Bryant - Game Recaps

Turnovers were the downfall of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in this loss to the St. Louis Rams. Center John Wade fumbled a handoff that was recovered by the Rams and led to Marshall Faulk's touchdown score. Michael Pittman fumbled on an 8-yard carry; it was forced and recovered for a touchdown by Adam Archuleta. Brian Griese threw an interception in the fourth quarter. And to end the game, Tim Brown fumbled a 21-yard reception that would have taken them to the 15 yard line with 26 seconds left.

The Buccaneers started the game with a touchdown scoring drive ending with a 1 yard rush by Mike Alstott. For the game, Pittman was the primary ball carrier with 13 rushes for only 37 yards. Alstott contributed 5 rushes for 17 yards. They both factored into the passing game. Pittman making 4 receptions for 16 yards on his 5 targets. Alstott adding 3 receptions for 20 yards.

Brian Griese made his first start with Tampa Bay. He was very accurate completing his first 9 passing attempts. One of them a 7-yard touchdown pass to Michael Pittman. Later he threw a 1 yard strike to TE Will Heller. Griese clearly favored rookie WR Michael Clayton, targeting him 13 times in the game.

Rookie WR Michael Clayton was outstanding. He finished the game with 8 receptions for 142 yards.

Both Martin Gramatica and Jeff Wilkins converted all of their extra point attempts. Yet they both missed on 2 field goal attempts each.

St. Louis Rams

It looks as though the St. Louis Rams may have a true running back by committee rushing attack. Other than Faulk's rushing touchdown, the stats of Marshall Faulk and Steven Jackson are remarkably similar. Faulk rushed for 40 yards on 15 carries. Jackson rushed for 48 yards on 13 carries. Faulk made 3 receptions for 29 yards on 5 targets. Jackson made 3 receptions for 30 yards on his 3 targets.

The Rams opened the game strong on a drive that culminated with a 52-yard touchdown reception by Torry Holt. It was Holt's week to shine as the go to receiver in the Rams' offense and he finished the game with 6 receptions for 124 yards and 2 touchdowns. That is in comparison to Isaac Bruce's 1 reception for 11 yards.

In the third quarter, the defense again contributed. After what was a seemingly costly turnover by Marc Bulger's interception; Adam Archuleta forced and recovered a fumble from Michael Pittman and returned it for a touchdown.

WHAT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

QB: Brian Griese (27-40-286, 2 TD, 1 Int, 1-4 rushing) Griese completed his first 9 passing attempts, 4 of them to rookie WR Michael Clayton. His first incomplete pass was intended for Michael Clayton in the end zone thrown into double coverage but was broken up. He completed 2 touchdown passes, one to RB Michael Pittman, the second to TE Will Heller. In the fourth quarter, Griese was sacked, then pressured to the point where he threw the ball away, and then threw an interception on a pass intended for Michael Clayton in the end zone. Griese was mounting a comeback drive to tie with less than a minute left in the game, and completed 3 passes for 51 yards putting Tampa Bay at the 15-yard line with 26 seconds left. But Tim Brown fumbled his 21-yard reception and it was recovered by the Rams.

RB: Michael Pittman (13-37 rushing, 4-16, 1 TD receiving on 5 targets, 1 fumble lost) Pittman did not have much running room. He made a 5-yard touchdown reception during the second quarter. It wasn't until the 4th quarter that Pittman had a long rush when he broke off a 13-yard run, his longest of the game.

Mike Alstott (5-17, 1 TD rushing, 3-20 receiving on 4 targets) Used primarily in short yardage and passing down situations, Alstott ran in to score the first rushing touchdown of the season for the Buccaneers on their opening drive. Alstott made a 5-yard reception during the second drive.

WR: Michael Clayton (8-142 receiving on 13 targets) Rookie WR Clayton played an outstanding game. He made a 19-yard reception to start the game for the Buccaneers. He followed that with a 9-yard reception. He made a great 44-yard reception to the 5-yard line and would have scored if he had not stumbled. Clayton was targeted in the end zone, but the catch was broken up. He was clearly Brian Griese's favorite target and was the beneficiary of the accuracy Griese displayed early in the game.

Charles Lee (3-31 receiving on 6 targets) Lee made a 14-yard reception in the second quarter. Lee bobbled a catch and it was nearly intercepted. Late in the first half, Lee was injured after making a 6-yard reception. He was able to walk off the field. It did not appear to be to serious as Lee was back in the game in the second half.

Tim Brown (2-26 receiving on 3 targets, 1 fumble lost) Brown made a 5-yard reception in the second quarter. Brown made a reception in the very last seconds of the game, the ball was coming out as he was going down and it was reviewed to see if he was down by contact or a fumble. It was ruled a fumble and the game was over.

