Prime Time For the first time in two seasons our Battered and Beloved Buccaneers are live on Monday Nights. The thing is, I don’t know if I can bear to watch. Will Allen has claimed that the Bucs tend to defend the run well, OR defend the pass. That’s all well and good Mr Allen, but upto last year we were accomplished at both, so don’t try and paint a picture that is false – anything but a good D is unacceptable for Bucs fans, who, for the majority of 25 years have come to the realisation that whilst other teams may not be insanely jealous of our players, our records and our stats, the one thing that’s rang true is the envy of our defence, particularly for the past nine years. Ellis Wyms saddened me with the following quote: "It's worked before, and it will work again," "We've just got to really get back to doing what we do. … Last week we were great, this week we [stink]. We'll see what we're like next week." Ellis had been arguably the one bright spark on D this season, particularly prior to Booger’s trade, but this comment has, more than likely incorrectly, made me doubt his belief in the Buccaneers. For starters, great against the Giants? Great was Super Bowl year. Great was 1999. Giants Stadium? Average. Run-of-the-mill. Bare minimum. Truth be told, the Bucs D has not had a great game all year – their best performance coming against Cincinnati, restricting them to 13 points. Wyms’ final point, “see what we’re like next week” – that is the most defeatist comment I have come across this year. Not “we were rubbish, we apologise – this week we’re going to blow-out the Panthers offense” – sure, such a quote may be inaccurate, and I don’t expect players to say these things without believing them, but the DETERMINATION needs to be there. Where’s the domination? The passion? Any team that has half-decent players can win games, Championships even, provided they have the grit and determination to grind out games. Stop 3rd and 1’s. Make 3rd and longs. I do acknowledge the youth aspect of our team, particularly a rookie QB with two rookie linemen, and, for the time being at least, I do grant them that excuse in part, however it’s so frustrating watching your team not even being in a position to win the game before it’s started. No more articles leaning on the defense. Promise. NFL Watch: AKA Random NFL bits and pieces that I have an opinion on: Is there a ‘fairytale’ theme coming into the NFL? Last year The Bus won in Detroit, this year the Saints are flying high – here’s hoping we somehow acquire a fairy this off-season! HOW of the week #1: Miami beat, sorry, bully Chicago in Chicago? HOW of the week #2: Dallas Lost? T.O? Parcells? I’m looking at you here, not Mike Vanderjagt. Can we PLEASE stop with the Manning-Brady comparisons. Thank you. Maybe the Buccaneers are playing sensibly. We all knew there was no Superbowl this year, so why not take high draft picks instead? Maybe not. The Cardinals have a lot of class, forgetting the season (8 games early) and acknowledging what’s truly important – they are inducting Pat Tillman into a ring of honour. Tillman rejected a $3.6m contract to go and join the U.S Army Rangers after 9/11. Rookie of the year? Marques Colston. Repeatedly. Where’s Byron Leftwich going next year? Keep an eye out on Minnesota. Can the Colts PLEASE win the Superbowl this year? I’m getting fed up of all the talk surrounding Peyton, 8-0 (Mark II), Peyton choking and Manning V. Brady (again, I know). Can my Fantasy team break its 6 game losing streak? Probably not. In a technically non NFL Watch moment, Mr Mike Carlson. If, somehow and for some reason you are reading this, please feel free to wear a Blue shirt this Monday night, for I will be watching! Thank you. Finally, to quote Ellis Wyms, in the past spirit of Bucpower.com as a paper based means of communication, “We'll see what we're like next week.” Richard Lowe November 2006