There was plenty of excitement to go around before the first preseason kickoff. After a busy, heavily attended training camp following a busier and much-talked about offseason, Tampa Bay was ready to see their new-look team in action.
Are you ready, #TampaBay?! The '14 @TBBuccaneers season is upon us! Get ready. Kickoff is minutes away. #itsabucslife pic.twitter.com/SLP6sYTeNY — Tampa Bay Sports (@SportsTampaBay) August 8, 2014
Everybody ready for some #BOOM?! Welcome to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers season! #itsabucslife — Captain Fear (@THECaptainFear) August 8, 2014
#Bucs football is back! I feel just like this little girl right now. (Photo: Al Messerschmidt, Getty) pic.twitter.com/LBcwe1haIk — Sander Philipse (@Bucs_Nation) August 8, 2014
#Bucs win the toss & defer to the second half...the @Jaguars will receive the opening kick... IT'S FOOTBALL TIME #BUCS FANS! #TBvsJAX — Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@TBBuccaneers) August 8, 2014
It took just one play for the Bucs defense to give their fans a taste of what we might expect this season. 2013 Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro Gerald McCoy got off to a blistering start, dropping Jordan Todman behind the line of scrimmage for a loss of five. Joe Bucs Fan and plenty of others get the excitement started:
GMC just blew up that play as if he wasn't even blocked. Sapp-like. — JoeBucsFan (@JoeBucsFan) August 8, 2014
The Jaguars' first drive went three-and-out. The first Bucs possession was highlighted by a nice 17-yard pass from Josh McCown to Chris Owusu, but was called back. WDAE 620 with the call:
McCown with a strike to Owusu....but a holding call on Dotson will bring it back #Bucs — WDAE 620 AM/95.3 FM (@620wdae) August 8, 2014
After the Bucs punt, it was the Buccaneers defense again making plays, setting up multiple opportunities to create a turnover. Jacksonville would again be forced to punt. See the possession and chances as called by Gil Arcia of The Bay Cove:
A lucky reception their for Jacksonville gives them a first down after the ball bounced a round a few times. — Gil Arcia (@GilArciaTBC) August 8, 2014
Another near pick. This time by safety Major Wright. — Gil Arcia (@GilArciaTBC) August 8, 2014
Leonard Johnson gets in on the act for near picks. — Gil Arcia (@GilArciaTBC) August 8, 2014
Another punt would put the starting defense back on the field, and again the defense would impress, capped by a strong open-field tackle by Johnthan Banks and an Adrian Clayborn batted pass. Rick Brown tweets:
Defense a nice three and out. Should get good field position. #Bucs — Rick Brown (@LedgeronBucs) August 9, 2014
The next Bucs' possession would result in the first points of the night as the Jaguar CB Winston Guy cut off a pass and returned it for a touchdown.
McCown throws amid pressure and intercepted -- Jags' Winston Guy returns it 60-plus yards for touchdown. Jags up 6-0, PAT coming ... — Greg Auman (@gregauman) August 9, 2014
Jaguars lead at the end of the first.
End of the 1st Quarter @Jaguars 7, #Bucs 0 LIVE CHAT: http://t.co/oe5EJAFso1 #TBvsJAX pic.twitter.com/BRlMjMUm97 — Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@TBBuccaneers) August 9, 2014
The Jaguars defense would get the first action of the second quarter, recovering a fumble and putting their offense back on the field.
Tyson Alualu with the sack and forced fumble vs Anthony Collins. #Jaguars have the ball at the TB 42. Play under review — Tom Krasniqi (@TKras) August 9, 2014
As the Jaguars offense returned, the Buccaneers transitioned to their second-string defense for the night. Buccaneers.com Senior Writer and Editor Scott Smith gives his followers the updated linemen. Three players later it was Greg Auman sharing the continued defensive success of the Bucs' second unit.
Second-team defense is in now. D-Line is Gholston, Spence, Bowers and Means. — Scott Smith (@ScottSBucs) August 9, 2014
Back-to-back stops by Da'Quan Bowers and Jags face fourth and 3 from the Bucs' 35 ... — Greg Auman (@gregauman) August 9, 2014
With the ball back in the Buccaneers hands, Mike Glennon took the field. The first drive of the second team was highlighted by a strong 9-yard Bobby Rainey run to the outside and would result in three points.
