Joey Johnston of the Tampa Tribune stops just short of calling out Chucky for setting up the Bucs to fail Sunday.

Joey Johnston of the Tampa Tribune comes one step away from blasting the Bucs, specifically Chucky, over the Bucs loss at Dallas Sunday.

Let’s put the blame where it belongs.

On the mentality of losing football.

That’s what the Bucs brought to Texas Stadium.

Losing football – in every way.

Simply put, the way Chucky called plays, it was like he was scared. He has a strong running game, but instead — which is becoming painfully redundant — Chucky would rather dink-and-dunk and toy with an opponent rather than putting a team away.

It doesn’t matter what level of football is played, if you don’t put the proverbial foot on the thorat of your opponent, you set yourself for a loss.

Memo to Chucky: The NFL is not soccer. The objective is not to see how many balls you can kick through a set of goalposts. The objective is to score touchdowns!

Joey Galloway was uncomfortable answering a question about his health Monday. The White Tiger saw his first action Sunday since Week 2

Joe is annoyed by most Bucs player radio shows because fans kiss the players’ butts and don’t ask good questions, plus the hosts usually act the same way.

On The Joey Galloway Show on Monday night (WDAE 620 AM), Galloway was cornered by a caller with a rare direct question. Props to that nice lady who seemed frustrated that it was halfway through the show and she didn’t have straight answers to the questions on everyone’s mind.

She wanted to know whether Galloway was was feeling 100 percent and “Are you playing in pain?”

“That’s such a tough question to answer,” Galloway said. Uncomfortable dead air followed.

“I feel great,” Galloway continued. “Game speed is a huge adjustment sometimes. Getting used to cutting and avoiding people. Facing live action. …Fortunately for me, there were no steps back. That is the key, and that’s something to build on.”

Galloway’s answer was not what Joe wanted to hear.  Joe enjoyed watching Joey Galloway on the field against the Cowboys on Sunday. It was limited action for the “White Tiger,” almost exclusively at flanker. He caught three balls for 38 yards and showed flashes of his tremendous speed.

But the Bucs need him to be a healthy full-time player. He’s clearly not there yet.

Joe asked former Bucs QB Jeff Carlson to explain what’s wrong with the Bucs offense.

Catch Carlson every week on ESPN 1040 AM. He hosts the Monday Morning Quarterback Show from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., and a Bucs tailgate show Sundays at 11 a.m. He also is the analyst on Bright House Sports Network’s high school game of the week. His expertise is showcased periodically on JoeBucsFan.com

Former Bucs QB Jeff Carlson says Gruden's offense needs to incorporate basics of winning football

Carlson also trains aspiring quarterbacks with America’s Best Quarterback. His firm manages football- and golf-themed charity events.

Please forgive me for being old-fashioned. I was drafted into the NFL a year before Jon Gruden became a quality control assistant for Mike Holmgren. 

Way back then the game was more simple. The defense lined up 11 guys and you tried to beat them, either by out-muscling them or out-thinking them by attacking their weaknesses. Weaknesses were either in their personnel and/or coverage.

Fast forward to 2008 and the game has changed, at least to Jon Gruden. The chess matches of D-coordinator versus O-coordinator are no longer. As we heard from Gruden after the Bucs lost to Denver, if you play defense like Denver or Green Bay the Bucs offense really has no chance for success. 

The same mantra (excuse) came yesterday with the loss to the Cowboys. The defense played “4 Across” according to Jeff Garcia and that limited the offense to underneath passes.  According to Gruden, the injuries at running back limited the offense. Problem is (check the record) this team doesn’t score on offense against any style of defense.

I like the good ol’ days; When the defense played off in a “4 Across” look, you peppered them with hitches outside until you set them up for a “hitch-n-go” over the top for a big play. I harken back to the days before the term “8-in-the-box” became a household phrase and 4 deep defenders means you run the ball until they come out of the prevent look. By run I mean inside and outside, not just straight ahead.

Gruden was satisfied with his “Red Zone Offense” against the Broncos when he ran out of bounds and kicked a field goal before halftime instead of trying to score a touchdown with :18 seconds left at the 15. That reminded me of yesterday’s first drive that started in Cowboys territory and ended after kicking yet another field goal.

