Postgame update

Here's the latest from the locker room.

First regarding the injuries, Michael Clayton was hobbling around with the help of crutches after injuring an ankle. He said he tried to re-enter the game but was in too much pain. He is known for being pretty tough guy, so we must be talking about some killer pain. Said X-rays were negative, though, so at least there's nothing broken. An MRI tomorrow will tell whether there's any damage to ligaments or otherwise.

There wasn't any update on Mark Jones, according to Jon Gruden, but that's the one that I think the team will be most concerned about. He's a key cog on special teams, especially now that he's returning punts and kicks.

Also, Jeremy Trueblood wasn't 100 percent today. And he was in a foul mood afterward, too, which is unlike him. It's not an injury per se. I had to weed through some roadblocks to get to the bottom of it, but I'll explain that in more detail in Monday's paper.

As for the fumbled snap near the goal line in the fourth quarter, center John Wade took the blame initially. Then, in his press conference, Jeff Garcia said it was his fault. In the end, it was just a bad exchange that shouldn't happen in that critical a situation.

And I said hello to old friend Dewayne White, who was smiling ear to ear but was careful not to stick his chest out too far by dumping on his former team. He was pretty professional about the whole thing, though he was honest enough to admit that maybe his play (three sacks) sent a message that he might have been worth keeping around.

Anyway, got lots of work to get to for the Monday paper so gotta go. I'll check in later.

Comments

[Detroit Rocks!]

Tom, Where are you? Big Motor City Kitty is looking for you. Where is the mouthpiece stroking the Bucs all week. Couldn't even beat lowly Detroit. Told you so homer. Bucs exposed, false contender. Franchises headed in different directions. Scoreboard chump!

[warren]

ya because jon kitna is the answer to your future. Oh and that amazing defense.

[Boe]

Dewayne White is a class guy. I ran into him at church in Tampa a few weeks after he signed with Detroit and he couldn't have been any nicer. I'm happy for him.

[Tom]

Detroit, your team gave up over 400 yards of offense. You know your team got dominated and should've never won that game.

Where is your franchise heading? With the worst defense in the NFL? The Lions are one of those teams that will never be successful. You guys have been the laughing stock of professional sports for decades and will continue to be for years to come.

[Tom]

Only a Lions fan can brag about a win like that. Your defense gave up 400 yards of offense. Your team made E. Graham look like E. Dickerson.

I wouldn't rejoice after a win like that. But I can't blame you after decades of futility. If you go ten years without going to the playoffs, any chance you get to act like a fool and celebrate, go for it.

I guarantee you that the Lions won't be in the playoffs this year.

Tom, Sour grapes! Can't handle losing just like Garcia can't handle a snap from center. Bucs couldn't take care of simple business to win the game. I'd pour a few stiff ones to numb the pain and start worrying about the Jags. Thinking about this afternoon will only start you crying again. Stroud was right when he picked Detroit in the playoffs. Later Chump!

[DR]

Comments from this game and reading from the game blog:
You Bucs fans better be worried. JAX next game, should be 4-4 and where do you go from there? Detroit was a win for any playoff team in the NFC. Bucs, contenders? Not even close. Where was Galloway when you needed him? He dissappears with his blazing speed like a ghost. But thats right, he averages less than 3 catches anyways. Maybe Grudumb should have been allowed to trade his family for Calvin Johnson. Even better, they should have taken AP, a beast of a RB that is only seen once a decade. Go ahead and blame Garcia for the errors and ignore the problems that really ly within. I have a severe problem with some of the celebrations on offense, no matter how little, it seems they care about a paycheck more than they care about a win. I see more angry players on other losing sidelines.

[Vaffanculo]

I'll rejoice any and every win, thank you. And you would of too, even against the "lowly" Lions.

You mad?

[Tom]

DR, you resurface with your stupid comments when the Bucs lose. Galloway did not have a big day because teams play deep coverage to prevent Galloway from breaking a big one. That is the kind of respect he gets in the NFL. After Brady and Manning, Garcia is the best QB in the NFL. Am I wrong? That is why we will get to the playoffs and Gruden will come back again to continue his rebuild.

You bust on Galloway but Owens is the most overrated WR in the NFL. He leads the league in dropped balls and stupid antics.

[Tom]

Something for you to think about.

Garcia

37/45 (82.2% comp.!!!)
2 TDs
O INTs (now in 189 attempts so far!)

