Remember that Super Bowl? The Pirate Bowl. Or the Gruden Bowl. It was a Super Bowl for the ages. Gruden became the youngest head coach ever to win a Super Bowl, Dexter Jackson got the game’s MVP award which was pretty unique seeing that he was a Safety. And, finally, Warren Sapp, John Lynch, and Derrick Brooks got their validation as super star hall of famers with a Super Bowl ring. Since then? The Raiders became the first team in NFL history to have 7 straight seasons with at least 11 losses. They also went undefeated in the AFC West (6-0) in 2010, but still finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs. The Bucs have not fared much better. They have been to the playoffs twice since the Super Bowl and had a 10 win playoff-less season in 2010. But, for the most part, it’s been a chaotic decade filled with bad drafts, questionable QBs, and 3 head coaches.

The Bucs, unlike the Raiders, seem to be on the right track towards an overhaul. The money spent in the offseason, the cleansing of the team (LOVE the Talib trade, to heck with Tanard Jackson and Kellen Winslow), and the progression of Josh Freeman’s ability and relationship with the WR core have all been good signs. The Raiders… good God Almighty it would be hard to be a fan. Here are my 3 key points for the Bucs in this game.

1. Secondary

Was this mugshot for assaulting his sister's baby's daddy? or a cab driver?

TALIB IS GONE! This closes the book on a HORRIBLE 2008 draft class. Just take a look at this article http://www.joebucsfan.com/?p=77046 and if you don’t already, follow @joebucsfan on twitter. He always is supplying me with some trinket of Buccaneer wisdom. Anyway, back to me and my article. With Talib gone and Eric Wright facing suspension, where does the secondary go? It appears Eric Wright will play on Sunday. I wish his looming suspension would have started on Sunday as the Bucs probably won’t need him against the oh-so dangerous Raiders offense. That being said, I believe E.J. Biggers and Eric Wright will have no trouble keeping Darrius Heyward-Bey and Denarius Moore under wraps. I would be extremely surprised if Carson Palmer threw a TD in this ball game. Whenever Eric Wright does get suspended, expect Ronde Barber to make a return to CB and Cody Grimm to get some more snaps in at Safety… which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s just not moving forward, the only direction Coach Schiano wants. There is speculation that Eric Wright will be fired once this suspension hits, I disagree. Talib had MULTIPLE chances, this is Wright’s first screw up. However, I believe Schiano will have him on severe probation after his suspension is up. Might even put him on a curfew like this guy… http://espn.go.com/dallas/nfl/story/_/id/8586222/dez-bryant-dallas-cowboys-gets-approval-past-midnight The dude has Momma issues.

2. Close… but not really

The Bucs and the Raiders have a good rushing D and they both have horrible passing Ds. However, the Bucs have the 6th best rushing D in the league (pretty impressive when you consider the injuries to the Bucs 2 starting D-Ends) and the Raiders have the 11th. I.e. – the Bucs allow around 84 yards a game, the Raiders allow over 100 ypg. The Raiders Pass D is better, but the Bucs have played against better QBs this year. The Raiders D allows about 50 yards less through the air a game, but the Raiders haven’t had to play Drew Brees, RGIII, or Eli Manning either. The Buc’s D will step up to the challenge this game and force at least 2 turnovers.

3. Doug Martin vs Darren McFadden

It is not a question, but a statement. Josh Freeman will substantially outperform Carson Palmer. So, let’s take a look at the running game.  Last weekend against the Kansas City Chiefs, Darren McFadden had his best game of 2012. D-Mac had more runs of over 10 yards in that game than he had in the entire season up to that point combined. This is very similar to the all-star game Muscle Hamster (Martin) had against the Minnesota Vikings. The Raiders game has been lacking and very up and down this year, the Buc’s have gotten progressively better at running the football each week. The Bucs have to D-Up and play hard agaisnt McFadden if they want to ensure a victory in Oakland. Allowing him to gain 3-4 yards a carry and/or break a big one could potentially open up the passing game for the Raiderzzzz. The Bucs are going to have to punish D-Mac everytime he gets a touch and practice ball control with Martin. If this happens, the Bucs cruise for the easy win.

Bucs – 35

Raiders – 17

I said it at the start (see the first blog) and I’ll say it again. Doug Martin aka Muscle Hamster can do it all and he did in what was an amazing performance against one of the NFL’s premier defenses.

