Veteran columnist Gary Shelton knows why the Bucs lost today. He summed it up in his very first sentence in this St. Petersburg Times video.

Yeah, Joe’s bummed too. That doesn’t mean he is going to blow off his responsibilities.

Below are the Bucs lowlights of the loss to the Steelers today, the first time this season the Bucs have tasted defeat. Lowlights courtesy of the good people of the NFL Network.

LeGarrette Blount’s first NFL touchdown and the only touchdown for the Bucs.

Cody Grimm and Ronde Barber stop a fourth down Steelers attempt.

Connor Barth nails a 40-yard field goal.

Aqib Talib picks off a Charlie Batch pass.

Kellen Winslow makes a sick catch of a tipped pass.

Bucs coach Raheem Morris and Josh Freeman react to the loss.

Joe loves to hear confident players and all that tough guy, machospeak that comes from athletes, but there is a time and a place. And it’s not after your team loses 38-13 at home. 

Donald Penn apparently disagrees.  Per his postgame conversation with Tom Balog, of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Penn has concluded that the Steelers aren’t that much better than the Bucs.

 ”They won the score, they didn’t win the physical battle,” Penn said. “Go ask them. I know they have a lot of respect for us. As an offensive line, I know they have a lot of respect for us.

 ”Go watch the  film. Please,” Penn said. “Because I was throwing those guys around. I was banging those guys more than anything.”

Joe suggests you read Balog’s whole piece, linked above.

Joe would like to take this time to remind Penn that today the Steelers registered four sacks, 17 hurries, and five knockdowns, per the CBS stat hounds.

And if the offensive line didn’t lose the physical battle, as Penn claims, then what does that say for Cadillac Williams and the Bucs’ receivers?

JoeBucsFan.com has teamed up with his good friends at Ed Morse Cadillac Tampa to put some Cadillac Williams jerseys in your hands.

This is simple.

Sign into your personal Facebook account and then head over to the Facebook page for Ed Morse Cadillac Tampa. Click on the “Like” button at the top of the page and you are automatically registered to win a Reebok replica Cadillac Williams jersey (retail value $79). 

Winners will be announced on the Ed Morse Cadillac Tampa Facebook page on October 1., 2010

Winner selected at random from Facebook entrants/followers. Ed Morse employees are not eligible.  Must be 21 years old to win with a valid driver’s license. Cadillac Williams Jersey offer expires September 30, 2010. Winner will be announced via Ed Morse Cadillac Tampa Facebook page.

For one reporter at Raheem Morris’ postgame news conference, it seems today’s 38-13 beat down from Pittsburgh conjured up memories of the Bucs getting clobbered last year at home by the New York Jets (26-3) and New York Giants (24-0).

Morris was asked if today’s game had that Jets or Giants feel to it. In his response, he gave a glimpse into just how low the Bucs were in 2009.

“No. We didn’t feel helpless [today],” Morris said, referring to last year’s losses.

The head coach went on to say the Bucs are keeping the “big picture” in focus, meaning the fact they are 2-1 and have time to assess their performance and improve with a bye week next Sunday.

“It’s a great time for all of us to get together and bond and be one, and not let anything tear us down for the next two weeks and get ready to go play Cincinnati at their place on their home turf and get a win and close out the first quarter of the season,” Morris said.

Joe knows “We didn’t feel helpless” doesn’t represent improvement to feel good about. But really, all that matters at this point is the Bucs’ response in two weeks.

Empty seats were scarce today and Terrible Towels were plentiful

Considering the beat down the Steelers dropped on the Bucs today, plus the ugly TV shots of Steelers fans all over the stadium, maybe Team Glazer made the right call keeping this “Bucs infomercial” away from hundreds of thousands of local football fans?

Joe’s wondering just how exactly this game would have inspired the non-harcore fan base into positive water cooler chatter and Bucs love.

At least now, for the masses, the no-name Bucs are still a bit unknown and 2-1 and tied for first place?

Joe can’t blame Team Glazer for not shelling out the cash to gobble up the remaining tickets a few days ago to get the game aired today. Yes, Joe would have done it if he owned the Bucs. But perhaps Team Glazer is better served coughing up the cash to get a game aired when the team has a better shot of impressing?

