Times wires
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Nationals 3, Rockies 2
DENVER — Former Ray Jonny Gomes hit his first homer for Washington, and Jayson Werth hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning. The Nationals scored the winner off Matt Belisle. Danny Espinosa opened the eighth with a double and moved to third on Ryan Zimmerman's groundout. After an intentional walk to Michael Morse, Werth singled sharply to left.
Times wires
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Blue Jays 7, Orioles 2
BALTIMORE — Ricky Romero pitched eight four-hit innings and Brett Lawrie hit his first major-league homer for Toronto. Romero won his third straight start, allowing only two solo homers by Mark Reynolds, one a drive that traveled an estimated 450 feet. "You can't overstate what Ricky did (Sunday) in probably close to 100 degree temperatures, or it felt like it," manager John Farrell said. "Just a very good game."
Times wires
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Royals 4, Tigers 3
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Johnny Giavotella hit his first major-league home run and also doubled for Kansas City. Giavotella, promoted Friday after hitting .338 in 110 games with Triple-A Omaha, is 5-for-11 in his first three games. He led off a three-run fourth with a double and hit a solo home run in the fifth. Royals starter Bruce Chen gave up three hits to start a three-run sixth and left during the inning after a 46-minute rain delay.
Times wires
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Padres 7, Pirates 3
PITTSBURGH — Infielder Brandon Wood was asked if Pittsburgh could glean anything positive from an 0-7 homestand that was the worst in its 125-year history. "Well," Wood said, pondering a 10-game skid, "this is going to end at some point." The Pirates' winless homestand came against the last-place Padres and Cubs, who were a combined 39 games under .500 when the week began.
Times wires
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Brewers 7, Astros 3
HOUSTON — Zack Greinke tied a season best by pitching seven innings and Prince Fielder homered to help Milwaukee to its sixth straight win. Fielder had three hits and four runs for the Brewers, who have won 11 of their past 12 and had 10 hits or more for the ninth straight game. Greinke has won his past three starts and allowed two earned runs or fewer in his past six.
Times wires
Sunday, August 7, 2011
LONG POND, Pa. — Brad Keselowski was inspired Sunday by a relative in the Navy Seals, and that was all he needed to push through his painful ankle injury.
Keselowski's cousin lost a friend who was one of 30 American service members who died when their helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan. The NASCAR driver took the sacrifice to heart and vowed he would not leave his car no matter how bad he hurt.
Competing with a brace on his broken left ankle, Keselowski raced all 500 miles of the Sprint Cup Good Sam 500 at Pocono Raceway, speeding off on the final restart late in the race to pick up his second victory of the season. He gingerly climbed out of his car to celebrate with his crew in Victory Lane.
“It doesn't feel good, but I'll be all right," he said, dedicating the win that put him into Chase for the Championship contention to the troops in Afghanistan.
"I might not be feeling great, but those are the guys that are really making sacrifices," Keselowski said. "Whenever I got in the car and felt like, 'Man, this really hurts,' it was good inspiration as to what it takes to man up and make it happen."
On Wednesday, Keselowski crashed head-on into a wall at 100 mph during a session at Road Atlanta. He said he wouldn't leave the No. 2 Dodge, no matter how much pain he was in. It helped to rest during a 1-hour, 40-minute rain delay.
"I was amazed he raced the full race," third-place finisher Kurt Busch said.
Keselowski is in prime position to claim one of two wild-card spots available for the Chase. The top two drivers with the most victories in 11th to 20th place earn a wild-card spot for the playoffs.
Keselowski, in 18th place, is the only one of the wild-card contenders with two victories. He had to wear a left shoe a size larger than his right one.
Kyle Busch was second, Jimmie Johnson fourth and Ryan Newman fifth.
Kurt Busch and Johnson had a heated exchange after the race because of some last-lap contact and were separated by their crews. They took turns bumping into each other on the final lap. Busch said it was simply hard racing and that Johnson overreacted.
"You want to race, let's race," Busch said. "I didn't know we were supposed to pull over when it came down to five (laps) to go. I raced him hard. I raced him smart. I raced him clean, and he wants to come over here and (complain). … Why can't we race each other like this and put on a show for the fans?"
