Back To The Future (Part II) I was only partially serious when I said a few weeks back that we should get used to the headline: “BUCS LOSE! BUCS LOSE! BUCS LOSE!” I certainly wasn’t anticipating realistically losing 12 games, if not 13 this season. The Falcons game wasn’t as farcical as the Pittsburgh game, a game that I begged Paul not to put on at the Bucs UK meal, but he did it anyway, possibly in part to Phil Jones saying that as he’d not seen it he wanted to. Firstly, Phil – it could have waited. Secondly, Phil Jones is in fact a Pittsburgh fan, attributed to the “Come on Pittsburgh” shouts made…!! Take away Gradkowski’s fumble and the returned TD, and if TIMMEH Rattay had played the five minutes of his life AND got lucky, we’d have walked away with a W. Maybe. The game proved to me that we’re not Oakland Bad; similarly we’re not Detroit Bad, although our Offense needs a big-time wake-up call that will hopefully come through maturity of our O-Line, and our Defence needs consistency in the Line, as injuries and trades have taken their toll. Wasn’t that a nice lead in to looking at the O & D-Lines for next year, and where we can improve? (Apart from everywhere before someone says something) Caddy certainly needs holes to get through – having excellent two-yard runs out of the red zone has never won anyone games or titles, and certainly will not start now. The O-Line needs to create more holes, and the D-Line needs to stuff them and, for a change, get to the Quarterback. Shelton Quarles can do it and he’s 35 and just back from an injury! NFL Watch Is back! Devin Hester vs. Marques Colston for Rookie of The Year, with Reggie Bush making a late claim – GAME ON! LT for MVP is boring, although hardly undeserved. Hester for the double? R.I.P Lamar Hunt. Rex Grossman is lucky to still be in a starting job (i.e. Was lucky he played well) Good decision on the Gators making the BCS Title Game – they deserve it. Who’s going to the Play Offs from the NFC? It’s almost like no-one wants to go! (See Cowboys, Dallas) The Saints are worryingly good – Brees is a man possessed, and they have two of the top rookies playing like vets – keep an eye on this group. Ladell Betts is going nowhere – he’s signed a five- year extension with The Great UnWashed. Devin Hester is awesome – three mentions this week, and he’s playing the Bucs with our ‘superb’ Special Teams. Well that’s all right then… Are we in a Twilight Zone? The Dolphins shut out Tom Brady and the Patriots, and the Colts were destroyed by Jax. No one seems to want to win anymore! The Bucs UK meal was my first, and certainly won’t be my last – 20+ people gathered together enjoying the Bucs – the only downside was a three-hour drive, but even that was hardly an inconvenience as the experience was fantastic. Finally, the moment that has been waited for since Saturday at the Bucs UK meal, when Paul Stewart resigned from the Fantasy Football League, and offered me his team, which I proudly accepted, I bring you the NEWEST name in Bucs UK FFL History. (And yes I will milk it, but it’s text – it’s not as if you can’t skip) The Doris Day Dungeoneers? Possibly too bizarre. The Dungeon Knights? Too serious? The Technicolor Turtles? Sadly not. It came down to two – The Lowedown and The Malicious Penguins. (Drum roll please) The Malicious Penguins are the newest franchise in the league! Offensive Line: Currently: LT: Anthony Davis, Cornell Green LG: Sean Mahan, Dan Buenning (IR) Nick Mihlhauser C: John Wade, Sean Mahan RG: Davin Joseph, Jeb Terry RT: Jeremy Trueblood, Kenyatta Walker (IR), Donald Penn TE: Anthony Becht, Alex Smith, Doug Jolley, Dave Moore (and his Superbowl Ring) The current standard line-up is; Davis, Mahan, Wade, Joseph, Trueblood and Becht/Smith although the start of the season (forgetting injuries!) saw it as being; Davis, Buenning, Wade, Joseph, Walker and Becht/Smith. Personally, Davis seemed to be overwhelmed against Pittsburgh – on one of Gradkowski’s sacks in particular, he appeared to have no assignment, or something went completely wrong. He appeared to be unsure of where to go, and within seconds Michael Pittman had been passed (unlike the Ball…) and Bruce was down. Leonard Davis of the Cardinals (at least let me finish) is available in free agency, and has played LT most recently – some team will give him a final shot at the NFL, and it