YAC is a wonderful term. And, no, it has nothing to do with the time Joe once got a hold of some rotten scotch.

For those unknowing of the acronym, it stands for “Yards After Catch.” It is often used in offensive terms to judge how much of a home run hitter a wide receiver or a tight end may be.

But defenses use it, too. And in the case of one Bucs cornerback, it’s a stat he will certainly want to reverse.

Recently, Joe shared that the numbers crunchers at Pro Football Focus believed Leonard Johnson may be a secret superstar. Well, the crowd at Football Outsiders, which is a kindred spirit of Pro Football Focus, broke out their calculators and determined that Johnson was the worst corner in the NFL for giving up YAC, so types Rivers McCown.

Johnson, per McCown, was targeted for big gains by opposing offensive coordinators. Receivers who Johnson were guarding were able to get downfield after the catch for an average of 7.3 yards per reception.

The interesting thing about McCown’s story is it also lays out who the worst cornerbacks overall were using a variety of data, and none of the Bucs corners came in the bottom 10, though helmet-wielding, cabbie-slugging, Adderrall-popping, coach-cussing, referee-charging, pistol-friendly, granny-hassling Aqib Talib was third-worst, just behind Nnamdi Asomugha.

And to think there are still Bucs fans sore that Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik was able to thieve a fourth-round pick from Bill Belicheat for Talib.

When Joe hears of football coaches wanting a player to play with more “urgency,” Joe thinks that’s code for coaches believing a player takes plays off.

After all, every snap is critical in the NFL. Every snap can turn a game. Every snap is urgent. And when a quarterback is playing without urgency, that’s a terrible sign.

So Joe is troubled by Rick Stroud writing today that the Bucs want Freeman to up his urgency, so Stroud penned for TampaBay.com.

But coaches would like to see him demonstrate a greater sense of urgency in games from start to finish. What does that mean for the laid-back Freeman? Showing more fire while keeping his cool.

Stroud includes quotes from Bucs QB coach John McNulty praising Freeman’s authoritative demeanor and urgency during spring practices.

Joe’s not sure exactly where Stroud learned the Bucs want Freeman to “demonstrate a greater sense of urgency from start to finish.” That’s unclear in the story. So Joe hopes Stroud is mistaken.

If Freeman does have urgency issues, that would be awful. Frankly, Joe’s never heard anything like that out of One Buc Palace, players or coaches.

In fact, coaches and Freeman himself said pressing and forcing plays that aren’t there — essentially showing too much urgency — have hurt Freeman most.

Joe actually believes that Freeman’s serious but generally calm demeanor isn’t a bad thing. Joe very well remembers that incredible cool helping Freeman to some incredible fourth-quarter wins early in his career.

Earlier this week, NASCAR driver Casey Kahne dropped by Bucs minicamp to toss around a football with Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman. No, comedians, Kahne didn’t have to turn left to catch a low-throw from Freeman.

Tampa Bay electronic media czar J.P. Peterson has all sorts of NASCAR references and Freeman-Kahne footage in this video report from that practice on TampaBaySportsCentral.com. He also dives into how Freeman having success this season will not just have a major impact on the Bucs, but upon Freeman’s bank account.

“It’s the most critical turn of Josh Freeman’s NFL race to stardom and riches,” Peterson says.

Brian Leonard was the Bengals’ third-down back the past four seasons, three of them playoff years. Joe expects a prominent role in Tampa for the Rutgers man.

Joe asked the leader of the New Schiano Order about veteran running back Brian Leonard, a key pickup this offseason, and Greg Schiano gave Leonard the ultimate compliment: He called him “a winner.”

Schiano wouldn’t comment on how Leonard might improve the Bucs versus last year’s third-down back D.J. Ware. But Joe fully expects to see plenty of Leonard during the regular season. Leonard was the Bengals’ third-down back for the past four seasons. They made the playoffs three of the past four years.

