Back for his weekly take on the upcoming Bucs game, Pat Kirwan peels the onion skin off to allow viewers the inside look in this CBSSports.com video.

Click on through below to learn more about Tilted Kilt, home of Joe’s blowout Thursday Night Football party next week.

The forgotten man of the Bucs’ receiving corps, Arrelious Benn, seems to be spiraling to depths unwanted for a high second-round draft pick in 2010, arguably the deepest draft of the modern era.

Benn has four catches for 26 yards this season and his kick return days may by numbered. Tiquan Underwood clearly has leap-frogged him on the depth chart. Even the Benn’d around wasn’t called against the Chiefs.

But hold on, says Josh Freeman. Benn is a beast lurking under the broiling sun of the practice field.

“A guy that honestly I think is going to come on huge for us, Arrelious Benn, you know, they’ve been mixing him in a little bit, but I’d look for a, down the road, big things from that kid. He’s tearing it up. He’s hungry,” Freeman said last night on WDAE-AM 620.

Freeman was unprompted when talking about Benn, but Joe’s not seeing how Benn is going to get much action barring an injury in the receiving corps.

When you add up the Bucs’ many offensive weapons, Benn just doesn’t rank that high.

Just looking at a computer screen (outfits still run news stories on objects made from trees?), Joe can pretty much guess the Saints-Bucs game will be an aerial circus, or at least should be.

The Saints, led by future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees, have a defense that is as wretched as Courtney Love.

The Bucs, who proved against the Chiefs the team has the potential to short out a scoreboard, has at best a shaky pass defense, no thanks to Aqib Talib’s Adderall-popping. Even Bucs coach Greg Schiano said this week E.J. Biggers is not playing at 100 percent health.

So it would stand to reason the Saints-Bucs will torch each other’s secondaries. That’s what Josh Freeman believes, well, sort of (he’s not throwing his defensive teammates under a Greyhound).

Freeman came right out and told eye-RAH! Kaufman of The Tampa Tribune the Bucs cannot pretend to play a game like those old Michigan-Ohio State bloodbaths where there might be 17 points scored, total.

With Drew Brees under center, New Orleans boasts the league’s top-rated passing game and the Saints have not been held below 24 points during a 1-4 start. Connor Barth is one of the NFL’s most reliable kickers, but Freeman knows the path to victory against the Saints leads through the end zone.

“In this league, three points seldom gets it done,” Freeman said, “especially when you’re playing a quarterback and an offense as talented as Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints.”

As Joe is wont to do, he listens to “Movin’ the Chains,” co-hosted by Pat Kirwan and Tim Ryan, heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio, and Kirwan for the past two weeks has all but been on his knees, begging Schiano to turn Freeman loose.

Kirwan claims the Bucs have shackled Freeman. The one time where Freeman was permitted to roam outside of his cage last week in the second half, Kirwan points out, the results were clear.

Kirwan also said with “dynamic” receivers like Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams, keeping Freeman under lock-and-key wastes those receivers’ talents.

It’s an interesting theory, and frankly, difficult for Joe to argue against.

Bucs defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan explains who sets the tone for the rib-crushing Bucs.

During the TV broadcast of the Bucs-Chiefs game, CBS put up a stat that showed Kansas City had helmets ripped of its players’ heads six times during the game. The Bucs had none.

It may not be widely appreciated by the national media, but anyone following the Bucs can see that the New Schiano Order defense is absolutely laying the wood consistently.

Mason Foster is clobbering nearly everything in his path. And Mark Barron sets the tone, said Bucs defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan said today.

“If nothing else, he’s put a bunch of deluxe hits on film for people to look at, and I think that’s very contagious on our defense,” Sheridan said of Barron. “I think Quincy Black the other day had a bunch, you know, really physical hits. People can’t help but notice that when they watch the film of us as try to prepare for us. And we try to promote that, all clean hard-hitting football.”

Yes, that was Quincy Black referenced by Sheridan. It was Black and Foster who sandwiched a Chiefs receiver on a short route Sunday that led to Barron’s first-half interception.

There is no denying how physical the Bucs defense has been. Heck, they sent three New York Giants looking for medical help. If the pass rush can kick up a notch — critical Sunday against the Saints — the defense might get downright scary.

Absolutely the place to be for next week’s Bucs-Vikings Thursday Night Football matchup is Tilted Kilt on U.S. Hwy. 19 in Clearwater.

