Today Greg Schiano shook off a reporter’s question that asked whether it was fair to consider D.J. Ware the Bucs’ No. 2 running back given LeGarrette Blount’s lack of work.

Blount didn’t get a carry against Carolina, but Schiano says that — and one carry against the Chargers — is just coincidence and reflects the flow of those games.

“I wouldn’t read too much into the last two weeks,” Schiano said of Blount’s workload. “That’s just kind of the way the games played out. He’ll have a role. And he’ll do fine. I’m confident that he’ll do fine.”

Schiano and players continue to talk about the constant evolution and steadily-enhanced rollout of the Bucs offense making the team more dangerous each week.

If the Bucs are to become more of complete attack, it stands to reason that they’ll find just the right use for Blount, which likely, as Schiano says, is more than one carry in two weeks.

Here is the national TV map for the FOX broadcasts in the 1 p.m. window and where fans can watch the Dixie Chicks-Bucs game. Looks like Tallahassee and Fort Myers lucked out this week. Map courtesy of the506.com.

Joe has learned that Atlanta Journal-Constitution Falcons beat writer D. Orlando Ledbetter has apologized to both Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman and the Bucs for a comment he made that was picked up by a live microphone during a teleconference with Josh Freeman.

Each week at an NFL team’s media room, the home media has a conference call with the week’s opposing team’s head coach and a player, often the starting quarterback; but not always.

This week, said Bucs player was Freeman. Ledbetter, as Joe documented, pressed Freeman for a reason for his woeful 2011 season and Ledbetter was looking under rocks for an unknown injury to Freeman.

After Ledbetter’s line of questioning was finished without landing the desired fish, another unnamed reporter started another line of questioning but Ledbetter clearly could be heard in the background muttering “So you just sucked.”

The audio was posted on the Falcons’ official website.

Since Ledbetter apologized to both the Bucs and Freeman, Joe considers this issue closed and has no further comment other than he is impressed by Ledbetter’s apology.

Veteran Ch. 10 sportscaster Dave Wirth serves up his weekly take on the upcoming Bucs game, exclusively for JoeBucsFan.com.

Among other comments, Wirth says pressuring Matt Ryan is the key to victory for the Bucs.

The inaugural New Schiano Order training camp was on display for fans, who got to view the Bucs practicing at a fast pace without cool-down areas or shade, which led to players physically breaking down for all to see during the early days of camp.

But earlier this week, Mike Williams offered a glimpse inside offseason workouts and minicamps, which Williams said have been the difference in the Bucs’ conditioning being visibily superior to their 2012 opponents.

Williams painted a picture of Greg Schiano and friends cracking a fierce whip when it came to running.

“I think the difference from last year to this year is the lockout. I think us having that time to work together and them making us run, and I literally mean making us, run with each other and sprint and seeing each other throw up and all of that type of stuff,” Williams said on the Buccaneers Radio Network. “For us to get into that type of shape before camp and then go through camp and stay in that type of shape, I think that’s the big difference from last year.”

As for how it all has translated on the field this season, Williams echoed what other Bucs have said in postgame interviews, that they can see they’re in better condition than the opposition.

Host T.J. Rives: Could you tell, did it look like [the Panthers] were fatigued at the end of regulation and especially in the overtime? … Could you look across the way and see some body language? Some hands on the hips?

Mike Williams: Oh yeah, it seems like when we get in the fourth quarter with a lot of teams like that, it seems like that. But I can’t really say how the defensive line or the linebackers was, but it kinda seemed that way with the corners.

Joe finds it interesting that Schiano set the conditioning bar — not just discipline levels — so high during offseason workouts. Obviously, it was beneficial.

Schiano always talks about getting incrementally better and working harder week to week, and during the offseason he talked about how much more the team could accomplish in future offseasons after acclimating to the new system.

Joe believes it’s safe to assume the conditioning demands will only increase next year.

Big time fun, free cash, and awesome live greyhound racing all afternoon at Derby Lane in St. Pete. This is always a great time and a spectacular escape from the Black Friday madness. Watch the dogs, play some poker, and enjoy the stunning Derby Club buffet.

When Bucs cornerback Leonard Johnson styled into the end zone on a pick-six against the Chargers, that was one of 11 touchdowns the Bucs have scored after turnovers this season.

The Bucs have improved in so many areas from last year, Joe doesn’t know where to start. Defense, offense, special teams, you name it.