Jon Gruden has not used play action on a short yardage play in forever, but he tried play action on 4th and 8 at the end of the game yesterday. Lost to the Broncos by 3 and to the Cowboys by 4 without ever throwing into the end zone one time!!

The remedy for the Bucs is simple, although it is a bit of a throwback idea. Call plays that go to your team’s strengths and take advantage of the weaknesses of the defense. You can’t run straight ahead on every called running play. Earnest Graham is good, but a little deception now and then is OK too (ask the Dolphins).

Jeff Garcia has mobility, so use it and design something for him on the move! There has not been a single designed rollout for him between the 20’s or in the red zone.

Every two-point conversion play ever conceived rolls the QB out either on a naked bootleg or straight roll to give the team the most options. Against the Cowboys with the game on the line and 4th and 5, Gruden drops Garcia into the center of the pocket (just like every other passing play all day) expecting a receiver to open on a stop route at the sticks, like every other pass play called. Predictable? Duh.

Remember the last play of the Saints loss that lost Garcia his job? Fourth and five, everyone stop at the sticks, Fujita with that pick.

Jon, next time you get a third and one or fourth and one, fake it to Earnest Graham (he is now the fullback in short yardage and gets the ball every time) and throw it to your tight end running all by himself to the end zone!!

That may be a bit much to ask because that is old school philosophy and not quite sophisticated enough for this Bucs offense.

Bucs strong safety Jermaine Phillips could miss several games with an injury. Will Bruce Allen bring in John Lynch for a look?

No official word yet on strong safety Jermaine Phillips’ injury, but Jon Gruden talked Monday about Sabby Piscitelli needing to step up big time in Phillips’ absence.

Bucs Beat at TampaBay.com is reporting Phillips possibly broke his arm against Dallass.

“We’re going to miss him,” Kiffin said. When pressed, Kiffin wouldn’t get too specific on the diagnosis. “But that’s why we have Sabby Piscitelli. He’ll do good. He’s got to come through for us. And we’ve got Will Allen. He’s got to be ready to rotate now.”

Phillips was injured in the first half and did not re-enter the game. He later appeared on the sidelines with his arm in a sling. He was unavailable for comment after the game.

Joe must raise the possibility of John Lynch being signed by the Bucs.

The former Bucs legend said recently he is in great shape and sitting by the phone waiting to return to the league. Lynch was the Broncos defensive captain last year and reportedly left the club to find a team that would assure him of starter’s minutes on the field.

Joe knows Piscitelli, a Bucs 2007 second-round pick, is a great talent. But he has been fragile throughout his first two seasons.  If Lynch is willing to be a role player in the Bucs safety rotation, then he could be a fantastic option for the short term.

He surely would be more valuable on the roster than, say, Dexter Jackson.

When the Bucs needed a big play in the second half against the Cowboys, it was a bunch of second-stringers seemingly shutting down Tampa Bay receivers downfield.

Four reserves in the Cowboys secondary shut down the Bucs passing game in the second half. Injuries and a suspension left Dallass with four second-stringers in its nickel package.

Dallas cornerback Anthony Henry left the game in the third quarter with a bruised thigh. He joined cornerback Terence Newman, suspended cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones and safety Roy Williams out of the lineup.

Dallas Morning News columnist Tim Cowlishaw took a fair shot at the pathetic Bucs passing attack.

When Jeff Garcia was trying to pass the Buccaneers into the end zone on the final drive, he was going against a nickel defense that featured safety Ken Hamlin and four guys who wouldn’t have been there if not for injuries and a suspension.

With no Terrence Newman, Adam Jones, [Anthony] Henry or Roy Willams, the Cowboys turned to rookies Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick and ’07 seventh-rounders Alan Ball and Courtney Brown.

And at day’s end, Garcia had thrown 44 passes for a meager 5.2 yards per attempt and no touchdowns.

Joe still can’t understand why the Bucs can’t get the ball down the field with Garcia, Galloway, Bryant and a decent tight end unit. Oh, yeah, it must be Chucky’s mysterious “running back shortage.

