Jaguars.com Senior Editor Vic Ketchman followed the action live as the Jaguars took on the Bucs. Here's what he had to say.
8/26/2006 5:53 PM
(two hours before kickoff) -- Tonight's game is the first of three nationally-televised, prime-time Jaguars home games this season. The other two are Monday night games, against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 18 and against the New York Giants on Nov. 20. Tonight's game is on CBS, featuring Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf in the broadcast booth.
8/26/2006 6:54 PM
(1:15 before kickoff) -- These Jaguars won't play in tonight's game: Gerald Sensabaugh, Dan Connolly, Mike Williams, Elton Patterson, Brian Jones, Marcedes Lewis, Tony Williams and Marcus Stroud.
8/26/2006 7:01 PM
(pregame) -- The Jaguars will open in a three-wide formation and will introduce Reggie Williams as a starter intead of TE Kyle Brady. Rob Meier starts at DT in place of Marcus Stroud. Nick Greisen starts at OLB in place of Pat Thomas.
8/26/2006 8:08 PM
(kickoff) -- The temperature is 86 degrees, the humidity is 65 percent and there is no chance of rain.
8/26/2006 8:10 PM
(kickoff) -- Jacksonville won the toss and will receive, so they got that going for them, which is nice.
8/26/2006 8:13 PM
(first play from scrimmage) -- Fred Taylor makes a nice, hard run for five yards.
8/26/2006 8:14 PM
(first down) -- Taylor again, for six yards and a first down. Fred looks quick.
8/26/2006 8:16 PM
(review) -- Byron Leftwich fumbled and Derrick Brooks recovered for Tampa, but the play is being reviewed. Leftwich's knee may have been down.
8/26/2006 8:19 PM
(Jaguars lose challenge) -- Leftwich was sacked by linebacker Shelton Quarles. Tampa recovered the fumble at the Jaguars 43-yard line.
8/26/2006 8:22 PM
(first down) -- Chris Simms completes a 17-yard pass to Michael Clayton over the middle for a first down at the Jaguars 17. It was a third-and-12 play.
8/26/2006 8:23 PM
(first and goal) -- Simms to Alex Smith for a first down at the Jags seven. This is not a fast start for the Jaguars.
8/26/2006 8:23 PM
(second and goal) -- Cadillac Williams gains five to the two. Mike Peterson is out of the game. They're looking at his leg.
8/26/2006 8:26 PM
(touchdown) -- Mike Alstott over the top. The drive covered 43 yards in eight plays. Holder Josh Bidwell passed to Dewayne White for the two-point conversion. White took the ball out of Donovin Darius' hands; 8-0 Tampa at 8:32 of the first quarter.
8/26/2006 8:29 PM
(Bad start) -- The offense fumbled and the defense didn't respond. Peterson has been taken to the locker room with a sprained right knee and a penalty on the ensuing kickoff has the Jaguars starting at their 15. This is exactly what Jack Del Rio didn't want.
8/26/2006 8:32 PM
(sacked) -- Anthony McFarland beat Chris Naeole.
8/26/2006 8:33 PM
(Cordova's in the game) -- Jorge Cordova has taken Peterson's place at middle linebacker. Peterson walked into the locker room.
8/26/2006 8:36 PM
(Simms sacked) -- Paul Spicer dropped him at the Tampa 48; second and 17.
8/26/2006 8:38 PM
(defense responds) -- Three and out for Tampa. The Jags take over at their nine following the punt. Chad Owens fielded the punt inside the five-yard line.
8/26/2006 8:42 PM
(sacked) -- A total breakdown up front. That's the third time Leftwich has been sacked.
8/26/2006 8:44 PM
(Needs playing time) -- Jack Del Rio wants to get playing time in the first half for Quinn Gray, but Leftwich may need as much playing time as he can get.
8/26/2006 8:45 PM
(Gain of 26) -- Simms to Joey Galloway; ball at the Jags nine.
8/26/2006 8:46 PM
(sacked) -- Simms sacked by Reggie Hayward for loss of 15 yards. Third and goal from the Jaguars 22.
8/26/2006 8:48 PM
(another sack) -- Simms dropped by Rob Meier. The two offensive lines are being abused.
8/26/2006 8:49 PM
(Bryant misses) -- Matt Bryant's field goal attempt from 45 yards was wide to the right.
8/26/2006 8:51 PM
(End of first quarter) -- That's not good football by the Jaguars. They need to radically improve their performance on both sides of the ball in what remains of their playing time tonight.
8/26/2006 8:53 PM
(Leftwich connects) -- He finds George Wrighster for 12 yards and a first down at the Tampa 45.
8/26/2006 8:55 PM
(want a bright spot?) -- Taylor has rushed six times for 28 yards and a 4.7 average.
8/26/2006 8:58 PM
(in the end zone) -- Chris Hanson boomed it. He's not on top of his game.
8/26/2006 9:01 PM
(stout against the run`) -- The Jaguars' run-defense has been solid. Rashean Mathis dropped Michael Pittman for a loss of four.
8/26/2006 9:02 PM
(three and out) -- Owens fair catches at the Jaguars 40.