One area Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune has points out is the Bucs are among the NFL’s best at converting turnovers into points.

In fact, that is the rallying cry for the Bucs offense after the defense gets the ball back for the Bucs.

“Whenever we get another opportunity off a turnover like that, we always yell ‘points’ to each other as we’re running onto the field, because that’s what we want,” Mike Williams added. “We want to score points.”

More often than not they do. The Bucs go into their game against the Falcons on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium ranked third in the league in points scored off turnovers with 83.

Only the New York Giants (96) and Chicago Bears (88) have scored more this year, and in most cases the Bucs are maxing out on the additional offensive opportunities.

Of the 13 turnovers the Bucs have converted into scores, 11 were turned into Bucs touchdowns, which is huge.

That, my friends, is what Joe calls opportunistic. It’s also crippling for Bucs opponents who are sloppy with the ball.

There is Bucs news seeping out of One Buc Palace today on Thanksgiving.

First, per Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune via Twitter, the Bucs game with the Dixie Chicks is blacked out. This doesn’t surprise Joe as the holiday weekend got in the way of this game.

@RCummingsTBO: Bucs game against Atlanta WILL be blacked out on local TV in Tampa. Bucs have now had 18 of last 21 home games blacked out

Also, the Bucs announced that wide receiver Arrelious Benn has been placed on the injured reserve list and is done for the season with a knee injury.

Now, back to bad football and alcohol on this feed-your-face holiday.

Atlanta beat writer D. Orlando Ledbetter was disrespectful to Josh Freeman yesterday

Joe is saddened when his colleagues are unprofessional, and Joe is confident this was the case yesterday when Atlanta Journal Constitution Falcons beat writer D. Orlando Ledbetter interacted with Josh Freeman during a conference call with the Atlanta media.

Ledbetter presses Freeman on his performance last season versus this season as it might relate to an injury suffered at a gun range. Freeman had already spent minutes detailing the difference in his performance this season versus last, but Ledbetter wanted more and to talk about injuries.

Freeman didn’t bite and Ledbetter then delivers a rude, juvenile muttering that was picked up by the microphone as another reporter spoke to Freeman.

It seems clear Ledbetter said, “so you just sucked,” in reference to why Freeman had a bad 2011 season.

Here’s the link to the audio from the Falcons website. Feel free to listen yourself. It picks up at 7:35 of the audio. A transcript is below:

D. Orlando Ledbetter: I forgot where I read this over the summer. But I guess there was an injury at the shootin’ range last year that affected your throwing hand or arm. Is that accurate? Or could you clear that up for us?

Josh Freeman: Yeah, you know, it’s kind of not really relevant pertaining to this game. And we don’t really talk about injuries here in the Buccaneers organization.

Ledbetter: Did it affect your play last year? I mean, it’s a spike in your play this year. I’m just trying to figure out why you’re playing so well this year and last year maybe explain why you didn’t.

Freeman: I don’t really understand the question.

Ledbetter: I’m trying to be nice about it. Last year you weren’t playing that well; and this year you’re doing pretty good. Usually there’s an injury underneath that.

Freeman: No. And like I said, we don’t really discuss injuries with the Buccaneers organization.

Unnamed reporter: How bout Mike Nolan, you talked about being in a first year system … Ledbetter in background: So you just sucked [inaudible]

Again, Joe will classify this as juvenile and unprofessional at best.

Perhaps this merely revealed Ledbetter’s sense of humor more than a dislike of Freeman or his answer. But either way it’s inappropriate.

Joe sincerely hopes Ledbetter mans up and issues a public apology.

It’s never to early to talk NFL Draft and delve into the intricate strategies of rockstar general manager Mark Dominik.

The rockstar pulled back the curtain as it relates to his long-standing offensive line philosophy during his interview with Steve Duemig yesterday. Dominik explained that he’s only drafted one offensive lineman among his 30 draft picks and that’s because he believes it’s typically better to see an offensive linemen on some level of the pro game before committing to them.

The prevalence of the spread offense in college has made it more challenging to effectively scout O-linemen, Dominik said, and Dominik pointed to successes with Ted Larsen, Demar Dotson and Jamon Meredith.

“Personally, I like them to develop a little bit in this game and then go get a little more information about [them,] ” Dominik said of studying young linemen prospects after the draft. “So if you can be more meticulous, have a mindset as we do as an organization, and Greg’s 100 percent on board which is fantastic for us, you go find them.”

