Sure, Greg Schiano has missed some details this season, but there’s no question that he and the Bucs are dialed in successfully on a majority of details and fundamentals.

No. 1 on that list is ball security and forcing turnovers, explained Ronde Barber on the Buccaneers Radio Network last night on WDAE-AM 620. Barber talked about how he “raked” at the ball when Mark Barron had Adrian Peterson wrapped up Thursday, forcing a key fumble and impacting Bucs’ win against the Vikings.

“We practice it every single day. It’s part of our ball-disruption circuit that we do every single day,” Barber said. “[Turnovers are] the No. 1, and we’re reminded of this daily. And it’s I think why we’re taking such good care of the football.”

With a +7 on the turnover ratio scale, the Bucs are among the best in the NFL. No running back has coughed up a fumble, let alone turned it over.

Some scoffed at the relentless Pop Warner-like ball security drills the Bucs went through all offseason and, per Barber, continue to perform daily.

All Joe knows is that they are working extremely well. Score one for the New Schiano Order.

The biggest blow to the Bucs playoff chances just happened today with word from Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune that All-Pro left guard Carl Nicks was placed on injured reserve with a toe injury.

@RCummingsTrib: Bucs LG Carl Nicks lost for the season to a toe injury. He’s been dealing with that injury all year long.

There simply isn’t a bigger hit to the Bucs than this. The Bucs’ offensive line is now officially a shambles. Nicks joins fellow All-Pro right guard Davin Joseph, who’s on injured reserve.

Just when the Bucs started to get a running game going with Doug Martin bursting onto the scene, now he will be dodging for his life more than exposing creases and holes in the offensive line.

Joe’s seen that toe numerous times. Frankly, Joe’s not sure how Nicks was playing on it to begin with.

Joe’s not sure how the Bucs recover without the human armoire on the roster. Ted Larsen at left guard?

This is a crushing blow. No way to sugarcoat it.

Recently, Joe asked Bucs defensive tackle Gerald McCoy if he had noticed a change in opponents’ blocking schemes against him now that end Adrian Clayborn was out for the season. GMC said he had, that he was seeing much more double-teams.

GMC wasn’t using this as an excuse. He said it was his job to fight through double-teams.

Now that Da’Quan Bowers has been activated after missing the first six games with an Achilles injury, Joe wondered if Bowers logging playing time last week against Minnesota caused a let-up in pressure on GMC.

No, GMC said, he did not see a change and isn’t expecting a change to occur in the near future.

“I don’t think [opponents] would change initially because it was [Bowers’] first game back and so they didn’t know what he could do, they were just getting the feel of it. So I don’t think the blocking schemes changed that much.

“I still had a lot [of blockers] slide to me, but I think they will [change] though when [Bowers] gets in his groove. Now they will be like, ‘Well, now what?’ Honestly, your best bet [as an offensive line coach] if you don’t have an inside threat, you want to slide [blockers] to your DeMarcus Wares, your Jared Allens. Your best bet is to [protect the] inside because that is the shortest route to the quarterback. Regardless of if Mike Bennett is playing well or Bowers comes in, I will still expect [double-teams].”

Joe can understand where GMC is coming from. It’s one thing to worry about Bennett, who is playing lights out. But when there are two ends as serious threats, such as Clayborn and Bowers, then teams will have to account for both Bennett and Bowers.

When Bowers gets up to speed, it will thin out opponents’ offensive lines which means GMC and others could go wild.

One might think a guarded coach like Greg Schiano would shy away from comparing a rookie running back to a complete, two-time Pro Bowl RB like Ray Rice.

But just the opposite was true yesterday during The Greg Schiano Show on WDAE-AM 620. Schiano was very specific about how Doug Martin is like Rice, who was Schiano’s workhorse at Rutgers. “The patience, the vision, the balance,” was the direct comparison delivered by Schiano.

The leader of the New Schiano Order also explained that Martin has the unspoken greatness understood by students of the game.

“He’s got IT,” Schiano said of what makes Martin special. “As a football coach you know what that is, and Doug has it.”

This is very high praise for a kid who’s only played seven games. But Martin has made Bucs fans forget their Trent Richardson fantasies, which is an accomplishment in itself.

Joe remembers when Raheem Morris likened Mason Foster to Ray Lewis. That was comical at the time, but the way Foster is playing that might not be so farfetched.

