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So, What's Next For Bucs

Cliff McBride/Tampa Tribune

Joey Galloway, who left the field late in the game, struggled against the Giants.

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By JOE HENDERSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 6, 2008

TAMPA - Well, you saw what happened. The Bucs got manhandled.

We will explore this in detail, of course, but basically the New York Giants proved what a lot of people thought. They said the Bucs were soft and they were right. They said the Bucs weren't good enough.

They were right.

The Giants' 24-14 victory Sunday in the opening (and, for the Bucs, closing) round of the playoffs is the type of game that sparks change. After all, Tony Dungy was fired after a similar type playoff flop at Philly. I'm not suggesting it will happen again, but if it did would you really be surprised?

The Bucs couldn't handle the Giants' heat on the pass rush – Jeff Garcia was pressured all day. And they couldn't stop Eli Manning when they needed.

Garcia couldn't get anything going on offense after the first quarter and Jon Gruden's strategy of resting his veterans the last two weeks will surely be debated for months. The Bucs looked rusty and out of sync.

Garcia picked the worst time of the season to play his worst game. In fairness, he spent the afternoon backpeddling and throwing as he ducked away from pass rushers that always seemed to be in his face.

He picked a fine time to throw some of the most off-target passes of the season.

That about cover it?

If we left out any failing, please let us know.

Changes Coming?

So, now what?

Well, one thing that seems certain is that the Bucs need to find some playmakers this off-season. They were a solid team most of the season but not explosive. For all of his speed, Joey Galloway failed to make anything happen Sunday and he is 36 years old with 13 seasons now behind him.

They Bucs need to start thinking about an overhaul at wide receiver and, Earnest Graham's earnest season notwithstanding, they need to get some real game-breaking speed at running back. Who knows if Cadillac Williams will even be ready by next season? The Bucs need to invest some of their salary cap space in a big-time back and maybe a receiver.

If there is a top quarterback to be found in the draft, the Bucs need to take him. Garcia played beautifully much of this season but he is 37 years old – as you may have heard – and the Bucs need to develop his replacement.

And what about Gruden?

He morphed back to stubbornness Sunday when patience was called for. The running game was working in the first quarter. The Bucs had control of the game, leading 7-0. And then they went to the air and lost all momentum.

I've felt that Gruden should get a contract extension for the work he has done this season, but who knows if the Glazers feel the same way. Especially after this game.

Drab Ending

So ends a season that held so much promise.

Back in July we didn't think the Bucs had a chance to be in this game. Now it seems so frustrating to lose this way.

The season closes with three straight losses.

The playoffs are one and done.

Their final mark is 9-8 – plus a trophy for the championship of the weakest division in the NFL.

Maybe this was as good as they could have been. Maybe this is who they really are. Maybe on the heels of 4-12 last season, that should be satisfying.

But it isn't.

At least it didn't seem that way Sunday.

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