Chucky's blaming his offensive woes in Dallas on a "shortage of running backs." One problem: There is no shortage.

And the Oscar for Most Ridiculous Quote of the Year goes to … Jon Gruden. Cue the laugh track.

Here it is, spewed only minutes after the game, from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.  Joe recommends a deep breath before reading this one. 

Chucky on the Bucs: “It’s hard to call plays right now. We have a shortage of running backs. It hurt our team today. We had six straight penalties on the drive. Obviously, it was very deflating. We move the ball pretty good, but we have to score touchdowns to win in this league.”

Joe can’t believe the spin Chucky babbles with a straight face. Shortage of running backs? Who is missing?

Warrick Dunn was limited in the Dallas game with a nerve injury, but Earnest Graham is a workhorse back who is one of the most versatile players in the league.  And Michael Bennett is a healthy, young former 1,000-yard rusher buried on the bench.

Joe’s got a bad feeling Chucky is partially referring to Cadillac Williams. Caddy hasn’t played in over a year and returned to practice last week. If Chucky’s banking on Williams contributing, there isn’t much hope for the Bucs season.

Thanks for the laugh, Coach.

"Jeff, I know we need a touchdown, but don't throw it in the end zone."

Time to bust out the barf bags, after you finish screaming at Chucky for failing to throw the ball in the freakin’ end zone on the final drive.

You needed a touchdown coach. Take a shot!

So the Bucs enter the Dallas debacle with Joey Galloway healthy, Jeff Garcia sharp, the offensive line in tact and Antonio Bryant coming off a breakout game. Throw in workhorse Earnest Graham feeling good and Ike Hilliard back on the field, and that’s as healthy as it gets for Week 8 in the NFL.

And the Bucs put only nine points on the scoreboard.

It was the first time this season the Cowboys’ defense had held its opponent to under 10 points!

Some genius this Chucky is.

The Cowboys defense won the majority of battles with the Bucs offensive line, but they didn’t outplay them enough to have held them to nine points?

It’s time to start wondering whether the Bucs have enough offense to win a playoff game.

Today they played a playoff defense and wet themselves.

Chucky is in love with veteran quarterbacks yet avoids using seasoned punt and kick returners

Joe is stunned the Bucs pulled rookie Clifton Smith off the practice squad yesterday and thrust him into the game against Dallas as the No. 1 kick returner and punt returner.

Where was the logic there? Where was the sense of urgency for this critical conference game?

Obviously, benching rookie scaredy cat Dexter “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” Jackson, was a wise move. But throwing Smith into the top returner role was foolish.  And it cost the Bucs dearly.

Smith, 23, a free agent signing out of Fresno State, got off to a good start in the return game, but later fumbled for the Bucs first turnover. Dallas didn’t turn that into points. But Smith’s late-game screwup helped lose the game.

The Cowboys punted to Smith with four minutes remaning. He panicked and called for a fair catch and caught the punt on the Bucs 26 yard line with nobody within seven yards of him. NOBODY.

It was a classic rookie mistake by a rookie who didn’t belong in the game.

That play cost the Bucs at least 5 to 10 yards.  And likely precious time on the clock as they failed on the game-ending drive.

We’ve seen Michael Clayton return kicks, as well as Mr. Invisible, Michael Bennett. Remember him? Also, the Bucs had Ike Hilliard available and Joey Galloway. Hilliard had already lined up as a punt returner for the punt following Smith’s fumble.

Chucky is in love with veteran quarterbacks. It’s time for him to start dating seasoned returners.

Gaines Adams dropped Brad Johnson late in the first half on Sunday for the Bucs first sack in 16 quarters

It had been 16 quarters since the Bucs last sack, when Gaines Adams dropped Dallas quarterback Brad Johnson for a loss late in the second quarter on Sunday.

Oooooooh.

Sack No. 2 came late in the fourth quarter. Ryan Sims drove Johnson to the turf for a big loss with 4 1/2 minutes left in the game to set up the Bucs final drive.

To find fault with the Bucs defense would be unfair nitpicking – other than their needless penalties. Tampa Bay allowed just 13 points to Dallass and did enough to win. 

