Vic Ketchman and @jaguarsinsider kept fans updated as the Jaguars travelled to Tampa to take on the Bucs. Here's what they wrote before and during the 19-13 win.
Vic Ketchman
(4:14 PM) Hi, everybody, and welcome to the press box at Raymond James Stadium. They expect a lot of empty seats for tonight's game, but my seat'll have somebody in it and I have one next to me just for you. Welcome to tonight's blog.
Vic Ketchman
(5:25 PM) Maurice Jones-Drew won't play and neither will linebackers Daryl Smith and Kirk Morrison. The other starting LB, Justin Durant, is iffy. Kynan Forney, who started the first two preseason games at left guard, won't play. Vince Manuwai will start at RG and Uche Nwaneri will move to LG. The Jaguars do not offer injury information on their players in the preseason.
Vic Ketchman
(5:26 PM) You're going to see lots of empty seats tonight. They've got major ticket-sales problems in Tampa and the only home game that'll likely be shown on TV is their game against the Steelers. Jacksonville isn't alone, but is this really the company we want to keep?
Vic Ketchman
(5:54 PM) GM Gene just told me Uche Nwaneri may start at center, which would allow Justin Smiley to move in at left guard. The Nwaneri, Smiley, Manuwai combination inside would offer a strong evaluation opportunity of the three players.
Vic Ketchman
(6:15 PM) Tony Gilbert and Russell Allen will start linebacker, along with Justin Durant, and Reggie Nelson will replace Gerald Alexander at free safety.
Vic Ketchman
(6:44 PM) What do I want to see tonight? I wanna see the Jaguars run the ball and stop the run. Let's start with that, then move on to throw the ball and stop the pass. It's time to get back to basics.
Vic Ketchman
(6:59 PM) I'm heading to the radio booth for our pregame segment. You're welcome to join me.
Vic Ketchman
(7:36 PM) Tampa won the toss and elected to defer their choice. The Jaguars will receive the kickoff, so they have that going for them, which is nice.
Vic Ketchman
(7:37 PM) In all my years covering this league, I have never seen anything like this. This stadium is empty to the point of embarrassment.
Vic Ketchman
(7:38 PM) Big return by Scotty McGee; out near midfield.
Vic Ketchman
(7:39 PM) David Garrard immediately throws to Marcedes Lewis for a big gain. He was wide open.
Vic Ketchman
(7:42 PM) On third and nine, Garrard throws short of the sticks. It looked to me as though Mike Sims-Walker was breaking wide open in the right-front corner of the end zone. Josh Scobee is good from 35 yards.
Vic Ketchman
(7:43 PM) OK, let's see what the defense can do. They need to play better than they did in the first two games.
Vic Ketchman
(7:45 PM) Montell Owens caused a fumble on the kickoff return but the ball rolled out of bounds. Tampa has the ball at its 12.
Vic Ketchman
(7:46 PM) This is not good. On the first play, Josh Johnson completes a pass to Mike Williams for 53 yards. Derek Cox fell down in coverage.
Vic Ketchman
(7:46 PM) Rashean Mathis is at RCB and Cox at LCB.
Vic Ketchman
(7:47 PM) The Bucs are facing third and eight.
Vic Ketchman
(7:48 PM) This will be a 50-yard field goal attempt by Connor Barth. It's good.
Vic Ketchman
(7:52 PM) Nwaneri has moved to center on this series. Smiley is at left guard and Manuwai is at right guard.
Vic Ketchman
(7:53 PM) Tiquan Underwood caught a pass over the middle, took a wack and held onto the ball.
Vic Ketchman
(7:54 PM) Garrard throws to Jennings for a first down, and then Garrard got clobbered. Ernest Wilford is called for a block in the back.
Vic Ketchman
(7:55 PM) Garrard is getting a lot of pressure in his face. It's third and two.
Vic Ketchman
(7:55 PM) A busted play results in illegal procedure on Manuwai.
Vic Ketchman
(7:57 PM) Garrard scrambles for a big gain but it's coming back. Holding on Eben Britton. Marcedes Lewis has sustained an ankle injury and his return is questionable.
Vic Ketchman
(7:58 PM) Garrard avoids a sack by flipping the ball to Jennings, but it's far short of a first down. Garrard is getting a lot of pressure in his face.