Last week with the Bucs still down a cornerback thanks to Aqib Talib’s suspension and Brandon MacDonald dinged up, former Largo High School quarterback and free agent rookie Leonard Johnson got the call for his first NFL start.

He played well, very well in fact, and had a pick and if there was a decent replay, may have had two picks.

Bucs coach Greg Schiano raved about Johnson’s play against the Vikings during his Monday press conference and said he is confident with Johnson if he should be called into starting duty again. Talib still has to serve one more game for his sentence and there’s the looming suspension for fellow Adderall fan (allegedly), Eric Wright.

Mark Cook of PewterReport.com buttonholed Johnson late yesterday to get his take on his play.

“I just went out and tried to have fun and do everything I was asked to do,” Johnson said. “The fact I was able to start in nickel and dime (coverages) was something I looked forward to doing all week. I didn’t want to put too much thought into it or pressure on myself about going out there with the first team. I just wanted to hang out and let all be natural.

“That’s the kind of approach I take when opportunities like that present itself. All week I was just telling myself – I do a lot of self-talking – that the bigger the stage, the bigger I perform. I told myself that all week knowing that if I just took care of things in practice I’d feel confident and then I’d be able to go out and perform. I always visualize having big games. I didn’t actually visualize that (the interception), but I just knew something big would happen.”

Now Joe may not be totally objective when it comes to Johnson, who Joe has known since Johnson was a freshmen starter for Largo. But Joe thought the Bucs got a steal when Johnson slipped through the cracks of the draft.

Johnson, from people Joe has spoken qirh, has improved since signing with the Bucs, which is exactly what one would hope. If Johnson gets the call in the coming weeks, let’s just say Joe has more confidence in Johnson making plays than he does Myron Lewis.

It’s time for that limo night out that’s going to wow your woman and open her mind to adventure!

Or maybe you just want your office holiday party to be safe and sound, transported by a small luxury bus or Tampa party bus from Paradise Worldwide Transportation.

The holiday season is here. Relatives are coming to hound you. Wedding bells are ringing. It’s time to click through below and visit the best damn Tampa Bay limo company.

Roscoe Parrish doesn’t look like a good punt returner anymore like he was four years ago, but the leader of the New Schiano Order thinks otherwise.

Speaking on WDAE-AM 620 last night, Greg Schiano said he expects big things from Parrish in the second half of the season, and the head coach says he gets a special feeling when Parrish catches a punt.

“I do think Roscoe is the guy to do it. I think he’s experienced. He’s still got a lot of pop to him,” Schiano said. “You know, I get excited when he fields it. I kinda feel like something could happen. It hasn’t yet, but I think it will.”

Joe also gets excited when Parrish fields a punt. But it’s not for what might happen next; Joe’s only excited because Parrish, in fact, fielded it.

Joe hopes as much as the next fan that Schiano’s evaluation is correct and 30-year-old Parrish can revive his glory days with the Bills in 2007 and 2008, but Joe’s not seeing a dangerous punt return game in the Bucs’ future until they can address it in the offseason.

If you want to know how Parrish is “vibin’ in my car,” then check out this new video below from CBSSports.com.

• Caution, Parrish attempts to sing.
  

Tiquan Underwood revealed some of the mystery and intrigue surrounding his throwback coiffure

It started as a dare-you wager a little over a year ago, but now Tiquan Underwood is all-in with his trademark high fade.

After all, a look like that has its perks.

 “The ladies do like it,” Underwood revealed on the Buccaneers Radio Network last night. 

Joe found this to be a very interesting phenomenon, which led Joe to consider reviving a mullet, but only if Rachel Watson would be impressed.

Underwood said that while his hairstyle is a conversation piece, it does check in as a close second to lovely-locked Tom Brady, his 2011 teammate.

“He has the hair every game. He has the suit on every game. Stylish. Very stylish,” Underwood said of Brady. “That’s a tough one to compete with. So, I would give Brady the edge in the hair.”

“The Professor,” John Clayton of ESPN, discusses top targets for a deal as the trade deadline has been extended to Thursday. Share your thoughts on Clayton’s words.

Nothing like playing your best football during a contract year, and that is exactly what Bucs left defensive end Michael Bennett is doing.

