The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Are Bucking A Trend ………..

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Are Bucking A Trend ………..

Week 17 and to my mind the achievements of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the team’s coaching staff cannot be overlooked or underestimated this season. Coach Raheem Morris in just his second season as a head coach in the NFL has the team playing with a great deal of resolve and much to the amazement of the fans who convene at Raymond James Stadium Tampa , Florida this season to watch a spirited Bucs’ team play.

What many thought to be would take at least three years in its creation, in turning around this team in one year by prudent coaching but with even more astute assessment of the talent necessary in making this team better. Raheem Morris and GM Mark Dominik have made the Buccaneers and the entire organization the envy of the league. And in spite of this all , consider this , the Buccaneers have the youngest team in the NFL in terms of average age and are the first team in league history to start an NFL game with twelve rookies on its roster . And while there have been growing pains while the Buccaneers learn how to be competitive what might be even more surprising has been the maturation of quarterback Josh Freeman who could very well be on his way to earning a Pro Bowl berth for the NFC as a player in the Pro Bowl. Along the way the player has had a stellar season and led his team with a great deal of authority.

Aiding Freeman in all of this has been a slew of young draftees that could be destined for greatness should their learning curve remain consistent and improve as Dominik and Morris would no doubt expect. This year’s top draft pick taken by the Buccaneers was DT Gerald McCoy taken in the first round , third overall out of the University of Texas and the coaching staff would make sure to supplement the current roster with integral pieces that would be of benefit to the team . And amongst this all has been an unsung hero LeGarrette Blount the undrafted rookie free agent who has has now become the catalyst for this Buccaneers’ offense and who essentially the running back starter’s position his own. Not to be left out of the conversation has to be the contributions made this season by other draftees Cody Grimm , Arrelious Benn and Mike Williams who’ve made the jump with a great deal of self assuredness. And while many might choose to say that it’s far too early to say how good this Bucs’ team can become all the signs seem to state that they’re indeed heading in the right During Jon Gruden’s tenure as coach I can’t remember him ever having this much success with any player that he drafted over the course of his reign. As a matter of fact as a coach when it came to nurturing talent especially amongst rookies, Gruden’s methods left a great deal to be desired. And I think that it’s pretty safe to suggest that assessing talent and nurturing it was never ever one of Jon Gruden’s greatest strengths. But he’ll be forever thought of as the coach who came into Tampa and brought the city a Superbowl (SB XXXVII). Since those lofty years up until his abrupt firing his record with the team had been spotty at best.

Head coach Raheem Morris talks with Ronde Barber (20) of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on January 2, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Buccaneers defeated the Saints 23-13. Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images …….

Succeeding Gruden , Raheem Morris wasn’t thought of as the obvious choice but given the financial frugality being shown by the Glazer family and their propensity for not wanting overspend on anything, it went without saying that the hiring of a rookie coach was the option that they felt was best for the organization. PR nightmare or not team owner Malclom Glazier could only have held out for a modicum of hope that there would be any dividends to be reaped from this hiring . Going 3-13 in his first full season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers , Morris had the fans , local beat writers, sports columnists seething with rage and baying for his blood. Not content with that the fallout would have its financial reverberations within the community as there was an immediate decline in the attendance for games at the stadium. It has impacted the team’s support this season and with all but one the team’s scheduled home games being blacked for coverage within the local market. And while things might appear to be now looking on the up for the organization much of that will be predicated upon the continued success of this team under its coach.

Now riding on the crest of a wave the team now faces their sternest test of the season as they face the reigning Superbowl champions the New Orleans Saints in a game that will have playoff implications for the Buccaneers . A win and a loss by either the Green Bay Packers and New York Giants and the Buccaneers would be assured of a playoff berth. A loss and they’d have to make do with something of an eventful but yet unexpected season that has been filled with highs and lows .

With all that the Buccaneers’ fans have had to endure this season and the spirited effort that has been shown by this team it augurs well for next year. And even if they should fail to make the postseason which on appearance would now appear to be a certainty one can’t help but wonder what might have been had one or two of the earlier results during the season had gone their way. Many of those downfalls fell to the overall lack of experience shown by the team and coaching staff but as the saying goes ……….. what doesn’t hurt will make you stronger . And for the Buccaneers this has been a season fraught with dangers but at the same time it has also been filled with the angst of watching a group of players learn to how to player together and be moulded into a team. And that will indeed be of benefit not only to the Buccaneers’ organization but also the fans.

