Veteran sportscaster Dave Wirth, of WTSP-TV, Ch. 10, captures the essence of what the Bucs need to do Sunday; look a hell of a lot better. Enjoy this exclusive Saints-Bucs preview video.

The run-stuffing Bucs will meet a Saints team Sunday that’s having big trouble running the ball.

Hopefully, that doesn’t mean Drew Brees will spread out the Bucs and look for whoever Leonard Johnson is covering.

Regardless, the Bucs will at least need to stuff the run and keep the Saints one dimensional, though the Saints couldn’t run last Sunday but still beat the Falcons, so detailed the Times -Picayune.

The Saints had only 78 yards on 29 carries against the Falcons, averaging 2.7 yards per attempt. New Orleans also was stuffed on a fourth-and-inches near midfield by Atlanta. Not exactly a good argument for Payton to remain steadfast in his commitment. Evans said the results have to change for Payton to maintain confidence in the ground game going into Week 2 at Tampa Bay on Sunday.

“When your number is called, you want to step up to the plate and get it done,” Evans said. “We kind of didn’t do that. We didn’t rush for 100 (yards) like our game plan was, even though our number was called numerous times. There’s always plays you wish you had back Week 1.”

Payton split the carries evenly against Atlanta.

Pierre Thomas was by far the most successful of the three running backs with nine carries for 43 yards (4.8 yards per carry). Thomas’ longest run, however, went for only 11 yards.

Darren Sproles only picked up 22 yards on eight carries, but made up for his sluggish rushing totals with six receptions for 88 yards. Meanwhile, Mark Ingram struggled the most with only 11 yards on nine carries.

However you look at it, the Bucs will need turnovers and big plays on defense to win this game. Joe wants to see the Bucs’ true defensive superstars — Gerald McCoy, Darrelle Revis, Dashon Goldson and Lavonte David — and first-round talents Adrian Clayborn and Mark Barron step up. That’s why they’re getting paid.

In this CBS Sports video, Will Brinson is joined by prickly Pete Prisco and Pat Kirwan to break down the Saints-Bucs game. Needless to say, embattled Bucs franchise quarterback Josh Freeman is a hot topic of discussion.

All offseason, aside from the constant chatter about embattled Bucs franchise quarterback Josh Freeman, the main topic that made Bucs fans sweat was pass rush, or lack thereof.

The Debacle in the Meadowlands didn’t do much to soothe Bucs fans’ fears that Bucs defensive linemen can breathe on opposing quarterbacks.

Granted, it was just Week One and the next day was “Overreaction Monday,” where Bucs fans were lined up to jump off the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, or are still prone on their couches, their minds numb and ears ringing from chugging Bushmills in a desperate effort to wipe the Jets loss from their memory cards.

If one is to average how many sacks the defensive front will get this year based on the results against the Jets, it comes out to 16, which is downright sinful for a team that actually has legitimate desires to make a playoff run this fall.

Bucs defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan, though, was not on suicide watch after the Debacle in the Meadowlands. In fact, in his weekly press conference yesterday, he admitted he is fine with the production (or lack thereof) from his defensive line.

“If you look at the plays that we did get the sacks [on], I thought we were creating pressure with our down guys [defensive linemen],” Sheridan said. “They may have been chewing up the protection and allowing some of the second-level guys to come clean. Maybe our numbers didn’t show it, but I thought we had a very aggressive, up-the-field push on the pocket last week. Those guys did a good job. They can do better, but [they did a good job].”

Good job? Well, Joe won’t touch that. Maybe the defensive line did do a good job with the constant cute stunts the Bucs run.

Joe touched on this when he appeared on the air with his good friend, “The Big Dog,” Steve Duemig of WDAE-AM 620, this week. Joe wishes he would have documented one second-half play. The Bucs called a stunt where tackle Gerald McCoy looped so far to his left, he completely took himself out of the play. GMC could have been sitting on the bench and been just as productive.

Joe must wonder; if a stunt completely takes your best defensive lineman out of a play, perhaps said stunt may not be so wise and the theory of using these tactics should be revisited.

