By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Friday, September 23, 2011

TAMPA — Coach Raheem Morris says it might be good that Sunday's game against the Falcons is the Bucs' first 4:15 kickoff of the season.

"Because we usually don't get started until 3:30 anyway," Morris said.

But the Bucs' slow starts are no laughing matter. Morris' team was outscored a combined 37-13 in the first half of its games against Detroit and Minnesota.

In fact, it was much the same in 2010, when the Bucs were outscored by 30 in the first quarters.

Offensive coordinator Greg Olson said last week a lack of execution on offense has been the biggest problem, indicating to him maybe the Bucs were trying to do too much.

"It's a different feeling when you feel like you're getting physically manhandled, and I didn't feel like in either game it was a physical mismatch for us," Olson said. "I felt like it was a combination of penalties, sacks, mental breakdowns and things like that. That tells me as a coach I've got them overloaded with information because we're not executing.

"It's not a matter of getting beat. Occasionally, that was the case where a guy would get beat here or there. But across the board, we felt we matched up good against both football teams. We've just got to go back and clean up the execution part of it."

Look for the Bucs to try to get RB LeGarrette Blount rolling a little sooner. Coaches say Blount was guilty of not hitting the right holes during the first halves and hope that problem was ironed out during the second half at Minnesota.

For Blount to start fast, the Bucs' veteran offensive line has to be dominant.

"We talk about it during the week. The wide receivers will bring the energy, but we need the toughness and leadership from our offensive line," Olson said. "Throughout the season, we'll go as those guys go."

KOENEN FACTOR: One player might help swing the pendulum in the Bucs' favor Sunday.

Punter and kickoff specialist Michael Koenen has switched sidelines, going from Atlanta to Tampa Bay. A year ago, the Bucs blew a 10-point second-half lead in part because of a 102-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Eric Weems. Had Koenen been with the Bucs, that kickoff likely would have resulted in a touchback.

The Bucs signed Koenen to a six-year, $19.5 million contract. He's averaging 49.3 yards on punts and has allowed only two kickoffs (among seven) to be returned for a combined 17 yards.

Meanwhile, Falcons rookie Matt Bosher had an 18-yard punt against the Eagles on Sunday.

"It was a little bit of everything," Koenen said of his decision to sign with the Bucs. "It was such a fast free agent period, but they definitely came hard after (me and my family), and I couldn't look away from it. It's a great situation here, and I'm grateful we chose to come here because every day I'm just more and more happy to be here."

T-JACK ISSUE: There are many hurdles for suspended S Tanard Jackson to clear before he can even apply for reinstatement to the NFL. Attending counseling and passing drug tests are only a few.

But assuming he meets the criteria put forth by commissioner Roger Goodell, it's not a slam dunk the Bucs would want him back.

For starters, Jackson has been suspended twice for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. It's unlikely the Bucs would put him in a position where he'd be relied upon every Sunday.

By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Friday, September 23, 2011

You come back, that's all. You calm the chaos, you swallow the pressure, and you find a way to the end zone.

It is loud in the huddle, but you have to block out the noise. The game seems to speed up, but you have to slow it down. The colors have begun to blur, but you have to separate the jerseys of your receivers from the other.

In those final, tight-wire moments, nothing about the scoreboard looks right. The score is in favor of the opposition, and the time is ticking away, and the down-and-distance is starting to read like over-and-out. On the other side of the scrimmage, the defensive backs outnumber your receivers, and the linebackers are coming from every imaginable angle, and the defensive linemen want to take your head home as a souvenir.

It is as pressured as any moment in sports, and every eye in the huddle is on you.

Time to save the day.

Again.

More and more, this is the world of Josh Freeman, Kid Comeback. Time and again, Freeman has treated the fourth quarter as his personal get-out-of-jail-free card. Game after game, he has taken a nothing day and suddenly made it all worthwhile.

He is still new to the job, if the truth be told. He is 23, younger than some rookies, and he has started only 27 games in his career. Already, however, he has shown a knack for turning trouble into triumph. Already, he seems to believe that the fourth quarter is his.

Last week's victory over the Vikings was the eighth fourth-quarter comeback of Freeman's career. No one in the history of the NFL, not Joe Montana or Dan Marino or John Elway or Roger Staubach, had eight fourth-quarter comebacks at such an age.

"To be able to come back like that is huge,'' said ESPN's Trent Dilfer, the former Bucs quarterback. "When you're trying to separate the great quarterbacks from the very good — and I think the top 15 in this league is as good as it's ever been — you have to have some type of criteria. Every week, there are a handful of plays that decide the game. Third down. Red zone. The end-of-the-half plays.

"Week after week, the best always seem to play their best in those moments. The other team knows what you're doing. You don't have smoke and mirrors. It comes to will, ability, belief, the intangible stuff.''

Eight times in 27 games, Freeman has led his team from behind.

Not only that, but there have been two other times —Miami in '09 and Detroit last year — when Freeman had what football researcher Scott Kacsmar calls "lost comebacks.'' In both games, Freeman would have qualified for a fourth-quarter comeback, but the defense could not hold the lead.

"I think it's essential for a quarterback to lead his team from behind,'' said Kacsmar, who wrote an article on "Captain Comeback'' for the website Cold, Hard Football Facts. "If you look throughout history, from Johnny Unitas to Peyton Manning, the best quarterbacks in the league had that ability to bring their teams back late.

"I think Josh Freeman is a player that definitely supports the idea that a 'comeback gene' exists in certain quarterbacks.''

Of course, Freeman has had help.

No one should question that. He won a comeback in his first start, against Green Bay. Tanard Jackson sealed that game by returning a touchdown for an interception. The comeback over the Bengals last year wouldn't have happened if Marvin Lewis hadn't made two boneheaded decisions (both ending in Bucs interceptions) late in the game. In the comeback against the Saints last season, Micheal Spurlock had a 77-yard punt return for a score.

