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Which Way Will They Go?

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By Joe Henderson, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 23, 2007

Updated: 09/23/2007 12:12 am

One of the most entertaining things about the National Football League is how things can diametrically change with the outcome of a single game. Seven days ago, the Bucs looked hopeless after going kersplatt in their opening game. Then they trashed the Saints 31-14.

Go figure.

At 1-1 heading to today's game with the Rams, the Bucs are like a whole lot of other teams. If a few things go unexpectedly well, they could become this year's version of last year's Bears. Get an injury here, a bad bounce there, and we're neck deep in a coaching search to replace Jon Gruden.

Translation: No one has the foggiest notion how this will shake out, and if they say they do, don't believe them. They're just guessing, like the rest of us.

Here's what we do know: The Bucs were the only team in the NFC South to win last week. Things are already better than this time last year, when the Bucs were about to fall to 0-3 against Carolina and Chris Simms was about to teach us the term 'splenectomy.' The season essentially was over.

We weren't expecting much this year, either, but the Saints - who were conceded the division title without the bother of playing games - suddenly figured out what they were doing right and corrected it. The division looks like it's there for the plucking to the first team willing to step up and take it.

But who?

Atlanta? Not a chance, unless Byron Leftwich is the second coming of Joe Montana.

Carolina? Maybe, but the Panthers lost at home last week to Houston, and they look as mediocre as any team.

The Bucs? Well, why not?

Garcia The Difference

No one in pewter will talk that way just yet, of course, because - say it with reverence - it's early! But let's take a little stroll through dreamland. Beat the winless Rams today and they're 2-1 heading to Carolina next Sunday for an early season game that suddenly could be huge.

'It's habit to look at the scoreboard to see what's going on, to see where you rank. But at the same time, you shouldn't be looking over your shoulder - you should be looking straight ahead. If you keep winning, everything will fall into place,' defensive tackle Chris Hovan said.

'When you're younger, you always want to know what's going on. You want to know who won, what happened in the conference, that sort of thing. But being a veteran, I'm just taking it game by game.'

It's something positive for the masses to think and talk about, though.

That's always fun. Just don't expect the Bucs to play along just yet since we just as easily could be asking where all the good vibes went if they lose today.

'Our focus has to be narrow-minded. It has to be our next opponent. I really don't get too caught up right now in what's going on in our division or conference,' quarterback Jeff Garcia said.

'Our focus has to be on the next team we play. If we handle our business, then we create a situation or opportunity for us to compete for the championship when it gets closer to the middle or end of the season.'

We all see the difference Garcia makes in this offense. Jon Gruden calls him 'an above life kind of guy' - whatever that means.

Gruden then took a stab at explaining himself.

'He allows you to do a lot more. He is a much better quarterback, no disrespect to anyone else we have had here, than we have played with. He just is a better player,' Gruden said. 'He is more athletic, more instinctive, he's quicker, he plays fast, and he has tremendous experience. He allows you to do a lot of things.'

Have A Chance

Reality check.

'Right now it's way too early,' linebacker Derrick Brooks said. 'We just know division games are double games in terms of tiebreakers. For us it was even more important because we didn't win a division game last year. It's important for us to get off to a good start.'

It can all change back just as quickly. Take today, for instance. If they lose, they're under .500 with road games at Charlotte and Indianapolis the next two weeks. Perhaps it would be best to delay the printing of playoff tickets.

I also have to admit, though, that I figured they'd lose their first two games and essentially be out of the race by early October. But now the Saints and Falcons look horrible and the Panthers just look confused.

So the chance is there.

Given what happened last year, that sounds pretty good.

'Things can really change when you've got a long season like the NFL,' guard Davin Joseph said. 'It's too early to tell. Probably toward the end of the season, we'd concentrate on what the other the race looks like. It's still only two games. We've got to keep going, keep on truckin'.'

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