Joe is of the mind that there is no player that has improved from last season to this year more than Bucs middle linebacker Mason Foster.

The second-year man from Washington almost seems like a different player. Last year he seemed lost, at times, almost intimidated.

This year? Foster has been nothing short of a beast. It’s almost like Foster wants some pineapple, and he may very well get some.

(For those not getting NFL urban lingo, pineapple = Pro Bowl.)

Today was another perfect example. He had seven tackles and some of them were big-gain stoppers. Jamaal Charles broke through massive hole for what appeared to be a potential long, long run when Foster raced in, plugged the hole, and stopped Charles for just a five-yard gain when it seemed as if it could have been a 20-yard run.

Foster, who smiles ear-to-ear when he is reminded of his improved play, credits his newfound toughness to the improved play of the defensive line.

“When [defensive tackles Gerald McCoy and Roy Miller] are getting double-teams up front, it makes it easier for me and Lavonte to make plays,” Foster said. “When they play like that it makes it hard for any team to run the ball. We were flying around, banging, playing off of each other, safeties coming down, feeling, great calls by Coach Sheridan. We just execute our game plan and we play hard, that’s what happens.

“If someone makes a mistake, we cover for them. Getting up field and getting penetration. When a guy had to make a move four years behind the line of scrimmage, it makes it better for us.

“Sometimes, we may be playing pass and they run it on us, but we just execute what we have to do, and play hard and we will be straight.”

Ronde Barber explains

Bucs icon Ronde Barber blocked/deflected the Chiefs first punt today and told Joe after the game that the leader of the New Schiano Order inspired him to get that kick.

Barber relayed a story of Schiano talking about the legendary punt-blocking skills of Rutgers and explained the passion the head coach has for fourth-down heroics.

“It was a specialty play; we put it in this week. And yeah, I got held and still got my hand on it,” Barber said of his punt block. “Coach takes pride in blocking kicks. He claims he’s the, I don’t know, I guess the best at it. He made a comment about who had the most blocked punts in college football. And I think everybody would assume Virginia Tech, but it’s in fact Rutgers. It’s just something he prides himself on. As a special teams group we gotta take his charge. We do.”

It’s a fun visual to think about Schiano challenging and inspiring his Buccaneer Men with talk about success at Rutgers — “we,” as he often calls the Scarlet Knights.

And the Bucs have been spectacular this season getting to punters. It was Adderall Aqib Talib who came up with a huge block in the win against Carolina. And Dekoda Watson was free and clear on the Cowboys punter but misjudged his run and cost the Bucs a 10-point swing and the game. (Now knowing how dialed into punt blocks Schiano is, Joe is feeling an extra wave of sympathy for Watson.)

These Bucs punt blocks are something to watch for moving forward, as is the roster status of linebacker Jacob Cutrera, who whiffed in punt protection and set up Michael Koenen for one ugly punt-block-throw-pick.

It was E.J. Biggers’ (partially hidden) hit on Dexter McCluster that popped the ball loose enabling Ronde Barber to record a pick-six against the Chiefs.

Didn’t miss Aqib Talib today did ya?

Neither did the Bucs. That’s because much-maligned E.J. Biggers played not just like a capable starter at cornerback in the NFL, but like a veteran starter.

Biggers made plays and he didn’t get burned, unlike the guy he replaced has a habit of doing. Biggers even made strong, open-field tackles of stud players like Jamaal Charles.

In short, Talib was not missed whatsoever. An afterthought, even.

That’s because Biggers credits former Bucs great Derrick Brooks with his play.

Biggers had scant time to prepare to start today, but it was his mental preparation for the Chiefs that saved both him and the Bucs, something he learned from Brooks himself.

Biggers had a rough start to training camp, injuring his foot early and was walking around in a boot through much of the preseason.

Rather than just sulk and feel sorry for himself, it was a visit from Brooks in August that motivated Biggers, a fact Biggers didn’t forget about today when he spoke with Joe after the win over the Chiefs.

“I was just playing football and doing my job, that’s what Coach Schiano stresses,” Biggers said. “Just do your job.

