Mike Farley is the official New York Giants Correspondent for FanBall.com. His posts can be found on GMenDen.com. Mike contacted me earlier this week to ask me a few questions about the Bucs. You can read the interview below. Be sure to click the banner below to check out his page, he has some really good stuff on there!
Each week we preview the Giants’ upcoming game by swapping e-mail interviews with our opponents’ blogger on the Fanball.com network. Today we spoke to Thomas Gemkow, the Tampa Bay Bucs’ correspondent from WhattheBucs.com blog…..
GMenDen: The Bucs put up a good fight against Dallas two weeks ago, but the Cowboys wound up having lots of success in the passing game. With the Giants suddenly looking like a top-notch passing team, how do you think the Bucs will defend the G-men?
WhatTheBucs: I think it will be tough for the Bucs to keep up with Eli Manning and his plethora of weapons. I have said since the beginning of the season, that if Manning does not have the best season of his career this season, then it will be a disappointment. With Plaxico Burress and his ego off the team, the aging Amani Toomer gone the Giants can better use all the talent they have at receiver. The Bucs took a big blow in the secondary this week with Jermaine Phillips landing on the IR, so it will be tough. I could see Manning throwing for 350-375 this week–as much as it pains me to say that.
GMD: How do you think Raheem Morris has done as a coach so far, even though it’s still very early in the season?
WTB: I think Raheem Morris has a lot working against him. Releasing icons like Derrick Brooks, Warrick Dunn & Joey Galloway certainly did not win him any fans–BUT they were good football decisions. Fans sometimes loose sight of the fact that this is a business as much as it is a game. Morris I believe has a bright future in Tampa, but it may be a year or two before we see the fruits of his rebuilding labor. Morris is rough around the edge with the press and his players–telling Josh Johnson he is a career back up, calling out a fragile minded Sabby Piscitelli a week after telling him he was the guy at safety–let’s just say Morris may need a good PR guy or media coach.
GMD: Do you think Derrick Ward is chomping at the bit to face his former team, and do you think the Bucs will try to take advantage of a suddenly weak Giants run defense?
WTB: I sure hope he is. Derrick Ward has done a lot of jawing with former teammates this week. Good rule of thumb for someone who has yet to show his skills when he’s with a new team…don’t wake the sleeping beast. New York has had some holes in their run defense, but the fact reminds they have loads of talent on that side of the ball. My prediction? Click here to read it.
GMD: At 0-2 and two tough division rivals in New Orleans and Atlanta, are you and Bucs fans at all hopeful that they can turn it around this season?
WTB: The fan in me says yes, but the blogger in me says no. I say they finish 3-13 or 4-12, get a high draft pick, and hopefully land an impact player and spend some of the oodles of money they have available under the cap in the coming off season. By the way, you read it here first, says the Saints will win the Super Bowl this year.
GMD: What do you predict for the final score of Sunday’s game and why?
WTB: New York 35, Tampa Bay 17. Don’t see the Bucs being able to post up points against the Giants defense that has been stirred up by Ward this week.
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