Bucs Turned Corner By Learning
December 12th, 2013
Bucs safety Dashon Goldson talked about how the Bucs have changed since Week One.
An NFL season, while all too short for fans, is a significantly long grind for players.
So long, that over the course of the season with newcomers and injuries and other roster transactions, a team can grow together or crumble apart.
Just looking at the Bucs’ results this year, it’s clear the team has grown. Given every chance to throw in the towel after starting the season 0-8, the Bucs have now won four of their last five games.
It’s simple, to hear Bucs safety “The Hawk,” Dashon Goldson tell the tale.
“This is a long season,” Goldson said, who has battled injuries and a one-game suspension for hitting too hard. “We have matured down the season. We got smarter. We [developed] an understanding of what teams are trying to do to us. We [developed] and understanding of how to play with one another and how to stay accountable and do our own job.”
Part of that growing and understanding is shown by the number of takeaways the Bucs have, now leading the NFL. Goldson said his fellow defensive backs take a lot of pride in their interceptions.
“A lot of pride in that [interception numbers],” Goldson said. “We all do. That’s the thing. You want to get turnovers. Doing that last year and coming here, that is big. Speaks volumes.”
Fans will just have to wait and see how much this team has grown facing a machine like the 49ers. Bucs commander Greg Schiano is almost breathless the way he talks up the 49ers. It’s as if the Bucs are facing the 1978 Steelers to hear Schiano.
For the Bucs to have a prayer of beating the 49ers, they will have to have several turnovers. Goldson and his fellow defensive backs will have to have a major impact for that to happen.
December 12th, 2013 at 4:39 pm
COOL!!! I was born in 1978!
December 12th, 2013 at 5:44 pm
Make that, score off turnovers!!
December 12th, 2013 at 5:45 pm
thought we had no chance against seahawks and they surprised everyone.. never assume they will just lay down. It would seem by this article the 49’ers have not lost a game.
good luck bucs!!!!
December 12th, 2013 at 6:42 pm
The Bucs were 7-9 last year; to be honest I don’t think going 7-9 or less (which is real possible) is not good. This team was built to win now. It’s funny to hear the coach say there is no quick fix. Clearly not on the same page as ownership; owners aren’t spending money(a quarter of a billion $$$ by the Glazers) to get wins in the future. NFL is a win now league. The 4-9 record shows they blew a lot of winnable games early on.
December 12th, 2013 at 7:27 pm
BucsFan68,
We were built to win now, on the premise of our QB taking advantage his contract year, rather than tanking hard.
In Glennon’s worst game, he was better than freeman was at any point this year.
We are 7-12 in the Freeman era, under Schiano, and 4-6 with Glennon.
5 takeaways plus 7 sacks last week tells me Greg knows D. We just need Sullivan to wake the hell up after halftime.
4-9 is unacceptable, but take into account:
Freeman’s fall from grace
MRSAx3
Lindell kicking instead of Barth
$15m of banged up guards
NFLPA drama from Camp Freeman
Our GM let go of 9.5 sacks without a contingency plan.
2014 is the year, the first season Schiano will get a chance to start his guy at QB.
December 13th, 2013 at 2:20 pm
I’m disappointed in this year.
But think Shiano deserves another year.
Glennon is real close to deserving another year also, although not completing a single second half pass last week makes you wonder