Well, this is a pleasant surprise.
The Buccaneers – hopeless before their one Superbowl appearance/victory and hopeless since – have turned a corner. With Raheem Morris as Head Coach and the young Josh Freeman at Quarterback, the next few years could see the playoffs going through Florida on an annual basis.
But are we anointing this team as Champions of the future too soon? In a word, yes. An awful lot of hype has surrounded the Buccaneers this off season. Freeman looked like he was really finding a groove towards the end of last season and the fact they came so, so close to a playoff berth then, is really reason enough for the Florida fascination that is sweeping the nation.
There is a real dynamism to this team and an ethos of optimism and grittiness that I like. They play at 110% every down; whatever they do looks frantic. When they win, they win with the elation of a kid on Christmas morning; when they lose, they look like they’ve just witnessed the end of the world. This is an emotional team, using their hearts to overcome the obstacles of inexperience. Their coach has assembled a solid unit and you get the feeling he trusts every young man on his roster. I also get the sense he sends them out to play, rather than execute. Is such a libertarian approach going to wash in the highly competitive NFC South?
No.
Verdict: although the Bucs will be extremely entertaining, and likely win a bunch of games, their mental weaknesses will see them fall to their main divisional rivals, the Saints and perhaps even the Falcons (a similarly youthful set-up but a couple of years further down the line). A 10-6 record and missing out on the postseason again, but getting closer.
Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.
E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.
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