Panthers-Bucs from RayJay

First place in the NFC South is up for grabs today as the Bucs and Panthers prepare to square off here at Raymond James Stadium.

The Bucs will be without QB Brian Griese, as expected, who is inactive. Jeff Garcia gets the start with Luke McCown the primary backup and Josh Johnson listed at No. 3.

The starters at receiver are Michael Clayton and Antonio Bryant, with Joey Galloway still sidelined with a foot injury. Byron Storer starts for B.J. Askew at fullback, who is still out with a hamstring injury.

There's bad news for the Panthers. Starting offensive linemen Jeff Otah (RT) and Ryan Kalil (C) will miss the game with injuries. The Bucs need to capitalize by putting pressure on QB Jake Delhomme.

I'll see you in the comments section below. I think everyone knows the drill by now.

Comments

[DR]

Didn't realize that Delhomme is 7-1 versus the Bucs.

[Leo in Canada]

This should be a "Slugfest". I sure hope the Bucs can minimize the penalties and maximize the opportunities & turnovers.

[ohiotampafan]

lets get goin early light the cannon

[ohiotampafan]

wow what a start

[george c. costanza]

holy moly rigatoni!!

[NYTAMPAFAN]

Stephen - Can you comment on Jovan Haye. He's been very quite this season after having 6 sacks last season. Has he been creating any push up the middle?

[ohiotampafan]

come on jackson!!!!

[Abe]

GHOST OF KEITH MCCANTS...DEXTER JACKSON..WORST DRAFT PICK IN HISTORY...

[Leo in Canada]

C'mon DJax. We have seen your potential. Show us your good stuff.

[DR]

geez, jackson just looks awful

[Stephen Holder]

That's terrible timing on that poor return from Dexter Jackson. He single-handedly ruined what was going to be pretty good field position for the Bucs. Every time you start to feel better about the kid he does something inexplicable, like stutter step for 10 minutes inside the 15 yard-line.

[DR]

perfect pass by garcia

[gatrmf]

dexter is a wimp

[Your Mom]

Does Dexter know that he is supposed to run forwards? Seriously?

[DR]

garcia looking solid

[NYTAMPAFAN]

Garcia's playing angry today, hes out to prove he's always been grudens guy

[NYTAMPAFAN]

& more killing drive penalties

[Leo in Canada]

It's early but great synergy between Garcia & his receivers.

[gatrmf]

when we get the ball back we need to establish the run we have two good backs

[Drew]

Offensive pass interference. Another drive killer.

[DR]

barber, what? uncharacteristic of him.

[ohiotampafan]

nice great start guys!!!!

[ohiotampafan]

dont be conservative please gruden

[Stephen Holder]

Anybody see the Barber penalty? Still at a loss there

[Stephen Holder]

Ohio, this is the perfect place to go for the jugular. These guys are on their heels.

[ohiotampafan]

fire the gosh darn cannons!!!!!! im from toledo i seen the upset yesterday stephen

[Turk]

Dang...we're playin' football! This is fun...

[Stephen Holder]

I hope everyone (Gruden included) realizes how many of this team's points this season have come off turnovers. It's the overwhelming majority, by the way. Hell of a luxury.

[Turk]

Yeah, Barber didn't do anything. he was pushed.

[Stephen Holder]

The injury news isn't good: Stovall has a hamstring injury and is questionable. Now Storer is down and has been for a while. They have no other fullback, mind you.

[ohiotampafan]

how do u not cover smith thats crazy come on!!

[Your Mom]

Oh he was covered, just put a good move on Jackson.

[ohiotampafan]

o ok well step up d we need a stand!!

[Leo in Canada]

Ok Defense. Time for a statement here!

[Stephen Holder]

How 'bout that: a little Wildcat offense from Carolina.

[DR]

is gruden seriously going to challenge that? its not even close, the guy was down. what a moron

[Leo in Canada]

Stephen. I think the Wildcat Offense is an act of desperation.

[ohiotampafan]

thats a bunch of bs.....

[ValricoMark]

Any idea why we dont see more of the RB Bennett? is he hurt? I would like to see his speed used in the return game.

[Stephen Holder]

Leo, if you use it once in a blue moon, it's just a gimmick. If you use it to the extent Miami does, then I think I agree with you. Either way, it's definitely not standard stuff.

[NYTAMPAFAN]

DR watch the play he never touched the ground his leg was on top of a buc player. BAD CALL shoulda been bucs ball

[Leo in Canada]

Now, that's Rude, er I mean Ruud. Great stop Big D!