The common denominator, however, is Freeman, whose composure seems to spread through his team. You don't have to tell the Falcons, Sunday's opponent, about it. Their young quarterback, Matt Ryan, now has nine comebacks, although it took him 50 games to get there.

That's the thing about the NFL. It's a fourth-quarter league. Did you ever hear someone talking about a second-quarter comeback? No, you did not.

Most of the quarterbacks regarded as great show in their comebacks. Marino had 36, and Elway and Unitas had 34, and Montana had 31.

How many is eight? Remember Kenny Anderson, who has a lot of Hall of Fame supporters? He only had 11 in his career. Remember Kurt Warner, who led the Rams and Cardinals to the Super Bowl, only had nine. Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rod­gers has only three.

Think of it like this: In the history of the Bucs, only 17 quarterbacks have comebacks. Only four have done it more than five times.

Dilfer has been there. During his career, his name was maligned, but he did have some moments. Even now, he is second on the Bucs' all-time list with 11 (one behind Doug Williams). Already, Freeman is tied with Vinny Testaverde with eight.

"There were times I was good and times I was awful,'' Dilfer said. "When I was good, it was very quiet. You are still of mind, and nothing around you matters. It's really a surreal feeling. You know everyone is looking for that confidence, that peace. They need to see it in your eyes.

"The times I wasn't good, it was loud, and your eyes are looking all over the place. You see everything. You're not confident. You don't believe in yourself or what's being called or the guys around you.''

Say this for Dilfer. He's been a believer in Freeman all along, since before the 2009 draft. He recently wrote an article for ESPN.com where he had Freeman listed first on his up-and-comers at quarterback.

"I try not to play favorites, but right now, he's my favorite,'' Dilfer said, laughing. "He's an achievement junkie. He wants to be the best. Because of that, there are times he's pressing a little early in the game. But when he lifts that burden from his shoulders, when it's time to play, his greatness comes out. In college, he had to play in chaos. He thrives in chaos. That's what you're seeing in those fourth-quarter comebacks.

"He's still refining his craft. I don't mean this in a bad way, but there are surgeons and butchers. One's a skill, one's a craft. The great ones become surgeons. I never did. Josh has these great tools, but he's a little inconsistent. Sometimes, he's still hacking away.

"He's going to get it. He has so much presence. So much want to. I think he'll win a Super Bowl. He's that kind of guy. He's the Dude. Between him, Ryan, (Detroit's Matt) Stafford — and I haven't given up on (the Jets' Mark) Sanchez if they will open it up and let him play — one of those guys is going to be the next guy in the Big Six (Tom Brady, Manning, Philip Rivers, Rogers, Drew Brees and Ben Roethlisberger).''

Think of Freeman as a closer, then. Think of him as a rescue ranger. Think of him as Fourth-Quarter Freeman.

These days, it isn't over until the Big QB Flings.

By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
Friday, September 23, 2011

You come back, that's all. You calm the chaos, you swallow the pressure, and you find a way to the end zone.

It is loud in the huddle, but you have to block out the noise. The game seems to speed up, but you have to slow it down. The colors have begun to blur, but you have to separate the jerseys of your receivers from the other.

In those final, tight-wire moments, nothing about the scoreboard looks right. The score is in favor of the opposition, and the time is ticking away, and the down-and-distance is starting to read like over-and-out. On the other side of the line, the defensive backs outnumber your receivers, and the linebackers are coming from every imaginable angle, and the defensive linemen want to take your head home as a souvenir.

It is as pressured as any moment in sports, and every eye in the huddle is on you.

Time to save the day.

Again.

More and more, this is the world of Josh Freeman, Kid Comeback. Time and again, Freeman has treated the fourth quarter as his personal get-out-of-jail-free card. Game after game, he has taken a nothing day and suddenly made it all worthwhile.

He is still new to the job, if the truth be told. He is 23, younger than some rookies, and he has started only 27 games in his career. Already, however, he has shown a knack for turning trouble into triumph. Already, he seems to believe that the fourth quarter is his.

Last week's victory over the Vikings was the eighth fourth-quarter comeback of Freeman's career. No one in the history of the NFL, not Joe Montana or Dan Marino or John Elway or Roger Staubach, had eight fourth-quarter comebacks at such an age.

"To be able to come back like that is huge,'' said ESPN's Trent Dilfer, the former Bucs quarterback. "When you're trying to separate the great quarterbacks from the very good — and I think the top 15 in this league is as good as it's ever been — you have to have some type of criteria. Every week there are a handful of plays that decide the game. Third down. Red zone. The end-of-the-half plays.

"Week after week, the best always seem to play their best in those moments. The other team knows what you're doing. You don't have smoke and mirrors. It comes to will, ability, belief, the intangible stuff.''

Eight times in 27 games, Freeman has led his team from behind.

Not only that, but there have been two other times —Miami in '09 and Detroit last year — when Freeman had what football researcher Scott Kacsmar calls "lost comebacks.'' In both games, Freeman would have qualified for a fourth-quarter comeback, but the defense could not hold the lead.

"I think it's essential for a quarterback to lead his team from behind,'' said Kacsmar, who wrote an article on Captain Comeback for the website ColdHardFootballFacts.com "If you look throughout history, from Johnny Unitas to Peyton Manning, the best quarterbacks in the league had that ability to bring their teams back late.

"I think Josh Freeman is a player that definitely supports the idea that a 'comeback gene' exists in certain quarterbacks.''

Of course, Freeman has had help.

No one should question that. He won a comeback in his first start, against Green Bay. Safety Tanard Jackson sealed that game by returning a touchdown for an interception. The comeback over the Bengals last year wouldn't have happened if coach Marvin Lewis hadn't made two boneheaded decisions (both ending in Bucs interceptions) late in the game. In the comeback against the Saints last season, Micheal Spurlock had a 77-yard punt return for a score.

