Rumors that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers almost fired coach Raheem Morris following their 41-14 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars began circulating Wednesday night, continuing a string of bad news for the three-year coaching veteran. An anonymous Buccaneer criticized Morris for his lack of leadership in a Tuesday report from Yahoo1 Sports, and fans of the team are beginning to question his credentials. Tampa Bay has lost seven straight games to fall to 4-9, and into a tie with the Carolina Panthers for last place in the NFC South.

But defensive tackle Gerald McCoy stood up for his coach. Thursday afternoon, McCoy sent the following Twitter message to his 22,000-plus followers:

Everybody stop worrying about our coach and just back us up as we go and tr and knock off the cowboys!! #bucnation

McCoy here urges fans to support the team, deflecting attention from the embattled coach. It’s a positive message from the No. 3 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, who’s among the Bucs’ core players.

Morris’ record with Tampa Bay stands at 17-28. Under him, the Bucs had a surprisingly strong 2010 season, finishing 10-6 thanks in part to the emergence of quarterback Josh Freeman. But Tampa Bay has disappointed mightily in 2011.

For more on the Bucs, please visit Bucs Nation, SB Nation’s Buccaneers blog.

By JC De La Torre

– Gators Editor

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Dec 5, 2011 – There are losses – then there’s what happened on Sunday yesterday at Raymond James Stadium. You can’t come home – on throwback/Ring of Honor induction Sunday – and get “debacled” by a 3-8 football team. You just can’t. Especially by a team you refer to as your biggest rival – the one you hate the most.

It’s one thing to get humiliated in front of the home crowd by Houston – a good football team with a lot of weapons. It’s another to get throttled by one of the worst teams in the NFL.

Yes, the Panthers needle is definitely pointing up but the fact remains – the Bucs were blown out by a last place team.

Another fact – the Bucs have replaced that last place team at the bottom of the NFC South.

Here’s what else we learned from yesterday’s disaster:

1. You can’t preach discipline when you’ve let the inmates run the asylum all season.

Coach Raheem Morris got tough yesterday, kicking defensive tackle Brian Price off the field after a stupid personal foul penalty continued a Panthers drive.

We guess Raheem was trying to make a point – but let’s face it, that train left the station a long time ago. You can’t expect a team that is so used to no consequences for making stupid penalties to suddenly turn that muscle memory off now that it might be costing you your job.

The time to install that mentality was at the very beginning of the season – not when it’s already been lost.

Before, you excused the idiotic mistakes as being “youngry”. Instead of covering for your players and expecting things to change – you should have made your point then and there that this kind of play is not going to be tolerated.

Doing it in the fourth quarter of the eighth loss of the season when your team is down by three touchdowns just looks weak.

2. Now he wants their respect?

He began his coaching career by allowing his players to call him “Rah”. Not “Coach”, not “Coach Morris”, nor even “Coach Rah” but just “Rah”. Now he’s demanding their respect?

Look, we understand that after the iron fist and perceived beguiling of Jon Gruden that the Glazers wanted a coach that would relate well to the players.

I don’t think he wanted someone that would be their best buds.

Morris’ act with Brian Price smacked of a coach that not only wants to change the perception that he’s soft on his team to the media and fans but that he’s quickly realizing that he’s beginning to lose control of the team – if he hasn’t already.

3.  Is it coaching or is it talent?

The Buccaneers mantra during the Dominik-Morris era is to build through the draft. Yet when most of your 53 man roster is comprised of practice squad players and 7th round draft picks – it’s difficult to compete unless your top picks pan out. How has it gone for the top three picks under this regime?

Well, the jury is certainly out on the 2011 class but we’ve seen some good things from Adrian Clayborn, DaQuan Bowers and Mason Foster. 

2010 hasn’t been as promising. Gerald McCoy hasn’t made much impact in two years. Brian Price can’t stay healthy and is now apparently in Rah’s Chateau De Bow Wow. Regus Benn has shown flashes but can’t seem to get on the field and Myron Lewis can’t beat out journeyman Elbert Mack or former 7th round pick EJ Biggers.

2009 hasn’t been that great either. Freeman has significantly regressed after a Pro Bowl worthy 2010 season. Roy Miller has been an issue against the run and a non-factor against the pass. Kyle Moore isn’t even on the team.

Even 2010′s 4th round “steal” Mike Williams, who exploded onto the scene last year, has significantly regressed.

Of the 23 players drafted under Dominik-Morris, 16 are on the active roster and only seven are full time starters (if you consider EJ Biggers the starter over Ronde Barber).  None have made the Pro Bowl (although Freeman was an alternate) and none are anywhere near qualifying this season/

With absolutely no free agency activity during the same time frame – it’s not difficult to see how this team has fallen apart.

So the chick-and-egg question rises once more – is the talent there and the coaching staff simply can’t bring it out of them or have they drafted so poorly their strategy has had no chance of working?

4. A good 4-8 versus a bad 4-8?

There was a stark contrast between two football teams that now have identical 4-8 records. Carolina is without question a terrible football team. Yet the needle is pointing upward because of a few things – first Cam Newton appears to be the real deal. They have a new direction under head coach Ron Rivera and they seem to be building toward something successful. They need significant help on the defensive side of the ball – but Rome wasn’t built in a day. Despite they’re deficiencies, their players are still giving everything they’ve got for four quarters of football.

Now, flip the page to your Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Have the Bucs played 4 quarters all season? Even in their four victories they’ve started slow having to rally late or finished poorly barely holding on to the wins they do have. One of the most disappointing things we’ve seen during the Bucs’ six game collapse are the loafs.

What are loafs? Players not running hard to the ball, not staying in their proper gaps, or taking care of their coverage responsibilities. Its very disturbing that DaQuan Bowers can cross the field and beat every defender on the opposite side to the ball carrier. It may display an amazing skillset for the Bucs’ 2011 second round pick but it also exposes everyone on that side of the defense who didn’t put the effort in to get a hat on the runner.

