Monday Morning QB - 9/12

I'm wearing my cup and sweating like a Banshee... that's right, its football season! Every Monday, during the football season, I'll give my two cents on how the Bucs did this week.

The season opened with the Bucs taking on the Minnesota Vikings in the Metrodome. Minnesota is one of the sexy picks for making the NFL playoffs and, potentially, making it to the Super Bowl. The Bucs... well, no one thinks they'll do much of anything.

My prediction: Bucs 21, Vikes 17

Score: Bucs 24, Vikes 13

Overall, I feel lucky we won the game. It was a penalty filled, ugly win. But, at the end of the day, 1-0 is much better than 0-1.

Offense: C. Flashes of competence, but unable to put the other team away. Griese has to stop giving away points. Nice to see Cadillac break on to win the game. Only score 10 points off of 5 turnovers. Unacceptable. O Line needs to establish running game more effectively.

Defense: B+. Agressive and dominating. Made it closer than it should have been with bad penalities and unable to stop 3rd and Longs in the 3rd quarter.

Special Teams: B. Punting was very good. Kickoffs were very good. Coverage and tackling, excellent. No missed field goals.

Coaching: B. Dropped passes, bad penalties on both sides of the ball and turnovers by the offense limited the effectiveness of both the Offense and Defensive coaches.

Outstanding Players: Cadillac. A. Smith. Hovan. McFarland. Rice. Kelley.

Things That Drove Me Nuts: The Bucs inability to put the Vikes away. It almost cost them the game. Team needs the skill, discipline and a killer instinct.

Bucs Record: 1-0.

Next Opponent: Next week, the Bucs have their home opener agains the Buffalo Bills, who beat the Texans this week.

An ugly win, but I'll take it. Thank God for the defense.