to Bucs Nation.
8 months ago Update 0 comments
Tampa Bay has controlled the clock and, more importantly, the scoreboard as they take a 13-0 lead into halftime over the Carolina Panthers. The Buccaneers are showing that one of the most effective ways to contain Carolina quarterback Cam Newton is to keep him on the sidelines.
The Buccaneers had an advantage of more than seven minutes in time of possession during the first half. Tampa had a 13-play, 90-yard drive stall out at the goal line, forcing the Bucs to settle for a 20-yard field goal to make the score 13-0.
If not for two passes that were tipped at the line, Josh Freeman would be perfect on the afternoon. Instead, he is 12-of-14 for 122 yards and a touchdown. Vincent Jackson has three receptions for 43 yards and Doug Martin rushed 10 times for 28 yards. For Tampa Bay, the most important number in the first half is the the zero next to turnovers in the box score.
Cam Newton is 12-of-17 for 112 yards in the first half, with much of that coming on the Panthers' final possession of the half. Steve Smith had three catches for 58 yards, but the Carolina running game is non-existent, totaling six rushes for -1 yard in the first half.
Stick with SB Nation Tampa Bay for more coverage of the Bucs in Week 1. For all things Buccaneers, head over to Bucs Nation.
8 months ago Update 0 comments
Tampa Bay holds a 10-0 lead over the Carolina Panthers at the end of the first quarter. The Buccaneers jumped out to a 7-0 lead after an 80-yard drive that resulted in a six-yard touchdown pass by Josh Freeman to Mike Williams. Tampa added a 36-yard field goal later in the quarter to extend the lead to 10-0.
The Buccaneers dominated the time of possession in the first quarter and Freeman came out sharp completing 8-of-9 passes for 89 yards and the game's lone touchdown. Doug Martin has 25 yards rushing on seven carries while Dallas Clark has a 33-yard catch.
Cam Newton is off to a relatively quiet start throwing for 39 yards in the first quarter. Tampa out-gained the Panthers 112-34 in the opening period.
Stick with SB Nation Tampa Bay for more coverage of the Bucs in Week 1. For all things Buccaneers, head over to Bucs Nation.
8 months ago Article 0 comments
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers head on the road to open their season against NFC rivals the Carolina Panthers.
8 months ago Update 0 comments
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers open their season against the Carolina Panthers, and the Buccaneers will look considerably different than they did when they finished off last season, with reinforcements coming in across the board.
In among the facelift is an influx of impact rookies. Three will start Sunday and three more are expected to play, Stephen F. Holder of the Tampa Bay Times wrote.
Two of the rookie starters were first-round picks: strong safety Mark Barron, who was drafted No. 7 overall out of Alabama, and running back running back Doug Martin, the 31st overall pick from Boise State. The third rookie starter Sunday will be linebacker Lavonte David, a second-round pick from Nebraska.
Drafting players from big-time college programs was part of the team's strategy, head coach Greg Schiano told Holder. Talent wins out, but rookies that played marquee games in college have one less thing to adjust to in the NFL.
From Holder:
"If you look at the common denominators, these are guys who played in big venues and really had performed at a high level at the highest level of college football," he said. "I think that certainly gives you an advantage.
"Mark Barron, coming from Alabama where there's ... 100,000 people every week, I'm not sure this is going to be too big for him."
For updates on the game, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more in-depth coverage of this matchup, head over to Tampa Bay Buccaneers blog Bucs Nation as well as Carolina Panthers blog Cat Scratch Reader. For more news, notes and analysis from around the league, visit SB Nation's NFL hub.
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8 months ago Update 0 comments
When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers open the season on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, one of the NFL's most potent passing attacks led by quarterback Cam Newton and wide receiver Steve Smith, not having a secondary at full strength is less than ideal.
