The Good, The Bad & The Ugly! Seahawks

The Good

Barrett Ruud - Barrett Ruud was all over the field today making tackles and big hits. He was deciphering plays and messing up plays in the backfield. He was laying some lumber too. There were questions surrounding Ruud, a lot of fans weren't sure if he could succeed The "Q." Those question won't be answered after one week, but it certainly was a good start.


Tanard Jackson - Tanard Jackson missed a big tackle on Shaun Alexander the turned into a 1st down, but that one play can't bring down what was a great display by a rookie in his first NFL game. Jackson had a huge ST tackle showing great speed anfd hustle getting down field and being the first player to the ball. He was hitting people hard on ST and defense all day. Other than once, he showed sure tackling ability. Let's hope he can build off this game and continue to progress.


Aaron Sears - Sears was a wall today. He showed nice burst off the line, and I could almost feel the DE-linemen's bones vibrate every time Sears hit them. Aaron showed quickness I didn't expect on plays where he pulled around. He zeroed in on his target and put a lot of meat on them. Another great start to another rookie's career. Keep up the good work Sears.


The Bad


Derrick Brooks - It's just one game, but it certainly looks like Brooks' time has come and gone. Brooks' career was built on speed, instincts and sure tackling. I'm sure the instincts are still there, but he is a step short on a consistent basis. When he does make it to the ball carrier on time, he can't make the sure tackle anymore. He bounces off ball carriers, and sometimes doesn't even slow them down. Brooks once one of the best and hardest tacklers in the league has fallen from grace slowly over the last three seasons. It may be time to move on. While covering Maurice Morris on a deep pass, Derrick looked like an Alzheimer's patient wandering outside a nursing home. With the ball traveling deep toward the sideline, Brooks began drifting infield toward the hash marks????

Davin Joseph - This one pains me personally. Davin Joseph has taken the place of Mike Alstott as my favorite Tampa Bay Buccaneer. I have very high expectations of DJ, and I was bothered by what I saw today. I'm not going to jump off any tall buildings, with Joseph having the responsibility of blocking one of the game's premier D-lineman, but he wasn't sustaining his blocks as long as he needed to, and was plagued by mental mistakes. This has to be DJ's worst game in his short career. The penalties are unacceptable.

Carnell Williams - Caddy! Oh Caddy did your mother not give you any milk to drink growing up? Hurt again!!! Even before he was injured he appeared to be hesitant to hit the hole with authority. He danced around, and a few times holes that were there, albeit not long closed by the time Caddy danced to the line. Add to that, another fumble. He's a young kid with a world of talent, but he needs to stay healthy and get his head on right.


The Ugly

Jon Gruden's Offense - Again it's only one game, but one of the biggest things I was looking for the Buccs to accomplish this season was improving it's overall offensive production. That was very far from happening today. Buccs didn't sniff the endzone, had way too many short drives, and were shut out for 3 quarters of football. Jon has his QB now, and the offense has to get better as the season goes along or this could be his last in Tampa.
...JJC/ABuccsFan

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly! Jaguars

The Good

Jeff Garcia - Garcia displayed the athleticism and escape ability every Buccs fans was hoping for when he signed with the Buccs way back in March. On one particular play early in the game, Jeff was caught in the cross hairs of a looping DE who stunted with the DT. He ran through the line untouched and hit Garcia. Somehow Jeff stayed on his feet and escaped the pocket. Only Jeff and the defensive end were the only two people to know Jeff hadn't been brought down. The live crowd, the viewing audience and the commentators were all fooled on that play. Jeff went 6 of 6 for 43 yards and 1 TD. Jeff's eyes are always focused down field looking to make a play when he vacates the pocket. That was certainly evident on his lone touchdown play when he was inches from going out of bounds, but found an open David Boston in the end zone and delivered the ball. When Garcia is under center, opposing defenders better know the play is over until the ref blows the whistle.

Tanard Jackson - Tanard Jackson was a man possessed Saturday night. He was a man on a mission. A man who has set his sights on making the Buccaneers' 53 man roster, and it appears he's not going to let anyone stand in his way. Jackson could be seen all over the field the other night, simply put, making plays. He defensed two touchdown passes in the end zone, and tripped up Labrandon Toefield behind the line of scrimmage not allowing him to get any steam as Toefield lunged for the end zone. Every pile of bodies in the middle of the field, you could be sure Tanard was somewhere inside it. He played with a sense of urgency, and a sense of purpose. He keeps playing like that, and he'll make the final roster cuts no sweat.

