Even at 1-9, Bucs not lacking motivation

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers seemingly do not have much to play for.

Tampa Bay is 1-9, with little chance of making the playoffs and no shot at a winning record with six games left. And defensive players must now answer to their third coordinator since last November after Jim Bates was demoted earlier this week.

All that aside, Bucs players remain motivated as they travel to Atlanta for Sunday's game against the Falcons (5-5).

"We have to step back and understand that we are a young team," Bucs rookie quarterback Josh Freeman said. "I talked to Coach (Tony) Dungy a few weeks ago, and he told me about his situation his first year. He was talking about how the team was 1-8 coming off a bye week, and what he told them is you have to prepare like you're making a playoff run, because next year you might very well be in the hunt for the playoffs.

"Right now, we're just focusing on the long stretch. Obviously, the first 10 games didn't go like we wanted them to, but at the same time, nobody is quitting on anybody. Nobody is quitting on the team."

Freeman's incentive is what Coach Raheem Morris has been trying to implement into his team during this difficult season.

"One day we want to be in a situation to come out of that bye and say, 'We need three games to get to the playoffs. We need four games to lock up the division. We need two games to lock up the NFC. We need eight games to go undefeated and beat the Patriots' record,'" Morris said. "Whatever the case may be, we want to be saying that coming out of the bye week one time and we want to have a plan, want to have direction and want to know how to finish strong."

While some players are mentally preparing for next season, others are fighting to remain employed in 2010.

Bucs veteran Jeff Faine has been in the NFL for seven seasons, is the NFL's highest-paid center and anchors Tampa Bay's offensive line. None of that assures him of a roster spot with Tampa Bay next year.

"A coach told me once a couple of years back that you're never safe on an NFL team," Faine said. "Guys to have to realize that we're 1-9, and the way this season is going, it's not going to stay the same. There are going to be some changes. There's already been coaching changes.

"I think guys have to be playing for their jobs out here and really have pride in themselves and play hard every game."

Tampa Bay's effort has been an encouraging sign for players.

Even though the Bucs have one win, offensive lineman Davin Joseph does not believe any of his teammates have given up, and that gives him hope for the future.

Ultimately, everyone hopes Freeman is learning from Dungy and gaining experience from this adversity.

"I have to go back to Josh Freeman," Faine said. "We need to keep seeing the growth, keep improving, seeing him get more and more comfortable with his skill position players.

"Hopefully we'll be able to see a little bright light about it, something to build on in the offseason as we improve."