Holder sounds off on Bucs' schedule

Well, everyone, I'd say the Bucs reallllly lucked out here. Games against Denver, Chicago and Kansas City come before the cold weather. That's a huge break. Plus, they close the season with two straight home games during the holidays. That's a huge advantage (for both the team and its beat writers!). Only drawback for them might be the two pairs of back-to-back road games: Cowboys followed by the Chiefs and, later, Panthers followed by Falcons.

-- Stephen Holder, Times Staff Writer

Comments

[Don]

I'm trying to figure out why the Bucs are playing in Carolina on a Monday night when they did not even come close to the playoffs?

[Matt]

I think the last two weeks was the NFL's way of saying if you're going to play backups again you can play them in front of your own paying fans.

[Wayne]

Do I smell playoffs? YES!!!!

[glenn]

Yeah, Wayne, no Colts, Patriots, Giants or nemesis teams like the Ravens or Jaguars. If the Bucs are close to what most of us think they are now, I'm guessing the 12-4 range, at least. Good insights on your posts, Don & Matt.

[steveS]

If the Bucs don't screw up weeks 1 and 2, they will make the playoffs. Easy schedule considering what might have been. If they keep injuries to a minimum, even with the existing team they are 9-6.

[Kurt]

Nice SteveS, 9-6. I'm not sure what league you think the Bucs are in, but there are 16 NFL games moron. Anyway, it looks like a typical NFL schedule. Let's not blow this out of proportion.
Until training camp is over, I'm not making any bold W/L predictions.

[Dwayne]

exactly kurt you can ever say someone has an easy schedule or not until the maybe after the first half of the season, becasue you never know how temas are gonna play in the upcoming season everyone though our schedule last year was not easy before the season started but then teams didnt have a good season so it seemed like we had an easy schedule, so lets not go off of last years records for other teams but marking them off as automatic wins just yet. The jets, ravens, rams, and saints werent supposed to that bad last season and looked wat happened, teams like the browns, packers and giants, all had seasons nobody expected so lets wait till the season starts before we jynx or own team.

[Stephen_Holder]

This time last year, the '07 schedule looked like a daunting one. Turns out, it wasn't that bad once we figured out which teams were good and which weren't. Ironically, everyone wants to call this an easy schedule. Don't be surprised if it turns out the opposite is true -- again.

[Jay]

Stephen, the only big issue I see with the schedule is the PUP list for all those nagging pre-season injuries that seem to plague teams. Correct me if I'm wrong, but getting put on that list early in the season means you sit out until week 8, or go on IR. With such a late bye week, there's literally no rest for the injured until week 10, and if a bye week happened to fall in that time period, it would obviously benefit the team with an extra week of rest.

While it's nice that they get a late bye to rest for the playoffs, if they lose a lot of players early in the season, or preseason, it could really hurt them. Even though our depth looks good, if the o-line loses Joseph or Trueblood things will change dramatically (think Pettigout last year). We were lucky with Pittman last year by having Graham, but there's simply not enough room on the roster to carry a solid backup for every position. Is there ever any talk of expanding the 53 man roster?

Good point Stephen. Its a tad bit early to call this schedule one way or another. Certainly positive that we avoid the nasty cold weather road games late in the season, however, who knows how some of these teams will shape up. I sure didnt think the Giants would win the Superbowl going into the season, so go figure.

I will just be glad when they finally kick off. At least we have the draft coming up.

[duane]

A little insight into football. Give me any inter-division game to watch over a marquee matchup like the Cowboys-Chargers or Patriots-Steelers. The games are twice as important. I would rather watch the Seahawks vs. the Cardinals than to have to watch the Patriots or Cowboys and listen to Madden blather on with his man crush over Romo and Brady. Thank god Farve has retired, I couldn't stand to listen to Madden gush on and on about him and make an excuse for him when he would toss up four INT's.

[Krutch]

I'm just glad the Bucs get some prime-time nationally televised games this season.