Saints Nation: 10 Questions with Buc Stop

Over the weekend I caught up with Nicholas Houllis of Buc Stop, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers blog for our Bloguin Network. This was done in an attempt to get some inside information on our bitter enemies. I asked Nicholas 10 questions about the Bucs to get a feel for the status of their franchise, and well as a look to what we can expect from them in the future. Many thanks to him for taking the time. Check it out:

Saints Nation: As a Saints fan, the thing that scares me about the Bucs is how young their core is. You’ve got Freeman, Winslow, LaGarrette Blount who came out of nowhere to be one of the best rookies of 2010, Mike Williams, and many others. Do you feel like the Bucs are set up to be competitive and win for a long time with that core?

Buc Stop: Going into last year, I felt like the Bucs were doing the right thing, and were recreating the magic of 1996/97 by going via draft and building a core. Most Bucs fans werent around back then, so didnt know what the plan was. They only know free agents, and could not see that examples like Washington and Dallas, dont get far with just free agency. Now that 10 is behind us, its obvious to see that this is a core group of guys that is going to be around a long time like Sapp. Lynch, Brooks, Barber, etc were.

SN: I have to say that last year’s 10-6 season completely blindsided me. Looking at their aging defense and inexperienced offense, I was totally expecting no more than 5-6 wins out of that Bucs team. Was it a major surprise for you to see how well they did?

BS: Inexperienced offense yes, but I did not see an aging defense. There is really no one old on this team anymore, there were a few older players in 09, but that was when the age was purged, after the 08 season. Not counting Ronde Barber of course, but no one else is over 28 on the Defense. I expected a 6-8 win season, and I felt an 8 win season were possible because I felt the team would gel later in the year and CATCH UP to an 8-8 season. Weak schedule was also apparent. But no way did I see what happened last year. Bucs fans were shocked, surprised, the haters were upset, then they shut their mouths and disappeared and created new user names on the message boards!

SN: Our rivalry has been weird. The last two years we’ve come into Tampa and put a thumping on you, but you’ve come into New Orleans and stolen games from us. What is it about the Superdome that brings out your best football?

BS: Tell me about it! 2007 and 2008 we were able to beat you guys at home, then we take our biggest losses of the year the last two seasons at home to N.O. I put the @ N.O. game as a loss last year, until going into the game, I knew we could do it. I was not surprised at the win last year, that seemed to be even better played than 09. 09 was more of a steal, I feel like Tampa Bay had last years game in control most of the way. I did not expect that though….

SN: Speaking offseason – assuming we have a season next year, what are the team’s biggest needs? Who do they need to retain that could leave? Who do you want them to draft?

BS: The Bucs badly need some pressure from the D line. Last year we drafted Tackles, so this year is the year of the defensive end. Expect the Bucs to draft no less than two DE in first few rounds. Suprisingly, Linebacker is the next need. The Bucs are NOT high on any of our linebackers. Geno Hayes and Quincy Black play hot/cold, and Barrett Rudd is not big enough to make a difference against the run, although he excels at calling the signals and in pass coverage.

SN: Is Ronde Barber ever going to retire? Are you glad he’s back?

BS: I would not have been happy at Barbers return if he had played good last year then faded. Ronde Barber actually turned it up a notch during the playoff push at the end of the season. Its obvious Ronde is Still in great shape, he still is a sound sure tackler, so why not. Its been said if he made the move to safety, he could play another 5 years! Fortunately, the Bucs are SOLID at defensive backs.

SN: What’s the feeling on Josh Freeman and Raheem Morris locally? Are they definitely the tandem of the future? It seems like fans are totally sold on Morris. Is that accurate? What about Freeman?

BS: Sadly, Race is still alive and well in the south. But where as Tony Dungy got a lot of respect, Raheem Morris comes across as too young and is seen as too close with the ‘boys’. Lately he has calmed down a bit on the chest bumping, but a lot of fans are still not quite sold on Morris, and would turn on him in a moment if he started to lose. The haters are many, but they are quiet right now.

I was a fan of Morris, and actually told my buddies back in 2007 to watch out for Raheem Morris one day. He is a great coach and motivator. Knowledable Bucs fans know that Morris is here to stay. Josh Freeman on the other hand only had a lack of fans when he was first drafted. Once his first game was over, people started to see the positives. Last year, Freeman won over the Tampa Bay area with his very mature type year. He plays years ahead of his age. He’s tough, hes a leader, hes got a good arm, what more could you want. Oh, he has about 8 come back wins already. Next Elway? We hope.

SN. I looked at a stats the other day that wre unreal. In 8 seasons of the NFC South, The Saints have won twice, Carolina 3 times, Atlanta once and Tampa twice. Of those 8 seasons, we’ve sent a team to the Super Bowl 3 times. Of the 4 teams, 3 are over .500 during that span and Tampa at 70-74 is 4 games under .500. I feel like those stats make a pretty clear case that the NFC South is one of the most competitive divisions in football and that it’s grossly underrated. Agree?

BS: Even more, 6 of the 8 years, and NFC South team has made an appearance in the NFC Championship game. In fact, in each year up till 07! The problem is the NFC East has been in the minds of fans for decades. That is starting to change.

SN: Going into 2011, what are your expectations? Do you feel like the Bucs can improve on 10-6 or do you fear that they may have a sophomore slump?

BS: I would have predicted a sophomore slump had the Bucs achieved anything. They did not, they were robbed of the playoffs by the bad refs call in the Detroit game on Kellen Winslow Jr, and realize they could have been the Packers last year, at least as far as playoff positioning goes. Probably not going as far though! I think that keeps the team hungry enough to avoid a slump.

However, this areas sports teams ALWAYS have those seasons. The rays had a less than spectacular 09 after their 08 world series appearance. Bucs had an 8-8 1998 season after a 10-6 97, so it would not surprise me. But the schedule is not that hard, and again, last season didnt really accomplish anything except raise their expectations.

SN: As far as the Saints/Falcons are concerned. Which team do you fear more right now? Would love to get a Buc fan’s take on the state of the division and how you view your opponents currently.

BS: To be honest, I fear the Falcons more right now. THey swept us with games so close they could have gone either way. The Home game we had no reason to lose, and the away game we should have beaten too. It reminds me of getting over the hump with the Packers back in the 90s.

It seems like the Saints window of opportunity is passing by, but it depends on what you guys do on defense, because you know your going to be a major threat on offense for years to come as long as Colston and Brees are there.

SN: Give me a prediction on how the division shakes out next year.

BS: Still too early to tell, but I think its

Team Games Behind

Tampa Bay –

Atlanta 1

New Orleans 2

Carolina 5

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Saints Nation: 10 Questions with Buc Stop

Alan Draper

Alan Draper

Alan Draper