could be us, although there are a couple of LT’s that could start in the NFL next year, namely Joe Thomas and Joe Staley, although I can’t imagine we would take O-Linemen with two successive first round picks. Sean Mahan played at RG all last season, but this year doesn’t appear to like LG as much, especially after Dan Buenning’s impressive run-blocking debut season. Whilst John Wade is our Center, Mahan has had his eye on the job for a couple of years now, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him take on the role next year, as part of the Bucs’ changes, and also Wade’s age. Davin Joseph has impressed me this year – his blocking may have been lacking at times, but he, particularly when compared to Trueblood, has not had a ‘bad’ season per se, merely a season with a bad outcome. Joseph has not proven to be worth a 1st Round pick, and needs to pick himself up, draw more on the aggression he showed in college, and make the RG spot his own, much like a 4th round Buenning did last year. Jeremy Trueblood has irritated me, with it appearing that the RT spot is cursed with penalty flags, false starts in particular. Trueblood has had a poor season, with his blocking not being up to the standard of even Kenyatta’s, and certainly not showing why the Bucs claimed him with their 2nd pick, although he wasn’t intended to start this season, with Kenyatta being top of the chart. Somehow. He will be given another chance to redeem himself, but must not waste it, or his NFL career could be a short and bitter one. I like Alex Smith, and I do think he could be a very good TE. I also think that playing him mainly in 2-TE sets builds him up, giving him experience without extra pressure. Becht caught his first TD for us this year, albeit unintentionally – without question Becht is the blocking TE, and Smith is the receiving TE, and this looks set to continue next season, with no real reason for changing things, aside from Alex Smith becoming the lead TE. Prediction for Next Year: LT: Unknown/Davis, Rookie, LG: Dan Buenning, Unknown C: Sean Mahan, Unknown RG: Davin Joseph, Jeb Terry RT: Jeremy Trueblood, Unknown. TE: Alex Smith, Anthony Becht Defensive Line: Currently: (And that is a big question!!) LDE: Greg Spires, Charles Bennett DT: Ellis Wyms, Jon Bradley NT: Chris Hovan, Jovan Haye RDE: Simeon Rice (IR), Dewayne White, Julian Jenkins Where do I start? Possibly the most injury hit unit in NFL history? Possibly, but that doesn’t allow for the start of the season when they were healthier. Apart from the starters, I have no idea who the rest of the players are – not because of their ability, but because they have been totally unheralded, although Jon Bradley did appear to play well against The Twits. Apart from Spires, Wyms and White, I don’t see any of this unit returning next season, unless the lack of signings mean that it is necessary. Simeon is walking the plank, and taking his ‘stylish’ attire with him. Partly because his contract’s up, partly because of his age, partly because he’s done nothing this year when fit, although the unit has hardly been a success. He’s been a good player for us, there’s no doubt about it, but it’s time to look ahead – Rice is not part of that. Ellis Wyms and Dewayne White puzzle me. When they were back ups (thanks to Booger’s departure to Indy, we did get a second 2nd round pick so some good has come of it all), they played well – now they’re starting and they’re not impressing me much (Tonight Matthew, I’m going to be Shania Twain), and don’t get me started on Chris Hovan – one good season, followed by this? I expect to say cheerio on the seasons’ end, and Greg Spires will go if we get sufficient end replacements. Maybe. I hope and expect our first draft pick to go on Gaines Adams, rated the top DE in the country – we sure need help there, particularly as he’s a pass-rush specialist, and our line is hardly brimming with sacks. Free agency also sees various players hit the market on the D-line, namely Charles Grant as an end (if he stops being lazy we might go for him?), Robaire Smith as a Tackle, and maybe Cory Redding as someone along the line. Prediction for next year: Aside from Wyms & White (if he re-signs), I’ve no idea at all. I’ll throw in two FA acquisitions and two rookies though, just for the interest value. Next Time – The Secondary! Richard Lowe, December 2006