Opening day is here

We're coming to you today from the Superdome where the Bucs are preparing to kick off against the Saints. The city is pretty much back to normal a couple days after residents were allowed back after last week's hurricane evacuation, so expect the place to be pretty raucous.

On the field, the Bucs have a couple moves of note. For one, WR Michael Clayton is inactive, confirming our belief that one of the six receivers would not be active today. The Bucs will likely point to his chest injury as the reason, though it's certainly not a good sign for Clayton to not be up on game day.

The remaining inactives are QBs Josh Johnson and Luke McCown (third quarterback), RB Michael Bennett, LB Geno Hayes, G Davin Joseph (foot), T James Lee and DE Greg Peterson.

As we told you last week, Antonio Bryant gets the start at flanker, where he'll line up opposite split end Joey Galloway.

Also, for the Saints, there was some talk that Duece McAllister might not start for New Orleans, but he's ready to go. The Bucs have historically had a tough time against him, so watch that matchup closely.

I'll be back throughout the game with analysis and news in the comments section, so check back regularly. I'll be breaking some news there soon about a certain young and popular Bucs player you're going to see a lot of today. I'll spill the beans in a little while.

(Pictured - The Bucs take the field for the season opener. Times photo - Brian Cassella. Click to enlarge.)

Comments

[MrNegative1]

Clayton inactive.....Big Dawg will be crying at 3:00 tomorrow, especially if the Bucs lose. If the Bucs win, he'll point to the Wacky Coach ruining his favorite guys confidence and how it will ruin the season for the entire team.......can't wait.

Clayton will be the odd man out when Stevens comes back. Clayton will probably be dealt for a 3rd through 5th round pick and Ron and Ian will cry about losing such a positive young man to make room for such a loser in Stevens They'll point to Nece and Clayton as good guys that an organization can win fans over with and they will call for the Glazers to step in and get rid of Allen/Gruden once and for all.

[Gru Jonden]

Garcia will prolly be injured and pulled out by halftime. Go Griese!

[Stephen_Holder]

Interesting: Bucs deferred after winning the coin toss. Remember teams didn't previously have a choice until this year. Not sure I'd defer on the road.

[Stephen_Holder]

Okay, here's what I was foreshadowing earlier: The Bucs are going to play Sabby Piscitelli today. He won't start and you may not see him in the first quarter per se, but he will play probably several series today probably in place of Jermaine Phillips (SS).

[Wayne]

Does anyone know of a website that has gametrack? Both ESPN's & NFL.com's are missing. A OCONUS soldier.

[DV]

I really don't agree with the decision to kick off in an away game either... why?

[DV]

NFL.com game center is up

[Hayes]

Terrible start!!!!

[Stephen_Holder]

Not to beat a dead horse, but I don't get the decision to kick off on the road -- in this stadium. You give your opponent a chance to set the tone and get the crowd jacked up. And guess what? That's exactly what they did.

[ohiofan]

come on lets get goin!!!!!!!!!!!

[Stephen_Holder]

And going back to the TD, Aqib has to play the man, not the ball in that situation. If he runs all the way through he could have made a play. Guess he's not used to quarterbacks making those kinds of throws. It's not like he was facing Drew Brees at Kansas.

[Hayes]

Interception!!!! Thank God for our defense!!!! Pick 6!!!!

[An Intrigued Bucs Fan]

Superdome simmered down now?

[Hayes]

It quieted a few fans...

[Leo Canadian Bucs Fan]

Hopefully that play will fire up the offense.

[Stephen_Holder]

Bucs haven't really shown any sort of LB blitz on tape. The Saints never saw that one coming because it's not really a part of the Bucs' arsenal. I think it might be this season.

[Hayes]

The defense is sharpening up...let's just hope the offense settles down and can make something happen!!!! Good blitzing from our linebackers on that interception by the way!

[ohiofan]

yes!!!!! back in the game baby

[george c. costanza]

Kung Pow!!!

[Leo Canadian Bucs Fan]

Garcia's left wrist and hand is wrapped. Wasn't it his right pinky causing issues?