The common denominator, however, is Freeman, whose composure seems to spread through his team. You don't have to tell the Falcons, today's opponent, about it. Their young quarterback, Matt Ryan, now has nine comebacks, although it took him 50 games to get there.

That's the thing about the NFL. It's a fourth-quarter league. Did you ever hear someone talking about a second-quarter comeback? No, you did not.

Most of the quarterbacks regarded as great show in their comebacks. Marino had 36, and Elway and Unitas had 34, and Montana had 31.

How many is eight? Remember Kenny Anderson, who has a lot of Hall of Fame supporters? He only had 11 in his career. Remember Kurt Warner, who led the Rams and Cardinals to the Super Bowl, only had nine. Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rod­gers has only three.

Think of it like this: In the history of the Bucs, only 17 quarterbacks have comebacks. Only four have done it more than five times.

Dilfer has been there. During his career, his name was maligned, but he did have some moments. Even now, he is second on the Bucs' all-time list with 11 (one behind Doug Williams). Already, Freeman is tied with Vinny Testaverde with eight.

"There were times I was good and times I was awful,'' Dilfer said. "When I was good, it was very quiet. You are still of mind, and nothing around you matters. It's really a surreal feeling. You know everyone is looking for that confidence, that peace. They need to see it in your eyes.

"The times I wasn't good, it was loud, and your eyes are looking all over the place. You see everything. You're not confident. You don't believe in yourself or what's being called or the guys around you.''

Say this for Dilfer. He's been a believer in Freeman all along, since before the 2009 draft. He recently wrote an article for ESPN.com where he had Freeman listed first on his up-and-comers at quarterback.

"I try not to play favorites, but right now, he's my favorite,'' Dilfer said, laughing. "He's an achievement junkie. He wants to be the best. Because of that, there are times he's pressing a little early in the game. But when he lifts that burden from his shoulders, when it's time to play, his greatness comes out. In college, he had to play in chaos. He thrives in chaos. That's what you're seeing in those fourth-quarter comebacks.

"He's still refining his craft. I don't mean this in a bad way, but there are surgeons and butchers. One's a skill, one's a craft. The great ones become surgeons. I never did. Josh has these great tools, but he's a little inconsistent. Sometimes, he's still hacking away.

"He's going to get it. He has so much presence. So much want-to. I think he'll win a Super Bowl. He's that kind of guy. He's the Dude. Between him, Ryan, (Detroit's Matt) Stafford — and I haven't given up on (the Jets' Mark) Sanchez if they will open it up and let him play — one of those guys is going to be the next guy in the Big Six (Tom Brady, Manning, Philip Rivers, Rogers, Drew Brees and Ben Roethlisberger).''

Think of Freeman as a closer, then. Think of him as a rescue ranger. Think of him as Fourth-Quarter Freeman.

These days, it isn't over until the Big QB Flings.

Times staff, wires
Friday, September 23, 2011

It has been 24 years since Kentucky has beaten Florida in football, but believe it or not, that's not the nation's top streak over a single opponent. • Here is a list of the top winning streaks in consecutive seasons over an opponent in a series that is played annually.

Antonya English, Times staff writer

Sorry, Dad, it's my time

James Franklin's father was a standout tight end at Oklahoma before going on to the NFL. James Franklin lost interest in following in Willie Franklin's footsteps. The Sooners recruited him as an athlete while Missouri wanted him to play quarterback, which sounded good to him. "With him it was quarterback the whole way," offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator Dave Yost said. "He's smooth and athletic, but I don't know what else he'd play here if he didn't play quarterback because he's not vertically the fastest guy out there." Franklin will try to beat his father's alma mater tonight and help the Tigers (2-1) knock off the nation's top-ranked team (2-0) for a second consecutive year. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound sophomore from Corinth, Texas, said he wasn't an Oklahoma fan growing up, although he remembers watching some games on TV with his dad. Forget the family ties, though. "I know a lot of people ask me about that, but it really doesn't even matter," Franklin said. "It really hasn't crossed my mind like, 'Oh, this is where my dad played, I've got to make sure we beat them.' "

By the numbers: LSU edition

0 Touchdowns the Tigers have allowed in their past two games.

19 Times the LSU defense has forced a three and out in 36 defensive series.

40 Consecutive times LSU has scored on trips into the red zone (28 touchdowns, 12 field goals).

Information from the Associated Press and Rivals.com was used in this report.

The Price of friendship

Coach Mike Price brings Texas-El Paso in to face USF today as a 29-point underdog, but he has the benefit of several long-standing friendships with key parts of the Bulls sideline. Price was the last head coach that Doug Woolard helped hire before he brought Skip Holtz to USF last year; Woolard was the associate athletic director at Washington State in 1989 when Price was hired to his first I-A head coaching job. "Doug's one of my best friends, a great AD," Price said. And Price, 65, knows Holtz and USF defensive coordinator Mark Snyder well from their days as coaches in Conference USA; they all coached against each other from 2005-09, with Holtz at East Carolina and Snyder at Marshall. Holtz spoke fondly of his annual golf outings with them at preseason coaches meeting. Price said he called Woolard with a strong endorsement of Holtz when the USF job came open, even if some of it was out of self-interest. "I called him and said, 'The No. 1 guy you should hire is Skip Holtz,' " Price said. "First of all, I wanted him out of Conference USA (laughing). Secondly, I did not want to schedule South Florida, so it ended up backfiring. I think he made a great choice, and we cheer for them every game. This is kind of an unusual game, but it's a great opportunity for our kids. It's all business all day on Saturday." — Greg Auman, Times staff writer

By Don Jensen, Times Correspondent
Friday, September 23, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — In the kennel, Uss Gazillionair is high maintenance. On the racetrack, he is high performance. The only undefeated greyhound through the first two rounds of the $50,000 Fall Sprint, Uss Gazillionair attempts to keep his record intact tonight as qualifying resumes at Derby Lane.