I am not too worried about this loss. It wasn't like we were dominated like in Indy. However, the 93 yard drive in the 4th quarter was not very good.

[Tom is cut off!]

Tom, you must be drunk by now. Why didn't you mention Garcia's 2 GIGANTIC fumbles. The 3rd best QB in the league takes care of the ball better than that. Who really cost the Bucs today....Garcia. You could pass for 400 between the 20's but if you give it up in the redzone you blow and are known as a choker. Time for you to cap up that bottle and sleep it off. You have a long day of looking like a fool tomorrow. Hey Bucs Thanks for being the Lions litter box today.

[Roland]

WOW... Quit talking about the Bucs offense. It is just fine. Gruden is taking another slightly above average veteran QB and turning him into a MVP candidate.
Let's talk about our pathetic D... Derrick why don't u just miss the flight back the way u missed Roy Williams in the open field WHEN HE HAD HIS BACK TO YOU. Monte, in case u didn't notice WE NEED MORE PRESSURE! Either blitz or drop 8 in coverage. Someone check Monty for a pulse, because I think his testicles have necrosed and fallen off. Tony Dungy is ofiially now more aggressive then Monty... S A D.
Oh, and back to 55. Could some coach mention to 55 that he could get his pad level bellow 4 1/2 feet... and maybe mention to him that letting teams complete third down passes in the zone he's SUPPOSED TO BE COVERING (so he can get some tackles I guess) in a game won't get him to the pro bowl.

[Roland]

And, in case some of the Bucs fans think I'm wrong about Mr Brooks (the greatest Buc EVER IMO, sorry Leroy) I'd like to point out one telling fact...
Guess which team is tied with pathetic Miami for THE MOST 3RD DOWNS CONVERTED AGAINST THEM?

Da BUCS

Buc fans (and our offense) now we have to reminisce about what it looked like when our D forces a three-and-out. Fond memories of back in the day. Aahhhh, I'd give my LT2 jersey for just one series where it wouldn't be prudent for Garcia to rap his arm like a baseball pitcher while he's waiting out the 10 to 15 min in between possession.

[Stephen]

This game was just one of those games that slipped away. With all the injuries this team has lost and to sill compete at this level is amazing. With the lack of talent this team possesses the penalties and turnovers are almost impossible to overcome. As a team we have done way better than what people have thought. The goal now should be to win the home games and win games primarily in your division. Bottom line is missed tackling, penalties, and turnovers with a great team sometimes doesn't matter but a team with average players you will loose most everytime. Still alot of football left. Go Bucs!

[Roland]

And one last point about how sad this D is...
Last year Baltimore led the NFL giving up 60 3rd down conversions for the season.
This year the Bucs are leading the in the number of third and fourth down conversions they r giving up with 51.
F I F T Y O N E

Get some PRESSURE and on third down GET 55 OFF THE FIELD!!!

[Stephen]

These comments about 55 are rediculous!! Did you all watch the same game? Fumbles and blocked punt at the worst possible times were killers. If your a chmpionship or playoff team you have to finish drives. The Bucs gained 78 yards on a 16-play drive and didn't end up with points. And another 78 yards on a 15-play drive that didn't result in points. We gave this one away and it was a hole team effort in doing so. This blaming 55 or whoever is a joke.

[John P]

No matter what or whom you blame there's plenty to go around -

1. The defense couldn't get the Lions off the field after the 4th quarter turnover. 93 yards later was a 14 point swing. Huge failure.

2. The offense couldn't convert 2 totally gimme situations (inside the Detroit 15) that resulted in ZERO points.

3. Special teams gave up a blocked punt, missed a field goal and had poor kickoff returns.

Ouch.

Those things mean a loss for just about any team not QB'd by Manning or Brady.

[Skylar]

Hey DR, I guess you feel pretty stupid about your comments on E Graham. Actually I guess you're too stupid to realize how stupid you really are. Anyway, told you so. He's a fine athlete and you are a poor judge of talent. Go blog on a Cowgirls website and let us be please.

[DR]

Skylar, yeah, Graham did great against the worst defense in the league. Where was Graham against the Colts? Where was he last week against Tennessee? He has one decent game against a terrible defense and he's a stud? You're a freaking idiot.

