SB Nation Tampa Bay: All Posts by JC De La Torre

Ronde's Legacy Will Live On Forever

2013-05-09T11:00:09Z

Today's news hit me like a ton of bricks. Ronde Barber, one of the greatest Buccaneers to ever don a Tampa Bay uniform was hanging it up.

16 amazing NFL seasons, team record 241 games and the only cornerback in NFL history with more than 25 sacks and more than 40 interceptions. 14 return touchdowns. 5 Pro Bowls...the accolades go on and on.

Its so ironic in today's microwave society that there were some in Tampa Bay who believed the Bucs wasted their 3rd round pick in the 1997 draft. His first season he barely saw the field, playing in just one game. Year two he was a part time starter and in year three he underwhelmed as a full time starter for the first time.

It was 2000 when Ronde would start the entire season and begin to become the player Buc fans know him as now.

Ronde had a remarkable 5.5 sacks from his corner position, 97 tackles, 2 interceptions and 24 passes defended.

Two years later, Ronde gave me the greatest sporting moment of my life.

I'll freely admit it, folks. I gave the Bucs little chance of going to Philadelphia and upsetting the Eagles in the 2002 NFC title game. Philly was where Buc seasons went to die.

Even with the Bucs having a lead into the fourth quarter, there was that twinge of doubt that somehow it was going to end in heartbreak - after all, these were the Tampa Bay Buccaneers - who would of thought they would EVER play in the Super Bowl?

Then in one magic moment, a little defensive back from the University of Virginia made a grown man cry like a pre-teen at a One Direction concert.

There was Ronde, sticking in the dagger for Tampa Bay's NFC Championship and breaking the hearts of Eagles fans everywhere. It was one of the most beautiful things I've ever witnessed.

When Ronde Barber took that interception coast to coast there was no doubt that he would be seared in my memory until the end of my days.

The Bucs will have great moments again. They may lift the Lombardi Trophy once more. But nothing will beat that first time. The magic you felt when you knew...just knew the Bucs were headed to San Diego to play in the biggest American Football game in the world.

There were a lot of great Buccaneers who contributed to that game and moment. But it was Barber who sealed it.

It will always be Barber.

I'd like to think that Ronde will one day join Lee Roy, Warren and number 55 in Canton. I believe he deserves it, but I don't know if he will.

Ronde has gone through a career of being disrespected. Remember that famous quote after the NFC title game? Barber was still miffed he got left out of the Pro Bowl and he exclaimed, "Pro Bowl my ass I'm going to San Diego (site of Super Bowl 37) baby!"

Ronde gave Bucs fans a lot more memories than that frozen January day in 2002. He was the consummate pro, a quiet leader, a tremendous football player and a pillar of the community.

I'm sure he'll have his pick of options for his future endeavors but I hope he goes into broadcasting. He'll be light years better than the Teddy Bruschi's and Jamie Dukes' of the world, not to mention his brother Tiki.

Ronde's retirement is the final curtain drawing closed on the Super Bowl 37 Champions.

Congrats on a great 16 years Ronde! We'll miss ya.

Buccaneers' Odd 2013 Draft Still Has Earmarks of a Successful One

2013-04-28T03:52:33Z

Coming into draft week, the Buccaneers had a glaring weakness at CB, depth issues across the defensive line, linebacker, LeGarrette Blount in moth balls and Dan Orlovsky as a backup quarterback.

By the time Mr. Irrelevant's name was read out, Buccaneers General Manager Mark Dominik worked his magic - completing 4 trades moving up and down the draft board to address all of the teams needs - at least in theory.

Of course, this draft will forever be known as the Revis draft - as in the trade that brought 4 time All Pro Darrelle Revis to the Bucs' starving secondary. The trade cost the Bucs this year's first round pick (and a 3rd round pick in 2014) but Revis' impact on the Bucs secondary could push a franchise on the cusp over the hump.

As insurance, the Bucs spent their first pick of the 2013 draft (43rd overall) on Johnthan Banks, a corner out of Miss. State. All Banks did was cover the best wide receivers the SEC had to offer and won himself the Jim Thorpe award, given to College Football's best defensive back. While not a speedster, Banks uses technique and instinct to not only blanket receivers but make plays on the football (16 interceptions in his career).