Bennett, whose contract is up after this season, has been a wildman for the Bucs, both when he goes inside on occasion or when he stays outside. Even the numbers crunchers at ProFootballFocus.com agree. They broke down the tape of the Bucs win over Minnesota last week.

After a fast start to the season Gerald McCoy came up with a quiet performance on Thursday night, so the job of the leading the Bucs’ defensive line was left to Michael Bennett. After a couple of subpar performances out of the bye week Bennett rebounded with a strong all-round game in Minnesota. He made his presence known as a pass rusher (one sack, one hit and three hurries), was solid as ever in run defense, and forced one of the fumbles that helped turn the game in Tampa Bay’s favor. There Bennett exploited some poor ball security from Viking wide receiver Jerome Simpson in pursuit to a slant route to create the turnover which set up the Buccaneers’ drive to a 13 point lead. The brother of Martellus made his presence known from the first snap of the game, reading a play action rollout from Christian Ponder to force a throw away, and kept chipping in all night long. His night culminated in a sack of Ponder in garbage time as he comfortably got the outside of Phil Loadholt to register his first sack since the bye week. Just another workman like performance from one of the more underrated defenders in the league.

The thing that impresses Joe about Bennett is he is doing this with no help from the other side since Adrian Clayborn went down with a season-ending knee injury.

Still, Bennett is able to wreak havoc. This is a good thing. Now if Bowers can stay healthy and improve, an already solid Bucs front line will only get better.

Click here or below to find your nearest Original Hooters location.

Jay Glazer went deeper on the Eric Wright drug story yesterday

FOX Sports NFL guru Jay Glazer, who broke the news on Eric Wright’s alleged looming suspension for Adderrall use, a report no Buccaneer official denied, now says Wright’s “appeal is probably a few weeks away.”

Glazer joined the Booger and Rich show on 98.7 FM yesterday and explained that Bucs officials, Wright and suspended Aqib Talib likely collaborated to lead Talib to forfeit his appeal option while Wright pursued his. Thus, the two cornerbacks would not be off the field simulaneously.

The NFL gives players ample time to appeal, Glazer explained, and Glazer said he still maintains hope that Wright can win his case and beat a suspension for violating the league’s drug policy. Glazer says he knows Wright personally and considers him a great guy.

Joe was intrigued by Glazer’s assertion that Talib likely worked with the Bucs to help Tampa Bay’s depth at the position. If true, it was a selfless move after a selfish move.

Lots of Bucs fans ask the question, “Where’s Michael Smith?”

Typically these fans are obsessed with the rookie running back’s blazing speed and/or they don’t see what Arrelious Benn brings to the table as a kick returner and would prefer the rookie get activated one Sunday and get good shot there.

The leader of the New Schiano Order was pressed on this topic by a listener this evening on The Greg Schiano Show on WDAE-AM 620. He responded by saying he thinks Smith’s time will come in some capacity –“he just needs to stay patient” — and praised the young man for being an exemplary “Buccaneer Man.”

“Michael is really a good football player,” Schiano said. He’s “a hard worker … all the things we’re looking for in a Buccaneer Man.”

Schiano also spoke with similar love for Myron Lewis, sans the coveted “Buccaneer Man” label.

Joe engaged in a virtual group hug with heavyweights over at ESPN. And as a result, Joe is proud to present the amazing ESPN at Sea cruise leaving from the Port of Tampa. On this fantastic Royal Caribbean cruise, you can hang out and watch the “BIG GAME” with Mike Alstott, Jermaine Phillips and other former NFL players (more should be announced soon), along with greats from the world of soccer.

Click below to check out Joe’s special page at the ESPN at Sea website, where you can find the discount code joebucsfan, and learn about the cheerleaders on board. There’s also a great “BIG GAME” cruise from Ft. Lauderdale.

If both Aqib Talib and Eric Wright are unavailable Sunday, Bucs coach Greg Schiano indicated Myron Lewis could get a starting nod.

The leader of the New Schiano Order, Greg Schiano, took to the podium at One Buc Palace today and before a question was asked about a certain cornerback who has a certain history with pills, who has allegedly been tested positive for Adderall, Schiano explained he was prohibited by NFL policy from commenting about what is or is not happening with Bucs cornerback Eric Wright.

Despite not speaking about the issue, neither the Bucs nor the NFL is denying the report by FOX NFL insider Jay Glazer that Wright tested positive for the league-banned Adderall.