Play makers decorate the Viking’s defense and offense. The Vikes have been making quite a push the first half of the season and have honestly been the biggest surprise of the NFL. The D has been ferocious, Christian Ponder has been playing / managing games well, and Adrian Peterson has performed better than any RB to ever come back from serious knee surgery.

None of that business mattered, the only business that did matter was Head Coach Greg Schiano’s coined term: Buc Football. What is Buc Football? It’s ball control. It’s an upbeat offense that rams the football down a team’s throat with the run game and then capitalizes on one-on-one coverage with a passing game. (A passing game that has become significantly better week after week in the league. More on that later.) And the most important point in Buc Football is a tenacious defense that plays like a T-1000.

Perfectly sound and destructive.

Buc Football: Running. Doug Martin. 29 carries for 135 yards and a TD (not the full story here, but we’ll get to that). Most notably the Muscle Hamster made some key big runs, particularly a 44 yard run in the 1st quarter, that kept the Buc’s offense on the field. The final score is not totally indicative of the entire game played. The Viking’s looked to be on the verge of a rally in the third after a bloody altercation with Jared Allen rallied the Viking’s D and the stadium. However, a hard running game throughout the 3rd and 4th quarters prevented any type of rally from formulating. What also prevented any sort of rally was the clutch play from QB Josh Freeman. Next part in Buc football, a passing game that capitalizes after the running game…

Buc Football: Passing. 19 of 36 for 262 yards, 3 TDs, and 0 picks. The perfect QB in Buc Football. Quick note here that is especially special. Josh Freeman is the ONLY QB in Buc’s history to have 3 consecutive games throwing 3 TDs. That’s saying something when Buc history boasts the likes of Steve Young, Vinny Testaverde, Trent Dilfer, Jeff Garcia, and Brad Johnson. Now, coming back to Martin, what made his night special was the receiving yards he clocked in as well. 3 receptions, 79 yards, and a TD. If you had Doug Martin in fantasy… LIKE I DID… you are most likely going to win your matchup this week. Unless you have Maurice Jones Drew and Justin Blackmon in your starting line up.

Freeman also hit up Mike Williams for 6 receptions, 68 yards and a TD. He hit Williams on a key 3rd down conversion in the 3rd quarter to help squash any type of rally the Viking’s had up their sleeve. Freeman wasn’t prejudiced to only these two, he hit Dallas Clark, Vincent “Action” Jackson, and Erik Lorig (Fullback got himself a TD too!) for crucial yards and TDs.

Finally, Buc Football: Defense. DAMN. Is all I can say. The Vikings had 16 total first downs. Had 144 yards rushing, yes, but that’s mostly because of one 64 yard run by Peterson and some junk yards at the end on their final drive. At one point, late in the 3rd quarter, the Vikings had -2 yards passing for the half. The Bucs recovered 2 fumbles and grabbed 1 INT.

Not to mention the Bucs were totally dominant in the special teams department as well.

So where does this put the Pewter Pirates at this point? Well, just look at this team. From a Buc fan’s perspective… it could be better IF certain plays in other games had gone the other way. It is a tough pill to swallow looking back on the first part of the season. 1-3 going into the bye week. Those 3 losses came by a combined 15 points. The Bucs blew it against RGIII and the World Champs. But, after the Bye… the Bucs are 2-1. That one loss was controversial. The point here, they are competitive and hungry to be good NOW. They don’t care about their long laundry list of injuries and bad luck. They want to be good again. And that, is all a fan can ask for. They have the Raiders next for an old Super Bowl rematch. My money says the Bucs dominate and start the 2nd half of the season .500 at 4-4. Indeed, Canons are firing and this team might find love from their fans.

Football is nothing more than an Americanized version of an ancient Gupta game: chess. Formulating strategy, positioning players, and attacking weaknesses. The Bucs the past 2 weeks have lost their games of chess in horrid melt down fashion, especially the last game against the Cowboys. Last week’s offensive play calling was among the worst I have ever seen in the Bucs game and trust me, that is saying something.

The End of the season comes early for Clayborn.

