Final: Jaguars 31, Bucs 19

Times staff writer Stephen Holder is blogging throughout tonight's Bucs-Jaguars game from Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville. Check the comments section below for analysis and updates live from the press box:

Here are a few things I'll be looking for tonight.

Several players are returning after injuries sidelined them in last week's preseason opener. Among them is MLB Barrett Ruud and newcomers Sabby Piscitelli and Luke Petitgout. I'm told Piscitelli is going to get a lot of playing time alongside fellow draft pick Tanard Jackson at safety. At left tackle, Petitgout will get a good test to see whether he holds up against Jacksonville's stout front four.

(Pictured: Quarterback Jeff Garcia. Times photo - Brian Cassella. Click to enlarge.)

UPDATE: This is one of those times where we realize we're too dependent on technology.

We're having MAJOR wireless network issues in the press box here in Jacksonville, but thank God for the BlackBerry. This isn't ideal and I won't be able to be as quick as I'd like, but we'll do our best to keep you up to date from here.

Stay tuned for updates. And thanks for your patience.

(Pictured: Running back Cadillac Williams. Times photo - Brian Cassella. Click to enlarge.)

Comments

[Stephen_Holder]

Good recognition there by Garcia to see that one-on-one matchup with Galloway. He wins that one almost every time. Terry Cousin had no option but to hold.

[Stephen_Holder]

Okay, so we all wanted to see more of Jeff Garcia. I think we just did.
If I'm Gruden right now, I'm probably pulling my hair out. What you ideally want on that play is for the quarterback to throw the ball away, but Garcia is savvy enough to make a play like that. Guess Jon will have to live with it.

[Stephen_Holder]

That was a great play by Garcia, but give Boston some credit, too. Some receivers might have given up on that play, thinking the quarterback was going to run out of bounds. He kept his head in it and stayed alive to give Garcia a chance. That was something Garcia emphasized with his receivers upon joining the Bucs. Good advice.

[Stephen_Holder]

Jeff Garcia's coming back for another series it seems. Frankly, I'm surprised.

[Stephen_Holder]

The Bucs used three down linemen on that third-down play just now. Very interesting look from the Bucs. They're using a lot of different personnel in there, too. Quincy Black made an appearance in there and dropped into coverage.

[Stephen_Holder]

Nice to see a little fire from Davin Joseph there, even if he was getting a little frisky after the whistle. Nobody wants their right guard to be a pushover.

[Stephen_Holder]

So, let me get this straight: You get called for a delay of game after a timeout? That's just bad management by McCown or Gruden, without knowing exactly who was at fault.

[Stephen_Holder]

That's why Ike Hilliard is a lock to make this team. He didn't get the first down but he nearly made something out of nothing just by fighting. The guy is tough as they come. You can't have enough of those guys on your team. Meanwhile, prior to that play, that series was a disaster. A delay of game and a false start in three plays. They are out of sync right now on offense.

[Stephen_Holder]

Gee, that looked familiar. This team tackled horribly last season, and now we see this effort by Adam Heyward and Jamie Winborn that allows Maurice Jones-Drew to go 38 yards on a play that should have been stopped for about an 8-yard gain.

[Stephen_Holder]

Anyone else see Davin Joseph out in front of Boston on that end-around? That will make a coach happy to see. Guy is a hard worker and is relentless.

[Stephen_Holder]

Rough night for McCown. Fumbled snap. Delay of game. Now this. But man, did you see the guy run? Anyhow, this can't make Gruden feel any better about his quarterback situation. McCown isn't nearly as consistent as you'd like from your backup QB.

[Stephen_Holder]

That's why Gruden is scared to death to use the shotgun. Every time there's a glitch on a shotgun snap, he will be less likely to unveil it in a regular season game.

[Stephen_Holder]

Nice work by Gaines Adams to force that fumble by Greg Jones. That's two weeks in a row we've seen him show a nose for the ball. Last week he knocked down Tom Brady's pass in Tampa. Now this. Gruden told me this week that was one of the things they liked about Adams in college, his ball awareness.

[Kennedy]

Instead of the Dunkin Donuts scoreboard, how about the Bose Surround Sound? The audio quality from Channel 8 was really bad to start the game and is still just okay.

[Stephen_Holder]

Don't know about the Dunkin' Donuts scoreboard, but here in Jax we've got the Bud Light big screen. And I've got a Bose system at home. Top notch.

[Kennedy]

Stephen,
Why are the Bucs so fond of that quick pass to the flat? It only gains a few yards when it works and when it doesn't,its a pick for six down the sideline.

[Soldier overseas]

This strategy tends to draw in defenses. So that you can eventually go down field with the long ball.

[Stephen_Holder]

Sammy Davis hasn't had much impact in training camp, and not making much of a play on that ball isn't going to help. Meanwhile, Tanard Jackson seems to have a homing device planted in the ball.

[Stephen_Holder]

Kennedy, I don't like that pass much either, but it's a fundamental part of Gruden's offense. Short drops, quick throws, etc.

