The Bucs sure missed Tanard Jackson, whose big hits and monster turnover nearly got the Bucs a win and overcame Jim Bates’ incompetency.

Jackson spoke on the Buccaneers Radio Network just after the game to talk about the loss, which Joe places firmly in the lap of his defensive coordinator, who is really just offensive.

“Guys were wanting to get a “W” and doing whatever we needed to do and it wasn’t enough. We fought. Sammie [Stroughter] made a great play. The defense [forced] some turnovers and it was not enough. We’ve got to keep fighting.”

On his interception that tied the game at 21-21, Jackson gave all the credit to Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme.

“I just read Jake’s eyes,” Jackson said. “It was a free play. I was on Jake’s eyes the whole time.”

On the final drive, Jackson claimed the Bucs knew what was coming but couldn’t stop Carolina.

“I don’t think they were going to pass that whole drive,” Jackson said. “If you cannot stop the run in the fourth quarter… we couldn’t get off the field. That will beat you up and that’s what happened.”

Jackson never tried to hide his frustration.

“It’s very frustrating,” Jackson said. “I know we are better than that. We wanted it so bad. It’s frustrating.”

Joe knows you are better than that as well, Tanard. If you only had a defensive coordinator, things would be much better.

“It was a hard-fought game. We came out and came out fast but the turnovers hurt.

“They played a lot of deep coverage and mixed in some Tampa-2. We moved the ball well, we just had drive killers.

“There’s something about this team that will fight to the end [Joe’s note: except for Jim Bates’ defense].  We had the pick-six. We are killing ourselves right now. It is frustrating. We are killing ourselves.

“Coach said we have to let this go.”

Too bad Raheem the Dream hasn’t come to the same conclusion with Bates.

THE PESSIMIST is a diehard Bucs fan whose negative writings appear occasionally on JoeBucsFan.com. His views surely do not necessarily reflect those of Joe. However, Joe sure gets a kick out of them.

THE PESSIMIST has had a few Caybrews and after watching this loss he has HAD IT with Jim Bates, the alleged defensive coordinator of the Bucs.

THE PESSIMIST is absolutely sick of this guy. He whines that he doesn’t have the players to run his defense and this is why the Bucs suck. Hey, clown, you don’t decide what the defense is. You mold your defense around the talent you have, not the other way around. Even a two-bit high school coach understands this. 

THE PESSIMIST now knows why you got run out of Denver two years ago.

Don’t give THE PESSIMIST this nonsense about fatigue. Raheem the Dream even said that both teams were out there for a full 60 minutes. If your players were so tired in the fourth quarter, why the hell didn’t you do more rotating or substitutions?

What a pathetic display in the end by YOUR defense. Your defense! How does it feel to get the ball run down your throat for 80 yards for the winning score. How does that taste? Think about that: 80 yards! Somewhere in Tallahassee, Mickey Andrews is laughing his ass off.

Absolutely gutless by your defense. Your swiss cheese, can’t stop the wind defense.

THE PESSIMIST knows of a couple of gaps where you can shove your defense.

Don’t give THE PESSIMIST this crap about your defense forced turnovers form Jake Delhomme. Who the hell hasn’t? The guy’s defense gives more away than Obamacare!

How about that two-gap system? Why don’t you take your two-gap system and hop on the next plane out of TIA. One-way.

On second thought, please stay until the season is over with. With your coaching, the Bucs will surely lose every game. The Bucs are in a fight with the Rams for the first overall pick in the draft.

AS soon as the season is over with, please find some high school that could use you. Bucs fans, and particularly THE PESSIMIST, have seen and had enough of your crap defense.

Panthers 28, Bucs 21

Keep coming back to Joe as Joe will have much more on this loss, largely thanks to a gutless defense in the fourth quarter.

* Damn, Julius Peppers is a freak. He saves a touchdown on that Stroughter catch.

* If the Bucs don’t get the first down, they need to go for it on fourth down.

* Great spot by the zebras.

* Dave Moore is pleading with the Bucs to go for it.