To add further salt to the wound Adrian Clayborn, one of the shining jewels of the Bucs D, is out for the season. The Bucs strength going into the season was the offensive and defensive lines. With losses of Davin Joseph and Adrian Clayborn, the lines are no longer the defining strength of the Bucs. Particularly sad when Schiano’s grand scheme was to have aggressive, control the line of scrimmage defense and an effective ground and pound game.

The defense has been an unexplained quagmire. The rushing D is the best in the league, the passing D is the worst. Now, without Clayborn, where does the D go from here?

But to be honest, the defense has held up their end of the deal. Even in the Giants game there were key 3 downs that, if converted, would have sealed the Bucs fate at 2-0 going into Dallas. The Bucs terrorized Tomy Romo and took an explosive Dallas offense down a couple of levels. But then, cue the failed ground and pound attack.

I'm sure this is the kind of Ground and Pound Head Coach Greg Schiano had in mind going into the 2012 season.

If Freeman was given more freedom to throw the ball and he threw it on downs that weren’t predictable as 3rd and 8, 10, and 12 then we might see some more action from V. Jackson. If the Bucs did not come to every first down with the pre-set plays of Run, Run, Run or Pass (which is NOT an exaggeration. Let me throw this quote at you. “I just don’t get it.” – Troy Aikman after the Bucs ran it on 3rd and 9 in the 4th quarter when TRAILING to Dallas on their OWN side of the field. Now I know what a Kansas City Chief fan feels like.) then they might be able to find the endzone more frequently and grab points instead of punts. Is it panic time in Tampa? Was the first game only illusion now that we see Cam heading into a sophomore slump and that Carolina’s run D is horrendous? I hope not. But, reality bites.

After the game against Dallas, G Carl Nicks said it’s not panic time and not time to give up. We got a whole season. I hope he’s right. I hope the Bucs rally and I hope Schiano and Offensive Coordinator Mike Sullivan (who mentored Eli Manning for years) can come up with more complex play calling. I would suggest a Cross Route or some Play Action every now and then. Until I see the Bucs offense evolve into something a little less pathetic than Andy Dick, I am going to give the game to the opponent.

With the loss of Clayborn and the amount of the time the Buc’s D will inevitably be on the field, I don’t like the match-up against red hot RGIII. It will help if Pierre Garcon doesn’t play, but I think that would only infuriate fantasy owners and not impact the game on Sunday afternoon. I hope the Buc’s prove me wrong on Sunday, but I have no choice but to give my prediction:

Bucs 24

Redskins 35

Forgive me Buccaneers.

…And Romo gently weeps. That’s been pretty much the story of the Cowboys every year in the NFL, but I like this picture the best. Do you remember when he botched that place kick against Seattle? Great times, wonderful, wonderful NFL memories. Every year it’s the Cowboys year and this year the expectations are no different. Super Bowl! Or Bust! Expectations might be met if they could win some play off games. But… this year is different. Jerry Jones said every so somberly that “his window” is closing too. I think we all know what that means. So, which ever way you look at it, it’s an important game for both teams. This is the year for Jerry, they have a good mix of youth and veteran talent, and they beat the NY Giants in the first game of the year to take the lead of the NFC East; but then they lost. 1-1 with the Eagles at 2-0. The Cowboys can not go 1-2; it is not ideal for them in a division as competitive as the NFC East.

This was the story for the Bucs in Week 2

What started out magnificent beyond all expectations, turned into immense tragedy as the Bucs blew a huge second half lead over the Giants. Eli outsmarted a young secondary and Ronde Barber. The Bucs couldn’t get to him on the blitz. They couldn’t convert key third downs (like 3 and 1s) to keep the clock rolling and diminish the Giants chances. It was just a total defensive failure. After 6 excellent quarters, the Bucs D must have taken a union break. It was unfortunate, but is realistically what to expect from a young Bucs team and a first year head coach. But, something tells me it will be a good, hard lesson for the Bucs. Now they have tape on what they did wrong and learn from the coaching staff how to correct it.

Stories of the game.

1. Romo vs the D – Romo, by himself; much like how Manning beat Tampa by himself, defeated the Giants in Week 1. It was a great act and an excellent way for them to open up the season. But, last week he (and the entire cowboy team) took a massive step backwards. There are constant arguments for Romo to be considered the NFL’s elite. If he is an elite QB, he should find holes and exploit mismatches.