Now Joe’s not ragging on Aqib Talib in this post. Instead, this post is to illustrate how a few inches can turn into points.

Yeah, Talib had an interception in the first quarter when the Bucs were very much in the game. But it was two near-misses Talib damned near had that later turned into Pittsburgh touchdowns that helped turn the game into a blowout.

It appeared that Talib had an interception in the corner of the end zone in the second quarter when the ball bounced off his fingertips and into the waiting arms of Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace. Touchdown Steelers.

Later in the same quarter, a Charlie Batch (Charlie Batch?) pass to the right sailed right through the arms of a diving Talib that Wallace caught for a first down. Pittsburgh later scored a touchdown on the same drive.

If Talib could have hauled in two more picks, would it have changed the game around? Maybe, maybe not. But it shows how just a few inches can mean the difference in a great defensive play, and six points for the opposition. 

Charlie Batch and the Steelers did a good job softening the Bucs' interior defense with punishing runs.

Prior to the season, Joe noted, with help from Pat Kirwan of NFL.com, Sirius NFL Network, CBSSports.com and whoever else cuts Kirwan a check, that Gerald McCoy and Brian Price were rookies. And there would be times when they played like rookies.

First-year defensive tackles often struggle. Even the best of them (ask Warren Sapp).

Those rookie moments came into play today. As Ross Tucker said earlier this week on Sirius NFL Radio, the Bucs, and rookies GMC and Price, were going to play big boy football this week, the Steelers.

Aside from the two bombs from Charlie Batch (Charlie Batch?), the Steelers from the second quarter on did a nice job of hammering the Bucs interior defense with Rashard Mendenhall for large chunks of real estate.

When the Steelers weren’t hurting the Bucs with the run, they were giving Batch way too much time to throw, which reinforces the premise that if you give any quarterback time he will hurt you.

Yes, GMC and Price did make some nice plays. But overall, against a rugged offensive line, the duo played like, well, rookies.

It was to be expected. Joe’s not knocking them at all. It’s part of the growing process in the NFL.

The Steelers dominating the Bucs at the line of scrimmage aside, turnovers by the wide receivers was a huge killer in the 38-13 loss today.

First, it was Mike Williams’ first-half fumble after not really being hit hard, and then it was Sammie Stroughter late not catching a quick screen in his hands, which was caught by Steelers lineman Brett Keisel, who rumbled 79 yards for a score.

To Joe, this is just more growing pains, the result of trotting out a bunch of youngsters. The key will be whether they don’t do this stuff again.

During the CBS broadcast, analyst Steve Tasker was critical of Williams early in the game for giving up on a deep route. (Yes, Joe had someone feeding him notes off the TV feed outside the blackout zone).

It was good to see Arrelious Benn get some garbage time minutes outside of special teams and get three catches. Joe suspects he earned himself some more snaps.

Joe can’t wait to see LeGarrette Blount get the rock again. Damn, it’s not for another two weeks after next Sunday’s bye.

The undrafted rookie running back showed up against what might be the NFL’s top defense. He runs hard. And, frankly, he was getting it done where Cadillac Williams couldn’t find any space. That’s not coincidence. Joe loves Williams, but he’s a below average running back in the NFL at this point. 

Blount led the team today with six carries for 27 yards and a hard-fought touchdown, flashing some angry effort and great will. Caddy had six carries for 13 yards.

Joe’s really pulling for Blount. In the grand scheme of the Bucs’ rebuilding plan, it would be glorious if they’ve found a gem here and won’t have to draft a running back in 2011, especially now that they probably have to grab a safety.

But screw next season. The Bucs are 2-1, and Joe would love to see Blount run downhill on the Bengals on Oct. 10.

Count Joe among those surprised the Steelers put up 38 points behind Charlie Batch — Charlie Batch!

Jeez, the Steelers in first half posted three touchdowns during a stretch of only 10 offensive plays.

Most distressing was Pittsburgh giving the Bucs a 2009 flashback with 200 yards on the ground, with much of that coming when the Bucs were looking for it. The Bucs needed to have Batch throw more than 17 times to have a shot, and that didn’t happen.

