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Behind Enemy Lines: free agent duds, Glennon at QB and more with beat writer Greg Auman

October 24, 2014 at 3:19PM

With a new week brings another edition of "Behind Enemy Lines." For the Vikings' Week 8 road trip against the Bucs, we spoke to beat writer Greg Auman, who covers the team for the Tampa Bay Times. Here are five questions we asked Auman about Sunday's game.

1. The Bucs spent so much money in free agency but have just one win. What hasn't gone right?

GA: Those free agents are a good start to what hasn't gone right. Michael Johnson hasn't gotten pressure at defensive end, Anthony Collins hasn't been the reliable answer they needed him to be at left tackle. Evan Dietrich-Smith and Logan Mankins haven't been able to get the offensive line together on the same page to be an effective run-blocking unit. [Cornerback] Alterraun Verner's gotten beaten for three touchdowns, and [quarterback] Josh McCown, of course, struggled badly before a thumb injury turned things over to Mike Glennon. To find a success story in the free agents, you have to go to a league-minimum guy like Louis Murphy, who actually got cut here before coming back and scoring two touchdowns.

Beyond that, the defense hasn't gotten consistent pressure on opposing QBs, who have been able to find the holes in Tampa Bay's coverage. No consistent running game, and terrible starts on offense — just 4.5 points per game in the first half.

2. Who can the Vikings expect at quarterback?

GA: It'll be Mike Glennon. He's played much better than Josh McCown did in the first three games — let team to wild last-minute win at Pittsburgh and played well against Saints. McCown is just getting back to throwing a football this week — he might be able to move ahead of Mike Kafka as the backup, but I'd think it's still Glennon at quarterback this week for sure.

3. Where has the rookie version of Doug Martin gone?

GA: The current version won't be confused with 2012 Doug Martin, who had such success both running and catching the ball. He's back physically from the shoulder injury that cost him 10 games last year, but he just hasn't had any kind of burst or moves to shed that initial tackler. The line will tell you he's been great and they haven't opened holes for him, but Martin has to show something this week, because promising third-round rookie Charles Sims is eligible to play next week after missing the season thus far with an ankle injury. Perhaps that urgency sparks Martin, but his average per carry is among the league's worst.

4. What has been the biggest issue with the worst defense in the NFL?

GA: Two things: a Lovie Smith defense is built around takeaways and pressure from the front four, and the Bucs haven't had either. Part of that is injuries – [defensive tackle] Gerald McCoy's playing with a broken hand, [defensive end] Adrian Clayborn was lost for the year and Michael Johnson's been limited by a sprained ankle. But the secondary hasn't been opportunistic at all — four INTs, two by LB Danny Lansanah — and more than anything, they've struggled to understand the intricate Tampa 2 defense that Lovie Smith brought back here. Players still look lost, six games into the season, and until they master those fundamentals, opponents will be able to find seams and exploit them.

5. What do the Bucs need to do to win?

GA: This week, it's fairly simple: Get sacks against an offensive line that's given up 27, and get turnovers from a young QB who has thrown five interceptions early in a promising career. They must get their offense going earlier than they have — it does no good to average 15.5 points a game in the second half if half those games are already out of hand at halftime. So if they can score early, get a lead and show something defensively, it's a good opportunity for their first home win of the season. Lose here, they have five of their next seven on the road.