Said Johnson: "I have no problem racing hard. I just don't understand why, when I finally get position on him, he's got to run all over the side of me down the straightaway. I just keep filing things away. I'll remember this stuff. There's a couple of other guys out there that have been pushing their luck, too.''
Rain hit Pocono hard the past two days and when the red flag came on Lap 125, Joey Logano had the lead. He took a break in the ESPN broadcast booth where he was asked if he wanted the rain to stop or keep coming.
"I think it's a dumb question," he said.
Logano faded hard and finished 26th. Points leader Carl Edwards was seventh.
Trucks: Kevin Harvick stretched his fuel over extra laps and an extra day, breaking free on the green-white checkered finish to win in Long Pond, Pa. Rain halted the event after 17 laps Saturday. Harvick started from the pole and stretched his fuel two extra laps, getting his first trucks victory of the season. Todd Bodine was spun with two laps left to bring out the final caution, which helped conserve what was in Harvick's tank,
Indycar: Pole-sitter Scott Dixon took control 24 laps from the finish to beat teammate Dario Franchitti in Lexington, Ohio. Dixon has won on the road track the past three odd-numbered years. "I prefer every year," he said. "We'll work on that from now on." Danica Patrick led briefly early but faded to 21st.
NHRA: Tim Wilkerson ended a yearlong winless drought with his third consecutive Northwest Nationals Funny Car title at Pacific Raceways in Kent, Wash. Wilkerson drove his Ford Mustang to a 4.146-second run at 300.53 mph to defeat Jack Beckman, who finished in 4.598 at 238.64. Del Worsham (Top Fuel) and Jason Line (Pro Stock) also won their divisions. Worsham earned his sixth victory of the season and 31st overall.
Times wires
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Braves 6, Mets 5
NEW YORK — Chipper Jones hit a tiebreaking single in the ninth inning for Atlanta. Jason Heyward, Alex Gonzalez and Jose Constanza homered early for the Braves, who handed New York its sixth loss in seven games. Dan Uggla extended his hitting streak to a career-best 28 games.
Times wires
Sunday, August 7, 2011
COLUMBIA, S.C. — After five suspensions, South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia believed it was time to leave. Then came the flood of support from teammates, convincing him to stay.
The former star at Tampa's Jefferson High spoke publicly Sunday for the first time since his most recent suspension — the second of the spring — for "unacceptable behavior" at a life skills seminar in April.
"I had been contemplating giving myself a second shot (at another school)," said Garcia, a redshirt senior. "It was a rough spring I had."
Coach Steve Spurrier agreed to let him leave. And Garcia, suspended in March for undisclosed reasons, graduated in May. So he could have played right away at a school that offered a graduate program South Carolina did not.
But Garcia was swayed by tailback Marcus Lattimore and receiver Alshon Jeffery, who encouraged him to withstand the outside comments and criticism.
"It meant a lot to me," he said.
Garcia did not clarify what happened at the seminar, saying only it, "got crazy at the end."
He said he did not undergo formal counseling sessions, only a few discussions with team doctors. When asked if he had a problem with alcohol, Garcia said, "Negative, no."
Garcia said he has spent more time talking with Spurrier this offseason and thanked Spurrier's wife, Jerri, for helping him.
Garcia admitted to having trouble in a fishbowl existence. With no pro teams in South Carolina, fans spend all year discussing the Gamecocks. Garcia hopes they have it in them to back him once more.
"Thankfully, (athletic director Eric Hyman) took me back and Coach Spurrier took me back," he said. "And hopefully, the fans will as well."
Times wires
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Rangers 5, Indians 3
ARLINGTON, Texas — Elvis Andrus' two-run single drove in the tying and go-ahead runs in a five-run eighth inning for Texas. Cleveland starter Josh Tomlin walked Mike Napoli leading off the eighth and gave up a single to Mitch Moreland. Sidearmer Joe Smith came in and gave up an infield hit to Yorvit Torrealba. David Murphy hit an RBI single to make it 3-1, Ian Kinsler walked to force in a run and Andrus hit his single to center.
