This has been one hell of a game thus far. Only through one half and we have already seen two marvelous punts by Michael Koenen (#9). He is averaging 49.5 yards per punt, and over 50 if you include the -2 yard return by the incredibly foolish Blair White. How foolish was he not to fair catch. Wouldn’t you? To give the respect that Koenen’s leg demands as he masterfully knocked the brick deep into Colt territory.
To praise Michael Koenen alone would only showcase half of this game’s stars. Pat McAfee, with a career average of 43.6 gross yards per punt, has lobbed two grenades to the tune of 92 total yards. So masterfully have these two punts executed, that we have seen no return from either punt. What a game folks, to think it’s only half time. I can’t contain the excitement as I watch these two young men perform. Painter (5/13 130 yards 101.4 rating) has been a laceration to the Buccaneers. Early on in the first half he showed some poise as he marched his troops down field; completing his first two passes. The Bucs initially couldn’t stop the onslaught that was upon them. They recalled their mandatory first aid training at the beginning of the season and were able to stop the blood loss and 3 points the only sacrifice. They applied pressure, and put a coverage band-aid on the Colts aerial assault. With enough pressure, the bleeding stops. Save for one 87 yard touchdown pass to Pierre Garcon with 8:47 left in the second quarter, the bleeding has stopped.
It isn’t entirely Painters’ fault however. Please don’t take me the wrong way. Pierre Garcon has dropped two passes thus far, and although Addai has been putting up some numbers on the ground (8 rushes for 31 yards), I would like to attribute Painter’s fumble to a missed block by Addai, and it wasn’t a near miss either. Unfortunately for the Bucs, their offense has been pacified as well. An unfortunate incident involving a very long TD pass to Arrelious Benn that was called back (he caught the ball out of bounds) leaves a lonely 0 on the scoreboard. Painter took notes on that play, as his pass to Garcon looked eerily similar, although he was smarter, evident by the fact that his TD wasn’t recalled.
The Bucs showed life late in the 2nd quarter. Driving down field probably reminded Gruden of the Super Bowl XXXVII drive the Bucs had to close out the first half against the Raiders in which Alstott would not be stopped. The difference was their Super Bowl drive put the Bucs up 20-3 as opposed to tonight, where the TD brought them within 3 of the 0-3 Colts.
Kevin
