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It’s only week two, and Lovie Smith has said “It’s not panic time”, and while true, some Bucs fans are hard listeners! One thing almost every educated football fan knows (and Bucs fans are among the upper echelon of fans in that department) it doesn’t matter how many skill players you have, without an offensive line, you don’t have time to get the ball out to them!
The Guard play was absolutely terrible in week 1, and it came as no surprise to those that cover the team and saw the carnage at practice. This is the last week before the Bucs, and any NFL team really, want to get their roster set, because Preseason week 3 is when you want your starters in the game for the first half.
One day the NFL will have 18 games and 2 preseason, I think thats why teams are getting everything in place by the first two weeks, because soon the “tune up” game (week 3) and worthless 4th week game (only used to determine who your 3rd stringers will be) will be gone.
If your a Bucs fan, you want to hope the O line plays with some more consistency. Jacksonville didn’t look that hot in week 1 either, but put up some points against the Bears in week 2. We need to see some progress, unlike last year when it was the same story all 4 weeks, and it bled right into the regular season.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Tampa Bay hosts Miami, marking the 21st time in the last 22 seasons that 
the two teams square off in the preseason. The Buccaneers and Dolphins are meeting for the 29th time in the preseason, the most meetings for either team against any opponent in the preseason. Miami leads the series 16-12, but Tampa Bay has won eight of the last 12 meetings. The first preseason contest between the two teams was on August 21, 1976, a 28-21 Miami win in Tampa.
During the regular season, the all-time series is tied 5-5, with Tampa Bay winning four of the last five meetings. The Buccaneers won 22-19 in 2013 in Tampa, 27-13 in 2005 in Tampa, 16-13 in 2000 at Miami and 31-21 in 1997 in Tampa. The Buccaneers also won, 23-17, in 1982 in Tampa. The first meeting between the two clubs was in the Bucs’ first season in 1976, a 23-20 Miami win in Tampa. The Dolphins also captured wins in 1985 (41-38 in Miami), 1988 (17-14 in Tampa), in 1991 (33-14 in Miami) and 2009 (25-23 in Miami).
LAST MEETING (PRESEASON)
Tampa Bay 17, Miami 16
Saturday, August 24, 2013
MIAMI GARDENS, FLA. – Coming back with big plays late in the game, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Miami Dolphins, 17-16, in the third week of preseason play. After the Buccaneers won the toss and deferred to the second half, their defense took the field. The Dolphins put together a 17-play opening drive, but were held to a 22-yard field goal for the game’s first points. Tampa Bay’s own opening drive ended in a punt, but the ball bounced off a Miami blocker, resulting in muffed punt that was recovered by Buccaneers linebacker Adam Hayward at the Miami 23. With that change of possession, the Buccaneers went on to score a touchdown with a one-yard rush by running back Brian Leonard, giving them a 7-3 lead. Early in the second quarter, Miami had another special teams bobble, as Tampa Bay tight end Tom Crabtree forced a fumble on a punt return. Hayward recovered this ball, as well, and the Buccaneers offense took possession and proceeded to take a 10-3 lead following a 38-yard field goal by kicker Rian Lindell. Later in the second quarter, the Dolphins took the lead with a 23-yard field goal by kicker Caleb Sturgis. Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman fumbled on the next drive, and the ball was recovered by Miami. The Dolphins then scored again, this time bringing them to 13-7 over the Buccaneers following a four-yard pass from quarterback Ryan Tannehill to wide receiver Brandon Gibson. The teams traded punts throughout the third quarter before Miami went up 16-10 on a 28-yard Sturgis field goal at the beginning of the final quarter of play. With just under three minutes left to play, Tampa Bay defensive end William Gholston forced a fumble that was scooped up by safety Sean Baker and returned 55 yards. The turnover set the Buccaneers up to take the lead, as quarterback Mike Glennon found wide receiver David Douglas on a 12-yard touchdown pass. With Tampa Bay up 17-16 and 59 seconds left in the game, cornerback Keith Tandy intercepted quarterback Pat Devlin, preserving the victory for the Buccaneers.
