Columns

Gimme 5

By JOHN ROMANO, Times Columnist
Published October 29, 2007

Talk of the town

Five topics suitable for inane debate on talk radio.

1. Passing opportunity: Jeff Garcia is the reason the Bucs won the Saints game. He was the key in victories against the Rams and the Titans, too. I point this out because Garcia cost the Bucs on Sunday. It wasn't just the interceptions, but it was also the number of open receivers he missed downfield. He was due for a bad outing, but it demonstrates how badly the Bucs need Garcia in order to be successful.

2. How about mixing in a big play: The numbers will tell you Tampa Bay's defense is playing at a high level. Those numbers cannot be trusted. A great defense manages to come up with impact plays. The Bucs are not forcing turnovers and are barely getting pressure on quarterbacks. The standard around here is too high to accept less.

3. Next week, he gets a big-boy playbook: Judging from the cautious game plan the Jaguars employed with Quinn Gray, I'm betting they strapped him in a car seat on the flight home.

4. Aid and comfort to the enemy: One of the reasons the Bucs have given up fewer points than most teams in the NFC is because the offense has not put the defense in precarious spots with turnovers. At least, that used to be the case. Through the first six weeks, opponents scored a total of three points after Tampa Bay turnovers. In the past two games, the Lions and Jaguars have scored 21 off turnovers.

5. The Saints are marching back in: The Bucs have allowed New Orleans to climb back in the division race. And, unlike the Panthers, the Saints have a fairly easy schedule in the second half of the season.

A list of five

Five reasons the Bucs have fallen out of first.

5. All the cool Glazers hang out with Manchester United.

4. Used a referee challenge during the coin toss.

3. No one has stepped up to replace Mike Alstott as the guy Jon Gruden loves to ignore.

2. Exhausted from waiting in the MRI line.

1. Um, they ain't that good?

Five ways you lose

1. Senseless penalties: The Bucs had plenty of these, but none were worse than the special teams blunders. Tanard Jackson's unnecessary roughness call on a kick return gave the Jaguars a short field on their game-winning drive, and Ryan Nece's hold on a punt return put the Bucs in a deeper hole on their final drive.

2. Unnecessary risks: Hard to criticize Garcia after the way he has played, but he got too greedy on his second interception. Facing a heavy pass rush, Garcia tried to force a pass instead of throwing it out of bounds or taking a sack.

3. Missing tackles: Too many of these to count, but when Derrick Brooks failed to bring down Greg Jones on third and 6 late in the fourth quarter, it cost the Bucs two more timeouts and another minute off the clock.

4. Fail to capitalize: The Bucs crossed midfield on eight of their last nine possessions and scored only 13 points.

5. Play a rookie at quarterback: Hmm, that seemed to be a legitimate excuse last year.

Five super picks

Checking out the best bets for Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Ariz.

1. Patriots: Afterward, Tom Brady went 2-for-3 against Josh Fogg.

2. Colts: May be the only thing standing between the Pats and a perfect season.

3. Giants: If they make the playoffs, will Tiki have Tom Coughlin on the Today show?

4. Steelers: Still the No. 1 defense, even after giving up 31 points last week.

16. Bucs: Live fast, die young and leave a good-looking draft pick.

Final five words

Can't blame that on injuries.

[Last modified October 28, 2007, 23:25:35]