“It was something Derrick Brooks told me during training camp: ‘Stay in it mentally and your body will catch up.’ When I took that advice, everything just fell into place. Staying in it mentally, know all the calls so when I get back on the field, of course it would take a little bit of time, but because I stayed in it mentally, I caught up quick.

“As much as [retired Bucs] come around the building, I pick their brains as much as I can. Veterans on my team, too. All of that. You cannot learn too much.

“It was a great win, great team effort. This is what Coach Schiano talks about, if everybody does there job, there will be great results.”

Who’s the No. 1 receiver on the Buccaneers?

Vincent Jackson?

Not today.

It was Mike Williams showcasing his trademark elite body control and yards-after-catch ability against the Chiefs. He burned Chiefs cornerback Stanford Routt for a 62-yard strike. He burned Brandon Flowers, too, who even had to resort to holding Williams to slow him down. And that was just the first half, after which Williams had three catches for 103 yards.

Williams finished his day with four catches for 113 yards, and he’s now averaging more than 22 yards a catch on the season.

The Bucs have weapons. Joe was pleased to see them in use early today.

Dammit, the Bucs absolutely couldn’t lose this game against the lowly Chiefs. And they didn’t!

Job well done. The Bucs were fired up after halftime (no they didn’t pop Adderall), and thoroughly smoked Kansas City, minus some heinous special teams play.

E.J. Biggers made Joe and other Bucs fans say, “Aqib who?” It was Biggers who made a great open-field tackle of Dexter McCluster and followed it up with a stout pass breakup on McCluster that was pounced on and plucked just above the turf by Ronde Barber for his 78-yard interception/touchdown return.

Josh Freeman remains inconsistent. But it’s no big deal when he gets a couple of good breaks and the Bucs win — and when they play a heinous team like the Chiefs and Mike Williams acts like an All-Pro.

Hats off to the Bucs’ run defense — again — for stuffing the No. 2 rushing offense in the NFL.

Stick with Joe through the afternoon and evening for all kinds of takes and locker room quotes.

OK boys and girls, it’s the Chiefs at the Bucs. Have at it. Feel free to talk (and kvetch) about the game here. As always, do not post a link to illegal, pirated feeds of the game but you are welcome to e-mail links among yourselves. Have fun!

The Bucs just announced the inactive players for today’s game against the Chiefs at the stadium on Dale Mabry.

RB Michael Smith

CB Keith Tandy

LB Najee Goode

G Cody Wallace

WR Chris Owusu

TE Danny Noble

DE Markus White

The good news in this? Defensive tackle Roy Miller and his aching back are active.

Joe doesn’t get how Michael Smith has all but been put in a closet since Week 1.

One would think if the Bucs have a struggling running game, and they do, why not try to use a guy with blazing speed to break away since the other top two running backs have yet to get on track?

UPDATE: Despite an erroneous report in the Tampa Bay Times, Jeremy Trueblood will not start today for the Bucs.

The Bucs also announced E.J. Biggers will start to fill the void of suspended Aqib Talib at cornerback.

Week 6

Chiefs at Bucs

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

TV: Blacked out locally. Outside the Tampa Bay area, the broadcast can be found on DirecTV Channel 710. Game will be available on Game Rewind on NFL.com at midnight as well as Game Short Cuts on NFL Sunday Ticket, also at midnight tonight.

Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network (in Tampa WFUS-FM, 103.5 and WDAE-AM, 620); SiriusXM Channel 94.

Weather: Per AccuWeather.com, perfect weather at the stadium on Dale Mabry Highway. Kickoff temperature is expected to be 86 degrees and will rise slightly to 89 before the game ends, all under sunny skies.

Odds: Per Sportsbook.com, Bucs -4.

Outlook: Joe has a bad feeling about this game. Sure, on paper the Bucs should run and up and down the field on the putrid Chiefs. But upon further study, are the Chiefs really this putrid?

The Chiefs, by accident, have rid themselves of a turnover machine known as Matt Cassel. The Kansas City quarterback was good for three turnovers a game but will miss today’s contest as he is still recovering from a concussion suffered in a loss to the Baltimore Crows. The Chiefs defense held Baltimore to a mere nine points last week and Joe dares to suggest the Crows have a better offense than the Bucs.

