Chucky must explain calling a timing route for Galloway on 3rd and 6 with the game on the line.

So much to say about this loss to the Saints. But first, what the heck is with 3rd-and-6 on the final drive and Gruden calls a sideline timing route for Galloway?

Garcia and Gruden were out of sync most of the game, and before that they weren’t on the field together since last season?  This was a horrendous call. Executing that route typically takes a tremendous amount of practice time.

And another thing. Where was Earnest Graham after his breakout run? Where was the running game today? It was working, but seemed to disappear late, as usual.

Strange game. Ugly loss when your defense gives up 400+ yards.

Joe will have more on this game later today. But let’s just say he’s irate at Garcia’s last pass that was intercepted. For that Carmella should shut him off for the week.

And no, this is not an excuse to post Carmella’s likeness.

Since Joe is at home watching the game, he has some quick first half thoughts:

1. Bucs pass defense looks really sharp. Sure, can’t be perfect. But after that early Saints score they have played lockdown defense.

2. Running game is working OK for the Bucs. Can’t understand why they aren’t running more.

3. Although Garcia is not particularly sharp (what a shock!) that was a sweet pass to Antonio Bryant over the middle that set up the go-ahead field goal at the end of the first half.

4. Speaking of field goals, nice to see Matt Bryant snap out of his slump. Or is he in a slump anymore?

5. Bucs got absolutely robbed earlier in the second quarter when Reggie Bush got blown up (or as Emmitt Smith would say, “Blowed up.”) by Ronde Barber. If Bush didn’t have control of that ball, then his girlfriend doesn’t have an oversized caboose.

No, Joe hasn’t had any beer yet today.

Yet!

Buccaneers at Saints
Week 1
Kickoff: Sunday, 1 p.m.
TV: WTVT Channel 13.
Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network (in Tampa WFUS-FM, 103.5 and WDAE-AM, 620); Sirius Channel 140.
Weather: The game is played in a soulless dome, though if a dome ever had a soul it would be the Louisiana Superdome. The French Quarter being a few short blocks away does make up for the f’ing roof. Constant temperature of 72. If Bucs fans travel to New Orleans, AccuWeather.com predicts temperatures outside amid the tourists, diners and drunks of Bourbon Street to be in the mid-80s under partly sunny skies. If you do happen to be in New Orleans this weekend, Joe is jealous.
Odds: From Bodog.com: New Orleans -3.5.
Outlook: As it has so often in Bucs history, the game will come down to the Bucs’ defense. With Deuce McAllister healthy and Reggie Bush apparently washing his hands of that lardass brunette Paris Hilton-wannabe girlfriend of his, and, of course Drew Brees, this game will test the Bucs’ defenders.
Those in the know claim the Saints’ defense is a sieve. But the Bucs struggled mightily against New Orleans last year on the road, and if not for a moronic play called by Saints coach Sean Payton (who Joe went to college with) near the end of the game which allowed the Bucs to get a turnover, score a quick touchdown and steal a win, the Bucs would have lost.
It also concerns Joe that Jeff Garcia (sore pinky) and Joey Galloway (troublesome groin) have not played in any worthless preseason games and their practice time has been limited. How well these two guys can flip the switch will go a long way to determine how the Bucs fare. Look for the largely ignored Tampa Bay running game to move the chains.

Chucky and Jeff Garcia could be embarking on a season of play-calling clashes.

Year 2 in Jon Gruden’s offense should make Jeff Garcia a more effective quarterback. Right?

Well, not so fast. Joe isn’t naive enough to agree to that.

But if nothing else, Year 2 should see Garcia become a more controlling quarterback. All that system knowledge will let him command more of the game, by changing play calls more frequently. Offensive coordinator Gruden and Garcia clashed over play calling last year, but it was all love at the end of the day, as the Bucs were winning and Garcia had stellar execution most of the season.

Given their strained relationship after the Favre flirtations, Garcia now might take more liberties. It’ll be interesting.

Bucs beat writer Rick Stroud takes another look inside the relationship between Gruden and Garcia in Sunday’s edition of The St. Petersburg Times.  Joe recommends it. Here’s one of many good quotes.