[DR]

168 639 10007 15.7 81 74 443 6 5
165 835 12271 14.7 91 119 584 8 5

Tom, Do you see these 2 lines? Who's overrated? TO played as a 2nd and 3rd stringer his first 4 years and he crushes Galloway's stats. Does speed really mean that much?
When a defense prevents you from making a big play, it's not respect, it's defense. Galloway is the most overrated WR in NFL history.
Wow, 82%, put him in the Detroit versus Tampa Bay Hall of Fame! 3rd best QB in the league-haha. He hasn't been killing them throwing the ball but he sure did kill them with the fumbles. I give credit to Garcia for their wins and he has to take the heat for the loss. Garcia blew this game.

[DR]

There were comments about Tampa moving to the 3-4 defense last month and the replies were they didn't have the personnel to play the 3-4, and I agree. However, they don't have the personnel to play the Tampa 2, not with the worst defensive line in football.

[Skylar]

Stick with the facts DR. He's averaging 3.9 per carry and over 6.5 yards per catch on the season. I never said he was a stud, although he has always been one dating back to high school. I said he was a fine athlete and that he would be ok carrying the load while we needed him. You just can't admit it when you are wrong and you never have anything good to say about anybody on the Bucs and that's why everyone likes to give you a hard time. Tell me why I am an idiot? Because I was right? You're the one that said he was averaging only 2 yards per carry and that was wrong. I didn't see a post after that saying that you were mistaken because you aren't capable of taking responisibility when you're wrong. Your hateful remarks only support your ingnorace, so keep it up. Nonetheless, I will agree with you on the Bucs defense: they do not have a very good pass rush (although not even close to the worst in the NFL.) However, mistakes on offense basically lost yesterday's game (mostly Garcia - giving up sacks, missing Galloway when he was WIDE OPEN DEEP and turnovers.)

[Tom]

Yeah, right. Garcia is not a great QB because he made a couple mistakes last Sunday after the hundreds of mistake free plays he's made this season.

At least he didn't fumble a snap for a FG to win the game in the playoffs like Romo.

[Tom]

I agree with Stephen. DB is still one of the best LBs in the game. His knowledge of the game is second to none.

However, I also agree with Roland. He is tackling way too high. He's bouncing off strong RBs like Alexander. He needs to hit them lower like he did in years past.

[DR]

Skylar, It is quite obvious Graham had a great game. Again, though, against Detroit. He did raise his 2 yard average up to 3.9. Hopefully he does pick it up and continue to do well.
I already said Garcia blew the game. The team is on his shoulders, he plays bad they lose and vice versa.
Name me another team that has a worse pass rush than the Bucs?

Detroit won, Bucs lost, Monte’s zone and no adjustments defensive sucked… AGAIN!

Tom, There you go looking like the fool I said you would. You are a bad QB if the two mistakes you make cost you the football game. You can dink and dunk up and down the field for a nice high passer rating but if you lose well then you are a LOSER!

How many Pro Bowls has Brooks been too, something like 10...How can you critique the man on how to tackle. Do yourself a favor go tackle yourself high and open up that bottle again.

To Brooks keep playin' the way you do...first ballot Hall of Famer for sure.

[Tom]

Detroit fans are classless idiots. Didn't you watch the game moron. Your defense was playing deep all day. Should a QB force a ball into double coverage or take what the defense gives you. Manning did that to us all day. Is he a bad QB, you idiot? Those two plays were the only TWO mistakes that Garcia has made all year in the hundreds of plays this season. Can you say the same for Kitna? NO!!

DB does tackle high lately. If you ever played football other than Madden 2007, you would know.

Finally, what a bunch of classless losers the Lions are. Who the heck dunks their coach after a win in the sixth game of the season? Act like you've been there before and not in the first half of the season. Wait a minute, the Lions have never been there before!!!

[Mike]

S.F., St. Louis, Arizona, New Orleans, Carolina, Atlanta, Oakland, Denver, Tenn, Indy, Houston, Cleveland, Cincy, Jets, Miami, & Buffalo. These teams all have less total sacks than the Bucs.

[DR]

Its not all about sacks, I'd take most of those teams over Tampa's anyday.

[Mike]

What is pass rush about then? You would take Miami, St. Louis, Jets, Atlanta over the Bucs? Come on, now you're just hating DR.

[DR]

Those are the teams I wouldn't take over Tampa's but would hate it either way.