Like every Bucs fan, Joe was near vomiting watching another punishing running back ram the ball down the Bucs’ throat when it mattered most yesterday.

The ugly fact is the Bucs finished LAST in the NFL against the run.

Joe thought those days might have been over after the strong defensive performances in Seattle and New Orleans, but the Falcons’ Jason Snelling had a career day Sunday with 129 yards in the second half.

Jason Snelling?

Joe had the same feeling when Fred Jackson torched the Bucs up in Buffalo, and when the Raiders’ Michael Bush ended Chucky’s tenure with 177 yards at the C.I.T.S.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution talked to Falcons veteran fulllback Ovie Mughelli, who contends the Bucs were helpless Sunday despite having nearly their entire defense in the box to stop the run.

Mughelli contended that the Bucs put as many as 10 players in the box. If the Bucs bunched up inside, the Falcons hit the corners. If they spread out, Snelling rammed it up the middle.

“We had to determine where to go and then just out-hit them and [play] more physical,” Mughelli said.

Early in the third quarter, the Falcons were backed up at their 2-yard line. After Mughelli had a 4-yard run, the Falcons ran Snelling five straight times and moved the team out to the 31-yard line.

Joe sort of feels like he did after last season, like the Bucs need mulitple, significant upgrades along the defensive line.

Thankfully, Mark Dominik is “going to be very, very careful.”