PRESEASON SERIES HIGHLIGHTS
Bob Griese throws three touchdown passes to lead Miami to 28-21 win (8/21/76)… The Dolphins use a goal-line stand in the fourth quarter to hold on for 24-20 win (8/25/78)… Doug Williams passes for 216 yards in losing effort… The Tampa defense forces five turnovers in 14-13 victory (8/24/84)… Scot Brantley leads defense with eight tackles and a forced fumble… Dan Marino throws for 201 yards on 14- of-18 passing in Miami’s 21-3 victory (8/29/86)… Miami comes back from 13-7 halftime deficit for 29-13 victory (8/10/91)… Scott Mitchell and Fred Banks combine for fourth quarter scores of 30 and 5 yards as Banks totals eight catches for 92 yards and the two touchdowns… Errict Rhett rushes for 95 yards and the game-winning touchdown in Bucs’ 24-17 win in Orlando (8/25/95)… Miami rallies for 14-13 victory (8/13/98) with touchdown and two-point conversion with 1:13 left in the game… K Olindo Mare boots a 42-yarder, his fifth field goal of the game, with nine seconds remaining for a 15-13 victory at Miami (8/10/00)… Miami QB Mike Quinn hits WR Robert Baker on a 43-yard Hail Mary pass on the final play of the game as the Dolphins rally for a 17-14 victory in Tampa Bay’s preseason opener (8/13/01)… Tampa Bay WR Frank Murphy returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown to lead the Buccaneers to a 14-10 win in head coach Jon Gruden’s Buccaneer debut at Raymond James Stadium (8/12/02)… Murphy, who became the fifth player in team history to return a kickoff for a TD in preseason history, propelled the Buccaneers to 7-0 lead just 16 seconds into the contest… LB Ryan Nece intercepts a fourth quarter pass and races 56 yards for a touchdown that broke a 10-10 tie in a 17-10 Bucs win (8/24/04)… Tampa Bay fell to Miami 17-14 at Dolphin Stadium (8/27/05) as the Dolphins rallied from a 14-7 fourth quarter deficit behind WR Danny Farmer’s 36-yard touchdown reception in the final quarter… RB Earnest Graham was the Buccaneers leading rusher, gaining 60 yards on 14 carries with one touchdown… LB Cato June intercepted a pass from QB Trent Green and returned it for a touchdown to start the scoring in the Buccaneers 31-28 win over Miami (8/25/07) at Dolphin Stadium… QB Bruce Gradkowski completed 10-of-16 pass attempts for 104 yards and two fourth quarter touchdowns, including the game-winning one-yard strike to WR Paris Warren with 4:51 to play in the game… RB Michael Bennett finished with a game-high 74 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries in Bucs’ 17-6 win (8/27/08)… The Buccaneers racked up 115 yards of offensive in the first quarter, compared to just 13 yards by the Dolphins as Tampa Bay RB Carnell Williams saw his first game action since his 2008 knee injury. Williams rushed for a game- high 54 yards on eight carries as the Buccaneers jumped to a 6-3 halftime lead. But, on Miami’s first possession of the second half, QB Chad Pennington connected with TE Anthony Fasano for a two-yard score for what proved to be the final points of the contest as the Dolphins beat Tampa Bay by a score of 10-6 at Raymond James Stadium (8/27/09)… Tampa Bay was able to gain 309 total yards of offense while collecting 17 first downs, but were defeated by the Dolphins 10-7 in Miami. The Bucs threw for 197 total yards and one touchdown, while also rushing for 139 yards. Josh Freeman went 4-of-4 passing for 53 yards and one touchdown, and also accumulated a perfect 158.3 passer rating (8/14/10)… The Buccaneers beat Miami 17-13 thanks to a run defense which allowed only 22 yards on 17 carries. Trailing by three late in the fourth quarter, QB Rudy Carpenter guided the Bucs downfield and threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to TE Nathan Overbay for the lead and eventual win (8/27/11)…In Head Coach Greg Schiano’s debut, the Buccaneers defeated the Miami Dolphins 20-7 in Miami (8/10/12)…RB LeGarrette Blount scored on an early 1-yard touchdown to open the scoring and RB Doug Martin scored on a 2-yard touchdown run in the second quarter… Coming back with big plays late in the game, the Buccaneers defeated the Dolphins, 17-16 (8/24/13)… With under three minutes left, Tampa Bay defensive end William Gholston forced a fumble that was returned 55 yards by safety Sean Baker… Buccaneers quarterback Mike Glennon found wide receiver David Douglas on a 12-yard touchdown pass to take the lead… Safety Keith Tandy preserved the win, intercepting Dolphins quarterback Pat Devlin with under a minute remaining.
