Well the NFL‘s season has began and as much to the delight of the the fans , finally they’ve got something to rejoice about. They’ll be there in their throngs to support their teams wholeheartedly. And it’d appear that for the usual perfunctory of characters that there are-nothing much has changed.
After a winless season , the Detroit Lions are back to where they left off, last season. Having lost a mind numbing 16 regular season games. Their first regular season game of the 2009-10 season , has left us in no doubt that they’re back to their usual ways. Wherein, ineptitude is likely to be the norm. And that’s even with the mindset that the acquisition of Matthew Stafford through the draft, as their # 1 draft pick , would be the savior of the franchise. Their 45-27 loss the New Orleans Saints. All but assured us , that in reality hasn’t been that much of a change with regard to mindset of the franchise. Winning breeds confidence -but for the Detroit Lions they’ve first got to learn how to win and all of the prerequisite things that goes along with winning.
Not only was this a resounding loss for the team. But in essence , it lets the Lions’ fans know that this team faces a steep uphill battle if they’re to turn around their fortunes. Albeit, that this is only the first game of the season. It may prove to be indicative of what’s to come for this team under their coach, Jim Schwartz.
And the task that’s envisaged ahead for Schwartz and his coaching staff is by no means an easy feat at this juncture.
All things point to the fact that this’ll be an exceedingly trying time for the coach and the team as a whole.
In the case of the New Orleans Saints , it’d appear that their quarterback , Drews Brees , merely picked up from where left off, from last season. And he’s not just content with putting up the usual stats. Brees , in essence looks as if he wants to sends those stats into the stratosphere. He threw for 6 touchdowns in the Saints’ win over the Lions. And he served notice that a 5,000 yard season isn’t at all beyond him.
Box score : New Orleans Saints 45 Detroit Lions 27
Something has seemingly gone awry with sports- within the Tampa Bay area. It may well be the grandiose delusions of the fans and that ever present belief that the teams within the area aren’t as good as advertised. And it certainly hasn’t helped with the asinine notions of the sport’s broadcasters on the radio , locally, giving their usual analysis. Much of the time it borders on being either sublime or downright ridiculous. Well that most certainly has to be the case with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
And for Buccaneers’ first year coach, Raheem Morris and GM Mark Dominik. They’ve the unenviable task of having to reshape this team and make them somewhat more competitive. And though it has to to be said that the abrupt departure of Morris’ predecessor , Jon Gruden wasn’t totally unexpected. What has taken place since Gruden’s departure , in many ways resembles something of a comedy of errors. Morris has seemingly given the fans what they want to hear. ‘We’ll be competitive and play with urgency and show athleticism’ .
Well , based upon the evidence shown in their first home game of the season. The Buccaneers showed very little athleticism throughout the entire four quarters of play against the Dallas Cowboys -in their home opener at the Raymond James Stadium. They held their own against the Cowboys but seemingly they were unimaginative in their play, offensively. And once the Cowboys and in particular their quarterback , Tony Romo found his timing . The Buccaneers were playing catchup for the rest of the game. From the third quarter on, the Buccaneers’ defense was taken apart with precision of a surgeon . As Romo seemingly found his receivers almost at will. Several times the Buccaneers’ defense was torched for several aerial plays . Wherein, their defensive backs seemingly had no answer for the speed of Miles Austin, Patrick Crayton , Jason Witten or Roy Williams.
And though the 34-21 victory by the Cowboys. In the end the result may not reflect a wide margin of victory -but for the garbage points attained by the Bucs in the latter stages of the game. The end result could well have been a great deal wider in terms of the victory for the Cowboys.
As we all know , the Buccaneers have never been viewed as on offensive juggernaut. The team’s mantra has always been built around defense. And though this is still a very young team , in terms of its roster. The defensive schemes put into place by defensive coordinator, Jim Bates , were seemingly lost on the players. And nowhere was this more evident than with the lack of resolve shown when it came to making tackles and the man to man coverage. Coverages were blown and the talk of this team being built and predicated upon speed. I can only surmise that if the Bucs’ defensive players were racing a tortoise. My money would be, on the tortoise ! And unfortunately for the Bucs the veteran presence that it was felt that Ronde Barber would give to the team on the defensive side of things. Well it’d be easy to suggest at this juncture that Ronde ought to be thinking about applying for his AARP card . The player’s best days are certainly in the rear view mirror and not ahead of him- as many within the Bucs’ coaching ranks still seem to think.
Whilst it may well be too early to read anything into this loss for the Buccaneers. It seemingly doesn’t at all bode well for the team. Bearing in mind that before the midway point of the fourth quarter, several of the Buccaneers’ fans were already making their way to the exits. Fair weather fans they say …’ come in all shapes and sizes’. But within the state of Florida and in particular the central part of the state. This is commonly what the fans are primarily known for when it comes to their home teams. Is it any wonder that as far as allegiances goes , the support for any team within the state if it doesn’t happen to about Gators’ football, Seminoles’ football or as a matter fact Canes’ football. It is seemingly about the college game. Rather than showing support for the non-descript NFL entertainment now being served up. And that’s about as worthwhile as having a tooth pulled without the use of novoacaine.
Box score: Dallas Cowboys 34 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 21
tophatal's blog 
I can’t believe I’m going to submit myself to the torture of watching 16 Tampa Bay Buccaneers games this season.
They should have happy hour at the Raymond James bar between 1-4 on Sundays to encourage people to attend.
Chris Humpherys
Not even the Marquis de Sade would be willing to endure such torture . Much less the Gitmo detainees. And to think that Bucs’ supporters were leaving by midway through the fourth quarter. That certainly doesn’t bode well for any of their home games this season.
The Glazers may well have to spend a great deal of their own money to avoid any blackouts in the local market. Cause I for one, can’t see any of the local businesses being persuaded to purchase tickets even if they’re being offered at a tremendous discount.
Alan Parkins
I lived through this stuff with Eagles all my life. The Bums break your heart all the time. Screw the Cowboys. Tampa Bay set the original losing streak. The Buc lost their first 26 games they ever played. John McKay was asked about his teams execution. McKay replied I am in favor of it. The third year the Bucs almost made the Super Bowl. They beat my Eags. They gave the Lambs I am the Rams all they could handle before losing in the NFC championship game in 1980. Give em time.
Bobbygee
That’s what tends to happen when a franchise has no inherent pedigree when it comes to winning. And even though the Bucs have won a Superbowl . It has been the unevenness under Gruden that has set them down this path. He couldn’t assess and pick talent, if his life depended on it. Now it’s left to someone like Morris and Dominik . Who in effect are learning on the job. Hardly the recipe for success in this day and age , now is it ? Especially when the NFL is all about winning and winning now .
Alan Parkins
Why’d you pick three crappy teams to write about? First Carolina, who is borderline, then the Lions and Bucs!?! I guess there’s a reason I have the Lions listed as the worst all time franchise on my list of worst franchises! They Bucs made a huge mistake losing Gruden. This year will have no direction, but I’m glad we’ll get to hear Chucky on MNF!
chappy
If anything Carolina would be one of the last teams most would expect to play so awfully in the first week of the NFL , lay a goose egg and look so bad in doing so. The Eagles merely took ’em behind the woodshed and gave ’em a good old a_s whupping .
As for the Lions they’re going to have continuous growing pains with Stafford at the helm of this team. I would’ve preferred it had they played Culpepper for the first couple of games. And then if things didn’t work , then they could’ve initiated Stafford with his own personal baptism of fire. If he doesn’t perform up to par , he may well be considered to be a bust within the league .
Alan Parkins