TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -Midway through what Raheem Morris and the surprising Tampa Bay Buccaneers describe as a “race to 10” wins, the NFL’s youngest team isn’t shying away from talk about a goal of reaching the playoffs in a rebuilding year.
The youthful but struggling Carolina Panthers look at their NFC South rivals and can’t help but wonder what might have been if their own modest expectations for success had not been undermined in part by inexperience and injuries.
Second-year quarterback Josh Freeman has flourished for the Bucs (5-3). Young QB’s Matt Moore and Jimmy Clausen haven’t for the Panthers (1-7), who’ve dropped their last two games to St. Louis and New Orleans by a combined score of 54-13.
Tampa Bay won a September meeting between the teams, 20-7 in Charlotte, and is aiming for its first season series sweep of the Panthers since 2002, the year the NFC South was formed.
“You look at Tampa, we’re in the same mold,” Panthers linebacker Jon Beason said, looking ahead to Sunday’s rematch. “We’re a young team. The difference is they were able to get some wins early and get some confidence. I think it’s carried on throughout the season.”
The biggest reason is Freeman, the third quarterback selected in the 2009 draft behind Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez.
The 22-year-old has led fourth-quarter comebacks in six of eight career victories and nearly pulled off another in Atlanta to keep the Bucs atop the division last week.
With five wins at the season’s midpoint, Tampa Bay has already surpassed its victory total for 2009. That’s also halfway to the 10 wins that Morris believes will give his team a good chance to get into the playoffs.
Last week’s 27-21 loss to the NFC South-leading Falcons forced the NFL’s youngest head coach to back off his declaration that the Bucs were the best team in the NFC. But it hasn’t affected the 34-year-old resolve and confidence in his players.
Morris said his contention was more about instilling an attitude and belief than making a statement about whether Tampa Bay is actually an elite team.
“We’re still a work in progress. There’s no doubt about that. We talk about that all the time,” Morris said. “By no means do I think we have all the pieces.”
The Panthers began the season with the youngest roster in the NFL. The Bucs replaced them last month after releasing guard Keydrick Vincent and tight end Jerramy Stevens.
“These guys got to feel that they can go out and be the best and compete with the best every week,” Morris said. “It is no different than when you tell your children when you send them out in the world to be their very best. … There is no reason why we can’t go out and have a chance to compete for this division this year.”
Moore, who entered the season as Carolina’s starting quarterback, was lost for the year to a shoulder injury during last week’s 34-3 loss to the Saints.
Clausen, drafted in the second round out of Notre Dame, will make his fourth pro start Sunday. Fellow rookie Tony Pike, who took his first snaps in a regular season game last week, moves into the No. 2 role.
Carolina has sputtered offensively, regardless of who’s been under center – ranking last in the NFL in yards and points. As poorly as Moore performed, Clausen’s numbers are worse with a 46.8 completion percentage, one touchdown pass, four interceptions and two lost fumbles.
Ideally, the Panthers would like the run the ball to take the pressure off their inexperienced quarterback.
But with the team’s top three running backs – DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart and Tyrell Sutton – slowed by injuries, second-year pro Mike Goodson will start against the Bucs.
“As I’ve mentioned before, he’s got all the tools,” Panthers coach John Fox said of Clausen, who was 8 of 18 passing for 47 yards and an interception after replacing Moore during the second quarter last week.
“Tony Pike has the tools. Matt Moore had the tools. The key is experience,” Fox added. “With more and more experience, he’ll get better. … I don’t have any doubts about that. You just can’t rush it.”
Beason would like to think the Bucs, who were tied for the best record in the NFC before losing at Atlanta, are a prime example of how a struggling team can change its fortunes in a hurry.
Tampa Bay went 3-13 last season, with Freeman taking over the offense following an 0-7 start. The young quarterback threw five interceptions in a loss at Carolina last December, but has been much better at protecting the ball since.
“His rookie year, I can remember a game right here where I think it was a learning experience for him,” Fox said. “It was a rough day. But he’s a fine, young player having an outstanding season and actually playing as good as most quarterbacks in the league right now.”
In eight games, Freeman has thrown for 10 TDs vs. five interceptions.
Beason said the Panthers relish the chance to try to jump-start their season against the 6-foot-6, 248-pound passer who reminds him of quarterbacks such as Ben Roethlisberger and Daunte Culpepper because of his size, strength and mobility.
“The difference is those guys had big-time proven playmakers. He’s out there doing it with a very young receiving corps,” the linebacker said. “The things he’s done with a team that’s very youthful is amazing. I think the sky’s the limit for him.”
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