Archives for September 19, 2005

‘The Bucs played like they had something to prove, holding the Bills to just 147 total yards – only 47 on the ground – and keeping the opportunistic Buffalo offense out of the end zone for the first time in eight games, dating to a 29-6 defeat at New England last Nov. 14. The Bucs, in fact, have not allowed a touchdown on defense in two games this season, having forced five turnovers in last weekend’s 24-13 victory at Minnesota.’

‘Right tackle Mike Williams got a scare when his left leg was rolled up in a pile of players in the third quarter. The team said Williams suffered an ankle injury, though he didn’t walk with a noticeable limp in the locker room after the game.’

‘Clad again in their throwback uniforms, the Bills turned in a road performance that was a throwback to the worst moments of the Bledsoe era.’

‘Offense didn’t come up with any solution to Bucs’ defensive scheming. Defense had trouble adjusting to runs up middle.’

‘Gruden made good use of his 3:17 a.m. wake-up calls. Kiffin made Losman’s life miserable. Maybe these Bucs are for real.’

‘"They blitzed more than we expected them to," said wide receiver Eric Moulds. "We expected them to come out and play similar to what they did at Minnesota in the first game. But they came out and totally shocked us as far as when they started blitzing. They had a great game plan and they executed it."’

‘Before padding his statistics during one final possession in garbage time, Losman was a mere 5 of 18 for 39 yards, including 3 of 10 on third down throws, many alarmingly off target even when he had time to throw.’

‘The Buccaneers ran for 11 first downs and two touchdowns. They hogged the ball for nearly 39 minutes, leaving Buffalo’s wilting defense looking like my lawn in this summer of little rain.’

‘True, this loss can’t be pinned solely on Losman, but the kid has to shoulder much of the blame.’

‘Turning point: J.P. Losman running out of the back of the end zone for a safety.’

‘This is exactly what Bills fans will have to endure with J.P. Losman this season.’

‘With the offense sputtering to even gain a first down, Tampa was able to dominate the time of possession and keep Buffalo’s defense on the field for nearly two-thirds of the game. Even for a solid defense like the one the Bills possess, asking that much of the unit will eventually lead to them breaking down and running out of gas.’

‘”I think it was a lesson learned,” Buffalo coach Mike Mularkey said. “They were more physical and they executed better than we did. This is what can happen when you play a good football team. It’s a wake-up call.”‘

‘”They had a good scheme. They knew where we would be and they watched my eyes the whole game,” Losman said. “We came in high as a kite, but (the Bucs) matched our physicalness and intensity.”‘

Defense Pays The Bills (Tampa Tribune)

Offensive Line Gets Stellar Reviews (Tampa Tribune)

Bills Offense Just Couldn’t Get It Going (Tampa Tribune)

Cadillac Is Leaving ‘Em In His Dust (Tampa Tribune)

Defense Humming Right Along (Tampa Tribune)

Bolden Is Asked To Do A Lot — And He Delivers (Tampa Tribune)

Bidwell, Bryant Make It Look Easy (Tampa Tribune)

Bucs Fans Experiencing Pass Interference At Gate (Tampa Tribune)

Bucs Report Card (Tampa Tribune)

Defense proving a point (Tampa Tribune)

Game photos (Tampa Tribune)

Cadillac ready to carry workload (St. Petersburg Times)

Age nothing but a number to Alstott (St. Petersburg Times)

Bucs feed off play of revamped O-line (St. Petersburg Times)

Fierce D conjures up new glory days (St. Petersburg Times)

By golly, Bucs may be on to something (St. Petersburg Times)

Penalties force Bucs to examine their focus (St. Petersburg Times)

Gimme 5 (St. Petersburg Times)

For fans, better safe than untouched (St. Petersburg Times)

A giant leap forward (Orlando Sentinel)

Bills talk, but Cadillac rolls (Orlando Sentinel)

Buffalo can’t go anywhere against this stingy bunch (Orlando Sentinel)

Defensive stand (Bradenton Herald)

Losman looks lost vs. Bucs (Bradenton Herald)

Bucs offense has case of Cadillacitis (Bradenton Herald)

Bucs Gameday (Bradenton Herald)

Bucs Smother Bills (Lakeland Ledger)

Defense Answers the Challenge Again (Lakeland Ledger)

Bills Offense Never Gets Going (Lakeland Ledger)

Give Some Credit to The O-Line (Lakeland Ledger)

NFL Notes (Lakeland Ledger)

Something old, something new (Fort Myers News Press)

Bucs’ defense devours Bills (Fort Myers News Press)

Rookie’s energy bolstering 2-0 Bucs (Fort Myers News Press)

Alstott savoring revamped run game (Fort Myers News Press)

A blast from the past (Naples Daily News)

Bucs’ O-line getting offensive (Naples Daily News)

This Caddy wasn’t about to shut down (Naples Daily News)

This Cadillac is on the cutting Edge (Naples Daily News)

Cadillac, Bucs drive to 2-0 (Daytona Beach News Journal)

Bucs are a conundrum (Daytona Beach News Journal)

Bucs running game in high gear; defense stops Bills cold (Sarasota Herald Tribune)

Hey! This is a lot like Dungy Ball (Sarasota Herald Tribune)

No TDs for Bucs’ ‘D’ (Sarasota Herald Tribune)

Alstott gets 50th (Sarasota Herald Tribune)

Quoting Bucs-Bills (Sarasota Herald Tribune)

Bucs’ report card (Sarasota Herald Tribune)

Follow That Line (Buccaneers.com)

Caddy, Defense Stampede Buffalo (Buccaneers.com)

Postgame quotes (Buccaneers.com)

Play-by-play (Buccaneers.com)

Game photos (Buccaneers.com)