Chucky can’t rely on defensive scores every week.   

However, the pass rush wasn’t what it could have been against Johnson, an old stiff stuck in the pocket.  As Joe says every week, the Bucs need to start getting to quarterbacks consistently, or they will be burned by the good ones every time.

A rash of penalties on the Bucs defense late in the first half gave Dallass its lone touchdown of the game, and eventually gave the Cowboys the win.

BUCS LOSE 13-9 @ Dallas

The Bucs looked as if they would go into the locker room at halftime tied. Maybe down by a field goal. Dallass had the ball just on the cusp of field goal range when the Bucs decided to have a mental meltdown.

The Bucs started commiting penalty after penalty, continuing to give Dallass first down after first down. Finally, giving Dallass a first-and-goal at the four, Brad Johnson completes an easy short pass for a touchdoown and a 10-6 lead.

Joe sensed at the time that might cost the Bucs. And it did.

The Bucs finished the game in easy field goal range unable to convert a four-and-four. A chip shot field goal, had the defense not allowed the late first half implosion, would have tied the game or given the Bucs a win.

Gotta give credit to Dallass’ defense. It played great. Of course the big time first half catch by Michael Clayton used up his quota of big catches for the season. The next time his name will be called the rest of the year will be on a dropped pass.

A frustrating loss. Hopefully the Rays won’t completely ruin Joe’s day.

As usual, Joe has some halftime thoughts:

* Nice meltdown by the Bucs defense on Dallass’ last drive of the half. By being moronic, the Bucs gave the Cowboys four first downs and a short touchdown. That is very, very huge for Dallass.

* Are Joe’s eyes still foggy from staying up late and watching the Rays or did Joe actually see a White Tiger on the field?

* When was the last time Michael Clayton made a big catch? His catch in the first quarter to extend a Bucs drive was fantastic. Joe can’t remember the last time he did that, if ever.

* In the second quarter the Cowboys seem to be running right at Gaines Adams when he is lined up at right end. The Bucs defensive end is a good pass rusher and pretty good at dropping back into pass coverage but from the past couple of games, including the first half, that Joe has charted Adams he is not very good at tackling when the ball carrier is coming right at him. Often a ball carrier puts a simple move on Adams and he is toast.

* Settling for field goals isn’t going to get the job done today Chucky.

Bucs (5-2) at Cowboys (4-3)
Week 8
Kickoff: 1 p.m.
TV: FOX, WTVT Channel 13.
Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network (in Tampa WFUS-FM, 103.5 and WDAE-AM, 620); Sirius Channel 118.
Weather: Per AccuWeather.com, fantastic weather with temperatures in the mid-70s at kickoff rising to 81 toward the end of the game under sunny skies.
Odds: Per Bodog.com, Dallass -2.
Outlook: The Cowboys are sitting ducks for the Bucs. This is a team that is in the midst of circling the drain. No Tony Romo means the menacing Bucs defense will have a new target and a familiar one: Brad Johnson.
Some “experts” claim Johnson, the former Bucs Super Bowl-winning quarterback, knows the Bucs defense and will pick them apart. This is one of the best jokes Joe has heard in weeks.
Johnson is 40-years old. He never had much of an ability to throw the long ball. He threw three interceptions against St. Louis. The Lambs’ defense is not even remotely close to the same league as the Bucs. Additionally, since Johnson can’t throw deep, look for the Bucs to give up the long pass and dare him to throw deep.
Since Johnson is slightly more mobile than the pirate ship at the CITS, the Bucs will likely blitz all game long.
In short, if the Bucs don’t win this game, Chucky should be ashamed to show his contorted face all next week.

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As he does each week, Joe documents Bucs defensive end Gaines Adams’ every move on the field.

NIP: Not in the play.
NOF: Not on the field.