[Stephen_Holder]

Plus, Kennedy, if you can get in a one-on-one situation, there's the chance to break away for a long gain. That's one possible advantage with the quick throws. I'm not saying it's the best strategy, but that's THEIR stratgey.

[Daniel]

I know it's preseason but bad snaps, a fumble and a bunch of missed tackles reminds me of last years team. All we were missing were some holding calls on the o-line for complete Deja-vu. That 2 yard pass to the flat on third and ten also reminds me of last years play calling. The first team units looked OK, but if any starter gets hurt and a backup needs to play during the season, the Bucs are in big trouble.

[Kennedy]

Thanks Stephen-I always thought of the West Coast offense as being low risk, but maybe the quick flat pass is part of the Pink Slip offense.

[Stephen_Holder]

Daniel hit it on the head: the first units on offense and defense looked very good. Garcia was very impressive. The defense was superb, with the Jags getting just one first down against the starters. But the depth on this team is a major, major issue. It got ugly once the starters left the game.

[Kennedy]

Sabby can cover some ground, but he's got to catch that.

[Stephen_Holder]

Now's whene things start to get tricky: I've got to start writing my TWO stories for tomorrow's paper while I try to maintain a presence here. We'll see how this works. Good news is I'm not missing much given the number of reserves in the game.

[Stephen_Holder]

By the way, you know it's not a good sign when Paris Warren catches a ball before Michael Clayton, who just caught his first pass with eight minutes left in the third quarter. He barely played in the first half, which is also not a good sign.

[Daniel]

I was just going to comment on how Darby was a steal going in the 7th round, then he coughs it up. I still think he was a value pick as he had great success in a major program in the SEC until his dad got cancer his senior year. On a different note, didn't the Bucs do tackling drills in camp? I read the team didn't tackle when going 11 on 11 to avoid injuries.

[Stephen_Holder]

One general observation to expound on the comment about Darby, a lot of the young guys got a dose of reality tonight, McCown included. Darby too.

[N DUTCH]

HEY, GLAZERS! FIRE GRUDEN NOW! HE IS A LOSER!

[Soldier overseas]

N Dutch is a moron. This is a preseason game.

[Mr. T]

Good job, again, Stephen. I think we'll be fine with the first and second teams. I'm still thinking at best 11-5, but, probably 8-8.

Boston may have stepped into the 2nd receiver role.

Is Simms close to going in the next game?

[Stephen_Holder]

Quick updates from the locker room: McCown took credit for the botched shotgun snap and for putting Darby in a bad position on his fumble. Antoine Cash said he heard something pop in his left knee, so that doesn't look good. Also, Gruden is steaming over the performance of the reserves on both sides, and rightfully so. They weren't sharp. Gotta run. Deadline's coming.

[Scott]

The first team did well. But do you have any info on how Sabby and Jackson did?

[Daniel]

Scott, Sabby flashed some good speed and quickness, especially on one deep pass he should have intercepted. It was right in his hands as he leaped high, but couldn't pull it in. Hopefully he makes that play, if he gets a chance, in the regular deason.

[Stephen_Holder]

Jackson had a GREAT game in my opinion. You can read a little bit about him in tomorrow's paper. He's going to give the defensive coaches something to think about. Piscitelli did a nice job, too, though he had a couple missed tackles. And that's true about that deep ball he defended. An interception would have been the icing on the cake though.

[Stephen_Holder]

Regarding Simms, I still think it's a long shot that we'll see him. I guess it's possible, but I wouldn't count on it. He's still running only the scout team offense in practice. Until he runs some full-team drills, he won't really be in a realistic position to play in a game. Can you see the handwriting on the wall? It's in big, bold letters.

[Stephen_Holder]

One other injury of note... My colleague Rick Stroud tells me Phillip Buchanon has a righ hand injury that might require an MRI. That's not good news. It might also explain why we didn't see him field any punts.

[Ben Semchuck]

Is it just me or doesn't it look like Earnest Graham is better suited to play behind this line. He hits the hole quick, not alot of jitter bugging at the line, or is it the second team defenses that make him look like a starter waiting to happen?

[Mr. Rock]

My observations of the two rookie safeties:

Tanard Jackson brought the heat against both the run and pass. He made several big time plays. He denied Mercedes Lewis on a pass play in the endzone. Then he proceeded to stuff Greg Jones on consective run plays forcing a FG. Later he rejected a deep pass thrown to Matt Jones in the endzone. At times it was hard to believe he is a rookie 4th round converted cornerback. I'll say one thing, as much as complain about the need for the safeties to create turnovers(ie ints) right now I would be happy with a young hard hitting, instinctual safety that has a nose for the ball and making tackles.

Speaking of rookie safeties I was not impressed with Sabby's debut. The only play he made was when he pushed Drew-Jones out of bounds(Later in the game I saw Jackson tatoo the ball carrier as he was trying to run out of bounds, which is what you want to see out of your safety.) Later Sabby missed a key tackle in the redzone against Greg Jones that set up a Jags' TD. Then he dropped the gimme int in the 3rd quarter. At this point he has the physical tools but his game is still a work in progress.