“Well I don’t know about anything about upgrade/did not upgrade. We felt Brian could help us win. That’s why we brought him here. But Brian Leonard’s a winner,” Schiano said. “You know, I have a history with him since he was 16 years old and we’ve been through a lot together. This guy will, he’s an unselfish guy who will show up big when we need him. So I hope that he hasn’t changed.”

Leonard’s a Rutgers guy and extremely versatile. Running backs coach Earnest Byner raved to Joe last week about Leonard’s great hands and his “tweener” ability as a fullback and running back.

Joe chatted extensively with Leonard, who also revealed he was a four-phase, first-teamer on special teams in Cincinnati and looks forward to doing the same here. Leonard has worked plenty with the Bucs’ first-team offense to date but said he can’t clarify his role yet.

Wondering how close Leonard and Schiano are? Leonard said he went back to Rutgers every NFL offseason to train with Schiano’s program after being drafted by St. Louis in the second round to backup Steven Jackson in 2007.

Leonard said Schiano called him when free agency opened this year and said, “We’d like you to come here.”

Joe will bring more from Leonard in the coming days. Joe wants Bucs fans to get used to seeing Leonard. Joe suspects he’s going to have a very prominent role as the Bucs look to use Doug Martin more often and more creatively on third down.

Offensive tackle Demar Dotson got a lot of valuable snaps last year and is currently atop the depth chart on the right side.

Joe has written this several times before; the job Bucs offensive line coach Bob Bostad did last year when his offensive line was pilloried by injuries and shuffled like a deck of cards trying to place backups in a proper position was stunning.

First, Davin Joseph went down. Then Jeremy Trueblood was benched. Then Carl Nicks had a toe injury. Most offenses would have folded down three starters.

That didn’t happen because Bostad is that good and was able to plug leaks as best he could, though towards the end of the season, it became apparent those injuries/demotions/guys playing out of position caught up with the team.

Aside from Bryan Cox, no Bucs assistant did a better job.

Last week when Bucs assistants had a media day of sorts, Joe asked Bostad, who came from the University of Wisconsin, what the biggest adjustment was coming from college to the NFL.

“Depth,” Bostad quickly quipped.

It makes sense. At Wisconsin, Bostad could load up with recruits up front. If someone went down, it’s likely a four- or five-star underclassman was ready to take over.

Not too many top shelf players are sitting on the bench in the NFL.

While last year was trying for Bostad and his players, he believes the trials of last year will pay off this season, with better depth, so he told the pride of Northwestern, intrepid Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com.

“Hopefully with those reps we dumped into them, they’re going to be able to either be there for us right off the bat or step into that same situation that happened,” said Bostad. “It was a really good investment. Last year was a good investment that way.”

It all makes sense. A lot of players who were not expected to play many snaps logged quite a few games. Players don’t often get better just watching tape.

With the addition of one of Bostad’s prized pupils, Gabe Carimi, the Bucs offensive line this season, barring injuries, should be strong as ever.

Joe isn’t sure anyone expected what Doug Martin did at running back last year. Once he got used to the rigors of the NFL, Martin became one of the NFL’s best backs and was eating pineapple.

But the way Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman and Bucs coach Greg Schiano are singing the praises of Martin, the two sound as if Martin’s rookie season of 1,454 rushing yards is just a taste of what is to come, by way of the Associated Press.

“Absolutely,” Schiano said. “If you look at him, I think he looks better now than he did this time last year — physically, understanding-wise, all those things. I think there’s another level for him for sure.”

“Every day he comes in and gives it his best,” quarterback Josh Freeman said. “Having Carl and Davin back and healthy, that’s going to make a huge difference. I’m not saying you’re expecting a drop-off or anything, but those are two All Pro-caliber guys coming back, and I know they’re really hungry, really eager to get back on the field.”

That’s just it. Martin racked up his yards behind an offensive line put together with twist ties and duct tape; Hats off to Bucs offensive line coach Bob Bostad for playing chess due to so many injuries. Joe isn’t sure what was more impressive: Bostad getting solid play from a patchwork line or Martin rolling up so many yards behind said line.

