HAPPY THANKSGIVING! The 5 Plays we’re most thankful for our 2010 Tampa Bay Buccaneers!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone around the Globe! While I know this is an American holiday, it does not mean we cannot extend thanks across our beautiful Blue Marble that is increasingly becoming interested in our American brand of Football. While the UK seems to top the list, there are Bucs fans naitively in Germany, Sweeden, France, Belgium, Switzerland,  The Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Russia, the Czech Republic, Austria, Portugal, even the land of my heritage, Greece. Thats no joke or chest pumping, This is verifiable from Google Analytics. It is truely astounding, and I want to thank everyone from these countries for joining in on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers magical 2010 season. But we all know magic doesnt happen, its all science, and circumstances. This year, certain events happened that helped shape the 7-3 Bucs we have now. So were going to give thanks for the 5 most important plays that occured that helped shape the Bucs into what they are today. The Video which is posted on YouTube, IS in order of what has had the greatest effect on the season, at least in my humble opinion.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMwm3W3Y9go&w=520&h=374] #5– Injury to Jeremy Trueblood– In the middle of the season, Jeff Faine went down and Jeremy Zuttah was called on to play center. And play center well he did! When Faine Returned however, he found himeself without a job because the Bucs were not happy with the play of Keydrick Vincent, and cut him. Rookie Ted Larsen took the left guard job instead and had been in there since. Then when Jeremy Trueblood went down with an injury, and James Lee took his place. Trueblood has yet to return to the lineup though he is healthy enough to. Since these lineup changes took place, the Bucs have been able to run the ball effectively. Against the Rams in week 6 the Bucs ran the ball for 124 total yards. They ran for 154 against the Cardinals with the new players in. After a setback in the loss to Atlanta, Tampa Bay has spent the last two years with 186 rushing yards against the Panthers and 162 against the 49ers. The Bucs have become the running team they have so coveted, and its not small thanks to James Lee and Ted Larsen. #4– Mike Williams 35 yard touchdown catch and run– The score was tied at 7-7, and probably no matter what the Bucs were going to win this game, but Mike Williams catching the ball on the 20, making some moves and physically getting himself into the endzone showed everyone that he was to be taken for real. When the Bucs made Williams the starter at the X Receiver spot in training camp, it was based on what he COULD do. This TD catch showed everyone, the Bucs, their fans, the NFL, that Williams was for real. He has been on fire since with one TD away from Michael Clayton’s rookie record of 7. #3– Cody Grimm returns a Carson Palmer pass for a TD, and does in 2 games what John Lynch could not do in all of his years with Tampa Bay: Score a TD from the safety position. Grimm took over as starting safety when Tanard Jackson was suspended by the league for the entire season for failing once again a drug test. Grimm was beaten on a TD pass against the Steelers, but otherwise had a good game. People only saw the TD he gave up. Now they had something else to see from Cody, that he has the instincts to play the Safety position at a high level. The Bucs no longer miss Jackson, who may have played his last game with the Bucs because of Grimm’s excellent plays. #2– Barber’s Pick and (Gulp) almost return– The Browns were leading the Bucs 14-3, things did not look so good. It was starting to look like the 3-13 team of last year to be honest. Then Jake Delhomme threw a pass and Ronde Barber stepped in front of it, like he has done to so many passes. Maybe a few years ago he goes the distance, maybe not. On this day he did not, and maybe that was for the best. It allowed the Bucs offense to score, more specifically Mike Williams to make his “Juggle Job” catch. Had Cleveland made it 21-3 its doubtful the Bucs would have been able to climb out of that hole at that stage of the game. Instead the Bucs went into the half down only 14-10. The Browns would not score again that day. #1– LeGarrett Blount gets his first carry against Pittsburgh– It was the first lopsided loss of the season, but it was only 7-3 still in the game. Fortunate, because the Bucs were still running the football, and coming in for his first carry as a pro, LeGarratte Blount took the hand off at the Bucs 32, and ended up hopping down to the Steelers 45. He didn’t carry much more in the game, he didn’t know the offense yet. But the mystique was created. People started talking. “Let’s give Blount more carries”, and eventually, the Bucs did. Had Blount been stuffed on his first play, the cries may not have been heard. But they were, and a few weeks later Blount became the every down Back that has powered this football team. Now its probably good to leave an honorable mention here. Josh Freeman’s comeback in week 4 against the Bengals, or his comeback pass to Cadillac Williams in week 6 vs the Rams would be two other critical plays, that helped shaped the year we’re enjoying so much. You can also point out the Cadillac Williams draw play Touchdown against the Panthers as very important because it showed him, the team, heck everyone that Cadillac still has a place on the team, and runs more effective when his touches are limited to a handful rather than carrying the burden of main rushing threat.