The perception of the Bucs’ 18-17 choked-away loss Sunday was that the bungling Bucs lost to a horrific Jets football team, a game that should have been an easy Bucs win.

But then the Jets marched out to New England last night and completely stymied Tom Brady, who, like Josh Freeman days earlier, threw for less than a 50 percent completion rate. The Patriots won 13-10, thanks, in part, to two Aqib Talib interceptions.

So perhaps the Jets are far nastier than expected? New York had 15 first downs to New England’s nine.

Yes, the scoreboard is all that matters. But Joe can say he feels somewhat uplifted by the Patriots’ struggles and the Jets being competitive. The Bucs head to New England after Sunday’s meeting with Drew Brees.

Not so long ago, Super Bowl-winning coach Brian Billick was firmly in the corner of now embattled Bucs franchise quarterback Josh Freeman. At one Super Bowl media day, Billick raved to Joe about what a quarterback Freeman is.

Now, Billick seems to have lost faith in the Bucs’ signal-caller.

Whether it’s the recent drama that has encircled Freeman, or his 6-15 record against winning teams or his 4-12 road record in his last 16 games or his 5-12 record in the month of December, Billick, writing for NFL.com, believes Freeman is one of a small group of quarterbacks that could very likely have new a residential addresses next summer.

In Tampa, it’s an even tougher case. Josh Freeman is the centerpiece of the franchise, though he came on board before coach Greg Schiano arrived. The fifth-year quarterback was voted a team captain in each of the past three seasons, but his teammates did not give him that designation this time around. And last Sunday, Freeman looked underwhelming in Tampa Bay’s crushing loss to the Jets.

There’s growing concern over Freeman’s long-term viability in Tampa Bay; with a few more games like Sunday’s clunker, some will start calling for rookie Mike Glennon. Schiano held Freeman accountable in his Monday press conference, saying that “we missed open guys” and “you’re going to have to be able to throw the football effectively, consistently, accurately.” Now, Schiano called out other elements of the team’s play, too, including in pass protection, but in sum, he did not sound like a coach who was full of confidence in his quarterback.

Freeman is different than Gabbert in that he has shown, in previous seasons, both the leadership skills and physical ability to be a successful quarterback in the NFL. Freeman bears a lot of similarities to Buffalo Bills rookie EJ Manuel — both have all the tools (size, arm, intelligence) to be successful in the league. Freeman set the bar high in 2010 — throwing 25 touchdown passes to just six interceptions — but he has not been able to maintain that, tossing 44 touchdown passes to 40 interceptions since then. There’s more pressure this season, because the team isn’t just determining if Freeman is right for this year — the Bucs must decide if he’s right for the next four or five years. Sunday’s game in the Meadowlands was a bumpy start to that process.

The following crossed Joe’s mind when he heard Schiano admit that Freeman has missed team functions other than the recent team photo (as have other players; Davin Joseph admitted to tardiness at other events), but wasn’t specific: If players do silly things, Schiano is not going to lie to cover up someone’s misdeeds. Now Schiano isn’t going to issue a press release every time a player messes up or begin a press conference announcing a player’s misstep.

But if Schiano is asked about a player, how he behaved, Schiano isn’t going to cover for him, either.

How refreshing that a coach actually treats adults like adults. Don’t goof up, and you won’t be talked about publicly in a negative light.

Yes, it was a busy day over at One Buc Palace and Joe was there along with his good friends at WDAE-AM 620, grabbing audio of players for your dining and dancing pleasure.

Among the players interviewed were kick returner Jeff Demps, linebacker Lavonte David, guard Davin Joseph, offensive lineman Gabe Carimi, offensive tackle Demar Dotson. cornerback Darrelle Revis, defensive end Da’Quan Bowers, long snapper and organizer of players-only meetings, Andrew Economos.

Also, defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan has his weekly press conference and Greg Schiano was grilled.

As always, audio courtesy of WDAE-AM 620.

The $1 million-a-game man, Darrelle Revis, is still getting himself into shape.

Revis played well Sunday against the Jets, but he’s not all the way back from his surgically repaired knee.

