You’ve all read THE PESSIMIST, who spews his Bucs-related anger like no other. But Joe also brings you THE OPTIMIST. 

THE OPTIMIST is Nick Houllis, a Bucs fan and an accomplished writer whose steadfast allegiance to the Buccaneers goes back to the 1970s. Houllis is the founder, creator and guru of BucStop.com, a place Joe goes to get lost in time via Houllis’ stunning video collection.

THE OPTIMIST will shine that positive light in your eyes. Some will love it. Some won’t. 

Get over 2010 Bucs fans, because 2011 is a whole new season, and this Bucs team is actually BETTER than its 2010 counterpart.

Last year the Bucs defense could not stop long drives at critical junctures of a game, which normally cost it a win. Against Detroit last year, at Washington, and Atlanta, three teams in a row, the Bucs gave up long drives late in the game, and were only able to sneak out a win vs the Redskins when a point-after snap went awry.

This season, the Bucs are STOPPING teams late in the game, either preserving a win, or allowing for a comeback. Detroit did nothing in the fourth quarter, Minnesota was shut down the whole second half, Atlanta and New Orleans were both stopped from scoring, and from ruining a good game.

In 2011, the Bucs are getting pressure on the quarterback. Last year it wasn’t until midday through the season the Bucs were able to get Gerald McCoy going. We’re just past the quarter point, and the Bucs are getting production out of their defensive ends too, as well as from the D tackles.

And this 2011 D-line and team can stop the run. Last year the Bucs were gashed repeatedly. But this season, Tampa Bay has shut three teams down to under 100 total yards — and that is three of the last four; so the team is really headed in the right direction.

So while a lot of attention is on Josh Freeman for not looking like the same 25 TD 6 INT QB we had last year, the other side of the ball, the one we’ve come to know, love and expect to produce in Tampa Bay, the Defense, is on its way to being just fine.

Then there is Coach Morris. He’s a leader, but Tampa Bay has never found a way to get behind him 100 percent for some reason. Raheem Morris is now 16-9 in his last 25 games, a winning record any team would be proud of.

Just last week everyone was critical of the Bucs for not having any speed on the roster, and passing on Darren Sproles. Perhaps there is something to this? “Stats are for losers.” “Next man up.” A coach and his GM that stand behind putting a homegrown team on the field.