Jim Bates should be all smiles when thinking about the play of his defensive line

Joe is just so pleasantly surprised by the Bucs defensive line. Two good games in a row, fellas. Quite a difference from that mess that the Bucs trotted out last December.

Frankly, Joe wasn’t expecting much from this unit in 2009.

But it’s hard to argue with the Jaguars going 2-for-14 on third down conversions Saturday. And that surely wasn’t thanks to the Bucs secondary.

Ryan Sims actually looks like a professional football player. Chris Hovan, in limited reps, looks very sharp. He and Sims combined for an early sack. And there aren’t enough superlatives in the dictionary for Roy Miller; No. 93 has got a major motor and seems to be everywhere.

Gaines Adams even looked like a stud for a series. Greg White had his moments, and Kyle Moore and Dre Moore are showing true potential.

Jim Bates is on his way to working miracles.