Either way, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that Martin could push 2,000 yards next year. If he does that, it’s a good bet the Bucs have a winning record and are pushing for a playoff berth.

The tight end competition is easily the most wide open on the Bucs. So Joe finds it worth noting any clues that come out of the New Schiano Order.

This week, Greg Schiano gave a take on two hopefuls: Nate Byham, who caught a touchdown pass against Carolina last season, and newcomer, free-agent pickup Tom Crabtree.

“We went out and got Crabtree and I think he’s really been a good addition,” Schiano said. “Byham is more healthy than he was anytime last year, and I think you can see a little more pop in his step.”

Still in the mix at One Buc Palace is second-year man Danny Noble, who was a surprise rookie to make the roster out of training camp last season. Noble played half the season before hitting injured reserve.

And here’s a trivia question: What Bucs tight end has the most receptions?

Answer: Zach Miller. He caught 45 receptions for 470 yards and five touchdowns with Jacksonville from 2009-2011. But a shoulder injury sent him to injured reserve early in the 2011 season, and hamstring and chest muscle injuries got him waived before the start of 2012.

Miller’s an interesting dude. He’s a former starting college quarterback (Division II, Nebraska-Omaha) who successfully made the transition to “athletic” tight end (his words) after being a project sixth-round pick by the Jags. The Bucs pounced on Miller immediately following last season. Miller told Joe he had a workout with the Bucs and inked a contract in early January, before Crabtree was signed in March.

Who knows what will shake out at tight end? But Joe can say with confidence that the Bucs absolutely plan to run the ball over and over and over, and they’ll keep the best two blocking tight ends.

Rays fans can head to Tampa Lee Roy Selmon’s locations and board a chauffeured luxury bus to Tropicana Field. It’s only $9.95 roundtrip!!!

The Royals are in town today and Sunday. This is a stunning deal! Why waste money on parking and gas, especially when you can ride in style with an adult beverage in hand on a Paradise Worldwide Transportation luxury bus?

Click on through below to learn more about the best deal in Tampa Bay sports, the No Excuses Tour to Tropicana Field. Find out how nearly 1,000 fans have enjoyed Rays games since 2011.

Joe has little respect for the football mind of Greg Olson.

Any guy that would repeatedly inflict the famously heinous Benn’d Around play on Bucs fans because he couldn’t figure out how else to get Arrellious Benn involved in the offense is a flawed football thinker.

One of the absolute lowest points of Joe’s Bucs fandom was Olson calling the damn Benn’d Around on 3rd-and-2 at the Panthers’ 17 yard line late in the 2011 season. It’s damn rare in the NFL when a 12 yard loss surprises nobody in the building. But that was one of those times.

Olson is the Raiders’ new offensive coordinator, a baffling fact made only less baffling by Mike Shula now calling plays for the Panthers.

In a recent interview with The Oakland Tribune, Olson busted out the following: “I’ve been exposed to a number of different systems and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s you’d better adapt to the players you have on your team.”

Hmm, Joe wonders if Olson learned about adaptability before or after the Benn’d around and his leading of the NFL’s most predictable offense in 2011.

Olson went on to talk about how he’s learned from greats and how Jon Gruden (of all people) was his chief mentor.

Q: Seeking player input, selling players on the system, was always a big thing with Gruden . . .

Olson: I would consider Jon probably my biggest influence in football because of his passion, his passion as a coach, his preparation, and his presentation, his presentation to the players is what you’re talking about, how to present it to him. He talked about that, ‘let’s find out what these guys can do and when you get in that position, Greg, make sure you’ve identified who are the guys you’ve got to get the ball to and what ways creatively can you do that.’

Ugh, Joe’s already getting re-steamed at Olson typing this up — and at Gruden for not finding a way to get Joey Galloway and Antonio Bryant on the field at the same time in 2008.

Joe’s grateful Mike Sullivan is in the building.