* Joe CANNOT come up with words about how moronic a false start is on fourth-and-one at home. That is INEXCUSABLE. John Gilmore should be cut tonight. TONIGHT! That is totally inexcusable. The team was just coming out of a timeout and Gilmore didn’t know the snap count? Joe is speechless.

* The crowd has come alive from the audio on radio.

* Big, big, big play here. Can Delhomme throw another interception?

* Missed tackle AGAIN. This team cannot make a big play when they need it which is one reason they are winless. That written that was a helluva call by John Fox.

* OK, another major third down. Come on Bucs.

* TANARD JACKSON PICK SIX!!! Man the Bucs missed him!!! Bucs are in a dogfight.

* How does Jake Delhomme keep his job? Maybe John Fox will be calling Chris Wienke?

* Bucs defense is now giving up chunks of yardage.

* Panthers are just chewing up the Bucs on the ground.

* Bucs need to force Delhomme to win this game.

* Carolina is just shoving the ball down the Bucs throat. Oh by the way, they are eating up the clock too.

* This is pathetic. Is over-the-hill, disinterested Mickey Andrews the defensive coordinator for the Bucs all of a sudden?

* Only way the Bucs win this game is Carolina turns the ball over. They sure cannot stop the run.

* Panthers will just run the clock down for a game-winning field goal if somehow they don’t score a rushing touchdown.

* This is miserable.

* Geez, 80-yard drive to win the game. Gutless. Simply gutless. No excuses. None. Joe really doesn’t know when or if the Bucs win a game this year. The drive for the first overall pick in the draft is on!

* Great, give the Panthers a short field on the interception. Freaking great.

* Bucs defense playing great and they need to right now. Big fourth down.

* Dave Moore called it. On the Bucs radio network he said the Panthers would run right up the gut. They did and DeAngelo Williams nearly scored.

* Touchdown Panthers. That’s seven points on Josh Johnson. Bucs are in a dogfight. There’s a reason this team is winless.

* Damn, Hollis Thomas buries Caddy behind the line.

* Since early in the game, Johnson has been off target nearly every pass.

* Great! If you can’t pass, run and Johnson had a helluva nice run avoiding a tackle and running through another for a first down.

* Damn, offensive pass interference. Joe appreciates the physical play by Winslow but you have to be careful about being to physical on a pass route.

* Joe can’t remember the last time he saw the Bucs call a bubble screen. Interesting. Nice little gain but they needed a bit more than a “little.”

* Great run by Johnson but Joe is sweating over that near-fumble.

* Good gain Caddy and that really helps when you have second and short. Nice. Dave Moore on the Bucs radio network loves this kind of play.

* Jeremy Trueblood’s olay block damned near cost the Bucs the ball. And what the hell are the Bucs in a seven-step shotgun drop on a second and short when you are running the ball???

* Donald Penn’s hold is very costly.

* This is a freaking pet peeve of Joe’s and it drives him out of his tree: PUNT THE BALL OUT OF BOUNDS AND THERE CANNOT BE A RETURN!!! Why is this so difficult for NFL coaches, who make a boatload more cash than Joe, to figure out? No one — NO ONE! — can return a punt when the damned ball is out of bounds!!! If the punt was out of bounds the Panthers would start at their own-10. Instead, they have the ball first down on their own-40.

* Dave Moore just said the Bucs haven’t been playing with the same intensity since the missed field goal.

* This is not looking good. Panthers are moving the ball way too easy. They are now in field goal range. Crowd seems out of it on radio.

* Monster third down. Need a stop.

* More missed tackles. What the hell??? Untouched into the end zone. Awful!!

* You know it’s bad when people on the Bucs radio network are ripping the Bucs for “sloppy” play.

* Could Sammie Stroughter save this game? Could that play save Raheem the Dream’s job???

* The way Clifton Smith fumbles, maybe Stroughter should return fulltime? Joe has said it before and will write it again: Stroughter was an absolute steal in the draft.

* Stylez White with a very timely, needed sack!

* Major, major, major play by the Bucs with the pickoff. HHHUUUGGGEEE!

