Call me crazy....

 The season is most likely over as far as the Bucs making the playoffs.   So lets focus on the fact that, minus that game changing call, whether it was the right call or not, we almost had that game in the bag.  Our D showed up again and made plays when it needed too.  They slowed the wildcat when it mattered.  Our offense made some great plays when it mattered as well.  They made some bad ones too, but the good ones out weighed the bad.  Freeman looked like a stud. He made some nice throws.  He ran hard when he needed too.  Even ran some people over, clearly taking last weeks slide to heart.  They could have easily played flat yesterday after that win, but they didn't.  They played to win.  Minus an odd call and a dropped pass there towards the end, the Bucs "BEAT" a solid team in the Dolphins, a team who "BEAT" the Colts and the Saints recently.  Okay, I'm going to finish my "INSTANT" coffee now...

Probably wasnt the best move, but I liked seeing Raheem get so emotional.  Anyones heart sink when they heard Caddie scream?  Thoughts?

This is our break out game, dare I say???  

We get Faine back.  Maybe well actually able to run the ball.  Caddies running hard and Ward had a big run last week.  - I predict 150 + yards rushing 

Johnson looked a lot more poised against Philly than the Redskins.  He's making some good decisions.  If a few of those passes weren't dropped in the first half, maybe we have a different ball game.  Lets forget the 3 picks right now. Its a rite of passage.  (Sanchez/Saints anyone?)  On the upside, he made a lot of tough passes in the face of the #1 D, and he did it in Philly.  They may even have the #1 pass rush right now, but don't quote me on that.   Carolinas D should be a let down after last week.  I say JJ has his break out game this week - I'll say 250 yards 2 TD's, 1 pick (Damn...did I actually say that?)

Clayton got called out.  He'll continue to drop.  But Bryant wont.  Look for him to step it up against a sub par passing D.  Winslow looked real solid last week, so he should have a big game as well.  Stovall and Stroughter will make some plays too - Bryant 100 yards 1 TD, Winslow 1 TD

Our D is looking better each week.  Yes they got burned deep again, but they did a good job containing the small stuff. They even got to Mc Nabb a few times.   Were at home and we all know Delhomme -  2 picks, Ronde 1, Talib 1

Two more points I want to make -

2 of Philly's scores were off our picks.  If Bryant and Clayton hadn't dropped those passes, we may have been tied or up going into the half.  Against a team everyones picking to go to the Super Bowl this year.

We should have beaten Dallas and the Bills in Buffalo.  We got clobbered by the Giants, a Playoff caliber team. We definitely should have beaten the Redskins.  We hung in there against Philly, another Playoff caliber team.  Only once were we not even in a game, and that was with Hop-A-Long Leftwich hobbling around against the Giants pass rush.

Drum roll please...............................

BUCS 21 - PANTHERS 17 (I can't believe I'm doing this...)

Something else could happen of course. This could be the week the Panthers get their run game on track, but forget I said it.  We need our pick me ups when we can get them ;)

The offense struggling to convert on 3rd downs...

...and the D was making plays!  Ronde and Aqib looked aggressive.  Piscitelli was all over the feild.  Stylez G with a pick.  Miller and Black were solid.  Even Will Allen was laying people out.  Those boys were fired up! 

Is this something we can build on?  Thoughts?

Offense looked okay, considering the first team recieving core was out.  Where was Jags running game?  Didn't bode well for McCown either.  Leftwich looked pretty good, but he'll be dead by game 2.  Makes Dan Marino look like a scrambler.  I still think Luke is our guy, if the O line can give him some time back there to develop and calm down.

Side note to Young Skywalker - "Let go...trust your instincts..."

Our boy Luke McCown is set to start against the Titans this weekend....with no Antonio Bryant or Michael Clayton! Starting center Jeff Faine is also out!  No Bidwell or Bryant!  Caddie is out as well, but the running game should be okay.  

So this is it!  Lukes moment to shine!  Will we see Cool Hand Luke out there, rolling smoothly out of the pocket and throwing for a record 15 completions?  Or will we see a young, baby faced Luke Skywalker, running around using the force with no one to throw the ball to?!  Which one of these young receivers will be there to step it up?  Brain Clark? Sammie Stroughter?  Dexter "Please Don't Hit Me" Jackson?!?!  Just who will be his Han (ds) Solo on Saturday?  

"We shall soon see young Skywalker!"  

(Somebody please stop me with the Star Wars puns...)

Side note to Raheem - Take it easy on these guys.  You fired the old guys because they were beat up, remember???  

I am going to keep this VERY short and VERY sweet.  I am an optimist and I am VERY excited about the direction the Buccaneers are headed.  (talk to me at the midpoint of the season ;)  This is a talented ball club.  We have several young play makers on Defense.  Fast, hard hitting, splash guys, just like in the days of yore.  We have several young play makers on Offense.  Down hill, smash mouth, pound the rock guys who would rather run you over than go around.  We have an enthusiastic young couch, who got his franchise QB in his first draft.  Monte and the defense weren't going to be around forever.  Ronde, Rudd, Talib, Flip, Hovan, Gaines are STILL here.   Sabby is a hitter AND a ball hawk.  No more old QB's, with no weapons to help them.  No more old and ailing receivers.  No more running back-ups.  No more playing it safe couch Gruden.   Graham, Ward, Bryant, Winslow, Smith, a charged up Clayton, a healthy Caddie with SEVERAL other backs to help carry the load.  One of the baddest O lines on the planet.  A young and talented QB, ready to come into his own and lead his team.  A solid veteran QB with an arm.  A talented rookie.  

With youth comes mistakes.  There will be many.  There will be growing pains.  Sabby will miss tackles.  Ronde will get burned.  The D line will give up first downs.  There will be picks.  We will lose games.  Some of them will be VERY close.  We will scream and curse our TV's.  We will blame the new coach.  We will blame the old coach.  We'll mythologize about the days of Dungy and Alstott (...and Dilfer?)  "Those damn, tight assed Glasers!", we'll shout. They'll count us out on TV.  Sapp will join in the fun.  "Last in the division", they'll say.  "I'm still not sure why the let Gruden go."  And yada yada yada yada...  

You know what I say?  BUC EM!  

We are the Bucs of old!   We are the underdogs, just like before!  Just like always!   Pound that rock baby!  So what if we only go .500.  At least were not the Raiders ;)