Bucs stud rookie wide receiver Mike Williams spoke on the Bucs radio network about his impressive score late in the game.

On his touchdown where he wrestled with a defender:

“We came through with the exact same things in practice. It was just like practice. [Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman] gave me a chance to make a play and I made the play.”

“Free just trusted me. He gave me the go route and threw the ball up to let me go up and get it.

“We know we can win. We know we have the players in place. We just have to execute and that’s what we did.

“Josh is a great quarterback. He showed we [the Bucs] again why he was drafted. He’s our guy.”

Bucs reserve safety Sabby spoke on the Bucs radio network following the game to talk about his game-changing interception return that set up the Bucs winning field goal in the closing seconds.

“Rah had called a great defense to get pressure on the quarterback. Talib had great coverage and T.O.[Cincinnati receiver Terrell Owens] tried to tip it up and I tried to make a play.

“The funny thing was, we were aware [of the clock and field position] so I tried to get as many yards as I could and get to the sidelines and help win the game.

“Hey, 3-1 is huge for us. We try to break the season down in quarters. If we can go 3-1 each quarter, we will have a helluva team.”

When the Bengals were marching downfield in the final minute things looked grim for the Bucs. It appeared a near sure thing Cincinnati would at least get in field goal position and Mike Nugent (remember him?) would drill one through the uprights and the Bucs would have a depressing loss.

Wonder what Bucs place kicker Connor Barth was doing during this painful moment in time?

Practicing his kicks. That’s what he said when he appeared on the Buccaneers Radio Network after the game.

“You never know what’s going to happen,” Barth said about practicing kicks when it looked like the Bengals were about to kick a game-winner. “You have to always be ready. So I was warming up at the time. I was kicking into the net.”

And he was ready. It was his field goal that pushed the Bucs to an improbable 3-1.

Funny thing is, Bucs special teams coach Rich Bisaccia had a premonition that Barth indeed he would win the game for the Bucs.

“Rich told me I was going to win this game at halftime,” Barth said.

He did. Wonder if Joe can get lottery numbers from Bisaccia?

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Joe just wants to make a quick point that the offseason free agent acquisitions of Keydrick Vincent and Sean Jones played huge roles in the Bucs’ incredible win in Cincinnati today.

Why? They both provided depth on display against the Bengals.

Sean Jones’ arrival put Sabby Piscitelli on the bench and ready for action in a role much more suited to his skill level. And Vincent’s presence — starter or not — gave the Bucs the freedom to use Jeremy Zuttah at center, where he filled in very admirably when Jeff Faine left today’s game injured. 

Nobody will confuse Sean Mahan with Zuttah. And Vincent also dove like a veteran onto Josh Freeman’s ugly fumble in the fourth quarter.

Good, experienced depth is critical to winning in the NFL. It’s no secret.

The Bucs don’t have much of it, but it was a major factor today. Kudos to Mark Dominik for bringing these free agents in. Joe hopes (prays) the Bucs don’t need experienced backups at positions where they don’t have any, and that they go out and get more depth next offseason.

Bucs stud rookie safety Cody Grimm spoke on the Buccaneers Radio Network and had a few thoughts to share about the win, a robbery of a 24-21 victory at Cincinnati.

“You can play the best game of your life and lose and you feel like crap. We didn’t give up.”

On his pick-six, also his first NFL interception: “I only needed to catch the ball. Coach Morris called a great defense for that play. It feels good to help the team out but I didn’t do much on that play.”

On the mentality of the Bucs late in the game:

“Everyone stayed calm. We didn’t try to bring in different calls or anything crazy. We just kept playing and we knew if we had an opportunity, we would make plays. Aqib Talib made a great play [on the Sabby interception]. People won’t understand what a great play that was. Everyone just played to the last seconds. We made mistakes but everyone stayed committed and we came out on top.”

On Sabby’s 31-yard interception return:

“I was thinking we needed to stop them and keep them out of field goal range. I was happy Sabby got it because he’s a fast guy. I just watched and thought, ‘He’s still running!’