The Bucs’ offensive line is a mess and that is an invitation for stud Chiefs defensive end Tamba Hali to wreak havoc on Josh Freeman.

Throw in the fact the Chiefs have dangerous offensive weapons (Jamaal Charles and Dwayne Bowe, for example), and this is no pushover game in the least. Add Aqib Talib being available due to his suspension, and Bucs fans have every reason to be concerned with this game today.

Joe fears if the Bucs lose this game, Bucs fans are looking at a scary tailspin to the season.

In case anyone has forgotten, the Bucs have lost 13 of their last 14 games.

You might not know it by looking at Josh Freeman on the football field, but listen to Freeman talk, on radio or via newspaper quotes, and the guy is brimming with confidence.

“I feel the best I’ve ever been as a player,” Freeman told his hometown Kansas Star this past week.

In the story penned by Tod Palmer, Freeman went on to say numbers and “fantasy football mumbo jumbo” are not factors in his development. It was a point Freeman also made with Steve Duemig on the Buccaneers Radio Network on Thursday. Essentially, Freeman feels that his dropoff in performance from 2010 does not mean he was a better quarterback that season.

Joe gets that mindset but it’s not a meaningful reality in the NFL, where you’re in the ultimate results business.

Regardless, Freeman has done good things this season, enough to build on and stay confident. Consistency is his biggest issue, something he needs to fix immediately so the Bucs can rack up some Ws and soothe a beaten down fan base.

In a nutshell, Gary Shelton is outraged.

The veteran Tampa Bay Times columnist, who can also be heard with Justin Pawlowski weekdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on WHFS-FM 98.7, has had his fill of Aqib Talib.

Shelton documents all the transgressions of Talib from blasting a teammate in the face with a helmet to speed-bagging a cabbie’s head — while the car is traveling down the highway, no less — to playing Clint Eastwood in Dallas, and Shelton in so many words suggests if the Bucs have any ounce of moral fiber and a spine, Talib will have played his last snap with the Bucs.

This is what happens when a team stands by its trouble. The trouble comes back to visit it. And guess what? If the Bucs talk themselves into bringing Talib back, he’ll be back in the headlines again. They’re his second home.

This time it will be interesting to see the way new coach Greg Schiano reacts. It is one thing to be no-nonsense when you turn loose Kellen Winslow Jr. and Tanard Jackson and Brian Price. Those guys couldn’t play. None of them are on an active roster today; Jackson is serving a drug suspension.

Talib? As much has he has struggled this year — he is an overrated cornerback on a team that is last in pass defense — he still has starter’s talent. When you consider how much man coverage the Bucs play, Talib is a better bet than the guys behind him. No, the 2008 first-round draft pick isn’t the shutdown corner the Bucs pretend he is, but his loss will be felt.

This, as Shelton believes, is the real first big test under the New Schiano Order, led by new Bucs coach Greg Schiano.

It is easy to run K2 for not toeing the line (and preferring to spin discs poolside at a trendy Vegas hotspot rather than practicing), it’s quite another to launch a starting cornerback midseason who has had Schiano’s back publicly since the day Schiano stepped foot at One Buc Palace.

Perhaps both Schiano and Talib have bonded enough to save Talib’s hide for this season? Once the season is over, Talib is as good as gone.

Remember, one more slip-up with the banned substances, and Talib has entered Tanard Jackson territory where he will be suspended for a year.

Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik already got burned once by trusting Jackson to put the bong down, and got burned in the process. While Talib “just” took a pill (obtained illegally without a prescription), the sentence for another slip-up is the same.

After all, as Schiano famously said, his regime and the New Schiano Order will be all about “trust, belief and accountability.”

Has Talib burned through all three tenants?

So now the Bucs are in a pickle. Aqib Talib got poppped for popping Adderall, Anthony Gaitor in on the injured reserve/return list and Eric Wright is trying to come back from a head injury and always seems to be playing hurt.

So the next man up at corner appears to be Myron Lewis, who has yet to establish himself as an NFL cornerback the past three years.

Could graybeard Ronde Barber be making a comeback to corner?

While moving Barber to corner may create a hole at safety, fellow safety, rookie Mark Barron has proved he can handle himself quite nicely. Ahmad Black, when he has played, has done well.