Yes, there’s free WiFi. Yes, there’s the Kilt girls. Yes, there’s indoor and outdoor seating. Yes, you’ll be able to hear game audio. Yes, the food is excellent. Yes, Joe’s got prizes, a stack of jerseys and hats to giveaway. Yes, the energy and the beer will be flowing.

Arrelious Benn is the 17th ranked kickoff returner in the NFL among those with nine or more attempts.

Make no mistake. The leader of the New Schiano Order is a special teams stickler.

No longer is the Bucs punt cover unit called “punt cover.” It’s now the “punt block” team. Hell, Schiano has even recruited Ronde Barber to bring the greatness of the Rutgers special teams to Tampa.

Today, Schiano made it clear change is coming to the Bucs’ kickoff return team. There are no smiles when Schiano thinks about the Bucs’ production in that area.

“I’m not pleased with our kickoff return unit,” Schiano said. “We’re not doing what I think we’re capable of doing.”

When questioned, Schiano wouldn’t say whether Arrelious Benn is — or is not — part of the problem. Schiano only said to expect changes on that unit.

Benn is ranked 17th in the NFL among kick returners with nine or more returns.

It borders on an unhealthy obsession Joe has with the NFL Network. Joe watches it each and every day and, barring live game coverage, Joe can’t think of a time he doesn’t watch the NFL Network.

(Joe is puzzled by this “NFL AM” show, however. He cannot figure out what pray tell is the target audience. One moment there will be a heady discussion on how the Bengals can stop the Steelers, the next, rating the best touchdown dances. Really? And what’s with the chick? It’s as if the NFL pried one of the “Price is Right” girls to just sit at the studio desk and look pretty, which Joe understands is a requisite for a televised medium. But she offers zero insight and rarely speaks other than to offer critiques of form-fitting players’ pants and touchdown dances. What, an intelligent woman like Stacey Dales or Melissa Stark wasn’t available? Joe once asked Twitter followers what the target audience for this show must be and one reply was it was for people who fell asleep the night before watching the NFL Network; which would be types like Joe.)

One of the coolest shows is “Sound FX,” which brings viewers onto the bench, on the field and in the huddle for unequaled access to both the sights and sounds of the NFL.

This clip on the Bucs is not from that show but is from a clip on “Inside the NFL,” which shows Bucs coach Greg Schiano working with LeGarrette Blount and the Bucs offense on how to finish the Chiefs’ game.

It’s a really cool video, albeit short, and Joe strongly encourages you to enjoy it.

Bucs offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan agreed that Josh Freeman has been inconsistent, during a chat session with media types yesterday.

However, Sullivan also reminded that even the great quarterbacks have their down moments and series, and “miss some wide open targets.”

Sullivan said he wants to see Freeman be more trusting of his receivers and the offense, think less and “let it flow.”

One thing Sullivan said could help is getting Freeman “more of those type of rhythm throws.”

Joe hopes this means more slants, which was a huge weapon for Freeman in 2012

God bless the 85-percent rule!

Joe is beaming and pleased to report the Bucs have sold at least 85 percent of “non-premium” tickets to Sunday’s Bucs-Saints home game at the stadium on Dale Mabry Highway. So Bucs fans across the Tampa Bay and Orlando markets will get to watch the game live on FOX-TV at home or at their local watering holes.

It’s the first game this season in which the Bucs and their fans have reached the NFL’s new 85 percent rule and gotten a home game on the tube.

Joe suspects fans have been moved by the New Schiano Order and its brand of physical defense. (Either that, or thousands of locked out Lightning-first Bucs fans want to spend all the extra money in their pockets). A pleasant weather forecast for a change doesn’t hurt, either. Kickoff temperature is expected to be 81 degrees with low humidity.

Joe’s so happy for the legions of Bucs fans who shun unlawful Internet streams of blacked out games, and those who do not enjoy being glued to a radio, and those who simply can’t afford to get to a game.

Tickets for Sunday remain available at various price points at Ticketmaster.com. Also, StubHub.com has plenty of options.

A televised win against Drew Brees to get the Bucs to 3-3 and into the playoff hunt might just light a bonfire of Bucs excitement not seen in years across the Bay area.

Anyone who follows prickly Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com on Twitter knows that Prisco rarely if every throws out a compliment.