“When I saw the field goal go through I was overwhelmed with joy that we didn’t have to go to overtime or lose.”

OK, who around here has been difficult, sometimes viscious on Sabby?

Joe stands up and raises his hand.

There was — and is — little question who the worst defender on the Bucs is. Sabby.

But just as Joe is sometimes over the top with criticism of the Bucs reserve strong safety, Joe has to give the guy mad props when it’s due.

Today, it is more than just due.

Sabby played positively goatish for much of the game, starting off in fine fashion when he didn’t make it on the field in time to replace injured Sean Jones and the Bucs had to burn a timeout before the first play from scrimmage of the ballgame!

Then, Sabby’s tackling was more difficult to watch than Rosie O’Donnell in an adult film. Cedric Benson literally dragged Sabby downfield as if Sabby was a puppy nipping at his shoes.

Then Sabby gets schooled on a Carson Palmer touchdown pass.

Joe was so outraged, nearly blinded with rage, he was ready to even curse out Joe’s beloved fantasy, Rachel Watson.

Just when it appeared the Bucs were about to lose — boom! — here comes Sabby. He played ballhawk, got a tipped pass from Aqib Talib and returned the pick 31 yards to set up the Bucs winning score.

It was impressive. Impressive. Clearly the play of the game and clearly Sabby’s best play as an NFL player.

Yes, Joe’s very, very critical of Sabby, and Joe thinks it’s all warranted.

But when Sabby makes a play, Joe has to give credit where credit is due.

Sabby, you get Joe’s game ball today. Joe stands and raises his bottle of beer in your honor.

Well done. Salute!

Now Josh Freeman didn’t exactly look spectacular today.

He seemed to be misreading blitzes. He threw an ugly interception. He seemed a little unprepared for some of the hits he took. And he coughed up a critical fumble late, thankfully recovered by Keydrick Vincent for a five-yard gain.

But Freeman was pretty unfazed by the brutal pounding he took today from the Bengals, one that even knocked him out of the game. He lost his center. No problem.

Freeman bounced back for yet another fourth-quarter comeback using his legs and making great throws to Mike Williams and flashing a hefty set of balls to fire the dart to Micheal Spurlock in the flat with seconds left.

Every Bucs fan knows the offense rides on the back of Freeman. Surely, it’s not going to be carried by the putrid running game and promising yet inexperienced receiving corps.

It might be time for Joe to buy that Freeman jersey.

Peppered at his postgame news conference about apparent doghouse resident Sabby Piscitelli pressed into action today and bringing home the critical, game-winning interception, Raheem Morris dropped an interesting inference.

The two seemingly have had an ugly relationship since Sabby moaned about the unfairness of losing his starting gig to starting strong safety Sean Jones, who was injured on the opening play today.

Morris explained that although things might have gotten intense between him and Sabby, he always had it under control, even if it took an old fashioned fight.

“Me and Sabby have a great relationship,” Morris said to the media. “We might even throw blows that we don’t tell you guys about.”

Did Raheem and Sabby resolve their differences like men? Joe’s not sure where his money would go on that fight. Tough call, but Joe’s going with Raheem.

Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman was giddy but honest after the Bucs pulled a Houdini act and beat the Bungles at Cincinnati, despite getting gashed by Cedric Benson late in the game, despite coughing up three turnovers on the road.

Freeman spoke on the Buccaneers Radio Network and described how the win came about from his point of view.

“This win goes to the entire team. Offensively, we didn’t play that well for three and three-quarters. The defense held up.

“The second half, we were able to take the lead and then Cincy took it back. It really was the defense that set up to be successful. It’s a great team win. A great team win!

On the game-winning drive:

“It was just understanding where the matchups would be. Don’t throw it inbounds. Don’t take a sack. We are right around our kicker’s ranges. I was just trying to get a cheap five yards and hit Sammie [Stroughter] on an out route. But I saw the safety bite and I thought, ‘Yeah.’ And Williams made a helluva catch.