Joe sometimes chuckles when he reads a Bucs fan — or any NFL fan — demand “love” for his team. Joe really has no idea what that means. Does “love” mean “attention?” Or does “love” mean “lying” and just saying good things about a team so said fan can rest easy at night with their arms wrapped warmly around their teddy bear?

A Bucs fan seeking comfort wants to know why [media source unknown] is not fornicating over the Bucs in this NFC South chat.

EastEndBoy (DC)

Hi Pat – I know it’s early but why aren’t the Bucs getting more love in preseason analysis? Looking at what they did – take their weakest part (secondary) from worst to near first – versus what other teams did to their weakest parts, shouldn’t the Bucs be viewed more highly – like a playoff team?

Pat Yasinskas

I agree with you. They fixed their weakest area. And they’re good in a lot of other areas. I see them as a team with a shot at the playoffs.

Oh, there’s no question the Bucs should have a shot at the playoffs, as difficult as it may be in the top-heavy NFC. That doesn’t mean the Bucs are without question marks that give Joe pause, as he told his good friend “The Big Dog,” Steve Duemig of WDAE-AM Tuesday.

Yes, the Bucs, on paper, look to have gone from worst-to-first in the secondary, horrific to strong. But Joe actually thinks the strength of the team in 2012, the front-seven on defense, may be weaker.

Yes, there’s a reason leading sacker Michael Bennett and solid tackle Roy Miller were allowed to walk away for peanuts. They are damaged goods. But are their replacements better?

Da’Quan Bowers has yet to play a full season. Akeem Spence, who Bucs coaches admire, is still a rookie. Can Gerald McCoy stay healthy for only his second-year in his four-year career? Can Adrian Clayborn bounce back from knee surgery?

Also, it remains uncertain who will replace Quincy Black at strongside linebacker.

Yes, yes, yes, Joe understands many believe that position doesn’t matter much. Funny, Joe never heard that excuse when Black was stinking up the league prior to being coached up last season.

The good folks at NFL.com who run the blog “Around the League” gathered recently to discuss all things NFL.

The troika, head honcho Gregg Rosenthal, Dan Hanzus and Marc Sessler, hammered out their surprise teams of 2013. Sessler chose the Bucs to play meaningful January games for the first time since 2007.

The Bucs exited the Raheem Morris era drenched in chaos, but Schiano arrived with a plan. Tampa’s coaching staff and front office are in sync, and general manager Mark Dominik isn’t afraid to swing for the fences. The Revis trade made it clear: The Bucs are going for the throat.

Sessler admits that one cannot buy the premise unless one believes Josh Freeman can lead the team to the playoffs. If you are a Freeman detractor, Sessler writes, then it is difficult to put the pieces of the puzzle together for a Bucs postseason berth.

If the Bucs make it to the playoffs in a very top-heavy NFC, probably the best the NFC has been since Bill Walsh, Joe Gibbs, Bill Parcells and Mike Ditka prowled the sidelines, Joe would not be shocked but pleasantly surprised.

And Joe likes surprises.

Beat writer Rick Stroud has harsh grades for Glennon

Veteran Tampa Bay Times beat writer Rick Stroud — using a variety of voices/impressions — went off on rookie quarterback Mike Glennon during his Sports Page radio show on WDAE-AM 620 yesterday.

Stroud documented Glennon’s lousy day on Wednesday, including the fumbled snap that drew Greg Schiano’s ire, and Stroud talked about how down he his on the Bucs’ third-round pick.

“It’s a joke to think that this guy’s going to compete with anybody this year,” Stroud said. “Maybe at some point he becomes your No. 2, but I would think that if something happens Week 1, that Dan Orlovsky better be the guy in the game.”

Yes, Stroud’s being a little harsh, especially considering Glennon might look a lot better during live August action, and, you know, after he’s had more than seven weeks with the playbook.

