Tampa Bay left no doubt on Sunday as to which team dictated play in its win over the Packers. They controlled the line of scrimmage by running the ball and driving the ball down the field. Green Bay struggled to establish any kind of offensive continuity and were not able to stop the Buccaneer offense as they were harassed all day.
TB … 1358.59
GB … -400.7464286
Football ERA Breakdown
Net Total Off=Rushing+Drives Def=Rushing+Pressure
TB … 1358.59 … 734.25=472.75+261.5… 624.34=343.12+281.21
GB … -400.74 … -153= 51 + -204 … -247.74=-343.12+95.37
Both of these teams are benefiting from stability in continuity from last season by bringing back their starters from 2007. Both are having a quality start to their season which is reflected in the fact that they were both playoff teams last year and both retained their coaching staff for the most part.
++++++++++Tampa Bay Buccaneers+++++++++
Tampa Bay brings back most of their 2007 defense which was stout enough to help them win their division last year and get into the playoffs where they hosted the New York Giants in the first round. DE Greg Spires was signed by the Oakland Raiders but did not make their August 25th cut. The Bucaneer's were able to let Spires go because they were ready to insert last year's 1st Round Pick DE Gaines Adams into the lineup to bolster their defensive line. LB Derrick Brooks played well on sunday despite playing through a right hamstring injury pulled in the loss to the Saints.
Changes in the lineup from 2007 and/or the previous weeks are highlighted in Bold, as usual.
Defensive Front:
Cato June Barrett Ruud Derrick Brooks
Kevin Carter Chris Hovan Jovan Haye Gaines Adams
Former Buccaneer OT Luke Petitgout is currently a free agent and serving a 4 game drug suspension. After signing with Tampa Bay as a free agent from the New York Giants in 2007, he was put on IR with a torn ACL after the Week 4 injury. OT Donald Penn filled in admirably and is now the starting left tackle of an offensive line that has provided a potent rushing attack for the Buccaneer offense thus far this season. Center John Wade is now an Oakland Raider, but the Bucs signed C Jeff Faine from New Orleans in the offseason as well as C Sean Mahan from Pittsburgh. Right Guard Davin Joseph has missed the first four games with an injured foot; however, G Jeremy Zuttah has played well in his absence at right guard. The Buccaneer Offensive Line has benefited from adversity in the last few seasons which has served to build valuable depth that is paying dividends so far in 2008.
Offensive Line:
Donald Penn Arron Sears Jeff Faine Jeremy Zuttah Jeremy Trueblood
The schedule has not been kind to the Green Bay Packers thus far in 2008, but they have not been without success as football fans everywhere have been tracking QB Aaron Rodgers progress. In week 4 LB Brady Poppinga returned to the starting lineup after free agent acquistion Brandon Chillar, formerly of the St Louis Rams, filled in against the Cowboys in Week 3. Chillar was right back on the field sunday filling in for an injured AJ Hawk who started despite battling a chest injury and suffered a groin injury in the first half.
On Offense, Center Scott Wells also returned to the lineup who missed most of preseason and the first 3 games with a pinched nerve in his back. OL Jason Spitz who filled in at center was moved back to his right guard spot where backup G Tony Moll had been starting. Moll played well as a result of gaining valuable experience playing for injured starters in 2007.
Defensive Front:
Brady Poppinga Nick Barnett AJ Hawk
Aaron Kampman Ryan Pickett Johnny Jolly Cullen Jenkins
Offensive Line:
Chad Clifton Daryn Colledge Scott Wells Jason Spitz Mark Tauscher
Started at RG first 3 Weeks---->Tony Moll
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1 comment:
So good......
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