Seattle – 14:53
First possession
1st-10, SEA12 14:53 Wallace passed to Carlson to the right for 6 yard gain.
Stood up by Walter Jones then backs off.
2nd-4, SEA18 14:21 Wallace incomplete pass to the right.
Scoots past Jones but Jones steers Adams past Wallace.
3rd-4, SEA18 14:15 Wallace passed to Colbert to the right for 8 yard gain.
At left end Adams goes around Sean Locklear approaches Wallace from behind but Wallace gets the ball away just before Adams gets him.
1st-10, SEA26 13:42 Jones rushed to the left for 2 yard gain.
Jones owns Adams initially but Adams slips away and gets a tackle.
2nd-8, SEA28 13:03 Jones rushed to the left for 2 yard gain.
Slips outside Jones and then runs inside.
3rd-6, SEA30 12:18 Wallace incomplete pass to the left.
Drops back into pass coverage and is nearly in the play.

Seattle – 9:05
Second possession
1st-10, SEA33 9:05 Jones rushed to the left for 8 yard gain
Walter Jones pushes Adams inside as Julius Jones runs outside.
2nd-2, SEA41 8:33 Jones rushed to the left for no gain
Drops back into pass coverage. NIP.
3rd-2, SEA41 7:48 Wallace incomplete pass to the right
Flies past tight end John Carlson and gets a hand on Wallace but Wallace gets the pass away.

Seattle – 4:13
Third possession
1st-10, SEA15 4:13 Wallace incomplete pass to the right
Jones toys with Adams. NIP.
2nd-10, SEA15 4:06 Morris rushed to the left for 1 yard gain
Adams runs a stunt inside and gets caught in the scrum. NIP.
3rd-9, SEA16 3:24 Wallace incomplete pass to the right
At left end Adams races past Locklear and deflects Wallace’s pass.

2nd Quarter
Seattle – 12:48
Fourth possession
1st-10, SEA4 12:48 Morris rushed to the left for 2 yard gain.
Pulls back at the snap. NIP.
2nd-8, SEA6 12:17 Wallace passed to Robinson to the left for 6 yard gain.
Jones locks up Adams but Adams nearly gets a paw on the pass.
3rd-2, SEA12 11:35 SEA committed 6 yard penalty.
Bursts through the line and has a shot at a tackle for a loss but Jones runs right past him.
3rd-8, SEA6 11:03 Wallace passed to Weaver down the middle for 6 yard gain.
Bottled up by Jones Adams escapes to get an assist.

Seattle – 6:06
Fifth possession
1st-10, SEA31 6:06 Talib intercepted Wallace for 19 yards
Runs right past Jones and nearly gets to Wallace but the Seahawks quarterback just gets the ball away in time.

Seattle – 3:01
Sixth possession
1st-10, TB33 3:01 Jones rushed to the left for 3 yard gain
Jones shoves him outside but releases Adams too soon as Adams gets an assist.
2nd-7, TB30 2:26 Wallace rushed up the middle for no gain. Wallace fumbled. Ruud recovered fumble
NIP.

3rd Quarter
Seventh possession
Seattle – 12:32
1st-10, TB25 12:32 Wallace passed to Morris down the middle for 8 yard gain.
Jones holds Adams but no flag.
2nd-2, TB17 12:06 Morris rushed up the middle for 3 yard gain.
Adams cuts inside and gets an assist.
1st-10, TB14 11:37 Morris rushed to the left for 2 yard gain.
Blows past Jones from a wide split, cuts inside and gets the tackle.2nd-8, TB12 11:09 Wallace incomplete pass to the right.
Drops back into pass coverage in the right flat.
3rd-8, TB12 11:02 Wallace passed to Morris down the middle for 4 yard gain.
At left end stutter-steps past Carlson but gets no pressure on Wallace.

Seattle – 8:11
Eighth possession
1st-10, SEA35 8:11 Morris rushed to the right for 45 yard gain.
Slides into the fight flat and then turns inside and is lost in the middle of blockers.
1st-10, TB20 7:41 Wallace incomplete pass to the right.
Adams loops right and gets past block but gets no pressure.2nd-10, TB20 7:36 Wallace passed to Jones to the right for 5 yard loss.
Curls inside. NIP.
3rd-15, TB25 6:50 TB committed 5 yard penalty.
Adams jumps offsides.
3rd-10, TB20 6:43 Wallace incomplete pass to the left.
At left end Adams is grabbed by Carlson and nearly tackled but no flag.