The Darrelle Revis Show hit the airwaves tonight on WDAE-AM 620, and Revis was asked by a fan caller whether he was back to 100 percent. Revis didn’t pretend he was the old Revis.

“In due time, I’ll get stronger with my wind and my legs,” Revis said.

Revis played a large percentage of plays in New Jersey but he’s not yet himself, citing a light summer load. “I didn’t go through training camp,” Revis said.

None of this surprises Joe. Revis is, in fact, human. But what’s troubling is the Bucs’ depth at cornerback.

They don’t have any.

Leonard Johnson and Johnthan Banks are the only other healthy cornerbacks — literally. Rashaan Melvin missed opening day with a bum hamstring, and Michael Adams had knee surgery this week.

Without a roster move, Joe suspects safeties Ahmad Black and Keith Tandy will get some work at cornerback against the Saints, a troubling thought against Drew Brees.

Start the celebration, couch potato Bucs fans. Sunday’s Bucs-Saints game will be on local TV.

It’s the first home-opener to be televised since 2009, back when Team Glazer was still gobbling up unsold tickets.

Joe’s happy for all the kids and other fans who don’t get to choose whether or not they go to a game.

Of course, Joe knows Bucs players are not about to spill the minutes of their recent players-only meeting that either happened before or after the Jets season opener.

Joe was in the locker room today discussing various subjects with a number of Bucs players and, as expected, the players were coached-up on how to respond to the expected questions about said meeting.

Gabe Carimi, for example, couldn’t remember the subject(s) bantered about in said meeting.

“I don’t know anything about that. I didn’t hear anything about that,” offensive lineman Gabe Carimi said of the players-only meeting on a discussion of Freeman not elected captain.

When asked if there was discussion of Freeman’s commitment to the team, Carimi said, “I haven’t heard anything.”

Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune took this subject a step further. He knows the player who called the players-only meeting and had this reaction on Twitter.

@RCummingsTBO: The Bucs players only meeting was called by LS Andrew Economos who said it was more of a pep rally than a gripe session. … The player who called the Bucs player only meeting last week says no concerns over captains vote was raised during the conclave … For those who may wonder why the LS [long-snapper] would call a players only meeting, he is the longest tenured Buccaneer

Freeman himself in his press conference stated he was in attendance at the meeting. Donald Penn had noted that as many as four players-only meetings are called a year and wondered aloud why people would think this was news in any way.

Among other topics addressed at the Josh Freeman media grilling this afternoon at One Buc Palace was a question to Freeman about whether he likes playing for Greg Schiano and whether he feels he can thrive under the New Schiano Order.

Freeman gave a heartfelt endorsement of Schiano, saying “it’s awesome” and “fun” playing for the head coach, and Freeman went on to say he likes how Schiano relates personally to him.

Freeman also reiterated that he spent a lot of 1-on-1 time with Schiano personally this season and offseason, something Freeman told media months ago.

Also, Freeman said he likes the “family” atmosphere Schiano fosters, as well as the little “sayings” and other rah-rah kind of stuff.

“It’s about camaraderie, brotherhood,” Freeman said.

(Here’s the complete Freeman audio below, courtesy of WDAE-AM 620.)

Joe saw this Q & A with Greg Schiano yesterday that the head coach did with the New Orleans media. Joe found it curious that Schiano didn’t answer directly about Freeman.

How has Josh Freeman performed in your eyes?

“I don’t think it is just Josh, I think it’s our whole offense.  We need to just need to be more consistent, get in a rhythm and perform up to our capabilities.  We have a lot of loose edges, frayed edges.  We have to get everything cleaned up.  And for whatever reason, it shouldn’t be, but it is and that’s life and we have to get it cleaned up and shine it up a little bit because we are not far off, but the part that we are off is critical.”

Click above for the entire Q & A.

Donald Penn strikes back

Donald Penn seems to want to pancake anyone who thinks a Bucs player-only meeting is, was, or will ever be a big deal.

