BucNup

It is my opinion that any team reaching the playoffs, or going further; are the early season favorites to repeat their actions in the following year. Considering they can hold a team together. Keep in mind that I'm speaking from a NFC South perspective....

Bucs - We are proving that for whatever the reason, maintaining a championship form is tough to do for many teams, with hopes of repeating. Our off-season problems surrounding Walker, Smith and (wife beater) Pittman has echoed this point further. Coaches and players are walking a fine line on the Pittman issue, trying to show their support in a matter that is clearly over shadowed by stupidity. It will be interesting to see how the team can respond come September. IMO, the outcome of the Philly season opener, will set the tone and shed plenty of light on our quest for another title, regardless to it being the 1st game of the season. Gruden's "pound the rock" mentality will be put to the test by a hungry, pissed-off football team, coming fresh off the heels of the biggest upset in their existence (arguably?)

ATL - The coaching back drop of Gruden allows a perfect starting point, for what I think will be the Falcons biggest problem.

I don't think Dan Reeves is the answer in Atlanta, or anywhere else in the NFL when it's all said and done. His time has passed and his way of thinking about the game is widely known, and preparations can be made to combat them, readily. Many people know about his dealings with former NFL great QB Elway, and some of the problems later revealed after the two parted ways.

Now, he is being asked to direct the teachings of the greatest young QB potential I have seen since..... (Hell, I can't say that I've seen anyone of Vick's magnitude.) I think we did not see a full Elway playing days, just as I think we won't see the true ability of Vick until their is a change in philosophy on your offense and that change inevitably starts with Reeves.

I respect what Reeves has done for the game, but I think he's gone past his usefulness, in my opinion.

N.O - We got a taste of you guys last year, and I know we haven't played you nearly as many times as the Falcons. But trust me when I tell you; the down right "hate & loathing" each of you have towards each other, has made its way to the forefront, in just 1 season with us.

The Saints have some horses on that team and players who love touching the football, which makes them tough to beat. But how do you explain their consistent self-destruction year in and year out? Actually, they remind me of the 1999-2000 Bucs team. The Super Bowl was being held in Tampa and everything was looking great for us to be the first team to play in a Super Bowl hosted by their hometown. Only, we talked our way in and out of the playoffs.....

Until the Saints learn to shut up and stop looking at numbers they will continue to be their own worst enemies....

CAR - I won't be stupid and under-estimate this team. They have a strong defense and everyone seems to be buying into the techniques of Fox. But they have too many holes in their suit of armor to even speak seriously about at this point. They made some off-season moves that will prove beneficial, more specifically, the addition of Davis. I'm not sure about much else and this bunch. This is a work in progress and perhaps the single greatest thing about the NFL...... YOU NEVER KNOW.

This is the hump, as I see it. Thoughts?



[Edited on 13/6/2003 by BucNup]

JOESAM2002

Well BucNup, the way I see it you are right on all accounts.
1. Bucs- to be the best you have to beat the best. Ya\'ll got the trophy. We have to take it. Nuff said.
2.Falcons- If there\'s anything more scary on a football field than Mike Vick, I don\'t know what it is. I\'ve watched this kid even when I could in college. If they can bring along the rest of the offense , they will be a contender.
3. Saints- We have the offensive fire power to be the highest scoreing team in all of football, now if we can just learn to stop someone. As far as the end of the year crashes, who knows, I certainly don\'t. I\'m not sure anybody has the answer to that.
4. Panthers- this team will be a contender in a very short time. Maybe even this year.

P.S. I for one appreciate you\'re trying to be a gentleman on our board.

Sometimes it's better to keep your mouth shut and be thought an idiot, than to open it and remove all doubt!!!!!

"Every time you think, you weaken the nation!" Moe Howard...The Three Stooges.

BillyCarpenter1

Saints---- Probably have the best offense and special teams in the NFL. The only concern for me ,is if the defense has improved enough to get them to the Superbowl. Brooks needs to step-up and prove he can do it. This team kind of reminds me of the Dallas Cowboys-in the Jimmy Johnson era. They are building a dynasty not a one year wonder like the ummmm...let\'s say Bucs.

Bucs--- The defense carried this team last year. The offense played not to lose. Without putting more points on the board this year, it will be very tough to repeat, with the likes of the Saints and Falcons in the same division. I can very realistically see this team finishing 3rd in the division.

Falcons---- Defense looks inmproved. Offense looks good. Dan Reeves has proved he can take a team to the superbowl. If Mike Vick can stay healty this is a dangerous team . I don\'t think any team in the NFL really knows how to defend against Mike Vick.

Panthers---- Defense is the heart of this team and will win a few games for them this year. Offense has too many weak-links and loosing their best receiver, due to injury in the off season, doesn\'t help either. They will win more games than last year, but not many.

BucNup

Despite you puddles of Bucs mud stragetically placed, I question a few items.....

We\'ve had a defense for going on 6 years now. Your comments about our offense are 2 years old. Under Dungy, we played not to lose. This year, we played to learn. I am very excited to see this team come back, after getting a full year of the Gruden offense.

Gruden was plugged into a formula. We knew that if we could somehow create a few more scoring opportunities than we had in the past under our defensive minded Dungy, we stood a very good chance of winning the whole thing. We felt that going into the season......

I don\'t see how you can say this:
I don\'t think any team in the NFL really knows how to defend against Mike Vick.

Maybe this is true for any other team in the league, but we defended him twice and busted him up in one of those games. So, until then we have him DEFENDED.....

Much as the case the Saints have against us.

We might end up in 3rd place, just as the Saints, Panthers and Falcons. So when you say \"realistically\" which side of the fence are you on? Will we hold the 3 spot or not?