No surprise Tampa Bay’s offense offered barely a whimper beyond one strong drive.

At least Bucs fans won’t have to see all those Steelers fans the rest of the season. … Sure looked like a sold out show.

Stay tuned for massive postgame coverage right here.  

As if Bucs fans didn’t already have enough venom for suspended, drug dabbling safety Tanard Jackson, seeing his replacement, Cody Grimm, get embarrassed on the Steelers’ first touchdown, a 46-yard strike to Mike Wallace, surely evoked a new round of F-bombs Jackson’s way.

It was the first thing that hit Joe’s mind when Grimm looked lost in the end zone.

Joe can’t be too upset with Grimm losing the ball. The guy’s a rookie seventh-rounder learning a new position. The Bucs opted to roll with a lot of those kind of guys, and they’ll inevitably get moments like that all season.

Thanks again, Tanard.

Week 2
Steelers at Bucs
Kickoff: 1 p.m.
TV: Locally, blacked out. For those outside the Tampa/Orlando TV markets, DirecTV Channel 708. Game will be streamed on a delayed basis in its entirety on NFL.com for free at midnight via NFL Game Pass.
Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network (in Tampa WFUS-FM, 103.5 and WDAE-AM, 620); Sirius Channel 158.
Weather: Per AccuWeather.com, temperature at kickoff is expected to be 91 with moderate humidity under sunny skies with little to no wind. This will hold steady through the game with a chance of thunderstorms towards the end of the game.
Odds: Per Bodog.com, Steelers -3.
Outlook: If all goes well for the Bucs this should be a close, low-scoring game. The Steelers have yet to score an offensive touchdown in regulation yet, which is stunning in today’s NFL that they could rack up two wins, especially since they forced as many turnovers as the offense had first downs last week in a win over Tennessee. That’s because the Steelers defense is frighteningly good. They smothered Matt Ryan and Michael Turner in the first week and drove Vince Young out of the game while holding Chris Johnson to less than 40 yards rushing last week which doesn’t bode well for Josh Freeman and Cadillac Williams. If the Bucs are going to win this game it will be the same way the Steelers won last week: force turnovers for a short field for Freeman to work with. Freeman claims he has studied the film of the crazy blitzes employed by Steelers mastermind defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau. But seeing first-hand and watching on film are two different animals. Freeman said the same thing last year against the Jets and the crazy blitzes of Rex Ryan and Joe remembers the very first play from scrimmage Freeman threw a pick. If the Bucs somehow pull off an upset, it’s not outrageous to believe they could be playoff bound. A loss should not send the team into a tailspin. This is one of the best defenses of our generation. There is no shame losing to a juggernaut like this. For more on the game, please watch Derek “Old School” Fournier’s game preview on YouTube.com.
Fun Facts: The Steelers are 9-0 when James Harrison has two-plus sacks in a game. … The last time the Bucs beat the Steelers, the Bucs defense made Kordell Stewart cry. … Hines Ward needs two TDs to move into second place on the franchise’s all-time list. … The Bucs are 13-0 when Cadillac Williams has at least 22 carries. … Tampa Bay’s Kellen Winslow leads the NFL this year with eight third-down receptions.
Bucs inactives: Kareem Huggins, Rudy Carpenter, Myron Lewis, Maurice Stovall, Michael Bennett, Ted Larsen, Niko Koutouvides.

Trey Wingo, Mark Schlereth and Marcellus Wiley of BSPN break down the Steelers-Bucs game. After listening to their analysis, what say you Bucs fans?

In the latest TBO Bucs vlog, eye-RAH! Kaufman and Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune discuss the Bucs-Steelers game Sunday.

Among the subjects the duo touch upon are the relationship between Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and Bucs coach Raheem Morris, and who they learned defense from, the Bucs offensive line, Dick LeBeau’s defense and more.

Joe’s been a Tim Crowder cheerleader since first seeing him on the field last season.

Raheem Morris called him “The King of Hustle,” and Joe is always a fan of guys who play like that in any sport. Crowder brings effort at a different level than most high-motor guys.