But that's the situation the Bucs find themselves in according to a Tampa Bay Times report as it appears that E.J. Biggers who is nursing a foot injury and Anthony Gaitor, recovering from a hamstring injury, won't be available to play.That said, Tampa Bay will have to get creative on Sunday:
While the Bucs will lean heavily on starters Aqib Talib (who will shadow receiver Steve Smith) and Eric Wright, but things get thin after that. The third cornerback likely will be Myron Lewis, who has been hot and cold through the preseason. Beyond him, the Bucs have just undrafted rookie Leonard Johnson and newcomer Brandon McDonald.
This game could present scenarios where the Bucs use safety Ronde Barber as a cornerback, particularly in the slot. It's been expected all along that Barber will still perform some of his cornerback duties despite moving to free safety and, perhaps, this is when we'll see that.
For updates on the game, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more in-depth coverage of this matchup, head over to Tampa Bay Buccaneers blog Bucs Nation as well as Carolina Panthers blog Cat Scratch Reader. For more news, notes and analysis from around the league, visit SB Nation's NFL hub.
8 months ago Article 0 comments
Josh Freeman has been voted a captain of the Tampa Bay Bucs.
8 months ago Update 0 comments
Few experts are picking the Buccaneers to win their season opening matchup against Cam Newton-led Carolina Panthers. That's likely because the two teams had polar opposite seasons in 2011, with the Panthers returning to a viable team in the NFC South, while the Bucs had the kind of season that got their coach fired.
Neither team is drastically different this year.
CBSSports.com's NFL staff gave nine picks for Week 1, including a prediction machine. It's worth noting that the Giants beating the Cowboys was a unanimous pick for this group, and then Wednesday night happened.
Josh Katzowitz and Ryan Wilson are the only ones going with the Bucs from CBSSports.
From ESPN's 12 experts who made picks, only Adam Schefter and Mark Schlereth picked Tampa. Yahoo! Sports' Les Carpenter strayed away from Mike Silver and Jason Cole's Panthers pick by going with the Bucs as well.
For updates on the game, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more in-depth coverage of this matchup, head over to Tampa Bay Buccaneers blog Bucs Nation as well as Carolina Panthers blog Cat Scratch Reader. For more news, notes and analysis from around the league, visit SB Nation's NFL hub.
8 months ago Update 0 comments
The Buccaneers had three players on their injury report on Thursday: wide receiver Arrelious Benn (knee), Anthony Gaitor, E.J. Biggers. Benn was the only one to have full participation in practice on Thursday, while Gaitor and Biggers were both limited.
Tampa Bay opens its season against the Panthers on Sunday. Carolina had four players listed on its injury report: wide receiver Steve Smith (full practice participation), linebacker Jon Beason (full practice participation), running back Jonathan Stewart (did not participate in practice) and center Jeff Byers (did not participate in practice)
Game statuses for players on the injury report were not available.
For updates on the game, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more in-depth coverage of this matchup, head over to Tampa Bay Buccaneers blog Bucs Nation as well asCarolina Panthers blog Cat Scratch Reader. For more news, notes and analysis from around the league, visit SB Nation's NFL hub.
8 months ago Update 0 comments
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers season opener against the Carolina Panthers has officially been blacked out, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.
The Buccaneers were about 9,000 tickets short of the 85 percent threshold needed to remove blackout restrictions last Friday, but were unable to sell enough tickets by three days before the game. In an effort to boost sales, the team was offering fans reduced-price tickets, free parking and discounted concessions.
The game will now be unable to be viewed within a 75-mile radius of the Tampa Bay area.
According to Stroud, the Buccaneers did not release how many tickets are still available for Sunday's game, which is scheduled to kickoff at 4:25 p.m. ET.
For updates on the game, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more in-depth coverage of this matchup, head over to Tampa Bay Buccaneers blog Bucs Nation as well as Carolina Panthers blog Cat Scratch Reader. For more news, notes and analysis from around the league, visit SB Nation's NFL hub.
8 months ago Update 0 comments
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will open the season at home against the Carolina Panthers as underdogs, though Vegas expects a closely contested game. The Panthers opened as three-point favorites, but they are now favored by as little as one point at some sportsbooks.