Times wires
Sunday, August 7, 2011
AKRON, Ohio — The chants and cheers began as Adam Scott walked toward the 18th green to complete a command performance Sunday in the Bridgestone Invitational and win his first World Golf Championship event.
But in a surreal scene at Firestone, the chants weren't for him.
They were for his caddie.
"Stev-ie Will-iams," they shouted as the guy carrying the bag broke into a big smile.
The celebration made it clear Steve Williams felt vindicated after being fired last month by Tiger Woods. The interview afterward made it sound as if it was Williams who shot the 5-under 65. At one point, he described himself as a "good front-runner when I'm caddying."
"I've caddied for 33 years — 145 wins now — and that's the best win I've ever had," Williams told CBS Sports on the 18th green. This from a guy whose 12 years working for Woods featured 13 majors and 16 world titles among 72 wins worldwide. That includes the 2001 Masters, when Woods won an unprecedented fourth straight major.
Clearly, Williams is still angry over how and when Woods cut him loose. He even disputed Woods' version of how it happened, saying Woods told him over the phone, not in person.
Scott didn't seem to mind that his caddie was getting most of the attention.
"I can talk about Steve now and not Tiger," Scott said to laughter, alluding to the countless times players have been asked about Woods. "I'm sure there are a lot of other golfers who wouldn't mind that, either."
It was a premier performance by Scott, who didn't make a bogey over his last 26 holes and couldn't afford to with 19-year-old Ryo Ishikawa giving him all he could handle.
They were never separated by more than one shot until Scott chipped in from the side of the 12th green, then rolled in a birdie putt from just inside 30 feet on the 14th to build a three-shot lead. Ishikawa three-putted the 15th, and Scott wound up at 17-under 263 to win by four.
Woods, playing his first event in three months, closed with 70 to tie for 37th, 18 shots behind.
PGA: Scott Piercy squandered a three-stroke lead but held on, making a 7-foot par on 18 to win the Reno-Tahoe Open, his first tour victory. He shot 2-under 70 to finish at 15-under 273, beating Pat Perez by a stroke. Piercy drove into the sage brush on the 18 but knocked out safely, pitched to 30 feet of the pin then sent his first putt past the hole before wobbling in the winner.
CHAMPIONS: Jay Haas birdied the final hole to win the 3M Championship in Blaine, Minn., by one. He finished at 15-under 201. Palm Harbor's John Huston, a co-leader after Round 2, shot 1-over 73 to finish four back.
Times wires
Monday, August 8, 2011
BOSTON — Josh Reddick hit an RBI single in the 10th inning to cap a rally against the Yankees bullpen, and the Red Sox beat New York 3-2 on Sunday night to take a one-game lead in the AL East.
Boston improved to 10-2 against the Yankees to clinch a win in the season series for the first time since 2004.
The Yankees led 2-1 on homers by Eduardo Nunez and Brett Gardner before Mariano Rivera came on in the ninth. He gave up a leadoff double to Marco Scutaro, his fourth hit of the game.
Jacoby Ellsbury moved him up with a sacrifice — and almost beat the throw at first — and Dustin Pedroia brought him in on a sacrifice fly.
Phil Hughes came on in the 10th and retired Kevin Youkilis on a fly to center. But David Ortiz hit a ground-rule double over the rightfield wall. Darnell McDonald pinch-ran, and Hughes intentionally walked Carl Crawford. Reddick ripped a single down the leftfield line.
By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Monday, August 8, 2011
Talk about adding depth to your coverage: Two of the USF Bulls' biggest football games — the Big East opener at Pittsburgh on Sept. 29 and the regular-season finale at home against West Virginia on Dec. 1 — will be broadcast in (gasp!) ESPN 3D.
ESPN is only doing 20 regular-season games in 3D, so USF is in rare company to have two games get the treatment -- only USC, Arizona, California and Miami can boast the same, with a few TBDs on the ESPN schedule.
By Doug Hemmer, Times Correspondent
Monday, August 8, 2011
What's hot: Large schools of spawn are hanging in the passes. When they move out of the pass and school along the beach, schools of tarpon will show up to feed. To find the spawn look for birds working the surface and areas that have dark clouds in the clear water. When you locate the spawn, drift by the school and look for tarpon rolling, then have live pinfish to free-line in the spawn. Most of the tarpon are swimming close to the bottom. The pinfish will head to the bottom when free-lined. Have a rod rigged and ready to cast to the tarpon that roll. Most strikes will come from the rods that were cast and placed in a rod holder.
