Guest Writer Michael D: Shape of things to come

NOTE: Written By Guest Writer Michael D.

There is much room for optimism for the up and coming 2011 season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are comming off a 10-6 season, with a play-off push that lasted until the final minute of the fine game of the 2010 season. The Bucs are in prime position to push their way not only into the play-offs, but into the super bowl. Yes, I said it, a super bowl run is in the very near future for this team as the Bucs are filled with young, talented players up and down the roster.

Many will say that this team is too young to compete for a super bowl, well they were supposed to be too young last year to compete period and they showed that age is only a number. Rookies all around steped up as well as young players that had been on the roster for the last few seasons such as WR Michael Spurlock and CB Ej Biggers (who could be counted as a rookie because of his IR stint in ’09). Rookies like WR’s Mike Williams and Arrelious Benn,S Coddy Grimm, DT Gerald McCoy, OL Ted Larsen, and RB Legarrette Blount all made significant contributions to the team. Blount, who ran for over 1000 yards and 6 tds with only a handful of starts, looks like he is the answer to the RB position for the next 4-6 years and Williams, who caught 11 td passes and was only 36 yards away from 1000 yds, is a lock for the next decade at wr.

Youth and maturity was the theme for Tampa in 2010, no one exemplified that more though than Josh Freeman. He is the reason I am so confident in a super bowl run. His work ethic, leadership, and attention to detail along with his pure physical skills give me all the confidence in the world that a super bowl is in sight. Freeman is a special player that teams are gonna have to really start game planning for and thats going to allow other players to shine. If the Defense can rank between 10-15 range in 2011, a super bowl is a MAJOR possibility.

Much work is still left to be done between now and opening day as well as into the season, but the Lambardi Trophy is in sight for this Buccaneer team and whether or not you or I believe, it only matters that they believe. Tampa can do it this season, they just need to continue working hard and keep their eye on the prize.