Joe wouldn’t be shocked if, after the Chiefs game (there’s scant time to prepare for a new defensive backfield scheme in 24 hours with no practice), that Bucs coach Greg Schiano could use Barber at corner in some plays.

The Bucs have the worst pass defense in the league. Without Talib, it just got worse, with Dwayne Bowe and company in Tampa as Joe types this.

One can’t imagine that part of the New Schiano Order is to unlawfully pop a pill obtained without a prescription. So it comes as no surprise to Joe that Bucs coach Greg Schiano is not a happy camper to learn, less than 24 hours before kickoff of the Chiefs-Bucs game, that troubled Bucs cornerback Aqib Talib has been suspended (again), this time for four games.

Schiano reacted to the incident, via the Bucs media relations staff:

“We are disappointed to learn that Aqib Talib will be suspended for four games, which will begin with our game tomorrow against Kansas City,” Schiano said. “I have spoken with Aqib, and he knows that he made a poor decision that let our team down. Certainly, other players will have the opportunity to step up while he serves this suspension.”

And as Joe suggested previously, that opportunity will likely falls to Bucs cornerback Myron Lewis.

Joe has to admit. Bucs cornerback Myron Lewis is living a charmed life.

Since being drafted out of Vanderbilt in the third round of what is still considered a very deep draft in 2010, Lewis has been hurt more often than healthy. When healthy, he has yet to establish himself as a reliable NFL corner.

Now some Bucs fans were clamoring for Lewis to get a pink slip by Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik for, in preseason games, being the same ole’ Myron Lewis, despite some local scribes suggesting otherwise.

If not for presason injuries suffered by Eric Wright, E. J. Biggers and Anthony Gaitor, it’s possible Lewis would have been unemployed.

Now, Gaitor is on the injured reserve list and Aqib Talib, who is followed by trouble nearly as much as his shadow, is now suspended (again), this time for four games.

The stars have aligned for Lewis yet again.

With Gaitor out, Talib suspended and Wright a play away from being dinged up again (he’s currently trying to recover from a head injury), it’s highly possible that Lewis will see significant playing time Sunday in trying to lock up the Chiefs very dangerous receivers, highlighted by Dwayne Bowe.

Now is the time for Lewis to prove he can play in the NFL. For if he doesn’t, Joe’s pretty sure Lewis won’t be with the Bucs in 2013.

Joe must have been overcome with ESP (not N) this morning.

After having a fuzzy head from swilling many, many beers last night after watching an MLB-record comeback by the Cardinals over the Nats, Joe woke up wanting nothing more than to suck caffeine and veg on his leather couch and inhale college football.

With so many blowouts, Joe was drawn to Northwestern at Minnesota and noticed a Minnesota cornerback by the name of Troy Stoudermire. The dude was all over the field, making solid open field tackles and Joe offered that Bucs fans should keep an eye out for him, especially since Stoudermire holds the Big Ten record for kick return yards.

Moments later, Joe learns of Aqib Talib’s latest run-in with rules.

As Bucs fans know by now, Talib was suspended effective now, for the next four games for what the Bucs say was a violation of the NFL policy on performance enhancing substances.

Talib claims he took Adderall “without a prescription,which is just mindblowing to Joe for the simple fact that obtaining any type of prescription medicine other than from a doctor is breaking the law.

Talib’s contract is up after this season. At best, Talib is a gifted, yet terribly inconsistent cornerback and frankly, cannot be trusted. If you cannot be counted on to suit up on Sundays (or Thursday or Monday nights), and your play is wildly inconsistent, then what’s the point?

Though Talib has been one of Greg Schiano’s staunchest supporters, the NFL is a business, no matter how team executives may feel about a player.

Thus, Talib will very likely be playing next year wearing a different-colored jersey.

The guy just can’t stay out of trouble. And now it’s official that Talib is more trouble to the Bucs than he’s worth.

Add illegal pill-popping to the list of adjectives to describe the troubled cornerback. He was suspended for four games by the NFL effective tomorrow.

Per the statement below from the Bucs, Talib popped an Adderrall pill without a prescription before the season — and got caught.

