Cautious Optimism
Rolling. The theme of the week for TALB. First the Gators put their pimp hand down on the Vols. Then the Bucs put their boot to the neck of the Saints. And finally the Rusty Trombones nearly double-up the competition in fantasy. I might just get used to this kind of thing. But that would be foolish, wouldn’t it?
Boom! Headshot!
Joey Galloway cuts across the middle, he catches the ball in stride, BOOM (about 1:15 in) Clayton lays out the Saints defender, Galloway in for six. And I write the words “game over” in my imaginary notebook. When was the last time ye weary Bucs fans that you can remember the PiPP (Pirates in Pewter Pants) had a game safely under control by the intermission? 2002 maybe?
But it’s just one game. Sorry to spoil the fun. The Rams come to town this week, and their offense isn’t as good (statistically) as either the Seahawks or Saints. Which would bode well for the young defense. However, they do come in with a top-10 defense. Yet they are 0-2. This is a game the Bucs can win if they play like they did this past Sunday. By now, everyone on the offense should have confidence in Jeff Garcia. It’s now up to the Defense to build on their success. Because we have Carolina and Indianapolis next. I’d much rather this team be 3-1 or 2-2 when we head North to meet the Champs.
TALB isn’t sold yet on this team being anything better than mediocre. Talk to me in a month.
Timbo?
While the Gators’ defense was fairly impressive, they didn’t do enough to assuage the fears of this Gator fan. The pass defense leaves too much open. If the offense and special teams (see, I told ya) hadn’t put Tennessee on edge from the get-go, I’m not sure things would have turned out this well. Again, the rushing defense produced a solid performance. With Ole Miss and reeling Auburn next on the schedule, hopefully Charlie Strong and Greg Mattison can whip the lads into shape before heading to Red Stick to face LSU.
The offense, of course, was as advertised. I don’t know what to make of the first two series though. Was that an attempt to establish Tebow’s running threat? Thus setting up the pass? Or just some poor play-calling? The talk between Gary Danielson and Verne Dumbquist during the telecast about the Gators’ national title hopes, are in my opinion, pre-mature. If not downright wrong. This team isn’t ready to contend for the (Mythical) National Championship just yet. Next year, we’ll see. But 2007, not so much. Unless the defense gets much better real soon. We’ll have a hard enough time getting by LSU once, let alone the (likely) two victories against them it would take to earn the SEC championship.
And let’s not forget about the suddenly stacked SEC East schedule ahead. You knew about Georgia, but Kentucky and South Carolina won’t be the push-overs they have been historically. Hell, Vandy always plays the Gators close. This team will have a hard enough time making it to Atlanta. Talking about New Orleans is insanity.
With regards to describing the Urban Meyer spread-option, I’ve found the perfect words. They come from the Sunday Morning Quarterback:
The versatility was blatantly obvious to a blind man Saturday: with Tebow, the defense has no choice but to respect the middle, even if - especially if - the rest of the speed players are spread out all over the place; his presence alone gives UF a power running game, essentially an extra player in the backfield when a simple hesitation, one little step forward, suffices for play-action without sacrificing the running back in the fake. You hear this rhetoric all the time, but with Tebow’s arm, bullish running mentality and stockpiles of speed all around him, this offense as much as any I can remember really does force defenses to cover the entire field. This is a luxury very few quarterbacks can provide, and, when it comes to using Percy Harvin as the anti-Tebow dagger in the running game, very few receivers, too.
I’ve been struggling to come up with something like that for the last three weeks. That, what TALB calls the Tebow-Action Pass, is the most deadly weapon in the Gators’ offensive arsenal. It is the one thing that gives the Gators an almost guaranteed 5 yard gain per play.
Go USF Bulls
Launching into the Top-25 at #23 with the writers and #24 according to the sports information directorscoaches.
Though I do enjoy seeing Auburn lose to a team like Mississippi State, it pained me to know that it would adversely affect USF’s ranking. With the Bulls idle the best thing that could have happened would have been for the Tigers to roll over the Bulldogs. I have to think the Bulls’ rank was lowered by a spot or two because of that. Now, had the Bulls been playing UNC this week and won, then maybe they crack even the Top-20.
Break Up The Bones!
After two weeks, the Rusty Trombones are in first place. Having scored a league high 120 points this week the ‘Bones rolled over Huffdaddy on their way to a 2-0 start. Tom Brady and Ocho-Cinco each chipped in with 20+ points. Johnson led the way with 25 points off of 209 yards receiving and two scores. Brady, behind his 279 yards and three touchdowns, followed with 21 points. Kellen Winslow, getting involved in the CIN-CLE shoot-out contributed 100 yards and touch to add 12 points. Cadillac Williams’ 16 points sat on the bench.
For the second week in a row, two clubs reached or surpassed 100 points. Given the scoring in the BJFL (Buc Junkies Football League) that’s pretty impressive. We usually go weeks between even one team scoring 100+.
Next: Gunslingers (1-1)
How’s That Hubris Taste Chuck?
What did I tell you? Charlie Weis made a ton of noise about not naming his starting quarterback for the first game. And I called this an attempt to deflect attention away from his knowledge that his team, as a whole, just wasn’t that good. Charlie might be lucky to have a job as Bill Belichick’s DP next year. The Domers have 3-0 Michigan State up next. And looking at their schedule they’ll be lucky to win a game this year if things don’t change, and in a hurry.
Running Items
Random Thought
Remember in The Matrix when that one woman calls Neo “copper top”? I think it would have been more humorous if they had used that line when referring to the “civilians” instead. Because at that point Neo was no longer a battery for the Matrix.
Beer of the Moment
Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat. While I likes me some Blue Moon, I find the Leinie just plain tastes better. Plus I think it’s a few quarters cheaper by the six.
And I’m also happy to pat myself on the back for getting in on the wheat/wies fad before it blossomed. Just six months ago you couldn’t find anything besides the Moon and that Honey Wheat stuff from Michelob. Now you can’t swing a dead Belgian without knocking over a case of wheat beer.
Plus One Bowl
USC vs. LSU
Unless and until Florida plays shut-down defense, I don’t see them in the game. And Oklahoma is likely to be left out, even if they go undefeated, just because of the “buzz” that LSU has generated thus far. If LSU also runs the table, they’d be a lock to play for the MNC. And USC put an end to the whispers about their team with that woodshed of Nebraska.
Super Bowl XLII
New England vs. Tampa Bay
Heck, it’s a week for optimism here in “Bucs Nation”.
Next Time: If you can’t Dodge it, Ram it.