2. Tampa D vs Romo – Other side of the coin is also where this game will be decided. Will the Bucs play like they did during the first 6 quarters of NFL play, or like the last two? Schiano said the main objective of this year is to get better every week, so will they perform better or blow their coverage?

3. This is the Cowboy’s home opener.

Final prediction

Buccaneers 21

Cowboys 20

So here we go NFL, week 2. Everyone jumps to insane conclusions after Week 1 of the NFL. Teams are doomed, other teams have arrived, etc. etc. Just listen to Skip Bayless for 10 minutes (or 10 seconds) on ESPN’s First Take to get your weekly dose of bullocks and you can see first hand just what crazy conclusions “expert sports writers” and fans are jumping too. Let’s take a breath and just get on to Week 2. Which is here, tomorrow, insert smiley face. We got the Young Bucs VS the G-Women tomorrow and we’re going to start this preview off by taking a look at the two franchise QBs the teams have, at the state of the defenses on both sides of the ball, and then give my final game thoughts and prediction. Keep reading for your daily mental stimulation.

Just look at this mouth breathing, sneering quarterback. Talk about a bad case of little brother syndrome. He’ll never be better than Peyton, even though he has won 2 Super Bowls. And he’ll never have the spotlight in New York, even though his team is substantially better than the Jets. Must be tough… well, not really considering his salary and his rings. But, you get the point. The main point here is to compare him and Bucs QB Josh Freeman. Before you get all crazy on me and say there is no comparison. Let me show you some numbers I found particularly interesting here. Progression is my first point.

Both of the these QBs were drafted to be the franchise for their teams. Both were taken in the first round and the only difference there is Eli acted like a diva from Sweet 16

This is what Eli really is

until he was traded to the Giants. Freeman took his role and on he went. In Eli’s first three years as a Giant he had 8,049 passing yards. In Freeman’s career (3 years, this being his 4th) he has had 8,898. Eli had 136 rushing yards, Freeman had 763. Combine the two and you’ll see Freeman has had 1,476 more offensive yards at this point in his career than Manning had in his.

In 2004 Eli threw 5.3 yards per attempt and a 48.2% completion rate, Freeman’s first year he had 6.4 ypa and 54.5% comp.

Eli’s 2nd year he had 6.8 ypa and 52.8% comp, Freeman had 7.3 ypa and 61.4% comp.

Eli’s 3rd year he had 6.2 ypa and 57.7% comp, Feeman’s stats last season were 6.5 ypa and 62.8%.

Combine each QBs TDs in their first three years and you see Eli threw for 44 TDs and Freeman threw for 51 TDs.

If you look at the side by side progression Freeman is at a better place than Eli was at that point in his career. Even at this point, there are certain things worth noticing when comparing Freeman and Eli. In 6 of his last 7 seasons Eli has thrown more than 25 picks. Freeman has never thrown 25 picks.

So here, you wonder why the Giants have enjoyed so much more success over the course of the last 3 seasons. The proof is in the pudding, the defense is the pudding. In 2009 the Giants had the 13th best D in the league, 2010 it was 7th best, and last year in the Super Bowl year they had the 3rd best D in the playoffs only behind Houston’s and Baltimore’s D (good company). Freeman’s defense has not done him any favors. The past 3 years the Buc’s D has been anemic at best (refer to my first blog of the year) and last year the Buc’s allowed a league worst 30.9 points scored on them a game. But, the tides may be turning and the winds may be blowing another direction in the Buccaneer’s sails. If the last game is evidence of anything (here I am jumping to conclusions), the Bucs defense is tired of being bad. They have new additions in key positions that were gaping holes last year. The facts are on the stat sheet. Last week, the Bucs limited the 2011 Offensive Rookie of the Year Cam Newton to 1 TD, 2 picks, and 4 rushing yards on 5 carries. Pretty impressive noting he had 4,000 passing yards and 500 rushing last year. Not saying this is going to be the toughest defense Eli faces all year, but he is in for much more of a challenge than he probably anticipates. Could Aquib Talib, Lavonte David, Gerald McCoy, and Mark Barron be the new bricks in the foundation that Ronde Barber, Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp, and John Lynch were in the 90s and early 2000s? Only time will tell. But, the story in this game is not the Bucs D… but the Giant’s defense will be the key in this game for both teams.

The Giant’s defense is great, but there is an Achilles heal to it. Last year the Giant’s had the 29th worst pass defense in the league. This year there are lots of concerns in the Giant’s secondary.

