I caught up today with Nick Houllis of BucStop, the Buccanneers blog right here on our Bloguin network to get some thoughts on this game. He does a great job over there so make sure you check out BucStop and give them some love.
Nick asked me 5 questions as well that you can read by CLICKING HERE.
Here’s my 5 questions to Nick:
Saints Nation: Nick, ok, WTF was that performance in San Francisco? Are your boys serious with that? Any justification for what happened there? How do you expect them to respond from that?
BucStop: Yeah that was bad, but like my buddy in England says, that was a one off. The team didn’t quit, Vernon Davis said that they quit stuff vs phily too. This team refuses to make excuses, but I will. The numbers show you don’t win on the road after MNF, especially on the west coast. Now that doesn’t justify a 48-3 game, but if your not all there, it can happen. Based on how EVERY Buc stunk, I have to believe it was something that affected the whole team.
SN: Do you feel like this game at home is a must win because a loss puts you 2 games behind the Saints and down in the tiebreaker, or is it too early in the season to be saying that?
BS: Too early right now. A loss puts the Bucs at 1-1 in the division, but 2-3 in NFC. But after getting blown out by saints 2 years in a row, and last week’s debacle, a good show is a must.
SN: The Saints offense runs through Jimmy Graham and Darren Sproles these days. The other guys make plays too, but it’s been clear through 5 weeks that Brees is looking at these two first when he drops back to pass. How are the Bucs are covering big physical tight ends, and fast backs out of backfield?
BS: Up until last week, good tight ends haven’t had big days vs Bucs as Ronde Barber has been playing a lot of man coverage on them. But Vernon Davis got two TDs on the Bucs, so the question is what gives. Crazy day? Or bad play? Expect Barber to bounce back. Our safeties are suspect right now.
SN: Where do you rate Drew Brees in the hierarchy of NFL QB’s and where does Josh Freeman fit in that same list?
BS: To me it’s Brady, Brees, and Aaron Rodgers. You have top elite players, then almost elite; guys one step away like Vick, Rivers, etc, then young guys 5 years and down who are showing signs of being special, Freeman, Ryan, Stafford, Flacco, etc. These guys go up to level two with a playoff win.
SN: The NFC East always gets the love, but I’ve been saying for a year now that the NFC South is the best division in the conference. Granted, with Detroit and Green Bay dominating it’s hard to NFC North some love. Atlanta has dropped off a bit this year but you know they’ll bounce back, and now Carolina has shown they’re no easy out anymore. I figured you’d appreciate this question: do you agree the NFC South is vastly underrated as a division and arguably the best in football?
BS: In a QB driven league, NFC south’s Brees, Newton, Freeman and Ryan over Grossman, Vick, Romo and Manning. Then you have most NFC championship appearances and superbowl too. No doubt NFC south is best division in football for years now.
Thanks again to Nick and make sure check out my answers to his questions!
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