Reasons for Caution Despite An Uplifting Win I never thought the day would arrive when I’d actually feel subdued after kicking the Twits asses in their own backyard, but last Sunday it did. Though Sky switched to the game mid-way through the first quarter, the Bucs were already on the way down the field again when Cadillac broke into the secondary and met the safety head on. Within seconds you knew it was a bad one and only the most optimistic of fans could not have seen the inevitable outcome of a lost season, and possibly more for our star tailback. A mere 18 plays later we then lost our new left tackle as well, and though at the time that one didn’t look as bad the diagnosis also had the Grim Reaper’s fingerprints all over it. You just don’t lose your starting tailback and left tackle in this league and not miss a beat. Luke Pettigout was brought in the replace Anthony Davis et al because they weren’t good enough; now we are back to reverting to him or Donald Penn which really puts Garcia’s blindside protection under the spotlight. The knock on effects are many – we may need to slide the tight end over to that side, or leave a back in to help and this reduces the downfield options and also may often make Garcia have to throw off a shorter drop. In simple terms its not good news, no matter how you carve it up and we have our work cut out for the rest of 2007 in compensating for the heavy price we paid last Sunday. A few things I think 1) Waltzing Mewelde, Waltzing Mewelde, (Will You Be) Waltzing Mewelde with us? The next few days should reveal all – purely from a selfish standpoint of making cheap gags, Id love him to trot through our door. 2) I think having fumbled deep in Twit territory, if Ike Hilliard had juggled and dropped that long ball rather than hanging on for the catch, he’d probably have spent the next two hours with his ass wedged as far along the bench as the Gatorade Bucket. Keep hold of the damn thing Ike, we’ve already got one stone-handed receiver in Michael Clayton so that position has been filled. 3) I think Phillip Buchanon looks like a candidate for most improved player in the NFL this season. He fits our system perfectly and to think we picked him up for nothing on the waiver wire courtesy of the Texans – rather ironic as he was drafterd by the Raiders with one of the draft picks we gave them for Chucky as I recall. Maybe he was destined for Tampa Bay but however the hell it came about, Monte has made him a player in the space of nine months. 4) Speaking of Monte how pissed off did he look at the Twits garbage time TD? At least it gave him some ammunition in defensive team meetings this week. Otherwise they’d have spent hours looking at David Carr’s passable impersonation of Bruce Gradkowski. 5) In Cato June, Barrett Ruud, Derrick Brooks and their supporting cast, we currently have the best group of linebackers in the NFL in the first month of the season. No arguments, these guys are playing their rear ends off. 6) How many QB’s are going down injured this year? Losman, Smith, Bulger, McNair, Delhomme, Pennington, McCown – is there something in the water or is offensive line play really going down the tubes? At this rate there’ll be barely a healthy starter left come play-off time. 7) I think Dennis Crawford’s column this past week brought up a great subject on old NFL Uni’s. The one I miss the most apart from Buccaneer Bruce? The Jets old green Uni’s and helmets in the days of Al Toon and Ken O’Brien. We wish Cadillac both a successful and speedy recovery. The reaction of both Steve Smith, and indeed the Twits fans was commendable at the time, and for that they finally deserve some praise from even their staunchest critics like myself. It was also heartening to see the entire Bucs team cross the field to support their star tailback on the opposite sideline; these types of things bond a group together and we will need to all the unity and drive we can get for the 12 games ahead and stop our year downhill faster than Britney Spears. The buck is now passed to Mr Bicep and Earnest Graham, who’s entire NFL World has turned full circle in the past fortnight – we wish them well. This Sunday we reunite with the man who helped to turn our franchise around, Tony Dungy, and his Super Bowl Champion Colts. Our defense has its work cut out laying a fingernail on Peyton Manning which they probably won’t be able to do anyway. To stand any chance we need to make tackles the moment the ball arrives, force a couple of turnovers and play mistake free football when we are in possession; that may just be enough to keep it reasonably close but Dwight Freeney against Donald Penn is a match-up nightmare made in hell for us, and the Colts run defense will be stacked up knowing our home run threat isn’t in the backfield. Quick hit passes to the TE, screens and maybe the odd quarterback roll-out from Garcia might just be the ticket to keep them honest and off-balance a little, though I’m sure our resident offensive genius has something up hi sleeve. Head on the Block Time Last week 6-8 (season 33-29 ) How pathetic is that? David Carr-esque in its futility. This weeks jinxed teams selected by myself, the Hindenburg of tipsters Cheats G-Men KC Vince Young and his mates Stillers Aint’s Cards Skins Texans Colts Ravens Whiskey’s (White Horse… Broncos…. get it?) Cheese Romo’s. Whatever it is it better be damn good in this one. Colts to win 31-17 in a game we still may have the chance to take some positives out of, given the turmoil of the past seven days. Nod of Acknowledgement to - Sky Sports Two more Buccaneer live games to follow in the next 3 weeks? I bet nobody saw that one coming but thanks for jumping on our bandwagon. Get in the Real World Award - Matt Leinhart Stop whinging and start learning from the guy who can help you be a better player. Warner’s wife may be a pain in the rear end but you need to swallow your ego buddy, and fast. This isn’t USC and there aren’t any Fresno States on your schedule anymore to feast on. Sports News Story I No Longer Give a Toss About – MLB playoffs . Following my Mets historic and shameful collapse I fully intend to react in a completely in-appropriate way and not watch a single inning over the next month.