Head Coach Jon Gruden: We hung in there

by JScott on Jan 6, 2008 6:56 PM EST in News Comment 4 comments

"I'm proud of our football players. We overcame a lot this year. We hung in there." Head Coach Jon Gruden - Buccaneers.com

Gruden said it all right there. We did overcome alot and we did hang in there. Enough so that we made the Playoffs. That's pretty impressive for a team that finished the year with 14 guys on Injured Reserve:

Mike Alstott, Charles Bennett, Antoine Cash, Torrie Cox, Chris Denman, Mark Jones, Sam Olajubutu, Greg Peterson, Luke Petitgout, Sabby Piscitelli, Chris Simms, Maurice Stovall, Paris Warren, and Carnell Williams

That would be difficult for any team to over come and the Bucs were able to accomplish that. Going into the Season I thought Gruden at the very least had to make the Playoffs and possibly win a Playoff game. Had he had all his ammunition I might feel that way today, but he DID make the Playoffs, so I'm jumping off the HOT SEAT Talk for a while.

You gotta wonder what a HEALTHY Season under Jon Gruden would mean for this Franchise. The cool thing about this season is that we know this is not the end of the road. Sure Jeff Garcia is 37 years old and Joey Galloway is right behind him, but those are our BEST Two players on the team. Luckily for us, it seems like their gas tanks are far from being empty. Couple that with our young offensive line and getting younger by the minute defensive unit, we may finally have a yearly contender on our hands.

I feel our schedule provided the perfect transition year for the team. Next Years Schedule gets a lot tougher, but our team should be a lot stronger as a unit as well. Going into the off-season, I think we need to do the following three things immediately:

Sign Head Coach Jon Gruden to a 3-4 Year Extension (The Man can Coach PERIOD, give him a little more talent)

Sign Defensive Coordinator Monte Kiffin to a LIFETIME Contract

See to it that Defensive Backs Coach Raheem Morris does NOT leave to Coach the Raiders Defense

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Hung in there

Yes, you did. It's too bad your team exhibited zero class this week, and after the game.
Ronde Barber's idiotic statements during the week, and then Barrett Rudd whining after the game about the Giants getting 8½ yards every time they needed 8. Hey, Barrett, that's what good football teams do!
Go home, lick your wounds and have a WONDERFUL off-season!

-- Ed
Big Blue View

by ETVal on Jan 6, 2008 7:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Monte wants to come to Carolina

To coach Peppers! :)

You guys played a good game there JScott. I don't think the layoff had anything to do with it.

On a final note: Come on Ed, you won the game, why rub it in? If the Giants had lost can you imagine the whining coming out of NY? Almost makes me want the Cowboys to win next week. Almost.

Carolina Panthers Fan www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Jan 7, 2008 8:22 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Not trying to rub it in

Was just really disappointed by Ruud's comments. They rubbed me wrong, that's all. Gruden, Garcia and some of the other guys showed class, though. Bucs are a good team, they just don't have enough playmakers on offense.

-- Ed
Big Blue View

by ETVal on Jan 7, 2008 9:27 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

man

I haven't read Ruud's comments yet, but basing my opinion off your example, he's just clearly frustrated and honest when answering questions from reporters. You gotta remember this is Ruud's first season starting at LB and his first Playoff game.

From a fans perspective it was frustrating, the Giants would be in a 3rd down situation and get just enough yardage to extend the drive. Your right, that is what good teams do and the Giants are a good team and a better team than that of the Bucs.

I wouldn't get too worked up about a frustrated players reaction immediately after the game... especially a young defensive player, he's yet to experience the frustration that comes with having an anemic offense on the other side of the ball. He'll learn.

And I know you'd rather have the players true opinion than some cookie cutter response the organization has made him recite....

Good Luck against the Cowboys, I think you guys might surprise them

by JScott on Jan 7, 2008 12:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs