Here Come The Blitzes
October 7th, 2010
Bitter Marvin Lewis and his Bengals like to blitz, and Joe expects they might enjoy it even more with still-young Josh Freeman under center for the Bucs and a lot of inexperience among Bucs receivers.
This is one reason Joe believes Bucs fans will still see plenty of Cadillac Williams on Sunday. The Bucs are still all about protecting Freeman, and Joe finds it hard to believe the organization is going to trust LeGarrette Blount and Kareem Huggins to pick up a lot of those blitzes.
Former Bucs defensive end Steve White (1996-2001) looks at some keys to Sunday’s game on his personal blog and says success on the ground is likely a major key to beating Cincy.
How will the offensive line hold up? After a dismal outing against the Steelers the offensive line will look to rebound against a team that hasn’t sacked the quarterback this year but find ways to get a lot of pressure with their blitz packages. How well we run the ball may define whether we win or lose this game.
White is on the money. Josh Freeman can’t be expected to carry the offense, not with this receiving corps.
Joe believes Greg Olson is under pressure this week to craft a winning game plan against a beatable but good football team. Olson has had two weeks to dissect the Bengals and prepare. It’s time for him to shine.
The Bucs have to compete, and that means the offense must show serious improvement.
October 7th, 2010 at 4:57 pm
I’m confident Olsen will put together a good game plan. Wether or not we execute it well or not is another thing entirely. We’ll see soon enough.
I’m more concerned about the defense. The Steelers average offensive lineman was 340 lbs. The Bengals O-line is just as big. I think everyone knows that this game will be decided by the amount of pressure we can get on Palmer, and with thier line being so big, I’m not feeling confident.
We have a D-line that relies on power much more than finesse, so we do match up well with these huge O-lines. As scary as it it is, and as ridiculous as it might sound, I think this Sunday’s wildcard is Micheal Bennett. The coaches have said he is raw but easily the most athletic DE they have. He is a smaller guy that uses agility and quickness. I think we need him and Crowder to come up big for us Sunday in order to get the win. I just don’t see McCoy, Price, Miller, or White over powering these monster O-linemen.
October 7th, 2010 at 4:58 pm
meant to say DONT match up well….
October 7th, 2010 at 4:59 pm
Just give the ball to Blount. Establish the game plan around Blount and Earnest Graham pounding the rock up the gut. Remind the offensive line that you will be running heavy with Blount and Graham until the levy breaks. Then bring in Caddy towards the end if necessary.
The o-line would love to hammer away on the defense with constant run smashing.
October 7th, 2010 at 6:22 pm
I really doubt Rah will use Blount much beyond short yardage and goal line.
How long have we been anticipating Huggins but he never gets into the game?
October 7th, 2010 at 6:35 pm
Although I agree with running the ball effectively, this game will be won or lost with our defense. If our defense can shut them down and hold them to 10 points or less, our chances are good. I’m with JD and hope to see less of Moore, more of Crowder and hopefully Bennett in this rotation, but I don’t think Rah will give my wish just yet. it make take a couple more games for him to make that d-line change.
October 7th, 2010 at 7:34 pm
Here’s what I think will happen:
The Bucs will start Caddy, but Blount will get the bulk of the carries, I bet…and show the most success as far as the running backs. Huggins will also get a little exposure.
Expect Freeman to get sacked in this game. The Bengals are going to game plan for his running…and in turn, that will also shut down our run game unless Blount can pund it through…and he just might do that.
Look for Spurlock to have his biggest receiving game. He’s fast, and their defense will be covering our #1 & #2 and most of the others will be on the line for blitzes and to spy Freeman.
Stroughter has the potential to be the WR with the big game.
Our star tight end will have at least 3 good catches, maybe as many as 6 or 7. He might even score.
Mike Williams will look fantastic on a couple plays, and horrible on one or two of them…though I think he might score or at least have a long catch.
The defensive line will be key in this game. With TO and Ocho out there, the Bengals will exploit the coverage and get short yardage with other players…forcing the bucs to give their star WRs an opening or two. So expect up to 5 men on the defensive line at times, trying to get sacks and pressure.
PREDICTIONS:
Freeman
1 Fumble due to a bad snap caused by blitzes.
1-2 Interceptions
2 Touchdowns
Winslow
3-6 catches
3 1st downs
Blount
2 Touchdowns
Stroughter
1 Touchdown
Spurlock
1 Recieving Touchdown
Defense
2 Interceptions
1 Fumble recovery
Kicker
1 Field Goal
Final Score:
31-17 Buccaneers
For the Bengels:
Ocho will score, TO will not, but he will get some yardage.
They will have 2 TDs and a FG.
Those are my predictions…of course I’m likely way off base, lol.
October 7th, 2010 at 8:48 pm
Eric — Huggins was injured
October 7th, 2010 at 9:13 pm
@JmBuc
Eric — Huggins was injured
Not according to Huggins!
October 7th, 2010 at 9:58 pm
Jimbuc,
Well Huggins hasn’t been injured the whole year, or has he?
I am getting the using Blount for short yardage and goal line from Rah I think. But we shall see.
October 7th, 2010 at 10:48 pm
what did huggins say?
eric — we have played 3 games, huggins was out last game
rb’s don’t just run the ball, especially 3rd down backs
October 7th, 2010 at 11:05 pm
Huggy was healthy against the Brown-eyes, but reportedly had a hammy against the Carolina Panhandlers and the Squeelers. They say he is 100% now. The whole team is 100% according to Rah.
October 8th, 2010 at 12:29 am
Pete….your prediction has us scoring 45 points and then you say 31-17?
October 8th, 2010 at 12:30 am
Oh…nvm….I see…basic math and carrie the two…divided by 4….gotcha.
October 8th, 2010 at 8:59 am
Jdouble…In Pete’s gig above, Freeman is throwing the ball, so you can not add all the tocu downs together.
I thought Huggy had a groin pull?
Eric, Huggins and Blount can not be compared the way you imply…Different style backs from totaly different college programs. Look for Blount long before Higgins gets a chance to carry the load.
October 8th, 2010 at 9:39 am
I agree with Steve While in that running the ball will be key to our victory against Cincy.
I can’t wait to see Blount again, and think he will run all over the Bengals.
October 8th, 2010 at 7:38 pm
My mistake. Go figure. LOL