Carolina has shown the heart and desire to get better. That’s a good 4-8 (if there is such a thing). Many of the Buccaneer players appear to have checked out for 2011 – that’s a bad 4-8.

5. Has the team quit on Raheem?

During the disaster that was the 2009 season – the one thing you could always say about Raheem Morris’ undermanned club was they were all playing very hard for their coach. As this promising season has unraveled before our eyes, its been more and more evident that several players on this squad are simply collecting paychecks and waiting for the end of the season.

For a coach that is so far on the hot seat his backside is getting scorched, this is not a good sign. 

6. The bright side.

There were a few positive glimmers in the debacle at Ray Jay on Sunday. DaQuan Bowers was simply unstoppable and finally flashed some of that top pick ability we all believed he had. Had Bowers not had questions surface about his knee, some believe he might have been the top draft pick – ahead of Cam Newton.

He was all over Newton on Sunday, harassing the quarterback with two QB hits and sacking him 1.5 times. He also had an eye popping 5 tackles for losses. Bowers also had one sack called back by a penalty.

First round pick Adrian Clayborn also made his presence felt, sharing a sack with Bowers and getting two QB hits.

Mike Williams hauled in 5 passes for 93 yards – an 18.6 average. Slowly but surely, Williams is starting to put up numbers we were accustom to seeing from him last season.

7. The web of excuses

There’s been a significant amount of excuses pouring out of One Buc Palace about the season. From Freeman’s hand to the harder schedule (as if that should matter) to the lockout hurting the “youngry” team’s preparation for 2011 it seems the Bucs’ brass is better at excuse making than winning right now.

For a coach who’s fond of saying “no excuses, no explanations” there’s plenty of it fertilizing the practice field over there.

Raheem’s fond of saying “stats are for losers” but you know what’s more identified with losing? Excuses.  

Yes, the lockout probably hurt the Buccaneers more than most. But it certainly didn’t hurt the Lions – another youngry team. It didn’t hurt the 49ers and their new coaching staff.

We saw yesterday how much its hurt the Panthers.

Did Freeman hurt his hand in Week One? If not, how do you explain his 10 interceptions from September-October?

And yes, the schedule is much tougher than 2010 – is that telling us that what happened in 2010 was a mirage brought on by the benefit of a weak schedule and your team really hasn’t progressed in the three years you’ve been the head coach? You don’t see the Falcons or Saints whining about the schedule.

8. Tackling is want to.

In the hey-day of the Tampa Two, the one thing you could always count on is that the Buccaneers would be as sure a tackling team as any in the NFL. The 2011 version under Morris may be arguably the worst tackling team in the history of the franchise.

In the end, tackling is about desire to make the play and not fearing the collision. Its about 11 men seeking and destroying the football carrier. 

When Monte was coordinator, if all 11 guys didn’t at least touch the pile he ruled it a loaf. When was the last time you saw the Buccaneer defense rally to the football.

Bucs color commentator Dave Moore made an excellent point during yesterday’s post game on the Bucs’ radio network. In Tony Dungy’s first season, the Bucs were mired in an 0-5 start.

To illustrate to his football team that it was execution not the scheme that was failing them – Dungy put up film of the Minnesota Viking running the same defense. He showed that when played correctly not only is the scheme effective but dominant. He did the same thing with the offensive plays – showing the screen pass to the wideout that the Bucs ran were the same as the one the Packers ran – only the Packers’ receivers made their blocks while the Bucs’ receivers missed theirs.

Its why Dungy’s “we have to execute better” drove fans crazy but was the God’s honest truth. “We have to execute better” is not the same as Raheem’s “We have to play better.”

Unlike Dungy, Raheem’s team doesn’t seem to have the understanding of what they need to do to get better or the “want to” to make it happen.

9. You Play How you Practice

Both Tony Dungy and Jon Gruden strongly believed in you play how you practice. During the post game show, former Buccaneer Ryan Nece made an excellent observation. Perhaps the reason why the Buccaneers are struggling at the beginning of games is because they start their practices slowly with a walkthrough. 

Now, many teams begin practice with a walkthrough and don’t have the same issues Tampa Bay has – but Gruden’s teams would never have those types of issues. They would start practice at a high tempo and it seemed to carry over in ballgames.

Perhaps the slow start to practices has ingrained in their muscle memory to ease themselves into physical activity and it carries over to Sunday.

Or maybe it has no impact at all. Regardless – when you’re searching for answers every stone should be upturned.

10. 3rd Down Defense is just pitiful.

Tampa Bay’s defense wouldn’t be so bad if they could get off on third down. The Bucs have tumbled to 20th on third down percentage.  They’ve given up the booty 39% of the time. The Bucs seem at the worst when it’s third and long. How many times have we seem teams sustain drives after facing 3rd and 10 or more?

So many times we’ve seen the Bucs surrender a third and long play, allow the opponent to extend the drive and it eventually ended in their end zone.

Until the Bucs’ defense figures out how to get off the field on third down, they’ll never become a top notch defense.

Read More: Ronde Barber (CB – TAM), Elbert Mack (CB – TAM), Roy Miller (DT – TAM), Kyle Moore (DE – BUF), Gerald McCoy (DT – TAM), Brian Price (DT – TAM), Myron Lewis (CB – TAM), Adrian Clayborn (DE – TAM), Mason Foster (LB – TAM), Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dec 4, 2011 1:00 PM EST

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By Rick Stroud , Times staff writer

In Print: Saturday, December 3, 2011

TAMPA — QB Josh Freeman threw soft passes in practice Friday, the first time he tested his sore right shoulder this week. Freeman is listed as questionable against the Panthers, but his final status won’t be determined until just before Sunday’s game.

“I did a little bit, but today really isn’t important,” Freeman said. “Same status. I’m just listening to the trainers and trying to ease into it, you know?”

Freeman was injured on a fourth-and-1 sneak in Sunday’s 23-17 loss at Tennessee.

