Here we Go... Last week of the PreSeason.
Dont miss the VIDEOS inside, Classic Enemy Flashback, and the Enemy Flashback movies of the Bucs vs the Texans.
We get started after the jump....
GAME INFORMATION
Date: Friday, September 4, 2009
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. ET
Site: Raymond James Stadium (65,890)
2009 Preseason Records: Tampa Bay 1-2, Houston 1-1* (Play Minnesota on Monday Night)
2008 Records: Tampa Bay 9-7, Houston 8-8
Buccaneers Television: WFLA-TV
Play-By-Play: Chris Myers, Color: John Lynch, Sideline: Dan Lucas
Bucs Radio: US 103.5, flagship station (103.5 FM, 620 AM)
Play-by-Play: Gene Deckerhoff, Color: Dave Moore, Sideline: T.J. Rives
Up Next: Tampa Bay vs. Dallas (9/13), Houston vs. N.Y. Jets (9/13)
LAST GAME RECAP Miami 10, Tampa Bay 6 (8/27/09) TAMPA BAY - Tampa Bay played host to the in- state rival Miami Dolphins in their 2009 preseason home opener, dropping a close contest in a game that featured a 45-minute weather delay in the second quarter. The Buccaneers dominated the early action prior to the delay, outgaining the Dolphins as they racked up 115 yards of offense to Miami’s 13 yards in the first quarter. Buccaneers RB Carnell Williams saw his first action of the preseason and first since suffering a serious knee injury in the final contest of 2008. The former NFL offensive rookie of the year rushed for a game-high 54 yards on eight carries for an impressive 6.8 average per rush. Tampa Bay drove into Miami territory on the game’s opening drive, but was forced to punt. However, P Dirk Johnson’s punt was deflected and touched by a Miami player, which RB Clifton Smith recovered for the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay took advantage of the regained possession as K Mike Nugent hit a 29-yard field goal eight plays later for a 3-0 lead.
The Buccaneers entered Miami territory on their next possession, but again had to settle for a Nugent field goal on the first play of the second quarter for a 6-0 lead. With 10:11 remaining in the first half, lightning in the area forced a 45-minute delay. Following the break in action, Miami got on the board with a 34-yard K Dan Carpenter field goal on the last play of the first half. Set up by a 54-yard pass play, the Dolphins would take a 10-6 lead on the first possession of the second half as QB Chad Pennington connected with TE Anthony Fasano for a two-yard score for what proved to be the final points of the contest.
ALL-TIME SERIES
For the eighth consecutive year, the Buccaneers will face the Texans to conclude the preseason. It marks the fourth preseason game against the Texans at Raymond James Stadium. The Buccaneers have won six of the previous seven preseason meetings, 17-13 in Houston (2002), 34-3 in Tampa (2003), 17-9 in Houston (2004), 38-14 in Tampa (2005), 31-24 in Tampa (2007) and 16-6 in Houston (2008).
The Buccaneers and the Texans have met twice in the regular season with the home team winning each game. Tampa hosted Houston on December 14, 2003, and won 16-3. Buccaneers were led by RB Thomas Jones who had 134 rushing yards and a touchdown and K Martin Gramatica connected on three field goals. Houston evened up the series when the teams met on December 9, 2007, with a 28-14 win. Texans WR André Davis had a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and QB Sage Rosenfels completed 27-of-36 pass attempts for 209 yards and three touchdowns in the victory.
PRESEASON MEETINGS
Tampa Bay leads 6-1
(2002 W, 17-13 2003 W, 34-3 2004 W, 17-9 2005 W, 38-14 2006 L, 16-13 2007 W, 31-24 2008 W, 16-6)
LAST MEETING (PRESEASON) Tampa Bay 16, Houston 6 (8/28/08) HOUSTON – Relying exclusively on reserves, the Buccaneers limited the Texans offense to just 195 yards, marking the third time in four preseason contests that Tampa Bay held an opponent to fewer than 200 yards of total offense. The Buccaneers finished the preseason as the NFL’s top-ranked defense, allowing just 192 yards per game. Offensively, Tampa Bay rushed for more than 100 yards for the third time in the preseason and 11 different receivers caught a pass against the Texans. Houston took a 3-0 lead on the opening drive of the game on a K Kris Brown 53-yard field goal for the only scoring of the first quarter.
