Bucs Need To Prove Peter King Wrong (Again)
October 27th, 2010
The roller coaster of emotions that coffee-guzzling, popcorn-shoveling, oatmeal-loving Peter King has with the Bucs is exhausting for Joe to monitor.
Prior to the season, King was highly dubious of the Bucs, stating emphatically that the Bucs would win a grand total of two games.
Then the Bucs jumped out to a 2-0 mark and King began singing the praises of the Bucs, hosting Bucs general manager Mark Dominik on “The Opening Drive,” heard exclusively on Sirius NFL Radio, waxing poetic about Dominik’s skills as a master team builder, going so far as to suggest quarterback Josh Freeman is an NFL offensive MVP candidate.
But then the Bucs got pistol-whipped by the Steelers and seal-clubbed by the Saints, both at home. Now, King has jumped off the bandwagon and, predictably, resumed his slurping of all things Brett Favre, a man King has long found irresistible.
King professed his renewed skepticism of the Bucs in his Monday Morning Quarterback, Tuesday edition mailbag on SI.com, writing as if he was stood up by a lover.
• DON’T SLEEP ON THE BUCS. “You mentioned the Redskins potentially being one of the NFC’s best teams, but crazy as it sounds, what about the Bucs? They have a QB who has proven clutch down the stretch and a young defense whose confidence grows each week. Can they make noise in the playoffs?”
–Isaac N., St. Augustine, Fla.Well, I would like to believe in Josh Freeman and the Bucs as far as being a January factor. But the Bucs have played two good teams this year, the Steelers and Saints, and lost to each by 25 points. So let them win a game against somebody good, and then I’ll start to have some faith in the team.
King does make a valid point. The reason why so many people in NFL circles openly scoffed at Raheem Morris’ boastful claim that the Bucs were the best team in the NFC was that the Bucs have played two decent teams thus far, and were alley-beaten each time.
The Bucs will need to beat a good team — the Falcons spring to mind — for those across the land to take the Bucs as something more than a fluke; valid or not, accurate or not.
October 27th, 2010 at 8:34 am
Saw a video where Tony Dungy thinks Seahawks are the best team in the NFC. I guess, he doesn’t have his ticket and is not quite on board the Bucs ship? LOL!
October 27th, 2010 at 8:35 am
Joe
One thing everyone is forgeting is that this is a very inexperienced team in most positions. They are learning every minute of every game. If they are in deed good, as the season progresses they are getting better minute by minute. I would love to see them play Pittsburgh at the end of the season to see how they have come along and we will see them play the Saints latter. Their learning curve, as with all new troops is very steep at the beginning, we are riding the curve. It is the position coaches that can make the difference for them by telling/showing them what they should and should not do. In some ways, I think we have a better OL in the second half with the new guys.
Your thoughts?
October 27th, 2010 at 8:55 am
I think it’s fairly obvious the Giants and Faclons are the best NFC teams atm. If we wanna be taken seriously, or even convince fans like myself, that we are more than a 7 or 8 win team…then we are going to have to win some tougher games like the Falcons, Ravens, or Redskins. Barely pulling out victories on bad teams like the Browns, Panthers, and Rams is not going to get it done.
I think Blount might really open up our offense, but our defense is just plain bad and it’s not going to get much better this year. You can’t be a play off team with a horrible defense.
October 27th, 2010 at 9:06 am
If we can RUN the ball, Tampa can play with anybody.
October 27th, 2010 at 9:34 am
Let them keep thinking we aren’t any good!! Like the article reads, this team is learning every minute & getting wins all at the same time. As the d line comes together & the run game gets better, we’ll win games more convincingly. These early wins are teaching the team how to win as a unit. Morris believes, the team believes & I’ve always believed!! That translates to wins my friends. Who cares what ira poo do, Peter popcorn king or any other franchise thinks?? We’re winning games!! That’s what gets you into the post season & a shot at the NFL most sought after achievement!!
October 27th, 2010 at 9:35 am
No one will take us seriously until our two Lines start producing, both offensive and defensive.
October 27th, 2010 at 9:36 am
@ Apple Roof Cleaning
Possibly. But then, if they stack the line, how will we run the ball? Our offensive line has got to start doing their jobs better.
October 27th, 2010 at 10:34 am
Even if they happen to beat a good team, unless it’s a blowout, the “experts” will keep finding excuses about how that other team had a bad day and what a surprising upset win it was (ala Brows-Saints). Nothing will really change about that until they actually make it to the playoffs. Go Bucs.
October 27th, 2010 at 10:40 am
When the losses started to add up last year everyone from GM to grounds keeper were no good. We win 4 now and its lets see us beat a good team. This is the NFL and on any Sunday….see Cleveland last week. When we win on Sunday that will make 5 Wins and that will not be good enough for some of you. I don’t care what a fat freeloader like King says, I only care that we are on the right track to keep winning.
October 27th, 2010 at 11:03 am
Anybody read Gary Shelton’s article about Rahs” we’re the best team in the NFC” statement?Sounds like Gary really got his feelings hurt when Rah told him stats are for losers.I usally like Gary,but he was pretty immature to retaliate against the Bucs just because he didn’t like Rahs answer.
October 27th, 2010 at 11:35 am
OB:
Joe sure as hell wishes they’d learn how to stop the run.
Apparently the defense is sleeping through those classes.
October 27th, 2010 at 12:41 pm
/signed
October 27th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
The Buc’s biggest problem in most losses. Seems to be to many 3 and out’s on offense. The D is not built to stay on the field for a long time. Even if they don”t score every drive. The Bucs offense can’t keep giving the ball back to the other team and let them go on a long drive. Then score.
October 27th, 2010 at 4:21 pm
4-2 people . We need to change the name to “the Tampa Bay Fishbones” we don’t beat ANYBODY! All we do is make ’em choke!! Lol! I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Peter King is a fatass know nothing. It’s unbelievable anyone listens to him. The man knows nothing of Football. He’s a Coffee slurping, oatmeal guzzling, Jabba the but looking imbecile!
October 27th, 2010 at 5:09 pm
MTM,
The Bucs are tied for 10th in the league, converting 41% of their 3rd down attempts. They’re 11th in the league with 31:05 time of possession per game.
Against the Steelers, we converted 42% of third downs and controlled the ball for 33:06. Against the Saints, 40% and TOP was down to 28:31.
The problem against both those teams was giving up the big play and not taking advantage of opportunities. We had a couple INT chances against the Steelers that we failed to take advantage of. The Saints game we gave up two 40+ yard TD passes. Big plays and not taking advantage of opportunities. Minimize big plays against and maximize opportunities and this team can compete. Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done.
October 27th, 2010 at 8:33 pm
We have been very lucky in beating sub-par teams in the last few seconds. And you can thank Freeman for that! legitimate teams are salivating at the chance of playing against Raheem the dream’s run stuffing, violent defense, which allows any opposing running back to make record runs each week. Atlanta will spank us just as bad, if not worse, than the Saints did. Raheem would do well to take lessons from a Pop Warner Coach. At least they know how to teach young kids what to look out for! (see McCoy)
October 27th, 2010 at 9:37 pm
Seems like a fair and honest assessment to me. I don’t have a problem with what people are saying and I don’t have a problem with Morris trying to inspire this young team but the truth is that we are not in the same ballpark as the good (not to mention the elites). We have a ways to go but its going to be fun getting there.
October 28th, 2010 at 10:43 am
BAM BAM Buc- Stats are for losers !