Gruden gives his quarterbacks a lot of options for play-calling at the line of scrimmage, but he doesn’t want them to forget who’s running the offense.

“(Rich) Gannon and I came to blows the last year (in Oakland) because he knew more than me,” Gruden said. “I didn’t know what the hell we were doing? I would tell him, ‘Can I call one play? Please, I want to run the ball here. Will you run it?’ We’re not right there (with Garcia) right now. Sometimes he’d audible and I’d be screaming, ‘No, no, no, no!’ He’d yell, ‘Hey, shut up!’

“That’s the way we want to play at times. When you have confidence in somebody, the best way to show your confidence is to give him a lot of stuff and let him play.”

Joe says it's time to show more repect to the Bucs' Warrior in Chief.

Has a quarterback who almost single-handedly turned a franchise around ever taken so much grief from management and fans?

Meet Jeff Garcia. The man who saved Jon Gruden’s job.

Joe constantly encounters Bucs fans who think Garcia is a fragile, old wussy just one hit from retirement. Some loons even suggest Brian Griese might be a better QB for the Bucs right now.

Joe is astounded by the sheer stupidity and lack of loyalty shown by so many. Simply put, Garcia is the team leader and the playmaker on an offense woefully lacking big-play talent.

So here comes Jeff for opening day. His pinky is sore and he didn’t play much in preaseason.  Oooh. That should really slow him down.

The take here is that Garcia will be out there Sunday skillfully ducking and dodging the pass rush and running for his life when he has to, making plays few in this league could make, even at 38 years old. He’ll connect deep a few times and move the chains, and manage to avoid the stupid throws that hurt so much on the road.

He’ll lead the Bucs to victory.

Garcia’s got the total respect of his teammates. Let’s hope fans and Bucs management get back on that bandwagon.

You may have heard this already, but Jeff Garcia is hurt. Sort of.

Garcia has a bum finger.

To be more precise, he has a sore pinky. To be even more direct, the pinkie in question is on this throwing hand.  Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune got to the bottom of this Watergate-esque story.

“I actually sprained it in the one exhibition game I played,’’ Garcia said. “My hand came down on someone’s shoulder pad and I sprained it. But it’s fine really. It’s not a problem at all. I don’t even know why it would be an issue.’’

OK, loyal readers of JoeBucsFan.com. You know what’s coming. Yes, this gives Joe yet another shameless excuse to let Carmella grace our pages. Joe doesn’t suspect there will many complaints.

You are welcome.

Joe is confident Jeff's wife Carmella knows how to make his sore pinkie feel much better.

Despite his ferocious look, Big Nasty is actually a big teddy bear.

Not sure if any Bucs fan has seen “Big Nasty” at a Bucs game, but that rhinoceros beak he has on his Bucs helmet could do some damage at a tailgate party. Some years ago Big Nasty was  recognized as the preeminent Bucs fan (with apologies to Gov. Charlie Crist).

Big Nasty has become so much a staple that BSPN.com recently annointed him as the No. 1 Bucs fan on the planet. Despite all the attention, Big Nasty – who Joe believes is from Largo not Key Largo – seems humble.

“When the Bucs win,” he said, “it’s like a part of me won.”

Joe wonders how many days (weeks?) it took Big Nasty to recover when the Bucs won the Super Bowl?

JoeBucsFan.com analyst Steve Campbell likes Jeremy Trueblood but thinks he can still improve his game.

Joe would like to welcome JoeBucsFan.com analyst Steve Campbell to the fold. Campbell played offensive line in both college and semi-pro football in the 1990s (he likes to say he was a tackling dummy for a future NFL defensive tackle). Campbell’s specialty, of course, is the offensive line. His analysis will appear weekly. Campbell currently is a freelance football writer for several publications.

Today, Campbell gives Bucs fans a glimpse of what to look for this season, and in the season-opener against the Saints.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers roll into the Superdome to open the 2008 season, and have what many Bucs fans think is the potential for the best offensive line in franchise history. Despite the unfortunate injury of right guard Davin Joseph, the Bucs feel they are in good hands with heady rookie Jeremy Zuttah lined up next to center, and free agent acquisition, Jeff Faine. Joseph should return in  a few weeks. Faine, who I think is a significant upgrade over last year’s center, John Wade, is the oldest member of the Bucs offensive line at just 27-years old.