TE: Ken Dilger (4-30 receiving on 5 targets) Dilger made a reception late in the first half, but it was for a loss of yardage. Dilger made a 15-yard reception in the third quarter. He then made a great catch in the third quarter that Griese threw while he was being hit. Dilger was targeted in the last minute of the game, but the reception was broken up.

Will Heller (3-21, 1 TD receiving on 3 targets) Heller caught every pass that came his way. He made a sharp reception during the Buccaneer's opening drive, but was stopped from scoring at the 1 yard line. But things were different in the third quarter; He was wide open and made a 1-yard touchdown reception that tied the game.

K: Martin Gramatica (3-3 XP, 0-2 FG) Gramatica missed both a 25-yard and a 48-yard field goal attempt.

Pass Defense: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers gave up 2 touchdowns to Torry Holt who beat them in the secondary. Ian Gold intercepted Marc Bulger in the third quarter, but it was for naught as St. Louis Ram Adam Archuleta recovered Michael Pittman's fumble and returned it for a touchdown on the very next play.

Rush Defense: Tampa Bay was tight against the run only allowing 94 total rushing yards. Bulger was sacked by Anthony McFarland in the first quarter. Greg Spires got a sack in the second, both times forcing the Rams to punt. In the third quarter, they worked together as Spires sacked Bulger and forced a fumble that was recovered by McFarland.

St. Louis Rams

QB: Marc Bulger (18-30-265, 2 TD, 1 Int, 1 for -1 rushing, 1 fumble lost) Bulger checked down to complete his first pass to Marshall Faulk. During the opening drive of the game, Bulger connected deep with Torry Holt for a 52-yard touchdown pass. After his good start though things were a little shaky. He wasn't often able to connect with his receivers and was sacked twice in the first quarter. Bulger threw an interception directly to Ian Gold. The pass was intended for Torry Holt who has behind Gold. But in the 4th quarter, Bulger got things back together and led the Rams downfield completing 4 out of 4 attempts for 73 yards, finishing with a 36-yard touchdown pass to Torry Holt.

RB: Marshall Faulk (15-40, 1 TD rushing, 3-29 receiving on 5 targets) Marshall Faulk started slower than his counterpart Steven Jackson. But he did score a 1-yard touchdown rush late in the first half. The score was Faulk's 100th rushing touchdown of his career. Faulk had a 9-yard rush brought back on a holding penalty by Torry Holt.

Steven Jackson (13-48 rushing, 3-30 receiving on 3 targets) Jackson took the first rush of the game for a 9-yard gain up the middle. Jackson and Faulk were used interchangeably throughout the game. Jackson made a slant catch for 28 yards on 3rd and 14. Two plays later, he got a reverse flip from Marshall Faulk to gain 7 yards and a first down for the Rams.

Joey Goodspeed (1-8 receiving on 2 targets) FB Goodspeed dropped a short catch in the first quarter of play. In the third quarter, he made an 8-yard reception.

WR: Torry Holt (6-124, 2 TD receiving on 10 targets) Holt was clearly the favored target. Holt's first catch was a 52-yard touchdown reception. One of his targets was a reception made out of bounds two more were passes that went through his hands. In the fourth quarter, Holt made a 36-yard touchdown reception.

Isaac Bruce (1-11 receiving on 5 targets) Bruce dropped his first target of the game. His second target was a difficult catch to the outside but couldn't get his feet in bounds. He made his first and only reception late in the second quarter, an 11-yard reception on 3rd and 2. You have to wonder if his concussion last week had any effect on his performance.

Shaun McDonald (3-30 receiving on 3 targets) McDonald returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown, but it was brought back on a penalty. During that same drive, McDonald made a 12-yard reception to gain a first down for the Rams.

Kevin Curtis (1-32 receiving on 2 targets, 1-7 rushing) Curtis made a 32-yard reception late in the fourth quarter.

TE: Brandon Manumaleuna was a non factor in the game and did not receive even one target.

K: Jeff Wilkins (4-4 XP, 0-2 FG) Jeff Wilkins has a sprained left ankle which required attention throughout the game. But he was still able to kick and converted all of his extra point attempts. He missed both a 56-yard and a 44-yard field goal attempt.

Pass Defense: Decisive defensive play really gave the Rams the edge in this win. DeJuan Groce broke up what would have been a touchdown reception during the second quarter. Jerametrius Butler intercepted a Brian Griese pass in the end zone. And Leonard Little recovered Tim Brown's fumble sealing the Rams' victory.

Rush Defense: Griese was sacked twice in the game, once near the end zone in what was nearly a safety. Adam Archuleta recovered a Michael Pittman fumble and returned it for a touchdown.