Just ask Justin Tuck: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000062302/article/justin-tuck-young-new-york-giants-dont-have-an-edge

Furthermore the Giants have 2 starting CBs who are injured for the game and could possibly sit out. CB Michael Coe is nursing an injured hamstring and is listed as probable, while CB Prince Amukamara is listed as questionable with his hurt ankle. This could spell big trouble for a defense that has to guard a rejuvenated Buccaneer offense that boasts weapons like all-pro WR Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams who grabbed a TD in last week’s game. Freeman has never had weapons on offense like he does now and if the Bucs are going to conquer the Giants on Sunday than he HAS to go OVER THE TOP. He HAS to throw TDs and chunks of yards to his receivers, hit Doug Martin out of the backfield, and get some balls to Dallas Clark.

Freeman is the one in the black cap.

With Jason Pierre-Paul, Justin Tuck, and Osi Umenyiora, it is going to be a hard day of running for RB Doug Martin and for Tackles Donald Penn and Jeremy Trueblood. Expect Freeman to run more shotgun. The Cowboy’s showed that the Giant’s secondary is with flaw. If Michael Ogletree can have a spectacular game, then why can’t Sammie Stroughter or Arrelious Benn? So here I go with my pick for the game.

ESPN’s panel of experts unanimously selected the Giants to win the game. But, ESPN considers Skip Bayless and all of his botox glory to be an “expert.”

I hate him because he talks and because he prompts Stephen A. Smith to talk.

So that is why… I am going against the grain and picking the UPSET.

Buccaneers 28

Giants 27

Giants fall by way of Freeman leading ANOTHER 4th quarter comeback. Now, can you dig it?

Wow. That’s all I can say for the Buccaneers after watching Sunday’s game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win over the Carolina Panthers by 16-10. I am right 95% of the time, but I was so glad to be wrong about Sunday’s prediction.

The Smacketh Down was layed on the Panthers

This Buc team came out and they played the kind of football new head coach Greg Schiano has been talking about all off season. Attention to detail, mistake free, hard nosed, smash mouth football is what he has been preaching and “Buccaneer Men” are what he has been seeking. I talked about the New Kids on the Block last blog and new additions Carl Nicks, Doug Martin, Vincent Jackson, and Dallas Clark played like ideal Buccaneer Men on Sunday. Each had a contribution to the Sunday’s victory. Doug Martin had an excellent 128 all purpose yards, V-Jax started his Buc career with 4 catches for 47 yards, Clark had a key grab for 33 yards and Carl Nicks helped pave the way for Martin to achieve 95 yards rushing. Yes, I would have liked to have seen Martin jump into the endzone in the 2nd quarter when the Bucs were on the 1 yard line… but they got points. Something that they didn’t get too often last season. Furthermore, when was the last time the Bucs scored on their opening drive? The offense played with purpose and structure. It controlled the ball and the tempo of the football game. Schiano wanted to run the football and he went out and grabbed the cogs to do so this off season in the draft and free agency. Tampa is going to run the football this year and regardless of the opponent, you can never count out the team who can control the clock and the football with an intense running game.

Going back to my preview blog, what did I say to watch for? I said to look out for Carolina’s rushing attack. I think Gerald McCoy read my blog. Not only did the Bucs limit the Panthers three-headed monster to no rushing touch downs, they limited them to ten yards total in rushing.

“TEN! A TEN!!”

as Billy Bob may say in Varsity Blues. That is incredible. That is the lowest amount of yards the Panthers have ever rushed for in their franchise history and that is ALSO the lowest amount of rushing yards a Buc defense has ever allowed.

“It felt like old times.”
Ronde Barber post game press conference
That’s what Ronde Barber said after his 200th start. I felt like I was just talking about how this once proud Buccaneer defense had floundered into something worse than the movie “Gigli.” But, nu-uh, no sir, no how, the Bucs are back. (At least for the opening game of the 2012 NFL season on Sunday).

Just look at the Young Bucs on the field Sunday afternoon. Aquib Talib blocked a punt, Ahmad Black intercepted Cam Newton in a key possession, Michael Bennett clocked 2 tackles and a sack, Gerald McCoy kept pushing into the backfield despite the double teams, and the old man Barber polished off his 200th start with a sack and an interception.