“Hey, 3-1 doesn’t last. It took the entire season to get to three wins last year. Here we are already with three. I take everything in perspective. We got away with one today. We have the champs coming to town now and we have to prepare.”

Who’s the leading candidate for NFL Coach of the Year?

Now Joe’s not ready to build and erect a statue of Raheem Morris in downtown Tampa for three wins, but the guy deserves a standing freakin’ ovation.

The 2010 Bucs are 3-1.

Not even the most stout optimist had the Bucs in this predicament after four games. When the game was on the line today, Morris and his team flashed extraordinary will and drive — and some incredibly aggressive playcalling — that only comes from strong leadership. The head coach deserves his due. Now he’s got four in a row on the road.

If the Bucs can even split they’re next two games, home against the Saints and Rams, who got pounded today they sit at 4-2.

Unbelievable.

Boy, for a while this win sure smelled like a 2009 Jim Bates-Greg Olson special.

The Bengals ran the ball down the Bucs’ throat with ease and Tampa Bay missed way too many tackles.  The Bucs got beat over the top for a 40+ yard touchdown featuring late safety help from Sabby Piscitelli. And Josh Freeman got in trouble throwing on first down and abandoning the running game early.

Despite all that, the Bucs were in the game and had plenty of chances to make plays. They even had the ball driving deep in Bengals territory for the tying score, which they got from a Pro Bowl catch by Mike Williams in the corner of the end zone.

Fumble the ball away inches from the goal line (Mike Williams) and on a kickoff return (Micheal Spurlock) and you won’t win many road games. But the Bucs proved full of confidence and resilient.

Sabby snatched the late interception. Spurlock vindicated himself on a sick, aggressive play-call with seconds left. And Connor Barth sealed it.

The Bucs are 3-1!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Joe will have so much more through the afternoon and evening.

Bucs win 24-21! The Bucs scored 10 points in the final minute to thieve a win from the Bungles. Stay tuned to Joe for massive coverage!

Wondering why you’re seeing so much of that shoulder-twitching, reserve strong safety, that’s because Sean Jones was injured.

Sabby Piscitelli has been in the Bucs’ secondary ever since the opening series. From the Bucs’ Twitter feed about Jones.

S Sean Jones hurt his back on the first play of the game & has been replaced by Sabby Piscitelli. Jones is questionable to return.

Was Sabby late with over-the-top help on Terrell Owens’ 40+ yard touchdown reception? Most likely. But Aqib Talib also was beaten badly.

Joe’s not calling Sabby a goat. The Bucs have squandered too many chances, but are right in the game at halftime.

Week 5
Bucs at Bengals
Kickoff: 1 p.m.
TV: WTVT Channel 13, DirecTV Channel 708. .
Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network (in Tampa WFUS-FM, 103.5 and WDAE-AM, 620); Sirius Channel 158.
Weather: Per AccuWeather.com, Cincinnati may be experimenting what the locals call “Indian Summer,” though it may be a bit early for that. Regardless, it will be summer-like in early October. Temperature at kickoff is expected to be 84 and is not expected to deviate from that much if at all throughout the game. Mild winds and virtually no humidity will make for a very, very, very pleasant day.
Odds: Per Bodog.com, Bengals -7.
Outlook: Joe is not as impressed with the Bengals as many seem to be. Attention-starved children Chad Johnson and Terrell Owens are past their prime. There may not be a more overrated quarterback in the NFL than Carson Palmer. Cedric Benson is, at best, inconsistent. Let’s be honest, the Bucs aren’t world-beaters either but the Bengals lost to the Browns (who the Bucs beat) for crying out loud so how can they be that great? The Bucs have to find running backs that not only can read the holes they are given by the offensive line, but hit those holes before the gaps are plugged by the linebackers, if not avoid tackles which Cadillac Williams has not been doing which is why the Bucs are scrambling, grasping for running backs. Can LeGarrette Blount and Kareem Huggins do that? Joe’s a “Show Me” kinda guy. Neither have shown Joe they can in an NFL regular season game outside of a handful of carries, so Joe is skeptical. While Joe mocks the children the Bengals have at wide receiver, look for them to test Cody Grimm early and often and why not? Until Grimm can demonstrate he is NFL starter-ready, teams will go after him. Hopefully with the bye week, the Bucs have figured out a way to mask the hole at safety.
Video: NFL Films has a preview of what to expect in today’s game.
Fun facts: Bengals cornerback Leon Hall has a three-game streak of an interception each game. … The Bucs have won five consecutive games at Cincinnati. … Kellen Winslow has at least five catches in his last four matchups again the Bengals. … Cincinnati has won five of its past six games against NFC teams.