Tips: One of the best signs that tarpon are feeding is clouds of sand boiling up from the bottom. Look for areas that have a tan surface and clear water around the tan. Don't waste time fishing areas where the tarpon are not rolling on the surface.
Backup plan: The schools of spawn will also hold mackerel and bonita. Have a few rods rigged with a gold or silver spoon. Use a short piece of wire to keep the mackerel from cutting off your spoons. Cast the spoons and use a fast retrieve where you see fish striking the surface.
Doug Hemmer charters out of St. Petersburg and can be reached at (727) 347-1389
By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Monday, August 8, 2011
TAMPA — At the time, everything looked shiny for the young Tampa Bay Bucs. They were getting better every day. Who could wait for tomorrow?
The team was talented, young, hungry. The quarterback looked like someone to believe in. The running back had been sensational as a rookie. The wide receiver seemed to have a nice future. The team had a knack for winning close games, which led to a surprising turnaround season.
Yep. There for about five minutes, the Bucs had the look of a team speeding up the mountain.
Next thing you know, they had driven off of a cliff.
Perhaps you remember. It was 2005, and the Bucs fooled us into thinking they owned the future. The triplets of the day — Chris Simms, Cadillac Williams and Michael Clayton — briefly looked like something to build an offense around. The Bucs went from five wins to 11.
There for a while, it was easy to wonder what could go wrong.
Looking back, all you probably remember of the 2006 season was the greasy spot where the team landed.
That year, the Bucs followed up their turnaround by turning right back around. The team backslid into a four-win season. Neither Simms, Williams nor Clayton was ever the same again.
It happens. Teams progress, and teams regress. As fast as failure can turn to success, it can turn back again. The history of the NFL is filled with fleeting successes and cautionary tales.
All of which leads us to this question:
Now that the Bucs are good again, can they manage to stay that way?
The schedule is tougher. Expectations are higher. The division is murder. Prime-time games are ahead. The team is still young. And as good as the 2010 season was, some onlookers don't seem quite convinced that it wasn't a fluke.
So how does Raheem Morris keep his team moving upward?
"It's all based on attitude," Morris said. "The attitude of the locker room, the organization, the management, the consistent attitude of wanting to win and wanting to be great is going to separate us from the teams that go back to losing.
"My high school coach once told me, 'Don't let this be your greatest moment.' I won't let 10-6 be our greatest moment."
In the NFL, excellence is a hard thing to maintain, however. The Bucs know this as well as anyone. Back in 1979, the Bucs went from five wins to 10 … and the next year, back to five. In '97, the Bucs went from six wins to 10 … and the next year, back to eight.
It isn't just the Bucs. In 2008, the Dolphins went from one win to 11 … and the next year, back to seven. In 2006, the Ravens went from six wins to 13 … and then back down to five. The same year, the Saints went from three wins to 10, then back down to seven.
That's the nature of the NFL. With the right schedule, with a few breaks, even a bad team can squeeze out a good season every now and then. It is only when a team puts several seasons together that it proves itself.
Perhaps that is why there are so many meager forecasts for this one. The over-under for the Bucs is eight (down from 8 ½, which means more people have been betting against the Bucs). Most predictions still have the team in third place in its division. Few seem to think the Bucs will make it to the playoffs.
"Some fans probably think we'll win the Super Bowl," tackle Gerald McCoy said. "But some think last year was a fluke and that we're going to miss the playoffs."
McCoy shrugged. It doesn't matter, he said.
"You have to forget last year. Our goal isn't to win 10 games anymore. It's to win the division."
So why do teams backslide? Injuries, sometimes. Schedule, sometimes. Reality, sometimes.
Also, there is this: quarterback.
When the Ravens went from 13 wins in 2006 to five the next year, their quarterback was Kyle Boller. When the Jets went from 10 wins in '06 to four, their quarterback was Chad Pennington. When Chicago went from 13 wins in 2001 to four the year after, their quarterback was Jim Miller. It isn't always the quarterback (Joe Montana and Drew Brees had ordinary seasons, too), but it's a good place to start.