[Hayes]

O-line is suspect so far....

[Stephen_Holder]

Leo... Jeff always wore that wrap on his left hand. It's from a previous injury, unrelated this one.

[Leo Canadian Bucs Fan]

That explains it. Thanks Stephen.

[Hayes]

Good run Graham!!!!

[Stephen_Holder]

Okay, this has to be said: Dexter Jackson apparently doesn't know which way the end zone is. He is running sideways, backward -- every way but north and south. That's the first lesson he's got to learn. That might have worked against Middle Tennessee State, but this is the NFL kid.

[Leo Canadian Bucs Fan]

The pocket is collapsing very quickly around Garcia.

[Hayes]

I just went on E-bay and ordered some protection for Garcia...It should be in New Orleans by half-time...tell Gruden that he can sign for it!!!!

[bucco]

Okay this has to be said...I think the ghost of Tony Dungy's offense is still here. Man..after all these years you just stop hoping we'd get an offense. Simply sad.

[kevinmills]

Stephen,

I usually agree with you and yes you have to run north and south most of the time but I've seen Hester and D. Hall a few years ago turn some horrible looking returns into six.

[gatrmf]

here come another year of our chuck and duck offense we will never be serious contenders with this offense and personnel decisions by gruden and allen. why is bennett inactive this is crazy

[kevinmills]

I've never seen an oline that can run block so well and pass block so poorly.

[Dan]

Stephen, this is why Gruden doesnt deserve to be employed here. 3rd and 23 and Graham up the middle? Come on pal.

[george c. costanza]

Meanwhile, Desean Jackson of the Eagles is lookin pretty sharp today

[kevinmills]

Bennett being active isnt going to help our pass protection, our pass rush, or our tackling. Why do people keep harping on this?

[gatrmf]

griese has more poise in the pocket and better reads

[Stephen_Holder]

Dan, in Jon's defense (I never do that), he had no intention of making that first down. They just wanted to punt and get out of a bad situation. Not saying I agree, but that was the plan.

[kevinmills]

dan,

"Stephen, this is why Gruden doesnt deserve to be employed here. 3rd and 23 and Graham up the middle? Come on pal."

Then most coaches in the NFL would be fired. Thats a pretty consistent call around the league, or a screen pass.

[Hayes]

Sabby's in the game now...

[gatrmf]

because bennett is a home run threat and dunn is old

[gatrmf]

hey stephen what is your prediction for our record

[Leo Canadian Bucs Fan]

Ya, Sabby!!!

[Bucco]

No Kevinmills in Dan's defense every coach does not do that.

[Stephen_Holder]

gatrmf, I predicted 9-7 with the Saints winning the division and the Bucs getting the wildcard. Those predictions won't mean anything by the time the season's over, but for what it's worth, that's what I said.

[Leo Canadian Bucs Fan]

Thanks to EG that play action looked good.

[gatrmf]

pound graham that is our best option

[Hayes]

Thanks Trueblood...we needed that...

[Stephen_Holder]

That's Hilliard's 500th catch. Also, Maurice Stovall has a shoulder injury and is questionable.

[Leo Canadian Bucs Fan]

I can live with those kinds of penalties. Let's show them we are not going to be intimidated!

[Hayes]

Those penalties costed us that drive...

[Leo Canadian Bucs Fan]

Hopefully Trueblood's message will last the rest of the game.

[Hayes]

Good play T-Jax!!!

[gatrmf]

chuck and duck from 2002 -2008 how much longer do we have to watch this

[Stephen_Holder]

Garcia cannot continue to play under siege like this. This defensive line is giving the Bucs fits. They can't exploit the weak secondary if they can't protect the quarterback.

[DV]

Where's Brad Johnson when you need him?

[gatrmf]

bill muir is a great line coach that all i ever hear, but every year it basically is sub-par

[DV]

gatrmf I think a good coach + mediocre talent = our O line, Davin Joseph being the exception.