Backup Josh Johnson has taken most of the repetitions with the first-team offense this week. But Freeman’s improvement has been encouraging.

“He’ll be a game-time decision, and we’ll take it right up until the last moment of truth out there, so we’ll see,” coach Raheem Morris said. “He went out and threw the ball around a little bit. Still limited. … The first couple days he didn’t throw it as much. He threw it a little (Thursday), he threw it more today.”

Freeman has 35 consecutive starts since taking over as a rookie from Johnson after the team’s 0-7 start in 2009. Morris said because Freeman prides himself on playing through injury, the team will have to watch him closely.

“He won’t tell me (how he feels), there’s no doubt about it,” Morris said. “That’s why we’ve got to have doctors around. He’s one of those guys that wants to lead like that, think like that. Everybody wants to be Brett (Favre), and Brett set a great example for all these young quarterbacks and what the standard looks like and the model looks like. It’s one of those decisions you’ve got to make as a head coach.”

Johnson went 0-4 as a starter in 2009. But he is a more mature quarterback and has had a good week of practice, Morris said.

“Josh Johnson had a spectacular week of practice,” Morris said of the fourth-year player. “We talked about the kid being very motivated, talked about the guy going out there and really being prepared. When you have a week like this and he takes all the reps, you can see how prepared he really is and how much he really wants it and how much he’s been paying attention. Those things are helpful for me.”

DT Brian Price, carted off with a right ankle sprain Sunday, returned to practice and is listed as questionable. DE Michael Bennett, who missed last week’s game (groin), did not practice and won’t play. DE Adrian Clayborn (back), DT Albert Haynesworth (knee), LB Adam Hayward (foot), S Tanard Jackson (hamstring) and LB Dekoda Watson (groin) are probable.

MILDCAT OFFENSE: One element Johnson could bring is the spread option or a version of the wildcat offense that he has operated this season (five carries, 17 yards).

“That could be different, but we’ve been running it, so teams have film on it,” Johnson said. “It’s just now if I’m in there as the full-time quarterback, it can be different scenarios in the game and we can sneak one of those in there and they might not be exactly as prepared for it as if I was just coming in for one play.”

The Broncos are 5-1 since turning to QB Tim Tebow and their version of the spread option.

“We have had some success running it here,” Johnson said. “They’re doing a great job with it (in Denver). They’re doing a lot of different types of variations of the spread than we’re doing, but he’s having success with it. I’m pretty sure, since he’s doing well, a lot of coaches might look into it. But (Tebow) and I are two different kind of guys. He’s 240 (pounds). He can take those beatings. I try to keep it so I can maintain mine. I’m only 210.”

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Tampa Bay Coach Raheem Morris doesn’t typically use the Tampa-2 defense the team’s former coaching staff originated. / Chris O’Meara / Associated Press

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bucs Report

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer

In Print: Saturday, November 26, 2011

TAMPA — Da’Quan Bowers is not a patient man, but he has grown accustomed to the long waits.

His first involved a painful delay during April’s draft, when his potential for being a top-10 pick was not realized, resulting in his fall to the Bucs at 51st overall. Bowers, the nation’s top sackmaster in 2010 at Clemson, has said he believes the situation worked to his benefit in the long run, allowing him to grow with Tampa Bay’s young defensive line.

Bowers’ latest test of patience has come while waiting for consistent playing time. Now, that wait, too, finally has ended.

Starting left defensive end Michael Bennett’s worsening groin injury likely will cause him to miss one or two games, meaning Bowers is expected to make his first NFL start Sunday at Tennessee.

It has been a long time coming, but Bowers can’t say he wasn’t prepared for this. It’s what the Bucs intended all along.

“I didn’t know what to expect,” said Bowers, who, at 21, is the team’s youngest player.

“I knew that I would be fighting for playing time. When I came in, they told me it was going to be a slow process. They basically told me it was going to be slow enough to (tick) me off, and that’s exactly what it did. I wasn’t getting a lot of reps. I was getting frustrated. But a few weeks ago, they told me, ‘Hey, it’s time.’ “

Bowers’ coaches at that point began to make him a more consistent part of the rotation. After a first half of the season in which he rarely flashed, Bowers has been impacting recent games. His biggest opportunity to date came last week at Lambeau Field, when the rookie took over for Bennett, playing most of the final three quarters.

The timing of Bowers’ unleashing was not random. It was only recently that he felt comfortable, both physically and mentally. The physical challenges were associated with the knee injury and surgery that prompted his precipitous fall in the draft.

“From when I came in to now, I think there’s been a massive improvement,” Bowers said. “Coming off my injury and not being able to run or do anything football related for seven months, it was tough for my first month or two here. But I’m actually back in the heavy rotation now. I’m actually going to be getting a lot more reps. It’s been a tough road, but I’m actually able to finally do what I came here to do now because I’m fully healthy.”

He takes a measure of satisfaction in this, having not forgotten the many teams that passed on him in the draft, as well as some of the doubts expressed about his NFL future.

“The Bucs took a chance on me, and I’d like to say it was a good opportunity and good chance that they took,” said Bowers, who has 15 tackles in 10 appearances. “With the situation I was in, a lot of people didn’t think I’d make it to the first game. But here I am 10 games in and there are no problems yet.”

Bowers’ mental hurdles were the standard ones that come with playing in the league for the first time.

“It was all kind of overwhelming at one point,” Bowers admits.

“You get these guys out there, and you forget they’re 22 years old and 23 years old,” coach Raheem Morris said. “They do something great one play and then they absolutely make a boneheaded play the next. They make mistakes here and there, and you have to remind yourself.”

One reason Morris, perhaps, forgets Bowers’ youth is because he has made some plays that displayed maturity.

Bowers’ thick build (6-4, 277 pounds) and power distinguish him from many of the speed-first edge rushers who have played for the Bucs. While Bowers possesses plenty of speed, he also plays a physical brand of football that his coaches crave.