* Raheem thinks he’s Bobby Knight following the refs and screaming at them on the penalty on Caddy’s big run that was defensive holding. Way to go Rah!

* Bucs really dodged a bullet with the trade of turnovers deep in their end. Joe is convinced leaving points on the field on their second possession will haunt them.

* Joe isn’t liking how the Panthers defense is starting to warm up.

* Panthers are smelling blood.

* Damn, the Bucs had Delhomme locked up. How in the hell can you let that guy escape?

* Good tackle by Sabby to save a long gain.

* Good gang tackle by Bucs for a loss. Nice.

* Thankfully the Bucs forced Delhomme to throw the ball away.

* A Quincy Black appearance. Thanks to Davin Joseph’s blocked field goal!

* Now can the Bucs capitalize on this blocked field goal?

* Bucs lucked out with the offsides call. Bucs would have had a first down with a better pass from Johnson.

* Caddy with a good physical run for a first down. Panthers had good penetration on that play.

* Helluva scramble by Johnson for a first down.

* Winslow is earning his money the past couple of weeks. Big catch. Big first down!

* Oh, boy. Holding takes them out of field goal range. Of course, with the Bucs kicker, the Bucs need to get the ball inside the 10.

* Bucs are melting down on this drive.

* Third and a bus ride. Damn.

* Johnson had a receiver open but the underthrown damned near was intercepted.

* Dave Moore on the Bucs radio network noted how the Panthers are moving their defensive lineman around which is driving the Bucs offensive line crazy.

* Bucs need a big play on this third and short.

* And it didn’t happen. But the clock is the Bucs friend.

* Whew. Bucs nearly had a completion against them. Dave Moore said on that play the Bucs were playing a Tampa-2 cover. Thankfully.

* Panthers had a first down dropped. Great.

* That’s it: run the ball dumbasses.

* Clifton Smith knocked out cold and there is a brawl!!! Aqib Talib, keep your helmet on!

* “We have to build on what we’ve been doing,” Raheem the Dream said as he walked off the field and told the Bucs radio network.

* Ronde Barber on the tackle for a loss. Good start.

* Wow, Bucs are solid on the run thus far. Getting some good penetration. Third downs are a problem for the Bucs. Maybe things will change?

* What a shock. The Panthes are going for Steve Smith — who was open and got behind the secondary by the way.

* Joe forgot, this is Josh Johnson’s first start at home. A lot different than Philly or Washington.

* Carolina looks tough on defense thus far. Good push by the defensive line.

* Great move by Sammie Stroughter to get loose for a very nice gain.

* Now that’s what the Bucs need: a first down by Caddy.

* Fantastic run by Caddy to the left side. It didn’t seem like the Panthers were expecting Caddy to run to their left, did it?

* A rare early lead by the Bucs. Off the top of Joe’s head, he only remembers one early lead by the Bucs, and that was against the Redskins.

* Clifton Smith with a fine tackle on the kickoff return. Good job Mr. Smith.

* What a shock: Completion to Smith.

* Good stick by the Bucs defense. Interior defensive line is strong so far.
* Though it was a first down, Tanard Jackson drilled Muhsin Muhammad. Jackson is an underrated hitter.

* Sabby, you need to wrap up. Joe doesn’t care what the local ladies say.

* Early the Bucs were strong on the run. Now they look porous.

* Panthers clearly think they can burn the Bucs on long passes.

* Barrett Ruud with the big bat down. Great read on what would have been a first down.

* Good hard run by Caddy to give Johnson a manageable third-and-four.

* Thankfully Antonio Bryant is healthy and nice pass by Johnson of putting the ball where Bryant can make a play.

* This is the best the Bucs offense has looked all year. Of course, they are playing a one-win team.

* Kellen Winslow keeping up the good play. Third-and-two.

* Sammie Stroughter just made a tough catch — not a great throw by Johnson. Man, what a steal this guy has been.

* Caddy nearly popped a big game out of that run up the middle.

* MIEN GOTT! Michael Clayton with a huge catch and he hung on after getting drilled. Way to go Michael!