Aaron Sears - Aaron Sears was flat out mauling people in Jacksonville. The Jaguar defense is widely known as having one of, if not the best front seven in all of the National Football League. That did not intimidate, nor did it stop Sears from making a serious case to justify Tampa drafting him early in round 2 in April 2007, just in case there still are some doubters out there. Sears made one mistake that I saw, and that was on a defensive end stunt when DE looped around the defensive tackle. That assuredly can be chalked up to a rookie mistake, that will surely be looked at during film session this week. Other than that one play, Sears played a perfect game. As good as his book end Guard Davin Joseph is, it would appear that Sears is much further along in his development than Joseph was at this point last season. Get used to the name Sears, he's going to be around a long time.

The Bad

Ryan Nece - I included Nece in the bad category this week, because of three plays. I realize Ryan is learning a new position, but for a guy with his ability, experience and knowledge of the system, I feel there is no excuse for the tackles he totally whiffed on. Nece tied three other defenders with 5 tackles on the night to top the list. Unfortunately with 3:16 left in the 1st half, Greg Jones takes the handoff straight up the middle, then breaks to the outside. Nece unblocked has a great angle on Jones and just misses him. On the very next play at 2:31 on Toefield's touchdown run, Nece appears to have a good angle of pursuit but either misjudges or slows up thinking Toefield is going to make a move as #22 runs right by him on his way into the end zone. With 0:23 on the clock, Toefield takes the ball right up the gut behind the lead of his fullback. Sure the FB got an arm on him, but I would hardly call it a block. Nece gets pushed aside, and Labrandon follows right behind to the 3 yard line. Nece has to take that block head on, and hold his ground. Either shed that blocker and make the play, or at the very least make the RB have to slow up go around his blocking FB, and maybe help arives. I expect better from Nece.


Torrie Cox - Like Nece, Cox ends up on this list because of two plays. Two plays that in my mind are unacceptable as members of the Tampa Buccaneers defense. A defense predicated on sound tackling was let down on consecutive plays by Torrie. At 0:14 in the 2nd quarter after a time out taken by Jacksonville, Garrard passes to the right, just outside the end zone to Matt Jones. Cox drops his head and tries to tackle the huge Jones using just a shoulder. While Cox does force Jones backwards, Matt is still on his feet and lunges toward the pylon for what would have been a touchdown had he not stepped out of bounds by a fraction of a inch. On the very next play with 0:08 left in the half, Garrard drops back and as the pocket collapses from the outside in, David takes off through a seem up the middle. Cox meets Garrard at the goal line, and has a clean shot at him. Torrie again drops his head, as if to see if his shoe is untied, and Garrard runs right by him into the end zone. This type of play coming from a five year pro who has issues off the field is unacceptable. Look for Torrie to be cut if Zemaitis can improve and continue his development.

Julian Jenkins - There really is no way to say this nicely. Jenkins was pushed around like the nerdy kid in the school yard Saturday night. If Julian wasn't being stonewalled and kept out of the back field on passing plays, he was being driven back five to seven yards on running plays. It was a horrible display, and I don't expect Jenkins to make is past the first round of cuts.

The Ugly

Josh Bidwell - Wow! What can you say about a Pro Bowl punter going into the 9th season of his career and has two punts, one for 28 yards and one for 32 yards? Both giving the Jaguars exceptional field position that eventually led to two touchdowns. Josh, I'm sorry but Saturday you were ugly!!!
...JJC/ABuccsFan

Rivers or Rice?

There was a frequenter of a Buccaneer fan forum that went by the screen moniker of Radioman. Radioman claimed to be a retired radio personality who was privy to inside NFL information with numerous inside contacts. Prior to the 2005 trade deadline, Radioman had informed the public of a supposed trade in the works that would send Simeon Rice to San Diego in exchange for Phillip Rivers, which would allow the Chargers to relieve themselves of a hefty early round QB draft pick's salary, and give them the financial freedom they would need to re-sign their own free agent to be, QB Drew Brees.

