Sunday’s Big Fantasy Matcups for Bucs-Cowboys

Buccaneers RB Earnest Graham vs. Cowboys run defense

Graham is a power back going up against three guys in the middle of the Cowboys defense who have great athleticism but lack ideal size and strength. Nose tackle Jay Ratliff and linebackers Bradie James and Zach Thomas usually do much better against quick backs because they move well laterally. Graham could give them a lot of trouble because he runs low and makes a lot of yards after initial contact.

Buccaneers WR Antonio Bryant vs. Cowboys CB Anthony Henry

Bryant makes his return to Texas Stadium on a roll. He leads the Bucs with 31 catches. He can be a true big-play threat, and the Cowboys have not fared well in defending against those types. Henry has not been able to repeat his start from 2007. He doesn’t have an interception yet, and he has just three pass deflections. He doesn’t have top-end speed, and he has found himself playing catch-up too often. Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia has 10 touchdown passes and four picks in five games all time at Texas Stadium, albeit with different teams.

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Preview: Bucs Head to Big D to Take on the Cowboys

Turmoil is abound with the Cowboys, as another loss last week has the team sitting at 4-3. Considering the team lost just three games in the regular season all of last season, it makes this weeks tangle with the tough Tampa Bay Bucs - a must win? While I wouldn’t go that far, it’s a big game for the Cowboys, as they look to get back some confidence after losing two of their last three games.

The big question will again surround if QB Tony Romo is going to try to give it a go. While that question won’t be answered till late in the week or maybe even early Sunday, you can bet the team is hoping that finger is close to somewhat ready after last Sunday’s awful showing by Brad Johnson in St.Louis.

Johnson was 17-for-34 for just 234 yards with one TD and three picks. The focus will be on the running game this week and Romo. Even with Romo, the Cowboys cracking the Bucs tough front four and fast defense will not be easy. The Bucs are a solid 5-2 team for a reason, and that is becuase they have played good football so far in 2008.

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WR Hillard Released from Hospital

Buccaneers wide receiver Ike Hilliard was released from the hospital Sunday night, hours after taking a scary hit during the team’s win over the Seahawks.  Hilliard was sandwiched by Lofa Tatupu and Leroy Hill after catching a pass from Jeff Garcia with 12:48 left in the second quarter.  Bucs head coach Jon Gruden said Sunday night that Hilliard had a concussion and he’s unsure of HIlliard’s status for this Sunday’s game against the Cowboys.  Hilliard has 24 catches for 203 yards and three touchdowns this season.

Bucs Looking to Use Bryant and Galloway Both at Once

Roy Cummings, of The Tampa Tribune, reports it appears Buccaneers WR Antonio Bryant will keep the starting job at split end even after WR Joey Galloway returns from his foot injury. This doesn’t mean Galloway won’t play, but the team plans on finding creative ways to use both him and Bryant at the same time. Galloway could even be used as a return man.

LB McCoy Released After Morning Arrest

Crime doesn’t pay, and for Buccaneers linebacker Matt McCoy, he found that out Saturday the hard way. The linebacker was arrested earlier this morning on a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence, and by afternoon, he had lost his job with the team as he’s been released.

McCoy was a 2nd round draft pick of the Eagles back in 2005. He has been in the league for five seasons, two with the Eagles, one with the Saints, back to the Eagles, and now this season with the Bucs. He had played in three games this season, making three tackles. His best year was 06, when in 15 games he made 69 total tackles and had two sacks.

Breaking Down the Bucs Matchup with Seattle

Sunday night’s battle is a tale of two teams going in different directions. The Seattle Seahawks have had a strangle hold on the NFC West for years, but the window is not only closing, but seems to be shut and locked with the team sitting at 1-4. The Tampa Bay Bucs are coming off a statement win over the Panthers Sunday at home, and at 4-2 are tied for the lead with Carolina and Atlanta atop the NFC South.

The Hawks will come in banged up, again, and this time at a critical spot on the field - quarterback. Matt Hasselbeck will not play due to a bulging disk in his back and a related knee problem. Backup Seneca Wallace is also recovering from a calf injury, but is hoping to make his first start since 2006. If he can’t go, the team will turn to former Browns starter Charlie Fyre, who started last weeks 27-17 loss to the Packers at home. He wasn’t very good, going 12-of-23 for 83 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Seattle has had numerous issues on offense, with the 31st-ranked passing offense in the NFL. They haven’t been much better running, and whatever running game they have the Bucs should be able to stop rather easily in this matchup. Tampa Bay did a good job shutting down the Panthers run game last Sunday in their win at home 27-3.

