Buccaneers Stuff...

Cotton

One-armed Knife Sharpener
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
119,582
Bucs' visit to Cowboys a big stage for biggest game in years
Rick StroudRick Stroud, Times Staff Writer

TAMPA — Linebacker Lavonte David remembers his only trip to AT&T Stadium to play the Dallas Cowboys when he was a rookie in 2012, and despite a 16-10 loss, the shrine to showbigness did not disappoint. But it has been at least eight seasons since the Bucs have been on such a mammoth stage with so much on the line.

The Cowboys own the best record in the NFL at 11-2. The Bucs are tied with the Falcons for the NFC South lead at 8-5, hold a wild-card spot and are winners of five straight, matching the Lions for the longest streak in the league.

If that weren't enough, they are playing America's Team in a hype-filled spectacle on NBC's Sunday Football Night in America.

"We've been handling the big stages pretty well," David said. "We've got a great football team coming up, the Dallas Cowboys. It's going to be a battle. We're going to Jerry's World. It's always fun to play there.

"It goes to show your hard work is paying off and people are taking notice."

The first ones to take notice are the TV networks, and on Monday, Fox flexed the Bucs game on Dec. 24 in New Orleans to 4:25 p.m. It's the third week in a row the 1 p.m. starting time has been moved for a bigger audience.

"So that means somebody is noticing," Bucs coach Dirk Koetter said.

You would have to go back to 2008 in what became Jon Gruden's final season as head coach to find a bigger stage for the Bucs than this Sunday night in Dallas.

The Bucs and Panthers were 9-3 and co-owners of the No. 1 seed in the NFC entering a Monday Night Football game at Carolina. But Tampa Bay was an aging team, especially on defense, and the Panthers ran all over them. DeAngelo Williams (186 yards) and Jonathan Stewart (115) combined to rush for 301 yards in a 38-23 rout. The Bucs lost their next three games and were eliminated from the postseason, resulting in Gruden and general manager Bruce Allen being fired.

Somehow this feels different. The Bucs have a second-year quarterback who has made one Pro Bowl in Jameis Winston, not a 38-year-old Jeff Garcia. The defense is ascending in the first season under coordinator Mike Smith.

Since Week 10, the Bucs are the best in the NFL in points allowed per game (12.8), total takeaways (14, including a league-best 10 interceptions), touchdowns allowed (six) and opposing passer rating (62.5).

But Koetter knows this will be an even bigger step up in weight class. The Cowboys are "loaded on offense," Koetter says, with rookies such as quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott leading the way.

"They've got big-time players at every position and at least three Pro Bowl offensive linemen, an elite left tackle, a great, explosive wide receiver, one of the best tight ends of all time, two rookies that everybody is arguing who's the rookie of the year and who's the MVP of the league between those two guys," Koetter said.

Don't be fooled by the fact that the Giants snapped the Cowboys' 11-game win streak Sunday and swept them this season. This is the most complete team the Bucs will play in 2016.

Meanwhile, Tampa Bay's offense isn't lighting up the scoreboard. The Bucs have nine offensive touchdowns in the past five games, including one each at Kansas City and Sunday against New Orleans.

The Bucs most likely have to win their final three games to have a good shot at the division title or secure a wild card. By far the toughest opponent should be the Cowboys, with the stars on their helmets, Jerry Jones in the owner's suite, the opulence of Jerry's World and the world's largest video board that you can hide a 747 behind.

"It's a cool place to play. It's an awesome stadium to play in," Koetter said. "I've heard them say the last couple games there it's been a great atmosphere and extremely loud. I'm sure our guys will be fired up to play when the time comes, but we can't start getting fired up about it Monday at 4:30."

Koetter is right. How 'bout dem Cowboys? Right now, they're just a team standing in the way. But it sure feels like something bigger than just a regular-season football game.

"You know, we're an 8-5 football team. We've got bigger goals than that," Koetter said. "It's nice. It's nice. When we were 3-5, I'm sure not many people thought we were going to be 8-5. But we've got more to accomplish, and you're not going to accomplish anything by looking backward."
 

