Ron Pitts and John Lynch of Fox Sports discuss the Bucs loss to the Dolphins.

It’s an ugly statistic that shouldn’t surprise anyone.

The Bucs are giving up 167.3 rushing yards per game, which would be their worst effort since the winless 1976 season, reports the St. Pete Times.

Six of the Bucs’ last seven games are against strong running teams: Atlanta (twice), New Orleans (twice), Carolina and the New York Jets, which are ranked No. 1 in the NFL.

Memo to Jim Bates: Try something new, brother. No matter who deserves the blame. It ain’t work’n.

Joe always enjoys when professional athletes refer to themselves in the third person. Retired baseball great Rickey Henderson made it an art form. Antonio Bryant does it at times, and now Joe can add Donald Penn to the list of those who get the job done.

Penn got his big left mitt up and blocked a Dolphins extra point early in the Bucs loss to Miami on Sunday.

The play added to the Bucs seemingly endless special teams accomplishments this season, and likely added to Penn’s free agent pay day in the offseason.

The Bucs left tackle talked about “Donald Penn” to Anwar Richardson, of the Tampa Tribune, after the loss.

“There is no personal achievement in a loss,” Penn said. “My motto coming into this year is to take care of what Donald Penn can take care of, and if Donald Penn takes care of Donald Penn, we’re going to be a good team. In my position, I can’t go and catch passes. We got guys to do that.

“I’m just making sure Donald Penn makes sure his guy doesn’t make the tackle, make sure his guy doesn’t get past him. That’s all I’m trying to do, make this team better by controlling me.”

Penn will be an unrestricted free agent after this season and starting left tackles at his age (26) are highly coveted.

Although his consistent play could reap huge financial benefits this offseason, he is more concerned about helping Tampa Bay win now.

“We had it. We fought our butts off,” Penn said. “I’m mad right now, but I’ve got to look at how the team played. We never quit. That’s the only bright spot we have right now. Some people grew up today.”

The Glazers need to let the moths out of the company vault and ink Penn to a long term deal. With as many holes as the Bucs have, they’ve got no reason to shop around for a left tackle to protect their franchise quarterback. The guy’s already here.

"Don't be so sensitive, mother f**ker, I talk like this to my players all the time."

Joe’s got no problem with Raheem The Dream going wild on the zebras after the Michael Clayton catch turned interception yesterday.

But Joe can’t pass over the irony that just days ago Raheem The Dream was telling the media how dropping F-bombs is no big deal.

That was his response to the story broken by Steve Duemig, of WDAE-AM, who reported Aqib Talib and Raheem The Dream got into a F-bomb-filled confrontation in a London hotel lobby.

On Sunday, Raheem The Dream picked up a 15-yard penalty after the Clayton play for what apparently was a profanity-laced tirade at an official, so Raheem The Dream told St. Pete Times.

“At the end of the half, getting a personal foul is totally unacceptable. I’m taking those points, that’s on me, that’s how much we lost by. I should be given all the blame for that. That’s a discipline issue on my part and I didn’t do the right thing. That’s a great lesson for me as a young coach, that’s a great lesson for my team.

“I used the wrong type of language to the official. It was a little bit of a taunt deal. But I used the wrong type of language. I’m completely guilty. It’s my fault.

Joe knows there’s a difference between the heat of the game and communicating with players in the real world. And again, Joe’ s got no problem with Raheem The Dream ripping into the refs.

But maybe Raheem The Dream just lost sight of right and wrong for a minute. Joe suspects dealing with Talib regularly could lead a guy down that path.

Chucky was known for his vile mouth on the sidelines with vitriol often directed at officials. Joe can’t remember Chucky every getting an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

East Lake High School's defense puts forth a better effort each week than what the Bucs showed in the final minute against the Dolphins.

It wasn’t just Joe, nor the local scribes, who wanted to throw up at the “defense” the Bucs trotted out onto the field needing one stop — ONE! — to win Sunday’s game.

