The biggest change was in Lovie Smith, and if nothing else it had to bring a smile to long suffering Bucs fans.
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DEFENSIVE ROOKIE IN FIRST HALF: Linebacker Kwon Alexander. “Same thing with Gerald”, Smith said, via the Tampa Bay Times. They still have a lot of weapons on the offensive side.
In order for a rookie quarterback to succeed, he should not be asked to carry the load.
In fact, it hasn’t mattered if Dallas scored more than 20 points, as they’ve managed to lose four games this season while scoring 20 points or more. “If I don’t get the outcome I want, I’m just going to keep working”, he said.
Another reason Koetter and his coaches have emphasized the run is that have yet to enjoy a full complement of receivers. To make matters worse, the team had to place Louis Murphy on injured reserve in late October. “That’s after two weeks of practicing”.
After suffering six straight losses to a few pretty tough teams, the Dallas Cowboys finally have a team that they can beat.
“We’re going to get to the quarterback, I know I am, I know others guys as well”, he said. Cole Beasley had a nice breakout game against the Eagles and will look to build on that. With this in mind, Licht and Smith went out and signed several former Cowboys-Henry Melton, Bruce Carter and Sterling Moore-as free agents, hoping that they might duplicate their 2014 success. Thus far, it hasn’t happened.
Meanwhile, the Bucs are also coming off a loss, a 32-18 beating in the hands of the NY Giants at their home stadium last Sunday, via NBC Sports’ Pro Football Talk. Receiver Vincent Jackson has missed the past two games with a knee injury and tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins has been out since injuring his shoulder in Week 2. So we are going to take a look at that In particular, the Giants’ final defensive stand. At this point the defense was protecting a narrow 23-18 lead.
Special Teams coordinator Kevin O’Dea has been with the team for eight years. This season, the Buccaneers” “teams are ranked in the bottom third across the board. If replacement quarterback Matt Cassel, who is getting more and more comfortable in the offense, can avoid the big turnover, the Cowboys believe they have a chance this Sunday.
This has been one of the dominant storylines in Tampa Bay this season. With just over nine minutes to go in the game, the Bucs were a failed two-point conversion from tying it at 20. The loss of manpower has hurt a unit that, already peopled by a lot of new and young players, desperately needs continuity. The Buccaneers defense is allowing 28.9 points and 349 yards with six interceptions, 17 sacks, and 13 fumble recoveries.
Cassel has a personal five-game losing streak, not counting the season opener this year when he lined up at quarterback for the Buffalo Bills and starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor was split out wide. Though the ball hits him in the numbers, a potential pickup of 40 yards or more still slips through his arms. And that’s where the Cowboys must be most anxious: Tampa Bay can take the ball away.
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SERIES HISTORY: 15th regular season meeting. That strength was short lived as stalwart defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins was lost for the season after tearing his pectoral muscle early in the game. But in order to win football games, the offense has to put the ball into the end zone.