But Glennon’s lack of readiness is no big surprise. This week, Joe asked rockstar general manager Mark Dominik about carrying three QBs this season, and Dominik was very clear the Bucs are “leaning” in that direction. (You can catch Stroud’s complete audio below.)

No, Joe does not know why Bucs fans have such a burning hatred for Shaun King, one of but three quarterbacks in Bucs history to lead the squad to an NFC Championship game.

He’s a local guy who grew up loving the Bucs — and still does. He wears his emotions on his sleeve. Yes, he’s been critical of Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik, but it’s not like King is a lone wolf howling in the woods.

And this just in: NFL analysts that work for one of the top media organizations in the world, NBC Universal, are supposed to have strong takes. Name Joe an NFL analyst that just shrugs his shoulders and offers little to no insight and Joe will show you a man who will be calling your house shortly trying to sell aluminum siding.

That doesn’t mean King has blinders on. Just this week while appearing on “Ron and Ian” on WDAE-AM 620, King lauded Dominik for picking up embattled offensive lineman Gabe Carimi.

“Actually thought this was a good pick-up by Mark Dominik,” King said. “Simply because Carimi coming out of college was highly regarded. For whatever reasons, it didn’t work in Chicago. He got injured and the organization didn’t have a lot of faith in him and he didn’t play really well.

“But [Bucs assistant] coach [Bob] Bostad was his coach in college. So you take a chance on a guy that had that kind of talent when you can reunite him with his college coach. It will be interesting. I don’t know where Gabe Carimi is mentally. When you put the film on from last year he was terrible. But maybe reuniting him with his [old] coach will jump-start him to help reach his potential.”

This is what Joe has written. Likely no person short of Carimi’s mother knows him as well as Bostad. And to get him for a measly sixth-round pick could work out to be a steal.

For the full interview with King, click the button below.

Joe knows he’s got young readers who don’t realize that Bucs pass rush coach Bryan Cox was a ferocious beast of a player in his day.

Not only was Cox a phenomenal three-time Pro Bowl linebacker for Don Shula in Miami, he went on to be a key cog for Bill Parcells with the Jets’ run to the AFC title game in 1998, and he made plays for Bill Belicheat in 2001, including in the Patriots’ Super Bowl win that season.

Cox has soaked up plenty from legendary coaches, and Joe thinks Cox brings a world of credibility and real experience to the Bucs’ defensive front-7. Cox also is a straight shooter, so Joe was pleased to hear him say Greg Schiano will be among the improved pieces of the Bucs in 2013.

“He’s matured as a coach,” Cox said this week. “Some things that if you were to ask him, some things that he did last year, he’d say, ‘ok, we’d like to make these changes to make things a little bit better.’ So you see growth and you see maturity. And it’s a little easier the second time around once you gained a little experience.

Cox said Schiano’s discipline and focus has clearly penetrated the Buccaneers. As examples, Cox cited getting the most out of Vincent Jackson and Gerald McCoy (interesting) to players putting in time with community service.

Joe considers Schiano’s development as a major yet unspoken X factor of 2013. Can he outcoach Mike Smith and Sean Peyton? Can he be a great game manager? Those are big questions.

It’s Tampa Bay limo time this weekend!

Whether you need a limo in St. Pete, or a classy executive SUV in New Tampa, or perhaps a sweet Tampa party bus, you must turn to Joe’s friends at Paradise Worldwide Transportation. Joe loves these guys! And you can feel good about supporting a quality local company!

Paradise offers limo service not just in Tampa and across the Tampa Bay area, but throughout the country and in various parts of the world.

One call to Paradise takes care of ALL your airport transfers for your next trip. Or you can even use Paradise to take your mom to and from the airport in, say, Chicago, so you’re sure she’s safe and sound.

But first things first. Score that amazing Tampa Bay limo experience this weekend. It’s always worth it.

Joe has gathered all sorts of info. from Bucs players and coaches this week that will be pumped out on these here pages in the coming days. One thing Joe got from some young defensive backs is how much it helps them going up against Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams each and every day.

