BucShotz

By TOM JONES, Times Staff Writer
Published October 14, 2007

Inside the numbers

0 Jon Gruden has no victories in three games against the Titans. He is 0-1 as Bucs coach against Tennessee.

1 The Bucs have just one victory in eight games against the Tennessee Titans/Houston Oilers organization. The lone victory was in 1983 when Jack Thompson led the Bucs to a 33-24 victory at Tampa Stadium.

32.5 Average starting field position for the Bucs, sixth in the NFL. The Colts lead the league with an average starting field position of 33.5.

What they're saying

A day after the Titans won an ugly game thanks to their defense, coach Jeff Fisher (above) played some defense of his own.

Quarterback Vince Young conceded he was "bad" after throwing three interceptions in a 20-13 victory over the Falcons (last week), but Fisher backed the second-year pro's decisionmaking, changed the subject to his good throws and talked about how well he managed the game.

"We won the football game, and he was our quarterback," Fisher said. "He started the game and finished the game, and we won. This team is 3-1 right now, and if my memory serves me right, the two teams that he's lost to in the last 11 ... would be the Colts and the Patriots. So I think he is doing a pretty good job."

Young also has been pretty good about bouncing back from bad performances, recording wins after three of his worst games. Next up are the Buccaneers (3-2), who rank 12th overall in total defense, so he knows he has to put the Atlanta game behind him fast.

"Myself and the offense, we have to get ready and get ourselves prepared to play and get ready for this next week," Young said. "I've got to get ready for Tampa Bay, a good team."

Jim Wyatt, The Tennessean

Careful, all you wage earners out there. Bucs, at home, are favored over Tennessee by a little field goal, but the Titans, under Jeff Fisher, are 13-1 against the NFC South.

Paul "Dr. Z" Zimmerman, Sports Illustrated

The picks

In 113 throws over 20 quarters of football, Jeff Garcia is a 68 percent passer with zero interceptions. And you wonder why Jon Gruden has been readmitted to Coaching Genius School, honors division, this year. Bucs, 13-12.

Peter King, Sports Illustrated

This should be a defensive war with plenty of hitting. The Titans played in Florida against the Jaguars during opening week and won. This time, they won't be as fortunate. Look for Monte Kiffin to come up with some good stuff to slow Vince Young. Bucs, 20-14

Pete Prisco, CBS Sports

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The poll

Which injury concerns you most?

47%

Luke Petitgout (knee)

31%

Cadillac Williams (knee)

Brian Kelly (groin)

Mike Alstott (neck)

Michael Pittman (ankle)

Chris Simms (spleen)

457

Total votes