Whatever their frailties have been , be it on the defensive or offensive side of the ball Morris’ players have learned from it and the improvements are now being seen. As I alluded to earlier, it will augur well for their immediate future. And for players such as Josh Freeman , Mike Williams , Arrelious Benn , Kellen Winslow , Cody Grimm and Davin Joseph their time will come and they will no doubt challenge the likes of the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints within the NFC South for divisional supremacy as well as the rest of the NFL . Their continued progress it’s hoped will quite possibly lead to a Superbowl appearance and victory . How sweet would that be given the travails of this organization over the last few years ?

What thoughts if any do you have on the success attained by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this season ? And what if any has been a major surprise to you in terms of the NFL as we now head into the postseason . Simply chime in with a comment.

With all that the Bucanneers' fans have had to endure this season and the spirited effort that has been shown by this team it augurs well for next year. And even if they should fail to make the postseason which on appearance would now appear to be a certainty one can't help but wonder what might have been had one or two of the earlier results during the season had gone their way. Many of those downfals fell to the overall lack of experience shown by the team and coaching staff but as the saying goes ……….. what doesn’t hurt will make you stronger . And for the Buccaneers this has been a season fraught with dangers but at the same time it has also been filled with the angst of watching a group of players learn to how to player together and be moulded into a team. And that will indeed be of benefit not only to the Buccaneers’ organization but also the fans.

Whatever their frailties have been , be it on the defensive or offensive side of the ball Morris’ players have learned from it and the improvements are now being seen. As I alluded to earlier, it will augur well for their immediate future. And for players such as Josh Freeman , Mike Williams , Arrelious Benn , Kellen Winslow, Cody Grimm and Davin Joseph their time will come and they will no doubt challenge the likes of the Atlanta Falcons , and New Orleans Saints within the NFC South for divisional supremacy as well as the rest of the NFL . Their continued progression it’s hoped will quite possibly lead to a Superbowl appearance and victory . How sweet would that be given the travails of this organization over the last few years ?

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New Orleans Saints running back Chris Ivory (29) is stopped on a rushing play in the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011. The Saints lost 23-13 . AP Photo/Gerald Herbert …..

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back LeGarrette Blount (27) fumbles the ball on a hit by New Orleans Saints defensive end Alex Brown (96) during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011. The Saints lost 23-13. AP Photo/Gerald Herbert …..

Head coach Raheem Morris celebrates with Elbert Mack (33) of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after defeating the New Orleans Saints 23-13 at the Louisiana Superdome on January 2, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images …..

Head coach Raheem Morris talks with Ronde Barber (20) of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on January 2, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Buccaneers defeated the Saints 23-13. Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images …….

Quarterback Josh Freeman (5) of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is pushed out of bounds by Alex Brown (96) of the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on January 2, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Buccaneers defeated the Saints 23-13. Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images ……..

Quarterback Drew Brees (9) of the New Orleans Saints avoids a tackle by Adam Hayward (57) of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Louisiana Superdome on January 2, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images ……

Quarterback Josh Freeman (5) celebrates after throwing a touchdown with Dezmon Briscoe (89) of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on January 2, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Buccaneers defeated the Saints 23-13. Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images ………..

Buccaneers’ head coach Raheem Morris (left) and GM Mark Dominik are seen here strategizing their draft policy at One Buc Place for this past season’s NFL Draft. picture courtesy of Matt May/ Tampa Bay Buccaneers …. @ copyrighted material all rights reserved

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Picture gallery for your perusal .

What thoughts if any do you have on the success attained by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this season ? And what if any has been a major surprise to you in terms of the NFL as we now head into the postseason . Simply chime in with a comment.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Roster & Depth Chart

Head coach Raheem Morris

Buccaneers coaching staff

Buccaneers front office

Team statistics

NB By clicking on the links provided below you can obtain the latest concerning the NFL .

NFL Divisional Standings

NFL Conference Standings

NFL Standings by League

NFL Week 17 results

NFL News ……………

NFL Divisional playoff games

Alan aka tophatal ………………………….

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Eye candy Ice T’s main squeeze Nicole ‘Coco’ Austin.
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Anne and Kate , somehow I wouldn’t mind being the meat in between those two layers of a sandwich !

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