Bucs

Greg Spires – Out

Michael Clayton, Quincy Black, Patrick Chukwurah – Questionable

Cards

Karlos Dansby, Mike Gandy – Questionable

Kurt Warner, Aaron Francisco – Probable

Key Matchups

1. Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitgerald vs the Bucs Secondary

Trying to match up man to man with either of these guys will be impossible for anyone but Brian Kelly. They have a distinct size advantage on all our CB’s, and for that matter, just about any teams corners. The front 7 is going to have to do a good job containing the run, because the secondary will have its hands full in cover 2 sets. Tanard Jackson will be key in this game, as when we move to a Cover 1, which we have been playing a lot of lately, Jermain Phillips will be keyed up on the run and the flats.

2. Elton Brown vs Kevin Carter - We have not been getting to the QB enough, but this is an ideal matchup to change those fortunes. Third year man and giant Elton Brown will be matched up primarily vs Kevin Carter on Sunday with Greg Spires out. Brown would appear to be the starting RT if Gandy is out (they cut Brad Badger on Tuesday). Kevin Carter is a physical specimen with ridiculous strength who has shown a variety of moves in route to his 27 tackles and 2 sacks. The Bucs must get to Warner, or we will lose.

My Pregame Quick Hits

- Can we stop this recent string of TO’s

- Another request to throw the ball downfield and open it up. Aaron Glenn took advantage of our lack of downfield throws last week.

- We must get to Warner, he is 100 years old and has a rookie starting at LT, and a guy who has barely played starting at LT

- Can Ike and Jeff rediscover there connection

- I hope Dansby does not play, he is awesome

- We must keep the Cards from moving the ball on the ground

- Hopefully the stadium will be as loud as last week….it was loud in there

- I hate playing teams’ coming off of a bye week

- Please Baby Jesus, please don’t let us have another hurt RB

- We need to focus on being on the opposite side of the field as Adrian Wilson

- Davin Joseph and Aaron Sears will have their hands full with Darnell Dockett

- The Cards give up 22.3 per game…we have shown the ability to move the ball offensively, we must punch it in

- I take offense to my friend Mike Duggan from Raising Zona’s analysis:

We do have the 2nd ranked pass defense in the league, allowing a paltry 173 yards per game.

Bucs

Michael Clayton and Alex Smith are both doubtful and will not play

Patrick Chukwarah is questionable

Jags

Maurice Jones Drew is questionable and has not practiced in 3 days

Reggie Hayward and Brian Williams are questionable

2 KEY MATCHUPS

1. Ike Hilliard vs Rashean Mathis

I would have to believe that with Brian Williams out, that the Jags will be forced to use Rashean Mathis on Ike. He has become our most reliable short yardage receiver, and Garcia trusts him and looks his way often. He would seemingly be a better guy to cover Galloway, but with our lack of attempting plays down the field, Ike has a much better chance of punishing the Jags. This could be key for the Bucs as it will open up Galloway to match up against Terry Cousin or Scott Starks. Whoever Mathis is not guarding should be the target of many Garcia passes tommorow.

2. Aaron Sears, John Wade and Davin Joseph vs John Henderson and Marcus Stroud

Henderson and Stroud are two of the largest and most imposing interior tandems in the NFL today. They are equally strong at stopping the run as they are at pressuring the QB. I think the Bucs will have to focus all 3 interior lineman on these 2 on non blitz plays to try and neutralize them. If Reggie Hayward does miss the game, this will leave Jeremy Trueblood matched up against Paul Spicer, and Donald Penn matched up against Bobby McCray. Spicer had a good Monday Night and is a solid player so Trueblood should have his hands full. There front 7 is huge, strong, and scary, so the whole OLine will be in for a grueling day.

My Pregame Quick Hits

- Quinn Gray looked horrid on MNF, can he improve

- Will the Bucs look downfield on a depleted secondary

- I hope MJD is out, he is the kind of RB that kills the Bucs

- Mike Tice was at the bar tonight, so….well he is an idiot anyway so who cares

- Although the Jax WR’s have been struggling, can our smallish secondary contain them

- Can the Bucs protect Garcia a little better than they did on Sunday vs the Lions

- Are we going to have to throw the ball to Ernest Graham 18 times, I hope not

- Can Ike continue his solid play

- Does Joey Galloway still play for us

- Will we continue to run the ball even though the chances of success at it our small

- Can our young guards hang with the DT combo from Jax

- I hope we can go a week without getting someone carted off

Game Previews

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