Trey Wingo, Mark Schlereth and Tedy Bruschi of BSPN give their insiders’ view of the Bucs-Bengals game today.

Should the Bucs be concerned with Cincinnati running back Cedric Benson? Anwar Richardson and Woody Cummings explain in this TBO Bucs vlog.

In this TBO Bucs vlog, Anwar Richardson and Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune try to gaze into the Media General crystal ball and see what happens in today’s game.

In short, Cummings isn’t overly impressed with the Bengals. Richardson seems to think Cincinnati is a formidable opponent.

Richardson even gives a detailed forecast into the score, and how the game develops. You’ll have to see for yourself what they say, but please make sure you tell Joe what you think of their analysis.

Earlier this week, Joe caught an interview that Bengals coach angry Marvin Lewis gave to Bob Papa and Ross Tucker, co-hosts of “The Opening Drive,” heard exclusively on Sirius NFL Radio. Lewis talked about his opponent today, the Bucs.

Ross Tucker: Marvin, Tampa Bay will be coming off a bye week. You think they will have some new wrinkles?

Marvin Lewis: There will be some things they do a little bit different but we can’t concern ourselves with them so much as we need to concern ourselves with us.

Bob Papa: The Bucs are 2-1 but with basically no running game.

Marvin Lewis: I think they have some talented running backs. What Cadillac did early in his career… we know what he can be. Earnest Graham may be the most underrated player for a long time in the NFL. He has always been a productive player. It’s important for us that we stay gap sound and keep the quarterback in the pocket and tackle.

Ross Tucker: I like the way [Tampa Bay management] is building this team through the draft. They are young across the board with quarterback Josh Freeman as their leader, even how he carries them. What do you see?

Marvin Lewis: I think you are right Ross. I think Freeman is a talented young player and they have done a good job of building through the draft. They have had a complete revision of their football staff and put things around the quarterback. They’ve done a nice job of picking solid players who have nothing but solid upsides.

Ross Tucker: What about their defense?

Marvin Lewis: Their defense is very, very, very fast and atheltic and this is the key. They do the little things that they wnat to do within Raheem’s scheme and what he is comfortable with. They are very effective at what they want to do.

Bob Papa: What jumps out at you in their passing game? Is it Kellen Winslow? Is it Mike Williams?

Marvin Lewis: They have great athletes. We know what Kellen can bring as he was in our division. Mike Williams and the kid from Illinois who will play this week, Benn, are two powerful receivers. We watched them and scouted them in the draft too and we knew they would be powerful and strong and physical NFL receivers.

Joe and countless other Bucs fans are itching to see what rookie running back LeGarrette Blount can do today in Cincinnati after his strong debut against Pittsburgh.

Blount’s 27 yards against the Steelers were enough to inspire legions of Bucs fans who had forgotten what good running backs do. Joe figures he’ll get another 6 to 10 carries today.

Rick Stroud, of the St. Pete Times, penned a long feature today about Blount and his famous punching incident and assorted other details about the young man. Interestingly, after Blount punched a Boise State opponent in the face in September 2009, an incident that derailed his college career, he heard from the last two Bucs head coaches.

Unsolicited, he received phone calls and received encouragement from unexpected sources such as Tony Dungy and Jon Gruden.

Of course, the call from Dungy is no surprise. But Chucky?