This afternoon at One Buc Palace, Penn noted that the Bucs “have at least four players meetings a season.” It was a comment to add perspective to national and local media reports that it was a big deal that the Bucs had a players meeting before opening day last week. However, Bucs icon Derrick Brooks noted to Steve Duemig on WDAE-AM 620 this week yesterday that Week 1 seemed to be an odd time for a players meeting.

Tampa Tribune beat writer eye-RAH! Kaufman said on SiriusXM Radio today that a subject of the recent players meeting was the commitment of Josh Freeman.

“Josh, we had to re-heat your oatmeal to 97 degrees.”

Greg Schiano confirmed moments ago at One Buc Palace that Josh Freeman “overslept” for the team photo last week and has been tarday for other team activities.

Schiano was adamant the team dealt with Freeman internally and has completely moved on — old news.

Schiano also gave a Freeman a vote of “trust.”

Former Bucs quarterback Shaun King, now a popular analyst for NBC Sports, has long been a Josh Freeman supporter. King called for Freeman to get a new contract. He pleaded for Freeman to see a sports psychologist. He’s repeatedly told fans that Freeman is firmly in the tier of quarterbacks under the current elite QBs.

Today, King predicted there’s no chance Freeman returns in 2014, and King sounded more concerned about Freeman’s personal welfare than anything else.

King, speaking on the Ron and Ian show today on WDAE-AM 620, was asked whether he’d be surprised to learn there are significant off-the-field issues going on with Freeman. King said he wouldn’t be surprised but would not reveal specifics about what he’s been told about Freeman’s off-the-field life.

King, who lives in the Tampa Bay area, did say of things he’s heard about Freeman, “I hoping that they’re not true. … I don’t get involved in people’s personal lives. There are so many things that I know that happen over at One Buc that I don’t talk about because I don’t feel that’s my place. So I apply that as it pertains to Josh Freeman also.”

Co-host Ian Beckles, a former Bucs guard, also referenced numerous things he’s heard about Freeman in his neighborhood — he and Freeman live in South Tampa — and Beckles said he hopes they’re not true, either.

Also, King dove deep into the Bucs’ non-Freeman troubles on the field against the Jets, as well as how players don’t trust Greg Schiano. (You can hear the full audio below.)

The sky is falling around Josh Freeman and the New Schiano Order. 

It’s getting very ugly — again.

Tampa Tribune Bucs beat writer eye-RAH! Kaufman was on SiriusXM NFL Radio this morning with Ross Tucker and Derrick Brooks and revealed that last week’s players-only meeting was driven by internal doubts about No. 5 and the New Schiano Order, via ProFootballTalk.com.

Ira Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune appeared earlier this morning on SiriusXM NFL Radio with Ross Tucker and soon-to-be-Hall-of-Famer Derrick Brooks to discuss the situation.

Kaufman addressed his belief that the relationship between the team and its starting quarterback is reaching “critical mass,” explaining that he doesn’t believe the statement amounts to hyperbole.  The problem, per Kaufman, is a perceived lack of commitment to the team from Freeman.

“My information is that it’s not the first time Freeman has been late for or completely missed a team function,” Kaufman said.

With some prodding by Tucker, Kaufman acknowledged that a players-only meeting occurred last week.  While Kaufman initially explained the meeting as an effort to address Freeman’s lack of commitment to the team, Kaufman eventually conceded that, as he hears it, the meeting was aimed at addressing concerns about both Freeman and the coaching staff.

When a team meets before Week 1, after spending a training camp bonding in a team hotel and on broiling practice fields, and then it emerges questioning its leadership, there are serious problems. And those are the kind that likely can’t be fixed.

How serious is the trouble at One Buc Palace? Joe really can’t be sure. If Freeman’s having an off-the-field problem, then that’s not necessarily the end of the world. There are plenty of players who do stupid things and play effective football.

How Bucs players feels about the coaching staff, well, that answer will be given on the field.

Joe couldn’t give a crap about whether players like coaches, it’s about whether they show up playing hard on Sundays.

Slovenly Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan somehow, after bouncing from NFL team to NFL team, concocted a gameplan that narrowly beat the Dixie Chicks in Week One. So ecstatic with the win, Ryan went to a New Orleans dive bar, dropped a C-note and bought all the patrons a round.