[Hayes]

Bryant!!!!

[Stephen_Holder]

By the way, notice that Hilliard fielded the last punt? They didn't want Jackson to have to field a punt late in the half deep in his own territory I suppose.

[Hayes]

Why not try a shot to the endzone??? So conservative????

[Stephen_Holder]

I know this won't be a popular statement, but your favorite head coach just isn't one to take many chances. Look at history: he plays everything close to the vest.

[Taylor]

complain all you want guys.. we're up 10-7 and they haven't done a damn thing since their first drive and we've had multiple drives stall on bad breaks. all this against the team that's 'supposed' to beat us out in the division with all their new additions.

[Taylor]

jeff looks like he's getting in a groove and earnest is looking good... obviously the defense is doing great. i'm pretty happy right now..

[george c. costanza]

you're right, Taylor

[Ben]

Falcons look pretty good btw

[kevinmills]

Who is Grant beating. I'm guessing it is Trueblood?

I said it before but it boggles the mind how we can have run blocking but no pass blocking.

How do you guys expect us to go down the field and not 'dink and dunk' when we have no protection.

it really is confusing. We've got talented young guys on the oline they just still continue to struggle. Counting Faine and Zuttah we have two new guys in there right now. They are going to have to come together as a unit in the second half if we want to add any points.

[george c. costanza]

I'm not watching the game since it's not on where I live.

What happened on the NO td pass? Can I get a description?

[Leo Canadian Bucs Fan]

Stephen. Your statement about our conservative coach is ironic because Gruden's coaching soul mate is calling the game on TV. Just like Billick, teams hire these so-called offensive gurus and they win Super Bowls by becoming conservative with great defenses.

[gatrmf]

hey i all i know is it is the same crap every year sinnce the start of 2003. i want this team to excel and by the wat the saints weren't that good last year and all the same pundits that were pumping the saints up were the sames ones pumping up the panthers. i am comparing our team to dallas, new york, colts, pats. if we want our team to be real contenders we have to compare against the upper echelon

[Leo Canadian Bucs Fan]

I am very well aware of how early in the season & game it is but Davin Joseph so far is looking like the MVP of the team. (He says with tongue in cheek)

[DV]

Are there any wide recievers on the Bucs besides Hilliard? Just asking...

[DV]

Well, it looks like Dexter Jackson is officially now a BUST!

[Leo Canadian Bucs Fan]

Any official explanation on why Ike is back there on punts?

[Stephen_Holder]

About the receivers, I'm not sure whether it's the fact Garcia doesn't have time or Galloway isn't getting open, but there have been no reall attempts to get down the field in the passing game. but then again, Bucs might be playing it conservative on purpose.

[DV]

Leo, apparently it's because D-Jax sucks, just my guess...

[DV]

I say put Griese in... lol

[Taylor]

i say we try RUNNING THE BALL

[bucco]

pathetic

[Hayes]

Garcia has to make that throw!!!!

[kevinmills]

Stephen,

it looks to me like Garcia is looking he's just not getting the time or pulling the trigger.

[DV]

Could it be that the missing link is Clayton and his superior blocking?

[Stephen_Holder]

Costanza, about your question: Basically Talib was one-on-one going down the field but seemed to lose track of Patten. Once he found him, he opted to make a play on the ball, which unfortunately was well over his head. He missed it and Patten caught an easy TD. Rookie mistake. Should have just caught up to Patten since he had to wait for the ball. He would have had a better chance to make a play against the man rather than the ball. Hope that makes sense.

[gatrmf]

Greise would be a better option more poise. Besides for every good year garcia has had he also has had a crappy one. he is all blacked out because they wanted favre

[Leo Canadian Bucs Fan]

I sure hope one of our boys shuts Shockey's mouth for him. And soon!

[george c. costanza]

thanks, stephen, for the td pass description.

i guess talib is in on nickel packages.

[Stephen_Holder]

Not sure if TV picked up on this, but something appears to be wrong with Derrick Brooks. Some sort of lower body injury. Can't see from by vantage point.