Finally, I said to look out for injuries in my last blog. The Bucs came out unscathed. I believe LaGarrette Blount had a slight tweak, but nothing major. Nothing major in more ways that one. I TOLD you that Blount would have a little impact on this offense and the prophecy was fulfilled. RB D.J. Ware had more rushing yards than him and Blount had only 2 carries for 1 yard. If Carnell was the Buc’s Cadillac, then Doug may be the Buc’s new BMW. I loved what I saw on Sunday and you can only believe that Coach Schiano is going to build on this get these young Bucs ready for next week at the NY Giants. I’ll have more on that game in my next blog.

Reason #126 I love the Bucs: No Ohio State Buckeyes are in the starting lineup.

Just a few days ago I was tutoring my friend in some simple math. It was mostly basic algebra. There was this equation that has stuck with me the past week and I think it really summarizes this game quickly.

y = m(x) + b

This is the slope-intercept form. In these problems, I found myself having to figure out what “y” was. You find “y” by plugging in numbers for “x”. So I knew what “x” was, but “y” remained a mystery until I solved for it. In this late afternoon game on Sunday we know what “x” is. Carolina boasts a top 3 rushing attack, a quarterback hell bent on becoming elite and taking his team to the playoffs, a veteran receiver playing with more urgency than ever in his career as father time creeps further and further up on him, and an energized offense that looks its absolute best in Carolina’s history (yes, this includes the Super Bowl team). But, what will “y” be? How will Tampa Bay respond to this rushing attack? This aerial attack? Will they contain Cam Newton? Or be crucified by him? Will “y” be a negative number or a positive one? This Sunday, we find out. Here are 3 things to watch for in this game.

1. Carolina’s Rushing Attack

For you Godzilla fan’s, you remember this old dude. King Ghidorah was always flying in from space trying to wreck havoc on Tokyo and ruin Godzilla’s day in general. He was a golden, three-headed monster, who spit lightning bolts out his throat. Pretty scary stuff, just like Carolina’s backfield. Behind C Ryan Kalil the Panthers have Cam Newton, Mike Tolbert, and DeAngelo Williams. I would’ve posted a picture of Mecha-King Ghidorah if Jonathon Stewart wasn’t questionable for Sunday’s game. Still, it goes without saying, this backfield is deadly and I consider it the best in the league. They go up against a defense that ranked dead last against the run last year.

2. New Kids on the Block

This Bucs team looks plenty different from last year. New additions include offensive starters Vincent Jackson, Carl Nicks, Doug Williams, and Dallas Clark. On the defensive side of the ball new starters Mark Barron, Lavonte David, Ronde Barber (well, it’s technically his 200th start… but first in the Safety position), and Eric Wright will try to improve one of the worst defenses in the league.

3. Injuries

As simple and obvious as this sounds, the Bucs need to stay healthy this whole season and need to avoid serious injury in this game (and 15 others). I know injuries are just the product of physics, football, and fate, but the fact of the matter is the Bucs are pencil thin at every position and the season ending injury of Davin Joseph did not help matters one bit. If any player in any position suffers a serious set back it will cataclysmic for this Buc team.

In conclusion, as a responsible blogger and aspiring sports analyst I can’t predict a Buccaneer victory. I want my pirates to make the kitty kats walk the plank, but I don’t see it happening. At least not until I know what “y” is. So here we go:

Carolina Panthers: 30

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 21

Enjoy college game day… and oh, what the hell, here is a picture of Mecha-King Ghidorah

So starts another year for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and for the NFL. It has been a long 8 months, but I think we can all finally say that this big gaping hole in our heart is about to be filled with a good dose of grid iron violence. For Bucs fans, I’m sure they are looking for the pewter pirates to dish out some violence instead of being the constant victim of it as in last year’s 10 game losing skid. But, the past is the past for a reason and this year the Bucs have plenty of reason for optimism. Coaching changes, new veteran personnel additions, and returning young talent are going to start the Bucs off this season with a big questions mark. Who are they and how are they going to play? Are they going to compete for the south or just go south? I believe their success will based on 5 key points.