* Panthers defense is starting to get stiff. Might be a field goal here since it’s a third-and-long. Just don’t turn the ball over.

* Man, Stroughter was wide open, maybe for a touchdown, surely a first down.

*Pppffftt. Joe has seen high school kids with better field goal attempts than that. Yeah, Matt Bryant wasn’t good enough. BS! Could have really had the Panthers on the ropes down 10 — or 14 — early. Missed opportunity may come back to haunt the Bucs. Remember that overthrow of Stroughter and the lame field goal attempt.

* Bucs betterstart shoring up that pass defense.

* Panthers are starting to pound the Bucs defense.

Joe’s good friend Justin Pawlowski of WDAE-AM 620 texted Joe that there are “at least” 20,000 empty seats. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com claims there are 10,000-15,000 fans disguised as empty seats.

Again, Joe is so happy the Glazer Family “bought” the tickets, allegedly, so Joe’s not complaining at all. Joe just wonders what NFL officials think about this or how the Glazer Family got away with this?

Justin also texted Joe that the upper deck is “empty.”

Bucs general manager Mark Dominik spoke with the hillbilly with a bad thesaurus who constantly interrupts his interview subjects prior to the game on the Bucs radio network.

Dominik, when the hillbilly wasn’t butting in, talked about how important it is for Jeff Faine to return to the lineup and the trade of Gaines Adams to Chicago.

“This is about as healthy as we have been since the start of the season,” Dominik said. “I think a lot of fans are starting to understand how important that center position is for calling [blocking assignments] and setting up our protection.”

Take that Sean Mayhem!

On Gaines Adams, Dominik confirmed Jay Glazer’s report that he was in discussions with a number of other teams to unload the bust of a defensive end.

“As a general manager, it is important to stay in contact with all the clubs. For me, it is important to know what is going on and what is being shopped. It should not come as a surprise that Braylon Edwards would be traded if you are on top of things. [By keeping in contact] you get a feel for what [other teams] are looking for. I talked to a few of them. [Bears general manager Jerry Angelo] hired me [with the Bucs]. We talked through it.

“It’s important for us as an organization to improve for 2010 and beyond. I have a great deal of respect for Rod Marinelli and maybe he can help Gaines.”

The inactives list has been released by the Bucs and Jeff Faine nor Antonio Bryant are on the list. Instead, with the exception of defensive end Kyle Moore and backup quarterback Byron Leftwich, the Bucs have a bunch of nobodies on the inactive list.

That is, except for that future All-Pro wide receiver Yamon Figurs who figures to be worthless for the Bucs. Of course, Vacation Man of BSPN.com suggested Figurs was walking the streets for no good reason.

Week 6
Panthers at Bucs
Kickoff: 1 p.m.
TV: WTVT Ch. 13, DirecTV 711
Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network (in Tampa WFUS-FM, 103.5 and WDAE-AM, 620); Sirius Channel 129.
Weather: Per AccuWeather.com, good football weather. Highs in the upper 60’s throughout the game with breezy double-digit winds.
Odds: Per Bodog.com, Carolina -3.
Outlook: If the Bucs are going to win a game before the bye, this game is it. Carolina, like the Bucs, has bottomed out. Like the Bucs, the Panthers aren’t getting any blocking. Like the Bucs, the defense stinks. Unlike the Bucs, Carolina was able to beat the Redskins. Simply put, the team who runs the best will win. That’s not a shock but each team wanted to run the ball before the season and neither has. So expect each team to try to impose its will on the opposing defense, neither of which has been solid this year. Also expect the Panthers to bring the kitchen sink in blitzes just like the Eagles last week. The Bucs were clueless in how to handle those blitzes. If they haven’t learned, it may get ugly.
Fun facts: Jake Delhomme and Steve Smith own the Bucs. Delhomme is 8-2 against Tampa Bay and no receiver in the game has a better average for yards per game receiving than Steve Smith does against the Bucs. … The Panthers have lesbians for their cheerleaders.

Of course NFL Network previews the Panthers-Bucs.

Of course brings them to you.