Seattle – 1:09
Ninth possession
1st-10, SEA16 1:09 Wallace rushed up the middle for 6 yard gain.
Bottled up at the line and shifts inside and has a shot at Wallace but Wallace puts a move on him and Adams whiffs at an open-field tackle.
2nd-4, SEA22 0:40 Morris rushed to the left for 3 yard gain.
Despite coming in from a wide split, Jones throws him to the outside.
4th Quarter
Seattle continued
3rd-1, SEA25 15:00 Duckett rushed to the left for 1 yard loss
Cuts inside and misses a shot at Duckett.

Seattle – 4:24
10th possession
1st-10, 50 4:24 Wallace passed to Colbert down the middle for 10 yard gain.
Fakes outside and cuts inside but is lost in the scrum.
1st-10, TB40 4:02 Wallace incomplete pass to the right.
Shoved outside by Jones.
2nd-10, TB40 3:56 Wallace passed to Engram to the right for 8 yard gain.
At left end Adams rolls around block but gets no pressure on Wallace.
3rd-2, TB32 3:32 Jones rushed up the middle for 21 yard gain.
Shoots past blockers but Julius Jones runs inside.
1st-10, TB11 2:56 Wallace passed to Carlson to the right for 3 yard gain.
NOF.
2nd-7, TB8 2:23 Wallace incomplete pass down the middle.
NOF.
3rd-7, TB8 2:17 Jones rushed to the right for 6 yard gain.
At left end Adams fires past Ray Willis but overruns Jones.
4th-1, TB2 1:55 Wallace passed to Carlson to the right for 2 yard touchdown. O. Mare made PAT.
At left end Adams sheds the initial block by Carlson and shoots at Wallace but Wallace is able to get the pass away.
Seattle – 0:06
11th possession1st-10, SEA35 0:06 Wallace passed to Robinson to the left for 17 yard gain.
NOF.

For the second week in a row, the Bucs were better off without quarterback Brett Favre.

Joe provides his weekly take on what almost-Bucs quarterback Brett Favre would have done had he been with the Bucs and if the Bucs are better off without him.

For the second week in a row, Jeff Garcia is the winner and Joe is happy.

Last week in the Bucs 33-10 win over Seattle, Garcia completed 27 of 36 passes with one touchdown and no interceptions. Garcia threw for 310 yards and was sacked once.

Detroit’s offsite quarterback coach, playing in a 16-13 overtime loss to the Raiders, connected on 17 of 30 passes for 203 yards and a touchdown with two sacks and no interceptions.

For the second week in a row, the Bucs were better off with Garcia than Favre.

As one can expect, Joe has the all important NFL Network videos related to the Bucs-Cowboys game, even though Roger Goodell’s boys refuse to provice embed codes.

First up is NFL Films’ always solid preview. Steve Sabol and his crew are national treasures.

Next up is analysis of the game from NFL Network’s Rich Eisen, Jamie Dukes and Rod Woodson. The trio break down why Chucky is mentally unstable to suggest Son of Bob start at quarterback.

Lastly, AccuWeather.com offers a video forecast of the game.

Chucky seems to have a crush on Bucs cornerback Aqib Talib.

Joe loved the first round pick of Aqib Talib in this spring’s draft. And thanks to Talib’s play, the Bucs may have the best, deepest secondary in the NFL.

And Talib isn’t a starter yet.

It seems Chucky is smitten with Talib, according to an article in the Tampa Tribune by Woody Cummings. Chucky likes Talib’s personality and ballhawking skills.

“Talib has a great charismatic personality and, to be honest with you, I think this game needs players like that,” Gruden said. “I know our team does.”

The Bucs pick of Talib really solidified the Bucs defense. There is no weakness in the defense. The best thing about Talib is that with such a deep secondary, Bucs coaches can rotate the players thereby keeping them fresh for not only the second half of games, but the playoffs.

JoeBucsFan.com analyst Steve Campbell gives Bucs right tackle Jeremy Trueblood a game ball for his play in the Bucs win over Seattle.

JoeBucsFan.com analyst Steve Campbell reviews the Bucs’ offensive line play in Week 7 and projects what fans can expect against the Dallass Cowboys on Sunday.

