Buccaneers: A start, sit, and sleeper for Bucs against the Cards
With revenge on their minds the Tampa Bay Buccaneers travel to the Arizona desert to take on the Cardinals. Which Bucs will come up big, who will come up short and who will be the unlikely hero?
START
Buccaneers Defense
The Buccaneer pass rush final showed up Thursday night against the Patriots. Recording 3 sacks and numerous pressures, especially up the middle. Not allowing Tom Brady to step up into the pocket to avoid sacks. I think Tampa duplicates their sack total for the second week in a row. The Cardinals offensive line performance was suspect for the 2016 season and haven’t found much success so far this year and will have their hands full with the Bucs front four Sunday.
Carson Palmer is a shadow of the quarterback that took his team to the 2015 NFC Championship Game. Never known for his legs, but his statuesque style now would give the silver spray painted guy in Jackson Square a run for his money. Also his arm strength has declined to the point where Palmer thinks he can fit the ball into a tight window, but the velocity just isn’t there. Which in turn has led to interceptions.
Last in the league in rushing, after losing do everything running back David Johnson in week one, the Cards signed seven time Pro Bowler Adrian Peterson to see if has anything left in the tank. Peterson was third in the depth cart in New Orleans, where he signed as a free agent during the off season. Yes Adrian Peterson was one of the best ever, but age catches up with everyone. If Peterson gains more than 50 yards I’d be shocked.
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BOX SCORE: 18 points against, 3 sacks and 1 interception
SIT
Martin had a very good game against New England in his season debut, but he was not nearly as effective in the second half. So much so that head coach Dirk Koetter, for intents and purposes, beached him for the forth quarter. Koetter explained in a presser after the game that he felt Martin was “gassed”. Doug admitted as much when he appeared on the Bucs All Access radio show the Monday directly after the game.
Doug Martin is going to give a big boost to the Buccaneers running game, but Koetter will be sure to spell Martin so he is available during the last fifteen minutes of the Arizona game.
Getting a huge fantasy number from your running back is a total crap shoot. You put your guy in there and hope he pops on for you. With Martin more than likely only playing limited minutes, I just don’t like his odds of coming up sevens.
BOX SCORE: 18 carries for 92 yards with 0 touchdowns
Sleeper
Week after week Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston misses DeSean Jackson deep. Jackson could be leading the league in touchdown receptions if their chemistry was just slightly better. Winston did find Jackson late in the game last week on a short slant that because of DeSean speed turned into a 48 yard gain. Now that Winston and Jackson know they can do it I expect to see it.
If these two can hookup on just one of those deep throws that have painfully eluded them thus far and they use the newly found slant game. DeSean Jackson could have a big day.
BOW SCORE: 9 catches for 164 yards and 2 touchdowns
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Next: Week Six Starts, Sits, and Sleepers
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Until next time
GO BUCS!!!