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Garcia Earns Another Start; Needs to Keep Playing Well

The strife between Jon Gruden and Jeff Garcia is not enough from the coach already coming out and naming Garcia as the starter for Sunday night’s game at home vs the Seahawks.  In the end - it’s more than the right move to make. Garcia has played well since his promotion from his demotion that took place two weeks into the season.  He has showed poise for a player that was running scout team just a few weeks back.

“(Garcia) is going to start this week,” Gruden said. “If he continues to play like Jeff Garcia, he’s a Pro Bowl-caliber guy. OK?”  Sounds like a coach who is quickly back-peddling off a decision that took Garcia out of the starting lineup after two regular season games, and putting his boy - Brian Griese in there.

Yes, Griese also played well in the offense, but was getting interception happy by the time he was hurt in the game two weeks back in the loss to the Broncos 16-13.  Griese had thrown six picks and three TD’s in the two games prior to the injury to his shoulder that has put him on the sideline currently.

Let’s face it, Garica was a Pro Bowl player a year ago, and he still has more than enough skills to lead the tem to the playoffs and come up with a successful defense of the NFC South title.  For now, leave him in till there is a reason not to.

Bucs Pound Panthers 27-3 at Home to Move to 4-2

There was plenty of talk about the Panthers being the best team in the NFC South. On Sunday at Raymond James Stadium, the defending NFC South Champion Buccaneers said “not so fast.” Led by a stuffing defense and special teams that returned a blocked punt for a score, the Bucs pounded the Panthers 27-3 to improve to 4-2 and drop the Panthers to 4-2.

The Bucs set the tempo right away, as the Panthers lined up for a punt on their first drive after a three-and-out. Rushing in, Jason Baker blocked the punt, and Geno Hayes took it back 22 yards for a quick score to make it 7-0 w/ 12:25 left in the first quarter. After a few back-and-forth series’ the Bucs put together a drive as starting at their own 49 the team went 51 yards in just five plays as Jeff Garcia hit a five-yard score to Alex Smith to make it 14-0.

Two series later the Panthers came back with a drive that went from their own 28 to the Bucs 2, but on third down Jake Delhomme went incomplete and the team settled for a short John Kasay field goal to make it 14-3. The Bucs came back with a Matt Bryant field goal to make it 17-3 at the half.

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Key Fantasy Matchups for Sunday’s Panthers-Bucs Matchup

From: KFFL.com

Panthers QB Jake Delhomme vs. Buccaneers defensive backs

Delhomme has been fantastic over the years against the Bucs. He’s 7-1 with 13 touchdown passes and seven interceptions. He faces a Bucs defense that ranks 21st in the league against the pass, so there will be some opportunities there. Wide receiver Steve Smith dropped two would-be touchdowns this past Sunday, so look for him to be fired up this week.

Buccaneers RBs Earnest Graham and Warrick Dunn vs. Panthers defensive linemen

This season the Panthers have faced some top-notch running backs and shut them down. No back has run for 100 yards against the Panthers. That list includes the San Diego Chargers’ LaDainian Tomlinson, the Kansas City Chiefs’ Larry Johnson, the Minnesota Vikings’ Adrian Peterson, the Atlanta Falcons’ Michael Turner and the Chicago Bears’ Matt Forte. The Panthers have allowed only one rushing touchdown, and that was to a tight end. Graham struggled against the one tough run defense (Chicago Bears) he has faced. Dunn is real slicer type of back. He never gives a defensive lineman much to grab at because he runs low to the ground; he’s almost sideways as he cuts through the hole.

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Week Six Preview: Carolina Heads to Battle the Bucs

The Carolina Panthers enter Sunday’s showdown with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looking to put a strangle hold on the NFC South. At 4-1, the Panthers can move up two games over the Bucs, and depending on other results Sunday can have a solid early lead in the division. On the other hand, the Bucs want to ruin the early momentum that the Panthers have had, and get back to even in the division.

Carolina last week played about as well as they could have played, shutting out the weak KC Chiefs at home 34-0. Jake Delhomme, who has a QB rating of 90.6 in five games, threw for two scores, and the team ran the ball well all afternoon. Their defense made life tough for the Chiefs, and by the end of the day wore out KC to the point where they probably had the plane running midway through the third quarter.

The Bucs were losers in Denver to the Broncos 16-13. While their defense did a good job vs a good Denver offense, the teams offense had a major letdown vs a Broncos D that had given up a lot of points and yards. They lost QB Brian Griese to a shoulder injury in the second half, and while backup Jeff Garcia was able to get them a score, they were unable to pull it out in the three point loss.

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