Tampa Bay took the lead with 13:49 remaining in the first half as rookie WR Dexter Jackson fielded a punt and raced 83 yards up the sideline for a touchdown. Houston trimmed the lead to 7-6 on the final play of the first half on a Brown 41-yard field goal. Following a scoreless third quarter, K Matt Bryant connected on field goals on consecutive Tampa Bay possessions to push the lead to 13-6. Tampa Bay forced a three-and-out by the Texans offense with less than four minutes remaining and Bryant hit a 31-yard field goal on the ensuing possession to secure the victory.
2 LAST MEETING (REGULAR SEASON) Houston 28, Tampa Bay 14 (12/9/07) HOUSTON – Visiting Houston for the first time during the regular season, Tampa Bay dropped its first regular season contest to the Texans, ending the Buccaneers four-game winning streak. Houston took its first possession 66 yards to go up 7-0 on a QB Sage Rosenfels to WR Andre Johnson four-yard touchdown pass with 3:59 remaining in the first quarter. On Houston’s second possession, Buccaneers DE Greg White sacked and forced a Rosenfels fumble that Tampa Bay recovered at the Texans 25-yard line. Five plays later, RB Earnest Graham tied the game on a four-yard touchdown run. It marked Graham’s fifth consecutive game with a touchdown, tying the team record for consecutive games with a score. Following a Texans punt on their next drive, Tampa Bay turned the ball over inside its own 30-yard line. The Texans took advantage and went up 14-7 as Rosenfels connected with WR Kevin Walter on an eight-yard touchdown pass.
Houston extended its lead to 21-7 on the opening kickoff of the second half as WR Andre Davis raced 97 yards for a touchdown. Tampa Bay pulled back within seven just four plays later as Graham ran 11 yards for a touchdown. Houston threatened late in the third quarter, driving to the Buccaneers 34-yard line, but White registered his 2.5 sack of the day while forcing his second fumble. However, the Buccaneers were not able to capitalize on the turnover as they mishandled a snap three plays later to give the Texans possession. The Texans pushed their lead to 28-14 on the ensuing drive as Rosenfels found TE Owen Daniels in the back of the end zone on the first play of the fourth quarter. Tampa Bay would enter Houston territory twice in the fourth quarter, but could not cut into the Texans lead.
PRESEASON SERIES HIGHLIGHTS
Tampa Bay raced out with a pair of touchdowns in the first quarter from its defense and special teams unit en route to a 17-13 win over the then expansion Houston Texans (8/30/02)... The Buccaneers led 14-0 after the first eight plays of the game thanks to a fumble recovery that was returned for a touchdown by S Dexter Jackson and a blocked punt by S John Howell that was returned for a touchdown by RB Aaron Stecker... The Buccaneers closed out their preseason with an impressive offensive display that included 334 total yards on offense, 169 coming from the running game in a 34-3 win over the Texans (8/30/03)... Tampa Bay’s three quarterbacks, starter Brad Johnson, and backups Brian Griese and Chris Simms, connected on 22-of-34 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns in a 17-9 win over Houston (9/2/04)... The defense was able to cause three turnovers to help Tampa secure the victory in the preseason finale.
Behind a dominating performance in all three phases of the game, Tampa Bay closed out the 2005 preseason with a 38-14 victory over the Houston Texans (9/1/05)... Tampa started the game with a 38-0 run to cruising to their fourth consecutive preseason victory over the Texans... QB Chris Simms ended the preseason with his best performance, completing 12-of-16 passes for 163 yards and three touchdowns... Tampa’s defense was equally impressive, forcing two turnovers and one three-and-out on the Texans first three drives of the game... The visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers battled back from a 10-point first-half deficit behind the play of rookie QB Bruce Gradkowski, but ultimately fell to the Houston Texans 16-13 in the preseason finale (8/31/06)... Gradkowski led the team in passing and rushing, completing 13-of-17 passes for 90 yards and one touchdown while also rushing for 47 yards on three carries.