Soon it will be the receivers who will be tested.

Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik, freshly sheared, claims star cornerback Darrelle Revis will be in pads on the first day of training camp late next month. But being in pads is one thing, as Joe told his good friend, “The Big Dog,” Steve Duemig, on WDAE-AM 620 this week. It’s quite another to be in contact. If Revis is able to go full speed with no restrictions, Bucs receivers are all but saying, “‘Bring it on, Revis!'” so writes eye-RAH! Kaufman of The Tampa Tribune.

“I keep telling him I’m not one of those receivers he’s been checking,” Williams said with a smile following Wednesday’s practice. “Darrelle said he’s been going against the best, and I told him, ‘If the ball’s in the air, I’m going to get it.’ We keep arguing every day.

“I can’t wait to go against a guy of that caliber. He can get me better.”

It’s not so much an ego thing with Jackson. Rather, he believes Revis and Goldson will make him better for an upcoming opponent.

“Darrelle and (safety) Dashon Goldson are going to shore up our secondary,” Jackson said. “When Darrelle lines up against me, I know he’s going to give me his best and he knows I’m going to give him my best. When you’re going against looks on Wednesday through Friday that are harder than what you face on Sundays, that’s an advantage.”

Joe knows talk is cheap, especially in June. Still, from what Joe has seen and heard, he loves the attitude of this Bucs team.

It makes sense that going against the best in the NFL (Jackson/Freeman vs. Revis, for example) can only help the team, just like Schiano’s now famous cry for competition.

There’s no way of putting a specific value on how much this competition helps, but Joe would hope it could lead to two extra wins.

Joe’s used his share of Internet space criticizing Adam Hayward for shoving assistant coach Bryan Cox on the Bucs sidelines last December, a move that was picked up by TV cameras and the case was publicly dismissed by Greg Schiano.

For Joe, Hayward’s actions were thoroughly unacceptable. Hayward clearly was angered by Cox and shoved him. Imagine if he had shoved Schiano?

Early this week, Joe finally got a chance to ask Cox to explain what happened and what fans should know about the incident. Cox said it was blown out of proportion and is ancient history.

“Nobody really knows what happened,” Cox said of the heated sideline exchange with Hayward. “Adam and I have a really good relationship. That’s in the past. We moved on from it. He’s a really good guy and I think he unfairly got criticized for it.”

Cox is as straight a shooter as one could hope for in a coach, and Joe believes Cox. Joe still thinks it was a heinous act by Hayward, but Joe’s pleased to hear Cox is more mature than Joe and has moved on.

Joe realizes only the hardest of the hardcore Buccaneers junkies care about wide receiver coaching methods, but Joe couldn’t resist sharing this.

Last year, Joe spent a lot of time watching animated former Bucs receivers coach P.J. Fleck seem to put a lot of emphasis on footwork while he wasn’t screaming, sprinting after players to strip them, or celebrating seemingly everything positive.

New Bucs wide receivers coach John Garrett, who transferred from the Cowboys organization, also is a fiery guy, though not as crazy as Fleck. But it has seemed to Joe that Garrett is more dialed in to receivers’ work with their hands at the line of scrimmage.

Joe asked wide receiver Chris Owusu about the change in coaches and the teaching focus, and he confirmed that Garrett is a big hands guy.

“His philosophy of just being technical and just, you know, his philosophy of getting after it is something that we’ve all benefitted from. He’s all about hand placement,” Owusu said. “You know, you win the battle at the line with your hands. Yes, your feet, but your hands as well. And that’s something I’m able to learn from him.”

Owusu, a Stanford guy, also praised the intelligence of Garrett (Princeton guy) in the film room. Like Fleck, Garrett is a former NFL receiver who had a small-time career.

Joe can’t say what, if anything, this all means. But training camp practice attendees can make a note to watch the hands of Bucs receivers as they try to shake the press coverage of Darrelle Revis and the rest of the Bucs’ cornerbacks.