I remember at the time this rumor circulated, many Buccs fans were up in arms declaring how trading away Rice and receiving Rivers in return was a bad deal for the Buccs, and how they hoped it wouldn't come to fruition. Looking back, as hindsight is always 20/20 I wonder how many of those same fans would give their left nut for that trade now? As a fan who never cared for Rice I was one of the very few that was all for it. Even I though, never imagined how lopsided and uneven that trade would have been in favor of the Buccs.

Simeon after a horrible start to the season and injuring his shoulder around week 6, played gimpy for two games before being placed on injured reserve after week 8, and ending his season prematurely. In those eight games Rice did play in, he produce a dismal 2 sacks. Fast forward to 2007 season, and Rice's failure of a pre-training camp physical sent him out the door and to the unemployment line.

Conversely, Rivers helped guide his team to a 14 - 2 record and came within minutes of playing in his first AFC Championship game as a rookie. Sure Rivers rode the coattails of one Ladanian Tomlinson, only the best player in the NFL, but Rivers certainly lent a helping hand and did more than his share. Yes, Rivers was treated with kid gloves for the first part of the year, but very quietly had a productive season. Phillip was in the top half of the NFL averaging 211.8 yards/game. Ranked in the top 7 in QB rating among starters 92.0, and amassed 3388 yards, completing 61.7% of his passes tossing 22 touchdowns and only 9 interceptions. Had those stats by Rivers been performed while wearing a Buccaneer uniform, it would have been one of the best seasons by a Buccaneer QB in the history of the franchise.


Sure Rivers would not have had the same success behind Tampa's offensive line, a line that donated Chris Simms' spleen to science without his permission. But for a franchise that has been searching for a franchise QB for most of it's 31 years of existence, Rivers would have been welcomed with open arms.
...JJC/ABuccsFan

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly! Patriots

The Good

Ken Darby - Darby stole the show Friday night at the running back position. He showed great balance, good vision, and explosiveness hitting the hole. Ken tallied 84 yards on 15 carries, at a clip of 5.6 yards per carry with a long of 21 yards. While he didn't find the endzone himself, his efforts set up two of Tampa's scoring opportunities. Before the second quarter expired, Darby took over after Graham did most of the bulk work on the drive, but his 7 yard scamper to the New England 11 set up Luke McCown's touchdown pass to Paris Warren to help the Buccs to a 10 - 7 lead. With Lionel Gates and Darby each getting 4 carries a piece in quarter 3, it was the Ken Darby show in the 4th. Albeit weaker competition in the last quarter of the game, Darby seemed to get stronger as the game progressed ripping off 10 carries for 64 yards at 6.4 yards per carry. At 4:30 left in the game, Ken took the role of workhorse and rattled off 7 straight carries taking the Buccs to the Patriot 14 yard line and leaving just 0:03 on the clock setting up Matt Bryant's game winning field goal.

Luke McCown - 7 for 7! What else can you say about that? After having an excellent showing to the start of 2007's training camp, Luke followed that up with a great performance in Friday night's game tossing 7 passes, and completing all of them. He showed nice touch and accuracy on his passes, excellent leadership, good command of the huddle and adequate knowledge of the play book. Couple those attributes with a fine display of scrambling ability, and Luke McCown looks like he has the tools to lead this team in the future, or in the near future if Garcia were to succumb to injury.

Parris Warren - All the rave in training camp has been surrounding Muarice Stovall, but Parris Warren burst onto the scene last week with a vengeance. Warren had four passes throw his way, and he pulled in all of them for 46 yards averaging 11.5 yards per reception with a long of 13 and scored Tampa Bay's only touchdown. Parris looked quick, got nice separation, ran sharp routes all against decent competition as New England mixed and matched their starters and second stringers during part of the second quarter. Bucc fans can look forward to big things from this kid, who just may be the one to push Mike Clayton out the door.

The Bad

Dan Buenning - This one is short and not so sweet. Dan went from being our best O-lineman as the starting Left Guard to being a failed experiment at Center, to third string Left Guard behind Aaron Sears and Anthony Davis. We have been told by team doctor's and officials that his knee is healthy, and he did pass the team's pre-training camp physical. So until told otherwise about his health, I'll have to consider him a player going in the wrong direction.