The biggest question for Bucs fans will be how Faine and tackle Jeremy Trueblood will mesh with Zuttah. Here’s what Bucs fans should look for: (Read the rest of the story.)

Bucs great Derrick Brooks breaks down the most dominant offenses he has faced during his 13-year NFL career.

 In a story published earlier this week, Bucs linebacker Derrick Brooks told Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News of the top five offenses he has faced since being drafted by the Bucs.

Joe’s not going to give away the list. But in the story, Brooks credits the Brett Favre-led Green Bay Packers for making the Bucs’ defense what it is today.

“… they made us play physical,” Brooks said.

The article is short, but it’s pretty interesting. Give the link a click.

Defensive lineman Kevin Carter just might play some tight end for the Bucs this season.

Chucky likes to be a little different at times. Oh, that Chucky.

In 2002, the glorious season in which the Bucs won the Super Bowl, Chucky liked to use Warren Sapp as a blocking tight end, once even throwing the ball to the former Miami Hurricanes tight end (later turned defensive tackle) Sapp for a touchdown.
This year that blocking tight end in goal line formations could be Kevin Carter. PewterReport.com tells the story of how Carter made his NFL tight end debut in training camp and is hoping he logs some playing time this season with the offense.

“I’m trying, begging and pleading, but whether or not Coach Gruden will call my number, we’ll have to see,” said Carter.

Joe likes the concept of a bruising defensive lineman coming in on occasion to throw a linebacker on his back. Despite the defensive lineman already wearing down playing on the defensive side of the ball, the off chance he gets to play offense usually kicks in the juices and he is likely to deliver a bigger hitthan a standard tight end throwing another – in his eyes – mundane block.

TBO.com has a new interesting feature dubbed “The Martin Chronicles” which is a podcast hosted by Tampa Tribune sports columnist Martin Fennelly.

In this podcast, Fennelly is joined by Tribune Bucs beat writer eye-RAH Kaufman. The podcast is 10 minutes long and both touch on some really interesting Bucs topics. It’s a good listen. Joe strongly endorses it.

An 0-4 start in 2007 has the Saints' attention.

Joe knows you’ve heard a lot about how the Saints will be playing for the storm-ravaged residents of New Orleans on Sunday against the Bucs at the Superdome. That’ll surely be a theme on the FOX broadcast.

But the Saints’ state of mind seems to have been clearly laid out by Coach Sean Payton in an interview with The Advocate.

And it appears the team’s collective mindset will be on the disaster of last season, rather than the destruction of Hurricane Gustav.

The Saints marched to the NFC Championship game after the 2006 season. But the highly touted 2007 Saints were routed by Indianapolis on opening day en route to an 0-4 start. They missed the playoffs with a 7-9 finish.

When asked what he learned most last year, Payton didn’t hesitate.

“You learn how important it is to start the season off well,” he said. “You learn how important the turnover ratio is. These are lessons that we know, yet they’re pounded in again each year when you start a season. I think we have a chance to be a better football team after some of the challenges we had a year ago.”

Joe’s been around enough teams to know that the Saints will play this game Sunday with maximum intensity. The odds of them coming out flat are slim.

But whether they have enough juice on defense to stop the Bucs from controlling the clock and field position, that’s a long shot.

Brett Favre took a shot at complicated playbooks this week.

The theater would have been spectacular. Brett Favre preparing for opening day as Bucs quarterback while telling the media that intricate playbooks are overrated.

Coach Gruden, known for his biblical playbook, wouldn’t have had to set his famous alarm clock for 3:17 a.m. anymore. He’d be awake 24/7 stressing about what the Gunslinger would improvise in New Orleans on Sunday.

Favre told the Bergen Record this week that there’s a lot of needless fluff in NFL offenses.

“I’d be lying if I said I was completely comfortable [with the playbook],” he said, “but I feel really confident in what we have in right now. [It] may be a little bit less than what they would have had in had I not come here. Believe me, each and every playbook across the league, you can go to bat with a lot less than what they put in. … It just comes down to execution.