Appearing on the Buccaneers Radio Network last night, on WDAE-AM 620, Crowder was asked by host Scott Ledger to name a couple of defensive line coaches who gave him some great guidance and what he learned from them. Crowder took the answer in another direction.

“I actually learned more from than the veteran players than I would say as coaches,” Crowder said. “You know, I played with Ebenezer Ekuban [formerly of the Cowboys, Browns and Broncos], you know that’s one thing he used to always tell me, ‘Bust your tail. Always run to the ball. That’s how you make so many more plays.’ Once I figured that out … hardly anybody beats their man clean. Guys are too good. If you just keep working throughout the down, you can make so many more plays. Once guys start realizing that in their head, it becomes contagious. If you ask anybody, I practice that every day. I run to the ball, and I’m trying to get the ball out, anything, because that carries over to the game.”

Some other nuggets from Crowder:

On Donald Penn: “He’s top 5 offensive tackles in the league. I love doing scout team, because I love going up against him every day. Come Sunday it’s night and day, because he’s that good.”

On whether Ronde Barber or Roy Miller has a better shaved head: “Ronde Barber. He shaves his every day. Roy can come in with the chili bowl type of look. “

On the best tattoos on the Bucs: “Brian Price has the best ink in the locker room. … I take that back. [Practice squad offensive lineman] Brandon Carter, he has tattoos on his head.”

Much like his head coach, Bryan Glazer seems very committed to his core beliefs.

On Thursday and Friday, Team Glazer took heat on the local sports radio airwaves, and from various national pundits, for not buying up what appeared to be only a few thousand available tickets to Sunday’s Steelers-Bucs game in order to avoid a local television blackout.

Also on Thursday, the Glazer family hosted a gala event to celebrate the opening of the Glazer Children’s Museum in Tampa. The Glazers gave more than $5 million for the project, which has been many years in the works and will become a destination attraction for the city.

Bryan Glazer shared some thoughts with Tampa Tribune NFL writer eye-RAH! Kaufman, who apparently attended the gala.

“People will look back and see the things we’ve done,’’ said Bryan Glazer. “I’m not worried about whether everyone likes me or doesn’t like me. We’re the team owners. We’re never going to be loved, but our family goes to bed thinking that we give back. We’re proud of what we do.’‘

Joe finds the “we’re never going to be loved” line from Glazer a little odd. Why not, Bryan? You can be loved. You probably would have been hugged and kissed all over town after the Super Bowl victory.

Regarding Sunday’s blackout, Joe’s going to wait until Monday before issuing a complete opinion after seeing how many tickets are actually sold for the game. There are a lot of unknown elements to this blackout story that Joe is working on clarifying.

It’s easy to say the Glazers should have gobbled up the remaining seats, but that may not have been the smartest move. From a business standpoint, it really depends on how they plan to handle future Bucs games that come close to being sold out.

For Joe, it’s easy to tell the Glazers to spend money on players, but buying up tickets, that’s another animal.

"Francesa, I'll never go on your chickens(p)it show again, you two-faced lardass!"

Yesterday, Joe brought you the interview that Bucs coach Raheem Morris gave to bloated Mike Francesa of WFAN-AM radio prior to the Carolina game.

Now comes word that Francesa, a blowhard of the first order, continually ragged on Raheem Morris both before and after the interview, even though he played kiss-up with Raheem Morris during the interview.

No less an authority than the voice of reason, the great Phil Mushnick of the New York Post, documents what a scumbag this Francesa is, to ridicule and rip a man like Raheem Morris behind his back, yet try to suck up to him on the air.

Our man Mike Francesa was at it again, first ridiculing the Bucs as a horrible NFL team, then, Sunday with Bucs coach Raheem Morris as his on-air guest, Francesa spoke of how promising the Bucs look. Then, with Morris gone, Francesa again claimed that the Bucs stink. Then the Bucs went out and won on the road, to go to 2-0.

The gall of this Francesa knows no bounds! First, he did his best to service Bill Parcells for years. Then, when Parcells got tired of the bootlicker, Francesa is a nothing (again), just a windbag full of ego and vile.