The points leader with 32, Uss Gazillionair appears to be in the tougher of two qualifiers. The Lester Raines kennel dual-distance dog starts from box-2 in Race 6 (8:55 p.m.) and faces four other top-six point scorers. They are 5-2 morning-line favorite Jw Titlist and Sand Cloud, each with 26 points; Craigie I Am Jak (24); and Manicotti Manny (20). Flying Coal City (26 points) seeks his 65th career win as the 5-2 early-line choice in Race 10 (10:11).

Uss Gazillionair, who turns 3 Wednesday, enjoys attention and has attracted more in Derby Lane's first stakes of the season.

"He gets jealous if you talk to his neighbors too much or play with them before you put them up," said Jeanne Lesperance, who manages the kennel with husband Ken, also the trainer. "He's definitely got an attitude."

He also has drive and durability. Uss Gazillionair has 32 career wins, one stakes victory (2010 Fall Juvenile) and is stakes-placed in three events this year: second in the Distance Classic and St. Petersburg Derby, two 660-yard races in which he led in the stretch; and third in the T.L. Weaver Memorial.

The male out of a litter by Uss Raceway and Greys Torrington has never missed a race to injury, making at least six starts in 15 consecutive months. Uss Gazillionair has earned more than $55,000 with top-four finishes in 90 of 105 career starts. Only once has he had back-to-back, out-of-the-money showings.

Owned by Ron Wiltse and Raines, Uss Gazillionair last won two consecutive races in late April, when he proceeded to go on a 21-race losing streak. During that span, he had 17 in-the-money finishes.

"I never call that losing," Lesperance said. "You get paid for the first four spots. … That's what pays the bills."

Qualifying ends Wednesday with the finale Oct. 1. A stakes win by Uss Gazillionair would be special for Lesperance. It would extend the kennel's streak of winning a Derby Lane stakes race to seven seasons. Lesperance also used to race Uss Gazillionair's parents.

"There are some very nice sprinters here and it would mean a great deal (to win), especially being the dog has sentimental value," she said. "Give me a dog that tries hard every start, any day of the week, over a dog who can win a lot of races but doesn't do anything in between. Gazillionair tries 99 starts out of 100."

HORSES: Former Tampa Bay Downs leading jockey Jesse Garcia got his 2,000th thoroughbred career win on his 16,637th mount Wednesday aboard Joyssweetjoy at the Downs in Albuquerque, N.M.

By Eduardo A. Encina, Times Staff Writer
Friday, September 23, 2011

Tonight

FC Tampa Bay vs. Fort Lauderdale Strikers

When/where: 7; Al Lang Field, St. Petersburg

Records: FCTB 10-9-8 (38 points); Fort Lauderdale 9-7-11 (38 points)

Radio/online: 1010-AM; fctampabay.com

Series: Tampa Bay leads the series 2-0-1, including a 2-0 win in Fort Lauderdale on Aug. 27.

Last time out: Tampa Bay lost 1-0 at Puerto Rico on Wednesday. … Fort Lauderdale earned a point in a 1-1 draw at home against Atlanta.

Skinny: Tampa Bay has clinched a home playoff game, Oct. 1 against Minnesota, Edmonton or Montreal. It can seal the No. 3 seed with a win or tie tonight. … Tampa Bay is selling tickets to home playoff games in advance for $12 each, down from $14 for general admission and $18 for reserved, as a promotion to the "12th man." … With its loss to Puerto Rico, Tampa Bay doesn't own a win against the league's top two seeds. Tampa Bay is 0-4-1 vs. Carolina, 0-3-1 vs. Puerto Rico. … Tampa Bay is 7-4-4 in its past 15 games but just one win in its past four. … Fort Lauderdale has a four-game unbeaten streak.

Eduardo A. Encina, Times staff writer

Times wires
Friday, September 23, 2011

DUNSANY, Ireland — Europe overcame a spirited rally by the United States in fourballs to lead 4½-3½ Friday after the opening day of the Solheim Cup at Killeen Castle.

With the sides at 2-2 after foursomes, rookie Caroline Hedwall and fellow Swede Sophie Gustafson put Europe up 3-2 with a 5-and-4 win over Vicky Hurst and Seminole's Brittany Lincicome.

Europe was up in the other three matches, but Americans Morgan Pressel and Paula Creamer came back from one down with two to play to beat Laura Davies and Melissa Reid by one hole.

Catriona Matthew and Sandra Gal were 2-up with three to play against Christina Kim and Ryann O'Toole, but the Americans salvaged a half point.

"It's not over until it's over," U.S. captain Rosie Jones said. "That's why they put all 18 holes up in there. That's why I give this team so much credit is because they don't give up, they don't like to lose."

Europe held on to win the fourball session 2½-1½.

The United States had trailed in three of the four early foursome matches but took a 2-1 lead after Creamer and Lincicome came back from two down with four holes to play to beat Karen Stupples and Reid.

Creamer and Lincicome began their comeback with a birdie to win the 15th, and the Europeans collapsed with double bogeys on the last two holes.

"It was a crazy last couple of holes, but we just told ourselves even if we get a half, that's all we're trying to do is get back," Creamer said. "We watched it go to one (down), then all square, and to walk away with a win, we'll take it any day."

The Americans are looking for their fourth straight win in the biennial match-play series.

Scott rebounds, leads Tour Championship

ATLANTA — Adam Scott is playing well enough to win the Tour Championship. With a little help, he could win a lot more.

The Australian figured he was too far back in the FedEx Cup at No. 19 to have a chance at the $10 million bonus, but the situation has changed.

Scott finished birdie-birdie for the second straight day at East Lake, allowing him to shoot 5-under 65 and finish at 8-under 132 for a one-shot lead over K.J. Choi (65).

"I've got to win, and I imagine Webb (Simpson) must have to finish pretty low to give me a chance," Scott said of the FedEx Cup. "That's all I know. I just figured if I win this week, I'll be happy no matter what."

