The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are looking to improve to 2-0 this week but they'll have to get past the feared pass rush of the defending Super Bowl Champion Giants to do it. Year-in and year-out, New York brings waves of pressure against opposing quarterbacks, led by Pro-Bowl names like Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck, and Osi Umenyiora. To compound matters for the Bucs, right tackle Jeremy Trueblood is dealing with an ankle sprain that has kept him off the practice field late this week.
In their preview of the Giants game, Bucs Nation spotlights the matchup at right tackle as a potentially decisive clash:
If there is one single matchup that could decide Sunday's game, it's this one. Starting right tackle is injured and hasn't practiced the past two days, making Demar Dotson the likely starter on Sunday. That could actually bode well for the Buccaneers as Dotson is the better pass-blocker, but his lack of experience will hurt him a lot against the Giants' awesome front-four. With third-year guard Ted Larsen next to him he won't have a lot of help, either - unless the Bucs decide to keep in a tight end or running back to help him out. Which would be a smart idea.
Protecting quarterback Josh Freeman will be paramount on Sunday, as the Giants, who are well-rested, will desperately try to avoid an 0-2 start.
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