1. The Offensive Line

The season ending injury for Davin Joseph is unfortunately as big of a story in the pre-season as signing Carl Nicks was in the off-season. But, like the old saying goes, the show must go on. The Bucs may not be able to boast one of the best guard tandems like they were hoping for this season, but there is still a ton to like about this offensive line. The Bucs have a good, strong and uniform foundation in its offensive line. This is a rarity in the NFL, but the Bucs O-Line have played together for the past 4 seasons and all of the lineman, minus Nicks, have only been Buccaneers. Donald Penn, LT, has been with the Bucs 7 years and was an All-Pro in 2010. He has started 76 games out of his 80 game career. At 6-5, 340 the man is a bulldozer. Carl Nicks, coming off a All-Pro year, is probably one of the best guards in the league and I would dare say the best guard in pass protection. Last year the Saints passed the ball 649 times (consider this, the Chargers only passed 503 times) and in those 649 plays there were only 3.5 times a player was able to get past Nicks and sack Drew Brees. The man’s resume is incredible. He was the key player in protecting Brees to allow him to surpass Dan Marino’s long and hallowed record and was blocking for Brees in the Saint’s Super Bowl campaign. At 6-5, 349 lbs I think it’s fair to say Carl Nicks will plug right in, even though this is his first year in Tampa. The center, Jeremy Zuttah, is going to become an even better player this year. Last year he only allowed 4 sacks on Josh Freeman. He’s spent 4 seasons with the Bucs, all starting. Now, he is reunited with his old Rutgers coach Greg Schiano. At 6-4, 308 pounds he completes an excellent left side of the offensive line. However, going over the right it is like the Bucs are on a size/talent gradient scale shifting downwards. Ted Larsen steps in as Davin Joseph’s replacement. Having spent two years with the Bucs, he did play in all 16 games last year and started 11 games his first year. It’s better than a kick in the pants, even though hardly anything seems good when you have to replace a player like Joseph. His lighter size may be more suitable for more pulling duties over to the left side of the line as I’m sure the Bucs are going to exponentially play to that strength. Finally, at RT is Jeremy Trueblood. Mixed reviews on this guy, but he has been a Buc for 6 years now and warranted a new contact in the off-season. The coaching staff and GM see something in him they like. He’s been there to block for Cadillac Williams, Mike Alstott, and Warrick Dunn. So, experience can speak volumes. Now, getting on to who these guys are blocking for…

2. Doug Martin

I just have to say I love that the Bucs picked up Doug Martin. I feel so confident that he will have a productive year I picked him up in a couple of fantasy drafts. Starting 12 games at Boise State he rushed for 1,299 yards. Which was also his second year in a row of rushing over 1,000. He made first team all-conference in TWO different conferences. (How many players can say that?) Being an all first team Mountain West Conference player last year and the year before an all first team Western Athletic Conference. He rewrote the record books at Boise State in terms of production in a single season and career. He can do it all; run, pass block, and catch out of the backfield. Some people think that he will get the work on 1st and 2nd down and Blount will be the go to guy on 3rd down and goal line touches. I think Schiano has different plans. Consider this, Martin had 263 carries for Boise State last season. That’s the 3rd most single season carries for a RB ever in the program. What does this mean? He’s durable and doesn’t leave the game on passing downs or short yardage situations. He is going to surprise the NFL. He rushes for over 1,000 yards this year easy and Blount will get playing time only when Martin steps out of the game to do a sideline interview with Suzy Kolber. And unlike Joe Namath, she will kiss Martin if he wants her too. And his season will be all the better if the guy taking the snaps in front of him plays up to his ability.

3. Josh Freeman

Being an alumni of K-State, had to throw a retro photo up. My freshmen year at K-State he led the Wildcats to an upset over #4 Texas and took K-State to the Texas Bowl. He also broke about every record at K-State, largely by throwing to a guy named Jordy Nelson. Anyway, that is then, this is now. Which Freeman are we going to get? 2010 he had 3,451 passing yards, 25 TDs and only 6 picks. Last year, different story. 16 TDs and 22 INTs. But, there is always a positive spin to things and a closer examination paints a slightly better picture. Last year the guy was slinging, he had too. The majority of the time the Bucs were playing from behind… FAR behind. His go to receiver, Mike Williams, disappeared on him and when he would rear his head he would drop balls. It’s like Williams had this Love/Hate relationship with TDs. 2010 he loved them. 2011 he hated them. But, I did say positive spin so let me get back on that. Freeman still tossed for 3,592 yards, still just about in the top 1/3 of the league. Also, every year since the beginning of his tenure his completion % has increased including last year. In my eyes, he’s been a quarterback with nobody to throw at… which brings us to the next important chapter in the 2012 Buccaneer season.

