Bucs hope to avoid culture of losing among young players

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' goal this season was to build a foundation with young players under first-year coach Raheem Morris, to become a violent and physical team.

Not on the agenda was to have only one win after 13 games. The organization did not expect its youngsters to struggle. It would have been hard to predict Morris' job could be in jeopardy less than a year later.

Tampa Bay's season has been a disappointment, which could affect the mindset of its younger players. Ronde Barber, Chris Hovan, Jerramy Stevens, Stylez G. White and John Gilmore are the only active players age 30 or older. The rest of Tampa Bay's roster is made up of impressionable players who haven't won many games in the NFL.

Yet, the Bucs (1-12) are optimistic if they close out this season with three wins, starting with Seattle (5-8) on Sunday, their young players can turn around this franchise next year.

"You better build it in these young guys," Morris said. "And then next year, you have other people helping you build that. Just like in '96 when Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp, (John) Lynch and those guys came here; they built that. They started to build it and then new guys came in, Ronde Barber, Brian Kelly and those types of guys came in and they put it in those guys.

"So it starts running, and after a while you have a whole bunch of guys sitting around with the same mentality and you go out and you play very well."

While Morris hopes for the best, he does realize the alternative.

The Bucs have been unable to win close games. It could be argued they don't know how to win. Tampa Bay's defense has been inconsistent. Rookie quarterback Josh Freeman is still developing and unable to carry his team.

Although the Bucs strive to win with the consistency of New England, Indianapolis or Philadelphia, they also could be in danger of establishing a losing tradition similar to Kansas City, St. Louis or Oakland.

"You have to learn how to turn it around," said tight end Kellen Winslow, who endured four losing seasons in five years with the Cleveland Browns before joining the Bucs in the offseason. "It is an attitude thing. Losing does wear on you. You have to be extra disciplined to get that out your system."

Running back Earnest Graham, who has been on three losing teams since joining Tampa Bay in 2004, said the key for the current young players is learning standards.

"Even when you're winning, there is a fight to maintain the standard to give the same effort day in and day out, and to make sure there is progress," Graham said. "I think as long as you maintain a standard, you will find guys that meet that standard. You will find those guys and you keep the guys that do.

Linebackers Quincy Black and Geno Hayes are viewed as players who will help re-establish the previous standard of defensive dominance.

Black experienced two winning seasons before this year, while Hayes has learned a lot about losing since Tampa Bay started 9-3 during his rookie season, only to finish 9-7. The Bucs have won once in their past 17 games.

"I've got to do some of things I saw before to make sure I don't go out and try to do my own thing," Black said. "We have to make sure there is a standard around here. You want to hold yourself up to that. You want to do things the right way. That's the only way you can do it."

Tampa Bay hopes to make winning the norm during its next three games.

This season did not go the way Tampa Bay hoped, but the Bucs are optimistic their young players can initiate next year's success.

"You've got to detach yourself from the situation and be a professional and come to work everyday and don't really pay attention to the record," Winslow said. "Pay attention to what you can gain from it and learn from it. The season is lost, but we can still prepare for next year right now."