Related: Veteran Free Agents Could Be a Possibility for Bucs After Week 1
The Panthers head into 2012 looking to build on a 2011 season that was fueled by a breakout performance by quarterback Cam Newton. The Bucs will be trying to end a 10-game regular season losing streak that dates back to Oct. 23 of last year.
Kickoff for the game between the Bucs and Panthers is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET.
For updates on the game, stay tuned to SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more in-depth coverage of this matchup, head over to Tampa Bay Buccaneers blog Bucs Nation as well as Carolina Panthers blog Cat Scratch Reader. And for more news, notes and analysis from around the league, visit SB Nation's NFL news hub.
9 months ago Update 0 comments
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could be back on the rise sooner rather than later, thanks to their 2012 NFL Draft where they had a pair of first round picks in running back Doug Martin and safety Mark Barron. Martin rose up the depth chart and surpassed LeGarrette Blount to be named the starting running back, and by doing so he has not put himself in position to be mentioned in the conversation for rookie of the year.
Martin still has to compete with a pair of quarterbacks in the Washington Redskins' Robert Griffin III and the Indianpolis Colts' Andrew Luck for the award. Unless Martin has an unbelievable season he likely will not win the rookie of the year award, but Martin will still be one of the best rookies in the league this season.
As for Barron he also is expected to be one of the best defensive rookie, as he came in second place in SB Nation's blogger preseason awards with 17 percent of the vote. Barron was only behind the Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly.
For more on the Bucs, head to Bucs Nation and stick with SB Nation Tampa Bay. For all things pro football, head on over to SB Nation's NFL hub.
9 months ago Update 0 comments
Even though the Tampa Bay Buccaneers open the season in just a few days against the Carolina Panthers, they decided to make a roster move on Wednesday as they went out and brought back cornerback Brandon McDonald. McDonald was signed in August, but was let go when the team decided to bring in running back D.J. Ware this past weekend.
McDonald played 13 games for the Detroit Lions last season, and prior to that he was with the Cleveland Browns for a few seasons. To make room for McDonald on the roster the Bucs had to let go of offensive lineman Derek Hardman.
The Bucs also signed guard Julian Vandervelde to the practice squad, and let wide receiver Bert Reed was dropped from the practice squad to make room for Vandervelde.
For more on the Bucs, head to Bucs Nation and stick with SB Nation Tampa Bay. For all things pro football, head on over to SB Nation's NFL hub.
9 months ago Update 0 comments
Wide receiver Preston Parker had been listed as the Tampa Bay Bucanneers' No. 1 kick and punt returner, but according to Stephen Holder, Parker will be focusing solely on receiving this season.
Last year, the undrafted Florida native returned 20 kicks, averaging 22 yards per return. He also led the team with 23 punt returns.
But Parker emerged as a solid receiving option, amassing 554 yards on 40 receptions from the team's third wide receiver slot.
In his place, Sammie Stroughter and rookie Michael Smith will return the punts and kicks, respectively.
Parker struggled fielding punts at times last year and during the preseason. He will now channel his efforts towards improving the Bucs' offensive attack, which averaged just 17.9 points per game last season.
For more on the Bucs, head to Bucs Nation and stick with SB Nation Tampa Bay. For all things pro football, head to SB Nation's NFL hub.
9 months ago Update 0 comments
Steve Smith appears to be close to returning for the Carolina Panthers when they open the NFL season Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Smith has been battling a foot injury, but was reportedly back at practice on Tuesday according to SB nation's Cat Scratch Reader:
I'm reading between the lines here but I'm sure Smitty returning to practice just in time for game planning says he plans to play. Right now we all just happy to see him back in practice:
It was good to have Steve back. Right off the bat he went back to his normal practice mode – 100 percent, all the time," Rivera said. "So it was a lot of fun watching Steve back on the football field for sure."
Linebacker Jon Beason will also likely play as he has been limited by a hamstring injury. Beason estimates that his injury is at approximately 85 percent.
