FRIDAY INJURY REPORT
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
–OUT: T Terron Armstead (pectoral)
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
–OUT: S Justin Evans (toe), WR DeSean Jackson (thumb), S Isaiah Johnson (concussion)
–DOUBTFUL: CB Carlton Davos (knee)
–QUESTIONABLE: T Demar Dotson (hamstring), CB Brent Grimes (knee), DE Jason Pierre-Paul (knee), CB M.J. Stewart (foot)
PLAYER NOTES
–DE Jason Pierre-Paul, who leads the team with 11.5 sacks, needs only five more to tie the club record.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: S Andrew Adams came to the Bucs in Week 3 after being cut by the Giants. He’s been instrumental in the defense playing a linebacker position as a sixth defensive back in their nickel package, usually on third down. On Sunday, after Justin Evans went out at halftime with a foot injury, Adams moved to safety. He had a career-high three interceptions of Carolina quarterback Cam Newton.
GAME PLAN: The Bucs had an incredibly hot day throwing the football in their 48-40 win at New Orleans in Week 1. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick passed for more than 400 yards and four touchdowns as the Saints man coverage was beaten regularly. It’s unlikely the Bucs will duplicate that efficiency. Quarterback Jameis Winston is capable, but he is placing a premium on protecting the football and has not had a turnover since returning as the starter, both victories. Controlling the football and putting more of an emphasis on being balanced has helped protect the Bucs defense.
Defensively, the Bucs front four is playing well. They will have to stop running backs Mark Ingram II and Alvin Kamara in order to have any chance to get to quarterback Drew Brees. If the Dallas Cowboys provided a template in holding the Saints to 10 points in their last game, the Bucs may have a tough time duplicating it. It would require a fast start and solid tackling.
“It was two hot teams – two teams that are both red hot,” head coach Dirk Koetter said of the Saints loss to the Cowboys. “Dallas latter part of the year here and the Saints 10 (straight) games. Low-scoring, which is lowest by far for the Saints. I thought Dallas just played really hard. Saints usually get off to such a fast start. I thought the fact I think Brees missed his first four passes for the first time in a long, long time. They were incomplete, whether he missed them or not. I just thought Dallas played hard, got some momentum. That’s a tough place to play. It’s hard from a crowd noise standpoint to communicate there. Dallas got that early lead and held it. I just thought they executed very well.”
MATCHUPS TO WATCH:
–Bucs WR Mike Evans vs. Saints CB Marshon Lattimore. Evans abused Lattimore in the season opener with seven catches for 147 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown. Chances are the Bucs will keep Lattimore on Evans, or they could double him with Eli Apple and a safety over the top.
–Saints RB Alvin Kamara vs. Bucs LB Lavonte David. Kamara is third in the NFL with 11 rushing touchdowns. David returned from missing two games with a knee sprain last Sunday and had 12 tackles, a sack and tipped a pass that was intercepted.