Favre has quickly earned a reputation in the Big Apple for his candid comments.

Joe knows Favre might not have won much in Tampa, but he sure would have turned Chucky’s gameday face a few shades closer to Buccaneers’ red.

Joe's certain that Rachel Watson's power ranking would be extremely high.

Joe has been surfing a bit and came across some opening power rankings of NFL teams. BSPN.com, SI.com and CBSSports.com each have their power rankings up.

Former Tampa Tribune Bucs beat writer Pat Yasinskas has the Bucs ranked No. 15 in the NFL.

“Defense looked strong in the preseason. But QB Jeff Garcia and WR Joey Galloway missed lots of practice time with injuries and might not be sharp right away.”

Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com isn’t as high on Tampa Bay. He has the Bucs listed at No. 19.

“The big question all season will be whether Jeff Garcia can recapture the magic from 2007. If not, the fans will be killing the Bucs for not getting Brett Favre.”

Then there’s the acerbic yet witty Paul Zimmerman, more popularly known as Dr. Z, one of the deans of football writers in the nation. He has the Bucs at No. 13.

I don’t know what’s keeping them up there. Jeff Garcia’s 39, Joey Galloway’s 37. The defense can play, but I’m not wild about their offensive line. “So why are they up here?” asks The Flaming Redhead. “Because the Super Bowl’s in Tampa.” “Of all the lame, stupid…” OK, OK already. I told you, this whole thing’s a reach.

When Joe stumbles upon other power rankings, he’ll let you know.

The NFL released its injury report for the opening week of the season. Here’s a list of the walking (or in some cases, not walking) wounded for the Bucs-Saints matchup:

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
G Davin Joseph (foot)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
RB B.J. Askew (foot), WR Antonio Bryant (knee), WR Michael Clayton (chest), WR Joey Galloway (groin), DT Jovan Haye (groin), C Sean Mahan (not injury related), LB Matt McCoy (groin), S Sabby Piscitelli (knee), DT Ryan Sims (thigh)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
QB Jeff Garcia (calf), TE Ben Troupe (foot)

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Practice Report
LB Troy Evans (ankle), DT Hollis Thomas (triceps)

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
LB Mark Simoneau (back)

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Wednesday RB Deuce McAllister (knee), CB Mike McKenzie (knee), DT Brian Young (foot)

Mike Florio, the creator, curator and general guru of the popular ProFootballTalk.com taped another one of his PFTTV segments, predicting the playoff teams in the NFC this season.

(Hint: He seems to like the Bucs.)

Between his law practice, his video segments, his many radio gigs throughout the country, his apperances on Fox Sports Network’s Pro Football Preview, his thrice-weekly columns on SportingNews.com and, oh yeah, his blog, the man must only sleep three hours a night.

Give the video a look and tell Joe what you think.

If linebacker Geno Hayes can come remotely close to playing like his football hero and teammate Derrick Brooks, the Bucs will have gotten a steal in the draft.

Joe is a little late in getting to this, but better late than never.

While the Bucs cutting linebacker Ryan Nece was a bit of a surprise to Joe, apparently the main reason for letting Nece go was the emergence of linebacker Geno Hayes. And the path he took to the Bucs is unique.

Hayes played at Florida State. He was such a touted recruit under the tutelage of then-associate head coach and linebackers guru Kevin Steele that Hayes was given the sacred No. 10 of the Seminoles, Derrick Brooks’ old number. Hayes never shied away from the comparison to Brooks, no matter how unfair. It seemed as if that motivated him.

As a result, Hayes quickly became a fan favorite.

In some ways, Hayes was compared to Brooks because both are ridiculously quick. And like Brooks, Hayes was a ballhawk. He teamed with Buster Davis for a lethal one-two punch from the Seminoles linebackers that also included Lawrence Timmons, the Steelers 2007 first round draft pick.

While Davis provided the thunder, Hayes was the lightning, with a nose for the ball seemingly flying from sideline to sideline. Rightly or wrongly – though Hayes vehemently denies he was involved – Hayes was rumored to be linked to an academic scandal involving several members of the Florida State football team. Shortly thereafter, Hayes decided to turn pro early despite previous statements he was returning for his senior season.