Instead, with 1:10 to go in the game and the Dolphins starting on their own 16, the gutless Bucs defense allowed Miami to drive the length of the field and kick a chip shot field goal to win the game.

This certainly didn’t fly pass the radar of Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports who called out the Bucs for such a shameless display of “defense.”

The last defensive series was remarkably feeble. After taking an emotional 23-22 lead with 1:14 left, the Bucs allowed plays of 25, 16 and 27 yards on Miami’s ensuing possession. Tampa Bay also committed a nine-yard pass interference penalty on the drive. The Bucs look far more competitive with Josh Freeman at quarterback, but the collapse at the end of this one has to be extremely deflating.

After watching that disgusting display in the past minute of the game, it’s no wonder the Bucs are on the cusp of setting a putrid record for defensive futility in franchise history.

Alex Loeb and Cris Carter take a deeper look at the Bucs loss to the Dolphins. Carter isn’t too fond of the Bucs receivers.

One of the reasons Joe hasn’t totally gone off on the zebras — though he is hardly absolving them — is that the Bucs had their fate in their own hands Sunday, despite the second quarter robbery.

Last time Joe checked, a guy lying on the ground on his back with the ball in his hands and a defender touching him is known in most football circles as a tackle.

Yet, some delirious official must have been watching Fabiola instead of the replay, because said zebra decided to give the Dolphins the ball deep in Bucs territory late in the first half.

The result was quick and predictable: Dolphins touchdown.

Joe doesn’t have to be Stephen Hawking to figure out that with that touchdown taken off the board, the Bucs win.

Not so fast my friend.

The Bucs made a great comeback in the second half and took the lead with under two minutes to play. They only needed a defensive stop. One!

Instead, the Phins ran through the Bucs defense like it was some two-bit high school defense. Even if one was to take away the gift touchdown by the referees, the Dolphins likely would have scored a touchdown and only needed a two-point conversion to tie the game.

No, Joe cannot pin the blame on the zebras.

The defense in the final minute? Yep, Joe is looking right at you Jim Bates.

Last week, Joe made the case for Maurice Stovall to replace Michael Clayton in the starting lineup.

That wasn’t an issue Sunday, with Stovall starting in place of Antonio Bryant. But regardless, with his play against Miami, Stovall must knock Clayton from the lineup when Bryant returns.

Stovall caught a touchdown bomb from Josh Freeman, caught four of five balls thrown his way, and further illustrated why he’s a more dangerous player than Clayton. His apparent chemistry with Freeman shouldn’t be discounted.

Last Joe checked, Stovall also is a heck of a blocker. Again, the Bucs already know what they have in Clayton, and it’s not pretty when you look at the price tag.

Referee Tony Corrente claimed Jason Taylor intercepted the ball on the controversial Michael Clayton play.

You saw it.

Joe saw it.

Damned near every Bucs fan saw it.

Except the clown that was watching the peep show when he should have been looking at the replay.

The zebras, shockingly, called the Michael Clayton fumble an interception.

Anwar Richardson of the Tampa Tribune actually got quotes from referee Tony Corrente about the play.

“Because the player in question (Clayton), the player who was possessing the ball in the air, as he started to come down, was hit,” Corrente said. “As he is coming down, he is now going to the ground to complete a catch and, by rule, if he’s going to the ground to complete a catch, he has to maintain possession of the ball completely through the entire process of hitting the ground and thereafter showing control.

“As he went to the ground, basically right when he went to the ground, the ball popped out, and went right into the arms of the Miami player. The ball had never touched the ground.”

This just flabbergasts Joe even more.

Of course Joe will bring you the top plays of the Bucs sad loss to the Dolphins.

First, the most important play of the day is the fumble on Michael Clayton’s catch and subsequent tackle that was overturned. You can watch the clip from a variety of angles as often as your stomach can take it, thanks to the good folks of NFL.com.

The top plays of the game replete with the calls from Gene Deckerhoff are here. In addition, the NFL Network has a compilation of Josh Freeman highlights.