First up is the NFL Films preview of the game. Next is Raheem the Dream talking about Josh Freeman and the state of the Bucs.

Naturally AccuWeather has a weather forecast. And Scott Smith of Buccaneers Insider reports how the Panthers stink at rush defense.

No one has more inside information than Jay Glazer when it comes to the NFL. No one. Not Maoist Mike Silver. Not coffeehead/hotel critic Peter King. Not prettyboy Adam Schefter. Not the great Mike Florio.

Jay Glazer is on the mountaintop with confidential NFL info and everyone else is jealous.

So it was curious for Joe to hear Glazer thinks the Bears got a bit of “luck” that the Bucs became fed up with Gaines Adams. Glazer also said several other teams were in talks with the Bucs to acquire Adams, digging into his background to see if there was some character flaw or something else that was causing Adams to be unproductive.

You can see and hear the rest for yourself in this FoxSports.com video.

<a href="http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-us&#038;playlist=videoByUuids:uuids:65ee7d53-d952-4df4-b44b-34a40d2d2baf&#038;showPlaylist=true&#038;from=IV2_en-us_foxsports_videosearch&#038;fg=everyzing" target="_new" title="Glazer: Bears make big Gaines">Video: Glazer: Bears make big Gaines</a>

Not seeing many carries at all this season and with offensive coordinator Greg Olson scrapping the 2-2-1 rotation Raheem the Dream so often boasted about using, Earnest Graham is moving to fullback.

As a result, he will start tomorrow against the Panthers reports Anwar Richardson of the Tampa Tribune.

“Earnest will be the starting fullback in B.J.’s place,” coach Raheem Morris said. “Earnest has done that role before. He’s thrived in that role before. We’re going to go out this weekend and give him some more touches, more carries and more blocking opportunities.”

Graham played fullback last season when Askew and backup Byron Storer were injured. Graham volunteered to play fullback when Storer was hurt against Carolina in mid-October. As a result, Warrick Dunn rushed for 115 yards on 22 carries during a 27-3 victory.

Part of the reason is that B.J. Askew will not play tomorrow still suffering from an injury received in a car wreck earlier in the week.

Earlier this week, Joe listened to the Sabby Piscitelli Show heard on the “J.P.’s Happy Hour” broadcast on WQYK-AM 1010. The show was broadcast from a live remote when Joe heard an unusual question.

A young lady in the audience asked Piscitelli,”Why doesn’t he wrap up?”

Piscitelli responded, “I don’t remember [not].”

Immediately Joe wondered who this lass was, what she looked like and how or why she was privy to such intimate details of Piscitelli’s personal life.

Then it dawned on Joe: She was asking about tackling.

Piscitelli later mentioned how Raheem the Dream was “hard on us, real hard on us and he was right” in practice this week. Piscitelli said he and his teammates didn’t have a problem with the criticism from Raheem the Dream because, “he’s right.” Piscitelli claims players appreciate honesty from their coach.

“He wasn’t positive,” Piscitelli said. “He didn’t try the positive approach. All of us as individuals I’m sure looked in the mirror and said, ‘He’s right.’

“Hey, he got on me about a play that didn’t show up on TV but was on the film. I appreciate that and a lot of players do.”

(Audio courtesy of WQYK-AM 1010. Tip of the hat to Big Papi.)

As Joe thinks more about Mark Dominik stealing a second round pick from the Bears for Gaines Adams, Joe can’t help but wonder where the bidding started.

It’s quite possible Dominik was trying to negotiate an even bigger score for Adams and the Bears and Bucs settled on a second round pick in 2010.

Did Dominik have the sack to actually initially demand a first round pick for one of the biggest draft busts in Bucs history? Joe couldn’t pull that off with a straight face or without skepticism in his voice.

Of course, it’s possible the Bears offered a third-round pick and Dominik held firm in his demand for a second rounder.

Regardless, the trade was finally a big notch on Dominik’s belt.

Sooner or later, Josh Freeman will start for the Bucs. Joe hopes it is more later than sooner.  Vacation Man of BSPN says in this video that “Josh Johnson gives [the Bucs] the best chance to win right now.” Vacation Man hinted that the Green Bay game may be the first start for Freeman.