Vic Ketchman
(7:59 PM) Jaguars special teams are, indeed, special. The pass-blocking so far tonight has not been special.
Vic Ketchman
(8:00 PM) I was just reading some of the Facebook comments on the right side of the home page. Why does every entry have to end with lol?
Vic Ketchman
(8:02 PM) Josh Johnson scrambles for a first down before nearly getting cut in half by Anthony Smith. It's a gain of 18 to the Tampa 42.
Vic Ketchman
(8:03 PM) Stopped for no gain, lol.
Vic Ketchman
(8:03 PM) Short completion; third and six, lol.
Vic Ketchman
(8:04 PM) Mathis knocks the pass away, lsmft.
Vic Ketchman
(8:08 PM) Garrard dumps it to Jennings in the face of a rush. It's third and one. Will somebody please block somebody? We'll have to wait until the second quarter to get an answer.
Vic Ketchman
(8:09 PM) I understand the idea is to allow the defensive line to rush on a screen play, but they shouldn't get to the quarterback at the same time the ball does.
Vic Ketchman
(8:11 PM) Play has been suspended due to a lightning strike. I'm sorry. Those nachos just didn't agree with me.
Vic Ketchman
(8:13 PM) Bonnie, if you're reading my blog (lol), turn out the light in the kitchen before you go to bed. I won't need it.
Vic Ketchman
(8:18 PM) This is a perfect chance to sing a song. I've got the world on a string, sittin' on a rainbow. I got the string around my finger. What a world, what a life, I'm in love.
Vic Ketchman
(8:23 PM) For my next selection, I'd like to do some Tony Bennett. The very thought of you, and I forget to do, the little, ordinary things everyone ought to do.
Vic Ketchman
(8:23 PM) Both teams will be back on the field by 8:35, unless they stay in the locker rooms.
Vic Ketchman
(8:25 PM) I just saw two more lightning strikes. Lightning strikes mean fine tobacco.
Vic Ketchman
(8:29 PM) OK, folks, it's time for a trivia question. What is the nickname of Zach Miller's alma mater, Nebraska-Omaha?
Vic Ketchman
(8:30 PM) Fly me to the moon and let me play among the stars.
Vic Ketchman
(8:32 PM) Yeah, it's the Mavericks.
Vic Ketchman
(8:34 PM) 8:35 warm up, 8:45 start. That's an update from the officials.
Vic Ketchman
(8:37 PM) I don't know about the Jaguars, but I'm ready for the regular season. If Roger Goodell does nothing else but reduce the preseason to two games, he should be elected to the Hall of Fame.
Vic Ketchman
(8:40 PM) They're ready to go. Third and one for the Jags.
Vic Ketchman
(8:41 PM) Option play gets the first down, Garrard hit and then a flag for holding. Let's not run that one again.
Vic Ketchman
(8:42 PM) Garrard throws to Sims-Walker for a first down. Tampa is challening the call of catch. Garrard threw the ball as he was falling away from the rush.
Vic Ketchman
(8:43 PM) It hit the ground. Easy to see.
Vic Ketchman
(8:45 PM) The ruling stands. Amazing. You never know.
Vic Ketchman
(8:49 PM) On third and long the ball is snapped over Garrard's head by Nwaneri. It's fourth and 20.
Vic Ketchman
(8:53 PM) Anthony Smith loves to come up and hit. Watch the play-action pass, Anthony.
Vic Ketchman
(8:57 PM) The Jags have a first down at the 50. It's too much to explain. Just take my word for it.
Vic Ketchman
(8:58 PM) The rush up the middle is the result of the Bucs running some stunts and twists. It's something the Jaguars should be able to figure out and block.
Vic Ketchman
(8:59 PM) Garrard throws the slant to Mike Thomas for a first down. Garrard is 13 of 15 for 118 yards.
Vic Ketchman
(9:01 PM) Montell Owens pounds out a first down. This is a good-looking drive.
Vic Ketchman
(9:02 PM) Owens gains another first down. He's getting a look at running back and he's acquiting himself well.
Vic Ketchman
(9:03 PM) Garrard to Jarett Dillard to the one-yard line. The defender went for the interception and was just late.