So color Joe a bit stunned when he learned that Prisco, a senior NFL writer for CBS, was waxing poetic about the Bucs defense, if one can imagine, in a recent piece for his employer.

10. The Tampa Bay linebackers played horrible football in 2011. That’s not the case anymore. With the addition of rookie Lavonte David on the outside, and the improvement of Mason Foster in the middle, the Bucs have the speed now to run down plays. They looked especially fast last week against the Chiefs and Jamaal Charles. David had a really nice play against Charles when he run-blitzed and dropped him for a 5-yard loss. It was that kind of play that really showed off David’s speed. David was one of my favorite guys coming out of the draft last year and he’s playing as well as I expected. Throw in rookie safety Mark Barron and third-year defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, who is having his best season, and the Bucs have some nice pieces. It’s too bad end Adrian Clayborn is out for the year with a torn ACL.

Yeah, it is too bad Clayborn is out. He could have been part of something very special.

The work the Bucs have done with their linebackers is just about staggering to Joe. Just how brutal were Bucs linebackers last year? They weren’t just bad; they were pathetic.

Now, the Bucs linebacker corps is easily among the top tier of the NFL and Joe really believes Mason Foster will be eating pineapple come February.

Just an amazing job by Bucs front seven coach Bryan Cox. Joe has a hunch others in the NFL are taking notice as well.

Terrible Bucs cornerback play must be improved by Sunday, says former Bucs QB Shaun King

One of three QBs to the lead the Bucs to the NFC Championship game, Shaun King, was mighty disturbed by the Bucs’ pass defense Sunday.

King even says the Bucs are “terrible” against the pass.

Speaking on the Ron and Ian Show today on WDAE-AM 620, King explained that his bird’s eye view of the Cheifs-Bucs game Sunday revealed that Brady Quinn choked away golden opportunities.

“He could have thrown for 450 yards, and five or six touchdowns,” King said of Quinn. “He had three or four guys, not a Buccaneer within 20 yards of him. Scott-free. They were primary receivers. He left a lot of production on the field.”

“For whatever reason, Brady Quinn didn’t like throwing the ball to open Kansas City Chiefs. … We were awful at cornerback.”

King went on to say fans might be begging for Aqib Talib after what the Saints could do to the Bucs on Sunday.

King said he expects the Bucs will play softer coverages against Brees, which have at least slowed down Brees during past Saints visits to Tampa.

Drew Brees is talking again. This time about what he sees from the Bucs defense. Brees must have seen all those Chiefs helmets flying around the Bucs’ home turf Sunday. Brees gets into the Bucs’ run defense and reveals the Bucs have “swagger and attitude.”

Yes, Joe is addicted to SiriusXM NFL Radio and strongly encourages likeminded football fans to get the satellite radio channel. Without it, you’re missing out dearly on solid football analysis.

One show Joe enjoys is Movin’ The Chains, co-hosted by Pat Kirwan and Tim Ryan, a hardcore, Xs and Ox-focused show that you will not hear on any radio station.

The show got its name from the simply moniker of football: move the chains. For the Bucs, that means wide receiver Vincent Jackson.

Per a nugget unearthed by eye-RAH! Kaufman of The Tampa Tribune, there may be no other receiver in the NFL who is a first-down machine quite like Jackson.

Eighteen of Vincent Jackson’s 20 catches this season have generated a first down for the Bucs.

That is just an amazing stat and something to keep an eye on as this season progresses. Joe cannot remember a wide receiver that had such success movin’ the chains.

With the rotten Saints defense next up for the Bucs, that number could grow sharply Sunday.

If you like to read body language, you can really see the love Drew Brees has for the human armoire, Bucs guard Carl Nicks, in this Times-Picayune video. Brees refers to “storytime with Carl” and much more.

Drew Brees weighed in today on No. 93, a man he knows very well.

The past two seasons, when the Bucs packed their bags and went home for the offseason, Gerald McCoy instead flew over his home state of Oklahoma en route to the left coast to work out.

It so happens, it is the same offseason training facility of New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees.

Now in his third season, GMC has turned into the beast that Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik envisioned. It helps that, thus far, GMC has been healthy, unlike his first two years in the NFL.

Brees had a first-hand look at how GMC went about his business each day in California and has developed an appreciation for a guy who just might try to bury him into the turf of the stadium on Dale Mabry Highway Sunday.

So naturally, Brees shared thoughts on GMC while talking to the Tampa Bay pen and mic club today via a teleconference.

