Remember the preseason concerns? Lets take a look at them and how they turned out.

The 5-2 Bucs have caught everyone by suprise, even myself. I called on the Bucs to go 3-1, even around 4-2 then lose a close game at Arizona which would start a midseason losing streak. But even I didnt see 5 wins coming in the first 7 weeks, however I did feel some of the Bucs players would shine if given a starters role. Well the one consistant thing about the internet, when you post something, its THERE for sometime! Looking back, we found these issues forcasters brought up for the  2010 season, and now that things are where they are, its time to take a look at what people thought was going to happen, and how its working its way out.

I don’t see much cause for celebration in Tampa at least not right now give a few years Tampa, with some key free agent moves and a few good drafts, Tampa could return to glory days.

Well we will save you the time then, and some money. Free agent acquisitions are not exactly on the Bucs ‘ToDo’ list. If you get a free agent WR, he will take playing time away from Mike Williams or Arellious Benn.

This youth movement will undoubtedly carry growing pains in 2010. The question is, will these youngsters be learning how to be pros together, or is there so much youth in so many key areas that everyone will actually be learning how to lose together?

It doesn’t look like losing is what the Bucs learned how to do this year; and while no they don’t have any veterans really to look at for direction, they do have each other, and a Head Coach who has a history of getting results going back to his taking over the secondary in 2007 and making it a positive unit on the team.

All five Buc starters return in what is a solid run-blocking offensive line, and the men they’re blocking for – Cadillac Williams, Derrick Ward and Earnest Graham – form a respectable backfield (especially if Williams builds on the burst he showed last season).

Last season’s burst for Cadillac was his last; he is no longer a feature back but can still contribute on 3rd downs. LeGarrent Blount is the back who will carry the load for the Buccaneers, and the front office/ Mark Dominik deserve major credit for finding this guy as well as other contributors. OL Lee had to take over for Jeremy Trueblood, and did well. Jeremy Zuttah is subbing for Pro Bowl Center Jeff Faine to the point where you hardly know Jeff isn’t in there.

We won’t know for another year or two whether Josh Freeman can be a franchise quarterback. At this point, the17th overall pick is simply too raw to grade. On just about any other team, Freeman would be learning from the sidelines. But when the only other quarterbacks on the roster are the athletic, scramble-oriented but greener-than-green Josh Johnson and some undrafted second-year pro from the Cowboys named Rudy Carpenter, it makes sense to let your top prospect develop through trial and error. Last season, Freeman got the “error” part down. He threw 18 interceptions in his 290 pass attempts. His turnovers will abate when he becomes calmer in the pocket. Currently, the athletic Freeman is only comfortable throwing on the move. But if he is ever to consistently display the big arm that piqued Tampa Bay’s interest, he must learn to work through his progressions while dropping back in the pocket.

Josh Freeman was too raw to grade on August 1st. By his first preseason game, you could see there was some work that had been done in the offseason. Freeman spent the whole summer at One Buccaneer Place, and said he would look more like a 5th year QB than a 2nd year one. Without a doubt, Josh has done this. His knack for getting out of the pocket and throwing on the run, and knowing when to take off and gain 20 yards is incredible.

Bottom Line No one expects the Bucs to win more than six or seven games in 2010. This season is about determining the future as much as anything. Will Josh Freeman prove he’s the guy to build around? Will Raheem Morris prove he’s the guy to do the building? An affirmative answer to these questions will make 2010 a success.

Fine, AFFIRMATIVE then! The Bucs are already only one win shy of those 6 wins most people penciled them in to achieve. Someone I get the feeling this team is not going to settle for a 6-10 or 7-9 record. Winning in your division is the key to going to the playoffs. If the Bucs win this weekend, you can start printing playoff tickets because they will be 6-2 at the half way point of the year.