This is not how you start, it's how you finish. That was one of the favorite sayings former Bucs coach, Jon Gruden and its meaning certainly is not lost in the current coach Raheem Morris.
He asked this week what Tampa Bay has to do better in the room for improvement in a final that did not make the playoffs last year, Morris said key is in the best finish on game days.
"To use an example,''Morris said," we must be able to end games (like the two we lost against) Atlanta last year and be more consistent at the end of the big-time games that .''
The Bucs lost their first match to eventual champion Falcons in the NFC South last year when running back LeGarrette Blount hit the wrong hole and filled in a race to the finish line with 2:44 to play.
He missed the second when quarterback Josh Freeman was intercepted only once in the last eight games of the season in the Falcons 19-yard line with less than two minutes to play.
A victory in either game could have altered the fate of Tampa Bay in the playoffs. However, Morris is not putting the fate of the Bucs only loss. After all, had a late lead at home against Detroit in December and could not finish one, either.
"We all know that in the Pittsburgh game and the first game in New Orleans we got beat,''said Morris." But in the rest of our games we have had the opportunity to finish them off.
"So that's what we have to do this year. We have to be more consistent. We have to play smarter and we have the smartest coach. We have to improve in all these things.''
Davin Joseph agreed to a seven-year, $ 52.5 million contract with the Buccaneers on 28 July. He had to wait six days to meet with his teammates - until the new labor agreement was ratified - and finally took his place at right guard on 5 August.
Since then he has participated in six days of practice, one a non-contact route, and put on the pads only four times.
No offseason workouts for the lockout and the little camp, Joseph said he does not know what to expect when playing the first preseason game tonight against the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
"I think I'll find out," he said.
He is not alone.
In the new world order of the NFL, the contact is limited everywhere, but during the games (preseason and regular season). Too much rest can lead to rust, which can lead to injuries. At a minimum, the quality of play would suffer until the air improves.
But Joseph said I can not worry about that.
"I really do not know what my No. 1 concern is," said Joseph. "We have the same offense we did last year, so it is an advantage.
"The players of the same, a quarterback lead the same, which is an advantage to have more advantages than disadvantages in our different categories must be good, but conditioning is always a factor ...." 12 Aug 2011 - can only be the first preseason game, but fans of Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going to find it difficult not to get his equipment after dismantling all of Kansas City, on Friday night. Bucs coach Raheem Morris should leave Arrowhead Stadium with a huge smile on his face as his "youngry" team dominated all three parts of the game in a 25-0 defeat of defending champions of the AFC West on national television.
Quarterback Josh Freeman is starting to open eyes around the NFL and only contributed to his growing buzz of the night, completing 9 of 13 passed for 73 yards and added a rushing touchdown for good measure. True to his word, Raheem Morris let his first-team offense in the final game remaining in the second quarter, unlike the leaders coach Todd Haley, who started just two Matt Cassel series. Cassel to end the game 2-3 for 10 yards, while over-seeing two drives that resulted in more first downs rotations.
Freeman responded to the additional representatives looking crisp and efficient, moving the Bucs offense down the field and put points on the scoreboard. But while Freeman may have been the worldwide trend on twitter, it was the Buccaneers defense that the greatest impact on the game.