Banks will battle Eric Wright for the second corner spot and possibly Ronde Barber (if he elects to returnt) for the nickel spot to complete the Revis coined "No Fly Zone". Needless to say, the days of the Bucs starting Danny Gorrer and Leonard Johnson at corner appear to be over.

Then things got weird.

It began with the drafting of Quarterback Mike Glennon. Look, Glennon is a talented kid. He's got great touch on the deep ball, seems to read defenses pretty well and delivers an accurate ball (despite his 60% career completion percentage). He was victimized by some downright awful receiver play or his numbers could have been much better. However, Glennon is a lot like the incumbent starting quarterback in Josh Freeman - he's a Wow-What QB. He can deliver a play that will make you "Wow, this kid is amazing". Then on the same drive have you going "what the hell was that?"

His decision making is questionable and while he'll stand in and take a hit to deliver the football, sometimes the pressure will cause him to make crucial mistakes.

The Buccaneers drafted Mike Glennon as insurance for this must win campaign. The Bucs simply aren't comfortable with the prospect of Dan Orlovsky taking the reigns if something catastrophic were to happen to Freeman. Its why the Bucs were in on Carson Palmer and Matt Cassel while discussing a trade for Ryan Mallett.

In the end, they felt a young clone of Freeman would be enough to get them through a rough patch if Freeman was unable to answer the bell.

Its also insurance that if Freeman struggles and the Bucs have to part ways with him at the end of the 2013 campaign, they already have a young gun in the fold with a year in the system under his belt.

Were there better prospects on the board when Glennon was selected? Maybe. But the Bucs had a feeling there would be a run on quarterbacks before their 4th round selection came about and it proved to be true as four quarterbacks went in that round.

Were Matt Barkley or Ryan Nassib better options? Perhaps. But Barkley honestly didn't fit what Schiano and offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan want to do and that's attack with the vertical passing game. Nassib may not have had the accuracy on the deep ball that Glennon had and that's why the Bucs chose the mammoth NC State product over him.

After Glennon, the Bucs went to work on their defensive line. First, they traded up in the fourth round to draft a Roy Miller clone in Illinois' Akeem Spence. For Bucs fans wondering why the Bucs got rid of Miller just to draft another guy like him - it's all about the benjamins, folks. Why pay an older player $2.5 million a season when you can pay a young rookie a lot less to do the same job?

With the need at DT satisfied, the Bucs decided to become riverboat gamblers, drafting Michigan State DE William Gholston with their second 4th rd pick and DE/LB Steven Means in the 5th. Gholston has all the physical traits to be a dominant pass rusher - but lacks the motor to do more than flash. If Schiano and Bucs pass rushing guru Bryan Cox can get Gholston's light to turn on, the Bucs could have a steal. If not, he will go down along with his cousin Vernon as busts.

Means is an interesting project. As a DE at the University of Buffalo, he should some flashes as a dominant pass rusher. I had to scour the internet to find some tape of this kid but what I did find showed some elite level quickness, with a nice moves and good work with his hands. The Bucs appear to be interested in playing him at DE as a pass rushing specialist.

The kid had probably one of the more memorable quotes of the draft, telling reporters, "I get mad at somebody just lining up across from me. Just thinking that they can block me gets me mad."

As for Legarrette Blount, an undrafted free agent who signed with Tampa Bay after getting cut by the Tennessee Titans and then rewarded the Bucs by rushing for over 1,000 yards and 6 touchdowns in his rookie campaign, we had a feeling his end was coming. While a talented runner (as his highlight reel hurdles of sprawling defenders would attest), Blount was a one trick pony with a penchant of putting the football on the turf.

With the emergence of Pro Bowl running back Doug Martin, Blount didn't have a role with Tampa Bay. He couldn't serve as a third down back because he was terrible at pass pro and was not a solid route runner out of the backfield. Despite his hulking frame, in his brief career he's proven ineffective in short yardage or goal line situations. He was expendable.

