The once proud Bucs defense earlier this season was horrid. There is no disputing this.

Watching the Bucs pathetic defense so depressed Joe he had a hard time fantasizing about Rachel Watson. Joe didn’t even feel like drinking Caybrew.

It has been no coincidence to Joe that since Raheem the Dream defrocked defensive coordinator Jim Bates, the Bucs defense has steadily improved.

Yesterday it returned, as documented by Anwar Richardson of the Tampa Tribune.

Against Seattle, Tampa Bay held Seahawks running back Julius Jones to 65 yards on 12 attempts. In addition, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was intercepted four times and finished with a passer rating of 45.2. Hasselbeck completed 27 of 46 passes for 256 yards and one touchdown.

“We can still get better,” Bucs defensive end Stylez G. White said. “I still think they had 300 yards of offense (339). We’re still getting better. Right now, it’s a progression.

“People were throwing us under the bus because we didn’t perform right out of the gate, but you can see constant improvement.”

Yeah, the improvement began after the Saints loss when Raheem the Dream took over the defense.

No coincidence.