Some of the top plays include Maurice Stovall’s touchdown along with Quincy Black’s interception. Not to be forgotten is Cadillac Williams’ touchdown.

Lastly, there is Raheem the Dream’s postgame press conference along with Freeman’s press conference.

Make one 50-yarder in a game and maybe it’s luck.

Make two, that’s top notch.

Make three, and you’ve got serious Pro Bowl potential in the NFL.

Matt Bryant never would have nailed the three field goals from 50+ yards that new Bucs kicker Connor Barth drilled today. Mike Nugent would have missed them all, and Shane Andrus would have come up well short if they actually trotted him out on the field to kick.

A 23-year-old undrafted free agent signed a couple of weeks ago after the Dolphins cut him in the preseason, Barth is making Mark Dominik and Raheem The Dream look like they found the Bucs their kicker for the now and the future. 

He was 10-of-12 last year with Kansas City.

Part of the equation in successfully building around Josh Freeman is a strong kicking game, to help the kid feel like he doesn’t have the whole team on his back and to keep games closer so he’s not thrust into too many pass-only situations.

Joe’s feeling like the Bucs really have something good here with Barth.

The BS call on the Michael Clayton catch turned interception in the first half of the Bucs heartbreaking loss in Miami did not sit well with Mr. Clayton.

He called it as he saw it to Stephen Holder of the St. Pete Times after the game. No doubt warden Roger Goodell’s henchmen will fine Clayton for not playing the politically correct game.

“I hope they got it right,” [Clayton] said. “I hope they saw something that we didn’t see, because for me, from what I saw, it was pitiful. There’s no reason for that in any league. That’s just a routine catch. I hope they got it right. I would hate for a game to come down to that. For a game to be taken away on a call like that, that hurts.”

He later added, “I know it was a catch. One hundred percent. I do hope that I’m wrong. That hurts to see that happen, to see something taken from you. I just hope that they got it right. They didn’t give us an explanation for it. That’s the sad part about it. You can’t even give an explanation. I think every (official) on that field deserves to give a head coach an explanation for what just happened, especially under those circumstances. In return, we get a penalty? I think that that’s sad. I don’t think it’s called for.”

Joe must say, while it was a ridiculous call, Clayton still has to hold onto the ball through the play.

As many time as the NFL’s much publicized flawed catch rule has punished fans and various offenses this season — because receivers didn’t maintain possession all the way through the play — every pass catcher in the league must be completely focused on holding the ball until the whistle blows.

Until the rule is fixed, Clayton and everybody else has got to hold on for dear life.

Joe’s just going to take a moment to share some feelings — one Bucs fan to many thousands of others.

Outside of the inevitable optimism that flowed during the 2009 preseason, it’s been agonizing to be a diehard Bucs fan like Joe going back to December of last year.

The losing, the nervousness, the losing, the unknown, the losing, the lack of confidence in ownership, the losing, the various problems with players, the losing, the suspect management decisions, the losing, the embarrassment of having Bucs gear in your closet you don’t want to wear around town, the losing, and the lack of hope on the roster.

Frankly, all those crappy feelings temporarily feel like a distant memory now that Josh Freeman looks like a keeper, a guy who can flat out win the Bucs some games. (No. Joe’s not drunk, just toasting the potential of the big rookie.)

Maybe Freeman will take steps backward and struggle mightily. But for now, the pain of this Dolphins loss isn’t as bad as it should feel.

Why? Because Freeman is here.

And while the Bucs are far from pretty to watch, at least fun as returned to the games and hope is alive and well. 

It feels like there’s some small bit of reality to the fantasy of what the team could be if Freeman progresses and more talent lands on the roster.

Joe’s hoping somehow the Glazers Boys are all sporting boners right now about the potential of their rookie quarterback. Maybe, just maybe, that’ll get them to open their wallets come the start of free agency.

It's back to the drawing board for Chris Hovan and the D-line

After making strides in the past two games against New England and Green Bay, it was obvious the Bucs defensive line took a big step backwards today.