Sometimes, Joe likes to relax with a cold Caybrew and think like a Glazer.

Sometimes, to get further into the moment, Joe even withdraws all the cash in his checking account and sits with it on his couch. Smoke from Joe’s fat Bucanero fills the room.

Now knowing the Glazers’ aversion to getting their payroll anywhere near the NFL salary cap, Joe has to wonder whether Brian or Joel have put the word out to Mark Dominik that as long as he’s in a trading mood, he’s encouraged (wink) to package the Bucs’ 2010 first round pick before Tuesday’s trade deadline.

As the Bucs march toward a top 3 pick in the draft, there’s no reason to think the Glazers have any interest in paying the fat signing bonus and salary it would cost to sign that player.

Joe has to believe that if the Bucs can get a player they like before Tuesday’s deadline, plus a second and third round pick in 2010, then they’d have no problem parting with their No. 1 pick.

After all, remember Joel Glazer’s in depth comments about patience and building through the draft.

Surely, Joe knows the Glazers might be wise to hold their No. 1 pick. There’s plenty of time for a good trade. But don’t be surprised if it’s gone by Tuesday.

Listed at 6-5, 305 lbs., on the Bucs roster (he’s probably more like 325), Donald Penn is hardly a symbol of fitness.

He’s a tough, gifted, smooth-footed left tackle, but he hardly looks capable of running the floor in NBA. 

Penn, however, disagrees.

A former All-State high school basketball player in California, Penn said he could score a long term contract in the NBA right now. He made this ridiculous proclamation on Thursday’s edition of Total Access, a Buccaneers Radio Network show on 620 WDAE-AM.

Penn spoke of how he credits his basketball footwork and skills for preparing him for a football career and he grew up believing he was an NBA star in the making.

Apparently, that dream hasn’t died.

“I played power forward, center, but I was always one of those power forward/centers that liked to get the ball at the top of the key and take somebody to the hole. I think that if I got a 10-day NBA contract, it would turn into a long term deal. I think so,” Penn said. “I had two schools come to my high school [basketball games] and after the game they both offered me scholarships to play football.”

Joe will take the bait, considering the NBA preseason is in full swing.

“I think you have to play everything with confidence,” Penn said Thursday. “That’s one of the things that makes me as good as a player as I am. Because I go in every game with a big swagger, and I think nobody’s going to be able to beat me even though it does happen sometimes. I do get beat sometimes but I still, if somebody beats me one play they ain’t going to beat me again. I go back and forth. I just have that confidence about myself. And it’s been like that forever. A lot of people told me I couldn’t do things growing up and, you know, I overcame a lot. I lot of people didn’t think I was going to make it to the NFL. Because growing up I always thought NBA. But it’s just been a confidence thing that I go with.”

Joe is glad Penn has no prayer of sniffing the NBA. The Bucs need him here too badly. It’s time to give the man six-year deal.

Will Michael Clayton be sent packing?

So Mark Dominik pulled the trigger and stole a second round pick from the Bears for Gaines Adams. Well done Mr. Dominik, well done.

Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune suggests there may be more trades to come before Tuesday’s trade deadline.

With the NFL trade deadline coming up on Tuesday there’s a chance the Bucs will work quickly to fill the hole they created at right defensive end by dealing the ever-disappointing Adams.

Though it may be wiser to wait and what’s available to them in the draft, the Bucs could try to work a deal for one of the notable defensive ends who are expected to hit free agency next spring.

You have to give up something to get something. So who might be the Bucs dangling?

Michael Clayton is too obvious. A change of scenery just might help him but Joe wonders if Dominik would be so willing to admit a (costly) mistake by unloading him? And just what team would willingly eat his contract?

Ronde Barber also springs to mind. Joe loves Barber but imagine what he can do for a Super Bowl contender?

The Bucs have quite a stable of running backs so someone could easily be sent packing there. Cadillac Williams perhaps? 

The next few days could be quite interesting.