Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog

I love making predictions, especially with the Bucs. Never mind that most of the time they are wrong. So here are my educated guesses on the season for our local NFL collective…

JON GRUDEN WILL KEEP HIS JOB
No subject more sharply divides Bucs fans than their opinions on the head coach. And while I understand where the anti-Grudenites are coming from (losing record in the regular season and playoffs since the Super Bowl run), I have given Gruden the benefit of doubt the last few years. For the first few years, Gruden did not have any high draft picks because of the deal with the Raiders, which cost the Bucs four high draft picks. This put Gruden in a hole, which he is just now digging his way out of. The Bucs will not win in the playoffs this year, but they are building a team that will win soon.

Speaking of winning…

THE BUCS WILL WIN 10 GAMES
Let’s go through the checklist:

1. Weak Division
2. Easy Schedule
3. Great Defense

The Panthers will put up more of a fight this year, but the Bucs are still the best team in a weak conference. The Bucs almost got to 10 wins last season (9) and with the Panthers on their heels, Gruden will not have the option of resting his players for the last two weeks.

JEFF GARCIA WILL PLAY 13 GAMES - AT MOST
Does anyone else cringe every time Garcia rolls out of the pocket? Even from game one last year against the Seahawks, Garcia missed playing time after getting hit while scrambling. Garcia’s best quality (his ability to scramble and make a play) may also be his worst ability, since it increases the likelihood he will be knocked out of the game by a defensive end or linebacker.

BUCSTATS.COM WILL PUBLISH A PICTURE GUARANTEEING NO MORE MAINSTREAM BLOGGING JOBS
In fact, this has already happened several times so this isn’t really prediction. Not that I’m complaining.

DEXTER JACKSON WILL RETURN A KICKOFF AND A PUNT FOR A TD IN THE SAME GAME
This is definitely going out on a limb, but the rookie from App State will be a game changer on special teams. By the end of the season teams will be kicking away from him.

CADILLAC WILL NOT PLAY A DOWN THIS SEASON
I would love to be wrong about this prediction, but I don’t think Cadillac is far enough in his rehab to play football without risking further injury. On the other hand, I think Earnest Graham will have an outstanding season for the Bucs, behind an offensive line that is developing into one of the best in the NFL. Graham does not have the breakout speed that Cadillac does, but he makes up for it with his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield (he might even be a better receiver than Clayton), and will be a top ten fantasy running back this season.

(Note: For those who keep track of such things I have not been around the Sticks much the past few weeks. With Bucs season upon us expect that to change. Coverage of the Bucs will be plentiful on the Sticks for the next five months.)

You have a prediction regarding the Bucs? Throw them in the comments.

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