Tampa Bay spent most of Day 3 looking for takers and finally found the New England Patriots. For Blount, the Bucs got the rights to Florida speedster Jeff Demps and a 7th round selection in this year's draft.

The Bucs then parlayed that 7th round selection to move up in the 6th and select Miami running back Michael James.

Demps' focus has been on his track career. He wants to play football, but the pigskin isn't first for the silver medal Olympian. At this point, Coach Schiano and the Buccaneers seem to be okay with Demps' aspirations to return to the Olympics in 2016 and all that goes in to qualifying for that.

They're willing to wait for the diminutive Gator to join the team, possibly in mid-August because of his speed and ability to make people miss in the open field. Demps would fill a need for the Bucs at kick and punt returner.

James appears to be a poor man's Earnest Graham. He's likely never going to break off Dougernaut-esque explosive 80 yard runs but he can be a time grinder and a yardage churner. Most of his 17 career rushing scores came inside the 10 yard line. James also is an excellent receiver out of the backfield and does a solid job at pass protection.

At the end of any draft week, you look at your football team and hope you got a bit better. If you factor in Revis, the Bucs certainly took a step to competing in the NFC South for a division championship,

Did they do enough? At the very least, it appears they added to their depth - something every team needs in the war of attrition that is an NFL season. We'll see in about eight months if it was enough to end the Bucs' playoff drought.

A previous version of this article indicated that Steven Means would play at outside linebacker. However, following the draft Coach Schiano told reporters, "He's going to be a defensive end and he's going to have an opportunity to rush the passer."

2013 NFL Draft: With Revis in Red and Pewter, What's Next?

2013-04-22T10:00:10Z

Yesterday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers got a lot better on defense. Sure some will caution that there are still injury concerns and that they're paying too much for a cornerback - but you're not talking about just any cornerback here.

You're talking the best corner since Leon Sandcastle. The best in the game today. A difference making player who will change the Buccaneers' defense overnight. Team him with fellow All-Pro addition Dashon Goldson and the Bucs' most glaring weakness from 2012 is now a strength.

However, if Tampa Bay is going to contend for a playoff spot in 2013, there are still a few more holes to fill.

While some cite DT and TE as need positions for premium picks, I don't necessarily agree. I don't think either position has great importance for the scheme the Bucs are running. Take the TE position. Offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan essentially runs a modified version of the NY Giants offense. The Giants haven't valued the TE position since Jeremy Shockey was underwhelming in the Meadowlands. Each season for the past four years they've had a new guy catching the ball for them from the tight end spot.

In the G-men's offense, the quarterbacks look WR1, WR2, RB, WR3 and THEN TE. It nearly played true in Tampa Bay, but Dallas Clark actually outperformed the Bucs' third wide out Tiquan Underwood. So instead of tight end, I'd say slot receiver would be a target in the second or third round.

At DT, the loss of Roy Miller has many fans worried - but let's face it, Miller was hardly an impact player. He only could only manage a two year deal averaging $2.5 million a year - a deal the Bucs could have easily matched if they wanted to keep him. Seems to me Tampa Bay wasn't valuing the position that much.

Tampa Bay would be better served finding another pass rushing defensive end or an outside linebacker with some blitzing capability. They can always find a depth guy at DT in rounds 4-7.

A third cornerback, depth at RT and even a running back shouldn't be discarded, either. While Doug Martin is phenomenal, he can't do it by himself and there's a decent possibility LaGarrette Blount may not be a member of this football team by the end of the draft. The need at third CB may get put on hold for a year if Ronde gets off the pot and decides to play this season.

I know some may be expecting a quarterback to be drafted but I'd be surprised if that happened. Every indication we've gotten from Dominik this off season is he's pushed his chips all on Five this season. Drafting a quarterback high could be a distraction and certainly not needed with this batch of signal callers.

If the organization truly wants to move on from Freeman, next year will be the year to do it - and by some miracle, the Bucs still have a first or second round pick in 2014 to do it with.

19 of the 22 starting positions on the team are filled. DT has good candidates with Gibson and Landri, while at TE Stocker and Crabtree should be able to battle it out. At OLB, Jonathan Casillas will battle Watson and Hayward.

