Bucs-Jags: Under Pressure

After a week where the secondary was decimated by off the field incidents, the Buccaneers defensive backs dealt with on the field miscues, giving up two long plays that led to fourteen points by the Jacksonville Jaguars and a 14-3 deficit.

Still, other than those two bumps the Bucs defense showed some life, especially in the pass rush department by sacking Jacksonville quarterbacks five times and pressuring them throughout the contest.

Gaines Adams bounced back after being invisible in week one. While he only registered one tackle in the game, Adams was disruptive in the Jags backfield pressuring starter David Garrard several times.

While the Bucs defense was hot and cold, the offense came alive under both Byron Leftwich and Luke McCown. The latter stated is strongest case to date of why he should be the starting quarterback for the Buccaneers.

After Leftwich led the Buccaneers to three points in three series, McCown took advantage of field position set up by a 76 yd kickoff return by rookie phenom Sammie Stroughter. McCown found Jerramy Stevens on a 17 yd score, shaving the lead to four.

After the defense pitched a three-and-out, McCown marched the Bucs 45 yds in 11 play, finishing it with a 9 yd touchdown pass to Stroughter to give the Bucs a lead before halftime.

The stats for the two competitors -

• McCown - 6-for-9, 51 yds, 2 Touchdowns
• Leftwich - 6-for-12, 63 yds, 1 rush for 2 yds.

Bucs top pick Josh Freeman came in in the third quarter and impressed on his opening drive. Freeman led the Bucs on an 11 play, 80 yd drive. Freeman converted three third downs on the drive including his 28 yd touchdown run that added to the Bucs lead 24-14.

Freeman would quarterback one more drive but poor field position and penalties would stymie the drive. Freeman finished 3-for-5 for 47 yds, 1 rush, 28 yds, 1 TD.

Josh Johnson came in for the fourth quarter but could not build on his solid effort in the pre-season opener. Johnson's four drives resulted in three punts and a missed 46 yd field goal by Mike Nugent. Johnson would pass for 21 yds on 2 completions in four attempts.

While the quarterbacks continued to battle for the head job, the Bucs running game got on track, pounding out 159 yards and averaging 4.2 yards per carry. The Bucs top free agent acquisition Derrick Ward showed some sensational moves as he cut through gaping holes and hurdled tacklers for 40 yds on just five carries.

Defensively, the Bucs weren't happy with their pass defense. Despite offering a steady pass rush, David Garrard carved up the Bucs secondary for 216 yds and a touchdown. Most of the damage was done by wide out Troy Williamson who finished with three catches, 147 yds, and that 74 yd touchdown score on the game's opening play.

Sabby Piscitelli had a rough outing, missing a couple assignments that led to long passing plays.

Bucs reserve defensive end Louis Holmes stated his case to make the team, registering two sacks.

Both Tanard Jackson and Aquib Talib played in the ballgame. Jackson was suspended for the first four games by the NFL for violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy. Talib was arrested the next day for punching a cabby in the head. He's expected to also be suspended, leaving the Buccaneers without two key members of their secondary at the start of the season.

The Bucs secondary added a couple names to the injury list as linebacker/safety Jermaine Phillips suffered a shoulder bruise and Elbert Mack suffered an ankle injury. Phillips is expected to play on Thursday night against Miami. Safety Will Allen (shoulder) should be back for the Dolphins game.

Tampa Bay's Angelo Crowell will not be as lucky. The oft-injured linebacker will be out for the remainder of the season with a torn bicep. Crowell was signed despite recovering from a knee problem and was expected to add experience to a young linebacking core.

Head Coach Raheem Morris had previously stated the Buccaneers would decide on the quarterback competition after the second pre-season game. After an entire off-season of organized team activities, a training camp and two pre-season games neither Luke McCown or Byron Leftwich appear to have a tight reign on the job.

Leftwich seemed to have the advantage, but after another week were he was largely inaccurate and a strong performance of McCown, who showed he can lead the Bucs to scores in the red zone, the choice is as muddy as ever.

Statistically speaking, through two games, McCown has a decided edge in passer rating (107.5 to 73.2), completion percentage (58.8% to 46.2%) and touchdown passes (2 to 1). Leftwich has thrown for more yards (124 yds to 70 yds).

It should be interesting to see if Morris expands the QB competition another week or decides to make a final decision based on the evidence he has.