If you watched the Fox pregame show last week (and why wouldn’t you, just because the game was televised?) you know the crew talked about Tampa Bay after Jimmy Johnson did a piece on the Buccaneers. Check out the clip full screen in HD…or watch it below.
So what parts about the segment still hold true? How could they after a 31-6 shallacking? Because nothing has changed; the Bucs lost to a much better team that exposed the Bucs weaknesses by not overlooking them.
- Tampa Bay is the 2nd youngest team in the league- This much has not changed, nor will it anytime soon. With Ronde probably playing his last days in Pewter, the age level will go down even more. But this young team is learning on the fly- and getting beat down by good teams like Pittsburgh and New Orleans (and there will be more before the season is over, you can bet that) is a primary way to learn from your misfortunes.
- Josh Freeman has learned his craft- even in bad games, Josh Freeman does little to beat his own team. He doesn’t throw up picks, (he doesn’t throw up at all to be honest, unlike a few QBs ago) he shows his understanding of blitzing schemes, and that means its only a matter of time before time and practice results in better blitz pickups.
- Mike Williams is for real- One week does not a Wide Receiver make, nor does one rookie season (see Clayton, Michael); but Mike Williams does not remind me of that 2004 rookie of the year runner up. No, Williams is doing it without any other receiver’s help, he is making the tough catches, and is getting open, and all of this is happening while he is in his rookie year along with other rookie receivers, growing up together with a 2nd year QB.
- Aqib Talib is still talented- He is giving up a TD per game, but that is disturbing to us, it is Not considered the norm, which means everyone still holds Talib to a high standard, as does Talib and his coaching staff. He will improve because he knows he has to. The opening TD reportedly was a scheming issue, but regardless; Talib bounced back from an opening day mistake in his rookie year, and he will bounce back from this.
- The Bucs still win the turnover battle. Now they did not do so this week, because we turned the ball over more than normal. However, we continue to get turnovers out of our secondary with Cody Grimm once again, deflected by Quincy Black. If we continue to win the turnover battle, we will continue to win; because we beat Cincinnati turning the ball over as much as we did, and such turnovers are usually a result of a young team.
- Troy Aikmans DVOA ranking system really does have the Bucs as a top defensive team. The new rankings arn’t out yet, but you can check it out HERE.
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