Bucs Season Already Over
(November 7, 2006)

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had a terrible first half of the season and there is little hope for improvement. At 2-6, the Bucs are looking at draft picks not championships. From worst to first last year, and now back to worst.

There was one highlight from the first half of the season. It was against the hated Eagles at Raymond James Stadium. Philadelphia scored a late touchdown and it appeared the Bucs had snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. The Bucs were at the Eagles 44 yard line with 4 seconds left in the game. Instead of the trying the hail Mary pass, Matt Bryant was brought in to attempt a 62 yard field goal. Even though Bryant's career long was 50 yards, he booted a team record, just a yard shy of the NFL record, kick through the uprights. Raymond James Stadium was in a frenzy, the Bucs won 23-21 and had answered four losses with consecutive wins. Like Jon Gruden said, "That was one of the most dramatic finished to a football game any of us will ever see."

Two losses later, and Gruden was saying, "I make only one apology today and that's to our fans. I apologize to them, every one of them. I deserve all the criticism I can take."

What has hurt the Bucs is that the once proud defense is now ranked 21st in the league. Most thought the offense would struggle, but almost everyone predicted the Bucs defense would continue to be strong. The offense is currently ranked 31st in the league and has scored just 108 points this season. Actually, Ronde Barber returned two interceptions for scores in the Philadelphia game, so the Bucs offense is really averaging less than twelve points a game. The team starts slow and has scored just seven points in the first quarter all season.

The Buccaneers need to play for next year. They have young players, including rookie quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, that need experience. The defense needs work. Anthony McFarland has already been traded and Simeon Rice's recent production does match his contract price. Shelton Quarles has been hurt and Brian Kelly has missed most of the season due to injury.

The Bucs could be underdogs in every remaining game. They now hit a stretch of three games in eleven days, including Monday night at Carolina and Thanksgiving day at Dallas. Even diehard fans are not optimistic.