It’s The Running Game Stupid Well that game last week was right up there with my grandma’s funeral for sheer entertainment value. We weren’t so much second best, but about seventh best on the day, with our Cheerleaders, local marching band and the bar staff putting in a better showing. At least it was nice of The Panthers Cheerleaders themselves to remind us what a classy organisation they are, and provide some light relief – though their kind of light relief is what got them into trouble in the first place, but that’s a subject for Hugh Hefner to explore. Back to the Bucs and the reasons why it’s all gone pear shaped – it’s starts and ends with our ability, or lack thereof, to establish a running game. In the five games we’ve won either Cadillac Williams or Michael Pittman have at least had the room to get out of their own backfield, and more importantly pick up some positive yardage on first down. However these past two weeks, we seem to permanently be stuck in 2nd and 10-17 territory, and this quickly becomes 3rd down and a cab ride once Kenyatta Walker starts his false start dance routine, perfected over a number of years. A few things I think 1. I think I’d rather nail my testicles to a plank of wood, than be a Panthers fan. I bet the tobacco juice was flowing, and the pick-up trucks were spinning their wheels in celebration last Sunday when they realised they had notched up their two latest arrests, to go in their scorebook with Messrs Lane, Carruth, Collins, Sauerbraun and all the other others. They must be up there with the Vikings in the convicted felons category. 2. I think it’s time Tampa Police filed missing persons reports for Cadillac Williams, Michael Clayton and Simeon Rice. Where the hell have you been these past two weeks guys – your reputations as big time players demand better performance than we’ve seen of late. 3. I think our mid-season MVP selection is a no-brainer. Step forward Mr Galloway and take a bow please – you have put up numbers nobody thought possible for a oft-injured 30 something receiver, with an injury record that Anthony McFarland would be proud to call his own. Imagine what Joey could do if Michael Clayton started playing like he did in 2004 and we had a dual threat? 4. As I was at my son’s christening last Sunday I missed watching the game live, and instead watched the horror movie on tape later in the week. On getting back at 8.30ish Sunday night, I hastily turned on the TV to find that about 90% of the crowd had come in fancy dress, as faded red plastic seats – never a good sign with nearly a full quarter to go. I’ve not seen a Bucs game so sparsely populated since the days of Richard Williamson, when you could buy $16 end zone seat, and plonk yourself at the 50 yard line in the old Sombrero. 5. How much of a fan favourite is Mike Alstott? Even my mother, who’s NFL knowledge is up there with the average Panthers fan, rang me on Monday to ask me why they don’t give him the ball more as at least, in her words, “He can hurt a few defenders when he carries it.” Perhaps one last hurrah for The A Train might just liven us up. 6. FFL Update – after dishing out another good dose this week, The Clap continued their 3 game winning streak. Thank god Peyton Manning obviously reads this column and has started throwing the ball inside the 20-yard line. 7. I think I’m a tad worried that the week 11 clash in Atlanta is on SKY. Good as it is to see a Bucs game live, if we continue on our present run then we will need snookers by half-time in the Georgia Dome, unless we shake ourselves out of this current funk. 8. Am I the only one hearing the dreaded Sam Wyche “5 dash 2” comment swirling in my head, as our season appears to be slipping away before our eyes? 9. I think I bet Banana Joe’s is packed to the rafters this coming Saturday night. 10. I think the moment we yank Chris Simms, we kiss goodbye to 2 things – our season and his Bucs career. The point is, if your offense is constantly in long yardage situations, you have to throw the ball – the whole stadium knows it, so defensive fronts can pin their ears back, linebackers drop into coverage, and DB’s sit back and lick their chops. This is what Chris Simms has been facing, and why he has been victimised by picks and incompletions these past 2 weeks. A worrying tendency Simms does have is to look at his receiver for a good half hour, before he throws a short out pass to the sideline – Chris you need to throw the thing before your receiver turns, watch Payton Manning or even Kerry Collins throw that pass and it’s gone before a DB can even sniff it out. Mr Simms at present allows the defender to decipher the pass, take two puffs on his pipe, tuck his shirt in and then walk forwards to collect the ball. Granted I’m taking the pi$$ a little here but you get the point. As stated elsewhere on this site by far better writers than this one, to place all our offensive woes at Chris Simms door is pure folly. These past two weeks our run blocking has stank, and as a result the knock-on effect has been all the pass protection breakdowns, and three and out series where we often go backwards and our defense is put back on the field. We need to get the basics right before we can win a bloody game again, and a gain of at least four yards on the ground on first down would be a start. There’s multiple things we can try to freshen it up – use the shotgun formation to buy Simms time and spread the field, running Cadillac out of a three or four wideout set once in a while, maybe give Mike Alstott a couple of early touches and see what he can gain, or even throw the odd screen or swing pass and get Cadillac or Michael Pittman to the outside with a pulling guard or two, and see what they can generate. The Redskins are in town this week, in what represents a classic “must win” situation for us. If we grab a win and get to 6-3, things look a hell of a lot rosier than the other alternative – a three-game losing streak, and the distinct feeling that it’s all going pear shaped, Sam Wyche style. In simple terms if we can establish some sort of a running game, and our defense can generate a turnover or two then it’s a game we can win. I say we will, in a squeeker of a contest, which won’t be pretty on the eye, but would look mighty fine to Chucky if it’s a W on the standings. Bucs 19-17……please, God! Nod of Acknowledgement…….. Andy Reid. Thank god for common sense; just as The Chuckster did with Gobshite Johnson, Coach Reid made the right decision for his team, his organisation and his city in finally saying enough to a complete blockhead, and his idiot agent. If Rosenhaus and Owens were made of chocolate I’m sure they would eat themselves. Say hello to the waiver wire T.O. – shame on the team that gives him you your latest last chance. Get in the Real World Award……. The aforementioned Mr Owens and Mr Rosenhaus – do you two really think anybody is buying the apology statement, released amazingly enough after The Eagles carried out their threat to take action. There’s only three people on this planet that want Owens reinstatement, the player himself, his twit of an agent and his FFL Owner Phil Jones!