“We’ve been using him primarily against the run,” Morris said. “But his power shows up big time when it comes to the pass rush. He’s got great power when people are running at him. But where he really uses it is when he uses his speed and power on some of these (offensive) tackles in the pass rush. You definitely can see the big difference in power and speed and bulk.”

The result of this long-running process of getting Bowers to this point won’t be known until the team lines up Sunday.

But this much is clear about Bowers: The time for waiting is officially over.

Stephen F. Holder can be reached at sholder@tampabay.com.

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Raheem Morris and his team really thought they had a chance to hand the reigning Super Bowl champions their first loss of the season. And until Aaron Rodgers’ deep pass ended up in the arms of wide receiver Jordy Nelson for a game-clinching 40-yard touchdown, it looked like the Buccaneers had a chance.

Josh Freeman threw for 342 yards with two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions, LeGarrette Blount bounced off tacklers all day on his way to a 107-yard rushing performance and the Buccaneers’ late rally came up just short in a 35-26 loss to the Packers on Sunday.

“I felt great about the whole game,” Morris said. “Our guys did a nice job competing. We came out and played the way we wanted to play. We played aggressive. We played hard and tried to get a win. Try to steal one from the champs.”

The Buccaneers (4-6) have lost four straight, but this wasn’t anything like being blown out at home by Houston last week.

“I thought we were going to come back and win it,” wide receiver Mike Williams said. “It just happened we fell short today.”

Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth didn’t want to hear about moral victories. “There is no moral victory,” Haynesworth said. “Moral victory is for teams that are not that good and go out and play OK against another team. This team is good and we have a lot of talent.”

With a 10-0 record going into a Thanksgiving Day game at Detroit, the Packers remain perfect, even if their quarterback walked away expecting much more from himself. Rodgers threw for 299 yards with three touchdowns, including a pair to Nelson, but wasn’t happy with the way he played.

“I’m just frustrated,” Rodgers said. “I didn’t throw the ball very well. I’m not trying to be ridiculously humble right now, I’m just frustrated. The ball wasn’t coming out the way I wanted it to today.”

Some of the credit goes to an aggressive Tampa Bay defense that Rodgers said played more man-to-man coverage than the Packers are used to seeing.

“We weren’t going to be played scared regardless of how good they are,” cornerback Ronde Barber said. “They put their pads on the same way we do. They got a lot of good players, so do we. We are in it to win. There is no sitting back and letting it happen. We were going to go get them. We tried, gave ourselves a great opportunity. Get one more third stop on their touchdown, I think we win this game. It was the one stop we didn’t get.”

Tampa Bay was penalized nine times for 55 yards, but Morris wasn’t using it as an excuse. “Penalties are what they are, they are judgment calls and the judgment went against us a lot of times,” Morris said. “It is what it is.”

The Buccaneers trailed by only four and seemed to have some momentum when they tried a surprise onside kick before halftime.
After a replay review gave the ball to Green Bay at Tampa Bay’s 38, Rodgers drove for a 5-yard touchdown to Nelson that gave the Packers a 21-10 lead.

Tampa Bay then had a touchdown taken off the board in the third quarter when Kellen Winslow was called for offensive pass interference. The Buccaneers settled for a 32-yard field goal by Connor Barth.

“I really felt we made enough to plays to beat those guys,”
Winslow said. “It is hard to win when you put the game in the refs’ hands.”

The Buccaneers’ defense got a stop, and Freeman directed an eight-play, 91-yard scoring drive that ended with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Mike Williams. Tampa Bay tried to tie it with a 2-point conversion, but Winslow _ who had a pair of big gains on the drive _ dropped a catchable ball in the end zone.

Packers running back James Starks did the majority of the work in an eight-play, 85-yard scoring drive that ended with a 2-yard touchdown run by Kuhn.

But the Buccaneers got another chance when Rodgers threw an interception to Elbert Mack _ only Rodgers’ fourth pick this season
_ and Freeman threw a 37-yard pass to Arrelious Benn to set up first-and-goal at the 2.

Freeman then threw a touchdown to Dezmon Briscoe and the Buccaneers kicked the extra point to cut the Packers’ lead to 28-26 with 4:25 left.

Tampa Bay tried another onside kick, but the Packers recovered and Rodgers found Nelson to put the game away.

Morris knew he might get second-guessed for the onside kicks but wasn’t apologizing.

“We wanted to get the ball and win,” Morris said. “We are not going to apologize for being aggressive. When you play the Green Bay Packers, you’ve got to play aggressive, you’ve got to go out and make plays. (You’ve) got to steal possessions.”
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer

Posted: Nov 14, 2011 04:22 PM

John McCargo will get his third shot with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Bills former No. 1 pick was re-signed by Tampa Bay Monday as the team placed DE George Johnson on injured reserve.

Johnson, who was seeing some action at defensive tackle, suffered a knee injury in Sunday’s 37-9 loss to the Houston Texans.

McCargo spent about a week with the Bucs in training camp. He was re-signed last week and practiced with the team on Wednesday. But shortly after practice ended, McCargo was released to make room for DT Albert Haynesworth, who was claimed off waivers from New England.

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By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer

In Print: Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Texans running back Arian Foster scores a touchdown Sunday as Bucs safety Sean Jones tries to take him down. Foster turned a short pass in the flat into a 78-yard score.
	[DANIEL WALLACE | Times]

TAMPA — Evaluating the film of the Bucs’ 37-9 loss to the Texans, coach Raheem Morris expected some players to earn poor performance grades. But he couldn’t even hand out an E for effort.

Morris said Monday the Bucs had “some issues with effort” from several players on defense, which yielded two long touchdown passes that resulted in the team’s third straight loss and fourth in five games.

While continuing to take responsibility, Morris said the Bucs will practice in pads twice this week to prepare for Sunday’s game at Green Bay in hopes of improving a lack of “physicality.”

