Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Bucs

Gimme 5

By JOHN ROMANO
Published October 17, 2005

Five topics suitable for inane debate on talk radio:

WHAT DOES IT MEAN? Is it too early to start printing playoff tickets? Absolutely. Is it too soon to start saving up for tickets? Probably not. The past 10 teams to start 5-1 have gone to the playoffs.

BURY HIS STATS AT WOUNDED KNEE: You called for Brian Griese's head. Now that you have been given his knee, are you sure you want it? Griese promised this week to take better care of the ball, and he was true to his word. He completed 75 percent of his passes, threw no interceptions and converted 5 of 8 third downs. He still gives the Bucs their best chance of winning.

HEY, MICHAEL PITTMAN: After waiting that long to find the end zone, you might have wanted to put off celebrating for another 15 yards.

HE'S NO J.P. LOSMAN: He has been with six teams the past eight seasons. His career winning percentage (.426) is the worst among active quarterbacks with at least 50 starts. And if you needed any further evidence of Gus Frerotte's limitations, consider Sunday's performance Exhibit A.

IT'S CALLED A TENDENCY: Hope I'm not blowing any secrets, but Tampa Bay's next opponent might want to consider covering Joey Galloway. Of the 12 passes Griese threw to his wideouts, 10 went in Galloway's direction. Yet the Dolphins seemed shocked every time.

Five lessons learned by Ricky Williams:

5. $8.6-million doesn't go as far as it used to.

4. For a supermodel, Kate Moss knows her "supplements."

3. Wedding dresses really itch.

2. Vagrants don't get per diem.

1. Dave Wannstedt can't take a joke.

RUN STOPPERS: As giddy as fans have been about the offense's newfound running game, the defense's ability to stop the run has been even more impressive. For the sixth week in a row, the Bucs held an opponent to less than 100 yards rushing. They managed that four times in 16 games in 2004.

STOCK UP ON TOMATO CANS: Okay, this has more to do with NFL schedule-makers than Tampa Bay's defense, but we have seen a gruesome parade of opposing quarterbacks at Raymond James. From Losman to Joey Harrington to Frerotte, it's as if a boxing promoter were setting up a succession of sure bets for the Bucs. None of the three threw a TD against Tampa Bay.

FORCING THE ISSUE: In past seasons, the trademark for this defense was turnovers. It looks like it might be again in 2005. The Bucs have 15 takeaways in six games, putting them on pace for 40. They forced 27 turnovers last season.

GIVE THE FELLAS A BREAK: The offense isn't putting a lot of points on the board, but it is keeping the defense off the field. The Bucs lead the NFL in time of possession, which means the defense is not being asked to stop another drive every four plays.

DEPTH CHARGES: Jermaine Phillips and Dexter Jackson have missed time with injuries, and the Bucs haven't missed a beat. A year or two ago, injuries in the secondary would have been crippling.

Checking out the best bets for Super Bowl XL in Detroit:

1. COLTS: Only remaining threat to the 1972 Dolphins.

2. EAGLES: Donovan McNabb was in serious need of a bye week.

3. BRONCOS: I'm going to forgive them for losing to Miami.

4. COWBOYS: Their two losses have been by a combined seven points.

5. BUCS: Best record in the NFC, and I have no idea how.

FINAL FIVE WORDS

Can we play Frerotte again?

[Last modified October 17, 2005, 06:40:36]