If Raheem had any common sense, or if the good people in the Bucs media relations office know better, Raheem will be totally off limits to this Francesa and, if he must do an interview in New York, it should be with Chris “Mad Dog” Russo of Sirius radio.

For those wanting more evidence of what a slob this Francesa is, please listen to how he was taken down by the notorious “Hateman,” courtesy of the King of All Media, Howard Stern, who knows exactly what a fraud this Francesa is and someone who Francesa knows better than to tangle with.

Revealing that he’s “a big fan” of Mike Francesa, the main man of New York sports radio, Raheem Morris called in for an on-air chat with Francesa on WFAN-AM in New York last week.

Joe’s got the audio below for you. (Warning: Francesa’s accent has been known to annoy millions.)

[audio: morrisonWFAN.mp3]

During the interview, Morris was clearly fired up to be talking to the massive audience of the sports radio station he probably listened to as a kid, and as a college man at Hofstra University in New York.

Raheem dropped some extremely hefty praise on Gerald McCoy.

“He’s come in here and absolutely shocked me with his ability to take it and run with it,” Morris said of McCoy. “You know, I knew he was a good student of the game. I had no idea he would be this concientious this early and be able to play multiple positions, do different things for us, and provide is such flexibility that he’s been able to give us on our front line.

Joe hopes you enjoy the interview.

In this CBSSports.com video, Pat Kirwan and Jason Horowitz discuss which is the most surprising undefeated team, Pittsburgh or Tampa Bay. Horowitz makes a compelling case for Pittsburgh.

Thursday, newly minted Bucs starter, rookie seventh round draft pick Cody Grimm, appeared with Joe’s good friend the dean of Tampa Bay sports radio, “The Big Dog,” Steve Duemig, of WDAE-AM 620, to talk about his good fortune. Of course. Joe jotted down notes on the interview for Joe’s readers.

Steve Duemig: It’s going to be exciting for you.

Cody Grimm: Definitely, going to be exciting.

Duemig: Do you have to play special teams, too?

Grimm: I’m pretty positive I have to play both. That’s nothing different. I did that in college, I played all special teams [and starting linebacker].

Duemig: That means you are special because special teams is so special at Virginia Tech. Will your football knowledge make up for lack of experience?

Grimm: Yeah, I’m definitely confident. Football is football, yeah. This is obviously a different level but if you put in the right preparation it will make up for experience. Sure, there will be things you learn but if you put in the hard work and the knowledge of what you are doing, you can make up for [experience].

Duemig: Are you doing anything different to get ready?

Grimm: The preparation at this level, it’s a job. You have to be prepared to be a starter every week. Only thing different is the number of reps you take at practice. I’m studying the same. It’s the same as you treat every week.

Duemig: Were you shocked about TJ? [Tanard Jackson was suspended by the NFL for a year due to failing a banned substance test.]

Grimm: I didn’t find out until I left [Wednesday]. The team is disappointed. It stinks we will not have Tanard. I will do my best to fill in for him.

Duemig: Are you guys treating this like a season-ending injury?

Grimm: Every team faces adversity. It stinks when it happens but you have to move on.

Duemig: You ever imagine being a starter in your first year as a seventh round draft choice?

Grimm: The way Tanard plays, not exactly. But in the NFL people go down each week, it’s pretty ridiculous how physical it is. You see how many people go down in just a short amount of time here. You are one snap away. I am ready to go and I’m excited.

Duemig: Judging by what you said, physically, were you in awe at the beginning?

Grimm: Oh, yeah. There are a lot of big, strong people up here and something has to give. It seems [injuries] seem to happen quite a bit.

Duemig: How did you learn of the news?

Grimm: They just told me this morning when I got in that I was going to start. They told me to be ready to go. I was told by [Bucs defensive backs coach Jimmy] Lake earlier that I was going to be the second string free safety so I had to be ready.

Duemig: What do you expect with the Steelers?

Grimm: The Steelers are a smashmouth team. They love to run. They love run first. So you have to be strap on the pads and be ready for that.

Duemig: Did you tell your dad? [Grimm’s father is Hall of Fame offensive lineman and current Arizona Cardinals offensive line coach Russ Grimm.]

Grimm: I haven’t had the chance yet, but I am sure someone told him.