If the Bucs had to go to training camp today, none of those options would be bad.

In other words, the Bucs are really drafting for depth next weekend. You know...that thing that playoff contenders have.

Poll

What should the Bucs go after with their remaining premium picks?

Pass Rushing DE

165 votes

Run stuffing DT

128 votes

Third Corner

126 votes

Right Tackle

37 votes

Outside Linebacker

61 votes

Pass Catching Tight End

119 votes

Slot Receiver

44 votes

680 votes | Poll has closed

As Frustration mounts, the Bucs Preach Patience

2013-03-28T13:45:50Z

As the names clicked off the NFL Network ticker, you could sense the blood pressure rising around Tampa Bay.

- Revis hasn't been traded...

- Sean Smith to Kansas City

- DRC to Denver.

- Derek Cox to San Diego

- Greg Toler to Indy

- Dunta Robinson to KC

- Keenan Lewis to New Orleans

- Antoine Cason to Arizona

You take one peek at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster and you can understand why the tension level has increased.

Eric Wright didn't appear to be in the Bucs plans (but maybe he is now). Ronde Barber was moved to safety because the New Schiano Order didn't believe he could still cut it as a starter in the Schi-Fense.

And now E.J. Biggers is doing chest bumps with Raheem in D.C.

What is left sends shivers of bad memories of Nick Foley dropping 350 on the likes of Leonard Johnson, Danny Gorrer and Anthony Gaitor.

The search party has also been sent out for Myron Lewis. So far, there's more evidence that Bigfoot exists than Lewis is a player on the Bucs' roster.

Now I like Johnson and Gaitor - I've seen flashes of potential from those guys but I've also seen they aren't anywhere near ready to face Julio Jones or Steve Smith week in and week out.

Look at the 2013 opponents and you see Calvin Johnson, Mike Wallace and Larry Fitzgerald strolling unmolested through the Tampa Bay secondary.

If Foles can go wild on the Bucs woeful secondary, what will Tom Brady, Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick do?

The Bucs did make a significant upgrade with Dashon Goldson. The multi-Pro Bowl All-Pro safety will team with first round pick Mark Barron to protect the middle of the field - an area that was certainly a huge hole.

While upgraded safety play can help out the corners, they can't do their jobs.

A pass rush would help. But rather than get Osi or Elvis Dumervil or Cliff Avril, Tampa Bay got worse - letting leading sacker Michael Bennett leave.

They've put their eggs in to the flimsy basket of Adrian Clayborn and Daquan Bowers (if he can escape being Plaxico'd). Clayborn returns after an ACL injury. Bowers overcame his Achilles injury late last season and showed some flashes of brilliance - but how badly have the Bucs downgraded their top ranked run defense (especially with Roy Miller no longer clogging the middle)?

It looks terrible doesn't it Buc fans?

The Bucs preach patience. They know they have to get better at corner and depth on the defensive line. They weren't crazy about any of the free agent corners and apparently neither was the rest of the NFL. Sean Smith set the market at less than what Eric Wright got. By the by, a little fish from Miami told me he wasn't even worth THAT much.

The Bucs are crazy for Revis as been well documented throughout the blogosphere. Who wouldn't be? Even coming off the ACL injury he's still better than most corners in the league. At 100%, he is far and away the best.

Teamed with Goldson and a high draft pick, the Bucs would be instantly better.

Speaking of the draft, that may be where the Bucs are looking to get help. The cornerback position is flush with talent this year - not only at the top of the draft with Dee Milliner, Xavier Rhodes and Desmond Trufant but in later rounds too. The Honey Badger Tyrann Mathieu is a talented but troubled kid who might be around in the mid rounds. Johnthan Banks and Jordan Poyer could be options in round two or three.

Counting on rookies is an iffy proposition but Tampa Bay is buoyed by the 2012 draft haul that saw Doug Martin, Barron and Lavonte David make immediate impact.

If the Bucs fail to get Revis, they may head back to the free agent scrap heap and pick up a Antoine Winfield or DeAngelo Hall to play with Wright and the high pick.

