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NFL Mock Draft 2009 Draft of 2009 Lacks Star Power NFL Draft 2009: Getting Started Super Bowl Well Worth Tuning In For
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Prospects On Center Stage NBA Preview 2008/09: Final Call
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NFL Spotlight: Bucs Back In Business? By Ron Jumper With the first few weeks of every NFL season, there is always one thing you can count on. There is always going to be someone new suddenly emerge from seemingly no where to make a run at the playoffs. It is a lock for every season. Deep down, I think it is part of what makes me bitter that certain “sports analysts” get paid such huge contracts and get to be on TV. Even though they are supposedly “experts,” none of them said anything about the Houston Texans nor the Green Bay Packers. How about the Tampa Bay Bucs, as they sit tied for first in the NFC South? Where were the experts telling us about this? Oh wait, that’s right. They were way too busy drinking the Saints and Chargers Koolade.  Anyways, on to what I really want to talk about… If I hadn’t gotten tired of hearing about Brett Favre retiring or not retiring or maybe all the whining about the moves they did or didn’t make in the off-season, I might be a little more excited to talk about the 3-0 start by the Green Bay Packers. Instead, I can’t help but feel they’ve only defeated 3 teams who were struggling both mentally and physically at the time they played each other. Look at the Eagles in week 1, they obviously weren’t playing their best football yet after McNabb’s outburst against the Lions. Look at the Giants in week 2, Eli was banged up and that defense is just plain bad. Onto their win over the Chargers, I have to credit that more to the Chargers still recovering from that beatdown from New England the week before. That being said, I feel compelled to talk about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Granted, I’m a big Bucs fan, but that defense is playing almost good enough to remind me of how things used to be. What is even crazier is the whole new look on offense. A Shotgun? More running plays than passing? Is that Jon Gruden coaching the Bucs still? I’ve moaned and groaned multiple times about the Bucs’ offense and lack of a direction as a franchise in general. However, they are starting to return to form on defense and develop an identity on offense. Look at the linebacking corps of Derrick Brooks, Cato June, and Barrett Rudd; it makes you forget they still have Jeremiah Trotter on the roster and he should be set to contribute any time now. We all knew that Ronde Barber and Brian Kelly were studs, but it is the play of SS Jermaine Phillips, rookie FS Tanard Jackson, and nickel cornerback Phillip Buchanon that have solidified that secondary. Rudd has been the biggest surprise, as his teammates have been raving about how well he is playing so far this season. Whatever it is that has made the difference, it is working because they are only giving up 12.3 points an outing, which is good for 5th in the NFL. Now for the offense, where I truly am curious as to what happened to change the way Gruden is running things nowadays. Garcia talked Gruden into implementing the Shotgun, which has been a nice addition to the offense when you combine it with Garcia’s ability to move around the pocket. However, the true head scratcher is the commitment to the running game. The Bucs ran the ball 32 times against the Rams, and literally wore them down in the 4th quarter with their smashmouth approach. I think this new found balance is the reason Garcia has been so effective, as he averages 13.8 yards per completion. Now, the real question is whether they can sustain it or not for the entire season. The big challenge that awaits them is this weekend @Carolina. The Panthers are tied with the Bucs at 2-1, so the winner will get an early leg up on the division because both are 1-0 in the NFC South right now. Looking at their schedule, the Bucs have a tough game @Indy in Week 5 then they don’t play another team that made the playoffs last season other than the Saints, who they have already defeated and are getting worse by the second. The key games are against Houston, Jacksonville, and Washington before the season finale against the Carolina Panthers. It won’t be easy but, when you compare their road to that of other teams, it isn’t impossible either. They don’t play Chicago, Dallas, New England, Pittsburgh, Denver, Green Bay, San Diego, or Baltimore; plus they have 2 division games against the Falcons remaining. I harp over and over about how much of a difference the schedule makes, and the Bucs certainly caught a break with their schedule. With the Bucs quietly gaining momentum and the rest of the NFC South seemingly in a funk, the opportunity for Tampa Bay to make a run at the division is as good as it gets. If Garcia continues to provide stability to the offense and the defense continues it's inspired play, this could be a year to remember in Tampa.  September 26, 2007 |
| NCAA Football | |
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Be Careful What You Wish For
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| NCAA Basketball | |
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Jumpology: My Bracket Jumpology: Scouting The Heavyweights Jumpology: Reviewing The Bracket
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