What did they do well?

Joe’s going to leave that answer to Steve White, the former Bucs defensive end who breaks down the D-line play in full detail every Monday on JoeBucsFan.com.

But Joe walked away from the Dolphins loss completely down on the defensive line. Chad Henne has a clean uniform, and the six sacks in the second half against Green Bay now seems more like a lucky day than the output of a unit on the rise. And, of course, the ball was run down the Bucs’ collective throat yet again.

Perhaps all we learned today from the D-line is that Roy Miller is the new Refrigerator, injured Stylez White was missed dearly, and the Bucs are so, so desperately in need of at least one top tier lineman — end or tackle — to add to this team next year.

Joe believes adding that stud would have a tremendous ripple effect through the defense. Even more of a ripple if Sabby Piscitelli is on the bench.

Quincy Black was interviewed on the Buccaneers Radio Network following the game and really wasn’t all that impressed with himself in making what may have been the play of the game, if not  for his teammates gagging  up the win in the final minute.

With the clock running down and the Phins holding a six-point lead, the Phins surprisingly called a pass. It was a horrible pass by Chad Henne because he threw to an area where there wasn’t a receiver for a few yards around.

Black, though, was there. Still, the pass was behind him and Black had to turn around and catch the pass that was behind him. It was as if Black had eyes in the back of his head.

It gave the Bucs a first down on the Miami-25 which set up what should have been the game-winning touchdown.

It easily was the best play of the day by the Bucs and very likely was the play of Black’s career.

Black just shrugged his shoulders when asked about the play when asked if the pass surprised him.

“You play the defense that is called,” Black said. “I was fortunate enough to be able to make the play and the offense capitalized on it.”

Raheem The Dream spoke to the Buccaneers Radio Network just after the loss. He blamed himself, not the gutless effort of the world renown Jim Bates defense in the final minute, coughing nearly 80 yards in the game-winning drive by Miami.

“My team fought,” Raheem The Dream said. “That’s what they are programmed to do. This team fights. Other than the Giants game, we’ve been in every one. The fight this team has is unbelievable. I need to coach them better. That is my fault. We played good enough to win.”

But even Raheem the Dream couldn’t ignore the obvious that even Bucs fans who walk around with white canes could see.

“The defense should have capped off the game,” Raheem the Dream said. “We are better than that.”

Well, the players might be. The defensive coordinator? Well…

Raheem the Dream also lauded how rookie quarterback Josh Freeman, making his second NFL start, was able to shake off whatever ailed him early to bring the Bucs back.

“Josh started off struggling and wasn’t able to get anything going,” Raheem the Dream said. “But in the second half, he showed up. They got it going in the second half.”

Raheem the Dream also explained why he went for a first down on fourth-and-six late, which the Bucs couldn’t convert but it didn’t hurt them.

“Josh was hot and the team was believing in him. I went for it. We were in a tough environment against a tough defense. That’s why I went for it.”

Josh Freeman continues to impress Joe with his demeanor. Stinging from the loss to the Phins, Freeman didn’t want to hear any consoling from members of the Buccaneers Radio Network.

“We don’t want to hear about moral vicitories,” Freeman said. “We want to win and we didn’t today.”

Instead of calling people out for their horrible play (Sabby Piscitelli), Freeman instead gave shout outs to those who put the Bucs in position to win the game.

“First off, it was a great play by Quincy Black to get us back,” Freeman said. “We got the ball back and we were able to do something. Cadillac and the offensive line really stepped it up then and we got points.”

Even when prodded, Freeman wouldn’t say anything about the how that vaunted Jim Bates defense layed down quicker than a $10 sales woman with a horny sailor.

“Hey, Miami has talented players as well,” Freeman said. “That’s what they get paid to do.”

Rather than call out his teammates, Freeman put some of the blame on himself, specifically his three first-half fumbles.

“It broke up our rhythm when we should have been putting points on the board.”