Connor Barth, welcome back. 44-yard FG. Jags 7, Bucs 3. — Rick Brown (@LedgeronBucs) August 9, 2014
The Buccaneers Official Twitter calls the score at half.
HALFTIME Jaguars 7, Buccaneers 3 Join the Live Chat: http://t.co/oe5EJAFso1 #TBvsJAX pic.twitter.com/Af7JOU0jB7 — Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@TBBuccaneers) August 9, 2014
The Bucs would open the second half with ball. Two impressive Charles Sims runs (9- and 13-yarders) would be negated by holding calls. Mike James added a nifty run-after-catch for a 20-yard gain, but it was not enough for the first. Scott Smith notes the Buccaneers offense starting to click:
Mike Glennon seems to have a connection with Louis Murphy. Three catches for 43 yards for Murphy, and another one just now erased by DEF PI. — Scott Smith (@ScottSBucs) August 9, 2014
Later in the third, Jacksonville would start their possession from the 17-yard line. Rookie QB Blake Bortles put together a strong drive with passes of 16, 9 and 31. Bucs would hold the Jags to a field goal. TBO's Ira Kaufman shares Bortles' statistics.
Blake Bortles making some nice throws for the Jags and looks comfortable in the pocket. He is 6-for-9 for 101 yards — Ira Kaufman (@IKaufmanTBO) August 9, 2014
Bucs defense holds in red zone and looks like Jaguars will settle for 25-yard field goal attempt ... — Greg Auman (@gregauman) August 9, 2014
As the third quarter neared its end, the Buccaneers offense continued to develop a rhythm, moving the ball 78 yards in seven plays, including these four notable gains.
Nice third-down conversion by Mike Glennon, who rolls out and hits rookie TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins for 23-yard gain to the 40. — Greg Auman (@gregauman) August 9, 2014
Glennon finds ASJ, then connects with Sims for a nice gain down the sideline into #Jaguars territory — WDAE 620 AM/95.3 FM (@620wdae) August 9, 2014
Nice snag reaching back there for Herron. — Leo (@LeoHowell8) August 9, 2014
Glennon completes again, hitting rookie WR Rob Herron for 10-yard gain to the Jaguars' 18 ... Mike James carries inside the 10. — Greg Auman (@gregauman) August 9, 2014
On the third play of fourth quarter from the six-yard line, The Bucs would tie the game up 10-10. Scott Smith and Joe Bucs Fan tweet the play:
Bucs' first touchdown of the season belongs to Tommy Streeter. Good protection allowed Glennon time to find him for a six-yard score. — Scott Smith (@ScottSBucs) August 9, 2014
Streeter from Glennon, TD. Nice job by Glennon of going through progressions. — JoeBucsFan (@JoeBucsFan) August 9, 2014
Two possessions later, the Jaguars would get ball at their 38 yard line. A 15-yard Unnecessary Roughness penalty on Brandon Magee would move Jacksonville to the 23-yard line. Following the play, the Jaguars offense crosses the goal line for the first time of the night on a long Denard Robinson run. The Buccaneers D-Line stuffed the two-point conversion attempt. 16-10 Jacksonville.
TOUCHDOWN!! @DenardX. That's his 1st TD as a member of the #Jaguars. Jags take the lead. Update: http://t.co/LsLP14AXeY #TBvsJAX — Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) August 9, 2014
And that is how the game would end. Mike Glennon 11/19, 140 yards, 1 TD. Bobby Rainey 6 attempts, 25 yards. Louis Murphy 3 receptions, 43 yards. Charles Sims 3 receptions, 6 rushes, 45 yards. Steven Means 3 tackles, 1 sack.
#Bucs fall to the Jaguars, 16-10 Head over to http://t.co/Zx1YLzJ0uE for post-game coverage. #TBvsJAX pic.twitter.com/o9c2NCFNY2 — Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@TBBuccaneers) August 9, 2014
