Deja vu, 2002?

During the first part of the NFL season, the Tampa Bay area was consumed with Rays fever. And rightly so, it was the best story in MLB this season, but now it's time to start paying attention to another team flying under the radar screen of the National media, the Buccaneers. There are some startling similarities between the 2008 campaign and the 2002 Super Bowl year.

In 2002, the Bucs launched their season at home against the New Orleans Saints. We lost that game on a mishandled punt which was recovered in the endzone for a score by the Saints late in the game. In 2008, we opened the campaign against the Saints, and we lost in New Orleans, 24-20. In 2002, our 12th game of the season was against the Saints. The Buccos lost that game too.
This year, once again we played the Saints for game number 12. In 2002, we lost, and the score of that game, 23-20. The score of the game we won today? 23-20.

3 times in the Bucs history they have achieved the 9-3 record at this point in the season, and all 3 times, the Bucs advanced to the NFC Championship game. Let's see if we cant do it again.

Well, I issued my 10 points of the game yesterday on the blog, and SHAZAM! better than the local fish wrapper rag "journalists" which are paid to write about the Bucs, my comments seemed a bit more relevent. Let's review 8 of 10 points I suggested.

2. Stretch the field. Everytime the Bucs threw more than 20 yards it was a completed pass and even a 39 yard score to Bryant.

3.Dunn/Williams around the corner. Was that not a 8 yard TD scamper by Caddy around the right corner, outside of the tackles for the score. Carnell never touched the ball again after that and every single run was right up the middle. Tisk Tisk.

4. Stevens. He was involved in the 1st half, then simply disappeared.

5. Pass rush. Coming out after halftime, the D line applied some pressure but evaporated in the 4th quarter.

6. Trueblood. Announcers never mentioned his name. Thats a great thing.

7. No Huddle. We experimented with that this afternoon, and it was successful.

9. Contain. Reggie Bush had a -13yards on punt returns today. He was held to 0 yards on three attempts and had 32 yds on 5 receptions. Thumbs up defense!

10 Score TD's. This is still a work in progress.

Some various observations from today's game.

Cadillac Red Tag Event-
This team can't depend on Warrick Dunn to carry the ball 25 times down the stretch. It was nice to see Caddy score one today, but was a little disappointed to only see him carry the ball 4 times.

Ageless Wonder-
Warrick Dunn, at age 33, continues to astound me. A proud Florida State Alum, is running like he did during his college career. 22 carries for 74 yards.

Unknown, Undrafted-
2 players which are making a serious impact on this team are Clifton Smith and Elbert Mack.

Mack is a DB who is huge on special teams. He had 3 solo tackles today. Maurice Stovall, take notice, your roster spot is in serious jeopardy.

Clifton Smith. Another undrafted free agent signing who spent the first 8 weeks of the year on the practice squad. The Bucs drafted Dexter "slip and fall" Jackson in the 2nd round of the draft this year, but I was really excited to see the Bucs sign "Peanut" Smith after watching his videos on Youtube while he played at Fresno State University. Skids Jackson returned kicks and punts for the first 8 games and accumulated 417 return yards. Peanut has returned kicks and punts for 4 games (841 combined yardage) and has returned both a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown, something which has never been done in Bucs history in the same season. This kid is electric, and everytime he touches the ball, you are thinking he can go yard. We've finally found our Dave Megget, Devin Hester or Josh Cribbs. Peanut is adding hidden yardage to each and every Bucs game and giving the offense great field position.

Jeff, you're not in high school anymore.
I've seen you in person, you have smaller calves than I have. I'm 41, you're 39, but good god almighty man, you ran for 43 yards today, never minding to slide. Your former Playboy playmate of the year wife is pregnant again with your second child, slide for god's sake. I've got to say, you are one of the toughest SOB's I've ever watched in the league. You get slammed like a ragdoll and you shake it off and get up and take another snap. You are 6-1 as a starter this year, and these guys on offense want to play for you. Just like 2002, players showed up to play for Brad Johnson, this team is rallying around you. Stay healthy for the next 4 weeks, we need you.

Paging Joey Galloway
Joey, you have a weekly radio show? Why? You posted 3 consecutive 1000 yard seasons for the Bucs and I did see you in the game today for 2 plays. 2 plays. Garcia threw you a ball and you dropped it. I predicted your dropoff this season on this blog. I don't know what your issues are this season. Anyway it was nice to see you in for a couple of plays, the past few weeks I was scanning milk cartons at Publix for your picture on the side panels, have you seen me? Gruden was correct in labeling you as the White Tiger. You quit in the playoff game last January against the Giants and you've not ever regained your stature since. I look forward to the Bucs releasing you this offseason and I want the Bucs to sign Lee Evans from Buffalo this offseason.

Carolina won today and Atlanta is hanging with San Diego as I type. Monday night's game is going to be huge.