LAST MEETING (REGULAR SEASON)
Tampa Bay 22, Miami 19
Monday, November 11, 2013
TAMPA – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers hosted the Miami Dolphins in a 
Monday Night Football battle, recording their first win of the season on the back of a rushing defense that limited the Dolphins to two yards rushing and 0.1 yards per rush, both franchise records. After the Dolphins won the coin toss and deferred, the Buccaneers offense made quick work of their opportunity, scoring after a nine-play, 76-yard drive that ended with a touchdown pass from quarterback Mike Glennon to tackle Donald Penn, the latter’s second career touchdown reception. Up 7-0, Tampa Bay forced a Miami punt, where wide receiver Eric Page took the return three yards before tossing a lateral to wide receiver Skye Dawson, who gained another 17 yards. With their drive starting at the Miami 45, the Buccaneers scored again six plays later, as kicker Rian Lindell hit a 24-yard attempt. After trading punts, it was the Tampa Bay defense that added onto the team’s lead after linebacker Lavonte David tackled Miami running back Daniel Thomas in the end zone for a safety and the 12-0 lead. Lindell took the score to 15-0 on the ensuing Tampa Bay drive, making good on a 35-yard field goal attempt. However, late in the second quarter, Miami put together a 90-yard scoring drive that culminated with a six-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ryan Tannehill to wide receiver Rishard Matthews, sending the teams into halftime at 15-7. The third quarter belonged to the Dolphins, as the visiting team scored 12 unanswered points: first with a 40-yard field goal by kicker Caleb Sturgis, then a 19-yard Tannehill-to-Matthews connection (failed two-point conversion attempt), and finally capitalizing off an interception of Glennon to add another Sturgis field goal, this time of 30 yards. Having lost their first-half lead and behind, 19-15, the Buccaneers responded, stealing back the lead early in the fourth quarter. Glennon hit wide receiver Tiquan Underwood with a 17-yard pass to bring the ball across midfield, and two plays later running back Bobby Rainey tore off a 31-yard rush, setting up his one-yard scoring run on the next play. With the score now 22-19 in Tampa Bay’s favor, the teams traded punts and used much of the remaining time in the fourth quarter. Miami took possession of the ball with three minutes remaining the game, but Tannehill was sacked on two consecutive plays, and the drive – as well as the Dolphins’ chance of tying or taking the lead – ended as cornerback Darrelle Revis picked off Tannehill’s final deep pass. With the ball back in the offense’s hands, Tampa Bay was able to run out the clock and preserve the victory.
