The Bucs are broken, and we have to fix them. Rather, they need to fix themselves, because it must be done on the inside. With a game coming up against the SuperBowl Champion Green Bay Packers, it’s probably unlikely to show and fixing this week, although there are some good signs we can look forward to. In order to achieve some turnaround, the following needs to be completed.
1) Leaders must emerge- People think Ronde Barber is a leader, and is he to some sorts, but he leads by example. Perhaps Barber will grow more vocal, or someone else may step up. Word is Albert Hanesworth was playing the part Sunday. The problem is this team is so young, that there are few if any leaders. A team needs them, and usually creates them; but if one doesn’t come up now, it may not ever on this team.
2) Players need to hold themselves accountable- If there is any one thing the Bucs players need to do this week is learn the mantra of the Old Pewter Bucs; play till the end. So many Bucs players in the 4th quarter stopped playing 100%. They let up as others did the tackling. That’s a young players mentality, and it has to stop.
3) Bucs management needs to start the process of bringing in Free Agents next year- Forget about the reasons why. The Glazers are not cheap, if anything they simply are victims of this economy just like you and I if our homes are in foreclosure. They paid for the most expensive Franchise on the planet like we would buy a new house for a Summer home. So be it. But next year the Glazers should be in better financial shape like all of us. Don’t go out and get every top free agent, but augment the Bucs team where they need it, just like then did when they got Keyshawn Johnson, Brad Johnson, Simeon Rice, etc. Get yourselves a couple new linebackers, a monster WR, draft a burner speed demon of a running back.
4) Make the connection better with the fans- The fans have responded by selling out two of the biggest games of the year. Make it easier by lowering prices even more, for one year. Drop those 109 dollar nosebleeds to 60. Take the corner top row and end zones to 35 but expanded even more. Make only the lower area 20-20 seats expensive, and keep those to 110 or better. You’ll have more sellouts, and you’ll be on the TV more.
This embarrassing period in Bucs football is the responsibility and fault of everyone combined. It will take everyone to fix it, from the owners, to the management, coaches and players.
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