Just something to file away before draft talk gets hot and heavy in February.

Will the Bucs look to draft a highly touted right tackle or a future replacement for Davin Joseph? Those odds seem to be well stacked against it.

The Bucs’ secondary doesn’t strike fear into NFL teams, and Sunday against Atlanta will not be an exception.

But even if the Bucs had the 2000 versions of Ronde Barber and Donnie Abraham starting at cornerback, the Falcons wouldn’t be intimidated. Speaking at One Buc Palace yesterday, Bucs defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan explained that Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan is so dangerous because he confidently throws into coverage successfully and doesn’t get spooked.

“No matter what coverage you’re in, you can take your corner and run him straight back when the ball is snapped, that does not scare them from throwing the ball down the field because they think their guys can go up and get it. And they do.” Sheridan said. “

Load up on Tums and prepare for the Bucs’ secondary to get roasted like a good Thanksgiving turkey on Sunday.

“We’re going up in class, for sure, right? It’s going to be some challenge.” Greg Schiano said yesterday.

Joe’s mentally prepared for a beating, but Joe’s also prepared for the Bucs to outscore the Falcons and wear them down physically as the game presses into its final minutes.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Today is the day we give thanks for what we have. We may not have much but we are on the correct side of the ground today, so you can always have that.

Honestly, though, Joe wants to tell all his readers, each and every one, how thankful he is for you. If not for Joe’s readers, this site wouldn’t exist. It’s really that simple.

So enjoy the day. There is plenty of bad football (sans, maybe Texas-TCU tonight) that will drive us all to drink. Fill your bellies till they groan. Fear not. Joe will have Bucs stories today; Joe never takes a day off.

Joe hopes your Thanksgiving meal today is better than Curly’s.

Visit HootersCalendar.com now to browse all their cool holiday gifts, not just the amazing 2013 Hooters Calendar.

There’s no need to deal with all sorts of Black Friday nonsense when you can buy the perfect, affordable gift right now. Enjoy the video.

It seems Arrelious Benn will end his third consecutive season injured.

Per a USA Today report from Mike Garafolo late Wednesday, Benn has a knee issue, in addition to a previously announced shoulder injury, that will send him to injured reserve.

The Bucs have signed undrafted rookie David Douglas from the New York Giants’ practice squad, per the report. Douglas’ bio on the Giants’ website makes no mention of him returning kicks or punts in college at the University of Arizona.

It seems the leader of the New Schiano Order would be quick to hire Ronde Barber if No. 20 were to hang up his cleats.

In revealing commentary to the Falcons media today, via audio at AtlantaFalcons.com, Schiano said Barber is “a guy that I bounce things off almost constantly.”

“I can’t tell you how big a help Ronde has been to me as a first-time head coach in the National Football League,” Schiano said.

Schiano also painted Barber as someone who has adapted his leadership style to become more vocal.

“Ronde’s not a rah-rah guy; he’s a lead-by-example guy. And he’s actually stepped out more and spoken up some. And that’s been big,” Schiano said.

Between this take from Schiano and Dominik saying Barber is playing at a Pro Bowl level, Joe suspects the Bucs will be much more aggressive this offseason to pressure Barber to return in 2013, versus taking the more passive approach they used last offseason.

Rockstar general manager Mark Dominik went on tour this week and landed on the airwaves with the dean of Tampa Bay sports radio, Steve Duemig, for a 16-minute chat this afternoon on WDAE-AM 620. 

Dominik glowed about Ronde Barber’s “development so quickly at safety” and how Barber is “playing at a Pro Bowl level.” And Dominik didn’t shy away from Duemig throwing out hypotheticals that the Bucs could have a pile of players, including rookies, headed to Hawaii for some February pineapple.

While not referring directly to the Pro Bowl, Dominik said Erik Lorig’s “a sleeper” among Bucs having standout seasons.

Dominik said first-year Buccaneers’ “hunger to win” blended in well with returning Bucs that possessed that same hunger. “The guys that were here the year before, that got difficult,” Dominik said of the team environment last season.

Another nugget of interest, among many, was Dominik talking about a pre-hire interview with Greg Schiano when Dominik and Team Glazer asked Schiano how he would get a team to tackle. At that time, per Dominik, Schiano laid out the details for his now notable tackling circuit drills that school the fundamentals at their most basic level.

