Packers-Bucs scouting report for Week 9

The 4-3 Packers are in Tampa Bay to take on the 0-7 Buccaneers.  The Bucs were at 9-3 last season and lost their final 4 games as Jon Gruden was shown the door.  The Bucs have lost 11 straight games and haven’t won a game since last years week 13 against the Saints 23-20, more on that later.  Quarterback Josh Freeman will make his first NFL start against a team that ranks 4th in the NFL in total defense with 283.4 yards per game.  The Packers rank 9th in the NFL in both rushing defense with 99.4 yards per game and passing with 184 yards per game.  I attentively watch the NFL and the Packers defensive numbers are skewed in my opinion based off their opponents.  Brett Favre shredded them twice and Carson Palmer was able to pick them apart.  The Packers unloaded on Jay Cutler a real NFL quarterback, but padded stats against Marc Bulger/Kyle Boller, Daunte Culpepper, and Derek Anderson.  The run defense has played fairly well, but I don’t regard this unit as among the upper echelon of the NFL.  Dom Capers defense hasn’t been as good as I anticipated.  Too many square pegs in round holes for my liking.  Woodson and Harris excel is press coverage but don’t play it.  Aaron Kampman doesn’t get to play with hand in the ground.  Capers hasn’t adjusted his scheme to the pieces he as to work with this season.    

The Buccaneers defense resembles nothing recent memory would suggest.  This unit is in transition and is atrocious right now.  The Bucs rank 28th in total defense with 376.4 yards allowed per game.  They’re the 30th ranked rush defense with 162.4 yards per game and allow an average of 4.7 yards per carry.  Ryan Grant should be able to run through the creamsicle maze on Sunday.  The defense isn’t completely devoid of talent with middle linebacker Barrett Ruud leading the charge.  Ruud is 8th in the NFL with 64 tackles and is an IDP force while, corner Aqib Talib has displayed his ball hawking skills.  The second year corner is 4th in the NFL with 4 picks along with Charles Woodson.  Talib is an emerging player and will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.     

The Packers offense is 9th in total offense while the Buccaneers are 28th.  On paper this game should be a rout, but games aren’t played on paper.  The Buccaneers are a very weird team as they were 1 of 3 teams to fire their offensive coordinator, Jeff Jagozdinski just before the season stared.   Jags worked with the Packers twice and could he return for a third term?  OL coach James Campen is under fire and may be the fall guy after the season.  Tampa Bay also made a big free agent signing with RB Derrick Ward to go along with a long term deal in place for RB Earnest Graham.  However, Cadillac Williams has turned out to receive most of the carries.  The Bucs are usually so far down at halftime that they have to throw most of the second half.  If I’m Derrick Ward, I’m honked off as to why I signed in Tampa.  Fantasy owners (me!!!) are pissed off because we wasted a mid-round pick on this guy that never sees the field.  Graham has been used as a fullback and rarely even sees the ball.  Graham has 8 carries entering Sunday’s matchup, but ran for 10 TD’s in 2007.  The Bucs also signed run blocking WR Michael Clayton to an extension this offseason that seemed odd.  Clayton’s run blocking skills got him the deal, but I value a receiver’s ability to catch the ball more.  The Bucs do have some talent to build around with WR Antonio Bryant, TE Kellen Winslow, and a young offensive line.  Raheem Morris has a long way to go to be a head coach in the NFL and from what I’ve seen he wasn’t ready for the job.            

I would highly recommend playing all of your Packers this week in fantasy leagues.  Ryan Grant should have a good day against this unit.  WR Greg Jennings and Donald Driver will face a tougher challenge with Ronde Barber and Aqib Talib, but should still put up points.  With Clifton back and Tauscher possibly taking over at right tackle, Aaron Rodgers hopefully will have more time in the pocket.  I believe the Packers defense is the top rated unit in fantasy this week going against Josh Freeman in his first NFL start.  Charles Woodson is one of the best corners I’ve ever seen and should have a bust in Canton when his career is done.  I wouldn’t be surprised if Woodson had a pick six.  I would recommend Kellen Winslow this week because young QB’s are more inclined to throw to the tight end. 

Other things to watch for on Sunday, former Wisconsin Badgers fullback Chris Pressley was signed off the Bengals practice squad in October and wears number 45.  Also Hall of Famer Lee Roy Selmon will become the first inductee into the Bucs’ Ring of Honor at Raymond James Stadium, and the team will don throwback creamsicle uniforms and helmets from 1976.  The losing streak is at 11 and the Bucs lost their first 26 games before routing the Saints 33-14 in week 13 of the 1977 season.  The Bucs first franchise win was against the Saints and the last time they’ve won a game was against the Saints in week 13 of 2008.  I’m not sure what the mathematical odds of that happening, but I found it humorous.

Tags: Buccaneers, Packers