REGULAR SEASON SERIES HIGHLIGHTS
Perhaps the closest Tampa Bay got to victory in a winless inaugural season of 1976 was on October 24, 1976… Miami sneaked out of Tampa Stadium with a 23-20 win that day, but not without needing a 29- yard field goal by K Garo Yepremian in the game’s last minute… Buccaneer QB Steve Spurrier did not start, but came on to pass for 143 yards and two TDs…WR Morris Owens scored three receiving TDs, a then-Buc record… TE Jimmie Giles hauled in a club-record four Steve DeBerg passes in the end zone against the Dolphins (10/20/85)… Miami overcame Giles’ efforts to win 41-38, however, despite a 17-point comeback by the Bucs in the fourth period… The Bucs’ first Monday Night Football victory (11/29/82) came at Miami’s expense in a 23-17 affair… The Bucs ran the ball 38 times for 154 yards and two TDs in that contest and managed to pick off five passes, four thrown by Don Strock… QB Dan Marino hit WR Mark Clayton for two third quarter touchdowns en route to a 17-14 win at Tampa (10/30/88)… The Buccaneers had five turnovers, leading to 17 points for the Dolphins, and WR Mark Carrier caught a career-high nine receptions for 142 yards in a losing effort… QB Trent Dilfer tossed a career-high four touchdown passes in a 31-21 win over Miami in a nationally-televised Sunday night prime time affair (9/21/97)… FB Mike Alstott, who rushed for 95 yards on 18 carries, also hauled in two short scoring receptions, while RB Warrick Dunn added six receptions for 106 yards to pace the Buccaneers… Tampa Bay hauled in four interceptions in a 16-13 win at Miami (12/10/00)…The Buccaneers defense was the story in the Buccaneers 27-13 victory over Miami in 2005 (10/16/05). The Dolphins were held to only 64- rushing yards as Bucs RB Michael Pittman rushed for a season-high of 127-yards on 15 carries. S Will Allen tallied a defensive touchdown on a Greg Spires forced fumble. After Bucs QB Brian Griese went down with a knee injury, QB Chris Simms played the entire second-half, completing six-of-10 pass attempts for 69 yards, leading the Buccaneers to a 27-13 victory…Dolphins K Dan Carpenter kicked a game-winning 25-yard field goal as the Buccaneers late comeback attempt fell short in Miami 25-23 (9/15/09)…Buccaneers K Connor Barth became the first kicker in team history and just the fourth in NFL history to make three field goals of 50 yards or more in the same game… The Tampa Bay Buccaneers hosted the Miami Dolphins in a Monday Night Football battle, recording their first win of the season on the back of a rushing defense that limited the Dolphins to two yards rushing and 0.1 yards per rush, both franchise records (11/11/13)… The Buccaneers first drive was a nine-play, 76-yard drive that ended with a touchdown pass from quarterback Mike Glennon to tackle Donald Penn, the latter’s second career touchdown reception… The Dolphins final drive – as well as their chance of tying or taking the lead – ended as cornerback Darrelle Revis picked off quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s final deep pass.
MIAMI DOLPHINS HEAD COACH JOE PHILBIN
Joe Philbin is in his third season as Head Coach of the Miami Dolphins, and in his 12th season in the NFL. Philbin was hired as the ninth coach in Dolphins history on January 20, 2012. Prior to being hired with the Dolphins, Philbin served as the Offensive Coordinator of the Green Bay Packers since 2007.
In 2013, Philbin led Miami to an 8-8 record, their second consecutive season posting an improved win total, making them one of only four teams in the NFL in 2013 – along with Seattle, Cincinnati and Carolina – to improve their record for the second consecutive season. The team finished third in the AFC in scoring defense and allowed the fifth-lowest passer rating in the NFL.
Philbin’s first year in Miami resulted in a one-win increase from 2011, earning a 7-9 record. Even while having one of the youngest rosters in the league, Philbin’s Dolphins were in playoff contention up until week 17. The team finished tied for first in the AFC in touchdowns allowed by a defense (32), and its 42.6% of red zone touchdowns allowed was the lowest in the NFL.
In Philbin’s four seasons as offensive coordinator, the Packers’ offense ranked in the top ten of total yards and points scored every year. The Packers scored 1,703 points and committed only 83 turnovers while Philbin was at the helm of the offense. The 83 turnovers were the lowest total in the NFC over that four year span, and second in the NFL to only the New England Patriots. In 2010, Philbin helped lead the Packers to the Super Bowl XLV title over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The offense tallied 338 yards, thanks to an MVP performance by QB Aaron Rodgers.
Philbin originally started out with the Packers as the assistant offensive line coach. After one year, though, he was moved to the tight ends/assistant offensive line coach. Directly before becoming the offensive coordinator, Philbin was the offensive line coach for one season in 2006.
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