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About the Author: Mark Cook
Latest Bucs Headlines
Behind Enemy Lines is a weekly look at Tampa Bay’s NFC South foes every Tuesday. Let’s spy on the Bucs’ division rivals, shall we?
Atlanta Falcons
• After a 0-5 start to the 2020 season, the Falcons made a move and fired head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff. The move was no surprise to anyone as owner Arthur Blank nearly made the move last season after a similar awful start. Blank in the offseason made it clear, it was playoffs or bust.
And bust went the Quinn bubble.
Now a familiar face for Bucs fans will don the head coach headset as former Tampa Bay head coach Raheem Morris takes over for Quinn. Morris, who coached the Buccaneers from 2009 until 2011, had been serving as Atlanta’s defensive coordinator.
On Tuesday Morris talked to the local Atlanta media and discussed the Falcons biggest issue – finishing games.
Ex-Bucs head coach Raheem Morris – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
“At the end of the day, we have to find a way to put our foot on people’s throats and end games,” Morris told the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “That’s what has got to happen.”
• The fallout from 0-5 didn’t end with just Quinn and Dimitroff, special teams coach Ben Kotwica who has been with the Falcons since 2019 was canned as well. Atlanta announced the linebackers coach Jeff Ulbrich will become the interim defensive coordinator.
• The Falcons will have a new coach and general manager in 2021, but could they also have a new quarterback as well? Owner Arthur Blank wouldn’t commit to bringing longtime starter Matt Ryan back next season.
“You know, Matt has the ability to play at a very high level, even at this age,” Blank said this week to team reporters. “Whether that’s gonna continue or not, I’m not sure. I appreciate his willingness to consider doing that, and the level of what he’s played for us for 13 years, which has been incredible. So I — we’ll have to see. But then again that’s gonna be a decision at the end of the day that’ll be — part of it will be up to the player and part of it will be up to the coaching staff. And whether or not Matt can keep himself together and God willing he’ll be able to do that and play at the level that he’s capable of playing at.”
Regardless if Ryan stays or goes, Atlanta is on the hook for a salary cap charge north of $40 million either way.
Falcons QB Matt Ryan and Bucs OLB Shaq Barrett – Photo by: Mary Holt/PR
• Atlanta defensive lineman Marlon Davidson, a 2020 second-round pick, was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 this week. First-round pick, cornerback A.J. Terrell, went on the list earlier this season and missed two games before returning last week against the Panthers.
Carolina Panthers
• Don’t look now, but the Panthers are 3-2 on the season and tied for first place in the NFC South after reeling off their third straight win last Sunday against the Falcons. Many thought the Panthers wouldn’t win many more than two games all season long as they begin a rebuild under new head coach Matt Rhule.
Panthers HC Matt Rhule and QB Teddy Bridgewater – Photo by: Getty Images
• One of the most surprising aspects of the Panthers’ three-game winning streak is the fact it has come without star running back Christian McCaffrey, who suffered an ankle injury in their Week 2 match-up with the Buccaneers. Initially diagnosed as a 4-6 week injury, Rhule said this week his return may come sooner.
“Once the doctors say he’s clear and he feels like he’s clear, then we’ll activate him,” Rhule said, reported on the team’s website. “But I’m not sure exactly when that’ll be.”
The Panthers will face another surprising team, the 4-1 Chicago Bears, this Sunday and there is an outside chance McCaffrey could be back in the lineup for that game.
New Orleans Saints
• The Saints improved to 3-2 on Monday night with a comeback, 30-27 overtime win against the L.A. Chargers, but were inches away from a 2-3 record when Chargers field goal kicker Michael Badgley’s 50-yard attempt clanked off the right upright as regulation time expired. New Orleans got the ball first in overtime and scored a field goal then held the Chargers on a fourth down to end the game.
Despite the win, and share of first place in the division, Saints head coach Sean Payton acknowledged that the win doesn’t make some issues the team has just disappear.
Saints QB Drew Brees and HC Sean Payton – Photo by: Getty Images
“No, we try not to let it either way, a win or a loss,” Payton said. “The film is important for us to make the corrections and teach from. That is really the essence of what we do at the beginning of the week is make the corrections. We talk about that race to improve and to get better. We are in that race.”
• The City of New Orleans has given the Saints no indication when, or even if, it will allow fans in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome this season and that has caused the Saints to begin looking elsewhere for home venues for this year.
A possible landing spot for home games could be 80 miles north of New Orleans, in Baton Rouge where LSU plays.
“Our game operations staff is meeting with LSU officials today to discuss potentially hosting future Saints home games at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge,” Saints spokesman Greg Bensel said in press release. “LSU has been gracious and enthusiastic regarding hosting our future games and we very much appreciate their partnership. We have also discussed the possibility of moving our home games to LSU with the NFL and they are aware of our exploring this option. Obviously, our overwhelming preference is to play our games in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome with partial fan attendance but there has been no indication from the city on when, or if, this might be approved.”
• Prior to Monday’s game against the Chargers, the Saints made a couch roster moves. New Orleans signed cornerback Ken Crawley to the active roster from their practice squad, and released defensive lineman Margus Hunt.
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