The Bucs already have a cornerback serving a four-game sentence for the very same charge, embattled Aqib Talib.

If Wright is suspended before the Bucs play Oakland on the left coast Sunday, the Bucs will be down both of their starting cornerbacks, both for Adderall. Schiano explained that is is business as usual with the Bucs if or until the NFL comes down on Wright.

What’s unknown is whether Wright has or will appeal, which would delay his suspension. In the Bucs locker room today, not surprisingly, Wright was nowhere to be found.

Schiano did explain why Wright was seen early this afternoon working on a stationary bike — proof that he has yet to be suspended, as suspended players cannot step foot in a team facility. Schiano said Wright has an Achilles injury not considered serious.

Even if Wright is not suspended, the Achilles could force him to the bench. If the Bucs are without both Talib and Wright Sunday, Schiano said both Leonard Johnson and Myron Lewis will be the next men up.

“I really cannot discuss it and neither can Eric,” Schiano said of the situation. “That comes down from the league. It’s not appropriate [to discuss].

“He was on the bike; he has an Achilles that is a little bit of a concern. I think he will be OK, but I cannot predict.

“We always have depth at corner. That’s one of the key positions — we always try to have depth. I was really pleased with the play of Leonard Johnson the other night. That is important, he is getting a lot of repetitions out there today, Myron Lewis got repetitions out there today. These guys prepare as if they will be the guy and if they get their chance you hope they are ready.

“It is the age old definition when preparation meets opportunity; hopefully that is what is occurring, if that is going to be the case.”

“Look, Mark, fumbles aside, Preston Parker was seen watching Scarface and eating hot fudge on his frozen yogurt.”

Much has been made of Greg Schiano’s obsession with room temperature, and of his alleged pasta noodle fixations. But there are more details, and perhaps more pressing details, to be micromanaged under the New Schiano Order.

Buccaneers Radio Network color analyst Dave Moore, a 16-year NFL veteran, enlightened Bucs fans this morning during the Ron and Ian Show on WDAE-AM 620.

“He’s very conscious of when these guys are going to eat. He doesn’t want hot meals at certain times, cold meals, room temperature, hallway temperature, plane temperature, half the plane was under blankets last week,” Moore said. “But that’s just how he manages the team. He’s a guy that is attention to the detail, and his details are everything from meal to room temperature to what you’re watching on the plane. You know, certain movies. He’s all about getting the fair advantage, and he’s taking it to another level.”

Carl Nicks: Hey Coach, you mind if I melt the cheese and toast the bun on this turkey sandwich.
Greg Schiano: C’mon, Carl. You know nothing hits the gums over 65 degrees between between 10 and noon on Wednesdays.

Joe would love to learn more about Schiano’s hot-food-cold-food philosophies. Perhaps Joe could apply those tactics to enhance his performance on these here pages? (Sorry, warm beer is not happening.)

Of course, the Nicks-Schiano exchange above is a joke, but the Dave Moore quote is completely serious.

And none of this should be surprising. 

One could have a lot of fun speculating on the movie restrictions. Gerald McCoy’s favorite movie is no doubt off-limits. 

Joe can only imagine how much more behavioral legislation is in place.

Joe was at the world-renowned Tilted Kilt last Thursday when the Bucs chain-whipped the Vikings on national television. It was a beautiful thing.

The watering hole literally erupted whenever Bucs running back Doug Martin dragged defenders down the field for a first down. But Bucs fans with a drink(s) in their hands weren’t the only people geeked over Martin’s success.

So too, it seems are Martin’s teammates.

Last week Joe spoke with a handful of Bucs who talked about what a great asset Martin is, emotionally, to the team.

“Definitely, it is exciting,” Bucs linebacker Adam Hayward said. “Especially a strong guy [like Martin] to get on the turf and go off like that. It’s awesome to see. That guy is a workhorse for sure.”

Players told Joe that as much as the offensive line gets pumped when Martin abuses defenses using the holes they made, so too are defensive players on the sidelines watch Martin slice through defenses.

“Martin is just Martin,” defensive end Michael Bennett said. “He has a tenacity that he doesn’t want to go down. He just plays hard every play.”

Martin’s performance Thursday was the fourth-best performance for a running back in Bucs history.

Martin’s big night was not lost on D.J. Ware who was energized by watching his fellow running back.