[JScott]

Nah, the broadcast didnt mention it

[onlyohiotampafan]

way to hold up D!!!!!!

[DV]

I really unlike Gramatica.

[Hayes]

Great hold by the defense! Mack is still looking good! Didn't realize Brooks was hurt?

[DV]

Analysis thus far:

Dexter Jackson: BUST
Joey Galloway: Useless
Jeff Garcia: Worthless
Antonio Bryant: Can't catch

DEFENSE: Awesome as usual
Matt Bryant: Not as bad as we thought

[Leo Canadian Bucs Fan]

Graham did that on his own.

[Stephen_Holder]

Brooks has a hamstring issue I'm told. His return is questionable right now.

[JScott]

They just mentioned Brooks' hamstring injury

O YA!!! BRYANT!!! YA!!!

[DV]

Thank God for Earnest Graham, Big D, and special teams!

[Hayes]

I really wish we could put the ball in the endzone...field goals are nice...but it gets old not being able to score touchdowns!

[DV]

Oh well, at least thanks for Earnest Graham and special teams. :(

[DV]

I wonder who the phantom linebacker is that keeps shoving D-Jax to the ground... he's invisible.

[Jason]

How did Henderson get behind the secondary AGAIN??? Doesn't this happen EVERY TIME WE PLAY THEM??????

[Drew]

Jeff "No Arm" Garcia. 1-2-3 and out, 1-2-3 and out. Get #%&@*$^ use to it! You can have all the speed in the world, but if the QB has no arm, then negate the speed. It's going to be a long DINK-DINK-DINK pass season.

[DV]

GRIESE......PLEEEEEEEEEASE!!!!!!!

[onlyohiotampafan]

y not run the damn ball!!!!!!

[Wade]

For all of you complaining... How do you like them apples? hahahaha... GO BUCS!!!

[JScott]

Thank goodness for Ike Hilliard... Mr. consistent

[Leo Canadian Bucs Fan]

Those Dinosaurs are not extinct yet!

[JScott]

Stephen, how's the press box treating you?

[onlyohiotampafan]

!!!!!!!!!!! wow we keep coming back never let up!!!

[DV]

Did you guys hear Billicks' explanation of the Bucs TD play? He blew my mind! lol He is a Guru!

[gatrmf]

graham 9.8 yards per carry

dunn 5.9

need to commit to the run now to hold lead and eat clock

[gatrmf]

hey wade!!! without looking it up who was the last starting QB for the BUCS before T. Dilfer i ll give u 30 secs.

[gatrmf]

can anyone answer that or were u all bandwagoneers after 1997

[Wayne]

HOLD EM!!!!!!!

[JScott]

A bandwagon Bucs fan? Come on man

[gatrmf]

i figured as much

[gatrmf]

you are probably the same people that go to rays games rootin for yanks and red sox

[DV]

It was Brian Boitano

[gatrmf]

whats really sad is no one can answer my trivia question

[Drew]

The throwin samoan...

[gatrmf]

i cant stand transplants to fla

[gatrmf]

try craig erickson losers

[Stephen_Holder]

Bucs have used a couple of different LBs in place of Brooks already. First Hayward, now McCoy. Neither seems to be working out.

[wade]

What does my "historical info" have to do with the fact that most of you aren't really fans more than you like to sit here and nit pick everything about the coaching staff and front office that brought you the super bowl that your hero Dungy couldn't. I liked Dungy too, but I have let it go... As for this team, it is what it is, so try, just try, as hard as you can, pretty pretty please, to be positive for once. And by the way, I don't remember who it was, and I am not going to look it up. Wait, yep, I am over it... ha ha ha

[Stephen_Holder]

McCoy took a poor angle on that play and there went Reggie.

[Leo Canadian Bucs Fan]

"Olay" says Germain!

[wade]

and the long touchdowns are definitely Gruden's offense's fault...

[DV]

I'm glad we have so many old players that get injured so easily.

[Drew]

If Brees played for TB we'd have a franchise QB.