Scott recovered after three bogeys on the first six holes.

"I was pretty annoyed at myself, but I'm playing too good to let myself flip away at the moment," said Scott, who ran off four straight birdies, added one on No. 12 then closed with two.

Stricker ailing: Steve Stricker said his left arm feels so weak that he could not guarantee being fit enough to play the Presidents Cup in November. He has a herniated disc and a bone spur and will have an MRI exam on Tuesday.

By Stephen F. Holder and Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writers
Friday, September 23, 2011

TAMPA — The Bucs plan to shuffle the deck at linebacker when they host the Falcons on Sunday.

With strongside LB Quincy Black doubtful with an ankle injury and unable to practice this week, second-year pro Dekoda Watson is expected to make the second start of his career.

Rookie MLB Mason Foster will play in the nickel package on passing downs alongside weakside LB Geno Hayes, similar to his role in the second half of the 24-20 win last weekend at Minnesota.

In the first two games, Black wore the helmet transmitter, called plays on defense and remained on the field in nickel passing situations. Those duties will now fall on Foster.

"Quincy is doubtful right now," coach Raheem Morris said. "We'll have to see. … We want to get him out there and get him active.

"I know I'm looking forward to possibly seeing him move around (today) and hopefully on game day. … Mason will be calling the plays every down if he's out there at (middle) linebacker."

TE Kellen Winslow was listed as questionable for the game with chronic right knee pain, but he had full participation in practice Friday and is expected to play.

DE Tim Crowder (calf) did not practice and is questionable. OT James Lee (knee) and WR Sammie Stroughter (foot) are out.

GOING BOWLING: Morris, also the team's defensive coordinator, has spent so much time scheming against Atlanta All-Pro RB Michael Turner the past couple of years that he has come up with the perfect nickname.

"We have to find a way to get the rolling, bowling ball down," Morris said of the squatty, thick-legged Turner. "We have to put some holes in him and get him in his gutter, find a way to lay him down. We have to gang-tackle him."

Turner has had his share of strikes against the Bucs defense. In two games last season Turner combined for 195 rushing yards and three touchdowns. In 2008 he had a 125-yard performance against the Bucs.

The defense had its hands full with Vikings RB Adrian Peterson last week (25 carries, 120 yards), but Morris said Turner presents a different sort of challenge.

"He's got a different style of running than Adrian Peterson," Morris said. "Adrian Peterson runs angry. (Turner) runs to bounce off you and keep going, and he's got great balance. We have to find a way to get him on the ground. Preferably (with) wrap tackling and (others) coming to cap off at the end."

LEWIS' SEASON DEBUT: CB Myron Lewis, who was out with an ankle injury the past two games, will make his 2011 debut, Morris said.

The 2010 third-round draft choice out of Vanderbilt has been slowed by injuries since the preseason, when he had a hamstring injury.

He'll play, according to Morris, in specific situations.

"We'll get him out there in some of our three-wide receiver sets or four-wide receiver sets," Morris said. "We'll give him a chance to get out and get going."

Stephen F. Holder can be reached at sholder@sptimes.com.

David Rice, Times Correspondent
Friday, September 23, 2011

TAMPA — Hillsborough racked up its first district win Friday night by rattling off one big play after another against Strawberry Crest in a 43-0 rout.

The Terriers would have scored in the opening seconds were it not for a penalty on Anthony Brown's 92-yard return. The score could have been even more tilted but a 72-yard touchdown pass to Brown was called back for a personal foul.

"We're coming up on one of the toughest stints in our schedule and we can't be giving touchdowns away," Terriers coach Earl Garcia said. "Overall, this is a victory where we did what we were supposed to do but we've still got some things to tighten up."

Brown and Jeremiah Green combined for 234 total yards and five touchdowns, all on plays of 30 yards or longer.

David Rice, Times correspondent

Brandon Wright, Times Correspondent
Friday, September 23, 2011

VALRICO — Tampa Catholic fell behind by a touchdown in the first quarter, then reeled off 33 unanswered points to defeat Bloomingdale 33-14 Friday night.

The Crusaders (3-0) enjoyed a big size difference along the line and exploited it, running the ball 46 of 54 plays. Five TC runners gained more than 30 yards each, paced by a team-high 121 yards from freshman Corey Bennett.

"We have a lot of different options back there," TC coach Bob Henriquez said. "(Running the ball is ) our bread and butter. I couldn't be prouder of both our lines."

Jordan Rich-Rogers rushed for 115 yards on 20 carries and scored twice. Zach Dyer and Trevor Register also had rushing TDs while Bennett scored on a 78-yarder right up the middle.

The Bulls' (2-2) Eugene Baker rushed for a game-high 142 yard and a TD.

Brandon Wright, Times correspondent

Times wires
Friday, September 23, 2011

BALTIMORE — Orlando "Zeus" Brown, the 360-pound tackle who in 1999 was accidentally hit in the eye with a penalty flag and missed three seasons as a result, was found dead Friday at his Baltimore home. He was 40.

Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said there were no signs of trauma or suspicious activity.

Brown, a 6-foot-7 offensive tackle, played 10 NFL seasons — four with the Browns (1993-95 and 1999) and six with the Ravens (1996-98 and 2003-05). He started 119 of his 129 games.

While with Cleveland, Brown was struck in the right eye by a weighted penalty flag thrown by official Jeff Triplette. Brown pushed Triplette, drawing a suspension. Brown, whose father was blind from glaucoma, said concern for his eyesight caused him to confront Triplette.

The tackle was hospitalized for six days with bleeding behind the eye. He sued the NFL for $200 million, settling the lawsuit for $25 million.

Ravens director of player development Harry Swayne, Brown's former teammate and fellow tackle, called Brown "a big old puppy dog with a little bit of a bark."

New England coach Bill Belichick, too, was shocked; he coached Brown for three years with Cleveland.