“He is a stud, he is a stud,” Brees said. “I have watched him work out the last couple of offseason, and his work ethic — he comes to work every day.

“He’s a big, strong, talented guy. He has confidence and a swagger to him. He is on his way to becoming one of the better defensive tackles, three-technique in this league and probably, just scratching the surface.

“I know he has been sidelined by injuries first couple of years, and I know he is chomping at the bit, as I would see him in the offseason, to get back out there and prove himself.”

Whether it is coaching or health or both, GMC is playing like he is hungry for pineapple. Of course, he might have a shot to taste that pineapple if he finishes the season unscathed.

First things first, however: make Brees eat grass Sunday afternoon.

Filling in for the NFL-slapped hide of Aqib Talib Sunday, E.J. Biggers showed pretty well against the Chiefs stout receivers and lousy quarterback, even though Biggers is hardly in perfect shape.

The leader of the New Schiano Order made it clear today that Biggers isn’t “100 percent” healthy from what kept him out all of preseason and three games: a serious foot injury after colliding with Arrelious Benn in July.

Joe’s encouraged since Biggers made fans forget some of his poor outings in 2011. Lakeland Ledger beat writer Rick Brown took note and talked to Biggers about proving himself off last season.

Biggers started six games in 2011 and had mixed results. A year later, he’s been itching to show he has what it takes to be a strong corner.

“I think I play the same way at all times,” the former seventh-round pick said. “As a defensive back, you can’t lack confidence. You have to play hard, do your job and try to make plays when they come your way and deny your man the ball. Like coach (Greg Schiano) says, if you do your job, great things will happen.”

Biggers’ play will be intriguing to watch. If he plays well over the next three games, how could Greg Schiano possibly yank him in favor of Aqib Talib?

When Joe got a chance to chat with Bucs right guard Jamon Meredith today, the South Carolina product was unmoved by his performance Sunday if not tight-lipped.

Meredith is the latest in the revolving door of starters on the right side of the offensive line. Unimpressed with the play of Ted Larsen, Meredith started at right guard Sunday against the Chiefs, largely receiving high praise for helping keep quarterback Josh Freeman’s jersey clean.

Meredith told Joe he needs a lot of work before he reaches a level of play good enough to lock up the starting position.

“Of course I have to improve, everybody has to improve,” Meredith said. “It was not pretty [Sunday], but not bad. I have to build on it.

“I am happy I was playing and I am happy the good Lord kept me safe and I am happy my coaches and teammates believed in me,” Meredith said. “Myself, I want to do better and try to get better every week.”

Joe pried, but was stiff-armed, when he asked Meredith what he needed to work on, specifically, to improve his game.

“I really don’t want to say that because I don’t want to tip everybody to my weaknesses,” Meredith said.

If Meredith can improve his play to his standards, it will go a long way to the Bucs having depth on the offensive line, with former starters Jeremy Trueblood and Larsen riding the pine.

For the first time this season, Bucs defensive end Da’Quan Bowers was in the Bucs locker room after being able to practice with his teammates (oh, and the Bucs had their throwback helmets hanging in their lockers).

Bowers blew his Achilles in May during routine workouts at One Buc Palace and had been on the PUP list since. Now, under the rules of the CBA, the Bucs have a 21-day window in which to activate Bowers (the Bucs could, theoretically, could activate him tomorrow, or activate Bowers Nov. 7, or not activate him at all).

Once the 21-day window expires Nov. 7, Bowers either has to be activated or placed on the IR for the remainder of the season.

Bucs coach Greg Schiano said in his daily post-practice press conference Bowers possibly could play Sunday, though all but ruled it out as way too soon for Bowers.

“He has to get in football shape,” Schiano said. “It’s one thing to hit sleds.”

Schiano did, however laud Bowers for being in as good of physical shape as anyone could expect recovering from an Achilles injury.

“Just biking, running in the treadmill underwater, a lot of different things,” Bowers said of his daily conditioning at One Buc Palace since the injury. [Assistant strength and conditioning coach] Bob Gilmartin and I worked hand-in-hand each day doing a lot of things to keep my heart rate up.”

Bowers agreed with Schiano that he has to get in football shape before he can think about playing, but has to be careful not to do too much too soon and find himself on injured reserve.

“It’s all about being smart,” Bowers said. “You don’t want to jump in the fire too early. Just take it day by day and progress.”