Week 9: Saints vs. Bucs
http://www.bucnup.com/SBXXXVII.bmp

BillyCarpenter1

I have no idea why everyone says that because a team won the superbowl the previous year, they are the team to beat. If you look at past superbowl winners, they very rarely repeat. Yeah the offense did a little better last year, but I don\'t think they scare anyone, certainly not me. The offense is basically the same as last year and your going to get everyones best game this season, so the offense better be able to do more. You know as well as I, that they can be much improved this year or they could be worse, but they will not set the world on fire, they just don\'t have the talent. And on your theory about stopping Mike Vice last year, it doesn\'t mean you will be able to do it this year. If that\'s the case, then we should be able to beat the Bucs twice this year again, right? I\'m off the fence...........Bucs 3rd in the NFC South!!!!!!!!!!!

[Edited on 13/6/2003 by BillyCarpenter1]

[Edited on 13/6/2003 by BillyCarpenter1]

coastalkid

First of all I would like to extend my own welcome to you bucnup and say thanks for visiting with us. I have been reading some of the other postings and just want you to feel that your opinion is welcomed and is just like everyone else\'s opinion (you know what I mean...they all stink) But you do have some good points. The Bucs offense is their weakest link but the defense isn\'t getting any younger either. Yes it\'s true yall did it last year. Congrats to yall! Yall also saw a major challenge that you will have to face every year in New Orleans. In Atl Mike Vick is scarey. But he can not carry that team alone. They have many holes that Vick hides or makes up for very well. Don\'t think for a second that they aren\'t studying tapes of what we did last year against yall in an effort to improve just as we are viewing tapes to see what they managed to do against yall. With all of this said there is one thing for certain, it will be a VERY tough division this year. I\'m picking yall to finish second behing us of course. We\'ll both deffinately see each other 3 times next year. The last meeting will decide bragging rights. Until then you have em and we want em!!!!

BucNup

Billy,

Each post you make; you lose more credibility...... I hate breaking posts down, but you leave me no choice....

We didn\'t make the rules and there\'s no since in stopping it now. Check with your local sports reporter, gambling halls and other sports services for more insight on this phenomona....

There goes your DYNASTY THEORY. But then again, you are speaking of your BELOVED Saints. They are different......

So now it\'s gone from \"playing not to lose\" to \"not scaring you\".... You are getting more pathetic by the sentence.

I thought the idea was to give your best every week? Let me hear you trying to pass that over to the 9\'er, Eagles and Raiders. We faced everyone\'s best for 17 weeks last year and lost 4 of those battles. I think we\'ll be up for the challenge again. If you look deeper into your own words, IT REVEALS THE ANSWER TO YOUR VERY FIRST QUESTION. Amazing, isn\'t it?

You are absolutely right SIR. Until we beat you guys next season, you can hammer your dominant performance (in both games), into my brain, until the cows come home. Just like I could (if I chose to), hammer into your brain, until the cows came home, the championship, right? But even after 27 years of waiting, it wil eventually get old. Sorta like that old cliche\' \"Wait until next year\"......

The only thing you\'ve said that I won\'t refute. But; it has been noted.

Next topic please:

Thanks Coastalkid.....

We will have the best division in the league this year, I have no doubt.

Week 9: Saints vs. Bucs
http://www.bucnup.com/SBXXXVII.bmp

lumm0x

Billy....he\'s pounding you. The only thing you can count on is that every team will be gunning one notch higher for the Bucs this year. Playing a Super Bowl Champion will elevate the game of every opponent. Will the Bucs be better than last year? Probably not. I think Sapp is becoming a distraction, as are the arrests. They are the team to beat and the favorite to repeat. I see them 2nd in the South, but I see a very small gap between 1 and 4. I see alot of the positions being ties coming down to divisional record or deeper into the breaker.

BillyCarpenter1

Billy,

Each post you make; you lose more credibility...... I hate breaking posts down, but you leave me no choice....

We didn\'t make the rules and there\'s no since in stopping it now. Check with your local sports reporter, gambling halls and other sports services for more insight on this phenomona....

Oh, that\'s the way it works. How much money have you put down at your local gambling hall that the Bucs will repeat? I think your heart is pumping Kool-Aid looking for sugar.

There goes your DYNASTY THEORY. But then again, you are speaking of your BELOVED Saints. They are different......

A Dynasty has an offense

So now it\'s gone from \"playing not to lose\" to \"not scaring you\".... You are getting more pathetic by the sentence.

You said that not me. They play not to lose and they don\'t scare me. They should scare the hell out of you though.

I thought the idea was to give your best every week? Let me hear you trying to pass that over to the 9\'er, Eagles and Raiders. We faced everyone\'s best for 17 weeks last year and lost 4 of those battles. I think we\'ll be up for the challenge again. If you look deeper into your own words, IT REVEALS THE ANSWER TO YOUR VERY FIRST QUESTION. Amazing, isn\'t it?

I\'m sure you consider yourself a very intellegent person. You really need to rethink that theory, as your comments verify. What your trying to tell me here is that every game counts the same and you always get everyones best effort. Get Real!!!!!! I\'ll reply on this once your IQ goes up a little bit.


You are absolutely right SIR. Until we beat you guys next season, you can hammer your dominant performance (in both games), into my brain, until the cows come home. Just like I could (if I chose to), hammer into your brain, until the cows came home, the championship, right? But even after 27 years of waiting, it wil eventually get old. Sorta like that old cliche\' \"Wait until next year\"......

What the Bucs did last year and a few hudered dollars will get you a seat to the Superbowl to watch the Saints and a real offense take the field.

The only thing you\'ve said that I won\'t refute. But; it has been noted.


I bet your one of those people that feel inferior, always trying to prove to themselves that you know what your talking about. Please, read some magazines, newspapers, or something, so you will be better prepared next time.