Hope Josh Johnson exceeds everybodys expectations and has a short learning curve.

[onlyohiotampafan]

come on can someone one tackle please!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gatrmf]

hey wade what part of ohio are you from

[Wade]

Actually not a bandwagon here, buddy. Born in Lakeland, left Florida 15 years ago to be in the military and haven't moved back, but try to support the team from other places. So try again. What other clever comments do you have to entertain us all with?

[Stephen_Holder]

Notice Bucs couldn't afford to challenge that TD because they only have one timeout left. they blew two of them in the third quarter, one because of a personnel screwup.

[Ben]

thats what you get when you sit brooks

[Ben]

brooks would have read screen and been right in that gap

[DV]

Once again, Bryant can't catch

[gatrmf]

oh you shut me up

[DV]

What the .....

[JScott]

This passing offense is hideous and infuriating... how can Garcia be this freaking off??

[DV]

Cut Garcia and Galloway

[dan]

This team is piss poor pathetic. They use the regular season as training camp and they still after all these years can't manage the clock. It smells....and Garcia and Gruden both deserve to walk the plank for this smelly mess.

[Trey]

DV, how can u call a rookie a BUST after 3/4 of a game? Get over yourself. And your awesome D is giving up play after play...

[Turk]

We suck. this is going to be a loooong season. Garcia looks terrible. So does Galloway.

[DV]

D was awesome with Brooks in, and, D Jax is a bust, have you been watching?

[DV]

How many times has Djax hit the turf for no reason whatsoever? He sucks.

[Turk]

Agreed...

[Turk]

DJax is attempting to avoid the hit from what it looks like

[DV]

Avoid the hit by running, not diving into the field turf!

[Turk]

Dallas and Cleveland should be a good game...LOL

[Jason]

What a bunch of !@#%@! little girls you all are! It's the first game and we are down by a couple.... get lives.

[Trey]

Go Djax good return to midfield!

[DV]

Jason, we're down by more than a couple, and first game or not, it is a divisional game and is a must win if you are a serious contender. This is a bad sign of things to come.

[Dave]

Why the hell am I watching the Eagles belt the Rams, and kneeing on the ball, instead of the end of the Bucs game?

Fox sucks.

[Trey]

Agree Jason, the first game is just 6% of the season. I have been impressed by the bucs not just giving up even while not playing at their best.

[Trey]

I am not saying that we are a super bowl team, but we lost the first game that year and it wasn't the end of the world!

Go Alex Smith!

[Trey]

Let's keep this in perspective, this is a tough team on the road, so again not the end of the world. it is not like the saints are the falcons or anything

[DV]

yeah... the falcons are actually good.

[Trey]

LOL, the falcons are good. the first week is always a weird one.

Nice try Bucs, we will get it back at home.

[DV]

Garcia doesnt deserve to play.

[Turk]

...and the fat lady sings

[Jason]

Oh, well... next week then. Good try, boys!

[Don]

Man this team is garbage

[DV]

5-11 anyone?

[Dan]

Agreed. This is one bad team.

[shine]

Gruden is an offensive genius. The problem is, he left his genius in Oakland.

[DV]

Garcia and Galloway need to leave.

[DV]

Here's my thing... the Saints were not all that good, except for their pass rush surprisingly. So... we basically suck balls.

[DV]

Good thing the Glazers are putting their cash into MU instead of the Bucs, not like we have salary cap space or anything...

[Stab]

I called this one. This defense will give up their fare share of points and the offense is the most predictable BS in the league. 8-8 will be a good year.

[shine]

Dex Jackson was a hilarious pick. Why did we waste such a high pick on a player from App State?

[Charles Manson]

Mark my words, the Bucs are at best a 6-win team. The decision not to play anyone again plagued this bunch. I think 5-11 or 6-10 is what we've got. This team is bad. Real bad.

[DV]

Used to be when this defense had a bad day, they gave up 14 or 17 points. This is lackluster from top to bottom. Seeing Hilliard returning punts puts proof into my proclaiming DJax a bust. Galloway is done, Garcia is done, and another long season begins.