On Sunday’s first play, Texans quarterback Matt Schaub hit receiver Jacoby Jones for an 80-yard touchdown, a play in which safeties Sean Jones and Tanard Jackson appeared to take bad angles, then missed tackles. Later in the first half, running back Arian Foster took a pass in the left flat, made cornerback Aqib Talib miss and avoided Sean Jones as he was chased to the end zone by Jackson for a 78-yard touchdown.

“On defense we had some issues with effort on some of the big plays, the two big plays,” Morris said Monday. “That’s something that is very uncommon. Some of it was because of injury or whatever the case may be, but you can’t go out there and make excuses. You’ve got to play as hard as you possibly can at all times.

“We had a loaf. We had a couple loafs, uncharacteristic loafs we usually don’t have … that popped up on those big plays and those are things that can’t happen.”

Morris, who doubles as defensive coordinator, watched his team yield 453 yards to the Saints two weeks ago and 420 yards to the Texans. The Bucs are allowing 6.39 yards per play. In the past 20 years, the only NFL defense that gave up more was the 2008 Lions at 6.41. Detroit was 0-16 that year.

One problem has been poor tackling, which Morris hopes to improve with two padded practices. Under the new collective bargaining agreement, NFL teams can only have 14 total padded practices during the regular season, 11 of which must be during the first 11 weeks.

“This week, and for the rest of the season, (we) can’t be concerned about preservation so much and (instead) get our physicality better,” Morris said. “The answer is putting on some pads. I got my mulligan this week, so I can put them on twice this week, and get as many as I can based on the rules to get these guys going. We’ve got to make plays in pads, both on offense and defense and special teams.”

Quarterback Josh Freeman was intercepted three times, sacked four times and completed less than 50 percent of his passes against the Texans. His second half scoring toss to Preston Parker gave Freeman nine TD passes and 13 interceptions.

Morris said Freeman hasn’t been helped by the poor play of his receivers.

“At the wide receiver position, we’ve got to compete a little bit more with those balls that are being thrown to us in the red zone in particular, and on third down, especially.”

After Sunday’s game, cornerback Ronde Barber, center Jeff Faine and tight end Kellen Winslow sat with Morris in Raymond James Stadium. They decided against a players’ only meeting and only coaches addressed the team Monday.

Now, a visit to Green Bay to play the defending Super Bowl champion Packers.

“It’s awesome,” Morris said. “This is the best time for the Green Bay Packers, the best team in the National Football League on deck, ready to deal. I have a chance to go upstairs and rebound and make all you guys love me again next week.”

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By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer

In Print: Tuesday, November 8, 2011

TAMPA — As huge a hole as DT Gerald McCoy‘s season-ending biceps injury creates, the Bucs already had problems stopping the run for most of this season.

Tampa Bay allowed 195 rushing yards in Sunday’s loss, when coach Raheem Morris said his defensive front was “flat-out out-physicalled” by the Saints. The Bucs, who rank 26th in run defense (132.4 yards), won’t have it any easier Sunday, when the Texans’ second-ranked rushing attack comes to town.

Houston RBs Arian Foster and Ben Tate each ran for more than 100 yards in Sunday’s rout of the Browns and are among the NFL’s top 10 rushers. The AFC South-leading Texans, who average 155.1 yards rushing, have won three straight.

“I think they’re coming in hot,” DT Frank Okam said. “Arian and Ben Tate have been a dynamic duo back there. They’re playing (with) one of the top offensive lines in the league as a unit right now. It’s definitely going to be a challenge.”

S Tanard Jackson said the Bucs’ struggles against the run Sunday were due to tackling. “We missed a lot of tackles,” Jackson said. “I wish I knew the stat, what the yards after contact was, but I’m sure it was a lot.”

The run defense could be aided with a potential return of Okam, who missed Sunday’s game with a calf injury but hopes to be back.

“When you give up yards like that, you have to start back at the fundamentals,” Okam said. “Linemen assignments, angles to tackling, gang tackling to stop leaky yardage. It all goes back to fundamentals you hone in on in training camp. It’s about guys playing to our capabilities.”

support for FREEman: Morris acknowledged that QB Josh Freeman “obviously is not playing his best football.”

Freeman is coming off a solid statistical games: his highest QB rating (103.5) of the season, with no interceptions. But there were two big missed opportunities, on wheel routes to running backs, that could have led to touchdowns. The Bucs haven’t been very good in the red zone all season, and Freeman has just eight touchdown passes in eight games (compared with 25 for the season a year ago) and has 10 interceptions.

“(We) miss two big, huge throws, whether you want to call them drops, or whether you want to call them misses. Those are the difference in the game,” Morris said. “When you get into the red zone on the Saints, you have to score touchdowns. They’re too good on offense not to capitalize when you do those things.”

But Morris isn’t concerned with his third-year quarterback.

“At the halfway point, you’re (playing) .500 ball, he’s got a chance to have his team go win eight more games,” Morris said. “All those guys believe in him, I know this whole organization does, we just want him to be great, and we’re going to help him get there.”

RED-FLAGGED: Penalties continue to be an issue for Tampa Bay, and the team is not using youth as an excuse.

Okam said it’s a matter of players using more “emotional intelligence,” not letting the heat of the moment take over. The Bucs had nine penalties for 80 yards Sunday, including a costly 15-yard personal foul on RB LeGarrette Blount for shoving the facemask of Saints DE Will Smith.

The Bucs have focused on the penalty problem in the film room, and reinforced it on the practice field. Morris said solving it has to come “from inside.”

“It has to come from deeper than just running in practice,” Morris said. “That has to be not wanting to hurt your team, that’s got to be unselfishness. It has got to be doing all those things that you care just about winning the football game more than you care about anything else. The internal sacrifice, that’s where it’s got to come from.”

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@sptimes.com.

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By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer

In Print: Sunday, November 6, 2011

The record will show the Bucs have lost games to the Lions, 49ers and Bears this season. But the truth is they’ve beaten themselves.

Tampa Bay is committing 8.4 penalties per game, second most in the NFL. According to coach Raheem Morris, of the 71 penalties called against the Bucs (59 accepted), 47 were avoidable.