Cotton

One-armed Knife Sharpener
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
119,582
Cowboys hope to go to 2-0 with Terry McAulay as ref in 2016
11:00 AM CT
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer

FRISCO, Texas -- With 10 days off since their last game, referee Terry McAulay and his crew should be refreshed when they call Sunday’s game between the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

This will be the ninth Cowboys game McAulay has called since 2010. In the first eight meetings, the Cowboys have a 4-4 record. There is not much of a penalty disparity between the Cowboys and their opponents in those games. The Cowboys have been flagged 54 times for 468 yards, while their opponents have 53 penalties for 468 yards.

McAulay called the Cowboys’ Week 4 win against the San Francisco 49ers. Dallas had six penalties for 45 yards, and the Niners had five for 32 yards.

McAulay worked the Kansas City Chiefs’ 21-13 win against the Oakland Raiders last Thursday and the crew called 21 penalties with 19 of them accepted. The Raiders had 10 penalties for 82 yards, while the Chiefs had nine for 73 yards.

Of the 21 penalties, seven came on special teams plays, so after the miscues Sunday against the New York Giants, the Cowboys need to be careful.

The breakdown:

False start – 3

Neutral zone infraction – 1

Offensive holding – 6

Offside – 2

Illegal use of hands – 1

Out of bounds on punt – 1

Unsportsmanlike conduct – 1

Defensive pass interference – 2

False start – 1

Delay of game – 2

Illegal block above the waist – 1

Quarter by quarter:

First – 3

Second – 9

Third – 7

Fourth – 2
 

data

Forbes #1
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
50,285
With all the Dak/Romo talk, this game cannot come soon enough.
 

ravidubey

DCC 4Life
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
20,134
And I firmly believe we win.

May not be dominating. But I think we will.
Damned right we win. We need to treat this game like the playoffs have started.

Tampa also has the makings of a long term intra-conference rival. We need to bloody that face right now and knock them out of the playoffs.
 

Simpleton

DCC 4Life
Joined
Apr 8, 2013
Messages
17,347
I do too. By double digits. And all the QB talk goes away (for now).
If Tony doesn't start against Detroit he doesn't start all year, there just isn't enough time to get him ready.

If Dak is horrific against Tampa it's conceivable that you give Tony 2 games to get ready and he should be more or less ready to go for the playoffs. If Dak kills it against Tampa he obviously starts against Detroit, and then what, you give Tony one regular season game before the playoffs?

That'd be idiotic.

Two games is reasonably enough to get ready, one followed by two weeks off is not, and I just can't see any possible argument that could be made otherwise unless you pull Dak early in the Detroit game.
 

dallen

Senior Tech
Joined
Jan 1, 2000
Messages
8,466
Good news is that it is another prime time game! :tehj
 

Cotton

One-armed Knife Sharpener
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
119,582
Cowboys will be tested by hot Jameis Winston, Buccaneers
6:00 AM CT
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer

FRISCO, Texas – With last week’s loss to the New York Giants, the Dallas Cowboys are no longer the NFL’s hottest team.

The hottest teams now are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions, who have five-game winning streaks. Who are the Cowboys’ next two opponents? The Buccaneers and Lions.

Tampa Bay visits AT&T Stadium Sunday and pinned a wholly forgettable 10-6 loss on an offensively-challenged Cowboys team last season. The Cowboys enter Sunday’s game in an offensive downturn but nothing quite like they experienced last year.

Here is a Buccaneers scouting report from NFL Nation reporter Jenna Laine:



OFFENSE


QB Jameis Winston: Winston has made a monster turnaround when it comes to interceptions. Through the first four games, he’d thrown eight, second-most in the league during that span. In the past nine games, he’s thrown just four, tied for seventh-fewest in the league. Winston’s greatest attribute has been his ability to make plays outside the pocket, where he’s got a passer rating of 118.7, the best in the league. He’s also completed more passes outside the pocket (47) than any other quarterback in the NFL and is tied with Aaron Rodgers for most touchdowns thrown outside the pocket (11) this year. It’s not always pretty with Winston, but he’s a fierce competitor and a master when it comes to motivating his teammates.

WR Mike Evans: Evans is a huge reason for Winston’s success outside the pocket. Those two worked diligently on their chemistry this offseason, and it shows ... just watch the play against Chicago where Winston narrowly avoided a safety and hit Evans on a back-breaking 39-yard catch. Seven of his 11 touchdown throws from outside the pocket have come to Evans, who is, by far, the league’s most targeted wide receiver, and has been at, or near the top, of the NFL’s receiving yardage and touchdowns for almost the whole season. The past two games, though, Evans has been limited to seven catches and zero touchdowns. His most impressive feat was scoring two touchdowns against the Seattle Seahawks in the first 17 minutes of play three weeks ago.