Buc fans wanted Tampa Bay to go out and be aggressive but other than Dashon Goldson, there weren't many Vincent Jackson/Carl Nicks types out there - perennial All-Pros in the prime of their career (and not past it- i.e. Freeney or Abraham). They could have signed a guy for the fans psyche but would that have made the team significantly better?

Maybe a little. Truth be told, a beat up Brent Grimes or overrated Sean Smith isn't that much of an upgrade over what's already in house - or so the Bucs are telling us with their disinterest.

It's certainly not Revis and/or maybe even a high picked rookie.

The 2013 roster is still in transition folks and it won't be completely clear until after next month's draft.

Say it with me....Woosah.

Poll

Is it time to hit the PANIC button?

It was time three weeks ago.

69 votes

No, in the New Schiano Order we trust

200 votes

Maybe, it all hinges on Revis

186 votes

455 votes | Poll has closed

Geraldini Strikes Again! Dresses Like Batman and Does the Harlem Shake

2013-03-10T15:28:39Z

Well, I can tell you BucsNation - I never expected my triumphant return to BN would be for this...

Courtesy of the fabulous Jenna Laine, Bucs Pro Bowl Defensive Tackle Gerald McCoy is with other NFL players Darren Sproles, Shaun Phillips, Ricky Stanzi, Marques Clark, and Tank Carder in making this fun video to promote Fitness Quest.

I guess we can be happy he didn't dress like Michael Jackson?

10 Things We Think We Learned from the Buccaneers 2012 Season

2012-12-31T13:56:50Z

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished off the 2012 season with a solid performance against the NFC's top seed by beating the Atlanta Falcons 22-17 in the Georgia Dome. It was only the fifth time Atlanta Quarterback Matt Ryan has lost at home in his five year NFL career.

The victory put the Bucs at 7-9 for the 2012 season, the first of the Greg Schiano era. What did we learn from this season?

1. While the season as whole was a failure (any time you're not playing post season football is a failure), there were many positive signs this year:

- The Bucs scored more points this season than any Bucs team in history.

- Tampa Bay had the number one run defense in the league.

- Doug Martin had a fantastic rookie season with a number of highlight reel runs. He finished 5th in the league in rushing (1,454 yds) and had nearly 2,000 yds of total yardage on the season.

- Josh Freeman rebounded from a terrible 2011 with a record breaking campaign - posting career highs in passing yardage (4,065) and touchdown passes (27) while maintaining a +10 touchdown to interception ratio (27 TDs, 17 Ints), or 1.6 (don't ask me how that rating is compiled, I have no idea). His 81.6 QB rating was the second highest of his NFL career.

- The Bucs led the league in tackles for loss with a remarkable 95 (led by Lavonte David's 19).

- The Bucs barely missed on two receivers have 1,000 yds receiving with Mike Williams falling four yards shy. Williams and Vincent Jackson combined for 135 catches, 2,380 yds and 17 touchdowns. They also combined for 41 plays of 20 yards or more.

- The Bucs were explosive, with 69 plays of 20 or more yards this season. By comparison, the 2011 squad had just 44 plays of 20+ yards.

- The offensive accomplishments were achieved by the team despite suffering devastating losses of both Pro Bowl guards in the offensive line.

- The Bucs finished 4-4 on the road including wins against playoff teams Minnesota and Atlanta.

- The Bucs led in 15 of 16 games this season and in their 9 losses, only two were more than a single score.

2. When you go 7-9, you have to do some things poorly. Here are the lowlights for 2012:

- When Freeman was "Good Josh", he was great, having 7 games with at least 90 QB Rating. When he was "Bad Josh", he was downright terrible, with 8 games under a QB Rating of 80. Consequently, the Bucs were 5-2 in games he had 90 or better QB Rating and 2-6 in games where was under 80. The Bucs were also 0-1 when he was "Mediocre Josh", with a QB Rating of 83.2.

- Tampa Bay finished 3-5 at home.

- Tampa Bay lost to six games to non-playoff teams including losses to Philadelphia (4-12), St. Louis (7-8-1) and twice to New Orleans (7-9).