Cadillac Williams spoke on the Buccaneers Radio Network following the loss to the Phins. And despite being very bummed out by the loss, Williams had positive news he wanted Bucs fans to know.

In short, Williams told Bucs fans, the team has a quarterback.

“Right now it’s a dark moment for the fans, I know. Just hold on,”Williams said. “With Josh on the field, wow. I promise you the future is bright. He’s truly a winner.”

Caddy tried to explain how bummed he was but couldn’t.

“It’s tough to lose when you know you should have won. Man, we played good enough to win. We will win more ballgames. We will.”

Dolphins 25, Bucs 23

Joe had more computer problems so fourth quarter notes will be short. Please stay tuned for more coverage from Joe on this near-win by the Bucs.

Great job of the Bucs to come back. In short, the Bucs got hosed by that horrible, horrible call late in the first half.

Quincy Black gave the Bucs the chance to win with the best play of his career and showed that he actually was on the field.

On the sad note, aside from the loss, the Bucs need a new safety. Piscitelli almost every series either got fried, tackled poorly or did something stupid. He is easily the weakest link on this team.

Props to the Bucs for coming back. Freeman looked strong in the rally. This one has given Joe a bitter taste in his mouth.

* Geno Hayes drives Pat White out of bounds on the end around. Dude is all over the place today.

* Damn, Stovall was smothered by tacklers on a short second down pass.

* Nice job by Freeman to escape a sack but two yards on third job isn’t getting the job done.

* Another missed tackle by Sabby! Dammit, Jim Bates, get his ass out of there!!! When people claim the Bucs don’t need Eric Berry, I suggest they watch this game tape. Damned near every series he f’s up something.

* Well, whaddya know, Sabby got beat on the very next play by Ted Ginn, which was ruled incomplete. (Make up call?)

* Dolphins defense is really cracking down.

* Sammie Stroughter continues to impress Joe. The guy just makes plays. What an absolute steal in the seventh round.

* Com’on rook, don’t throw passes into a crowd.

* Kellen Winslow with a monster play in his return to Mi-yami.

* Winslow is getting the job done.

* Wow, Freeman tried to thread the needle there to get the ball to Winslow. Joe doesn’t it was interference though Winslow did.

* Holy, moly. A third field goal over 50 yards, this time for 54. Man. But the sad thing is, thanks to the zebras, field goals won’t get the job done today.

* Three series of commericals the FCC needs to ban: Anything fromGeico, anything from Progressive, and anything from that jerkoff, toothpick-eating, Red Sox-loving “comedian” who narrates those awful Ford commercials. Next on Joe’s list are those Dodge commercials with “Mike.” Hey Mike, first off, who the hell are you? Second, Joe hopes you decide to play tag with hungry great white shark. Only douchebags wear caps that don’t have some sort of logo.

* The Bucs defense is doing a nice job on all of these gimmick offensive sets the Phins use.

* That wasn’t a big enough hole to run through on that draw play by Ricky Williams, was it?

* Tanard Jackson with a massive fumble receovery. Sabby did a good job of knocking the ball out from Ronnie Brown but one good play after countless horrible plays doesn’t cut it.

* Almost a fantastic catch for a big gain by Winslow who got lit up.

* Gene Deckerhoff of the Bucs radio network just repeated what Joe has written about Freeman: escapability.

* Dave Moore of the Bucs radio network is sort of critical of Freeman for not putting his shoulder down to gain an extra yard for the first down. Joe is not critical. If your offense is worth a crap, you should be able to gain a yard on third down. No need get your rookie quarterback crushed for just one yard. It’s not like the game was on the line on that play.

* Michael Clayton (!) with a nice catch for the first down.

* Beautiful pass by Freeman to Winslow. The Bucs are on the move as the quarter comes to an end.

Raheem the Dream was one steamed at halftime of the Bucs-Dolphins game as well he should have been.

The zebras screwed over the Bucs just before the half when Michael Clayton caught a pass to the right side from Freeman for a first down when, after he was down, the ball was ripped from out of his hands.

