Monday Morning Hangover- nothing Saintly about that loss.

NFL.com’s Game Rewind is an excellent source for video replays of all of Sundays games available at midnight following a Sunday of NFL action. AFter watching the Bucs game again in  HD, I can tell you this much: they still lost, and in HD, it looked even worse! After spending a day (and night) being down on the Bucs, Monday Morning is a time to get over all the humiliation, and move on to the next opponent. But here is what we’ve come up with:

• Don’t get too down on Gerald McCoy and Brian Price just yet. Clearly McCoy is having growing pains in the NFL, and that is just fine. The first round pick for the Bucs has said he is not able to play instictively at this time, but is instead trying to think first. Once the thinking becomes second nature, then McCoy will be be ready to ascend to a higher level of play.
• At the same time, the level of quality on the D-Line is not there yet. Some players are just not up to NFL level and may never get there. Defenseive End is a big need position in the 2011 NFL Draft. No, were not talking draft already, we just are as far as two positions on this team. The other is..
• Running Back- Look, the size of Cadillac William’s  heart has never been in question. Just being able to put a uniform on is a big win for  number 24. But clearly Cadillac has lost more than a step, he has lost his spring. His Spunk. He does not hit the hole as hard as he used to, nor can he take off for a long gain if there is one in front of him.
• The Bucs were playing catchup almost the entire game; yet Josh Freeman was not sacked once. Clearly, this O line is much better at pass blocking than run blocking.
• Speaking of Josh Freeman, he played his worst game of the year; yet did not throw a pick, did not get sacked, added a Touchdown and completed over 50% of his passes. If this is the worse we get, we can live with it.
• The Bucs found the Bookend kicker they’ve needed for some time now. Punter Robert Malone boomed his first kick that was downed inside the 20. He finished with a 45.7 yards per punt avg, and a net average of 40. Connor Barth; not so good! But hey, everyone is allowed to miss two FGs in a season right? But it was what happened after the game that was most disturbing. Barth could not get into his own house after the game. Could not get through the door to his own home; someone put up a goal post in front of it! Doink. Ok I’m not funny.
• Is anyone playing linebacker besides Quincy Black? Note to Ruud; you wont get to hear your name on the stadium PA system if you dont make any tackles.There was a rumour of a Geno Hayes sighting at Raymond James Yesterday, but I want to stress, it was only a rumor.
• Turnovers will kill you. The Bucs were still only down 17-0 (should have been 17-3, same score they were down to the Saints last year in the Superdome) when Cadillac Williams turned the ball over. The Saints quickly scored to   make it 24-0.
• It’s pretty obvious that this young team let 3 dash 1 get to their head. The problem is that I think Raheem Morris may have helped foster this. Judging from facial expressions at the post game press conference, I think he, and his team, came back to earth again.