“We’re talking about alignment issues; whether it’s wideouts, tackles, illegal formations — whatever the case may be,” Morris said. “That’s all mental preparation. Then you’re talking about mental lapses; whether it comes from fatigue or not, being in the right place at the right time when you’re talking about offside, be it on offense or defense. Those are the things you’ve got to be in control of.

“(Former defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin) used to call them foolish penalties. If you can eliminate some of the foolish penalties, you don’t worry so much about the judgment calls, the pass interference and things of that nature. Those things happen. That’s football.”

During their one gathering during the bye week, Morris forced his team to watch video of all 47 self-inflicted flags. Whether the Bucs have the youngest team in the NFL or not, penalties are the result of a lack of discipline, and Morris knows he has to get a handle on it quickly.

“So when you break it down, there’s about 47 of those foolish penalties you’d like to get rid of,” Morris said. “The celebration (penalty) after a touchdown, whether it’s a fight or taunting or talking to an official, even me talking to an official, those are things you can definitely control and eliminate.”

THE REAL MCCOY: DT Gerald McCoy returns to the lineup today against the Saints after missing two games with an ankle sprain sustained early in the Bucs’ 48-3 loss at San Francisco.

If you think McCoy’s absence hasn’t taken its toll, think again. With McCoy in the lineup, the Bucs produced 10 sacks over their first four games, including four-sack efforts in consecutive games against Atlanta and Indianapolis. Those teams also combined for only 92 rushing yards and no touchdowns.

In what amounts to nearly three games without McCoy, the Bucs have produced only two sacks while giving up 120 rushing yards to the 49ers’ Frank Gore and 145 to the Bears’ Matt Forte.

Tampa Bay now has the second-fewest sacks in the league with 12, three more than Kansas City. What’s more, the Bucs are on pace for 27 sacks this season, one more than last season’s dismal output that tied for 30th in the league.

McCoy said he knows he has to get pressure on the quarterback.

“As the season goes on, you want to turn it up,” McCoy said. “You don’t want to go down. You want to come out hot and get hotter and keep that until they say the season is over. Guys who are the leaders of the team, they have to turn it up, and that dial has to be turned up the longer the season goes.”

HIGH PRAISE: DE Adrian Clayborn, the first-round pick from Iowa, is getting noticed around the league.

He leads the Bucs with three sacks, and his relentless pursuit and ability to set the edge on running plays has impressed coaches.

“He’s physical. He’s got a variety of pass rush moves, and he loves playing,” New Orleans coach Sean Payton said. “The one thing I would say about Adrian Clayborn is he’s 100 mph for every play. And that is a fantastic trait for any player.”

Rick Stroud can be reached at stroud@sptimes.com.

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By JC De La Torre

– Gators/Bucs Editor

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Oct 21, 2011 – Hello there, ole chap. We have one amazing match for London’s onlookers as the swashbuckling pirates from Tampa Bay take on the Ursidae Mammals from the colonies’ second city, Chicago.

Now – as we break for a spot of tea – let’s review this American Footy and offer our insights before we say pip pip and cherio!

Okay…okay…I’ll stop with the British slang – not that I’m any good at it anyway.

The Bucs and Bears rekindle their old NFC Central rivalry in London as the NFL once again ships another Buccaneer home game overseas in hopes of seeding more interest in the sport.

Some Bucs fans will be happy to have a “home” game on television, while others still lament a loss of one of the precious 10 Sunday’s of the fall.

And of course, there’s Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio continuing to spread the bollocks that the Bucs may turn London into a permanent home.

Still, the Bucs do have an advantage in that they’ve done this trip before, they’ve learned from their mistakes and have planned appropriately. The Bears are treating this game like a normal road trip – something you don’t really want to do. Plus, they bring the baggage of Lance Briggs’ comments.

The veteran Chicago linebacker told reporters, ”I think there’s a big transition going on right now – The players and the management, they’re not seeing eye-to-eye on a lot of different issues and a lot of player situations. I don’t know where it’s going to go or how it’s going to pan out.

“I think it takes away from wanting to just go out on the football field and just play.”

Ruh roh.

So let’s take a look at the numbers for this showdown between former rivals.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Passing Game vs. Chicago Bears Pass Defense

Finally Josh Freeman and the Bucs’ passing game showed signs of life after five weeks of subpar play. Freeman was accurate, made good decisions, protected the football and kept the Bucs moving, tossing two touchdown passes in the Buccaneers upset of the New Orleans Saints. The good day for the passing game moved the Bucs up to 14th in the league passing. Regus Benn continues to improve and has become Tampa Bay’s most dangerous threat in the secondary, averaging 16.2 yards a reception. Kellen Winslow, Jr. is the team’s leading pass catcher while youngster Preston Parker has surprised as the team’s leader in receiving yardage and touchdown catches. Freeman is also among the least sacked quarterbacks in the NFL and is 4th in the NFL in rushing yards by a quarterback.

Julius Peppers will try to apply heat on Freeman. He leads the 25th ranked pass defense in the National Football League in sacks with 4 while battling through some injuries. He’s joined by DE Israel Idonije, who has 3 sacks as well. Chicago hasn’t been very opportunistic in the secondary, picking off just 4 passes this season (2 by middle linebacker Brian Urlacher).

Advantage: Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay Rushing Attack vs. Chicago Run Defense

The Buccaneers will likely again be without the services of battering ram LeGarrette Blount once again as he continues to nurse his MCL tear undisclosed knee injury. The Bucs didn’t need him against New Orleans as the Gray Gator Earnest Graham provided balance to the Bucs’ passing attack by pounding out 109 yards on 17 carries. Tampa Bay comes in with the 15th ranked running game in the NFL.

They’ll be facing a Bears team that has been disappointing in stopping the run in 2011. Chicago is 22nd in the league against the run, surrendering 121.8 yards a game. The aforementioned Briggs leads the team with 49 tackles (35 solo) and 4 tackles for loss while DB Charles Tillman ranks second with 42 tackles (36 solo).