Vic Ketchman
(9:04 PM) Intercepted and returned a long way. Linebacker Barrett Ruud picked it.
Vic Ketchman
(9:05 PM) Greg Jones was the intended receiver. The defender went for the interception and, this time, wasn't late.
Vic Ketchman
(9:06 PM) Garrard had pressure in his face but he's got to throw that ball away.
Vic Ketchman
(9:07 PM) Dropped in the end zone. Reggie Brown had beaten Cox. It was a flat-out drop. The Jags are flagged for holding, Scott Starks. First and goal.
Vic Ketchman
(9:08 PM) We're at the two-minute warning. That interception really stings. I was about to write about what an impressive, ball-control drive the Jaguars had executed. All of a sudden, the ball is going the other way. That kind of stuff can't be allowed to happen.
Vic Ketchman
(9:10 PM) The Bucs cheerleaders are dancing next to the Jaguars' huddle. That's a foul.
Vic Ketchman
(9:11 PM) And that's a touchdown, Johnson to Earnest Graham.
Vic Ketchman
(9:16 PM) I just watched the replay. I don't like the design of the play. There were two receivers dragging three defenders into the same area. The spacing was bad.
Vic Ketchman
(9:19 PM) Garrard to Dillard for a first down at the Bucs 43 with :42 to play. This drive is a chance for redemption.
Vic Ketchman
(9:20 PM) He needs to take a shot downfield.
Vic Ketchman
(9:20 PM) It's first down at the 26. That's nice, but the field is shrinking.
Vic Ketchman
(9:22 PM) He took a shot for the end zone for Zach Miller, but he was covered tightly.
Vic Ketchman
(9:23 PM) Garrard pitches to Dillard for a first down with :11 to play. This is a great drive if you wanna kick a field goal.
Vic Ketchman
(9:24 PM) For Ernest Wilford in the back of the end zone, incomplete. Holding on Jags. Here comes the field goal team. Scobee is good from 43.
Vic Ketchman
(9:34 PM) Tony Boselli sucked down two bowls of bananas Foster. I'm upset because they didn't have any Brussels sprouts.
Vic Ketchman
(9:37 PM) Don't forget my "Ask Vic" segment on the "Jaguars All Access" TV show on Monday on CBS 47. Whose question will I use this week?
Vic Ketchman
(9:38 PM) And don't forget about the GM Gene radio show on Monday at six o'clock. Have your questions ready for him.
Vic Ketchman
(9:39 PM) I'm not even going to bother with the first-half stats because there's only one stat that's meaningful: one interception.
Vic Ketchman
(9:41 PM) Good coverage deep by Cox. He's struggling right now. He needs an interception to boost his confidence.
Vic Ketchman
(9:43 PM) I like what I'm seeing in Mathis tonight. I think he's ready to go.
Vic Ketchman
(9:44 PM) Cox got beat bad to the inside. He's not the same guy right now that we saw last year.
Vic Ketchman
(9:45 PM) Tyson Alualu just made a super play on an inside run. He's real, real quick.
Vic Ketchman
(9:46 PM) Aaron Kampman is still playing.
Vic Ketchman
(9:47 PM) The Bucs up their lead to 13-6.
Vic Ketchman
(9:52 PM) This will likely be the first team's last chance to score a touchdown in this game.
Vic Ketchman
(9:54 PM) Garrard scrambles for a first down. Fans like that but I don't.
Vic Ketchman
(9:55 PM) Brock Bolen makes the catch and slips two tackles. He is the process of making this team.
Vic Ketchman
(9:56 PM) Again, Garrard is moving the ball efficiently, but he's got to get it into the end zone.
Vic Ketchman
(9:57 PM) On third and one, Bolen is stopped. Go for it?
Vic Ketchman
(9:57 PM) Yeah, here we go. This is the game right here.
Vic Ketchman
(9:58 PM) Bolen up the middle for the first down. He ran behind Manuwai.
Vic Ketchman
(9:59 PM) The more things you can do ... and Bolen can do a lot of things.
Vic Ketchman
(10:00 PM) Garrard's pass is off Mike Thomas' hands in the end zone.
Vic Ketchman
(10:01 PM) Time out, Jags. It's third and goal at the three.
