Behind Enemy Lines with Tampa Bay Bucs Insider Jon Ledyard
Each and every single week, we will take a full dive into the Panthers' opponent by getting insight from many talented beat writers and publishers around the Sports Illustrated network. This week, we had to dip outside of the SI network and invite Jon Ledyard of Pewter Report to help us breakdown the Tampa Bay Bucs. Enjoy!
Although it was only one week and it being the Saints, is there already a sense of panic coming from the fans?
Jon: "I don't think so. Most expected to lose that one, coming off an offseason like this against maybe the best team in the league. Honestly, I was more encouraged than not. Consistency and playing mental mistake free seemed to be the biggest issues, not talent, ability or even chemistry."
What are a couple of things that Tampa must improve offensively to be more efficient?
Jon: "1. Less runs on early downs 2. More play action 3. Penalties and turnovers need to decrease, obviously."
With the Panthers having a depleted secondary, how pass heavy do you think Tampa will be?
Jon: "Let's hope very pass-heavy! They should be aggressive from start to finish against Carolina, on both sides of the ball. But I think they'll still try to establish the run early, hopefully with more success than last week."
Which 2-3 players do people need to start paying attention to?
Jon: "Guard Ali Marpet and Center Ryan Jensen are under-discussed studs. WR Scotty Miller could be a breakout player with Godwin and Evans ailing. CB Sean Murphy-Bunting and Carlton Davis were excellent last week too."
Keys for Tampa to win?
Jon: "I think if they do all the things wrong that they did against the Saints, the game will be very uncomfortable. That part is obvious though. On offense I would go play-action on early downs and take shots. Use rub routes to get receivers open, test the communication of the Panthers secondary. On defense I'd send pressure and get Bridgewater rattled. Bucs match up well with McCaffrey on paper, but tackling well will be critical too."
Jon's Prediction
Bucs 27, Panthers 13
