Projected starters
BUCS
OFFENSE
WR: Vincent Jackson
LT: Donald Penn
LG: Carl Nicks
C: Jeremy Zuttah
RG: Ted Larsen
RT: Jeremy Trueblood
TE: Dallas Clark
WR: Mike Williams
QB: Josh Freeman
RB: Doug Martin
FB: Erik Lorig
DEFENSE
LDE: Michael Bennett
DT: Gerald McCoy
DT: Roy Miller
RDE: Adrian Clayborn
SLB: Quincy Black
MLB: Mason Foster
WLB: Lavonte David
CB: Aqib Talib
CB: Eric Wright
SS: Mark Barron
FS: Ronde Barber
special teams
PR: Sammie Stroughter
KR: Michael Smith
PK: Connor Barth
P/KO: Michael Koenen
Panthers
OFFENSE
WR: Steve Smith
LT: Jordan Gross
LG: Amini Silatolu
C: Ryan Kalil
RG: Geoff Hangartner
RT: Byron Bell
TE: Greg Olsen
WR: Brandon LeFell
QB: Cam Newton
RB: DeAngelo Williams
FB: Mike Tolbert
DEFENSE
LDE: Greg Hardy
DT: Frank Kearse
DT: Ron Edwards
RDE: Charles Johnson
SLB: James Anderson
MLB: Jon Beason
WLB: Luke Kuechly
CB: Chris Gamble
CB: Captain Munnerlyn
SS: Charles Godfrey
FS: Haruki Nakamura
special teams
PR: Joe Adams
KR: Kealoha Pilares
PK/KO: Justin Medlock
P: Brad Nortman
Injury report
BUCS: Questionable — WR Arrelious Benn (knee). Doubtful — CB E.J. Biggers (foot); CB Anthony Gaitor (hamstring).
Panthers: Out — G/C Jeff Byers (knee). Questionable — RB Jonathan Stewart (ankle). Probable — LB Jon Beason (thigh), WR Steve Smith (foot).
Stat pack
4:25 p.m., Raymond James Stadium, Tampa | Radio: 620-AM, 103.5-FM | Line, O/U: Panthers by 21/2; 47
Rushing yards
passing yards
total yards
Rushing yards allowed
passing yards allowed
total yards allowed
Bucs
Panthers
91.1 (30th)
150.5 (3rd)
The pick Panthers 26, Bucs 23
156.1 (32nd)
130.8 (25th)
238.4 (21st)
246.8 (24th)
228.1 (16th)
239.3 (13th)
319.2 (21st)
389.8 (7th)
394.5 (30th)
377.6 (28th)
Note: Stats are from 2011
The new Bucs are unveiled today, and they should match up better against the Panthers than last season. Carolina swept the series by a combined score of 86-35. Look for an aggressive defensive approach against the Panthers and QB Cam Newton, a trademark of Bucs coach Greg Schiano. On offense, the Bucs have vowed to use a power running game they hope keeps the ball away from the Panthers' quick-strike offense.
Panthers' top offensive player
Pick the statistic for Cam Newton, left: the 4,051 passing yards or 14 rushing touchdowns. Each is impressive in its own way. Newton will try to avoid the sophomore slump after a brilliant rookie season, and there's little reason to believe he'll take a step back.
Panthers' top defensive player
Middle linebacker Jon Beason, right, returns after missing 15 games in 2011 with a ruptured left Achilles tendon. That loss was a chief reason the Panthers defense was so ineffective last season. The second-leading tackler in team history brings playmaking to the defense.
What the Panthers do best
Carolina's offense makes big plays. It's what kept it in games last season even when its defense was nowhere to be found. The Panthers last season had 66 pass plays of 20 yards or longer — sixth most in the NFL. Carolina's 24 runs of 20 yards or longer ranked first.
How you beat the Panthers
Make them predictable. As dangerous as QB Cam Newton is, he's much less so in obvious passing situations. That neutralizes the Panthers' potent running game duo of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart (who has been limited at practice by a sore ankle).
The Bucs must avoid …
Turnovers. Tampa Bay had an NFL-worst minus-16 margin in 2011. It's something coach Greg Schiano has spent much of the offseason and preseason trying to alleviate. Today, we begin to see if the extra attention to detail pays off.
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