Replays clearly showed he was down. Clearly. Yet the referees claimed he fumbled.

Raheem the Dream erupted and got hit with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, but it was warranted by Raheem the Dream. This enabled the Dolphins to score 10 points in the final two minutes and likely will be the difference in the game.

Asked at halftime on the Bucs radio network what explanation the zebras gave him for the horrible called, Raheem the Dream barked twice, “I never got one.”

Each week on the NFL Network, the NFL’s head of officiating Mike Pereira has a show where he breaks down the most controversial plays of the week and explains why the calls were made.

Joe would love to hear his explanation of this crap. It likely cost the Bucs a win.

* Since early in the game, save a couple of plays, the Bucs defense has been playing well.

* The Bucs, not a good defense at all, are proving why running the option in the NFL is a worthless attempt.

* Damn. Third and 16 and the Dolphins convert. Barrett Ruud was playing centerfield for some reason and wasn’t anywhere near a receiver.

* Joe likes the diversity of the Dolphins offense. Wildcat, option, pro-style. Fun to watch, so long as your team isn’t playing the Dolphins.

* Phins are starting to figure out the Bucs have no pass rush and as a result Henne is starting to carve the Bucs up.

* Bucs are doing OK, not great, not good, but OK against the run.

* Well, three points is still a helluva lot better than a touchdown and the game is still a one-score game. Com’ on Tito, now hang on to the ball this series.

* Third fumble by Freeman!!! This is getting ridiculous.

* Caddy up the middle. Let’s try that again soon.

* Wow, nice run by Freeman, somehow escaping a jailbreak rush by the Phins. Somewhere, Carmella Garcia is smiling. First down.

* First down run to the left by Cadillac after a fine block by Penn.

* Four-yard gain by Derrick Ward up the middle. Hhhm, this is a good sign.

* Let’s see what Tito can do on third-and-five.

* Dave Moore on the Bucs radio network claims Freeman is taking too long to make a decision on his three-step drops.

* Great catch by Sammie Stroughter though it is a yard short of the first down. Why not go for it? Raheem the Dream doesn’t. The way Freeman is fumbling, a quarterback sneak is not smart.

* Joe thinks the Bucs have found a kicker. He boots a 53-yard field goal to pull the Bucs within three. This is after he nails a 51-yard field goal. Connor Barth.

* Good play on holding the Dolphins to a short gain on the pass play but Joe thought he saw a clip on the play.

* Tim Crowder was about ready to smother Henne when he dumped the ball off for an incompletion. Sure helps to get heat on the quarterback.

* Draw play. Tanard Jackson with a massive collision to save a first down.

* OK, 95 yards in two minutes down three. Do the Bucs just run the clock out? Freeman better not fumble again here.

* Nothing for Cadillac. Timeout Fish. Joe smells at least a Dolphins field goal coming.

* Oh, geez! Bucs REALLY dodged a bullet. Joe has never been so happy to see Michael Clayton drop a pass. That was a catch on the replay. That should be a touchdown. Damn.

* Gene Deckerhoff that Connor Barth made Bucs history. The Bucs place kicker is the first to make two field goals in the same game over 50 yards.

* Wow. Clayton looked like he was down. This is a game-changer.

* Well, there is six points Miami can thank the zebras for. Terrible. Bucs got royally hosed.

* Man, the last two minutes have been awful for the Bucs. Could be a 10-point swing.

* Hayes is playing amazing this first half, now breaking up a pass play that would have been a first down.

* Ronnie Brown gets first down on a perfect screen pass. Quincy Black did his best to see that Brown’s play was successful.

* Aqib Talib got schooled by a guy that was just pulled off the practice squad. It was good coverage but man the guy made a move on Talib. That written, Talib wasn’t going to give up the long pass.

* Get Sabby out of the friggin’ game!

* Yep. That’s a 10-point swing in the final two minutes. Now it’s a two-touchdown game. Was a three-point game until the zebras decided to screw the Bucs.