Under the sharp eye of now defrocked defensive coordinator Jim Bates, his defense set standards that will make football fans sick to their stomach for decades.

In the mostly sordid history of the Bucs, never had the team allowed opponents in six straight games to score 25 or more points until Bates came aboard.

The first game Bates is gone and Raheem the Dream takes over the defense, scrapping the futile two-gap system Bates demanded his front seven to play, the Bucs hold the Dixie Chicks to less than 25 points.

It was a loss but it was also a win. Having just hours to practice a system they hadn’t used all season, progress was made.

Joe is heartened to see this. With a bad team, sometimes progress has to come in baby steps.