Will the Bucs backslide this year? Depends on Josh Freeman. If he can be good again (even if he doesn't have a 25-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio), then the Bucs can be.
Yes, there are other factors. The team has to maintain focus. It has to stay healthy. Young players, especially on the defensive line, have to develop in a hurry. Sometimes, success is harder to deal with than failure.
That said, Freeman is better than Simms, and Mike Williams is better than Clayton, and LeGarrette Blount is better than Cadillac Williams. The plan is better. The foundation is stronger. Morris will tell you his expectations don't include a regression of any sort.
Can these Bucs succeed again?
We'll see. This time, they have a chance.
By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Monday, August 8, 2011
TAMPA
At the time, everything looked shiny for the young Tampa Bay Bucs. They were getting better every day. Who could wait for tomorrow?
The team was talented, young, hungry. The quarterback looked like someone to believe in. The running back had been sensational as a rookie. The wide receiver seemed to have a nice future. The team had a knack for winning close games, which led to a surprising turnaround season.
Yep. There for about five minutes, the Bucs had the look of a team speeding up the mountain.
Next thing you know, they had driven off of a cliff.
Perhaps you remember. It was 2005, and the Bucs fooled us into thinking they owned the future. The triplets of the day — Chris Simms, Cadillac Williams and Michael Clayton — briefly looked like something to build an offense around. The Bucs went from five wins to 11.
There for a while, it was easy to wonder what could go wrong.
Looking back, all you probably remember of the 2006 season was the greasy spot where the team landed.
That year, the Bucs followed up their turnaround by turning right back around. The team backslid into a four-win season. Neither Simms, Williams nor Clayton was ever the same again.
It happens. Teams progress, and teams regress. As fast as failure can turn to success, it can turn back again. The history of the NFL is filled with fleeting successes and cautionary tales.
All of which leads us to this question:
Now that the Bucs are good again, can they manage to stay that way?
The schedule is tougher. Expectations are higher. The division is murder. Prime-time games are ahead. The team is still young. And as good as the 2010 season was, some onlookers don't seem quite convinced that it wasn't a fluke.
So how does Raheem Morris keep his team moving upward?
"It's all based on attitude," Morris said. "The attitude of the locker room, the organization, the management, the consistent attitude of wanting to win and wanting to be great is going to separate us from the teams that go back to losing.
"My high school coach once told me, 'Don't let this be your greatest moment.' I won't let 10-6 be our greatest moment."
In the NFL, excellence is a hard thing to maintain, however. The Bucs know this as well as anyone. Back in 1979, the Bucs went from five wins to 10 … and the next year, back to five. In '97, the Bucs went from six wins to 10 … and the next year, back to eight.
It isn't just the Bucs. In 2008, the Dolphins went from one win to 11 … and the next year, back to seven. In 2006, the Ravens went from six wins to 13 … and then back down to five. The same year, the Saints went from three wins to 10, then back down to seven.
That's the nature of the NFL. With the right schedule, with a few breaks, even a bad team can squeeze out a good season every now and then. It is only when a team puts several seasons together that it proves itself.
Perhaps that is why there are so many meager forecasts for this one. The over-under for the Bucs is eight (down from 8 ½, which means more people have been betting against the Bucs). Most predictions still have the team in third place in its division. Few seem to think the Bucs will make it to the playoffs.
"Some fans probably think we'll win the Super Bowl," tackle Gerald McCoy said. "But some think last year was a fluke and that we're going to miss the playoffs."
McCoy shrugged. It doesn't matter, he said.
"You have to forget last year. Our goal isn't to win 10 games anymore. It's to win the division."
So why do teams backslide? Injuries, sometimes. Schedule, sometimes. Reality, sometimes.
Also, there is this: quarterback.
When the Ravens went from 13 wins in 2006 to five the next year, their quarterback was Kyle Boller. When the Jets went from 10 wins in '06 to four, their quarterback was Chad Pennington. When Chicago went from 13 wins in 2001 to four the year after, their quarterback was Jim Miller. It isn't always the quarterback (Joe Montana and Drew Brees had ordinary seasons, too), but it's a good place to start.