“Oh, great game, great game,” Ware said. Martin “shows he has the ability to run the ball hard; as many times as they gave it to him and get him the ball out of the backfield.

“I don’t know if he helps me out but he helps out the team, his productivity, how he gets the offensive line going and the wide receivers going. The defense feeds off him as well. Any time you have a running back who is running hard and making plays, it just energizes the team.”

One reason the NFL pushed back the trade deadline for two weeks — the trade deadline is Tuesday at 4 p.m. — was to, indirectly, create buzz among fans.

Just take a look at the number of articles and traffic to specific-sports related sites like MLB and NHL when the trade deadline nears each year. That is just the opposite in the NFL largely because and early trade deadline few teams were willing to move players.

There are far more trades just before or during the draft each year than there are at the trade deadline.

Joe thinks that may change this year. What seems to have changed is the amount of trade chatter — at least on NFL-related sites and on sports radio — that has amped up recently.

Some of it has to do with Bucs running back LeGarrette Blount. While there are no specifics that teams have asked Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik for Blount’s services, CBSSports.com’s Jason LaCanfora says within the NFL’s inner circles Blount is expected to be traded by some.

Overall, there has been little trade chatter, even for role players, general managers said. “I haven’t heard a thing,” said one GM who has been a willing deal-maker in the past. “It’s crazy.” Said another aggressive GM: “I haven’t heard a thing, honestly.”

However, several of those same execs said they would not be surprised if little-used back-up running back LeGarrette Blount of the Bucs was dealt by 4 p.m. Tuesday.

As Joe stated recently, he doubts Blount is dealt unless someone really knocks the socks off of Dominik.

The way running back Doug Martin is used heavily, there is always the chance of him going down with an injury, God forbid. Without Blount on the roster, who does Bucs coach Greg Schiano turn to, D.J. Ware?

No, Joe’s not holding his breath that Blount will be dealt.

No, the Bucs have no plans to get rid of cornerback Eric Wright. He’s still with the team, and is. Today at One Buc Palace, Wright could be seen sweating on a stationary bike, nursing a minor injury.

Yesterday, of course, Wright made NFL news indirectly when he was fingered by NFL insider Jay Glazer as being caught, testing positive for Adderall, an NFL banned substance.

If true, and no one from the Bucs nor the NFL has denied the report, Wright is looking at a four-game suspension, just like fellow Bucs starting cornerback Aqib Talib, who has one more game to go to serve his sentence.

The fact that Wright was at One Buc Palace Monday is evidence he has yet to be suspended. Once a player is suspended, he cannot step foot on team premises nor speak with any club employee.

It will be very interesting for Joe come mid-afternoon when Bucs coach Greg Schiano meets with the Tampa Bay pen and mic club for his regularly scheduled press conference.

Palmer has been strong this season. The Falcons needed a late 55-yard field goal to beat the 3-4 Raiders in Atlanta.

When Joe thinks about the Bucs’ secondary, Joe doesn’t get all warm and fuzzy pondering what an effective veteran quarterback might do against it.

This is the main reason Joe is concerned about Sunday’s Raiders-Bucs game. Raiders QB Carson Palmer is playing very well this season, calling lots of the shots in the no-huddle offense, and his jersey has stayed far too clean for Joe’s comfort. Palmer’s has only absorbed 12 sacks in seven games. That’s the sixth-fewest in the league, hardly shabby for an immobile QB who has thrown more passes this season than Peyton Manning and Matt Ryan.

Raiders beat writer Steve Corkan notes that Palmer was better than his numbers appeared against the Chiefs yesterday.

The Raiders offensive line did a much better job looking after Palmer today, as promised. Palmer got smacked around pretty good against the Jaguars a week earlier, prompting the offensive linemen to redouble their efforts and make a point of playing better against the Chiefs. It worked. Palmer wasn’t sacked on 28 dropbacks, and he wasn’t hit much, either. Palmer did have at least three passes tipped at or near the line of scrimmage.
Overall, Palmer finished 14 of 28 for 209 yards. However, he had a handful of passes dropped that were right on the money.

The Bucs have to find a way to get to Palmer on Sunday without blitzing. Joe expects that to be a huge challenge, especially if Michael Bennett’s twisted up ankle isn’t 100 percent. On the upside, Joe has loads of confidence in the Bucs’ ability to outscore the Raiders in a shootout.