Derrick Brooks - Like Ronde Barber, Brooks didn't have a poor performance, but when a player sets the bar so high the fans come to expect a certain level of play from a veteran icon. Derrick missed a "gimme" interception opportunity, after it appears to have bounced off his face mask after diving in front of the receiver to make a play on the ball. While he did still defend the pass, he needs to create that turnover. Especially for a player who shares the record for most interceptions returned for touchdown in a season by a Linebacker. Then there was a flash back to last season's Falcons game where Griffith punked DB on his way to the endzone when Sammy Morris trucked Brooks on his way into the endzone for a 2 yard score.

Lionel Gates - Gates is a young RB who most felt wouldn't even make it to training camp after off field legal trouble. The charges were dropped, and Gates showed some quickness and smooth moves in camp. Gates had some fumbles early in camp, then seemed to correct it during week 2 of camp. Well, not only did Gates rush for a putrid 6 yards on 5 carries for 1.2 yard per carry average, but his fumbling problem reappeared late in the 3rd quarter to kill a nice drive by the Buccs. Giving the pats new found momentum, they then drove down the field for the game tying field goal in the 4th quarter.

The Ugly

Ronde Barber - Ronde Barber, an icon of the Buccs' defense. One of the most consistent players to ever step on the grass in Tampa didn't have the worst performance of Friday night, but his efforts were ugly. Ronde has a reputation of being one of the surest tacklers in the league, and for sure one of the best tacklers to ever put on a Buccaneer uniform. With that being said, watching him lose his jock to Kelly Washington after a pass from Matt Cassel to convert a 3rd down on an eventual scoring drive was just too much. Added to two poor attempted tackles when he slipped off of the ball carrier like they were greased pigs was enough for Barber to earn the "ugly" performance of the game.
...JJC/ABuccsFan

Forget 13!... 14, 15, 16 Are Unlucky Numbers for Buccs!

What's significant about numbers 14, 15 and 16? They are draft positions where the Buccs have drafted some of their worst busts. In 1997 the Buccs drafted Florida wide receiver Reidel Anthony at the sixteenth overall spot. Two years later the Buccs drafted LSU defensive tackle Anthony "Booger" McFarland at the fifteenth spot. Another interesting pattern developing here, that's 1 Florida Gator and 1 LSU Tiger. 2001 came rolling in and and GM Dick McKay traded away our 2nd round pick to the Buffalo Bills for the right move up to the fourteenth spot and draft Florida offensive tackle Kenyatta Walker. In the most recent story of failed expectations, the Buccs drafted at the fifteenth spot overall, LSU wide receiver Michael Clayton.

What is significant about this? Maybe nothing, but I'm a superstitious fellow. The thing that is already bugging me with the draft more than eight months away is, most pre season predictions have the Tampa Bay Buccaneers finishing second or third in the NFC South with a 7-9 record. Guess where a 7-9 or 8-8 record usually lands you in the next year's NFL College Player Selection Meeting? You guessed it, somewhere right around 14, 15 or 16. If I see any pre draft rankings that have any Florida Gators or LSU Tigers ranked around those spots, I may just have to puke!!!
...JJC/ABuccsFan

Clayton vs. Gessner

Oh, how Mike Clayton has fallen. The once promising 2004 #15 overall pick, who some Buccs fans argued until blue in the face for Rookie of the Year, has worn out his welcome for this Buccs fan. If you go back and read my blog, "Mapquest: From Boston to Tampa" I made a case for a scenario that had David Boston and Maurice Stovall both leap frogging Clayton in the depth chart. Not only does it seem that that has come to fruition, but another player appears to be on the verge of dropping Clayton even lower on the depth chart.

After a stellar performance in the first pre season game of 2007, Parris Warren looks to be knocking down Clayton's door to the #4 spot on the depth chart. If that's the case, then it is clearly time to cut ties with Mike Clayton and shop him for a draft pick. It doesn't matter what we get in return for him, as long as we get something.

Chas Gessner is a wide receiver some Buccs fans have been pulling for, and other Buccs fans couldn't care less about. Gessner is the guy who should replace Clayton on the roster. I'm not going to sit here and try to tell you Chas Gessner is a better player than Mike Clayton, that would just be a waste of time. What I will tell you is why I think he deserves a shot.