Enjoy the full interview below.

Wright says he doesn’t know why he might miss any games this season

In a short, brief exchange with reporters this afternoon, Bucs cornerback Eric Wright sure seemed to infer that he would not be suspended — at least not until the 2012 season is completed.

Recently, NFL insider Jay Glazer reported Wright was popped for using Adderall, a banned substance under the current collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the NFLPA. To date, no one within the walls of One Buc Palace has suggested the report was inaccurate (to be fair, the team nor any representatives confirmed the report either; they offered no comment instead).

Here is the conversation that took place with Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune, Wright and a Bucs media relations staffer.

Cummings (to Wright): You going to be around the rest of the year here, playing football?

Wright (looking surprised): I don’t know why I wouldn’t be (laughed)?

Bucs media relations staffer (trying to change subject matter): Anything else?

Cummings: Well, there was a report a month ago it seems…

Bucs media relations staffer: That’s been addressed.

Cummings, to Wright: Has it been addressed? Is it a done deal?

Wright: It’s been addressed a long time ago.

Cummings: There’s no fear of you…

Bucs media relations staffer: That’s it.

Cummings: … of you being suspended or anything, is that the case?

Bucs media relations staffer: We’re done here.

And so Wright’s access to the local pen and mic club this afternoon was complete. Joe even honestly tried to ask Wright about Matty Ice and Joe was politely informed the interview was finished for the day.

Let Joe be crystal clear: There was no animosity, yelling, screaming, nothing. Cummings was professional. The Bucs media staffer was professional and doing his job (which Joe had no issue with), and Wright was polite and seemingly honest. Every word you read above was done on a professional, rational manner.

So it seems Wright is in the clear with NFL warden commissioner Roger Goodell, at least for this season.

Banged up cornerback Eric Wright, who left Sunday’s game with more Achilles trouble, was not practicing today at One Buc Palace.

Neither was second-string kick returner Arrelious Benn.

The Wright situation (is this guy ever getting an Adderrall suspension?) is not surprising but still remains troubling.

It looking more like E.J. Biggers, LeQuan Lewis and Leonard Johnson will be the guys tasked with containing Julio Jones, Roddy White and the friends.

The Bucs blitz and blitz and blitz. And they stuff, stuff, stuff the run and get burned in the passing game.

Don’t expect the philosophy to change anytime soon, so former Bucs defensive end Steve White (1996-2001) told Joe on Sunday. And today, White, who has been making spectacular use of the “All-22” coaches film now avaiable on NFL.com, provides a great public education for Bucs fans on his blog.

White went very deep into the Bucs’ blitzing against Carolina and delivers all kinds of film study. Here’s an excerpt of his data compilation:

* The Bucs blitzed 30 times and interestingly enough ran 15 in the first half and 15 in the second half. Blitz in this context means they sent five or more players for pressure whether it was a run or a pass. You also have to look at the adjustment in coverage and line stunts to make sure it wasn’t just a guy making a quick run read to determine if it’s a blitz of course and those elements were all present as well. There was one other play where a guy came from depth but because an end dropped there was only a total of four rushers.

* There were 17 runs and 13 passes on the plays when a blitzes was called.

* On 17 of the blitzes there was five man pressure and on the other 13 there was six man pressure.

* The Panthers gained one yard or less on 11 runs (not counting sacks) against the blitz.

* Of those 11, seven runs went for negative yardage.

* The Panthers gave up a sack and had five incomplete passes against the blitz.

* They gained 10, 11, and 10 yards on three runs as well as 30, 17, 17, and 11 on four passes.

* The Bucs had a PI in the end zone on a blitz that set up a touchdown from the 1 yard line on the next play.

* 12 of the 30 blitzes came on 1st and 10.

* 9 of the 30 blitzes came on 3rd down and the Panthers converted 6 of those including the PI.

Joe definitely recommends you find a cold beverage and click through above to get educated by White.

Yes, the Bucs leave themselves perilously vulnerable in the secondary and likely will get roasted for huge gains at least a few times against Atlanta. It’s clear the coaching staff is banking on the secondary’s ability to make big plays to offset the gutting that comes nearly every week.

Joe’s mentally prepared for the Bucs to give up 30 points. Joe’s also prepared for the Bucs to light up the scoreboard as well.