"Orlando improved as a player as much as anyone I have ever seen, as he went from being a defensive lineman at South Carolina State to becoming one of the game's top offensive tackles," Belichick said in a statement.

Vick says he's ready

PHILADELPHIA — Eagles quarterback Michael Vick practiced for a second consecutive day and pronounced himself ready to play against the Giants in the Eagles' home opener Sunday, seven days after he left a game against the Falcons with a concussion.

"There's no reason to think that I won't play on Sunday," Vick said.

Vick suffered a concussion in the third quarter of a 35-31 loss at Atlanta.

GIANTS: Former Bucs receiver Michael Clayton re-signed. New York had released Clayton before the season.

JETS: All-Pro center Nick Mangold (high ankle sprain) did not travel with the team for Sunday's game at Oakland. Rookie Colin Baxter will start instead.

PATRIOTS: Tight end Dan Gronkowski was released less than three weeks after he joined his brother Rob on the team.

FINES: Three players were docked $15,000 each for hits during the Chargers-Patriots game: San Diego defensive lineman Antonio Garay and safety Eric Weddle, and Patriots defensive end Andre Carter. The league also fined Eagles tackle Cullen Jenkins $15,000 for a helmet-to-helmet hit.

IMPOSTOR ARRESTED: A man was arrested for impersonating Eagles quarterback Vince Young. Stephan Pittman was accused in Prince George's County, Md., of felony fraud charges. Profootballtalk.com reported that before the arrest, Young said people had given Pittman money thinking they were dealing with Young.

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Friday, September 23, 2011

TAMPA — The plan was to spoon-feed rookie middle linebacker Mason Foster the defense a little bit at a time, let him digest it slowly and see what he would spit out.

Play him on first down, maybe in the goal-line package but rarely in nickel passing situations. In fact, because he had so much information already swimming in his head, coach Raheem Morris did not want to add another voice by giving him the helmet transmitter.

That changed after Foster took over the play-calling duties for injured strongside linebacker Quincy Black in the second half of last week's 24-20 win at Minnesota. The result was 10 tackles, a sack, forced fumble and the 6-foot-1, 241-pounder playing like a mayhem-causing mainstay who has been in the middle of the Bucs defense for years, not two weeks.

"I've got to go let him play," Morris said. "He's got to go out there and prove it.

"But last week was certainly a big indicator that he can. In the beginning, I was trying to take stuff off his plate to ease it for him; to slow it down for him. And he's embracing a bigger role than I even anticipated, and it's been beautiful."

Starting Sunday afternoon against the Falcons, Foster is expected to be the Bucs' quarterback on defense who will remain on the field for every down and distance. He also will have the green dot, on his helmet, which designates the player who has a radio communicator with the coaches.

It's an enormous display of confidence being demonstrated by the Bucs in Foster, a third-round pick from Washington who because of the lockout did not have the benefit of an offseason to learn the terminology of the defense.

"It felt pretty natural," Foster said. "I've played linebacker my whole life. So getting the calls and making all the checks, we've got other linebackers out there, too. It's not just me. It's the whole defense. You've got Geno (Hayes), Sean (Jones), so they helped me out a lot. But it felt good to be out there in charge of the defense."

Regardless of Black's ankle injury, it's indisputable the Bucs defense performed better with Foster playing every down. After yielding 284 yards in the first half against Minnesota, Tampa Bay allowed only 114 the rest of the way. Adrian Peterson rushed for only 37 of his 120 yards after halftime.

The Bucs took a bit of a risk by allowing linebacker Barrett Ruud to leave for the Titans via free agency. (He led them in tackles four straight seasons, and cornerback Ronde Barber has called him the most underappreciated teammate he has ever played with.)

Foster is a different player, a big body-thumper who knows how to put ball carriers on the ground.

"He's big and athletic," Barber said. "He does not mind contact. He's definitely like a splash player, but he's picking it up. There's little stuff that he's not going to know, and the more reps he gets, obviously, the better he's going to get."

One play that did not get much attention last week illustrated Foster's intensity. Peterson made a jump cut in the hole and ran into Foster, who was engaged with Vikings tackle Charlie Johnson. Peterson gave Foster a shove to the face mask with his left hand. But Foster spun out of the block and made a shoestring tackle after a 19-yard gain, likely saving a touchdown.

"That was awesome," Morris said. "That is ultimate effort. Those types of plays don't show up on the stat sheet that great (middle linebackers) and great players make, but they absolutely win football games for you."

The challenge in playing Foster on every down today is resisting the urge to water down the defense for him.

"Do you want to try to make it simple for him so he can play fast and play like he played last week? No doubt about it," Morris said. "With the tough offenses we play and the guys that really know you … those things become hard to do. So we've got to make some changes and put more on his plate this week."

As Morris knows, for some players to grow, you've got to let them eat.

"Barrett Ruud was a great linebacker in Tampa for a long time, but we haven't skipped a beat with Mason coming in," Jones said. "He doesn't look like a rookie out there. He's like a seasoned vet getting the calls to everybody, and he's making plays each and every week.

"We just want him to continue to grow and to do what he's been doing. He's a very humble guy, but I can't wait to see what he becomes in this league."

Rick Stroud can be reached at stroud@sptimes.com.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Friday, September 23, 2011

TAMPA — The Lightning's youngsters are making final roster decisions difficult.

Friday night it was Brett Connolly who, as coach Guy Boucher said, was "good again" in a 5-2 victory over the Panthers in Tampa Bay's only preseason game at the St. Pete Times Forum.

Connolly, 19, the No. 6 overall draft pick of 2010, had his second assist in as many nights and played on a line with C Steven Stamkos and Marty St. Louis.

"I want to get better every day, and I feel I've done that," Connolly said. "Take it day by day and get better every day."