[DV]

Oh well, this is what can be expected when you have top notch coaches with crap talent. The only real talented players are Graham, Hilliard, Askew, Joseph, Dunn, Bryant (MATT), Brooks, Barber, Ruud, TJax, Phillips, Buchanon, and Mack. If it weren't for such great coaches, this team would be blown out weekly.

[Feesh]

I wish all of you whiners would just go away. This was a back and forth game and the Bucs had a chance to win in the end. It didn't happen and Garcia looked a bit shaky. It's one game and they'll be back week two and will put it to Atlanta.

[DV]

I have news for you, Feesh. Atlanta will beat the piss out of us next week, especially if Garcia and Galloway are still starting.

[FIRE Gruden]

Garcia's age showed today. So did Galloway's. I think this is the worst team the Bucs have fielded since 1995. I see 3-13 as a legitimate possibility. This is one awful football team, worse than when Gradkowski was at the helm. Please...fire Jon Gruden, the most overrated coach in NFL history.

[Feesh]

And who would you rather see play DV, Brian Griese and Michael Clayton?? Please!

[DV]

It's not Grudens fault the Glazers refuse to spend money on good players.

[DV]

Feesh, as a matter of fact, yes I do. Garcia is old and gay. Galloway is old and slow. They suck.

[Feesh]

They lost by four on the road to a good Saints team and had a chance to win in the end. Let's not forget the BLOWN holding call on the TD drive by the Saints.

Watch out for fainting goats! I guarantee they put it to Atlanta next week. Let's see how the injury situation goes.

[DV]

Atlanta will win 24-17.

[Feesh]

I won't comment anymore. Guess you've never seen Garcia's wife DV. Great job though namecalling the players. It shows your true ignorance.

[DV]

Feesh, I have seen his wife, and if I made as much money as him I could afford a wife like that too. It means nothing, she cant make him suck less... and he's still a homo.

[DR]

Good thing you guys didn't get Favre, lmao!!!! HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

[kevinmills]

I'm betting most of the posters are day traders.

What were your predictions for our record after we started 0-1 last year?

Thoughts:

Garcia looked rusty. kept forcing throws to galloway when other receivers looked open.

Pass protecting still an issue.

Adams needs to be a force. He wasnt.

We gave up a lot of yards. Talib made a rookie mistake and Barber lost his balance on the bomb to Henderson. Mistakes you can't make against Brees.

I say Garcia has three games to shake off the rust. If he is still erratic after that go with McCown.

[Ben]

This game can be blamed on the WRs more than anything else. I can't blame Garcia, most of the passes were there. The most pathetic passes came between him and galloway. Not surprising considering neither of them practiced this offseason...Like Holder said, the Brooks injury hurt on that play by Bush, he would've been there.

Joey's laziness, Bryant's year-long absence and lack of personnel moves this offseason surely showed in this game.

[boltman]

Bucs still looking to beat a team with a winning record. Let's face it regardless of who they have playing this offense is offensive...... LMAO. 5 - 11 and a year more of excuses, nice, hope the Grinch can ocntinue the smirk all the way from best of the Southeast to Worst in the NFL.

[BucBall]

How many fickle fans do the Bucs have? We lose an opening game on the road by 4 to a team that a lot of people are picking for the Super Bow! The Bucs should have won this game-period. But to label this team as a 5-11 or 6-10 team is like saying 7-9 will win the NFC South. Name a game that in the next 7 weeks will be touger to win! This team has a legitimate shot at being 5-2 going to Dallas on October 26!

[Taylor]

hey stephen - you think you could mention something to gruden... give him a little crap for not running the ball more often? seriously. we were dominating them with the run. we threw it twice as much as we ran it.

[DV]

Taylor- you can't run constantly when you don't have a respectable passing game. Remember what happened to Caddy when Gradkowski was under center? 8 in the box all day long.

[Will Ferrell]

This thread and the Bucs need more Cowbell, stat!