[Stephen Holder]

ValricoMark, you releated to ValricoRick? Anyway, regarding Bennett, he's fine. Here's my standard answer to this question, which I get a lot: There are barely enough carries to go around for Graham and Dunn. Why does everyone think Bennett is going to get extensive action? I see the appeal in the guy, don't get me wrong. I'm just saying that Gruden's offense is pass heavy, so there's only going to be so many carries.

[Sunglasses Future]

Graham as FB with 28 behind him?

[Turk]

Any scoop on Storer?

[Leo in Canada]

How about Bennett getting involved in the return game?

[Stephen Holder]

Meet your new fullback: Earnest Graham.

[Stephen Holder]

And your new featured back: Warrick Dunn.

I guess so

[Stephen Holder]

storer has a knee sprain. He's questionable at best right now. Sometimes more serious injuries are described as such until the damage is determined. But I don't want to guess.

[ValricoMark]

Thanks for the response. No relation that I know of.

I kinda figured that there was not enough carries to go around. I just figured he might be a nice addition, or replacement, to Jackson for kickoff and punt returns. I honestly dont know if Bennett has the hands or not.

[NYTAMPAFAN]

CLAYTON!!

[Stephen Holder]

Leo, I agree that's something to think about.

[DR]

it was a good call nytampafan. Brooks touched his back before the ball came out.

[Sunglasses Future]

Just put my Dr. Pepper back in the fridge

[DR]

another screen on 3rd and long. gotta be kidding me.

[Sunglasses Future]

Time to put Delhome on the ground

[Drew]

Wouldn't be a bad idea to use Bennet as a receiver at some point in the game. With his speed, he should be able to stretch the field.

[DR]

Panthers are predictable. run, run, pass. terrible game plan. Delhomme looks like Griese right now.

[Sunglasses Future]

Nice catch Derrick!

[ohiotampafan]

wow great game for tampa so far

[Stephen Holder]

Arron Sears is down with a knee sprain. Not sure what the prognosis is, but they say he's questionable to return. Zuttah is in at LG.

[Sunglasses Future]

28 is the reason you don't see more Bennett

[Drew]

Stephen Holder,

I'm not able to watch the game here in CA. Watching the Atlanta and NO games. A couple of questions.

Is the Bucs defense putting a lot of pressure on Delhomme?

Does Garcia appear to be in command of the offense?

[Sunglasses Future]

Jovan Haye for official!

[Stephen Holder]

Drew, yes and yes. I'd say they're getting pretty good pressure on Delhomme. He's good under pressure, yes, but he hasn't had a clean look in a long time -- save for the that completion just now to Steve Smith. Garcai looks good IMO.

[Sunglasses Future]

Anybody have cleats Ronde can use?

[Drew]

A couple of sacks or a turnover by the defense would help to stall this drive.

[Drew]

Sunglasses,

Sound like their going after Barber.

[Leo in Canada]

Way to go Flip!!!

[ohiotampafan]

very big turnover

[Sunglasses Future]

Drew,

You called it. Broken up by Talib and picked by Phillips.

[DR]

these guys need to grow up and play football. why celebrate after every hit? Is it your first time making a great play? stupid penalties

[Sunglasses Future]

flag for a cartwheel?

Holder,

Buchanon out?

[Stephen Holder]

Um, yes, they were going after Barber. That's why they took him out and played Mack and Talib on the subsequent plays. Credit DB coach Raheem Morris for trusting his young players. He has similarly been giving Sabby plenty of snaps. The guy is a heck of a coach.

[Drew]

Awesome!!! Turnover!!!

[Seattle Bucs Fan]

My NFL Ticket is coming in busted up. Who caught that pass in the end zone and what was the penalty?

[CJ]

What's up with these taunting/unsportsmanlike conduct calls?

Where was the cartwheel?

[Stephen Holder]

Seattle, Talib broke it up and Phillips swept in to scoop it up for the pick. Penalty was for a celebration by Jovan Haye.

[ohiotampafan]

they said haye used the ground to celebrate come on ?????

[Sunglasses Future]

Good thing they don't outlaw celebration in the baseball playoffs

[Abe]

Gruden is such a moron. What an idiot.

[Stephen Holder]

I've never heard that specific call to be honest. Tell you what tho: that penalty hurt. Without it, they're probably kicing a much shorter field goal there.

[Stephen Holder]

Here's my beef on that last sequence of plays. I thought they should have tried to spike the ball before calling that timeout. If you do it with about 10 seconds left, it's enough to try a short pass to pick up a few more yards, then give yourself a makable field goal attempt. Just saying.

