Panther 'D' a big obstacle

TAMPA - Carolina's defense has traditionally presented enough of an issue for the Buccaneers.

But now, the Panthers have even more ammunition -- as if they need it -- from the video of how the Broncos' umbrella zone defense prevented Tampa Bay's offense from throwing downfield last Sunday. It was a prime factor in Tampa Bay's latest defeat that makes today's game against the Panthers even more imperative.

Not that the Buccaneers (3-2) do much deep throwing anyway, but the absence of wide receiver Joey Galloway for a fourth straight game today is restricting what Tampa Bay can do with its passing game.

That should not be a surprise, although the Tampa Bay coaching staff continues to insist that the team has other wide receivers capable of picking up the slack, putting their hopes on Michael Clayton and Maurice Stovall.

"Our scheme enables anybody to go down field," Clayton said. "When we add that phase, we'll be that much better."

Maybe the return of Jeff Garcia as the Buccaneers' starting quarterback, and the distraction his scrambling presents, will open up the airwaves against the Panthers.

"It's not something that you can completely rely upon," Garcia said of his scrambling. "But when the opportunity presents itself, if I can buy another second or two, if I can escape and gain some positive yardage at times, those are things that I think, at times, can discourage a defense. Whether that will happen, who knows? It's got to be something that's just a reaction. I can't force the issue. If things open up and I'm able to gain yardage, then that's better for our offense."

Garcia is getting a second chance to keep his job, after the elbow injury that Brian Griese suffered against the Broncos is forcing him to be inactive today.

"I want to play with that same electricity, that same enthusiasm I played with last year," said Garcia, who was most responsible for leading the Buccaneers to the 2007 NFC South title. "I'm not going to focus on any of the things that have taken place over the last six months. That's all negative energy. I just want to create a positive situation here."

But Tampa Bay is 25th in the NFL and 13th in the NFC in average yards gained per passing attempt, 5.45 yards.

What's more, the Buccaneers have attempted more passes -- 205 -- than any team in the NFL.

"Well, we've been in some tight football games, and obviously one game in Chicago where we threw as many passes (67 by Griese) as you can throw in two games," Garcia said. "That was almost like we have as many reps as playing in six games instead of five."

Garcia acknowledged on Wednesday how much the offense is missing Galloway, whose health has been failing him for most of the past two seasons, with shoulder, groin and foot injuries keeping him sidelined indefinitely.

"Joey was our deep guy last year, Joey had many plays of plus-20 or more (yards)," Garcia said. "He's definitely a factor. That just forces other guys to step into some sort of role in that way. And we have to give them opportunities down the field."

Then Garcia put a bug in head coach Jon Gruden's ear, to call for more deep passes.

"I don't think you've seen a whole lot of throws down the field from this team," said Garcia, who watched three games from the sidelines before replacing Griese in the third quarter in Denver. "And somehow, some way, we need to work that into our game plan."

But Gruden called a run play inside the 20, in the final 30 seconds of the first half of the Denver game, content to play for a field goal, instead of going for a touchdown through the air.

"We haven't taken as many as we have in the past, I think that's pretty obvious," Clayton said. "But at the same time, we've utilized everybody and we've hit some underneath passes and kept the chains moving."

It would be a tall order today to complete a few deep balls, because Carolina's defense is ranked third in the NFL against the pass, giving up only 156 yards a game. The Buccaneers' 12th-ranked passing offense is throwing for 215.4 yards per game.

"I'd like to see more big plays," Gruden said. "I'd like every play to be a big play. I'm one of those kind of guys."

Bucs wide receiver Ike Hilliard said it's not just about the passing game.

Tampa Bay is not scoring enough touchdowns when the Buccaneers get inside the opponents' 20 yard-line. They are scoring touchdowns only 38 percent of the time.

"We need to pick up what we're doing in the red zone; we have to score more points," Hilliard said. "We have to find a way to put seven points on the board instead of three. If we pick up our red zone efficiency, we'll be fine."

Today's game could be the most consequential home game of the season for the Buccaneers.

If the Panthers (4-1), who have won five straight games at Raymond James Stadium, can beat the Buccaneers, they will open up a two-game lead in the NFC South.

Tampa Bay, as the defending division champion, has to hold serve on its home turf.

"It usually has about the same feel every year," said Carolina head coach John Fox. "It's a tough game, it's been that kind of rivalry. I don't think there's any bad blood. It's just very competitive. Our guys have been very focused (playing in Tampa). I don't anticipate them changing coming this week."

Bucs notebook

Gar cia has won his last four starts against Carolina and has thrown eight touchdowns with only three interceptions in that stretch. He did not start last year's season finale in Tampa, when Gruden rested him for the playoffs.

Carolina's defense is also ranked fourth overall in the NFL, giving up only 254.4 yards per game. The rushing defense is 13th, giving up 98.4 yards per game.

Fans attending today's game will be subject to a security pat-down at all gates of Raymond James Stadium, in compliance with NFL policy, so an early arrival is advised.