8/26/2006 9:06 PM
(stupid penalty) -- Vince Manuwai jumped onto the pile late. It's going to cost the Jaguars 15 yards.
8/26/2006 9:07 PM
(celebration time) -- Come on, Reggie. It was only a six-yard gain.
8/26/2006 9:08 PM
(big punt) -- Hanson nails it; 51 yards. The ball is at the Tampa 10.
8/26/2006 9:12 PM
(three and out) -- The Jaguars defense is on top of its game now.
8/26/2006 9:14 PM
(eight-yard pass) -- Leftwich to Matt Jones.
8/26/2006 9:16 PM
(three and out) -- An incompletion on second down and Greg Jones gained one on third-and-two. Tampa takes over at its 23.
8/26/2006 9:17 PM
(Leftwich stats) -- He's four of nine for 36 yards and a 55.8 passer rating.
8/26/2006 9:18 PM
(mystery interference penalties) -- Two straight on Rashean Mathis. The second one, maybe, the first one was ridiculous. Tampa's on the Jaguars 15.
8/26/2006 9:21 PM
(field goal) -- Bryant hit it from 29 yards, 11-0.
8/26/2006 9:23 PM
(three minutes to play) -- Leftwich is going to play the whole first half and he may play into the second half. The Jaguars passing game needs work, in all areas.
8/26/2006 9:26 PM
(sacked) -- Simeon Rice dropped Leftwich on third-and-one. Rice beat Khalif Barnes. That's four times Leftwich has been sacked.
8/26/2006 9:31 PM
(three and out) -- John Henderson knocked down the pass.
8/26/2006 9:36 PM
(Before my halftime hot dog) -- Let me say this: The Jaguars passing game is a problem. Leftwich isn't getting time to throw, his receivers are getting no separation from the defenders, and Leftwich has been wild with his throws at times.
8/26/2006 9:48 PM
(halftime stats) -- Leftwich is eight of 15 for 71 yards and a 66.2 rating. Taylor's nine for 37 and 4.1. Simms is nine of 14 for 77 and 78.6. The Jaguars have only allowed 12 yards rushing.
8/26/2006 9:52 PM
(kickoff return) -- Torrie Cox takes the kick back 49 yards. First down at the Jaguars 49. Bruce Gradkowski is in at QB.
8/26/2006 9:54 PM
(lineups) -- The Jaguars have their first team defense in the game. The Bucs have their number offensive line but backups at the skill positions. Gradkowski is a red-hot rookie from Toledo.
8/26/2006 9:57 PM
(Jags' ball at their 20) -- First team offense is still in the game, including Leftwich. The Bucs are playing their second team defense, at all positions.
8/26/2006 10:01 PM
(two completions) -- One to Reggie Williams and the other to Matt Jones. The ball is at the Tampa 43.
8/26/2006 10:01 PM
(Jaguars on the move) -- Greg Jones gains seven. The Jaguars are getting yardage in big chunks now. It's obvious what the problem was. The Bucs were playing their first team defense.
8/26/2006 10:03 PM
(Jones hurts left knee) -- It was a gain of seven yards. He got cut at the end. He's walking off on his own power.
8/26/2006 10:05 PM
(first down at Tampa 19) -- LaBrandon Toefield gains six.
8/26/2006 10:06 PM
(first and goal at the five) -- Toefield gains nine off left tackle.
8/26/2006 10:08 PM
(touchdown) -- One-yard sneak by Leftwich. Toefield up the middle for the two-point conversion. Bucs lead, 11-8. Jones has a sprained left knee.
8/26/2006 10:14 PM
(Iwuh injured) -- Rookie linebacker Brian Iwuh limps off. I'll update the injury when I receive more info.
8/26/2006 10:17 PM
(Greisen intercepts pass) -- Nick Greisen probably just clinched a starting job on opening day by intercepting Gradkowski. The Jags' first team offense is still in the game; Leftwich, too.
8/26/2006 10:19 PM
(Iwuh update) -- He has a hip pointer and will not return to action tonight.
8/26/2006 10:22 PM
(touchdown) -- Leftwich to Matt Jones, 19 yards. The drive was 68 yards in six plays. Leftwich has seven straight completions. The Jaguars lead, 15-11.
8/26/2006 10:31 PM
(end of third quarter) -- The Jaguars first team offense played three quarters. Leftwich finished with 167 yards passing, one touchdown pass and a 107.7 rating. It appears that David Garrard will replace Leftwich.
8/26/2006 10:36 PM
(Garrard sacked) -- The second team offense went three and out and Garrard was sacked on third down.
8/26/2006 10:42 PM
(interception) -- Dee Webb intercepts at the Jaguars 49. It was a heckuva play by Webb.
8/26/2006 10:47 PM
(third-down play) -- Maurice Jones-Drew runs 18 yards to the Tampa 10.
8/26/2006 10:48 PM
(touchdown) -- Garrard nine yards to Rich Alexis. The drive is 51 yards, seven plays. With 5:29 to play in the game, the Jaguars lead, 22-11.
8/26/2006 10:55 PM
(Gradkowski sacked, fumbles) -- The Jaguars recover at the Bucs 13. With 4:22 to play, I'm going to head downstairs for the postgame interviews.
