Recurring Problems Still Prevalent in Bucland A quick scan of the our starting offensive unit this past weekend gave Bucs fans a big indicator as to the troubled waters that lie ahead in the upcoming season. To coin an old phrase, if Todd Steussie is the solution then we still have a major problem. The sudden resigning of Mr Steussie was shocking on many fronts, not only because his poor play and embroilment in Steroid abuse claims, but also because it clearly highlights how desperate things must be at the offensive line position for the Bucs. To say we were poor there last year would be kind, and the abundance of injuries going into training camp, along with Steussie’s recall tells us Carnell Williams may be lucky to simply survive his rookie season. Offensive lines get better by continuity, practising together, playing together and creating the inner feel of trust built up by a comfort level with each other and establishing your teamates reliability and tendancies in game situations. Unfortunately we have had to resign a dodo to play the tackle position, whilst at least 4 other players are waiting to return from various injuries. Derrick Deese is at pensionable age now, and yet his latest foot injury is hardly likely to make our potential left tackle very mobile – we may see Brian Griese introduce the one-step drop this season as a result. Five things I think 1. I think Terrell Owens is a nob. (I also think Drew Rosenhaus is a nob too so they deserve each other). 2. I think it’s been a bloody long wait for some meaningful football again, almost 8 months in fact, so thank god normality is about to return and The Bucs will be taking the field shortly – this feeling of relief may revert to extreme anger if we start this season like the last one. 3. I think given our current options at the position, our Kicking game will cost us at least 2 games this year, unless somehow Vinatieri or Vanderjagt get cut by their current employers. 4. I think I’m getting sick of Man Utd fans and friends of mine asking me about Malcolm Glazer, my opinion of him and his family. Most of them have already made their minds up before I speak anyway so why bother when you only want to believe what toilet rolls like The Sun and The Mirror print on the subject. 5. I think the discussion forum on our website is the best of the many enhancements we’ve seen over the years. If your reading this and haven’t signed up to it what are you waiting for? Whatever your opinion on the Bucs, here’s the best place for you to air it. With two pre-season games already in the books how on earth on earth are we going to get any better at the offensive line position, with all the player injuries and absences and the looming season opener? Answers on a postcard to Mr J Gruden, One Buc Place. We saw the same things happen last year and the result was a truly shocking offensive output coming out of the blocks, which sent our first four games down the toilet, and effectively our season with it. Am I the only one who sees the risk of history repeating itself in 2005? The other area of concern is the kicking game. With FUAT’s performance level lower than alligator pi$$, we thankfully cut him loose. However his potential replacements Mr France and Mr Bryant, appear to be trying to outdo each other in the FUAT impressions department at present. It’s never a good sign when the coach and GM are scanning the waiver wire after only 2 weeks of the pre-season, and yet that is the position we find ourselves in once again. The hope is obviously that one of the kickers finds his range, and the returning starters and 2 rookie lineman find some magic dust and play above themselves. However the reality indicates we will again but lamenting the play of our Offense and our inability on Special Teams come the 2005 season, when the real stuff gets underway in less than a months time. We have a mere two weeks to get the Line and the Kicking game right and iron out all the wrinkles – can we do it? Nope, I don’t think so either. On the positive side Barrett Ruud is looking like a keeper at Linebacker, whilst Anthony Becht and Alex Smith have made the Tight End position re-appear on our offense and will improve us ten-fold in this area. In addition despite the porous state of our offensive line, Carnell Williams has the skills to break some big gains regardless and Ike Hilliard is a major upgrade at wide-out over Tim Brown, Bill Schoeder or JJ who spent more time on the sidelines than in pads over the past 2 seasons. With Clayton, Alex Smith and the Cadillac on the field we now have some downfield oomph, or as Gruden likes to put it “The Juice” and my feeling is we are going to need every ounce of this, along with some large slices of fortune in the close games if we are to be in any sort of contention this season. With 2 pre-season games to go it’s almost time for the real contests ahead and that crucial season opener in Minnesota. Lets hope the injuries are kept to a minimum and the team develops a unity, the likes of which we haven’t seen since that glorious season in 2002 which quite frankly now seems a lifetime ago. Nod of Acknowledgement to…NFL.COM for the FieldPass service which allows far away freaks like myself to listen to every game this season live on the radio for £17. Thanks guys, though my missus probably hates you I appreciate it very much. Get in the Real World Award… Cedric Benson. As the last first round pick to sign he earns notoriety anyway, but for the sake of arguing over an extra few dollars on a contract that already means he will never have to work again, this twit has all but kissed off his rookie season and consigned himself to the bench. Thank god I didn’t trade up in the FFL Draft to pick him, who did by the way?? (Ed - you'll eat those words when Benson serves up yet another touchdown for the Borg this season - and by the way Lee, Andy Cole and Darius Vassell?)