By Tom Krasniqi

 

The 6-8 Bucs had their final walkthrough on Friday as they get ready for Sunday’s home game against the 6-7-1 Rams at Raymond James Stadium.  It’s the final home game of the season for Tampa Bay, who’s trying to snap a 4-game losing streak.  St. Louis has won 3 of their last 4.

Here’s the Bucs injury report: DE Aaron Morgan (shoulder) missed practice on Friday and is doubtful.  CB LeQuan Lewis (knee) is questionable.  TE Luke Stocker (head/nose), DE Michael Bennett (shoulder), DE Da’Quan Bowers (hamstring), LB LaVonte David (knee) and WR Mike Williams (wrist) are probable.

Notable injuries for the Rams: CB Cortland Finnegan (thigh) missed practice all week and is questionable for Sunday.  LB James Laurinitis (back), C Scott Wells (knee), DE Robert Quinn (illness), CB Bradley Fletcher (illness) and RB Steven Jackson (illness) are all probable. 

News & Notes:

  • Bucs DT Roy Miller wonders what might’ve been.  How much better would the defensive line be had it not been for the injuries to Adrian Clayborn and Da’Quan Bowers?  “It’s a thought….They are definitely guys that belong on the field.  Unfortunately, they were hurt.  Reality is, in football, you have deal with what you have”.
  • Bucs QB Josh Freeman says he’s “completely disconnected” from what’s being said or written about him.  He did acknowledge the fact that other players do pay attention to the criticism and that some of them are affected by it.
  • Freeman has been much better at Ray Jay than on the road.  At home, Freeman has thrown 12 TDs and just 2 INTs with a QB rating of 101.3.  On the road, it’s a different story.  Freeman has thrown 13 TDs and 10 INTs with a QB rating of 72.5.
  • Pass protection will be a key issue for the Bucs.  The Rams have two terrific pass rushers in Robert Quinn (9.5 sacks) and Chris Long (7.5 sacks).
  • Sunday’s game will be blacked out locally on television.  Only two home games were televised this season and 19 of the last 23 home games have been blacked out.
  • With the game being black out, the only place to catch the Bucs-Rams game this Sunday is on 620 WDAE, your home of the Bucs.  Our pre-game coverage begins at 9am.