Joe really hopes Ryan won’t be able to drink because his stomach is so nauseous after the Bucs game this week. Hottie Allie LaForce and outspoken Doug Gottlieb, co-hosts of “Leadoff,” seen nightly on CBS Sports Network, discuss in this CBS Sports video.

Will the Bucs-Saints game be televised Sunday?

Joe knows it’s arguably the biggest Bucs question on the minds of local Bucs fans. Legions of Bucs fans, from little kids to old folks and poor drunks, are hanging on the blackout/non-blackout announcement coming this afternoon at roughly 4 p.m.

Joe’s got no insight as to what will happen. However, the Bucs-Saints game last season did meet the blackout threshold and was televised. Given that fact, it would be thoroughly heinous if this year’s Bucs-Saints game didn’t get on the tube. Going backwards is always a bad thing.

Joe will keep you updated.

“I’ll see you in 10 days, Greg. We’ll be ready.”

Bucs icon Ronde Barber recently said many teams across the NFL will sign released players of teams they’re going to face in a couple of weeks in order to gather valuable “intelligence” on an opponent.

Barber was speaking on Jay Mohr Sports, heard locally on WDAE-AM 620, andhe told tales of how the Bucs did that at times to gain an edge.

Well, it seems the Patriots, who after facing the Jets tonight will have a whopping 10 days to prepare for the Buccaneers, have just snatched up their own fresh knowledge of the New Schiano Order.

Rookie defensive tackle Chris Jones made the Bucs’ 53-man opening roster but was cut this week to make room from fullback Spencer Larsen. He’s now a proud member of the Patriots.

What sort of edge can Jones give Bill Belicheat and Tom Brady? Joe doesn’t know. But Joe’s confident Greg Schiano is squirming just a tiny bit wondering what Jones might reveal.

Greg Schiano has praised the strength of player leadership on this 2013 Bucs team many, many times.

The leadership is so strong, Schiano said, he felt he could back off his intense culture change focus during training camp and spring practices.

Keep in mind rockstar general manager Mark Dominik has intentionally drafted team captains out of college and signed established free-agent superstar leaders like Vincent Jackson, Darrelle Revis, Dashon Goldson and Carl Nicks.

Now, in the wake of media sharks attacking Schiano and Josh Freeman with an unprecedented intensity after Week 1, it’s time for the leaders to rise up and earn their pay.

Joe can’t sugarcoat it. That’s what has to happen — immediately.

Revis, the $1 million-a-game cornerback, is very used to the circus atmosphere surrounding the Bucs right now. In fact, it’s probably tame to him coming from the Jets. And Joe looks for Revis to speak out in the locker room and on the practice field, and tonight with sanity and strong words. The Darrelle Revis Show kicks off at 6 p.m. on WDAE-AM 620.

Most importantly, the Bucs’ leadership must lead with their play. If every one of the eight Pro Bowlers on this roster makes a big play Sunday, and others like Mike Williams, Mark Barron and Lavonte David do the same, then the Bucs likely beat the Saints. That goes for Josh Freeman, too. He’s capable of playing well. He did just that for two-thirds of 2012.

Joe’s remaining optimistic for Sunday. Yes, the Bucs have serious issues. Joe’s not discounting those. But Joe just can’t bury the Bucs after one game before the home-opener. That’s complete lunacy. Not this week.

The talent is on this team to beat the Saints on Sunday. Football is still very much about blocking and tackling and getting the most out of talent. Joe’s not going to be distracted into believing the Bucs are incapable.

Naturally, when drama seeps from the walls of One Buc Palace like in recent days, such as the manufactured news that Bucs franchise quarterback Josh Freeman is no longer a captain and whispers of a classified team meeting that either did or didn’t take place before or after the Jets game, and the legitimate news that Freeman missed the official team photo session, there are bound to be all sorts of ways to spin this information.