Ryan Shannon scored twice. Mattias Ritola, Carter Ashton and Vinny Lecavalier scored, Pavel Kubina had two assists and Dwayne Roloson made 31 saves as Tampa Bay (1-2-0) beat a Panthers squad without most of its best players.

But it was Connolly, with cuts coming Sunday, who played the game he needed to keep up with Ritola, Ashton, Dana Tyrell, Blair Jones and Cory Conacher, all of whom are on an ever-increasing bubble.

"It's starting to be a little too hard now," Boucher said of determining cuts. "We're going back and forth about who's going to be playing (today at Florida)."

Connolly, who came into camp a long shot to make the team, will play after again showing a willingness to get to the net and the corners and mix it up physically.

"That's what he's learned," Boucher said. "Rather than coming in to show your skills, it's the opposite. You have to have some grit and the skills come out of it."

RADIO DAZE: With the Rays on WDAE-AM 620, USF football on WFLA-AM 970 and Gators football on WHNZ-AM 1250, the Lightning's radio broadcast tonight will be only on the Internet. Pick it up at tampabaylightning.com, 620wdae.com or 970wfla.com.

MINOR MOVE: The Lightning signed D Daniel Milan to a three-year, two-way deal. The training camp invitee had 14 goals, 38 points and 76 penalty minutes last season in 68 games for Moncton of the junior Quebec league.

ODDS AND ENDS: C Dominic Moore did not practice for what the team said was body maintenance. … The team skates at 11 a.m. today at the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon.

Damian Cristodero can be reached at cristodero@sptimes.com.

Chad Wise, Times Correspondent
Friday, September 23, 2011

LAND O'LAKES — Jerome Samuels ran for 115 yards and three touchdowns as Sunlake celebrated homecoming with a 49-16 win against Springstead on Friday night.

The Seahawks (3-0) scored on four of their five first-half possessions on the way to a 28-10 halftime lead. Samuels had two scores and senior quarterback Cameron Stoltz threw two touchdown passes.

The defense held the Eagles to a touchdown and a last-play field goal.

Stoltz, who was taken out late in the fourth quarter, finished 7-of-12 with 173 yards passing. He also rushed three times for 32 yards.

Rashaud Daniels rushed for a touchdown and Jamal Jones ran once for a 38-yard touchdown. Eddie Burgos and Ricardo Williams each had a touchdown reception.

Springstead (1-2) had a rough night defensively but totaled 262 yards of offense. Joe Predoehl recovered a fumble and returned it 81 yards for a touchdown.

Jesse Cowen started the play by recovering Daniels' fumble and running about 60 yards before fumbling it himself, with Predoehl there to finish the job.

Springstead quarterback Tyler Mahla completed 2 of 7 passes and rushed for 61 yards.

Austin Stock gained 68 yards on 14 carries and Kevin Bedford rushed for 102 yards and the Eagles' only offensive touchdown, a 56-yard run.

Times wires
Friday, September 23, 2011

SWIMMING

NYAD begins Another try for DISTANCE MARK

HAVANA — Endurance athlete Diana Nyad took to the water Friday in her second attempt this year to swim from Cuba to Florida. She's trying to set a world record at age 62, a month after an asthma attack forced her from the water.

Nyad hoped to take advantage of what she called a "magical window" of calm water and favorable weather. As darkness fell about an hour and a half into the swim, according to her website, Nyad was stung by "numerous Portuguese man-of-war."

NBA

Schedule crumbles as labor talks drag

As expected, the NBA postponed training camps indefinitely and canceled 43 preseason games because it has not reached a labor agreement with players. Games scheduled for Oct. 9-15 are off. Camps were expected to open Oct. 3. NBA.com, which has a banner across the top of its schedule page listing the number of games on each day, changed it to read "0 Games" until Oct. 16, when four are scheduled.

Soccer

EPL: One American backs up another

Marcus Hahnemann is Everton's second American goalkeeper after signing a short-term deal to compete with Tim Howard for a starting spot on the English Premier League team. Hahnemann, 39, is also a former backup to Howard on the U.S. national team.

OUSTED: The sport's governing body banned Caribbean official Colin Klass for more than two years for his part in a bribery scandal involving former presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam.

MLS: New York suspended defender Rafael Marquez for tonight's game against Portland for criticizing teammates. … Host Sporting Kansas City took the Eastern Conference lead by tying Philadelphia at 1.

ET CETERA

TENNIS: Roger Federer pulled out of next month's Shanghai Masters to rest "nagging injuries" and ensure a six-week break. … Jo-Wilfried Tsonga topped Nicolas Mahut 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 to reach the semifinals of the Moselle Open in Metz, France.

RUGBY: The United States (1-2) lost to Pool C favorite Australia 67-5 at the World Cup in Wellington, New Zealand.

GYMNASTICS: Chellsie Memmel, the 2005 world all-around champion, will miss next month's Pan Am Games with a shoulder injury.

Times wires

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Friday, September 23, 2011

TAMPA — Steven Stamkos is no dummy.

The Lightning's star center knows that after scoring a league-best 96 goals the past two seasons, he always will be judged by the amount of offense he brings.

But in his fourth season, Stamkos realizes there is more to being an elite player than zipping one-timers past goaltenders. In a sport that thrives on inspiration and motivation, the Unionville, Ontario, native wants to provide that, too.

"I'm feeling I want to take more of a leadership role this year," Stamkos said. "I've been in this league a while, you go through playoff experiences. I'm comfortable that I've earned the respect of the veteran guys."

Coach Guy Boucher agrees and named Stamkos, 21, an alternate captain for Friday night's 5-2 preseason victory over the Panthers at the St. Pete Times Forum.

There is no indication the letter is permanent — last season's alternates to captain Vinny Lecavalier were defenseman Mattias Ohlund and wing Marty St. Louis — but Boucher clearly wants to reinforce and nurture Stamkos' perception of himself as a leader.

"It's not just saying we want more," Boucher said. "It's a gesture that I have confidence that he deserves it. I have older guys I could have given it to and didn't."