Advantage: Tampa Bay

Chicago Bears Passing Game vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pass Defense

Jay Cutler may not be the most inspiring quarterback in the NFL, but he certainly has a cannon for an arm. Cutler has passed for 1,476 yards and 8 touchdowns this season despite his offensive line surrendering the third most sacks in the league. It’s those sacks that have stunted the progress of the Bears offense, causing them to be ranked 21st in the league in passing. 

Most of Cutler’s passes are sent to dual threat Matt Forte, who is deadly in the open field. Forte has 36 receptions for 381 yards and a touchdown. Johnny Knox and Devin Hester can score in a heart beat while Dane Sanzenbacher has found the end zone 3 times.

The Bucs’ secondary got instantly better with the return of safety Tarnard Jackson.  Tampa Bay forced three interceptions of super QB Drew Brees after recording just 2 in their first five games. The Bucs’ pass rush didn’t record a sack but harassed Brees into poor decisions throughout the contest. 

2011 1st round pick Adrian Clayborn has been the just miss guy, recording 13 quarterback pressures but just 2 sacks, tied for the team lead with Michael Bennett and fellow rookie MLB Mason Foster.

Both Foster and 2010 1st round bust pick Gerald McCoy appear to be healthy and available to play against Chicago.

Tampa Bay is 26th in the NFL in stopping the pass.

Advantage: Chicago

Chicago Rushing Attack vs. Tampa Bay Run Defense

Matt Forte is a beast in both the passing and running game for the Chicago Bears. Adding to Forte’s 381 yards receiving is his 527 yards rushing (7th in the NFL) and 1 touchdown. Forte is pretty much the entire Chicago running game with the exception of reverses or wildcats to Devin Hester, Johnny Knox and Dane Sanzenbacher. Despite Forte’s success, Chicago is 20th in the league in rushing.

The Bucs’ on again-off again run defense was on again for the mercurial Darren Sproles and the New Orleans Saints. Tampa Bay will need another big day from their defensive front to keep Forte in check. The Bucs are led by safety Sean Jones in tackles with 36. Geno Hayes and Brian Price are tied for the team lead in tackles for losses. The Bucs are 18th in the NFL against the run.

Advantage: Push

Special Teams

Say it with me, Bucs Fans: Coach Rah and punter/kickoff specialist Michael Koenen – whatever you do – DON’T KICK IT TO HESTER. Devin Hester continues to be one of the greatest returners in the history of the game. He’s now up to 16 kickoff/punt returns for touchdowns (including 2 this season). Kick it out of bounds, kick it to the third row at the 40 yard line – but don’t kick it to Hester.

The Bears battery of kickers is solid as well, as veteran Robbie Gould is a perfect 13-for-13 with a long of 51 on the season. Veteran punter Adam Podlesh is averaging 43.3 yards a punt with 8 pinned inside the opponents 20.

Tampa Bay counters with Connor Barth, who’s 12 of 14 with a long of 49. Michael Koenen handles the kickoff and punting duties for the Bucs. As a punter, he has an impressive 46.0 yards a punt and has pinned 12 inside the 20.

Preston Parker is the Bucs leading returner, averaging 21.3 yards a kickoff and 9.7 yds a punt return.

Both Tampa Bay and Chicago rank among league leaders in kick and punt return defense.

Advantage: Chicago

Coaching

Tampa Bay is led by Raheem Morris, whose in his third season with the Buccaneers. Morris has a record of 16-21, 13-8 in his last 21 games.

Lovie Smith enters his 8th season with the Bears, sporting a record of 66-52. Smith has led the Bears to three division titles and the 2006 NFC Championship. He has a 3-3 record in post-season play.

Advantage: Chicago

By the Numbers

• Chicago leads the all-time series 35-18.
• Chicago’s 35 victories is the most of any team in the NFL over Tampa Bay.
• Since leaving for the NFC South, Tampa Bay is 3-2 against the Bears
• Tampa Bay has won 9 of the last 14 meetings
• Tampa Bay is 0-1 in London, Chicago has never played a regular season game overseas.
• Tampa Bay is +3 in giveaway/takeaway ratio, Chicago is +2.

Outlook:

Two good football teams arrive in jolly ole England in different states of mind. Tampa Bay is coming of a huge victory over division rival New Orleans, tying them for first in the NFC South. The Bucs left for England on Monday and have been able to get acclimated to the climate and time difference, practicing their normal routine with little interruption.

Chicago also is coming off a big victory over a division rival but decided to leave on Thursday night and is dealing with the fallout from the Lance Briggs’ commentary on the state of mind of the Bears’ players, including the reference to the disagreements  are “(taking) away from wanting to just go out on the football field and just play.”

Still, that game was at home in front of a national television audience. This game will have the pomp-and-circumstance of a big game, but for the Bears one has to wonder if they’ll be ready for this football game.

The Bears also have issues protecting Jay Cutler, something that could feed into the Bucs’ aggressive defensive line (which will be bolstered by the return of McCoy).

The Bears defense is hardly the dominant force it once was, which should allow Josh Freeman to continue his resurgence. As long as Freeman protects the football, the Bucs contain Forte and don’t kick the ball to Hester, Tampa Bay should win this game.

 Prediction: Tampa Bay 23, Chicago 13

Read More: game preview, Michael Koenen (P – TAM), Julius Peppers (DE – CHI), Sean Jones (S – TAM), Kellen Winslow (TE – TAM), Jay Cutler (QB – CHI), Darren Sproles (RB – NOS), Lance Briggs (LB – CHI), Robbie Gould (K – CHI), Devin Hester (WR – CHI), Brian Urlacher (LB – CHI), Adam Podlesh (P – CHI), Connor Barth (K – TAM), Matt Forte (RB – CHI), Geno Hayes (LB – TAM), Josh Freeman (QB – TAM), Johnny Knox (WR – CHI), Gerald McCoy (DT – TAM), LeGarrette Blount (RB – TAM), Brian Price (DT – TAM), Preston Parker (WR – TAM), Adrian Clayborn (DE – TAM), Dane Sanzenbacher (WR – CHI), Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Oct 23, 2011 1:00 PM EDT

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By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer

In Print: Tuesday, October 18, 2011

TAMPA — The Bucs’ weeklong stay across the pond is under way.