Vic Ketchman
(10:03 PM) False start on Wilford. After a time out?
Vic Ketchman
(10:04 PM) Incomplete. They have to kick. That's a bummer.
Vic Ketchman
(10:07 PM) The Bucs quit first. Their backup backup quarterback is in the game.
Vic Ketchman
(10:11 PM) Three and out.
Vic Ketchman
(10:14 PM) We've just had a punt calamity that has involved a penalty, a re-punt and a shank that has left the Jaguars with the ball at the Tampa 30.
Vic Ketchman
(10:15 PM) Luke McCown is in the game at QB and Chad Kackert just had his sinuses cleared by Piscitelli. I love a little Piscitelli with a piece of fish.
Vic Ketchman
(10:16 PM) I want everyone to understand that I don't use my best adjectives and adverbs in the preseason. I save those for the regular season.
Vic Ketchman
(10:16 PM) Touchdown! McCown to John Matthews, who made a beautiful diving catch at the goal line.
Vic Ketchman
(10:17 PM) OK, folks, go ahead and start sending your incredibly negative and hateful e-mails to "Ask Vic."
Vic Ketchman
(10:22 PM) We're through three quarters. I wanna be around to pick up the pieces, when somebody breaks your heart.
Vic Ketchman
(10:25 PM) McCown scrambles for a first down.
Vic Ketchman
(10:26 PM) On the next defensive series, I'm going to go a play-by-play on Jacob Cutrera.
Vic Ketchman
(10:30 PM) Scobee is now seven for seven in the preseason. OK, Jacob, do your stuff. I'm rootin' for you.
Vic Ketchman
(10:35 PM) Cutrera got a hit on the quarterback.
Vic Ketchman
(10:36 PM) They ran away from him on second down. Cowards!
Vic Ketchman
(10:37 PM) Cutrera nearly had an interception. That was a good series for the kid from LSU.
Vic Ketchman
(10:38 PM) I'm tellin' ya, I just have a feeling about that kid. I hope GM Gene finds a way to keep him.
Vic Ketchman
(10:43 PM) I haven't gotten an official attendance. Wait, I'll count.
Vic Ketchman
(10:44 PM) McCown has big-time skills, but he lacks consistency. He had plenty of time to throw and an open receiver on that play, and then threw way behind the guy.
Vic Ketchman
(10:45 PM) I'll say this about the Jags QB position: I feel good about it because they have two legit NFL passers.
Vic Ketchman
(10:46 PM) And then he makes a pinpoint throw like that to Roren Thomas. McCown has talent.
Vic Ketchman
(10:47 PM) If Garrard hadn't thrown that interception, this would be a big-time, feel-good game for the Jags.
Vic Ketchman
(10:48 PM) Interception. McCown threw it right at the guy. I think Matthews turned the wrong way.
Vic Ketchman
(10:48 PM) Cutrera is down. OK, now he's up.
Vic Ketchman
(10:49 PM) He got picked up on a blitz. Short pass goes for a first down.
Vic Ketchman
(10:50 PM) Don Carey got beat deep but the pass was just beyond the receiver's hands.
Vic Ketchman
(10:50 PM) It's third and six.
Vic Ketchman
(10:52 PM) Cutrera dropped into hook zone. The pass was incomplete. The Bucs are punting. It rolls dead at the seven.
Vic Ketchman
(10:54 PM) McCown scrambles. It's going to be third and four. Time out, Bucs, with 2:44 to play.
Vic Ketchman
(10:54 PM) OK, here's the plan. I'm going to try to write a story on the bus and send it back to the IT boys before the plane takes off.
Vic Ketchman
(10:55 PM) It's punt time. Then, when I get back to Jax, I'll update the story.
Vic Ketchman
(10:56 PM) Adam Podlesh is punting beautifully and his coverage unit has swarmed the returners. The Bucs start at their 34 with 2:29 to play.
Vic Ketchman
(10:57 PM) Stupid personal foul penalty by the Bucs. That's a killer for them.
Vic Ketchman
(10:58 PM) Cutrera gets the sack. That a boy, Jacob. You gonna make it, baby. What a moment for that kid.
Vic Ketchman
(10:59 PM) Intercepted by Tyron Brackenridge. That's the game. Thanks for spending the evening with me.