"He's a great kid," Ohlund said. "He's got a lot of experience, and we all know the type of player he is. Everybody respects him, so absolutely he's ready."

There is a saying in hockey that a player doesn't need a letter on his jersey to lead, the best example being St. Louis, who for years without a letter was a strong voice in the locker room.

A player does, however, need to bring his "A" game. That is why it is important for Stamkos, with a new five-year, $37.5 million contract, to continue his resurgence that began during last season's playoffs.

Stamkos had just five goals in the regular season's final 28 games. His six goals and 13 points in 18 playoff games were good but don't tell the whole story, he said:

"I just learned it doesn't always take scoring a couple of goals or getting a couple of assists to have a good game. Going through that in the playoffs, when I felt good about myself, whether it was a blocked shot or a big hit or winning a big faceoff, you know the offense will take care of itself. As the playoffs progressed, the offensive numbers went up, too."

For Boucher, that realization showed him Stamkos is ready for the next step in his development.

"He went from being a star," Boucher said, "to a winner."

"You just wish you knew that at the beginning of the playoffs," said Stamkos, who had an assist and four shots in 17:02 of ice time against the Panthers. "But now you know now, so you just want to come in with confidence, and I think I am."

That applies on the ice and off. Stamkos said he is ready to "speak up (in the locker room) at the appropriate time."

"We know how he can play, and it's not necessarily bringing a certain amount of points," Lecavalier said. "We know he's going to bring more leadership this year. He deserves it."

More than that, Boucher said, "He earned it."

Times wires
Friday, September 23, 2011

LOUDON, N.H. — As rain hit the track, five drivers were parked waiting for a qualifying turn that might not come.

Led by Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon, the five could afford to have their laps called off: They were the five fastest in practice and would have started up front Sunday had qualifying been wiped out.

But the rain eased up and Ryan Newman, the last car out, was fastest at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, earning the pole at 135.002 mph around the 1.058-mile oval.

"I don't think I've seen that much drama go into the last five cars in qualifying," Newman said.

Newman started first at New Hampshire in July and went on to his only win this season. He is seventh in Sprint Cup points heading into the second race in the 10-race Chase for the Championship.

Red Bull Racing drivers Kasey Kahne and Brian Vickers were second and third, respectively.

When the rain came, Vickers sat on the pole. Juan Montoya was next in line and refused to take a turn when NASCAR asked if he wanted to run before the rain picked up from a drizzle. So started a 51-minute delay.

When officials decided it was clear enough to run, Montoya and qualified 31st. He was visibly agitated and said it was still raining at the track.

"We've got a car fast enough to be on the pole," he said. "It's a joke."

Vickers and Kahne gave Red Bull Racing a needed dose of good news. The team filed notice this week in North Carolina that it expects to lay off 152 employees when it shutters operations on Dec. 17, 2011.

Kahne is moving to Hendrick Motorsports next season, and Vickers is in the final year of his contract.

NHRA: Del Worsham led after two rounds of Top Fuel qualifying for the Texas Fall Nationals in Dallas with a run of 3.869 seconds at 318.54 mph. Jason Line (Pro Stock), Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also led their classes.

NOTABLE: Andretti Autosport will use Chevrolet engines for the 2012 IndyCar season. … A contest offers a chance to win a trip to Las Vegas for NASCAR's After the Lap contest plus other prizes; NASCARafterthelap.com has entries and details. … Kevin Harvick sold his controlling interest in his NASCAR truck team to Eddie Sharp Racing.

By Colby Cole, Times Correspondent
Friday, September 23, 2011

EAST LAKE — Trinity Catholic defeated East Lake 38-19 Friday behind Austin McClellan's 135-yard, four-touchdown night.

East Lake led 6-0 after two field goals by Sebastian Gonzalez, including a long of 50.

But Will Cothron intercepted a Pete DiNovo pass and Trinity Catholic drove to a field goal to trim the lead before halftime.

McClellan ran in from 3 yards for his first touchdown to give the Celtics the lead in the second half.

After a Robert Coggin fumble, McClellan threw a 65-yard TD pass. He added two rushing TDs.

"We have a lot of hard work to do, we need to correct mistakes," East Lake coach Bob Hudson said.

Coggin caught a 13-yard TD pass from DiNovo in the third quarter.

Colby Cole, Times correspondent

Nathan Cowan, Times Correspondent
Friday, September 23, 2011

CLEARWATER — Countryside (4-0) fumbled on its first play of the game Friday. That was one of the Cougars' few mistakes as they steamrolled Seminole 51-0 in the district opener for both teams.

"We don't play down to a lot of teams," Cougars coach Jared Davis said. "In games like this, you have to focus on getting better and correcting the little things."

Diomi Roberts opened the scoring with a 30-yard run en route to a 158-yard, three-touchdown night.

On the next drive Brandon Trezza broke a 65-yard run for Seminole (0-4), but that was all the offense it could muster.

Countryside's Gray Crow went 11-of-17 with 149 yards and two touchdowns.

Nathan Cowan, Times correspondent

Rod Gipson, Times Correspondent
Friday, September 23, 2011

TAMPA — Just as Chamberlain appeared to be on its way to a blowout win against Tampa Bay Tech, two things happened.

Standout Chiefs running back Xavier Johnson left in the second quarter with heat exhaustion and cramps. Then a rash of turnovers and penalties broke out.

Eight Chamberlain turnovers and a host of penalties helped Tampa Bay Tech score 38 unanswered points for a 38-14 road win in Class 7A, District 7.

Johnson's 56-yard touchdown run and defensive back Jermaine Gilyard's interception return for a score gave Chamberlain a 14-0 lead. But Tech defensive lineman Kadesh Reaves returned a fumble 72 yards for a score to tie it at 14 and Aaron Midthus had two touchdown runs and a TD pass as the Titans pulled away.

Rod Gipson, Times correspondent