The popular folks at Deadspin.com, who write about the Bucs as often as Joe wrestles with Rachel Watson between the sheets in the wee hours, is now on the trail of the Bucs and they seem to believe a) either Bucs commander Greg Schiano or Freeman will not be with the Bucs at season’s end; and/or b) the news of Freeman missing the team photo is a plant by the team in an effort to use the spin cycle to the team’s advantage.

Schiano denied vote-rigging yesterday, saying, “it’s 100 percent false. If there was such a thing as a 102 percent, this would be it.’’

Which might be true! And wouldn’t change the level of dysfunction one bit. That Bucs players would even entertain the possibility that their head coach is out to get their quarterback is not a sign of a healthy locker room. Then there’s this report in today’s Tampa Tribune. “Multiple sources” claim Freeman did not show up for the team’s photo day last week. Don’t bet against this leak only coming out now as a way for the front office to sway public opinion: See, Freeman doesn’t deserve to be captain.

The Buccaneers have a brutal first-half schedule and could easily be 1-7 at the halfway point. It seems certain that either Freeman or Schiano won’t be back next year. The more immediate question is whether they will even finish the season.

Now, there’s no way to know if Schiano went all Dick Daley on Freeman, but what the hell would be the point of pulling such a stunt when the only end result is a blowup in your face?

Joe truly believes the “captain” moniker on a football team is an empty, vapid figurehead moniker. Schiano may be a control freak but he is not a megalomaniac.

Joe can categorically write that the notion Photogate being a plant by the Bucs is absurd on every level. Joe was working on this story for days before he broke the story and can flat out state not one person who works at One Buc Palace in any capacity had any communication with Joe about this story until team sources were approached.

Whether this Photogate flap is the public beginning of the end of Freeman in Tampa Bay depends on one simple thing: wins. If the Bucs win Sunday, all of this nonsense is on the backburner. If the Bucs make the playoffs, it is all forgotten.

It is no more complex than that.

Gerald McCoy delivered some tough talk last night.

You could almost hear drool dripping from Greg Schiano’s mouth when he talked about his defense Monday.

Schiano was on the Buccaneers Radio Network talking about a Buccaneers defense, his defense, the Rutgers defense, that’s harder-hitting than anything seen around Tampa Bay in years.

And it’s not just Schiano brimming with defensive confidence and swagger. It’s everywhere in the Bucs’ locker room, as well.

Mason Foster told Joe there is new attitude and a stepped-up intensity this season.

“We definitely are a physical team. We feed off each other. Lavonte makes a big hit, I feel like I gotta make a big hit. If I make a big hit, Dashon feels like he gotta make a big hit. So it goes across the board, man,” Foster said. “And I love it. I love that type of football. I’m excited to go out there Sunday and get to hit somebody else.”

Gerald McCoy took things a step further on WDAE-AM 620 last night.

“I don’t want him to [change]. I don’t want him to. I don’t want him to,” McCoy said of Dashon Goldson’s ferocious, fine-inducing hits. “Because once you start worrying about penalties you can’t play as fast as you want to and you start slowing down. I love the hits. I love them. When you slow them down, it was all shoulder. But what the refs are taught to look at, from what they see at that moment, if it looks like your head was in there, then they’re going to call it. But once we slowed [the game film] down, clearly [Goldson] turned his head away and just used his shoulder.

“But the hits, they’re not dirty. They’re clean hits. He’s just playing physical. That’s what our defense is about.”

“When you turn on the tape, we want people to hate that they have to play our defense. We plan to inflict pain on people, you know, within the rules. But that’s the plan, whether it’s a quarterback, fullback, running back, offensive lineman, whoever. That’s the goal of this defense — to impose our will. We did that Sunday.”

Joe could type up more examples of the defensive confidence coming out of Week 1. And Joe’s talked to plenty of Bucs offensive players who are jacked up by what they saw from the defense.

Yes, the Bucs were facing a weak Jets offense with second-tier weapons, but the defense was sound, with arguably the best defensive player in the league, Darrelle Revis, still shaking off rust.

Joe will be a true believer if the Bucs can perform Sunday against Drew Brees. An organic, stunt-free pass rush will be critical. There’s no way the Bucs succeed blitzing the Saints the way they did the Jets.