4. Wide Receivers

Can you name this guy up here? I’ll give you a second… well, if you blacked out the creamsickle jerseys from your memory than I will give you a refresher. This is Mike Carrier, one of the best Bucs of all time and one of the only great wide receivers the franchise has ever had. In his time in the NFL he had 8,763 rec yards, 48 TDs, and 569 receptions. What are some other great Bucs receiver? Hmmm, interesting question. The only other two I can think of worth mentioning would be Keyshawn Johnson and Antonio Bryant, even though it’s difficult to associate the word great with them. But, facts are facts. Johnson helped the Bucs win a superbowl and had a good year in 2002 and Bryant is the LAST Buc receiver to catch over 1,000 yards back in 2008. Needless to say, wide receiver pickings have always been slim. With the disappearance of Williams last year in the passing game, it became obvious that the Bucs needed a new threat. A WR that would demand attention from defenses and balls from Freeman. Enter Vincent Jackson. The last 3/4 years Jackson has caught over 1,000 yards and is an All-Pro WR. He gives Freeman a new weapon he hasn’t had the likes of since his K-State days with Jordy Nelson. The presence of Jackson should open up new opportunities for Mike Williams, Arrelious Benn, and Sammie Stroughter. Maybe even Jordan Shipley. I think Freeman will have his best year this year. Not only does the addition of Jackson (and don’t forget Dallas Clark!) aid this offense, it helps that all of the teams in NFC South have pass defenses that rank 20th or below in the NFL (20th Atlanta, 24th Carolina, 30th New Orleans). Freeman will have a great year. He will or the pirate ship just might pass him by. But, there is another side to the ball and it is going to be of vital importance to the Bucs this year.

5. Finally, let’s talk about some defense

At the end of Rocky III, after Apollo Creed helps Rocky Balboa train and conquer Clubber Lang, Rocky has to do Apollo a favor. Get into the ring with him with no cameras or media and have a friendly slobberknocker. Right before they get into it Apollo chuckles to himself and says, “It’s too bad we gotta get old, eh Stallion?” No truer words can be spoken for a Bucs fan. Let me bring this Rocky III reference and picture of two grown men slow-motion water fighting to a point. In the old Buc days the defense was terrifying. Just look at these stats: the Bucs had a top 5 defense through 2001-05, 2007, and boasted a top ten D in 2008. Where have the days of John Lynch, Warren Sapp, and Derrick Brooks gone? Too bad we gotta get old, eh Stallion? The defense has been the definition of tragedy the past few years. A wasted 2nd round pick on Brian Price, 2 consecutive years of serious injury for 1st round pick Gerald McCoy, highly touted DE Da’Quan Bowers not even making the season opener this year due to an Achilles injury, Tanard Jackson not being able to go without smoking weed for 4 months out of the year, and Aquib Talib trying to commit murder.  All the while having a bottom 3 defense in the league last year and allowing a franchise record amount of points scored on them… it’s been tough to say the least. However, there is hope. Gerald McCoy is back and he is a beast when he’s on the D-Line, if he can stay healthy the whole year he will have a break out season. He commands a double team every play and charges into the backfield. Also, keep your eyes on this year’s draft picks LB Lavonte David and S Mark Barron, both of whom were first team All-Americans in college. Barron rooted an incredible Alabama defense which won him a national championship. In pre-season action he also picked off Tom Brady and ran it in for a TD. How many rookies can say they have done that? Furthermore, Talib’s charges have been dropped. He will be a great CB and will compliment new off-season acquisition Eric Wright quite well if he can keep his legal troubles behind him. I can see a young and hungry defense that will improve if they all just simply stay healthy and don’t attempt pistol whip any sister’s boyfriends.

In closing, Dallas vs New York tonight. It’s been a long off season and I am ready for some football. Biggest game note, in my eyes, for the Bucs on Sunday: Ronde Barber’s 200th consecutive start. He’s the last player remaining from that glorious 2002 Super Bowl team and this will more than likely be his last year. Whichever bar or living room you find yourself watching the Bucs game on Sunday raise your glass at least once for him. He is a Buccaneer Legend.