[nyTAMPAfan]

Gru could have tried to get a bit closer with 14 sec left? quick pass out of bounds or take a shot and spike it

[Leo in Canada]

Great first half by all 3 phases of the game. A few adjustments and then come out & put the pedal to the metal.

[Stephen Holder]

NY, here's the thing: had they spiked it instead of taking the timeout, they would have been able to stop the clock after trying another play.

[george c. costanza]

let 'em celebrate. it's a game.

[george c. costanza]

after all, what is Life if not a celebration?

[nyTAMPAfan]

Stephen,

your right

[Sunglasses Future]

Festivus for the rest of us!

These celebration penalties are ridiculous. They dont call it the No Fun League (NFL) for nothing.

Run hard in the second half. Go Bucs.

[Abe]

Stephen- Quit with the "just saying" business...write abt it tomorrow'a paper...This is all part of the Gruden being a complete idiot and a lack of how to manage a game. It's absurd. Let's get you guys writing columns about this garbage.

[Wade]

Stephen, any more updates on Sears' status?

[Leo in Canada]

Yikes! If this challenge is not reversed, that's the last one for this game. They may need it later.

[Sunglasses Future]

If we win this challenge, Bidwell better do a cartwheel

[Leo in Canada]

Gutsy call! Way to go Buc's coaches.

[Sunglasses Future]

Abe,

There are plenty of media that criticize Chucky and the Bucs FO.

[Stephen Holder]

Abe, Sunglass is right. I questioned Gruden about a similar call a couple weeks back and he told me the following: "you can second guess all you want. You're pretty good at that anyway." Trust me, they hear, see and read what is reported and it's often quite critical.

[Stephen Holder]

Wade... I don't see Sears anywhere. This is a problem for this team.

[Leo in Canada]

Now is a great chance for a return for good yardage.

[Drew]

I think they'll be OK with Zuttah filling in.

[Sunglasses Future]

Check out ESPN, right now their showing Scrabble

[Wade]

Drew, agreed about Zuttah (that draft pick looks better and better every day). More concerned with the "what-if" if we lose anyone else...

[Sunglasses Future]

Go for it

[Sunglasses Future]

ok, maybe not.

[ohiotampafan]

3 score game now lets hang on please we need it

[Drew]

Are they letting the young guys play in Barber's place?

[JJ-Bucs]

Just curious - does anybody know why Earnest Graham is not getting more carries?? Warrick Dunn is nice player but he should be more of a role player - didn't we realize that from his first stay in Tampa

[Drew]

Grudens running the clock by being conservative. I've never agreed with this approach. More points! More points!

[Stephen Holder]

JJ: Graham is playing a lot of fullback because Byron Storer got hurt.

[Sunglasses Future]

Graham needs a lead blocker. Without a FB (because it's him right now), its 28. Nice role player though!

Let's finish these guys off here

[Turk]

POUND THE ROCK!!! Yes, I am yelling. LOL

[Leo in Canada]

I cannot decide what Graham's greater attribute is, selflessness or versatility!

[Sunglasses Future]

20th all time in yards in NFL history!

Gruden accused of running too much? and I thought the cartwheel call was strange

[Sunglasses Future]

Nice reward for Ernest. Leo you left out work ethic and positive attitude

[Ced]

Great day to be a Bucs fan daggonit

[Sunglasses Future]

Brian Griese here's the clipboard

[Leo in Canada]

Sunglasses, you are absolutely correct. There are many more adjectives to describe Graham. We could fill these pages with them.

[Drew]

I think Garcia is back to being himself. Maybe even better.

[Drew]

Who was beat on the pass to Mohammad?

[Leo in Canada]

Talib showed some nice moves after that Int. Maybe he could get involved in the return game.

[Drew]

Talib, what a draft pick!!!

[Sunglasses Future]

No turnovers last game, making up for it today.

Sideline interference, what in the world?

[Drew]

Due to the lack of comments on who was beat on the pass to Mohammad and the fact Talib was there for the INT. It had to have been Barber.

[Drew]

By the way. The offensive linemen haven't committed a penalty the entire game.

[Sunglasses Future]

Drew,

The announcers said because of a formation mistake it was a linebacker.

What a role player!

[Drew]

My BAD!!! I jinxed the offensive line.

[Sunglasses Future]

Can you do a cartwheel and keep your shades on?

[Leo in Canada]

Those Carolina receivers are going to be lined up for the tubs tomorrow. They are getting hammered.

[old timer]

in the old days, the score of todays game would have been 41-3.
No way 2, 3 5 years ago does Barber or Brooks drop those int.'s for TD's!!

GReat game!!