Thursday NFL preseason: Dolphins at Bucs
Tonight’s exhibition game in Tampa would seem to have much more importance for the host Buccaneers than the visiting Miami Dolphins.
The Bucs, who are 2.5-point favorites on WagerWeb.com, still haven’t figured out who their No. 1 quarterback is between Luke McCown and Byron Leftwich. According to the St. Petersburg Times, Leftwich will be the Bucs’ starter for the season opener unless he is terrible tonight against Miami.
Leftwich still has one of the better arms in the league and was a long-time starter for the Jaguars. But he’s also very immobile. McCown is much more athletic and capable of turning a sack into a first-down scramble. He can move more in the pocket and keep plays alive.
There are reports that whichever guy doesn’t win the top job will be traded because the Bucs want first-round pick Josh Freeman as their No. 2 QB this season.
Meanwhile, tonight will also see the return of Bucs running back Cadillac Williams, the 2005 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Seven months after undergoing major knee surgery for the second time in just over a year, Williams is eager to get going. He will start tonight.
“I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “I’m sure I’m going to make the most of it.”
Plans are for the Bucs’ offense to be introduced during the pregame ceremony and for Williams to be the last player out of the tunnel to hear the roar of the crowd.
“Cadillac’s coming out of the tunnel last, because I want to hear the stadium explode,” Tampa Bay coach Raheem Morris said. “I’m really excited, just ecstatic, to see this young man get his first live action.”
Williams will get two series as the lead back. The next back in the rotation – Derrick Ward or Earnest Graham – also will get two series as the lead back and the third will get one. Cadillac might have a tough time making the roster if he doesn’t show something in the final two preseason games. Tampa Bay already seems more than set at tailback with Ward and Graham.
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