Preview: Buccaneers @ Broncos - October 5, 2008

By Totals 4 U

Tampa Bay (3-1) tallied its third consecutive victory with a 30-21 win over the Packers last week at the Disney ride that is Raymond James Stadium, controlling the ball for 36:50 while forcing 4 turnovers and topping Green Bay 327 yards to 181. The Buccaneers’ line is young with only 6’3” 291 C Jeff Faine entering 2008 with more than a pair of NFL seasons under his belt but trap and pull extremely well, consistently keeping opponents off balance long enough for the running back duo of 5’9” 225 Ernest Graham (57 for 334 yards and 2 TD) and 5’9” 180 Warrick Dunn (42 for 97 and TD rushing, 10 for 82 receiving) to slip and slide for a ground attack that has averaged133.8 yards per game at a brisk 5.0 yard per carry clip. RG Davin Joseph has been battling through a foot injury but has practiced and his unit has given 6’3” 214 QB Brian Griese (71 of 128 for 716 yards, 4 TD, 6 INT) the time with just 4 sacks allowed through 4 games to get the ball down field to receivers 6’1” 205 Antonio Bryant (17 for 220 yards), 5’11” 210 Ike Hilliard (18 for 264 and 2 TD), and 6’4” 215 Michael Clayton (9 for 88) but his accuracy has been spotty at best so – especially with Galloway still sidelined with a foot injury – expect Offensive Coordinator Bill Muir to continue to rely on Tampa’s tight ends in the mid-range. When the running game is working, the trio of 6’4” 258 Alex Smith (9 for 98 and TD), 6’7” 260 Jeremy Stevens (5 for 61 and TD), and 6’5” 257 John Gilmore (4 for 53 and TD) create major match up problems in multiple tight end sets and are the guys you must focus on in the red zone.

Defensive Coordinator Monte Kiffen’s unit has been superb this season in all facets of the game, including posting 3 defensive scores off their 8 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries. Starting ends Kevin Carter (10 T, 2 ½ S) and Gaines Adams (8 T, 3 S, INT) have been sharp against the run and in pass rush but the beauty of this line is found in the middle where a pair of underrated players, 6’2” 296 LT Chris Hovan (18 T) and 6’2” 285 RT Jovan Haye (10 T), gobble up blockers as well as bigger men and use their quickness to split their gaps. Hovan, who was little more than an undersized clown early in his career, has matured into one heck of a pro and keep your eye out for rush specialist 6’3” 268 DE Greg White (10 T, 3 ½ S) who has proved himself invaluable in substitution for the 13-year veteran Carter. By the numbers, the Buccaneers allow 98.0 rush yards per game at 3.6 yards per carry plus 216.5 yards passing at 7.2 yards per attempt and by the plays made, 6’2” 241 4^th-year MLB Barrett Ruud (30 T, S, 2 INT) is clearly the heart of this stopper group. 14^th-year WLB Derrick Brooks (13 T, FF, INT) is slowing down and currently fighting a hamstring injury while SLB Cato June (17 T) has been playing below his best and Ruud brings a ton of energy and has shown good ball skills, snaring picks over his shoulders where other players may get bat-downs. To beat this crew, you’ve got to keep your quarterback upright (11 sacks) long enough to go after this defensive backfield. 5’11” 186 LCB Phillip Buchanon (14 T, INT) and 12^th-year 5’10” 184 RCB Ronde Barber (17 T, S) can be pushed around while safeties 6’0” 200 Tanard Jackson (14 T) and 6’2” 200 Jermaine Phillips (16 T, FR) are only average. When he’s ready, 6’1” 206 rookie CB Aquib Talib (4 T, INT) will certainly get his shot at one of these jobs. Tampa’s not an elite team but they’ll grind opponents into consistently playing below their abilities.

Denver (3-1) was stunned by the Chiefs last week in a 19-33 loss in which the Broncos allowed Larry Johnson to run over them for 198 yards and his team to better than double their totals points on the season while earning their first victory in 11 months. Of course, for Defensive Coordinator Bob Slowik’s squad this isn’t anything new. Denver’s stoppers have picked up right where they left off in 2007. So far in 2008, they rank 29^th in points (29.2) and 30^th in yards (408.8) allowed per game while ranking 24^th against the run (132.8 yards per game at 5.0 yards per carry) and 31^st against the pass (276.0 yards per game at 8.4 yards per attempt). On the good news front, 6’1” 308 Dewayne Robertson has been fully participating in practice and should be back at left defensive tackle where Kenny Peterson (7 T, 2 S) has been holding his place but now 6’4” 260 LDE John Engelberger (14 T, S) is missing practice time with a knee injury which may push under-achieving Ebenezer Ekuban into the starting role while 5’11” 260 starting RE Elvis Dumervil…just…plain…sucks. Two totals tackles (never mind the bloated figures for all players according to the team) through 4 starts without a single sack for a guy that gets thrown around against the run is not good. WLB DJ Williams (34 T, S) and MLB Nate Webster (30 T) are good players trying to wade through the wash while 6’3” 232 SLB Boss Bailey (23 T) has been less than 100% with a nagging ankle issue and Denver’s secondary is aging fast. Safeties Marquand Manuel (25 T) and Marlon McCree (15 T) are decent but 6’0” 192 10^th-year LCB Champ Bailey (16 T, INT) and 5’10” 188 10^th-year RCB Dre Bly (20 T) have never been big on contact and need help if the front 7 doesn’t get more pressure than the current level of 2 amassed team sacks.

As porous as the Bronco defense has been, Offensive Coordinator Rick Dennison’s crew has been explosive. Aside from the out-of-character 3 interception performance against the Chiefs, 6’3” 233 QB Jay Cutler (102 of 157 for 1275 yards, 9 TD, 4 INT) has been shelling defenses to his young receivers 6’4” 230 Brandon Marshall (31 for 398 yards and 3 TD) and 5’10” 182 rookie Eddie Royal (27 for 298 and 2 TD, 16.6 yards per punt return) with veteran Brandon Stokley (15 for 181) doing the dirty work in the slot. Give safety help and Denver will shred you with dynamite depth at the tight end position. Nate Jackson (4 for 12 yards and TD) and Daniel Graham (6 for 72) are solid performers but 6’5” 250 3^rd-year TE Anthony Scheffler is breaking out as a serious weapon, racking up 194 yards with his 12 catches and adding 3 scores. With Tom Nalen on the IR, Mike Shanahan’s offensive line has been a mix and match affair but the squad of 6’6” 325 rookie LT Ryan Clady, LG Ben Hamilton, C Casey Weigmann, RG Chris Kuper, and RT Ryan Harris has acquitted themselves reasonably well in pass protection with 6 sacks surrendered over some 170 drop-backs and have pounded out the holes for running backs 5’11” 215 Selvin Young (37 for 228 yards and TD), 5’10” 212 Andre Hall (27 for 131), and 6’0” 225 Michael Pittman (23 for 80 and 4 TD rushing, 3 for 53 receiving) to thrive. The Broncos attack is among the leagues best, ranking 2^nd in points (33.2) and 1^st in yards (435.5) per game while holding the NFL’s 2^nd-best passing offense at 314.2 yards per game at a whopping 8.1 yards per attempt.

FREE SELECTION: So just how many points could the Broncos’ offense rack up against the Broncos’ defense? Alas, we’ll never find out but we think they can make some hay with Scheffler, Marshall, and Royal against the Buccaneers’ secondary. Shanahan at Mile High is a tough task and we just don’t think Tampa’s conservative offensive can properly expose Slowik’s defense. Take Denver –3!