On Wednesday, Football Diner sat down with TV pundit and NFLUK personality Neil Reynolds ahead of Sunday’s international series game. The intrepid Sky and Radio 5 Live man talked about the need for both teams to establish an identity going forward – and picked the home-team Bucs to emerge triumphant.
FD. Sunday’s games is a huge matchup for two teams coming off big wins – what do you see happening?
NR. I think it’s going to be quite a close match. You’ve got two teams feeling good about themselves coming off two massive wins. The Bears needed it to stay on the coattails of Detroit and Green Bay and when you look at the Buccaneers playing against the Saints – they really don’t like each other so to win the way they did was huge. It’s nice to get two teams where you know the game really means something and a win for either of them – going into their bye week – would really set them up for the second half of the season.
FD. Are these teams pretenders or contenders?
NR. At the start of the season I would have said that the Buccaneers are contenders and after last week I think they still are, but the Bears have taken a step back this year. I don’t trust that offensive line, I don’t trust Mike Martz to come out balanced enough at times, and they don’t use Matt Forte as much as they should. After the loss to the 49ers I wasn’t so sure about the Bucs, but they turned it round last week and they’re an exciting, young team.
FD. Are both of them in search of an identity?
NR. Yeah a little bit. I think the Bears need to build around Forte. Who are their wide receivers? Hester can score every now and then but isn’t the most polished product, and there’s not much else. For the Bucs Josh Freeman’s the guy and that’s who they’re building around, but their identity is still to be determined. I like Earnest Graham more than I like LeGarrette Blount so that could help the running game, which has to be part of it. They’re exciting and aggressive on defense again which they’ve not been for a while. Or maybe that should that be ‘yagressive’!
FD. We like it. Who are the under-the-radar players you think might perform well on Sunday?
NR. Preston Parker’s been great in recent weeks. He just seems to make plays, and he came up really big against Minnesota and New Orleans, especially at a time when Mike Williams has been a bit of a disappointment. Any good offense – look at the Saints or Packers – spreads it around to five or six different receivers and that’s what the Bucs need. I think Parker will be a guy to look out for. I really like Earnest Graham too. I think he’s reliable and he’s a veteran leader – he’s got moves too. On the Bears I don’t know who I could pick who’s not already known, they don’t have a huge amount. Maybe Dane Sanzenbacher? If you’re looking for somebody who’s emerged from nowhere, he’s your man.
FD. You think Jay Cutler needs more from the players around him?
NR. Well I’ve spoken to quite a few quarterbacks who are in the NFL or recently retired from it like Kurt Warner, Joe Montana, Brad Johnson – I’m name dropping here – and asked them who they like to watch, and all of them mentioned Jay Cutler at some point, probably because he’s kind of a gunslinger. Still, he needs protection and he definitely needs more weapons.
FD. Dare you venture a game prediction?
NR. I’m going to say that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will win 27-21. I think it’s going to be quite a close game, but it’s not going to be massively high scoring or a low-end defensive struggle either. Both teams will put up a handful of touchdowns.
FD. More fourth quarter Bucs magic you think?
NR. I think so. I think it’s going to be Josh doing his thing again. He makes plays when the game’s on the line. The guy’s only in his third year and there he is making all the plays – third down, red zone, you name it. He’s very calm and he’s got a very old head on young shoulders. I think he actually relishes the opportunity to win games for them. I see the Bucs getting after Cutler defensively with Clayborn and that young line too.
FD. And last of all when can we see Neil in action over the weekend?
NR. Everywhere! You can see me at Trafalgar Square on Friday night for Friday Night Lights, I’m hosting the fan rally, also at Trafalgar Square, on Saturday from midday until 5pm, then I’m hosting the tailgate party on Sunday from midday till 3pm. At that point I’m off to makeup and into Sky studios for the game itself. On Monday I may collapse crying in the foetal position.
FD. That’s the spirit. We’re very much looking forward to it all – thanks for talking to us.
On Wednesday, Football Diner sat down with TV pundit and NFLUK personality Neil Reynolds ahead of Sunday’s international series game. The intrepid Sky and Radio 5 Live man talked about the need for both teams to establish an identity going forward – and picked the home-team Bucs to emerge triumphant.
FD. Are both of them in search of an identity?
FD. You think Jay Cutler needs more from the players around him?
