BucShotz

Times staff writer Tom Jones looks back at Sunday's Bucs-Panthers game.

By TOM JONES, Times Staff Writer
Published October 1, 2007

Craziest story line

Three weeks ago, which would you have picked to be the most unlikely scenario:

The Bucs would be 3-1.

USF would be ranked No. 6 in the country.

The Mets would not be in baseball's postseason.

Quite frankly, after the opening loss to the Seahawks, the Bucs at 3-1 and leading the NFC South seemed about as likely as Lindsay Lohan starring in Mother Teresa: The Early Years.

Question of the day

Seriously, other than the Cowboys, can you name an NFC team that is clearly better than the Bucs right now?

Most touching sight

Watching the entire Bucs team come over to a fallen Cadillac Williams after the running back suffered a knee injury late in the first quarter. As announcer Sam Rosen said, "I don't think I've ever seen something like that."

Worst injury

As bad as Cadillac Williams' knee injury looked and is, losing left tackle Luke Petitgout is potentially a far more devastating injury to the Bucs.

Best stat

The Bucs didn't commit a penalty until they purposely took a delay of game with 12:49 left in the fourth quarter.

MVP

Let's hear it for Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin. Just when you give up on him ... he pulls you back in again.

Best statement

Offense: 11 plays, 71 yards; 6 minutes, 17 seconds; touchdown.

Defense: Three and out.

That's how you start a ballgame.

Best point

An example why Fox analyst Tim Ryan is so solid: After pointing out the frenetic start that staked the Bucs to a 14-0 lead, he commented on how things changed in the second quarter.

"Notice," Ryan said, "how the Bucs have slowed the pace now that they're up 14?"

Actually, until Ryan astutely pointed it out, we hadn't noticed.

Potentially biggest mistake

The Bucs are up 14. They're driving. Deep in Panthers territory. About to go up 21 or, at least, 17. And Ike Hilliard turns into Butter Fingers. Fortunately for the Bucs, the turnover didn't suddenly turn Panthers quarterback David Carr into someone who could be mistaken for a legitimate NFL quarterback.

Hilliard more than made up for it by catching a 56-yard pass on the Bucs' next possession. And he was the Bucs' offensive MVP for the day. Well, the MVP if you don't count Jeff Garcia.

Favorite comment

ESPN's Mike Ditka, who might be a few fries short of a Happy Meal himself, said this on ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown: "I love Jeff Garcia. He's crazy, but I love him."

Strangest decision

If I were a Panthers fan, I would be furious that my team was down by 20 with 4:50 left, near its own 40-yard line and punted - after twice going for it on fourth down. Did the Panthers need a miracle to win? Sure. But I'd rather have them try for a miracle than settle for giving up.

Most ominous quote

The Bucs caught a bit of a break when Panthers starting quarterback Jake Delhomme missed the game with a bad elbow. The Bucs' fortune could mean serious misfortune for the Panthers and Delhomme.

"That injury will not be easy for Delhomme to get over," analyst Terry Bradshaw said on the Fox NFL Sunday pregame show. "I had the same thing, and it finished me off."

Strangest sight

How come everyone in the NFL wears gloves now? It was around 80 degrees and yet Panthers quarterback David Carr was wearing gloves on both hands. So Bart Starr would be rolling over in his grave ... if he were dead, that is.

Most questionable decision

Hindsight is ... well, you know the rest of that line. But with fourth and goal from the 1 late in the third quarter, don't you kick a field goal and go up 20-0, forcing the other team to score three touchdowns to beat you instead of needing just two touchdowns and a field goal to tie? Then again, with the way the Bucs defense was playing, going for the jugular was not the craziest decision Jon Gruden ever made.

Coolest quote

Fox analyst Tim Ryan: "(Bucs linebacker) Barrett Ruud comes with bad intentions when he goes to hit someone over the middle." Quick question: If the Bucs knew Ruud was going to be this good, do you think they still would've signed Jeremiah Trotter? And if Trotter knew Ruud was going to be this good, do you think he would've signed with the Bucs?

Biggest pet peeve

This is something that has been harped on before in this space, but this must drive you crazy, too. Midway through the third quarter and the Bucs are punting from the Carolina 35. Josh Bidwell's punt goes into the end zone, meaning it comes out to the 20, meaning it's a net of 15 yards. If you punt for a living, if that's all you do, you can't punt the ball out of bounds 25 or 30 yards away?

[Last modified September 30, 2007, 23:17:19]