In the 1990s, Campbell was a NCAA Division I lineman and played semipro football (he likes to say he was a tackling dummy for a future NFL defenisve tackle). His analysis appears here weekly.

The Bucs offensive line turned in another solid, if not spectacular performance last week against Seattle. I was critical earlier in the season of Jon Gruden’s abandonment of the run and his tendency to throw too much. Jeff Garcia and the Bucs came out slinging but I think this was the way to attack Seattle.

The Seahawks showed the “loaded box” look that Chicago used against the Bucs in Week 3 when Brian Griese attempted 67 passes in an exciting overtime Bucs win. Seattle used mostly eight-man fronts and sometimes loaded the box with nine defensive players daring the Bucs to throw. Considering that, a 36/38 run/pass ratio is pretty good in my book.

The pass protection was outstanding. Besides the one sack by Seattle, I could count only two times where Jeff Garcia came close to being hit as he threw: Both the result of blitzes. I didn’t see one time where a Bucs offensive lineman was beaten in a one-on-one type pass protection situation. Jeremy Trueblood (more on him later), specifically, was very good in pass protection. Just like in the Chicago and Green Bay games, Trueblood shut down a top notch defensive end. This time it was Patrick Kerney that Trueblood was neutralizing.

I wouldn’t fret too much as a Tampa Bay fan about the Bucs’s 2.5 yards per carry average for this game. As stated earlier, it’s tough to run in the NFL when teams are loading the box with eight and nine men. There is just no room to run anywhere. The good news is, even with their depleted wide receiver corps, the Bucs made the Seahawks pay for their strategy. Expect teams to loosen up the box a little more, and hopefully Gruden will take advantage of this, and run the ball.

Though the Bucs offensive line played well, the Bucs tight ends did not have their best night. There were several times where all five offensive linemen made their blocks, and a tight end was beaten in one-on-one run blocks.

Game ball: It was a tough call, but my game ball goes to right tackle Jeremy Trueblood who was very good pass protecting, and I continue to love his aggressiveness in the run game. Opposing defensive players that are “pile watchers” better watch themselves when playing the Bucs. Trueblood goes to the whistle every play and is always looking for somebody to hit that is standing around watching the tackle.

Normally, I would also tell you about any Bucs offensive lineman who didn’t have their best night, but I honestly thought they all played pretty well.

Against Dallas the Bucs face a defensive team whose back is against the wall. That scares me a bit, because the last time we faced this type of defense, it was the Denver Broncos, and that was a forgettable day for the Tampa Bay offense. Also, Dallas runs a 3-4 defense, and historically, these types of defenses have given the Bucs fits. At nose tackle, the Cowboys go with Jay Ratliff (6-4, 302). Ratliff has been a very active, overachieving player. The same can’t be said for the defensive ends of the Cowboys. Marcus Spears and Chris Canty have been major disappointments this year and for most of their short careers in Dallas. With the exception of DeMarcus Ware (a sack in 10 straight games), the Dallas linebackers have been very average.
Zach Thomas and Bradie James have been gashed lately in the middle. Thomas looks like a player that is on the definite downswing of his career.

This is a great opportunity for the Bucs this week. Dallas has been a team that has been run on this year, and if the Bucs offensive line can give Garcia time to throw, their depleted secondary can also be exploited.

Joe got a few chuckles from reading today’s touchy-feely Bucs love story in the Tampa Tribune.

Anwar Richardson writes about how the Bucs locker room is so unified that players credit their closeness with the team’s 5-2 record.

First, Joe smiled when he read about the street smarts of Jeff Garcia. It turns out Garcia, according to the story, picks up Jerramy  Stevens every morning and drives him to One Buc Place. Stevens, The King of Turds, has a suspended driver’s license.

Wisely, Garcia has decided that if you have an accused rapist and overall thug on your team, then its best to make friends with the guy as a way to protect your beautiful wife and new baby daughter.

While Jeff Garcia may drive Jerramy Stevens to work, Joe has a hunch he doesn't allow Stevens around his lovely wife Carmella, shown above.