Will the Bucs backslide this year? Depends on Josh Freeman. If he can be good again (even if he doesn't have a 25-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio), then the Bucs can be.
Yes, there are other factors. The team has to maintain focus. It has to stay healthy. Young players, especially on the defensive line, have to develop in a hurry. Sometimes, success is harder to deal with than failure.
That said, Freeman is better than Simms, and Mike Williams is better than Clayton, and LeGarrette Blount is better than Cadillac Williams. The plan is better. The foundation is stronger. Morris will tell you his expectations don't include a regression of any sort.
Can these Bucs succeed again?
We'll see. This time, they have a chance.
By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Monday, August 8, 2011
TAMPA
At the time, everything looked shiny for the young Tampa Bay Bucs. They were getting better every day. Who could wait for tomorrow?
The team was talented, young, hungry. The quarterback looked like someone to believe in. The running back had been sensational as a rookie. The wide receiver seemed to have a nice future. The team had a knack for winning close games, which led to a surprising turnaround season.
Yep. There for about five minutes, the Bucs had the look of a team speeding up the mountain.
Next thing you know, they had driven off of a cliff.
Perhaps you remember. It was 2005, and the Bucs fooled us into thinking they owned the future. The triplets of the day — Chris Simms, Cadillac Williams and Michael Clayton — briefly looked like something to build an offense around. The Bucs went from five wins to 11.
There for a while, it was easy to wonder what could go wrong.
Looking back, all you probably remember of the 2006 season was the greasy spot where the team landed.
That year, the Bucs followed up their turnaround by turning right back around. The team backslid into a four-win season. Neither Simms, Williams nor Clayton was ever the same again.
It happens. Teams progress, and teams regress. As fast as failure can turn to success, it can turn back again. The history of the NFL is filled with fleeting successes and cautionary tales.
All of which leads us to this question:
Now that the Bucs are good again, can they manage to stay that way?
The schedule is tougher. Expectations are higher. The division is murder. Prime-time games are ahead. The team is still young. And as good as the 2010 season was, some onlookers don't seem quite convinced that it wasn't a fluke.
So how does Raheem Morris keep his team moving upward?
"It's all based on attitude," Morris said. "The attitude of the locker room, the organization, the management, the consistent attitude of wanting to win and wanting to be great is going to separate us from the teams that go back to losing.
"My high school coach once told me, 'Don't let this be your greatest moment.' I won't let 10-6 be our greatest moment."
In the NFL, excellence is a hard thing to maintain, however. The Bucs know this as well as anyone. Back in 1979, the Bucs went from five wins to 10 … and the next year, back to five. In '97, the Bucs went from six wins to 10 … and the next year, back to eight.
It isn't just the Bucs. In 2008, the Dolphins went from one win to 11 … and the next year, back to seven. In 2006, the Ravens went from six wins to 13 … and then back down to five. The same year, the Saints went from three wins to 10, then back down to seven.
That's the nature of the NFL. With the right schedule, with a few breaks, even a bad team can squeeze out a good season every now and then. It is only when a team puts several seasons together that it proves itself.
Perhaps that is why there are so many meager forecasts for this one. The over-under for the Bucs is eight (down from 8 ½, which means more people have been betting against the Bucs). Most predictions still have the team in third place in its division. Few seem to think the Bucs will make it to the playoffs.
"Some fans probably think we'll win the Super Bowl," tackle Gerald McCoy said. "But some think last year was a fluke and that we're going to miss the playoffs."
McCoy shrugged. It doesn't matter, he said.
"You have to forget last year. Our goal isn't to win 10 games anymore. It's to win the division."
So why do teams backslide? Injuries, sometimes. Schedule, sometimes. Reality, sometimes.
Also, there is this: quarterback.
When the Ravens went from 13 wins in 2006 to five the next year, their quarterback was Kyle Boller. When the Jets went from 10 wins in '06 to four, their quarterback was Chad Pennington. When Chicago went from 13 wins in 2001 to four the year after, their quarterback was Jim Miller. It isn't always the quarterback (Joe Montana and Drew Brees had ordinary seasons, too), but it's a good place to start.