Texans kicker Kris Brown hit his third field goal of the evening with 5:51 remaining in the contest to put the Texans in the lead for good 16-13... WR Paris Warren caught a 31-yard touchdown pass from QB Bruce Gradkowski with three minutes remaining to help Tampa Bay earn its fifth preseason victory in the last six years against Houston 31-24 (8/30/07)... On the play, Warren suffered a season-ending ankle injury while finishing the game as the leading receiver with seven catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns... The Buccaneers limited the Texans offense to just 195 yards and rookie WR Dexter Jackson fielded a punt and raced 83 yards up the sideline for a touchdown (8/28/08).
CONNECTIONS
- Texans Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach Kyle Shanahan was the Offensive Quality Control Coach for the Bucs from 2004-2005.
- Texans Special Teams Coordinator Joe Marciano was Special Teams Coach for the Bucs from 1996-2001.
- Texans Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line Coach Bill Kollar was the Defensive Line/ Special Teams Coach for the Bucs in 1984.
Buccaneers Defensive Coordinator Jim Bates coached the San Antonio Gunslingers of the USFL, serving as the defensive coordinator (1984) and head coach (1985). Bates also coached at Texas Tech University from 1978-83, serving as the secondary coach (1978-79) and then as defensive coordinator/secondary coach (1980-83).
- Buccaneers Director of College Scouting Dennis Hickey spent two years (1994-95) as an assistant coach at Blinn Junior College in Brenham, Texas before joining the Buccaneers. At Blinn, Hickey coached the defensive backs and was responsible for recruiting the state of Texas.
- Buccaneers rookie DT Roy Miller attended the University of Texas and calls Kileen, Texas home.
- Buccaneers T Anthony Alabi attended Texas Christian University and is originally from San Antonio where he was a standout at Antonian College Prep.
- Bucs K Matt Bryant attended Baylor University and is originally from Orange, Texas attending Bridge City High School.
- Buccaneers FB Jameel Cook played for the Texans from 2006-2007. - Buccaneers WR Cortez Hankton attended Texas Southern University. - Buccaneers QB Luke McCown is originally from Jacksonville, Texas and holds
football camps there for children every summer with his older brother Josh, who plays for the Carolina Panthers. - - Buccaneers DE/DT Jimmy Wilkerson was born and raised in Omaha, Texas attending Paul H. Pewitt High School. - Bucs CB Aqib Talib is originally from Richardson, Texas attending Berkner High School.
2009 PRESEASON LEADERS
Passing Yards - 224, QB Byron Leftwich
Passing Touchdowns - 2, QB Luke McCown
Rushing Yards - 74, RB Kareem Huggins
Rushing Touchdowns - 1, QB Josh Johnson, Josh Freeman
Tackles - LB Adam Hayward
Interceptions - 1, DT Chris Bradwell, S Sabby Piscitelli, DE Stylez G. White
Sacks - 2.0, DT Chris Bradwell, DE Louis Holmes
Quarterback Pressures - 4, DT Chris Bradwell, DE Louis Holmes
PRESEASON SUCCESS
Through the first three games of the preseason, the Buccaneers have shown early success in the running game on both sides of the ball. Offensively, the Bucs currently rank sixth in the NFL with 424 yards rushing on 90 carries (4.7 avg.). The four headed rushing machine of Earnest Graham, Clifton Smith, Carnell Williams and free agent acquisition Derrick Ward has shown that they all can make the most of their carries. Williams, who saw his first action of the preseason against Miami last week, has eight rushes for 54 yards (6.8 avg.) while Ward has 52 yards on 13 carries (4.0 avg.), Graham has 40 yards on nine carries (4.4 avg.) and Smith has 33 yards on seven carries (4.7 avg.). Adding to the mix has been rookie RB Kareem Huggins, who leads the team with 74 yards rushing on 19 carries (3.9 avg.).
Defensively, the Buccaneers have been just as strong, ranking third in the league in rushing defense and 10th in overall defense. The team has held opponents to only 232 rushing yards on 73 carries for a 3.2 yards per carry average. Tampa Bay has also shown a strong pass rush, ranking fourth in the league in sacks per pass play (9.6) and have been the second best team in the preseason in defensive third down efficiency.
Classic Enemy Flashback Clip....
Thomas Jones TD run! Remember him?
THOMAS JONES- Another Bruce Allen/Jon Gruden mistake? They did not see the talent in him, and let him go, only to go out and try to get Charlie Gardner ?
Don't Miss Sunday's Feature article " What went wrong with Jon Gruden"