TE Cameron Brate: Two of Winston’s other touchdown throws from outside the pocket have gone to Brate, a former undrafted free agent out of Harvard who, in the past two weeks, has been Winston’s top receiving threat. Brate isn’t the most physically imposing tight end, and he’s not much of a run-blocker, but he’s incredibly consistent with his hands. His six touchdown catches are tied for the most in the NFL by a tight end.

DEFENSE

DE Robert Ayers: Ayers had four quarterback hits on Drew Brees last week and came up with a huge sack for a 9-yard loss, forcing the Saints to settle for a field goal just before halftime. Ayers missed four games earlier this season with an ankle injury but has been a menace as of late -- he’s produced three sacks and nine quarterback hits in the past three games and 4 ½ over the past five, tied for fifth-most in the league during that span. Just like he did when he was with the Giants, he will line up on the inside in nickel passing situations.

LB Kwon Alexander: The Bucs second-year middle linebacker currently leads the NFL in solo tackles (86) and is their best weapon against the run. Alexander has the quickness and athleticism to fly across the field. He is also getting to a point where he is mastering the cerebral elements of the game and having a full understanding of Mike Smith’s defense. He’s not getting fooled by play-action, and he’s not so overly-amped up to where he’s out of position to make tackles.

S Keith Tandy: Tandy may or may not even play this week, but it’s hard to overlook a career backup and primary special-teams performer who has produced the game-winning interception two weeks in a row. What Tandy, a former college cornerback, lacks physically, he makes up with his intelligence -- he has a keen understanding of where everyone is supposed to be on defense at all times.
 

Cotton

One-armed Knife Sharpener
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
119,582
 

Cotton

One-armed Knife Sharpener
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
119,582
 

Cotton

One-armed Knife Sharpener
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
119,582
Cowboys practice report: Left side of offensive line not participating Wednesday; DL Thornton also out
By Brandon George , Staff Writer

FRISCO -- The Dallas Cowboys practiced in cold weather Wednesday at The Star, but the left side of their offensive line didn't participate.

Pro Bowl left tackle Tyron Smith and starting left guard Ron Leary weren't on the practice field because of sore backs.

This is a new issue with Leary. Smith has been managing a bulging disk in his back all year. Leary's sore back, however, isn't expected to force him to miss any games. The Cowboys play at home Sunday night against Tampa Bay.

Cowboys defensive lineman Cedric Thornton also wasn't practicing Wednesday because of an ankle injury.

Also not practicing: Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (back), safety J.J. Wilcox (thigh) and cornerback Morris Claiborne (groin).

Cowboys offensive tackle Chaz Green (back) was on the practice field and in a helmet. He has been out for several weeks with his back injury and also recovering from an injured foot. Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said he expected Green to at least go through individual drills Wednesday.

Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee, who just set a franchise record Sunday night at the Giants with 22 tackles, spent some time early in practice working on the resistance cords with athletic trainer Britt Brown. Lee was in uniform and helmet, expected to practice.
 

Angrymesscan

DCC 4Life
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
3,796
They used to be the hammstrings now everybody has got a back issue...
 

Cowboysrock55

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
52,341
They used to be the hammstrings now everybody has got a back issue...
Sometimes I wonder if it has become an excuse for a player to take a day off when they want one. If so, you really have to worry about this team having a sudden rash of them right after a loss. I want the players to come out on fire, not licking wounds like a wounded dying animal.
 

UncleMilti

This seemed like a good idea at the time.
Staff member
Joined
Apr 7, 2013
Messages
17,977
Sometimes I wonder if it has become an excuse for a player to take a day off when they want one. If so, you really have to worry about this team having a sudden rash of them right after a loss. I want the players to come out on fire, not licking wounds like a wounded dying animal.
I think its more of guys knowing their bodies and just sneaking in an extra day of low stress work.
 

jsmith6919

Honored Member - RIP
Joined
Aug 26, 2013
Messages
28,407
 
Top Bottom