Will the Bucs backslide this year? Depends on Josh Freeman. If he can be good again (even if he doesn't have a 25-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio), then the Bucs can be.
Yes, there are other factors. The team has to maintain focus. It has to stay healthy. Young players, especially on the defensive line, have to develop in a hurry. Sometimes, success is harder to deal with than failure.
That said, Freeman is better than Simms, and Mike Williams is better than Clayton, and LeGarrette Blount is better than Cadillac Williams. The plan is better. The foundation is stronger. Morris will tell you his expectations don't include a regression of any sort.
Can these Bucs succeed again?
We'll see. This time, they have a chance.
By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Monday, August 8, 2011
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have released their first depth chart of the season in advance of Friday night's preseason opener, and it confirmed what was already obvious from watching practice.
Middle linebacker Mason Foster was atop the depth chart at middle linebacker and clearly is the team's choice to succeed free-agent departure Barrett Ruud.
The team is required to release a depth chart before its first preseason game, but outside of Foster, there weren't any real surprises.
The starting receivers remain Mike Williams and Arrelious Benn, but Dezmon Briscoe is climbing the ranks in the receiving corps. The second-year player from Kansas who emerged late last season is the No. 2 flanker behind Benn. With Benn still being held out of contact drills, it's likely he won't play Friday at Kansas City, meaning Briscoe could get the start.
Also on offense, Earnest Graham is still listed as the first-team fullback, even though the club would like to make him more of a full-time halfback and hand the fullback duties to Erik Lorig. With Lorig being slowed by a slight Achilles injury, that potential transition has been slowed a bit.
On defense, while first-round pick Adrian Clayborn is the starting right defensive end, second-round pick Da'Quan Bowers is listed as the No. 2 left end behind Michael Bennett. Bowers has been somewhat limited because of his offseason knee surgery, but he has consistently taken numerous snaps with the first defense. Roy Miller remains a starting defensive tackle, with Brian Price – who is still working himself back into shape after a pelvic fracture – is his backup as the No. 2 nose tackle.
On special teams, Micheal Spurlock is listed No. 1 at both punt returner and kick returner, with Preston Parker No. 2 at both spots.
Times staff
Monday, August 8, 2011
Bucs three-deep depth chart
Offense
Pos.First team Second Third
WR Mike Williams Sammie Stroughter Micheal Spurlock
LT Donald Penn Demar Dotson Cory Brandon
LG Ted Larsen Brandon Carter Marc Dile
C Jeff Faine Jeremy Zuttah Matt Allen
RG Davin Joseph Derek Hardman Thomas Claiborne
RT Jeremy Trueblood James Lee Will Barker
TE Kellen Winslow Luke Stocker Daniel Hardy
WR Arrelious Benn Dezmon Briscoe Preston Parker
QB Josh Freeman Josh Johnson Rudy Carpenter
RB LeGarrette Blount Kregg Lumpkin Allen Bradford
FB Earnest Graham Erik Lorig Rendrick Taylor
Defense
Pos.First team Second Third
LDE Michael Bennett Da'Quan Bowers Kyle Moore
DT Gerald McCoy Frank Okam E.J. Wilson
DT Roy Miller Brian Price Al Woods
RDE Adrian Clayborn Tim Crowder George Johnson
SLB Quincy Black Dekoda Watson Brandon Heath
MLB Mason Foster Tyrone McKenzie Derrell Smith
WLB Geno Hayes Adam Hayward Simoni Lawrence
LCB Aqib Talib Myron Lewis DJ Johnson
RCB Ronde Barber E.J. Biggers Anthony Gaitor
SS Sean Jones Corey Lynch Dominique Harris
FS Cody Grimm Larry Asante Ahmad Black
Special teams
P — Michael Koenen; PK — Connor Barth; KO — Michael Koenen; H — Michael Koenen; LS — Christian Yount; PR/KR — Micheal Spurlock, Preston Parker, Sammie Stroughter
Times staff
Monday, August 8, 2011
Next public practice
When: 2:30 to 4:35 p.m. today; 2:30 to 4:35 p.m. Sunday
Where: One Buc Place, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, just east of Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
Admission: Free
Et cetera: Schedule is weather permitting and subject to change. Go to buccaneers.com for updates
Preseason schedule
Friday: at Kansas City, 8, Ch. 13
Aug. 18: Patriots, 7:30, Ch. 10 *
Aug. 27: Dolphins, 7:30, Ch. 10 *
Sept. 1: at Redskins, 7:30, Ch. 10
* Broadcast subject to NFL blackout rules
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Bryan Burns, Times Staff Writer
Monday, August 8, 2011
The Youth Triathlon Series resumed Sunday at the University of South Florida, and local triathletes continue to rack up victories.
