The Professor says Barrett Ruud must play bigger than the four tackles he mustered against Green Bay

Don’t worry if you missed “The Professor’s” inaugural column on JoeBucsFan.com, Cork Gaines is back for his second go-round.

The creator, curator and Mr. Everything at the popular RaysIndex.com is a hardcore Bucs fan and the premier Tampa Bay Rays blogger/analyst/wiseass fan on the planet. Joe is honored to have The Professor join him for a weekly feature at JoeBucsFan.com.

RaysIndex.com is a site Joe visits often. It’s an absolute must for Rays fans.

Everybody relax, I’m here. This is The Professor in the Pork Chop Express, and I’m talkin’ to whoever’s listenin’ out there…

FIRST QUARTER (a look back)
The Bucs finally picked up their first win since last November with a 38-28 victory over the Packers…How big was this win?

There was Lee Roy Selmon’s induction into the Ring of Honor, the ’79 Bucs reunion, Josh Freeman’s first start, the 4th quarter comeback, a win over the Pack, shutting up the cheeseheads and ending talk of going 0-16. And of course there was the classic Swashbucklers, er, I mean the orange uniforms and Bucco Bruce. This might have been the most fun I had watching the Bucs since the opening week of the 2003 season when the Bucs beat the Eagles 17-0 on Monday night in their new stadium…BIG

SECOND QUARTER (looking forward)
Lee Roy Selmon was the first member of the Bucs Ring of Honor. Who should be the next? 

Let’s skip any members of the Super Bowl squad. It is far too early to be immortalizing guys like John Lynch, Mike Alstott and Derrick Brooks. Warren Sapp deserves it, but nobody is in a hurry for that one. That leaves Ricky Bell, Doug Williams, James Wilder, John McKay and Donald Igwebuike. But we will go with the biggest poster from my bedroom as a kid…DOUG WILLIAMS

THIRD QUARTER (outside the pocket)
With the Bucs taking on the Dolphins this weekend, what other game should Bucs fans follow closely?

As bad as the Bucs were in the first 7 games, they are still only 2 games behind Carolina for not-last place. Of course, if the Bucs have any hopes of getting out of the South’s cellar, they will have to beat the Panthers in Carolina in week 13. Tough task, but not impossible with Josh FreeMan-Bear-Pig under center…ATLANTA @ CAROLINA

FOURTH QUARTER (no huddle)
The Bucs are currently one of 5 teams at 1-7. If the Bucs end up with the top pick in the draft, what will they do with that selection?

Raheem Morris would love to trade the top pick for about 20 6th and 7th round picks…TRADE DOWN

That was a pretty exciting first week for Josh Freeman.What can we expect for an encore?

That was a nice performance, but let’s temper the excitement a little bit. Freeman had nine weeks to prepare for one opponent…MORE MISTAKES

Who needs to have a huge performance this week on defense?

It will be on Barrett Ruud and the other linebackers to shoot through developing holes to stop the Wildcat. Ruud needs to make much more than the 4 tackles he had last week…BARRETT RUUD

Who needs to have a huge performance this week on offense?

Miami only allows 95 yards per game on the ground. But the running game needs to keep Miami honest to give Freeman a chance to make plays…CADILLAC WILLIAMS

We have heard you pick a beverage for each game based on the matchup…What is the drink of choice for week 10 against the Dolphins?

Let’s go fishin’…FISHERMAN’S BREW