Chas Gessner stands 6' 5" and weighs 225 lbs. He has nice size, and is fierce blocker. I would say he's as good of a blocker or maybe even better than Mike Clayton. Gessner hailed from the Ivy League's Brown University where he re-wrote the record books. Chas is the Ivy League's second all time receptions leader where he reeled in 292 receptions and 3,383 yards and 36 TD's. He averaged 9.14 receptions per game and 114 yards. He broke Hall of Fame WR Jerry Rice's NCAA Division II single game record by brining in 24 receptions for 207 yards and 3 TD's vs. Rhode Island in 2001.

With Clayton's plummet to the bottom of the depth chart, I will argue that Chas Gessner as the 6th WR on the depth chart is much more valuable to the Buccaneers at his minuscule salary than Clayton is at #5 on the depth chart earning $1.75 million this season. Let's be honest with ourselves, how often will Mike even see the playing field? Will he be good for 3 plays and 1 reception per game? Will he even have a ball thrown his way? There is only one football, and a lot of hands it could be in on any given play. That low on the depth chart, Clayton could possibly go without a reception all season. Mike's biggest impact will be on special teams where he has displayed a knack for great blocking. Chas Gessner is as devastating a blocker as Mike Clayton or any of the other great blocking wide receivers. In that role laid out before you, what's more valuable? Mike Clayton the special teamer at $1.75 mil or Gessner the special teamer at $150,000 and an extra maybe 3rd or 4th round draft pick Clayton could land the team?
...JJC/ABuccsFan

A Look Ahead!

It's a warm day, the sky is blue and spattered with small white puffs. There is a cool breeze blowing in from the north. Unseasonably cool for an early August day, even for Canton, Ohio. A large crowd gathers in front of the stage anxiously awaiting the celebration. United States President Chelsea Clinton is in attendance along with some of her staff, and of course some Secret Service agents. Who knew she was such a football fan when her mom and dad resided at the White House.

Former NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell graced the crowd with his presence, but declined an offer to say a few words at today's ceremonies. Mr. Goodell isn't getting around well these days, even with the aid of his walker, so he declined Commissioner Bruce Allen's invite. Bruce, in his first year as Commissioner is excited about today. Not only is this his first induction ceremony as Commish, but today one of his very own will be inducted.

Today August 2, 2026, is much different than twenty years ago. Back then LeeRoy Selmon was the only Tampa Bay Buccaneer to own a yellow jacket with the NFL Hall of Fame insignia sewn on it, but today sitting behind the podium in the crowd of alumni are Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, Hardy Nickerson and John Lynch. I'm sitting thirty rows back, but I can still hear Warren Sapp talking trash to Brett Favre. I don't know if Hardy's teeth are still all his own, or if they are false, but that smile is as bright and wide as it ever was. The glare from them was blinding on such a sunny day.

We've sat through five speeches now, some good some bad. But now is the moment why myself and many other Buccs fans have made our journey to Canton for. Bruce Allen introduces the presenter of the next enshrinee. This presenter is none other than former legendary Buccaneer Head Coach John Gruden. John gets up from his chair to a raucous crowd, cheering frantically. I can see the sunlight sparkle off of his four SuperBowl rings as he strolls across the stage to the podium. His bright white hair almost sparkles as much. Jon stands in front of the podium and begins to speak.

"Thank you. Thank you all very much. Please settle down so we can get to the business at hand man. I appreciate the applause man, but save it for later. You know what I'm saying? I am very honored to be here today presenting a fine football player, a fine teammate, a fine Buccaneer, a fine human being. I had the privilege of coaching him for thirteen of his fifteen year career. A great example of a leader, a hard worker, a professional at his craft. He's probably one of the best players I have ever been around. It was a joy to watch this twelve time Pro Bowler beat his competition week in and week out for fifteen years. Sometimes sitting alone in my office in the wee hours of the morning watching game film, I would have to rewind, rewind, rewind and rewind again. Watching over and over again the power and dominance displayed in front of me. Most of the time I was awed."

"I could go on all day folks, but let's just get right to it. It's my honor and privilege to introduce to you today twelve time Pro Bowler, ten time All Pro, three time SuperBowl champion, the all time greatest offensive guard in Tampa Bay Buccaneer history, and new Hall of Famer Davin Joseph."
...JJC/ABuccsFan