Second, Joe thought it was funny that Richardson made no effort in the story to include a contrasting viewpoint or provide any comparison to past Bucs locker rooms. Not that Richardson would have found a player who would dare say something could be negative in Chucky’s world, but it would have been nice – and appropriate – to try.

Third, Joe has heard so many times on local sports radio in past years about how Jon Gruden has lost the locker room, about how the players secretly hate him because they are not treated professionally, and about how no top free agents will want to come here because of what it’s like to play in Tampa. Uhhhh, now what do yo say, Guys?

That’s OK. Gruden’s not listening anyway, as he told the Dallas media this week.

“You’ve got to sometimes not listen to the elevator music. You’ve got to be mentally tough and believe in your program. Fortunately, I’ve been able to surround myself with really good players who have a good, strong sense of loyalty and respect.”

The reality is the Bucs play hard for Gruden. That’s been true in good times and bad. It’s an undeniable fact.

Players liking each other is nice, but it’s totally irrelevant, as long as they leave it all on the field on Sundays.

NBCSports.com’s Tom Curran, in his weekly “Rising and Falling” segment can’t seem to say enough good things about Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia, claiming Garcia is the kind of quarterback Tony Romo wishes he was.

But Curran is not so kind to Chucky, blasting the Bucs coach for even suggesting Son of Bob should be starting at some point instead of Garcia. Joe is confident Carmella will enjoy this. Bucs fans may as well.

Antonio Bryant is about to break out, so writes Mike Henry of the Bradenton Herald.

He’s been slowly getting better, slowly catching more and more passes. So it’s not without reason to suggest that Bucs wide receiver Antonio Bryant is on the cusp of breaking out, so writes Mike Henry of the Bradenton Herald.

As Henry, a noted horseman, suggests, sometimes it’s wise to forget the past and concentrate on the present. Henry infers this is what Chucky is doing in relation to Bryant.

“Everybody at some point probably doesn’t agree with some authority,” Gruden said of Bryant’s off-field problems, which included a late-2006 arrest in which he was charged with reckless driving, driving under the influence and resisting arrest, leading to a four-game suspension.

“Maybe in hindsight, Antonio could have used better judgment. But I don’t want to rehash the past. I can only judge what he has done here. I think he recognizes the future is now and he has to take advantage of this opportunity.

What Bryant has done in the past pales in comparison to the King of Turds. But Bryant thus far has been, from all accounts, a model citizen and an even better receiver. With the White Tiger’s status a mystery and so many Bucs wide receivers getting banged up, Bryant has a rare opportunity to go from backup to star in just a few games.

With a Bucs win over the Cowboys Sunday, Tony Dungy will no longer be the Bucs winningest coach. Chucky will.

Joe really appreciates Tony Dungy, the man.

Joe is thankful for Tony Dungy, the former Bucs coach.

But Joe long ago grew weary of the hero worship and deification of Tony Dungy the Bucs coach from a large segment of Bucs fans. To hear these Bucs fans speak, Dungy was a mixture of Paul Brown, Nostradamus, Clara Barton and the Messiah all rolled into one.

So for these same sycophants — Joe refers to them as “Dungyphiles” — Joe politely suggests they should find a seat and begin preparations to seek some sort of therapy after reading the following sentence.

With a win over the Cowboys Sunday, Chucky will become the winningest coach in Bucs franchise history, as Anwar Richardson of the Tampa Tribune points out.

“I try not to think too much about those types of things,” said Gruden, in his seventh season with the Bucs. “I just feel like I have a great responsibility here. I’m very fortunate to have been surrounded by a lot of great and talented people, and I just want to win the next game. Whether it’s 28 games or 33 games you’ve won in your career, it really doesn’t matter. We need to win our sixth game.”.

Despite the risk of creating a flamewar, Joe is happy to learn this piece of information. First and foremost, this record suggests the Bucs have been successful under Chucky. And they have.

Is Dungy a good man? No, he’s a great man.

Was Dungy good for the Bucs? Certainly.

Was it a good thing the Glazer Boys turned the page and showed Dungy the door? Absolutely!

But if Joe somehow won a monster lottery and could buy an NFL team, Joe would give away a good chunk of that team to hire Dungy as a director of football operations, not, however, as coach.