For the latest on all things Tampa Bay Bucs, check out Bucs Nation and join the discussion.
9 months ago Update 0 comments
The 2012-13 NFL season kicks off this week, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will play host to the Carolina Panthers in Week 1 at 4:25 p.m. EDT on Sunday afternoon.
Despite the fact that the Bucs have made some major moves this offseason, notably signing wide receiver Vincent Jackson, the Panthers are still slight favorites in the Week 1 matchup.
Depending on which website you use, the Panthers are favored from anywhere between one and three points, with 5Dimes only giving the Panthers a 1-point edge. Just Bet and Top Bet give the Panthers a 2-1/2-point edge, while Bovada has the Panthers as 3-point favorites.
The over under for the game opened at 46 1/2 points, but 5Dimes and Just Bet have increased it to 47. Top Bet still has the total at 46 1/2.
It's always difficult to predict early season NFL games, but it's clear that Vegas and gamblers prefer Cam Newton to Josh Freeman, despite Freeman and the Bucs having home field.
For the latest on all things Tampa Bay Bucs, check out Bucs Nation and join the discussion.
9 months ago Update 0 comments
Amobi Okoye has returned to the Chicago Bears after being cut by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and he had some parting shots for Bucs' head coach Greg Schiano.
Schiano had made some comments about a knee injury that bothered Okoye for much of the offseason, and they did not sit well with the defensive tackle. Okoye fired back on Monday, via Pro Football Talk:
"It really makes me question the character of he himself, because, while I was there, he was trying to mold us to be kind of like him. It made me question all the things he was teaching me, as far as TBA — Trust, Belief and Accountability — his way of doing things," Okoye said, via Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times. "It’s like, ‘Wow, what type of guy is this?’ That really hurt."
The Bucs jettisoned a number of players in the offseason that were expected to be major contributors in 2012. Okoye was one of those players, as he finished with 27 tackles and four sacks while playing in all 16 games for the Bears a season ago.
For more on the Buccaneers, head over to Bucs Nation and stick with SB Nation Tampa Bay.
9 months ago Update 0 comments
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have released G Brian Folkerts from the practice squad to make room for T Bradley Sowell, according to Tom Krasniqi of WDAE Tampy Bay.
The Bucs signed Sowell as an undrafted free agent out of Mississippi over the summer. The rookie was a two-time All-SEC selection and started 36 of his final 37 games at Ole Miss.
Folkerts was a four-year letterman at Washburn, a Division II program in Topeka, Kansas. He made 39 career starts for the Ichabods, playing at both tackle positions.
Joining Sowell on the Bucs' practice squad will be LB Jacob Cutrera, TE Drake Dunsmore, WR Dale Moss, WR Bert Reed, LB J.K. Schaffer, QB Adam Weber and DE Markus White. The group will now focus on helping Tampa Bay prepare for their opener against the Carolina Panthers next Sunday.
For more on the Buccaneers, head to Bucs Nation and stick with SB Nation Tampa Bay.
9 months ago Update 0 comments
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have re-signed defensive lineman Wallace Gilberry, just two days after releasing him on Saturday. To make room on the roster, the Bucs have released G Julian Vandervelde.
SB Nation's Buccaneers blog, Bucs Nation, examined the reason for the roster move:
Gilberry can play both defensive end and defensive tackle and looked decent during the preseason. Apparently, the Bucs have decided that carrying just four defensive tackles, one of them with injury issues, was a really bad idea.
The 5th-year veteran Gilberry played in 53 games for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2008-2011. In that time he amassed 57 tackles and 14 sacks.
Vandervelde is in his second NFL season out of Iowa. He played in just one game for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2011.
For more on the Bucs, head to Bucs Nation and stick with SB Nation Tampa Bay. For all things pro football, head to SB Nation's NFL hub.
9 months ago Article 0 comments
A revamped Tampa Bay squad will try to slow down Cam Newton.
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