Bruce Allen, send the scout teams to the bowl games

Well Bucco fans, what seemed like a magical season two weeks ago, has become a nightmare. Nothing new to those of us which have followed the team for 30 years. Going into the Monday night match up with the Carolina Panthers, the Bucs were 9-3 and the projected #2 seed in the NFC playoffs. After being embarrassed by the Panthers, Carolina ran over the proud defensive unit for 299 yards and 4 rushing touchdowns, the Bucs showed up to play the surprising upstart Atlanta Falcons this afternoon.

Once again, for the 14th time this season, the Bucs failed to score inside the redzone. Each game seems to bring a new problem. Last week against Carolina, it was 20 missed tackles. Today, it was the stupid ass playcalling and 11 penalties for 76 yards. The defense once again kept the team in the game, but once again, Matt Bryant kicks a late game field goal to send the game to overtime.

I foresee the Bucs splitting their last two home games, losing next week to San Diego and winning out against Oakland. The Bucs finish 10-6 and out of the playoffs. There was a magic surrounding the Bay area this season, with the Rays advancing all the way to the World Series. If I had been the coach of the Bucs, the week of the Bucs traveling to Carolina with so much on the line, I'd have called Joe Maddon and set up a get together with the Rays and Bucs players. The Bucs could have made history this season by being the first home team in a Super Bowl host city to play in the game, but that isn't going to happen now. If the Bucs do stumble into the playoffs, they'll play their game on the road against either Arizona or Minnesota. One and done.

Bruce Allen ought to send out the scouts to the Bowl games now and see who the Bucs can select with the 20th pick in the upcoming draft.

Here are my 5 observations of today's debacle:

Antonio Bryant-
Why has this wideout not been signed yet to a longterm contract? Readers of my blog can search what I wrote during the offseason regarding Bryant, I forecasted a 80 catch, 1200 yard and 8 touchdown season and winner of the Comeback Player of the Year. Let's see where we are right now...........73-1044-7tds, with two games to go.
Now in today's game, Bryant had 7 catches for 106 yards and a score in the first half, and all he saw was a 1 catch for 2 yards in the second half. If Atlanta decided to take him out of the game in the second half, weren't there open receivers somewhere on the field? Bryant is a classic reclimation project, while out of the NFL last season. He signed a 1 year contract during training camp for 661,240 for 1 year. Bryant could be the best receiver we've had since Kevin House. Bandwagon fans will need to Google that name. After being kicked to the curb in the past 2 weeks, Bruce Allen should hold a press conference this week and announce his resigning to a longterm contract. If the Bucs let Bryant get away....I've lost all respect for Gruden and Allen.

Alex Smith-
Right before the trading deadline in the NFL back in October, TE Tony Gonzalez made known to teams that he wanted out of Kansas City. Tony is going to the Hall of Fame when his playing days are done, but he has a year or two left and he is still productive. I've not been a Alex Smith fan since he has failed to deliver on his "potential" for several years now. He's like an annoying girlfriend who is always whining about something. He's always seemingly injured, and he'll make the occasional catch, but, he can't catch the ball in traffic for shit. I believe his contract is up this year, and I want to see him sent down the road. He's Maurice Stovall and Paris Warren all rolled up into one. Alex Smith-gotta go.

Why are these players even on the roster?

Joey Galloway. Inactive today. Hell, he's been inactive all season. Gruden is a supposed offensive genius, and he can't figure out a way to work Galloway into a slot receiver position? I understand Bryant is now the split end, but, jesus man, if Galloway can run, why not bring him in the game in the slot position to creates the mismatches Gruden is so famous for creating. I have a feeling, that during this offseason, we will hear from Galloway about this season and even back to last season's playoff game against the Giants in Ray Jay when he walked off the field.

Luke McCown. According to local media sources, he took all the reps in practice this week. Last year, when Garcia was injured, McCown led the Bucs to the NFC South division title against the New Orleans Saints. Gruden complains about wanting to groom a young quarterback for the future. Griese looked horrible today. He was as statue-esque as usual, taking sacks and losing field position. McCown reminds me of a young Garcia. Whether you like Garcia or not, he is a gamer. I've met him in person and he's smaller than I am. I watch him get smashed in the mouth and sacked like a ragdoll by 300 pound defensive players and he jumps right back up. Both McCown and Garcia's contracts are up at the end of this year, Griese will be returning. (suppressed exuberance emitted here)

Jerremy Stevens. The Bucs have the ball, inside the 12 with 3 minutes to go, and Gruden calls 3 running plays and draws two penalties, eventually creating a 3rd and 28 at the 30. Why is Stevens on this team? He's freaking 6'7", everytime he touches the ball, he's lunging forward or running over someone. Can't we match this guy up on a 6'0" linebacker for a scoring opportunity? Gruden wants to create mismatches, why can't this guy get more than 2 touches a game?

Red Zone-
Once the Bucs cross the opponents 20 yardline, the squad seems to act like they are in one of those Verizon commercials. You're in a deadzone, nothing comes in, nothing comes out. Well, Gruden is supposed to be the network, and after today, I believe the network has disconnected. Detroit, who is 0-14, on the road in Indy, put 21 points up against Indy with a rookie QB.
An 0-14 team can put more points up on the road than a 2 week ago #2 seed in the NFC? I don't think Tampa could put 21 points up in Indy.

Playoffs-
Playoffs? Playoffs? I sound like the Coors commercial with Coach Mora. There will be no playoffs for the Bucs. There might be one playoff game on the road, but the Bucs are one and done this year, just as last year. There is no pass rush on the opposing quarterback and there is no offensive threat to opposing teams. At 9-3, this team looked destined for something special, something I wanted to happen for players like Derrick Brooks, Ronde Barber and Warrick Dunn, but after the past two games, any advancement deep into the playoffs for the Bucs is not a reasonable assumption.