Aqib Talib:

“Around the beginning of training camp, I made a mistake by taking an Adderall pill without a prescription. This is especially regrettable because, for the past several months, with Coach Schiano’s help, I’ve worked very hard to improve myself — professionally and personally — as a player and a man. I am truly sorry to my teammates, coaches and Buccaneers fans, and I’m disappointed in myself. I will work diligently every day of this suspension to stay in top football shape and be ready to help this team in the second half of the season. I have chosen to be immediately accountable for the situation I put myself in, which is why I will not exercise my appeal rights and will begin serving the suspension immediately.”

Per the federal government on Adderall:

Why is this medication prescribed?

The combination of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine is used as part of a treatment program to control symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; more difficulty focusing, controlling actions, and remaining still or quiet than other people who are the same age) in adults and children. Dextroamphetamine and amphetamine tablets are also used to treat narcolepsy (a sleep disorder that causes excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden attacks of sleep). The combination of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine is in a class of medications called central nervous system stimulants. It works by changing the amounts of certain natural substances in the brain.

A free agent after this season, Talib will surely come cheap wherever he lands. It would be a stunner if Tampa Bay gives him yet another chance.

That was one expensive pill.

Former NFL coach and personnel executive Pat Kirwan, a host on SiriusXM NFL Radio and a CBS-TV analyst, predicts the Bucs-Chiefs game score and explains why Brady Quinn shouldn’t scare anyone in this CBS Sports video.

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

It’s too early to get a read on what the Bucs might do with Aqib Talib when he becomes a free agent after this season.

There are so many variables to be determined, such has the health and effectiveness of the other Bucs cornerbacks, plus Talib’s performance on and off the field this season. But NFC South Blogger Pat Yasinskas had no trouble speculating during his live chat Friday at ESPN.com. Yasinskas thinks Talib will have a new address.

Bryant (Virginia)

What do you think the Buc’s will do with Talib in the offseason? He has not played great this year and it is the final year of his contract.

Pat Yasinskas: My guess is they let him walk.

Joe’s not so sure. If Talib finishes the season healthy, clear of trouble and as the Bucs’ best cornerback, then why give up on the guy?

But if that is the case with Talib, who turns 27 in February, then there will be serious bidding for his services. He might deserve the cash, but Joe would feel squeamish about giving Talib a pile of guaranteed money.

Run, Josh. Run!

Lots of fans have been wondering what happened to the Josh Freeman that was second in the NFL in rushing among quarterbacks in 2010. And fans have been longing for those old school Freeman runs that showcased great escapability and punishing hits — on defenders.

Freeman hasn’t been seen much running this season — not for his life, not to create, and not for yardage.

But that could change in a huge way Sunday against the man-to-man trending Chiefs defense, Freeman told Steve Duemig on the Buccaneers Radio Network on Thursday.

Freeman made it clear that there’s no leash on him. He also said rarely playing this season against man-to-man defenses has limited his running, as has standing in the pocket longer because he has such great receivers and wants to give them maximum time.

“I don’t want to say that it’s any sort of an issue. I feel like everbody’s making it out to be an issue,” Freeman said. “I’m not [restricted by coaches at all]. The Chiefs are a big man-to-man team. And, you know, if I have an opportunity where I step up and there’s nobody open downfield and there’s a lane, I’m gonna to run. You know, I was talking to Donald Penn [Thursday], and we were talking about the over/under for a 100-yard game for [me]. And I’m dead serious. Do I want to run? I want to do whatever works best for the play.”

Joe hopes Freeman gets some clean looks to take off and pick up huge gains. It’ll move the chains and it might do wonders for his confidence. But Joe knows Freeman has had plenty of chances to run this season and hasn’t taken much advantage since a fancy spin move on opening day that didn’t make Greg Schiano happy.

For whatever reason, Freeman’s running instincts aren’t what they used to be. Hopefully, that changes Sunday.

Veteran WTSP-TV, Ch. 10 sportscaster Dave Wirth touches on some interesting points in this jam-packed exclusive video for JoeBucsFan.com. Wirth is a big fan of Jeremy Trueblood playing guard, and hits on some keys to the game, including why he thinks this could be showcase game for Mark Barron.