Realistically, Hayes should still be in school. So in a sense he is still developing. But his decision turned out to be possibly a good decision for the Bucs.

Mel Kiper wrote glowingly about Hayes on BSPN.com and spoke in excited terms about him earlier this year to the Orlando Sentinel.

“Well, Geno Hayes, I think he’s not Derrick Brooks. I know he wore that number, but he’s a kid when you watch him – and obviously he’s a kid that played a lot of football, a kid that has been out there in the spotlight for a longtime. Not real big, but I think when you look at what he was able to do in terms of he became a leader for their defense, you know, he’s not reticent, not real big, but very, very athletic. And I think you look at the productivity. I mean, the kid made a lot of plays – a lot of stops behind the line of scrimmage. The number of sacks. Works well in reverse – he can cover. I think when you look at him, with the feel he has in covers, not just that he can run, and he’s athletic, but he has a real good feel for dropping back in coverage. With the right situation, he could be a guy in the third round that would be very attractive to somebody.”

Because the Bucs drafted Hayes in the sixth round, Joe didn’t expect him to make the team. Joe is happy for Hayes. Now, if he can even remotely come close to his football hero and current teammate Brooks, the Bucs will have gotten a steal.

Joey Galloway claims he is fit and ready for the season opener.

What is Chucky to do?

The White Tiger (Joey Galloway) has proclaimed himself fit for duty, via the Tampa Tribune. Oddly enough, training camp is over as are worthless preseason games (the only worth about a preseason game is the billing by local physicians).

Galloway claimed to be ailing from the ever troublesome groin injury. But what is Chucky to do?

Galloway hasn’t practiced and can’t really have much timing down with quarterback Jeff Garcia. Does Chucky put Galloway out there on turf and risk a further groin injury and having him be out of the lineup for another month? Or should Chucky play it safe and keep Galloway on the sidelines?

Personally, Joe would forget about Galloway this week and let Galloway have (at least) a full week of practice with Garcia to get their timing down. Otherwise, it’s a risk that you are wasting Galloway and at the same time, risking another groin injury. For the Bucs to succeed they need Galloway healthy for the year, not just the opening week.

Look for Earnest Graham and the Bucs backfield to chew up yardage on Sunday.

Joe thinks fans and pundits have overlooked what will win the game for the Bucs on Sunday. That would be the running game (no disrespect to the Bucs’ defense.)

There’s been so much focus this preseason on the Bucs’ old, fragile veterans, Jeff Garcia and Joey Galloway, the Brett Favre drama and the team’s uninspiring receivers, that the Bucs’ backfield has been off the radar.

Earnest Graham is confident, healthy and now wealthy. Warrick Dunn returns with fresh legs and a revitalized spirit. And Michael Bennett looks comfortable and back to the form that made him a 1,000-yard rusher in Kansas City.  B.J. Aksew also has a fat new contract after being named a Pro Bowl alternate in 2007.

Plus all of these guys can catch the ball and get yards after the catch.

The Bucs gobbled up 466 yards in their last meeting with New Orleans, a romp at the Superdome with Luke McCown sitting in for Garcia.

Now the Bucs have added Jeff Faine, the stud center who was a monster on the offensive line in New Orleans last year. Like he’s not going to be salivating to line up Sunday.

The Saints defense is their soft spot. 

Rookie defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis, the Saints’ first-round pick, has not been a head-turner so far. And linebacker Jonathan Vilma, an offseason pickup, is still learning the system and shaking off rust from injuries. The Saints secondary? It sucks.

Look for the Bucs to pound the rock relentlessly and keep Drew Brees off the field. If rookie Jeremy Zuttah can hang in there for the Bucs on the offensive line, this could be blowout.

Joe puts the over/under for Bucs rushing yards at 140.

An Orlando Magic dancer displays groin range of motion to inspire the ailing Joey Galloway

As Joe prepares to give you a full analysis of Sunday’s Bucs game, he’d like to take a moment to thank the Orlando Sentinel for its engaging pictorial of dancer tryouts for the Magic. It’s important to keep things in perspective.

Makes you want Jameer Nelson to call timeout right now.