- The Bucs blew three games in which they held a double digit lead.

- They blew leads in 7 games this season.

- Josh Freeman finished with a completion percentage of 54.8%, worst since his rookie season (54.5%).

- The Bucs' secondary nearly set the NFL record for most passing yards allowed, falling just shy of the 2011 Green Bay Packers' dubious record by 38 yds.

- Despite a constant blitzing attacking style on defense, the Bucs managed just 27 sacks on the season - just four more than last season.

- The Bucs had two players suspended for adderall.

3. An oddity in the NFC South Standings, with Carolina finishing the season strong with 4 game winning streak, the Bucs, Saints and Panthers all tied for second place in the NFC South. However, because the Bucs swept the Panthers, the Panthers swept the Saints and each team finished 3-3 in the division, the tie-breakers went to conference record - where the Bucs were the worst (4-8). As a result, Tampa Bay officially finished last in the NFC South for the second straight year.

4. Thanks to their fourth place finish - the Bucs schedule at this point is slightly easier then the rest in their division. The 2013 opponents are:

Home: The three NFC South teams, Arizona (5-11), San Francisco (11-4-1), Buffalo (6-10), Miami (7-9), and Philadelphia (4-12).

Away: The three NFC South teams, St. Louis (7-8-1), Seattle (11-5), New England (12-4), NY Jets (6-10) and Detroit (4-12).

5. Greg Schiano's first campaign ended short of the playoffs but you have to admit - it was an exciting season. Every game close and down to the wire - big plays all over the field - it was one of the more fun losing seasons in recent memory. You have to feel this 2012 squad deserved a better fate. Still, a three game improvement and a competitive team was really where this football team is right now. 7-9 seems about right for this squad.

6. It's no great analysis to say the Bucs need to work on their secondary. There will be a hole at Free Safety if Ronde decides to hang them up (although Ahmad Black does have some potential there). At corner, it appears that the Bucs may take advantage of Eric Wright voiding the guarantee in his contract and dumping one of their prizes of the 2012 Free Agency class. I think the Bucs need at least two starting caliber corners in free agency and for them to draft another.

7. In addition to the secondary: some other big needs to fill include another pass rushing defensive end. Michael Bennett is an unrestricted free agent while Adrian Clayborn and DaQuan Bowers both have injury concerns. Tampa Bay managed just 26 sacks this season (3 more than last season) and putting a lot more heat on the quarterback would help their woeful secondary.

The Bucs also need a starting caliber RT, a tight end to replace Dallas Clark. either re-sign Roy Miller or find a replacement for him at DT and yes - a quality backup quarterback to push Josh and also be there if the worst happens and Freeman goes down.

8. Schiano will need to decide if Bill Sheridan is running the defense the way he wants. Sheridan was terrible in New York and his Bucs defense was not very good this season. Ultimately, Schiano is a defensive minded coach and while his offense did it's job in most games this season, it was his defense that cost them games.

Of course, Sheridan can point to the roster and say he couldn't do much with what he had. However, on this same staff there's a coach that invalidates that argument.

Offensive line coach Bob Bostad's starting lineup out of training camp was Pro Bowl left tackle Donald Penn, Pro Bowl guard Carl Nicks at LG, Jeremy Zuttah at Center, Pro Bowl Guard Davin Joseph at Right Guard and Jeremy Trueblood at Right Tackle. During the course of the season, Trueblood was benched for poor play while the Bucs lost both Joseph and Nicks at guard, forcing Zuttah to switch positions.

The Bucs were playing with the likes of Ted Larsen, Demar Dotson and Jamon Merridith. Yet Tampa Bay still only allowed 26 sacks, had a 4,000 yd passer, nearly two 1,000 yard receivers and a 1,400 yard rusher.

Schiano was hired late last off-season and as a result didn't get his choice picks for staff positions. He can rectify that this off-season if he chooses to.

9. My thoughts for the playoffs: I like Denver coming out of the AFC and I think Washington will win the battle of rookie QB's and really make a run in the playoffs.

