Welcome 2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

GAME INFORMATION
Date: Friday, August 10, 2012
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Site: Sun Life Stadium (75,192)
2011 Records: Tampa Bay 4-12, Miami 6-10 Buccaneers Television: WTSP-TV Play-By-Play: Chris Myers, Color: John Lynch, Sideline: Dave Wirth
Bucs Radio: US 103.5, flagship station (103.5 FM, 620 AM)
Play-by-Play: Gene Deckerhoff, Color: Dave Moore, Sideline: T.J. Rives
Up Next: Tampa Bay vs. Tennessee (8/17), Miami at Carolina (8/17)

Now that the long offseason is over, as Bucs fans we can get back to having a football team to root for again! Its an new day once again, not just in Tampa Bay, but all over the league as Football is back! 
The ten game losing streak is over, last time we saw the Bucs they embarrassed themselves in the Georgia Dome. It cost Raheem Morris his job the next day, and the wheels have been spinning since then at One Buc.

So strap on your seatbelts, get ready for what could be a wild ride, a new football season, starting with Preseason Week 1!

ALL-TIME SERIES

Miami hosts the Buccaneers, marking the 19th time in the last 20 seasons that the two teams square off in the preseason. The Bucs and Dolphins are meeting for the 27th time in the preseason, the most meetings for either team in the preseason. Miami leads the series 16- 10, but Tampa Bay has won six of the last 10 meetings. The first preseason contest between the two teams was on August 21, 1976, a 28- 21 Miami win in Tampa. The Bucs have claimed wins in 1984, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2011.

During the regular season, Miami leads the
all-time series 5-4, with Tampa Bay winning
three of the last four meetings. The
Buccaneers won 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).

PRESEASON MEETINGS

Miami leads series 16-10
 

LAST MEETING (PRESEASON)
Tampa Bay 17, Miami 13
Saturday, August 27, 2011
TAMPA – In a 17-13 win over the Miami Dolphins during the third week of preseason play, Tampa Bay held the visiting team to a mere 22 yards on 17 rushes – including only two rushing yards against the first-team defense. Following a Tampa Bay punt on the opening drive, Miami took the early lead as QB Chad Henne threw a deep pass to WR Brandon Marshall for a 60-yard touchdown. K Connor Barth put up the first Buccaneers points of the evening early in the second quarter with at 28-yard field goal, after a drive that was sparked by RB LeGarrette Blount. Blount snagged a short pass from QB Josh Freeman on the first play of the drive and took it 52 yards downfield to eventually set up the Barth kick. On the Dolphins’ next drive, Henne took his team to the Tampa Bay two-yard line, but the Buccaneers defense made a goal-line stand. DT John McCargo stopped the Dolphins’ first attempt, then DT Frank Okam drove RB Reggie Bush back for a loss of three yards, and then, to cap off the drive, rookie DE Da’Quan Bowers tackled Henne on a quarterback sneak to hold Miami to a field goal. Tampa Bay punted on the following possession, but, with just over two minutes left in the half, CB E.J. Biggers forced a crucial fumble that was recovered by LB Geno Hayes near midfield. Freeman’s offense was up to the challenge of the two-minute drill, making its way downfield with impressive receptions by WR Arrelious Benn, WR Mike Williams and FB Earnest Graham, capped off by a 17-yard Freeman run to put the Buccaneers in a first-and-goal situation. Graham found a hole through the middle for a two-yard touchdown run, tying the score at 10- 10 before halftime. In the second half, Miami and Tampa Bay traded punts throughout the third

quarter, before, early in the fourth, the Dolphins put together a drive that brought them to the Tampa Bay 22. However, Miami had to content itself with a field goal after a key sack of QB Matt Moore by DE George Johnson on third-and-five. Down by three, Buccaneers QB Rudy Carpenter proceeded to guide the team down the field to the Miami 7, where he then found TE Nathan Overbay in the endzone for a touchdown and the lead. The Dolphins were unable to piece together another scoring opportunity, and turned the ball over on downs with just over one minute left on the clock, allowing the Buccaneers to kneel and time to expire.

