As we're getting closer and closer to the beginning of training camp, we're getting closer and closer to the plethora of "preview" publications that will inevitably predict the slow death of the Buccaneers in the 2009 season.

To quote the immortal (fictional) coach Lou Brown of the Cleveland Indians, "the local media seems to think we would like to save everyone a lot of time and trouble if we just went out and shot ourselves." As far as the national media is concerned, I haven't seen the Bucs predicted to finish with better than 5 wins... anywhere.

Why?

Now maybe I am just trying to justify upgrading my season tickets from the 300's to the 200's (by the way, a special thank you and shout-out to all your fair-weather phoney baloneys who jumped ship. I got a seat in the shade now), but I'm struggling to see where exactly all the skepticism is coming from?

Is it the strength of the division? Last I checked, New Orleans hasn't played defense forever. It seems that a better-than-dead running game keeps their offense off the field. Reggie Bush hasn't exactly been gang-busters and Pierre Thomas is pedestrian and serviceable at best. Atlanta? I wouldn't say Matt Ryan dominated the Bucs last year. The only reason he has a win against the Bucs is because Brian Griese is about as mobile as a telephone pole (and shouldn't have been in the game anyway). Carolina? With Monte Kiffin gone, the term "adjustment" will return to the defense and you won't see any 4-play 90 yard drives with no passes anymore. Carolina was actively searching for a quarterback to replace the extremely overrated Jake Delhomme this off-season. Let's face it: every team in this division has it's question marks but is there any clear run-away favorite?

Think about it: how many rookie QBs in the modern era have come out of college like gang-busters and built on a better-than-average rookie season? I can think of one: Dan Marino. Peyton Manning? Started off horrible and improved over time. Rex Grossman? Excuse me while I clean up the puke in my lap from laughing so hard. David Carr? I think he sold me my Kenmore this summer. Remember Rick Mirer? He had a great rookie season - and that's it. It's almost like Day 1 starters are destined to regress. Why the media has tabbed Ryan as the second coming, I don't know (on a side note, look for Joe Flacco to regress as well).

On offense, I'm not quite sure what's NOT to like. The Bucs have five stud offensive linemen all 30 or under, plus some depth with Jeremy Zuttah, Aaron Sears, and Davin Joseph manning the two guard positions. Two nearly identical running backs in Earnest Graham and Derrick Ward (5'9" 225lbs and 5'11" 228lbs, respectively) with a rehabbing Cadillac Williams and Clifton Smith adding depth. At receiver, Antonio Bryant returns with an even larger chip on his shoulder. He has little help as little can be expected from Michael Clayton (I refuse to predict a slump-busting season), but he has Kellen Winslow at tight end who can line up in double-tight formations and motion out to create sick mis-matches with linebackers and strong safeties.

Which leaves the quarterback position open for analysis. Personally, I have been on the Luke McCown bandwagon for two seasons now and I honestly think that the guy has the stuff. Throw out all the Cleveland stats because, let's face it, they aren't a real team anyway. When McCown has had the benefit of playing with the starters, he's done well. Even when he was with the second-stringers (the ill-fated Gruden plan to rest the starters at the end of 2007 sticks out in my mind) the Bucs were competetive. In a December game in 2007, McCown completed his first 15 passes and completed a desperation touchdown pass to Jerramy Stevens with :17 on the clock to defeat the Saints 27-23. McCown didn't play a perfect game, but the mistakes he made were "experience" mistakes that a veteran would not have made. He has the feet. He has the arm. He has the decision-making skills. McCown is going into his sixth season and this could be the time for him to break out.

And if he doesn't, the Bucs have Byron Leftwich who is going to be playing for a contract in an uncapped 2010 season to back him up.

Forget about Josh Freeman for now.

On offense, I don't see a huge issue. The Bucs have just as good a chance as anyone in the NFC.

On defense, the skeptics will point to the loss of Derrick Brooks and Cato June as the detriment to the unit. Honestly, I do not know why the Bucs chose to release June. He was dubbed as the successor to Brooks at the weakside linebacker position. Once Brooks left, I thought the plan would let June assume the position. Instead, the hard-hitting former safety Jermaine Phillips is moving to linebacker leaving Tanard Jackson and Sabby Piscatelli (not to be confused with Pinki Tuscadero) as the safeties. Ronde Barber and Aqib Talib start at the corners. Phillips could be a very successful blitzing linebacker (something former defensive coordinator Monte Kiffen rarely did).

The new defensive leader is middle linebacker Barrett Rudd who has to feel slighted considering the sweat equity he has given to the Bucs without a contract to show for it (equaly upsetting to him is the fact that Winslow got a new contract considering that Winslow and myself are tied for catches in a Bucs uniform).

Maybe the loss of Brooks weighs heavily on the mind of the public since Brooks was one of the last remaining pieces of the dominating Tampa 2 defense that carried the Bucs to the Super Bowl in 2002 and the NFC Championship game in 1999.

I'm a little lost. The team is certainly different, but it's not worse for the wear. They are certainly not that much worse than anyone in the division, let alone the conference.

So, my question is, why does everyone seem so worried?

True, the Bucs have a horrific schedule and they lose a home game to that ridiculous gold-digging London game against the Patriots, but in this age of parity, can anyone really expect all of the teams that did so well last year to repeat their performance in 2009? I think it would be a reasonable assumption that half of the winning teams last year would have non-.500 season in 2009.

I guess what I'm driving at is to keep your head up. Barring a season where injuries destroy the team (check out what happened to the New York Mets this year), the Bucs have every reason to be optomistic this year. They're going to come out with a new offensive scheme (one that might actually use the team's talents to an advantage) and a more aggressive, "violent" defense.

My advice? Get your season tickets. I think this is the beginning of a new era in Buccaneers football. This is a young roster that can very well be together for a long time.