10. Be sure to cast your vote for BucsNation's End of the Season Awards! Your votes will decide who we, as a site representing BucsNation, name as our award winners. We're the only site covering your beloved Buccaneers that gives you that voice.

Here are the big three:

Bucs Team MVP: http://www.bucsnation.com/2012/12/30/3819620/vote-for-bucsnations-team-mvp

Bucs Offensive Player of the Year: http://www.bucsnation.com/2012/12/30/3819704/vote-for-bucsnations-offensive-player-of-the-year

Bucs Defensive Player of the Year: http://www.bucsnation.com/2012/12/30/3819758/vote-for-bucsnations-defensive-player-of-the-year

Polling ends Saturday morning at 8am.

Later in the week, we'll post up polls for Special Teams Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Comeback Player of the year, Assistant Coach of the year, Best Game of 2012 and Worst Game of 2012.

Folks, I want to thank you for reading my columns this year. I enjoyed the opportunity to speak with you. While we haven't always agreed we all are here for one reason - the love of this football team.

It was a rollercoaster ride with momentous highs and crushing lows but we did have fun didn't we?

I hope I was able to provide a little entertainment for you throughout the year. Happy New Year and I hope you'll be reading me again in 2013.

Poll

How did the Bucs do this Season?

Better than expected

38 votes

About what I expected

140 votes

Worse than I expected.

23 votes

201 votes | Poll has closed

Vote For BucsNation's Defensive Player of the Year

2012-12-31T02:26:21Z

Unlike most sites and the fishwraps, we at BucsNation consider ourselves fans of this franchise. As a result, this site is as much about you as it about us. So for the first time, BucsNation will allow you, the Buccaneers fan, to decide who are our award winners for 2012.

Next up - the Defensive Player of the Year award. Here are your finalists:

Lavonte David, LB - David as rookie dominated, registering 139 tackles (112 solo), 2 sacks, 1 interception and 20 tackles for loss.

Gerald McCoy, DT - The Bucs' lone Pro Bowl player registered 30 tackles, 5 sacks, 1 forced fumble and 9 tackles for loss.

Michael Bennett, DE - Had a terrific season, registering 41 tackles, a team leading 9 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 19 tackles for loss.

Ronde Barber, FS - Despite a position change, the ageless one turned in a Pro Bowl caliber season with 91 tackles, 1 sack, 1 fumble and a team leading 4 interceptions including 1 that went for a touchdown.

Poll

Who should be BucsNation's Team Defensive Player of the Year?

Lavonte David, LB

151 votes

Gerald McCoy, DT

36 votes

Michael Bennett, DE

10 votes

Ronde Barber, CB

32 votes

229 votes | Poll has closed

Vote For BucsNation's Offensive Player of The Year!

2012-12-31T02:13:02Z

Unlike most sites and the fishwraps, we at BucsNation consider ourselves fans of this franchise. As a result, this site is as much about you as it about us.

So for the first time, BucsNation will allow you, the Buccaneers fan, to decide who are our award winners for 2012.

Next up - the Offensive Player of the Year award. Here are your finalists:

Josh Freeman, QB - Set the single season franchise record for passing yards (4,065) and touchdown passes (27) while capturing the franchise record for career touchdown passes (78). Freeman was quarterback for the most prolific scoring team in franchise history (388 pts).

Doug Martin, RB - Set the rookie record for rushing yardage by a rookie (1454 yds), scored 11 rushing touchdowns and finished with 1,926 total yards - 2nd most in franchise history.

Vincent Jackson, WR - Caught 72 receptions for 1,384 yds (2nd most in franchise history) and 8 touchdowns.

Mike Williams, WR - While not having as many catches or yards as Jackson, Mike Williams rebounded from a subpar 2011 by leading the team with 9 touchdown receptions and with impressive numbers in receptions (63) and yards (996). Williams even completed a pass on a trick play that almost resulted in a touchdown.

Poll

Who Should Be BucsNation's Offensive Player of the Year?

Josh Freeman, QB

5 votes

Doug Martin, RB

155 votes

Vincent Jackson, WR

51 votes

Mike Williams, WR

3 votes

214 votes | Poll has closed