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Bucs try to keep things rolling

Staff photo by CLIFF McBRIDE

Tanard Jackson and the Bucs hope to carry the feeling from Sunday's win down to Miami.

By ANWAR S. RICHARDSON

arichardson@tampatrib.com

Published: November 14, 2009

Updated: 11/14/2009 12:22 am

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TAMPA - Most football fans are aware of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' struggles this season.

The offense has had two different coordinators, two centers and three starting quarterbacks. The defense has struggled to limit big plays. The Bucs' three field goals are the fewest in the league.

There are plenty of negatives for Tampa Bay (1-7) to dwell on before facing Miami (3-5) on Sunday, but the team hopes to erase those memories during the second half of the season.

"Wherever you are and whatever your role is, now is the time to play," defensive tackle Chris Hovan said. "Your big players have got to make big plays for you. Now we have to see the progression to build on for down the road."

The Bucs' first step toward becoming a better team came last week against Green Bay.

Tampa Bay picked up its first victory of the season, snapping an 11-game losing streak, but there were other small victories. Rookie quarterback Josh Freeman helped rally his team from an 11-point, fourth-quarter deficit. The defensive line sacked Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers six times.

More importantly, the team played hard from start to finish, and Coach Raheem Morris hopes that effort will become the norm for his players.

"You just want to see steady improvement, steady growth, and the mistakes they made, you don't want to see them repeat," Morris said. "You want to at least see new mistakes. You want to see guys build around them and play fast and play hard.

"You want to see your defense improve on what they did in that fourth quarter, in that second half, getting the ball back and scoring, coming up with six sacks. ... You want to see your team not live in that moment and stay in that moment, but improve on those things and get better and better."

Freeman's success will determine how much Tampa Bay improves during the second half of this season.

While there was concern about whether the rookie, who did not get many offseason reps, could perform well in the NFL, he completed 14 of 31 passes for three touchdowns and an interception in his starting debut.

Morris is not sure about whether Freeman will duplicate that performance against Miami, and the young quarterback is expected to have some bad games, but his teammates are eager to see him develop.

"We are 1-7, but with Josh Freeman in there, we've got to get him going. He is the guy for the future," tight end Kellen Winslow said. "We've got to keep fighting for Rah.

"Just coming together as a team. We are young and we need to continue to build on that."

As the offense hopes to rally around Freeman, the defense also is seeking a new direction.

Cornerback Aqib Talib has emerged as an elite cover specialist, nabbing five interceptions and shutting down receivers Greg Jennings (Green Bay), Steve Smith (Carolina) and DeSean Jackson (Philadelphia). Safety Tanard Jackson also has played well, but Tampa Bay's defense still is looking for leaders to emerge.

"(We need) younger guys showing that they belong in this league, showing they can play," defensive coordinator Jim Bates said. "(We need) older players playing at a high, high level and improvement out of every player, and collectively as a team.

"Of course, this run defense we have to clean up. We have to be better against the run. Continue to see improvement in the pass rush. It all works hand-in-hand. There were times the other day when there was nowhere to go with the ball. When we're on our game, that's the way it should be."

It also is where Tampa Bay hopes to be during its next eight games.

"You've got to get it rolling," Hovan said. "It started rolling last week, and now we have to build upon it. A lot of people are going to write about the division and the offseason, but we really can't look at that.

"If we ain't rolling, they're going to say a lot of bad stuff about us. If we are rolling, they are going to say a lot of good stuff about us. We choose our own fate."

Reporter Anwar Richardson can be reached at

(813) 259-8425.

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