Bucs unable to generate pass rush on Panthers backup QB The Tampa Tribune, published 8 September 2014 At first, Bucs defensive tackle Gerald McCoy had some logical rationalizations for Sunday’s 20-14 loss against the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers, he said, had the perfect game plan, the ideal scheme up front. They slid with precision. They utilized max protection. They kept running backs in for assistance. Passes were delivered in quick rhythm. Then McCoy sighed. "But there’s no excuse for how we rushed,’’ said McCoy, who registered Tampa Bay’s only sack. “We had a lot of missed opportunities.’’ Even with the Panthers playing without injured quarterback Cam Newton, a noted Buc-killer, veteran Derek Anderson sliced and diced his way to completing 24 of 34 pass attempts for 230 yards and two touchdowns, largely without duress in the pocket. In the first half, the Panthers held the ball for 22 minutes, 45 seconds and converted on five of nine third-down opportunities. “The third downs? Very frustrating. Extremely frustrating,’’ Bucs safety Dashon Goldson said. “We had them third-and-long numerous times,’’ McCoy said. “We’ve just got to get off the field.’’ The second half was a different story as the Panthers converted just one of six in third-down situations. But it was an important one. On the final play of the third quarter, Anderson found tight end Greg Olsen for 6 yards on third-and-5. Then Anderson went deep to the end zone’s left corner, where 6-foot-5, 240-pound rookie wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin out of Florida State wrestled away a 26-yard touchdown pass on tight defense from Bucs cornerback Mike Jenkins, making it 17-0. “I think we played much better in the second half, but we’ve got to start fast,’’ Bucs linebacker Mason Foster said. “We weren’t in rhythm at all early in the game. They were running a lot of safe routes and moving the chains. At the end, I think it was them making one or two more plays than we did. That’s the NFL. Those guys get paid, too. But we have to do better than that.’’ Even though Newton didn’t play, Bucs linebacker Lavonte David said the defense’s focus didn’t change. “It was a matter of Derek Anderson making plays and playing better than us,’’ David said. “Maybe he’s not considered an athletic quarterback, but he made some plays with his feet. He managed the game. He made plays. He came up big when they needed him to come up big. He’s a veteran. Don’t forget about that. He’s been in the league a long time (10 seasons). That means something.’’ Olsen, who had a game-high eight receptions for 83 yards, said there was no drop-off with Anderson. “It just says a lot about … how much pride he takes in preparing every week,’’ Olsen said. “It has been years and he hasn’t gotten his number called, but on a day like today, he’s worth his weight in gold.’’ Meanwhile, the Bucs are suddenly scrambling to reverse momentum after starting 0-1 in the NFC South division. McCoy said he would like it to start with defense. “You never want to lose a division game at home on opening day,’’ McCoy said. “But they are the defending (division) champs and we knew we had a tough one. We just have to be better next time.’’