LAST MEETING (REGULAR SEASON)
MIAMI 25, Tampa Bay 23
Sunday, November 15, 2009
MIAMI GARDENS – Tampa Bay rallied from a 13-point, second-half deficit to take a late lead at Miami, but the Dolphins earned the victory with a field goal in the final seconds. In just his second game in a Buccaneers uniform, K Connor Barth accounted for Tampa Bay’s first three scores, hitting field goals from 51, 50 and 54 yards to become 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. Tampa Bay took an early 3-0 lead on the game’s opening drive on Barth’s 51-yard field goal. The Dolphins took the lead on the ensuing possession as RB Ronnie Brown set up his own one-yard touchdown run with a 45-yard scamper into Buccaneers territory. However, T Donald Penn blocked the extra point, keeping the Buccaneers within three points. The teams would trade long field goals in the second quarter, leaving Miami with a 9-6 advantage with 2:36 left in the first half. Following a Miami punt, Tampa Bay began its drive at its own six-yard line with 1:49 left in the second quarter. Two plays later, QB Josh Freeman hit WR Michael Clayton for an apparent first down, but after review the referees made a questionable reversal of their initial ruling that the pass was incomplete and instead ruled that it was a Miami interception. Tampa Bay was then flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, allowing the Dolphins to begin the resulting possession at the Buccaneers eight-yard line. Two plays later, QB Chad Henne hit TE Kory Sperry for a five-yard touchdown pass and a 16-6 Miami lead. After a Buccaneers punt, Miami tacked on another field goal for a 13-point lead at halftime. Barth provided the only scoring of the third quarter, nailing a 54-yard field goal, his third 50-yard effort of the day and the fifth-longest field goal in team history. On Miami’s ensuing possession, S Sabby Piscitelli forced a Brown fumble that S Tanard Jackson recovered, marking Jackson’s fourth takeaway in as many games. Tampa Bay took advantage as Freeman connected with WR Maurice Stovall on the first play of the fourth quarter for a 33-yard touchdown, cutting the Dolphins lead to 19- 16. With just over six minutes remaining in the game, K Dan Carpenter hit a 45-yard field goal to extend Miami’s lead to 22-16. Tampa Bay drove deep into Miami territory on its next drive, but Freeman’s fourth-down pass fell incomplete, giving Miami possession with 2:04 left in the game. Following two running plays, Miami attempted a pass on third down that LB Quincy Black picked off, giving the Buccaneers the ball back with 1:43 remaining at the Dolphins 26- yard line. Four plays later, RB Carnell Williams plunged in from one yard out to give the Buccaneers a 23-22 advantage. Miami began its final drive with 1:14 left in the game, advancing to the Tampa Bay seven-yard line in five plays to set up Carpenter’s 25-yard game- winning field goal.

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).

CONNECTIONS

•   Buccaneers Head Coach Greg Schiano served as the defensive coordinator of the University

  of Miami from 1999-2000.

•   Buccaneers Defensive Coordinator Bill Sheridan spent two seasons as the Miami Dolphins’

  linebackers coach from 2010-2011.

•   Buccaneers Defensive Front Seven Coach Bryan Cox played linebacker for the Miami Dolphins

  from 1991-1995, as well as serving as their Pass Rush Coach during the 2011 season.

•   Dolphins Assistant Defensive Backs Coach Blue Adams played defensive back for the

  Buccaneers throughout the 2005 and 2006 seasons.

•   Dolphins Assistant Offensive Line Coach Chris Mosley served as the assistant defensive line

  coach with the Buccaneers from 2009-2010.

•   Dolphins Assistant Quarterback Coach Zac Taylor played quarterback with the Tampa Bay

  Buccaneers during the 2007 season.

•   Dolphins Assistant Wide Receivers Coach Phil McGeoghan coached at the University of South

  Florida from 2009-2011.

•   Buccaneers LB Lavonte David is a native of Miami, where he attended Northwestern High

School.

4

•   Buccaneers CB E.J. Biggers starred at North Miami Beach High School and was named Dade County Player of the Year as a senior.

•   Buccaneers G Davin Joseph hails from Hallandale, Florida, where he attended Hallandale High School.

•   Buccaneers CB Anthony Gaitor is a native of Miami, Florida, and played collegiately at Florida International University.

•   Buccaneers WR Preston Parker is from Delray Beach, Florida.

•   Buccaneers CB Myron Lewis is a native of Pompano Beach, Florida.

•   Buccaneers WR Greg Ellingson played collegiately at Florida International University.

•   Dolphins LB Jamaal Westerman and LB Jonathan Freeny and Buccaneers DT Gary Gibson,

  DE George Johnson, CB Derrick Roberson, WR Tiquan Underwood, G/T Desmond Wynn

  and C Jeremy Zuttah all played at Rutgers University under Bucs head coach Greg Schiano.

•   Dolphins T Will Barker was signed to the Buccaneers’ practice squad in the 2010 season.

•   Dolphins TE Jeron Mastrud originally signed with the Buccaneers as a college free agent

  following the 2010 NFL Draft

•   Dolphins OL Mike Pouncey is from Lakeland, Florida, and attended the University of Florida.

•   Dolphins CB Nolan Carroll is a native of Green Cove Springs, Florida.

•   Dolphins S Chris Clemons is from Arcadia, Florida where he starred as a running back at

  DeSoto High School.

•   Dolphins RB Daniel Thomas is from Hilliard, Florida and was an All-State running back at

  Hilliard Middle-Senior High School.

•   Buccaneers WR Sammie Stroughter and Dolphins QB Matt Moore were teammates at

  Oregon State in 2005 and 2006.

•   Buccaneers RB Robert Hughes and Dolphins RB Jonas Gray shared carries as part of the

  Notre Dame backfield in 2010.

•   Buccaneers LB Rennie Curran and Dolphins S Reshad Jones were defensive teammates at

  the University of Georgia.

•   Buccaneers S Ahmad Black and Dolphins C Mike Pouncey were both members of the

  University of Florida 2009 BCS National Championship team, as well as teammates at Lakeland High School.

MIAMI DOLPHINS HEAD COACH JOE PHILBIN

Joe Philbin is in his first season as Head Coach of the Miami Dolphins, and in his 10th 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 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 only committed 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 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.