“Look, bro, I’m sure Tony told you this is some freakin’ challenge from the Lord that you’re supposed to rise up to meet. But I’m just callin’ to tell you I understand that sometimes you gotta smack a mother fuc*er in the mouth, and that’s football. You just did it after the fuc*n whistle.  Jimminy Christmas, I love that sh*t, but this is the 21st century, man, the camera’s on and you gotta dial it back. I wanna punch Jaws in the head during the commercials, but I can’t because it’ll show up on fuc*n YouTube. You know what I’m sayin’?”

Joe is glad Dungy and Chucky were able to help the young man in some small way.

Late Friday, when not a whole hell of a lot of people were listening, the always entertaining and thought-provoking Stylez White was a live guest on Total Access on WDAE-AM 620.

The Bucs’ defensive end touched on a variety of subjects, and Joe’s got some highlights for you.

White said he played both ways in the Arena League, where he was a tight end and a sack machine. White said he once caught a screen pass and “looked like a big Barry Sanders out there.”

As most Bucs fans know, White had a long road to the NFL. He called his time playing in Germany in NFL Europe “a good culture shock.” He said he earned “$10,000 plus living expenses” in NFL Europe and his Cologne squad traveled mostly by bus and train. 

On being more fit in 2010 than he’s been in past seasons, Stylez said he’s been watching his diet and “slowing down from a little partying.”

Asked by JoeBucsFan.com-loathing host Scott Ledger about running backs Gregg Lumpkin and LeGarrette Blount, White talked about their different practice styles.

“Lump is more of a smoother back. He be all prettied up in practice, taped up, matching, have all red shoes on. A pretty boy in practice. Really smooth running and stuff,” White said. “Blount is Blount. He’s like the blue collar guy. He just goes out and works. He’s just one of those hard working in practice; he doesn’t say much in practice.”

As for how Stylez prepares for a home game, he said he picks up takeout from Mimi’s Cafe for his gameday breakfast. “I get my french toast and sausage, and scrambled eggs and cheese, orange and cranberry juice.” White picks up the eats  about 7 a.m. and then typically buys a newspaper “from the guys on the corner” before chowing down at home.

Joe found it funny that Stylez doesn’t have the newspaper delivered, but Joe, too, likes to support the hard-working guys on the corner.

The lovely Tiffany Simons has her take on former Bucs running back and skank Kardashian tail-chasing, infield-dirt-hating, responsibility-dodging Derrick Ward in this NBCSports.com video.

Recently, Joe had chance to chat briefly with Bucs right guard Davin Joesph. Joe tried to get an idea of how things are different this season for the Bucs offensive line and the offense as a whole than last year’s chaotic season.

Joe: How much better has it been that you and the rest of the offensive line had a coordinator to work with for a full year?

Davin Joseph: It was important for all of us to be here in the offseason. We had the majority of guys in and we were able to find out what our identity would be and what our strong points would be. Of course, as the season develops, we decide what type of offense we will be. That foundation is laid in the offseason and we took advantage of our offseason to the fullest. Lot of guys in OTAs, and working hard in minicamp and training camp. So it’s paying off for us on the offensive end. We are not scoring as many points as we would like but we know that our hard work is going to pan out for us.

Joe: Is the line doing anything different Xs and Os-wise? I know last year coaches tried to implement zone blocking. Is your blocking a hybrid?

Joesph: We’re just understanding what we like to do. Of course, it’s a hybrid offense where we can spread it out a little bit if we have the type of guys at receiver and of course if we have the type of guys in the backfield. So we have a combination of everything. We’re just trying to be able to move the ball and get first downs and stay on the field, which is the most important.

Joe: Is it less of a hybrid than last year?

Joseph: I think it’s better for us than last year. I think [last year] we were trying to do some things we were not accustomed to. Force feed? You could say that, especially with the change in coordinators. There were a lot of complications. With the offseason like we talked about earlier, it helped determine what kind of offense we want to be.

Joe: So this past year has been much smoother?

Joseph: Oh! Day and night!