Good Karma Around One Buc Don’t Mondays, and indeed the week ahead, always seem a whole lot better on the back of a win? Last Sundays surprising and invigorating victory at The Metrodome provided a well timed jolt of enthusiasm to the fans and indeed The Bucs themselves, and hopefully will act as an indicator of things to come this season, though let’s not start the play-off parade just yet. Many aspects of last week' game will have brought a smile to the face of The Chuckster, with the rookies on offense scoring all the points, the defensive resurgence, and the kicking of Matt Bryant who will hopefully remove the spectre of FUAT from our minds in 2005. If you have a running back with breakaway speed, and you keep giving him the ball, the law of averages tells you he will break one sooner or later and so it proved with Cadillac. Twenty-six carries is a hell of a workload on your debut but he stood up to the test admirably and long may that continue. Alex Smith meanwhile lived up to my billing last week, and was a big factor for us down in the red-zone, where a 6ft 5inch target is a lot easier to locate in traffic. And who the hell wants to cover this guy? He’s too quick for a linebacker, and too big for a safety so from our side of things is a match-up nightmare, and one who will haunt hopefully haunt NFL defenses for years to come. Five things I think 1. I think I thought Gene Deckerhoff was about to wet himself last Sunday when Cadillac broke it. He was nearly in tears about 2 minutes earlier when Derrick Brooks failed to fall on the loose ball, but after Brian Kelly’s INT the gut wrenching tension of the Bucs trying to run out the clock only made things worse for the poor geezer. Once gripe though Gene – why do you keep referring to Cadillac as Clayton when he carries the ball? One of them is 5 10 an a running back, the other is 6 ft plus and a receiver – what next Simeon Rice and Ronde Barber being mistaken? 2. I think Jon Gruden already looks about 300% more enthusiastic after Sunday’s win, than I think I’ve seen him since week 2 of the 2003 season. Amazing what a decent start can do for you, but I think I detect a glint in his eye once again. 3. I think I’m chuffed for The Saints but even more gutted the obviously Superbowl Bound Panthers got gubbed last week. I was truly choked when ex-Buc John Carney’s field goal went through the posts, just choked. Lets hope the Pats make them eat another turd sandwich this Sunday. 4. Earth to the receiving corps on my FFL team, yes you Reggie Wayne, Nate Burleson, Joey Galloway, Alge Crumpler and Braylon Edwards – get your bloody fingers out before I go 0-2. 5. I think Cadillac will score another long distance TD this week. He seems to have some of the magic that Warrick Dunn had when he landed in Tampa, with quick feet and lightening fast change of direction. Lets hope he has the crowd at Ray Jay on their feet come Sunday afternoon. The Offensive line survived OK and kept Brian Griese upright and breathing, whilst Joey Galloway and Michael Clayton also provided decent passing targets when we needed to throw downfield. The defense meanwhile showed there is still life left in the old dog, in limiting Daunte Culpepper’s options, picking passes and general forcing him out of what he wanted to do. Now for the not so good things; having established a good degree of control in the first half, we came out offensively in the second and went into a shell, giving too many penalties and being far too conservative with the ball. Cadillac’s late TD masked a bit of a shocker in the second half from the unit, when it looked like we were simply not permitted to attempt to get a first down and keep our defense on the sidelines for any sustained period. The other worrying aspect is Brian Griese’s penchant for throwing highlight reel long touchdowns, scored by the defense when catching one of his errant throws – boy when Brian throws a pick he makes sure it counts, and Darren Sharpers long run-back continued last season’s worrying trend of the ball ending up in our end zone one play after The Bucs were going the other way. For christ’s sake Brian, if you are going to have it picked off, make sure it’s a lineman that gets his hands on it. This week the Bills come into Tampa for our home opener, with their tough Defense and strong running game, so we will have our hands full in this one. Containing Willis McGahee and making what is effectively a rookie QB in JP Losman try to beat us, will be a key determining factor in this game, along with our own ability to once again find some holes for Cadillac to run through and exploit. We have some momentum from Minnesota and a few things to build on, on both sides of the ball so lets hope we can take advantage in what will likely be a lowish scoring game, where turnover free football is a theme to preach – especially to number 8 in pewter. I hope it’s hot as hell in Tampa on Sunday which will suit us down to the ground and hopefully wear on the Bills in the 4th quarter, and with it being a 1pm kick-off this can clearly become a factor if it’s a close game. Cynical sod and hopeless tipster that I am, I firmly believe the fact that I tabbed the Vikings last week helped our cause; consequently lets test the theory again this week so in order not to jinx the Bucs……., Ahem (clears throat) Bills to win 17-13 – let’s hope I’m as accurate as usual with this one. Go Bucs. Nod of Acknowldgement to….The Bucs defense. Last week I doubted you fellas and thought the Vikings might be too much, but you played your nuts off and tackled like your pants were on fire. More of the same these coming weeks would be appreciated. Get in the real world….Torrie Cox. You’re a back-up player trying to establish yourself in the NFL, and having had a DUI arrest last December you are on final warning. Do you (A) Keep your nose squeaky clean and work like a lunatic to impress your coaches and veteran teammates, or (B) Straight away in 2005 commit the exact same offense. Mr Cox has been caught twice in the space of 9 months, this doesn’t mean it’s the only time he’s done this, only that he’s just been caught doing it on 2 occasions – Boneheaded is the politest term for Mr Cox who is surely not going to win the 2005 Brain of Tampa award.