With their game against the Bears at London’s Wembley Stadium approaching Sunday, the Bucs departed Monday via a chartered Virgin Atlantic jumbo jet from Tampa International Airport. They arrived at London’s Heathrow Airport late Monday after an eight-hour flight.

The decision to spend the week in London ahead of this weekend’s game is a major shift from the team’s approach to its 2009 contest in the United Kingdom. That time, to stay on East Coast time, the Bucs practiced in Tampa during the week before arriving in London on Friday evening. They went on to lose 35-7 to the Patriots.

This time, the Bucs will settle in for the week, hoping the transition is smoother. But the turnaround from Sunday afternoon’s game to Monday’s 8 a.m. departure was difficult.

“I’m glad we’re going early, but man, it’s early,” TE Kellen Winslow joked Sunday night. “It’s 9:12 right now, and we have to be on the bus at 7:30 (a.m.). You have to do what you have to do. It’s a long flight.”

The Bucs will practice and lodge 30 miles southwest of London in the town of Bagshot. They are expected to spend the weekend in downtown London.

BOUNCING BACK: CB Ronde Barber called the Bucs’ 45-point loss to the 49ers last week an “aberration,” and Sunday’s upset of the Saints suggests that’s true.

But what explains the dramatic turn of events from one week to the next? Preparation (or a lack thereof) might have something to do with it.

“Raheem (Morris) said it last week: Good teams take that beating and find a way to bounce back,” Barber said. “If you ask Rah, some of what happened last week started on Wednesday and Thursday. We definitely had a more energized practice (last) week. We were on our details. We didn’t try to beat ourselves.”

TALKING IT OUT: Yes, Winslow and QB Josh Freeman did quarrel after an incomplete third-down pass Sunday, but the net result of their disagreement appears to be positive.

“I felt like we came together out there,” Winslow said. “We had some arguments out there. It was real heated out there. But I’m kind of glad it happened because it really brought us together.”

MORE WINSLOW: Asked about his fourth-quarter hurdle of Saints CB Jabari Greer, Winslow had what might have been the best postgame quote, in which he made light of his wobbly right knee:

“Honestly, I don’t even know where that came from. I didn’t know I could do that anymore. I’m on one leg out there, but it’s all about helping your team out there. You can hurt later.”

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By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer

In Print: Friday, October 14, 2011

Earnest Graham

TAMPA — If it feels like it has been a long time since you’ve seen Earnest Graham as the Bucs’ primary ball carrier, it’s because, well, it has been.

When this subject is broached with Graham, the quiet veteran leader, he doesn’t wait until the question is complete before blurting out, “2008.”

Yes, Graham knows exactly how long he has been awaiting this shot. This time, it comes at the expense of LeGarrette Blount, who has a knee injury and is expected to miss the Bucs’ game Sunday against the Saints. Last time, it came in place of an injured Cadillac Williams, who didn’t return until midseason.

Regardless of how it came about, Graham is ready to make this opportunity count, as he finally returns to the role of starting tailback.

“I’m definitely looking forward to it because my team is counting on me, and they have a lot of confidence in me,” Graham said. “Over the years, they’ve always rooted for me to carry the ball quite a bit, but I didn’t get put in that situation. I’m definitely excited to step up for my team and provide something.”

Graham isn’t one to make outlandish or controversial statements. He’s measured and reserved. But it’s clear he wished he’d had more opportunities to carry the ball in recent seasons.

“You look at him in practice this week and he looks fresh,” guard Davin Joseph said. “He’s a little upbeat knowing he’s going to get to carry the rock.”

Graham has spent much of his time at fullback the past two seasons, out of necessity, a willing participant all the way.

But he has never forgotten his roots. He always has considered himself a running back first, going back to his school days at Mariner High in Cape Coral, where he earned the title of Florida’s Mr. Football in Class 6A in 1997. He certainly was every bit a running back at the University of Florida, where he scored 33 touchdowns and rushed for 3,065 yards.

Graham, undrafted out of UF in 2003, has provided reminders of his rushing ability since then.

He averaged more than 14 carries per game in the complete games he played in 2008 (he had one carry in a game in which he suffered a season-ending injury). He maximized those carries, averaging 4.3 yards per rush and recording three 100-yard games. In 2007, when he also spent most of the season as the lead ball carrier, Graham had 10 rushing touchdowns, third-most in franchise history.

But so much time has passed. And Graham, now 31, is in his eighth season. He has never been considered fast, and he doesn’t blind you with quickness.

He will likely share carries with Kregg Lumpkin on Sunday, but do the Bucs have doubts he still can carry the load?

“If we felt that way, we wouldn’t put him in there,” offensive coordinator Greg Olson said. ” … We have all the confidence in the world in Earnest, and we always have in the time that I’ve been here.”

That said, Graham is no Blount, a 250-pound specimen known for his violent running style.

“There’s no one way to replace what LeGarrette Blount’s able to do,” coach Raheem Morris said. “We don’t have anybody (that is) physically like that.”

But the Bucs argue the 5-foot-9, 225-pound Graham is a chameleon, able to adapt his game to the team’s preferred style of attack, which at the moment leans toward the power game.

“I really don’t think we’re going to change our game plan,” left tackle Donald Penn said. “We’re going to play Buc football.”

Graham says he can do that. The Bucs’ ability to keep possession of the ball and keep the Saints’ offensive juggernaut on the sideline depends on it.

“I’ve never had a problem running the football,” Graham said. “It’s never been a challenge for me. I can go in and be effective and any time I’ve ever started a football game, I’ve always been effective. There’s no doubt in my mind that I can get it done.”

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