In the elite division, which featured a 300-yard swim, 6-mile bike and 1.5-mile run, Pinellas County had four participants win their age group.
Annabella Mowry of Dunedin was the top 11-year-old female after coming across the finish line in 54:11.
Nicole Nesto of St. Pete Beach claimed the female 14-year-old title by more than a minute after crossing in 40:05.
Dunedin's Kylar Barrett edged Sean Lush of Lutz at the finish line to win the male 13-year-old title in 45:43.
Scott Kremser of Largo was the male 14-year-old champion after overwhelming the field with a time of 38:30.
County triathletes continued picking up race victories in the non-elite divisions as well. Completing a course consisting of a 100-yard swim, 2-mile bike and half-mile run, William Stone of Largo was the male 7-year-old champion in a time of 17:47.
Hannah Sullivan of Clearwater was the female 8-year-old champion after crossing the finish line in 18:22.
Taylor Stone of Largo claimed the female 9-year-old race title in a time of 15:52.
Seminole's Paige Van Middlesworth clocked in at 16:06 to capture the female 10-year-old title.
Hunter Kickel of St. Petersburg was the male 10-year-old champion in a time of 17:21.
Ryan Van Middlesworth of Seminole completed a 200-yard swim, 4-mile bike and 1-mile run in 27:14 to claim the male 12-year-old title. Van Middlesworth was more than five minutes faster than his nearest competitor.
In the adult super sprint, which also featured a 200-yard swim, 4-mile bike and 1-mile run, Stephen Siehien of St. Petersburg was the men's winner in 25:14.
PORT TO PARK: A pair of local runners earned second-place finishes July 30 at the second race in the Port to Park race series in Port Richey.
James Hummel, 50 of Tarpon Springs, was second across the finish line after running the 5K race in 20 minutes, 35 seconds. He was the top masters runner.
Yvonne Bryant, 45 of Clearwater, came in second in 22:25 and also won the masters title.
Tyler Lisnock of Hudson was the overall winner, clocking in at 18:28. Holiday's Helen Lavoie was the women's champion in 21:55.
Frank Mancari of Clearwater scored an age group victory. Mancari, competing in the men's 40- to 49-year-old division, finished in 21:56 to get the win.
Gar Flisek of Tarpon Springs won the men's 60-69 group after running 22:50.
Matthew Siegel of Safety Harbor topped the men's 20-29 group with a time of 36:02.
USA TRIATHLON YOUTH NATIONALS: Clearwater resident Coleman Inglima was a gold-medal winner Saturday at the USA Triathlon Junior Youth National Championship in San Diego.
Inglima was the 9-year-old national champion after covering the 100-meter swim, 5K bike and 1K run in 19 minutes and 12 seconds. He crossed the finish line 13 seconds ahead of his nearest competitor and beat out 21 other triathletes to claim victory.
Overall, Inglima came in 10th place out of 74 men.
In the junior elite division, Shane Deeley of Clearwater was 33rd out of 70 racers with a time of 1:00:09. Locally, he was the top finisher.
John-Gerard Farese of St. Petersburg placed 43rd after crossing the finish line in 1:01:07.
St. Petersburg's Savannah Dearden was 14th out of 41 racers in the women's junior elite race with a time of 1:07:52.
Sarah Sykes of Largo was 27th in 1:10:45.
The junior elite race consisted of a 750-meter swim, 20K bike and 5K run.
Among participants in the youth elite race, which had a 375-meter swim, 10K bike and 2.5K run, Caleb Hudak of Seminole was sixth in a time of 31:32.
Summer Kanstoroom of St. Petersburg was 13th in the women's youth elite race in 34:14.
